Change of mind
2282 Words
(Anand's VOC)
"Congratulation young man!" Mr. Murthy greeted as we walked out of the boardroom. He owns five percent shares in our firm and we earn the same in his. Murthy uncle is another friend of dad. He's my only competitor until today.
"Thank you sir."
"You spoke just like your father. For a moment there, I felt as if Arjun is sitting in the boardroom." I simply smiled.
"Thank you sir. Only a few agree that I resemble him and your one in them." He laughed and I joined him.
"That's because you are more than him. No-one takes a firm to the top of a nation within a span of just a year." He said. "It took nearly twenty years for me to built this empire." He added.
"I just expanded what my father gave me. I didn't rebuild it. My sister is the one who owns this day, not me. If only I'm in your place, I'll accept your compliments." I replied.
"Always the ambitious boy, Anand?" He patted my back.
"No sir, these are facts." I told him in an obvious tone.
"I've seen kids ruining themselves when they are given their property. You and your sister are something." I smiled at him.
"Many fathers would envy your father if he's alive, just to have kids like you. He would be really proud." I miss him too much today.
"Anyways, I have to keep going. I'll meet you some other time but make sure that we do meet somewhere else other than a boardroom like every time."
"Sure sir." I said and he walked from me.
"Anand!" I turned to watch the owner of a familiar voice coming towards me.
"Mr.Murthy left too early. Mom asked to invite him for dinner on Sunday." She said as she reached me.
"Yea, we'll call him. Don't worry." I said.
"He's too humble, isn't it? His business empire is the biggest with huge profits but still he's this simple." She answered.
"Not anymore." I said eyeing her.
"What are you talking about? He's still humble."
"Not that, that fact that he's number one." I said.
"Who beat such big firm without me knowing it? Is the Murthy group bankrupt?" She asked.
"No, it's just that......."
"That?"
"The Bhatia group beat him." Her stare turned serious. It obviously worths more than a million dollars.
"Don't kid with me Anand!" She said sternly. I handed her the file which is in my hands.
"What is it?" She asked taking it from me. I stayed calm as she kept browsing the file very seriously. Her eyes widened as she eyed the page I've been waiting for her to read.
"Oh my god! How the hell did you get Cosmos retail. Everyone were behind it for god knows how long!" She exclaimed.
"We're in the retail industry too." I told her.
"Your unpredictable." She muttered.
"So, how does it feel to be in the top, Mrs Indhumathi Karthikeya?" I asked
"You want to be at the top, not me."
"Whatever, this means celebration. I need to call Dhinnu."
"You men!" She exclaimed.
"Save your curse words for the party."
"I have work to do, you boys enjoy the party." She said and walked away.
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(Akshaya's VOC)
I fixed the last pot for the afternoon. The flowers look really great but I wonder if it could withstand the coming summer. Summer is ages away but still. These are the symbol of my hard work. I wouldn't like it to be ruined. Who would like their hard work to be ruined?
I walked to the rose pots in the greenhouse. Roses look soo beautiful. Especially here, in the greenhouse. I kept checking for any pest when I heard footsteps.
"Beautiful isn't it?" I turned to confirm my horror and I'm right.
Why me god?
"Guna! You almost scared me!" I yelled and he laughed.
"Why are you here?"
"You were the one who told me that you'd be here, remember?"
Stupid me!
"Yea, I forgot." I said and smacked the back of my head. Just then realization hit me.
"Hey, I don't remember telling you the name of the nursery!" His gave me an amusing stare.
"I have my contacts."
"So, this is what you do to rid your pressure, stress or whatever?" I can't help but laugh in real. I don't think I can fake myself easily.
"Girls your age hang out with their friends and shop but here you are! Standing out of everyone I've ever seen." I smiled.
"I like doing this, it's fun you know?" I said and he nodded.
"Looking beautiful." He said and I turned back to the roses.
"Yea, I always love these. A therapy to me." I said.
"Not them, you." Where is he leading to? Maybe it's a genuine compliment. I don't need to freak out for this. Lets play cool.
"I'm not dressed in something which is special."
"Special people won't need to be dressed especially to look beautiful. They look great even in ordinary clothes." I need to stop him like, now!
"Thank you." I said and I remained calm. It's better if I pretend as if nothing happened. I know that I'll take him wrong if I keep thinking.
"So, you came here only to meet me?"
Why do you need to know that?
"Not exactly, I came here to meet a friend and it struck me that you spend your Saturday here."
"Hmm, that's too good of you." I replied.
"Not more than you and did you have lunch?"
"Yea, just five minutes ago."
"Your too bad at lying." I don't think I can reject him my way.
"I'm not lying!"
Please let it work.
"I asked the watchman, he said you kept working without a break." Screw him!
"Fine, I didn't."
"Hmmm, why don't you join me? I'll drop you to the orphanage after our lunch." I think it's better to give up now "Lead the way." A big grin appeared on his face as I spoke. At least someone is happy because of me.
"You have a car?" I asked as we walked out of the nursery.
"Yea but my dad owns it." I smiled and he opened the door for me. He started the ignition as he jumped into the driver's place. We drove in silence. Neither he nor I spoke about anything.
"Why do you spend a lot of time here?" He asked to break the silence.
"My mother owns this, she bought it when I was small. No-one other than me and her knows about this then and now, this is the only thing left." I replied.
"Your parents died in a car crash right?"
"Ya." How I wish that always changes?
"So, within a few months, we'll get our graduation degree. Are you excided?" I mentally thanked him for changing the topic.
"Very excited!" I shrieked.
What's with you Akki!
"Me too." He laughed.
"I'm excited to find what the world holds for me actually." I tried to cover my embarrassment.
"I'm not trying to burst your bubble but this life is far better than the world outside."
Who would have known that world better than me?
"That's okay, Geetha tries to burst mine almost all the time."
"From when are you and Geetha friends?" He asked.
"From when we were twelve. We became friends from the first time I walked into the orphanage." I answered.
"Why aren't anyone of your relatives' given guardianship? I mean, how can they let you stay there?" He asked with concern in his eyes.
"I chose this for myself. I don't want to be a burden for anyone." I answered.
"You can never be a burden for anyone." He replied.
"Thank you, it means a lot to me but I had amazing people who looked after me at the orphanage."
"You always amaze me." He said and before I could ask him why, he stopped the car.
"We're here." he got out of his seat and rushed to mine to open it.
"Hey! I have a hand and I can open it too." I protested and he smiled.
"Just trying to be the gentleman." He said.
"Well, you'll obviously make one." I said.
We sat in the restaurant and we spoke about all the things I've never heard of or things he's never heard of. He cracked a few jokes when we're getting emotional, he saw to it that I had a great time with him. Let me be honest, I'm having an amazing time! We went back to the car and he still kept me busy by talking or laughing.
"So, that was how I ended up in the pool." I laughed and he joined me.
"You were too mischievous, your mom and dad would have had great trouble because of you." I said.
"I'm still mischievous Akki. They still have a lot of trouble with me." He winked.
"Hmm, so right." I replied.
"Yea." He simply nodded.
"This is it, just drop me here." I pointed to the big black gates of the orphanage. He stopped the car right then and we came out of the car.
"Well, bye then. I'll catch you at the college." I waved and turned to move.
"Um, Akki?" I stopped in my tracks and I turned to face him. He kept looking at the ground as if he's trying hard to ignore my eyes.
"Yea Guna?" I asked him.
"Do you mind if I come along with you inside and stay with you till you get back to your room?" He asked. Why does he want to stay with me?
"It'd be great but are you sure?" I asked him.
"Damn sure."
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"It's was such a beautiful place." He said. I couldn't believe that Guna enjoyed staying with the kids. He played along with them and they were happier that they have a new friend to play with. He was too generous to offer to drive back to my room.
I called Geetha and she practically yelled on the phone but Guna isn't the way she takes him to be. He is indeed sweet, unlike many others.
"You have a beautiful world Akki. That nursery, this orphanage and the Kids. It's beautiful, many don't have this in their lives. They just run behind money. You are something." I smiled
"No wonder you chose this instead of some guardian."
"Thanks for understanding." I said.
"And thank you for letting me feel your world." I smiled.
"What are you planning to do after graduation?" I asked him.
"I think I'll go abroad to do my masters. I got accepted to Berkley."
"That's a great news! What's going to be your major?" I asked him.
"Design, aerospace and automobiles." I couldn't believe what he said.
"That's a lot! Your sure you could make it?" I asked him but I think I'm going to regret what I asked.
"I love it so I'll make it." He smiled.
"Congratulations Guna!" I shrieked.
"Thanks for that, what will you be doing?" He asked.
"I love teaching, I think I'll do my m-tech right here. If I get placed as a faculty later on. I'll continue with my PhD later on." Frankly, I don't know what exactly I want.
"That's amazing." He said.
"Hey, we're already here." I said as I spotted my hostel.
"Yea." He said.
"Thanks for the ride! Bye!" He stopped me from unbuckling my seatbelt by placing his hand on mine.
"Can you give me five minutes?" He asked.
"Why?" I asked him
"I just want to talk." He simply replied stareing into my eye with some intense emotion. I couldn't help but give up. I leaned back onto the seat gesturing him to talk.
"Am I given time?" He asked and I just nodded.
"I don't know when it all started Akki. You are an amazing girl."
O no! You have to stop him!
"I know where this leads....."
"My five minutes aren't over. Let me complete." I remained quiet.
Maybe you can let him speak?
"I always loved you from the beginning."
What?!?!?
"I know your totally confused. I tried okay, I tried to keep it a secret from you. It wasn't a good idea as at the end of the day, I still liked you. Everything about you is great. Your like a princess every boy wants to have." Does he really love me?
"I like you a lot, with all my heart. You still have three minutes of the five I asked." What do I answer to him?
"Guna, I don't know what to answer. It's like, I'm utterly baffled." He smirked.
"I know, I don't want you rush to answer. Take your time. I'll accept anything which comes my way." I'm at loss of words now. He's too sweet but it could be that he's just acting. I'm not sure.
"Bye then, I'll give your answer on Monday at the cafeteria." I tried to open the door but he was quick in coming to my side.
"You don't need to rush. Take your time Akki. Your worth waiting." He's too amazing!
"I don't want to keep you on wait." I said getting out of the door he opened for me.
"I'll wait all day there then." He said and I smiled.
"Bye." I waved and I started walking.
I honestly can't discuss this with Geetha. I know her answer would be no for sure. She will obviously creat a scandal if she knows. This is something I need to decide and I'll do it myself.
It's worth giving him a shot. Who know? He could be my prince charming too!
- Writer
