Abhimaan

"Sir, Khurana's wants us to negotiate with the terms", my assistant, Mr. Mehta, informed me after entering inside my cabin.

"Then, cancel all the deals with them", I instructed as he nodded back.

"And you can have a day off after that", I said and he left the cabin.

I flipped back the pages of the files and reviewed all the documents thoroughly. I signed over the papers wherever it was needed as I finally finished my work.

Today's is Maa's birthday and I miss her even more. It's been 21 years and her loss gives me the same pain everyday. Honestly, I have learnt to live my life without her but her absence is something I can't deprive into words.

The pain was too much to handle for a 7 years old boy and is still too much to live with, for a 28 years old man.

That's what I'm without her. Incomplete.

Dad moved on with his life and I can't expect more from him. He married again and gave my Mom's place to a new woman so easily. It's hard to see that everyday.

Never mind.

Coming to me, I'm Abhimaan Malhotra, CEO of Malhotra Group of Industries and one of the richest men in India, owning the top companies of the IT Sector of India. My Dad, Devaansh Malhotra started this company decades ago and I took over this company 5 years back after he retired from his position. I completed my Masters in Business Administration from the University of London. I took over the business after I returned back to India. Never ever been able to socialize enough, I have always been selectively introvert kind of a person. I choose people around me and that's how my life works.

"I'm done for the day", I muttered under the breath as I took my stuffs moving out of the cabin, I drove off to Maa's NGO. Yes, my mother used to run an NGO for orphan children and after her death, I have been looking into it. I think that place gives me homie peace more than the big mansion I lives in.

I had purchased new clothes, gifts and some sweets for the children as I distributed among them. Their happy faces is all I want at the end. I spent the whole evening and decided to get back to my home.

Biding them goodbyes, I drove off to Malhotra Mansion and it was already night. I went inside as the househelp opened the gate and welcomed me inside, "Abhimaan....", and I heard his voice which made me stop me on my way.

"I want to discuss something important....", I didn't turn to his way but I listened to whatever he was saying.

"Please continue....", I replied back sternly.

"Can we have a normal conversation like a father and a son, Abhimaan?", he asked back.

"There is nothing normal between us, Dad.

"If that is so, then I'm being as clear to you. I have fixed your marriage with Samrat's daughter", he stated making me clenched my jaw in anger.

"He died an year ago but I have promised to protect his daughter at any cost. I believe that she is the right fit for you", he continued as I turned to face him.

"And why the hell do you think I would do what you say?"

"Because your hatred for me doesn't change this fact that I'm still your father. And I have the whole right to make decisions for you", he said with a little louder voice as his wife and Chachi (Aunt) came running out of the kitchen after hearing his voice.

I stepped into his direction as his loud voice didn't affect me the way it did to others, "And who is talking about rights, Dad?", I said sarcastically.

"Someone who gave my mother's place to some other woman within a year", I rubbed my face in anger as I eyed his wife in nothing but hatred.

"She is not someone. She is my wife and your mother, Abhimaan....", he declared pointing finger at me.

"Well, I don't consider her as my mother. I have to face my Maa after this life too and I'm not like you, Dad", I shouted back as an undefined anger aroused inside me when I felt his hand touching my cheek, not with love but with anger, he slapped me hard. I glared at nothing but at the floor as I clenched my fist, "You will have to marry her, Abhimaan. Either I will take back all my shares from the Company. End of discussion", he threatened me as he left with everyone.

I closed my eyes to suppress the erupting rage inside me as I rushed back to my room locking it from inside, "You can't do this to me, Dad. You just can't do this to me", I shouted throwing my blazer to somewhere in the room as I threw back to back things I found inside my room. From vases to files and from files to mirror, I broke every single thing.

This is not done. He can't control my life like this. First, he gave away my Maa's place to an other woman and now he expects me to marry someone because he gave her father his words. He eventually played the right card of threatening me for taking back his shares because he knew what he was hitting at. My soft spot. My business. He holds more than 50% of the shares in the company and if he takes back those shares, our company won't be able to bear that loss. I hate him for playing with my emotions every time.

Is my life bound to his rights and commitments?

Am I no one to live my life to the fullest?

I poured myself a drink as I laid down on the floor resting my head on the bed, "Happy Birthday Maa. I miss you everyday. Why did you leave me like this?", I felt my eyes getting wet as I kept on drinking and giving myself a sense of relief.

Why did you make me promise that, Maa?

He doesn't need me at all.

______________________________

Flashback....

"Maan.... Come beta. Let's go!"

"Maa.... Can we be here for some more time?", I requested making puppy eyes to her.

"We will come back next weekend, Maan. Remember today is Dad's birthday and we are going to surprise him", she asked wiping off the sweat from my forehead as I smiled back in return.

"Yes, I forgot about it. Oops, sorry Maa. Let's go and give Dad the best surprise", I said excitedly as we got inside the car.

I have always loved visiting the NGO and I love the whole time I spent here with Maa. There are so many children to play with and I love how Maa teaches them so many good things and surprise them with the gifts on every special occasions.

I love seeing their happy faces.

And I feel so proud that my Maa is the reason behind those smiles.

Today's is Dad's birthday and we are going to surprise him in his office. Taking his favourite cake from the nearby bakery, Mom was driving us to his office as I was enjoying seating on the passenger seat.

"Maa, why do you love Dad so much?", I asked out of curiosity. I have seen my mother doing different ways to make my Dad smile and the way she does every thing for him is just beyond words. "Because I know he loves me too", she said smilingly.

"But Dad doesn't surprise you often", I asked.

"Because he is less expressive when it comes to show his love and I'm overly expressive and that's how we fits into each other lives. It's okay to be suppressive, your actions are enough to show love for the people in your lives."

I sipped the shake which Maa got me from the bakery as I continued to ask her more questions, "And how do you know he loves you back?"

"Because he protects us, Maan. He does every single thing in his life, all for us. To give us better lives. To fulfil all our wishes. It's all for us. For our family. See, he is working so hard even on his birthday, he barely remember that. And do you know why is that so?", she asked politely.

"Why, Maa?"

"Because he has dedicated his whole life to us. You know my Dad, your Nanu, made me marry your father and I barely knew him. But he asked me to believe your father and I did. And your Dad has proven his love in every way."

"Abhimaan....", she called as I looked up to her.

"Yes, Maa...."

"Promise me that you will never leave your Dad alone. No matter how tough it gets but you will stand beside him in every phase of his life", she asked extending her pinky finger to me.

"What if he is wrong, Maa?", I asked back holding her pinky finger with mine. "Sometimes he makes me do things which I don't even like, what about that, Maa?"

"Because he might see something better for you which you at the moment cannot realise. But later on, you will know that he was right. Just never leave his side, Maan. He loves you so much", she smiled back at me.

"Done. Promise, Maa. I will never leave Dad no matter how hard it gets. I will always be with him", I said as Maa shuffled my hair with her soft hands and I finished my shake packing it in a disposable bag and keeping it in the back seat.

"Maa...."

"Yes, Maan"

"I love you, Maa. I love you the most!"

"I love you too, beta! I love my Maan the most", she said giving me a side hug when we got distracted from a car's horn.

She broke the hug as she widened her eyes in fear, we watched the car coming closer to when Maa tried controlling our car, "Maa.....", I panicked.

"Relax, Maan. Be at your seat"

"What is happening, Maa?", I asked, tears started flowing down my cheeks as I watched Maa turning the car into every possible direction to save it from hitting the other car.

"I think that car's brake is not working", she said in panic pointing at the direction of the car coming towards us.

"Maan.... Jump", she ordered making me look at her in confusion.

"I said jump out of the car, Maan", her voice became deadly serious.

"What about you, Maa?"

"I need to handle the car, Maan."

"No, I can't leave you, Maa....", I cried.

"Abhimaan, jump....", she shouted but I didn't flinch from my seat. My heart clenched at the sight when I watched her unlocking my seat belt despite my uncountable protests, she pushed me out of the car turning the car to an opposite direction as I fell on the road.

I barely got any severe injuries except a few cuts on my elbows. I looked at our car getting farther from me when the other car banged it harshly, making a clash sound echoing on the road.

I saw Maa's forehead hitting on the dashboard as the blood caught my eyes when soon our car started getting surrounded by the people.

"Maa....", I screamed and ran towards the car, breaking the crowd I went to Maa as I saw her lying unconsciously all covered with the blood.

"Mumma.... Mumma....", I cried as tried to wake her up.

"Please save my Maa.... Please.... Save her!", I begged to the people around.

My heart dropped its beat when I heard someone saying, "She is dead."

"Maa....", I screamed with all my breath when I heard my own voice echoing inside the room. I opened my eyes only to find myself in my usual condition. I rubbed my forehead in frustration as I knew that it was nothing more than the nightmares I get almost everyday.

"I miss you, Maa....", I murmured remembering the hardest truth of my life. ______________________________

Next morning....

I woke up as the light over the curtains hit on my face making me open my eyes. I watched the time and it was 8:00 am which reminded me of the meeting I have in the next two hours. I got up only to freshen up and took a long needed shower, I dresses up in my business attire. Wearing my watch, I waited for Kaka (my househelp) to come up and clean the mess in my room as I heard the knock on my door. "Come in, Kaka....", I ordered back as I didn't urge to look up.

"Abhimaan beta.... Come and have breakfast with us", I heard her voice when I gritted my teeth in anger.

"Oh my God.... Are you okay, Abhimaan?", she gasped in shock looking at the mess in my room, which I barely cared about.

"Where is Kaka?", I asked back showing no affect.

"He has gone to his village for few days. Don't worry, I will clean your room", she said softly.

"No need to do things for me. You are here for your husband, don't try to get into my life", I said firmly.

"Abhimaan.... Beta, I have made your favourite kheer. Come join us", she asked hopefully.

"I don't have any appetite."

"And now you are lying too. You haven't eaten anything last night. I know you are hungry. Come, let's go beta", she replied back.

"Don't try to be my mother. Just leave me alone", I shouted back when she left the room in disappointment.

Why the hell does she try to take my Maa's place?

I took my car keys as I headed downstairs only to watch everyone having their family breakfast, "Where are you going, Abhimaan?", I heard Dad calling me from the dining table. I knew her wife would complain it to him. I turned to him as I watched his wife serving the breakfast, "I have an important meeting", I replied back.

"Have breakfast with us", he ordered which I couldn't refuse because honestly I was not in any mood of arguments so I sat beside him as his wife served my plate. It was full of my favourite dishes which Maa used to cook for me. Aaloo paratha, kheer.etc.etc.

Ignoring her presence like always, I started eating the food, "Your engagement is after three days and your marriage will be in the next week", I heard Dad declaring his already planned plans to me.

NEWS OF THE DAY: I'm getting engaged after three days. And I will be marrying the next week. To whom? Someone I barely know her name.

Being unaffected by his words, I kept my focus on my plate, "Chachu, where is Amaira?", I asked ignoring my Dad's words when Chachu made a face to me to not drag him into this.

"In the college", he barely replied.

"I don't want to delay your marriage. If you want to meet her, we can fix the meeting for you", I heard Dad continuing.

"Chachi, please pass me the ketchup", I asked as she passed me the ketchup making the same face like Chachu.

"Sure....", she forced a smile.

"She has completed her Masters in Business Administration this year only. And she will be joining our Company after the marriage", Dad kept saying ignoring my act of ignoring him.

"Water, please", I coughed back.

"She runs a cafe, you can meet her if you want", he added but I didn't respond.

"Abhimaan....", I heard him raising his voice. I think I tested enough of his patience.

"Do what you feel like, Dad. I have nothing to do with this marriage thing or that girl. Directly send me the invitation card of my marriage", I stated firmly rolling the paratha in my hand as I left the table, eating it.

I will make you regret your decision, Dad. And she will be the one to suffer.

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