1| Dilkash

✨ Kal pe sawaal hai, jeena filhaal hai

Khaanabadoshiyon pe hi jaane kyun

Ilahi mera jee aaye ✨

Armaan buttoned his white shirt and gave himself an all over look in the mirror. He was wearing a pair of dark blue suit pants and as he wore his dark blue suit coat, he walked out of his room. He descended downstairs and entered the dinning room.

He saw his Mom, and his little sister, Aditi having breakfast. His Dad was missing so he assumed he's already at the office. His Mom was sitting on the head of the table and Aditi occupied his mom's usual seat which is on the right of the head's.

"Good morning, Adi." He said as he greeted his sister.

"Good morning, Bhaaaiii." She greeted him back with a sickly sweet voice. She got up from her seat and hugged him, tightly.

That's weird. He thought.

Aditi wouldn't care if bullets are being shot next to her when she's eating, especially when having breakfast. She loves her breakfast.

"What do you want?" He asked as he patted her back with a knowing smirk.

"Oh come on, bhai. I'm not that bad. I just wanna hug my loving brother this morning. By the way, you look absolutely handsome. That's a good colour-" He cut her rambling mid-sentence.

"What do you want?" Armaan repeated his previous question.

"Colour on you... Okay. Can I please go to my friend's house for a girls' night?" She asked.

Although Aditi is 21 and an adult, their parents and Armaan still make certain decisions for her. Especially when in the realm of hanging out and meeting with her friends, they decide for her. They don't mean to be controlling, they are simply concerned about her safety. They reside in Mumbai and as advance as the city is, it's twice as unsafe for it's people. The crime-against-women rate there is the highest out of all the cities in India. It's the second most populous city in the country and extremely unsafe.

"Did you ask Dad?" Armaan counter questioned her.

"No but Ma said I can." She said as she gave him the puppy dog eyes. She pouted and made a pleading face.

"Whose house are you going?" He asked.

"Raima's." She answered. Raima is her childhood best friend.

"Okay fine you may go but just for one night. Send me the names and contact numbers of all the other girls who are going to be present there." He said.

"Roger that." She said as she shot him a salute and put her right hand in the air, asking for a high-five. He met his left hand with hers and she instantly hugged him.

"Thanks bhai. You're the best. I love you." She said.

"I love you too, Adi." He said as he hugged his sister back, stroking her head and placed a kiss on her forehead as they pulled away.

"Good morning, Ma." He said as he went towards her to give her a hug but she didn't let me.

"What'd I do now?" Armaan asked as he sat on his seat, opposite to his Ma's usual seat.

"Thank you." He said to the house-help who placed his bowl of cereal on the table, in front of him.

"Armaan, answer my question honestly. Have I ever asked anything from you?" His sometimes-dramatic Ma, asked.

"Ma?" He looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"All I'm asking from you is to get married." She said.

Not again. He thought.

"Mom, to whom? I don't have a girlfriend and I'm sorry but all the girls that you've shown me aren't my type." He explained myself.

"Armaan, you rejecting all those girls just gives me the idea that you don't wanna get married." She reasoned.

"Or that you're gay." Aditi said and Armaan glared at her. She laughed but stopped when got a slap on the shoulder by her Ma.

"Armaan, do you even want to get married?" Their Mom concentrated on her and Armaan's previous conversation.

"Am I ready? Yeah. Do I have someone in mind? No. I'll give you a deal. When I find a girl to be mature and wife-material, I'll marry her. I'm down to meet these girls you keep showing me photos of." He said as he continued eating his cereal.

"I've already shown you 5 girls. You've already rejected all of them." Mrs. Oberoi said.

"Ma, you'd rather me marry the wrong girl than wait and find a proper wife?" He questioned.

"I'm not saying that." Mrs. Oberoi said with a huff.

"Ma, you're-" The ringing of Armaan's phone cut him off. It was his Dad.

"Morning, Dad." He greeted him.

"There's something of grave importance I need to discuss with you. Meet me in my office ASAP." His Dad said.

"Okay. I'll leave right away." He said as he left his cereal half-eaten and got up from the table.

"No! Finish your food." Mrs. Oberoi commanded.

"Dad needs me right away." He reasoned.

"Give me the phone." He handed her his phone but his Dad had already disconnected the line.

"Breakfast is very important." His mom said. He took his phone from her and collected his things.

"Ma, my priority is my work. Always." He said as he walked up to her and kissed her forehead.

"Wait till I get you married. Biwi ke ird-gird ghumoge tab tum." Mrs. Oberoi said in a taunting voice.

Your world will revolve around your wife then.

"Dekhte hain." Armaan cockily replied and left.

We'll see.

.

.

.

The driver stopped the car right in front the office building. Armaan closed the Times Of India app on his iPad and got out of the car after thanking the driver.

He buttoned his suit coat and walked inside the building. The staff working there, which was the doorman, the receptionist and his employees greet him and wish him a 'good morning'.

He walked straight to the elevator which is just for his and his Dad's personal use. He choose the top floor and within a few seconds he reached the 48th storey. This floor consists of two offices namely his and his Dad's. The rest of the employees have their designated offices and cabins on the floor below theirs, appropriately. As the elevator door opened, he walked out and his personal assistant, Nikhil Ahuja, greeted him.

"Good morning, Mr. Oberoi." Nikhil handed him a cup of freshly made, hot black coffee.

"Morning Mr. Ahuja." He said as he took the cup from his hand, grateful for his actions.

"Mr. Oberoi Sr. is waiting for you in his office." Nikhil informed him. "I've scheduled all of your appointments for today after lunchtime." He further added.

"Why'd you postpone them till after lunch? Dad just wants to have a talk with me. Shan't take that long." Armaan questioned.

"He has made me book a table at your favourite restaurant for two. He wants you to meet someone there for lunch." Nikhil explained.

"Who?" He asked.

"I'm afraid that's something you should know from your father. He'll explain everything in detail to you." Nikhil said and Armaan nodded.

He walked to his Dad's office and knocked on the door. His Dad granted him access and he walked inside and took a seat opposite to him on his desk.

"Morning Armaan." His Dad wished.

"Morning Dad. What's with this emergency meeting and why'd you made Mr. Ahuja book a table for two at my favourite restaurant? If I'm not wrong, you and Ma are having lunch with her sister's family today." He said all in one go.

"Breath son." Mr. Oberoi said.

"The important thing that I wanted to talk to you about is the company. The Singhanias have pulled out of the investment they were to make in Oberoi Group of Companies and to put it quite simply, within a year, we'll go bankrupt. The documents which they were suppose to sign had a loophole. Mr. Singhania is an asshole and a manipulative bastard. If I, well precisely we, want to save the company, we need someone to invest a big amount of money in the company both as a share holder and as an investor. I talked to Mr. Khurrana and they almost agreed but as you may know their daughter is to be married to the eldest son of Mr. Singhania, they no longer wanted to join hands with us, for apparent reasons." Mr. Oberoi explain patiently.

"Wow Dad. I mean, you could've talked to me. We would've found a way out earlier." He said.

"I already have son, but I need you to trust me on this one." Mr. Oberoi said.

"I completely trust you, Dad. This is your company. You've made Oberoi Group of Companies what it is."

"I want to set you up with the Malhotra's elder daughter, Aashi. I've spoke to Mr. Rajansh Malhotra about it and he's more than happy to invest in our company if that were to happen." His father explained.

"A contract marriage? Seriously?" He asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Mrs. Deepti Malhotra and your mom are close friends. Mrs. Malhotra is searching for a suitable boy for Aashi and when your mom said that we're searing for a wife for you, Mr. Malhotra proposed this idea. Of course the marriage part was all me." Mr. Oberoi said.

"Dad..."

"The table I've gotten booked by Mr. Ahuja is for you and Aashi. They've talked to her about it and she's already seen your photo. She is unaware of the investment deal so please don't tell her about this." Mr. Oberoi requested.

"She's not aware of this?!" He asked as his voice rose up and he stood up from his place.

"Calm down. We'll tell her once the time is right." Mr. Oberoi said.

"I request you, please don't reject her or the idea without at least meeting her. She's a nice girl. Beautiful, Talented, Cultured, Classy. You name it." His Dad said as he took his seat again.

"Keep this deal aside for a moment. We're anyways looking for a wife for you. Meet Aashi once. If it's meant to be, things will fall in place by themselves." His Dad softly said. He remained silent for a moment, thinking about it.

"Okay?" Mr. Oberoi asked.

"Okay." He said and his Dad smiled. He handed him a photograph.

"That's Aashi." His father informed.

My God. She's an ethereal beauty. He thought.

Milky white skin. Slender frame. Light brown eyes. Dark brown long hair. Straight long nose. Innocent face and a smile so gorgeous, it took his breath away.

"Think about it." Mr. Oberoi requested.

What's the harm in meeting her? If I happen to like her and she likes me too, this could be something nice. If I'm being practical, this offer and this proposal have come on the right time. The company needs investment and I need a wife. He thought.

"I'll meet her." Armaan concluded.

- x -

Any assumptions on how their first meeting will go?