5. Sudden Crisis

Aryaman's POV

Before we left, Maitri stopped me and took my number. I drove everyone home and then went to work. Mumma and dad tried alot to ask me questions, but my one-word replies were enough to calm them down.

I waited the whole day for Maitri's message, but it never came. Probably she's busy. And so am I at this point. I got busy with work and soon the day ended with me tired.

Wrapping up things for the day, I drove back home and went straight to my room to find mumma sitting on the bed holding the photo frame which had my recent picture in it.

"Mum" I called her bringing her attention to me.

"Aryuu" She looked up at me with a huge smile.

"All okay?" I asked, placing my laptop bag and a few folders on the sofabed in my room.

"Yeah, just wanted to talk to you" I walked to her confused and made her sit on the bed.

"You are happy with this na?" She asked cupping my face in her soft, delicate hands.

"Haan, why are you asking me this?" This is getting super weird. I don't like talking about my feelings, its awkward yaar.

"Aise hi. I know we kind of pressured you into meeting Maitri but I really wish that you want to continue because you WANT it to. If you don't want to go ahead with this, I'll try to talk with Rish" That's my mumma. She can read me like a book. She always knows what I want and when I want. She'll go lengths for me, Avi and Aaru, even if it means standing up against our hitler Dad.

Holding her hands in mine, I laid down in her laps.

"She talks a lot and I can listen to her a lot. Probably after knowing each other some more, we might make a perfect match" I closed my eyes in her laps, feeling at home.

"Perfect match or not doesn't matter bacha. Tumhare maan mein woh bas ni chahiye. Marriage isn't something to play around with. There'll be times when you both will fight or disagree with the other and its not a bad thing. If you are fighting with your siblings who share the same blood as you then she is a completely different person. Aryu... Don't draw a line between you and her.

Zindagi badi lambi hai, haste ghelte guzaaro naki rote rote. Accept her with full heart, I know its an arrange marriage and you both don't know much about her but think from her side too, she also doesn't know you. You both are on the first layer of a person's nature. Aap dono ek dusre ke ankhoon ko toh pasand aagaye, aab apne dil ko bhi puch lijiye, kya woh pasand kabhi aayegi?" Mumma caressed my hair lovingly, making me sleep immediately.

"Even after spending time with her, anytime you feel that its not going to workout, say it out clearly. Aap humare liye shaadi mat kijiye. Marry because you want to. If there's a problem, I'll sort it out. I've always sorted it out, remember when you thought you were an artist and thought it would be a good idea to paint our walls, tab bhi humne hi fix kiya tha? Same way I'll fix even in future" She pulled my head up and stood up, pressing a kiss on my forehead.

"Mumma...no need to remind me of those embarassing moments again" I said wiping the wetness of the kiss from my forehead.

"At least then you used to not wipe away kisses like this. Ganda bacha" She wiped it clean with her dupatta suddenly becoming serious.

"Aryu" She said holding my face up.

"Don't hurt that girl because of something you want. Punishing someone else for what you desire isn't right baba. I know I've raised you right, don't do anything that'll break my belief" Saying that mumma left me alone in the room with my thoughts. Just when I was to come at a conclusion for something that I don't remember, my phone pinged with a notification.

(Left side- Maitri, Right side- Aryaman)

M-Hi, Maitri this side.🙂

A-Hey, how are you?

M-How was your day? I didn't do much after you left. Divi asked for details of what we talked and just random things.

M- I'm good. After talking to Divi, I went out with my friends to buy stuff I need for my home, New York one! What did you do?

A-Went to office, did work.

M-Nice. What kind of songs do you listen to? I tried listening to English songs but it never worked out for me, so I stick with hindi songs. I listen to all, retro, 2000s even the current ones, basically everything.

A-Nice, I don't listen much to the current music. It is either stupid or just remixed. If I wanted to hear a remix, I'd have heard the original one. I think the 2000s was the last era where good music was produced.

M-Totally agree with you. There's no good beats, no good lyrics, just nudity in every song. I hate nudity in some stuff but... but there's also some good songs in right now era You know what, I'll send you some songs, you'll love them. What mood are you in? Happy, sad, party mood, which one?

She talks so much yaar. She's so cuteee. It is like those toys where you turn the key as much as you can and then the toy keeps dancing.

I won't be surprised if I find her talking to herself in front of the mirror. Oh wait, this character doesn't even need a mirror to talk to herself. I saved her number as Maitri and returned to 'chat' with her.

M-Kaha chale gaye aap? Forget all that, try this song.

She sent me a youtube link that took me to Jab Saiyaan song from Gangubai Kathiawadi. I know this one, its a good song. Mum was singing this last whole week every now and somehow it only came out when dad returned home.  Weird how you can express emotions through songs.

M- Did you like it? I was vibing to it right now and then remembered that I should also text you so here we are.

Why is she always so excited? What does she eat such that she has so much energy. I was going to reply her when I heard mum shout for dinner time.

A- Will talk later, mum calling for dinner

M- Sure, see you later

I quickly took a short bath before heading down. I was mid step when my phone rang constantly without break. I saw my P.A calling me repeatedly. Worried, I chucked the phone and heard the anxious and worried voice of my P.A.

"Sir we have a huge problem in the New York branch" FUCK! FUCK FUCK! Why does all the problems in the life know only my address. Rushing to the living room, I switched on the T.V to see our New York branch reports swarming on all news channel. Dad and everyone rushed to the living room and were shocked with the news. The investors have been pulling out their money from the company due to the tax fraud allegations. We pay all our taxes man? What the fuck!

"I need to leave for New York at the earliest" Throwing the remote onto the sofa I tried rushing to my room while asking for my private jet to be prepared at the earliest.

"Wait! Aryu, Maitri also works in that branch, ask her if she knew any of this or has an idea of why such happened. Ask her once" Dad said. Nodding my head I quickly checked for my last text rang her number.

"Hello" I greeted impatiently.

"Did you see the news? I'm just saw the news and called you" I heard the worry in her voice.

"Yeah, I received a call from P.A" I said walking to my room, switching on my laptop.

"I am trying to call a few work friends but none of them are answering me but I'll keep trying and inform you in case I find something important" I could sense that she must be walking back and forth in her balcony clutching her phone tightly.

"Do you have access the financial records for taxing? "I asked hearing the protestors complain about things.

"No. These things happen on a way higher level, interns aren't allowed to access those files directly" She replied hurriedly as I scrolled through other channels to hear what they had to say.

"The records I have show clearly that we've been paying taxes as we should. Investors pulling out would create a bad name for us in the market" I pulled onto my hair in frustration.

"Maan...deep breathe. Things will work out. Don't stress. There must be some type of miscommunication or something. It can be dealt with. And if someone is doing insider trading you can find the backstabber. Right now you need to handle a different crisis, you need to maintain the trust of your investors in you and for that you need to be the normal you. Cold and dominating. And as of the accounts, I am an intern so I didn't have full access to the records but if you can show it to papa or anyone for the matter, it might help in finding the error or the betrayer. Clear?" She took a deep breathe and spoke calmly with me. Gone was the girl who ranted things excitedly, now stood a woman who knew what her next step should be. I hate shocks!

"Aryu your flight is ready" Avi said opening the door to my room.

"Ask dad to come here at the earliest and call Akshit uncle. If he doesn't need him here then I can take him with me to New York and while I handle the investors, he can check the accounts" Avi nodded his head and ran off leaving the room door open.

"Papa doesn't have U.S visa" She said softly raising my anxiety.

"Fuck! He handles all the final financial documents, I need him there for reconfirming our finances" I asked removing a suitcase from the closet and throwing in random clothes.

"Aryaman!" I heard uncle's voice instead of the soft, angelic voice of hers.

"Ji?" I stood at the edge of the bed waiting for him to say something.

"Take Maitri with you. She's as good as me. I can take her guarantee. Am not saying because she's my daughter but because she has shown everyone her capabilities. Try her" One thing about Akshit uncle, he will never take guarantee of anyone until he trusts that person wholeheartedly after testing them for a long time. Getting in his good books is as hard as having water flow in opposite direction. But will she be able to find the issue? I heard her arguing with uncle in the background.

"Take her" Dad said entering the closet with crossed arms.

"Fine, get ready and meet me at the airport. Don't enter but stay at the gate. Am reaching there in 15 minutes. How long will it take you?" I asked shutting my laptop close and throwing it inside the suitcase and zipping it close.

"Not more than 20 minutes. Divi will drop me at the airport so I'll reach almost at the same time as you" She replied with her voice sounding far from the speaker.

"Divi bring my bag" I heard her asking Divi to get the bag as she I think removed her dresses to pack. Cutting the call, I pulled the suitcase with me downstairs, answering multiple calls, all investors and share holders were now pointing their guns at me. I wish this gets over pretty soon so none of them receive a piece of my mind before the real time.

"Aryu aryu aryu" Mumma came running holding a tin in her hands.

"You and Maitri eat in flight, you haven't had dinner. Remain strong. I know you'll figure the mess out. You are my son and I know you have it in you to sort out things. Don't panic, don't stress. You can do this" She placed the tin in my tiffin bag and hugged my tightly before leaving a kiss on my cheek.

"I'm not going for an exam mumma yaar" Cringing at the way she motivated me made me smile at her.

"Shut up! Don't stress much, Rish will be talking to the investors and Avi will be finding out our next legal steps. I trust all 3 of you" She kissed my cheek lovingly. Saying bye to everyone I sat in the car, still answering my dumb investors to not believe everything they see on T.V.

My driver drove the car at a great speed and dropped me at the airport. Within 10 minutes I saw Maitri standing infront of me in a red and black saree.

Why is she wearing a saree at this time of the night? The pallu of her saree was all gathered up at her shoulder as she got down from the scooter, kissing Divi's cheek saying bye before walking hurriedly towards me.

"Chale?" She asked pulling the pallu of her saree down and dragging the bag behind her. Nodding my head we passed through immigration and everything faster than everyone else. The bellhops helped us with the bags.

I forwarded my hand to her to help her climb the stairs. Placing her one hand in mine, she held the pleats of the saree in the other one and matched with my speed.

"Thanks for the help" She murmured standing at the entrance in shock.

"Woah!!! This doesn't look like a plane in any way" Her eyes moved from one end of the plane to other taking in all the interiors.

"Sit doll, fawn over the interiors later dear" Pulling her with me, I made her sit on the opposite side of my seat. The pilots made the announcement, and we tucked the seatbelts.

"The stock prices are also hitting rock bottom after the news" I pinched my forehead in stress before looking at her who looked at me worriedly. She must have not eaten too? To prove me right, her stomach growled loudly. I removed the tin mum packed for us and laid it on the table.

"Aye even my mum packed for me and you, here" She removed a cute tin from her purse and placed it on the table. I gave her mine and stared into the phone.

"Maan...before you scold me and stuff, eat properly. I know you don't feel like eating but if you'll be weak there then none of this that you are doing now would matter. You need to remain strong and stable. Eat, please" She said opening both the tins and looked around to get plates. I pointed in the direction behind her. She stood up immediately and got the plates. Serving the matar kachori her mother made in my plate alongside the aloo paratha my mum made. She removed a even smaller tin that contained pickle and placed it on the table.

"Eat" She said and touched the plate and closed her eyes, praying something.

Maitri's POV

Things were going quite okay until we saw the crisis on T.V. Stuff happened so fast that now I am here in this super luxurious plane that looks no less than heaven. Out of habit, after serving ourselves, I touched the plate and prayed before eating.

"Why do you serve me always? You don't have to serve me food, I can do it myself too" He asked not touching his plate yet.

"Its out of habit. I used to serve Divi first before serving myself so whenever I have a company, as a reflex I serve them first" I replied chewing onto the matar kachori. They are my favorite amongst the other favorites list. He hummed and tore a piece of the paratha, dipping it in the pickle with his full attention on the phone.

"Can I say something?" I asked keeping my voice soft. He again hummed and looked at me to continue.

"This is a 15-hour flight. You can't spend 15 hours thinking about what you will do once you are there. I understand that you are answerable to many people but think about it from another end. What can you do sitting in this flight, flying above I don't know how many meters from the ground? Instead of crying over spilt milk, make a plan of things you have to and leave them there. Being worried is a common thing but moving on from it is also necessary no?" I didn't dare lift my eyes at him. Who knows when this mad man might blast like a volcano. He was either way looking like one when we checked in. He didn't say anything but kept his phone aside and ate silently.

"Can you access the accounts of New York branch from here?" I asked after a few minutes of silence, checking it was okay for me to speak.

"Yeah, why?" He asked getting up to wash his hands. I quickly followed him behind.

"I can get on to my work now" I said waiting for him to move so I can wash my hands.

"You have your stationary?" He asked amused for some reason. What's amusing here?

"I kind of like carried the printing papers in a hurry but they'll work" I was to carry a notebook but then didn't know how messy things could be so instead took the whole packet of papers and dumped it in my luggage bag.

"You have your laptop?" He asked giving me space.

"Yupp"

"Give me your email, I'll send you the things you need" He waited for me to recite my email and then walked away.

"Your luggage is in the room" He pointed in a direction and again stuck his nose in the phone.

When I say I can live in this plane life long, I am not lying.

I can live my entire life in here with 0 regret of anything. Keeping in my mind to fawn over things later, I placed my bag on the bed and removed my laptop and threw it on the bed alongside my stationary pouch. Removing my shoes and pulling my saree up, I sat on the bed with my back leaning onto the headboard and closed the windows, it was getting cold yaar. I wrapped the shawl that I borrowed from mum before coming here around my body and opened the laptop to get back to work.

It was then when I realised that I didn't have wi-fi but the laptop showed that the plane did have wi-fi which was password protected. Getting up from the bed with the laptop in my hand I walked out to find him shouting on someone. Ignoring it I sat beside him and pointed in the direction of my laptop. He didn't stop shouting but did enter the wi-fi password thankfully.

I quickly ran away from there and dumped myself on the bed. I opened my mail to find the documents already emailed to me.

Great, now I can show everyone the Mayu magic! I opened youtube and played 90s hindi songs getting down to work.

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