NITARA A Tale Of His Unbreakable Vows

VEER

Two years ago. 📍 California, USA. 

My days always started with a few similar things that had become the constant drill of my life. The conference room at my company, tucked high in a skyscraper, buzzed with the energy of productive morning meetings. 

Being a CEO was a tough job, but that's the beauty of life. If one had no ambition, then they weren't really living. 

I was new in this race, but I could see the confidence of a lot of old players falling, like falling off a house of cards. SMtech was awarded the best start-up launch two years ago, though it had been two years but still I had got the eyes of people who had their doubts on us. Too bad for them. 

I was sitting at the head of the long mahogany table in my office, surrounded by my dedicated colleagues, the heartbeat of my thriving company. It's because of them, we were here after all. 

James, my secretary and someone whom I trusted the most, sat across from me on the nearby chair. We were discussing the strategies and numbers, technical jargon and financial figures, the future of our company depended on these meetings. 

My gaze drifted away from the graphs and charts on the screen to the window that offered breathtaking views of the city below in this room with modern furnishings. The floor to ceiling stretched window took my attention.

Actually, it was what was beyond the glass that urged me to stop the meeting. The clouds gathered in dark, heavy clusters, casting a shadow over the vibrant landscape. 

"Guys, let's take a five." I said, with my gaze still lingering over the window. I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as the first raindrops splattered against the windowpane. 

I stood up, leaving the meeting momentarily and walked towards the window. The colour of my suit merged with the darkened clouds in my reflection on the glass. A bittersweet nostalgia that seemed to surface every time the heavens wept took over me. 

The city looked beautiful covered with the stretch of heavy pouring but my mind was transported to a different time. 

It had been a decade since I last saw her, since I last felt her warmth and heard her laughter. An old flame that had never quite extinguished, even as life had carried us in different directions. The raindrops ran down the windowpane, mirroring the tears I had caused her to shed. 

I closed my eyes, remembering her smile, infectious and radiant, as if it had the power to chase away the gloomiest days of life. It really had. And her scent, a delicate blend of jasmine and vanilla, lingered in my thoughts, a scent I could never forget. 

I knew I had made a mistake, that I had hurt her deeply. Our paths had diverged, and I had built this company, driven by ambition and dreams of success, while she had pursued her own journey. A journey that didn't include me. 

I opened my eyes, gazing at the rain-swept world beyond. I knew the truth, that she would never give me a second chance. The hurt I had caused was too deep, the wound too old. But as the rain continued to pour, I couldn't help but wish for a chance to make things right, to see her again, to hear her laughter, and to hold her close. 

I sighed and turned away from the window, my heart heavy with the weight of longing and regret. The meeting beckoned me back to reality, but the memory of my first love, Nitara Sharma, like the rain outside, lingered a constant presence in my life. A reminder of what could have been. 

————

I waited for my coffee to get prepared and a slight smile appeared on my lips as I checked my phone. The notification tone chimed and a video message popped up on the screen. 

It was from Atty. I hadn't heard from her in a long time, and the sight of her name filled me with nostalgia and excitement. I took my coffee mug and walked towards the couch, got settled and tapped the message. 

The video started but I couldn't see her face, an invitation card was right in front of the camera that had hidden her face, only her forehead was visible. 

When I read it completely my heart raced and I couldn't help but chuckle. 

We invite you to come to our engagement

Aatma kalyani Talwar & Shaurya Randhawa 

"I know, I know. You are laughing, guess everyone did when they saw the invitation card"  I finally heard her voice as she lowered the card and showed her face. 

Atty had only one big regret of her life, her name. If things could have been under her control she would have changed her name the moment she got into her mother's womb. 

I grinned as I saw her face after a long time, she had become more beautiful. She was the kind of friend who could brighten anyone's day. 

"I would have said that it's been ages and I missed you Veer only if you could have picked up the call but as usual you didn't. Nevermind Mr billionaire. I have news to spill" 

Her face beamed with happiness as she held up her hand to reveal a sparkling diamond decorating her ring finger. 

"I'm getting engaged, Veer! Yes Me! Finally" 

My smile widened and I wished to be there with her. I missed those days of school. The times when we used to be inseparable, plotting pranks, competing in class, and confiding our secrets to each other.  

"I know you're very busy making dollars but this is my engagement. Dollars can wait." 

I knew what she was trying to say, she didn't need to ask me for this. She was my best friend and this was the biggest thing of her life. 

I would definitely be with her. 

Her smile turned wistful as she looked straight. 

"Aaja yaar. I'll be waiting for you."  

The video ended leaving me all washed with memories of us. 

What if I'll see her there? 

I felt a renewed sense of hope and purpose. 

Maybe Atty's engagement would give me a chance to lessen the burden over my chest. 

—————

MAAN 

At Sabharwal manor. 📍Delhi, India.

The first rays of the morning sun painted the empty roads of Delhi in a warm, golden hue as I rode my Harley Davidson back home. The engine's purr had been my only companion, a soothing lullaby on my solitary ride. 

There's something about those early morning rides, the world still asleep, the streets yours to conquer, that just spoke to my soul. The wind against my face, the hum of the engine in my ears, it was my meditation, my escape. 

My manor came into view, a sprawling mansion that had been in our family for generations. 

Rich old money aesthetic. 

As I parked the bike and dismounted, I couldn't help but smile. The thrill of the ride was something I could neve put into words. It was my morning ritual, my therapy, and something, my defiance against the world. 

Dad never liked me riding bikes and his dislike made me want to get into biking even more. 

I had a different equation of love with my late father. 

I entered the grand hall, the scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries wafted through the air. Though half of the world must be sleeping at this hour, but Sabharwals? The urge to wake up the earliest in the whole world ran into the genes. 

My family was gathered around the large dining table, some had joined for breakfast and some were still in the process. It was sharp seven in the morning and my family was ready to start their day. 

Their voices animated conversation. I leaned on the doorframe, taking a moment to watch them, unseen. 

My mother, Neeta Sabharwal, elegant and poised, the head of our family and my everything, paced back and forth with a concerned frown etched on her face. 

"Where is Maan?" She asked, her voice tinged with annoyance. 

My elder sister, Gunjan, chimed in with a teasing grin, "he's probably out on that ridiculous bike of his again, Mom." 

She was engrossed in her laptop, studying the figures of the sales of last month's collection of our fashion brand, PANASH!. 

She was one hardworking woman with sass under her tone. 

Across from my sister, my elder brother, Rohan, sat at the head of a long wooden table, sipping a cup of masala chai. 

Bhabi( Aarohi Sabharwal) was sitting beside him. 

Bhaiya was more understanding of my quirks than Di, he just simply shrugged. "Let the boy have his morning ride, Mom. It's his way of finding peace." 

My mom stopped from her parade for a second and glared at him. He dipped his eyes back on his ipad reading the current news. 

Hunny Kohli, my Jiju (brother-in-law) and a permanent Ghar jamai by his choice, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think it's cool, Mom." 

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I watched my family's exchange. Their complaints about my early morning rides were nothing new. My mother, in particular, had always been a worrier. She'd fret over me as if I was still a child, even though I was a grown man now. COO of PANASH. 

She had the problem with me moving out to an apartment near the office as our manor was in the outer parts of Delhi. And handling PANASH's headquarters had been under my name. Di worked with me, as CEO. 

Bhaiya had taken over the other lines of our business as after dad's death, he was the next to own the empire. 

Unnoticed by them, I pushed away from the doorframe and took a few silent steps towards the hall. Mom, growing more impatient by the minute, finally exclaimed, "he should have more sense than to ride around the city at this hour. I don't understand his obsession with that bike" she paused for a second and took a seat on the chair behind her. 

"In fact I don't understand his weird habits for getting obsessed with stupid things. First this bike and second that kashmir wali ladki" (a girl from Kashmir) 

"I agree with you mom, he's still obsessed over her," Gunjan added. 

"It was his love at first sight baby, just like ours" jiju replied on which he gained a blank stare from his wife, aka my di. 

"Yeah, I regret it now. Why are you here? Why don't you ever go home? Our home I'm talking about. Do you really wish to be Ghar jamai for life?" She was annoyed, as jiju didn't even bother to respond. He just winked at her and nodded grinning widely.  

"I still remember that day when he came back from that trip from Kashmir with a broken hand and plaster around his arms. He saw me and came running like a kid and said, mom mom mom, mujhe pyar hogya. (Mom, I think I have fallen in love)" 

"I asked with whom? And He replied, with the world's most beautiful yet lethal woman. Maine kaha vo toh mai hu. And he had the audacity to deny that just because he saw a pretty girl." (I said that's me) 

"I'm just fed up of his obsession with bikes and rides"

She rolled her eyes as she talked about that incident again for god knows how many times. Since last year she has been repeating this. Since the time I saw that girl. 

I decided it was time to make my presence known. With a playful grin, "maybe I just can't resist the open roads and the beauty of a Delhi sunrise, Mom" 

Their faces turned to me, eyeing me up and down still in my biker gear. My mom's exasperation turned into a mixture of relief and annoyance as she scolded me. 

"You made me worried, Maan!" 

I approached her and wrapped my arms around her, planning a kiss on her cheek. 

"I promise, Mom. I'll be careful. But there's nothing quite like the freedom of the open road at sunrise. And Kashmir wali apse zyada khoobsurat hai " ( that girl from Kashmir is more beautiful than you)

I straightened up as soon as I finished and she turned her face, annoyance dripping from her eyes and I couldn't control my laugh. 

"Khoobsurat nahi, manhoos hai" (she's not beautiful but a jinx) 

"The moment you saw her, you got into an accident and now even after one year you are still hinged to her like a mad man" she rolled her eyes once again and i held her closely into my arms. 

Bhaiya, bhabhi, Di and Jiju exchanged glances, silently acknowledging my enduring love for my bike and sunrise and also to that unknown girl. 

"When are we leaving for Shaurya's engagement?" Jiju asked as he stuffed his mouth with a bite of croissant. 

"Did they send the invitation?" He added. 

"Of course! Sabharwals ko kon nahi jaanta " (Who doesn't know Sabharwals) 

My mother said as she made a plate for me with fresh pastry and croissant. 

"I didn't know Sabharwals" I looked back across my shoulder and spotted bhabhi, she looked at us after dropping her bomb. 

Bhaiya took her hand and kissed the back of her palm. "And that's why I fell harder for you" 

My mother rolled her eyes again, though she was kind, passionate and a wonderful woman but she was also an Indian mother-in-law. 

She turned back attention to me. 

"Beta, meri pasand ki ladki se hi shadi karna. Na ki in dono ki tarah" 

(Son, please marry the girl of my choice not like what your brother and sister did) 

I chuckled again, my mother was so concerned about my marriage after seeing Gunjan and Rohan marrying for love. 

"Yes Maan, at least learn from me, '' Gunjan added. Jiju exchanged a loo with me. I nodded to assure him that it was his insult. He was so busy in those croissants he didn't bother to listen. 

"It was you who went behind Jiju and approached him. You even forced dad to get us into St. Laurence, instead of Delhi public school." Gunjan heard me and closed her laptop the next second. 

"Trust me, I'm still in regrets" 

This was nothing to my surprise, these banters had been a part of my life and I loved it with all my heart. 

I settled next to bhaiya as I had to discuss the next project launch. "Bhaiya, they are increasing the taxes on the raw fabrics by 5% for the next season, isn't it too much?" 

"How many times I have told you Maan, to call you brother as veer ji, not bhaiya." My mother interrupted me and a chill got settled on the back of my neck. 

Ye bhaiya bhaiya kya laga rkha hai?veer ji bol apne bade bhai ko. 

His roaring words striked back at me like an unannounced thunder, my breakfast felt bitter on my tongue as my dad's words took its home in my mind. 

I got up from the chair, that gave a hint to everyone what just happened. It was something they were pretty used to. Like I said, my love equation with my dad was pretty different. "Mom, don't act like dad please" 

She realised what she just did. No one in this house mentioned dad in front of me. 

I left the dining hall and came back to my room. Solitary, that was the only way to calm me down whenever I get pulled back into this darkness of mine. 

I knew what would happen next, just in a minute gunjan and Rohan would be here with their stupid faces. One, two , three

"Oye, Mrs Sabharwal's Loverboy" the high pitched voice of my sister entered my room from behind me.  

I smiled at the nickname she had given to me when I started calling that girl as Mrs Sabharwal.  "What do you want?" 

Bhaiya came forward with a plate with my breakfast. "Don't waste your food and you know you can call me whatever you want, Maan. Don't mind mom's words okey?" 

I nodded and smiled at both of them. They needed to know that I was no longer their little brother but a grown up man now. But somewhere I didn't want to stop them at all. They had been for me at times when I felt like giving up.

"Now relax and tell me what's the plan for Shaurya's engagement?" Di asked, giving a headlock to me. 

"It's gonna be wild and crazy." I winked and they both gave me looks that made me smile even more.