Aman's Apartment

Thrusting his legs straight backward, he pulled the water with his arm....

A perfect breaststroke!

The exotic swimming pool in this luxurious apartment club was secluded at this point of time. A few people could be seen jogging on the track, around the pool early morning.

'Swimming is a good workout.'

He moved forward cutting the water with his masculine body.

'But to have a private pool is better than this.'

Arnav held the metal frame to push his wet glistening body out of the pool. Although it was Sunday, he had woken up early today. The reason was the call from the agent, he had hired to spy on the traitors of company.

It was a week since that meeting in G&R where he had figured out the suspects.

That day he was successful in passing the proposal of having a deal with 'Trustiano' as per the plan.

As expected Khushi had vehemently opposed it. But with his negotiation skills, he had taken many of shareholders on his side. Anyways he had the majority.

Khushi was enraged beyond limits. But she had not brought the matter before her father, maybe due to his health condition. She had gone into the silent mode.

'Don't know what is going into her little head.'

The next day he had made a visit to his Di's home which was a Sunday.

'She is happy with jeejaji.'

That's what he had felt after spending a night at their 4 BHK flat. Although they had insisted him to shift with them, he had denied. He didn't want to disturb the couple.

The most dramatic thing of the week was the breakup of Aman.

"Nannav, she never loved me. She was not serious." A very drunk Aman in his Devdas avatar was found in a bar in the midnight.

"Aman, find out what he was doing in Mr. Jha's cabin and send me today's CCTV footage of your floor lift."

He still remembered every word of Khushi's outburst on that Saturday.

Although Khushi seemed to have forgotten about it, Poor Aman had taken the command too seriously and got the CCTV footage.

Instead of sending it to Khushi directly he had decided to inspect it first, only to find Sheetal behaving so immodestly with Arnav.

Finding it difficult to believe, Aman had confronted her. They had a fight followed by his broken heart.

Rest was the history but the bottom line was that Sheetal had some selfish motive and she was also involved in that 'Trustiano scandal'.

The call in the morning had confirmed it.

Buaji had sensed that something had happened with her son, so she had appeared on the Wednesday evening, travelling straight from Lucknow to this apartment of Aman in Delhi.

That had helped a lot, because Aman had sobered up although not completely.

"ASR, don't tell anything to Amma." Aman had requested.

So, Madhumati was still oblivious to the reality.

"Chhote, bring all your things from Gupta Sadan here. It's not appropriate, to live in the same home with two young unmarried girls."

Buaji had admonished Arnav too when she found that Arnav was living with Shashi since few days.

'Buaji is very old-fashioned.'

And that's how Arnav had shifted to Aman's apartment next day.

The apartment was in the posh locality, meeting the international standards of luxury living. Aman had bought it 2 years ago.

Laced with latest amenities and facilities that one can think of.

Arnav thought taking the towel out of his bag. The location was also strategic.

In fact Arnav had also started to look some dwelling for himself. His presence in Delhi might be long, this time. He couldn't live in Gupta Sadan or with Aman or Di for so long. It would be good if he arranged his own accommodation soon.

Hearing some commotion, Arnav suddenly raised his eyes, only to find 2-3 teenage girls ogling him.

Girls!

Well, his wet shorts were clung to his body below his hip bones, while upper body was stark nake, displaying his stout muscles. The 6-pack abs were certainly an eye-treat, which were more appealing in the morning sun rays.

He ignored the girls, drying himself with the towel...but girls were a bit forward.

"May I help you?"

He found one of those girls, walking towards him. She might be in early twenties.

Arnav was not reluctant to some casual flings specially when the opposite party is so much eager.

After all a man has needs.

The girl was attractive, but too young for his own good. He had to control his urges.

"You CAN, but first..." He said with an impassive face, "..you need to grow up a little more!"

His voice was husky but mocking.

The other two girls, who were onlooking from a distance, giggled on his comment, while he gave them a wink.

Putting on a tee shirt, he closed the girl's mouth, pushing her jaw up with his finger. She was still in shock on his retort.

While Arnav had walked to then apartment, now changed into fresh clothes.

"Babua, which sabzi will you have with khasta?"

"Sabzi?"

Arnav looked at the multiple cuisines on the table.

"Buaji, why did you prepare so much early in the morning."

"Why not? I have even made hot jalebis for you and Aman. You might have missed it in foreign land!!"

The reply from Buaji made Arnav remember the breakfast encounter in Gupta Sadan last week.

"You talk like Lavanya, Buaji."  Arnav was amused...

"Lavanya? Shashi's daughter?"

"Yes, when I had come from US, she had all Chappan Bhog ready in the breakfast last week."

"How sweet of Lavanya Bitiya. I like the girl very much. Sweet, pretty and civilised."

Buaji said while Arnav was confused how to eat such a heavy meal.

He took the first morsel. "You had met her at Di's marriage, right?"

"Haan Babua,that was the first time. After that I had met her some months ago at your Nani's place."

Buaji shared the memory, "I had even proposed Shashi for Lavanya and Aman's marriage."

Now this made the morsel stuck in the wrong pipe, as Arnav started coughing...with he newfound news.

"Have it slowly beta! Hai re Nandkishore!"

Buaji handed him a glass of water.

Although Arnav had no serious feelings for Lavanya, he was not sure of Lavanya and Aman's reactions....

'Did Aman know about it?'

"What did Gupta Uncle say?"

"What will he say! The elder daughter Khoosi is yet to get married. How will he marry off the younger one before the elder one?"

Arnav just nodded...while Madhumati continued.

"But Khoosi is so opposite to Lavanya. Shouldn't talk bad about anyone but Nandkisore! I am worried who will marry her? "
Arnav remembered NK...as he made a face on the idea of getting married.

"Why are you not eating Chhote?"

"Yes Buaji. Where is Aman?"

"Doing his exercise. Will be coming."

._._._.

Aman's Bedroom

Keeping an incline of 8, Aman set the speed at 6mph. The treadmill in his spacious bedroom was running since last 30 minutes but he was in no mood to stop.

"Yes I had approached ASR. It's good that you come to know about it."

Sheetal's voice from that night was plaguing his mind.

"Because you are too outdated. Who in the 21st century remains celibate till 27 years of age?"

She had behaved total opposite to her earlier self.

'Was she really acting earlier?' Aman clenched his jaw now with the realisation.

ASR had told him that Sheetal had been using him. She wanted to extract some important information about company and involved in some scandal.

"I had thought that the MD of such a big company living in such a high society would have liberal thoughts. But you haven't come out of that middle class mentality."

Sheetal had insulted him. It was true that they didn't have any physical intimacy. But Aman wanted to wait till marriage or till he tell his mother about her.

'There is nothing wrong in it.'

After all, to respect each other is the essence of any relationship.

"You don't deserve a modern girl like me."
She had said.

"The truth is that you don't deserve to be a part of an honourable society, Sheetal Khanna!"
He had answered her back...before adding,

"Your intentions were always maligned. It is my mistake that it took so long to know you. Now don't show your face to me again. We are over." Aman had left her home.

'It is good, Amma didn't meet her earlier.'

Aman was thankful, while he was panting badly. His shirtless upper body was dripping with sweat. While his eyes was red shot with anger.

The ringing phone made him press the Stop button. His Secretary was calling him.

"Hello...." He waited to hear from other side, "What? Shashi sir....Ok."

Aman was shocked and worried as he put the phone back. Quickly Grabbing the workout towel he ran outside. 'Have to inform ASR.'

._._._.

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