Dear Readers,

Thank you to everyone who has taken an active part in the comments section. Sorry for the delay. I dozed off a little in between the day.

This is an unedited draft of the book, meaning there will be several grammatical errors, name mismatches, plot discrepancies, and other sematic errors. If that is something you find offence, please do not proceed further.

The book is made available on Wattpad for feedback, once feedback is collected the book will be pulled from the platform, sent for professional editing and then published on Amazon kindle as a part of its unlimited program.

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Good day,

Swati Sandeep

The twinkling stars always helped Dhruv find peace. His mother frequently reassured him that when you lose a loved one, they transform into a star in the sky. On clear nights, he would gaze up at the vast expanse of twinkling lights, feeling a sense of comfort knowing that his mother was up there, looking down on him. He felt protected, but that day the stars only made him restless.

Dheer Maheshwari.

The boy was a stranger, but his heart insisted otherwise. No matter how hard he tried he could not stop thinking about Dheeren. Dhruv closed his eyes, trying his best to forget the past, but he could not drown the pleas of the innocent child.

"I am scared, Bhaiya. I want, Mumma."

Dhruv could still feel the little boy trembling in his arms. He could still hear his cries. Dhruv felt helpless again. At seventeen he could not do anything for his little brother. A decade had gone by since he had last seen the little angel. Dhruv prayed that he was happy in his world. His heart ached to see the boy again, but he had given his word to his mother. No matter how much he loved Dheer, his mother would always have his loyalty. All he could do was pray for the boy.

When he felt a pair of arms wrapping around him, Dhruv forced a smile on his face and turned around to deepen the hug. Dev's smile dimmed when he saw the moisture in his Bhaiya's eyes.

"Kya hua? (What happened?)" Dev wiped away the moisture with gentle fingers.

"Nothing." Dhruv shook his head. "Kuch chala gaya tha aankhon me. (Something went into the eye.)"

Dev knew his brother like the back of his hand. He could not buy the lie. "Aap yaha akele kya kar rahe ho? (What are you doing here alone?)"

"I came for fresh air, beta. What are you doing here at this time of the night? Don't you have college tomorrow?"

Dev sighed and buried his face into Dhruv's warmth. A tune left him restless. He could not get it right and he did not know how to fix it. The more he focused on the tune, the more restless he became. He needed to know where he was going wrong, until he did he could not rest properly.

"Tu kal raat bhi theek se soya nahi. Kya chal raha hai? (You did not sleep well yesterday. What is troubling you?"

Dev shook his head. He wished he could talk openly about his problems, but he could not. Even Dhriti did not understand his frustration. She offered him her unconditional support, but could do nothing to help him out of his self imposed misery.

"Dev...."

"Aaj raat aapke kamre me sojao? (Can I bunk with you tonight?)"

"Poochne ke zarurat hai? (Do you have to ask?) Let's go down. I need to finish a little work. Give me ten minutes okay?"

Dev nodded his head. Dhruv gently lifted his head. "Is something troubling you, beta? Did you find the coach?"

Dev nodded his head. He found one right next door, but was terrified to approach her. She was too near, and Dhruv could find out anytime.

"You want me to talk to them and finalize everything.? Dev shook his head. Dhriti already spoke to the young lady and fixed everything. The woman even agreed to work it out as per Dev's schedule. They had to make sure he went to her in Dhruv's absence.

"If your Di spoke to her, it would be fine. I will transfer you the fees. Tell me how much."

"Di paid the fee, Bhaiya. Everything is fine. Can we go inside now?"

Dhruv nodded his head, but he couldn't shrug off the feeling of unease. He wanted Dev to be happy, but there was something in the boy's eyes that always cautioned him. He feared that Dev was hiding something. He did not know what, but it was a feeling he could not shake off. Since the day Dev joined college he had not been the same. He missed the cheerful boy who came running to him with stories about his school. Who was eager to share every tiny detail about his day.

Dev still did that with Dhriti but with him he was a little reserved. He did not know what he had done to push the boy away, but he was ready to do anything to show Dev that he would always be there for him. He had always been a strict guardian, but he eased back a lot after Dev joined college. Dhriti made him realize that he was being overbearing. He stepped back and let Dhriti take the lead. Dev was blooming under her care, but Dhruv feared that their boy was changing. He wanted his old Dev back. If it was something he had done to push the boy away he was ready to rectify the mistake, the problem was Dev never spoke about his problems. Not to him at least.

He could not blame Dev. Growing up the kid always had Dhriti to lean on while he was busy in the kitchens. A chef's work was never done. He only came back home late at night. He was never there to listen to Dev's troubles, now that he had time, his boy was all grown up. All he could do was watch from the sidelines. He would be happy to do just that if he believed Dev was happy. Now he felt lost.

Dev tugged at his kurta to gain his attention. He had never seen Dhruv so lost before. "Kahan kho gaye aap? (Where are you lost?)"

Dhruv shook his head and warped an arm around his shoulders. He wanted to ask Dev what was troubling him when he heard the soft music drifting from their neighbors home. Dhruv tensed and looked around. Their new neighbors had finally moved in. He did not get a chance to welcome them. Usually it was Dhriti who did all the welcoming, and Dhruv was happy to let her take the lead, but the music annoyed him. He looked at his watch. It was almost one in the night. Somepeople didn't have any respect for time.

Dev took a step back. He knew the music would put Dhruv in a bad mood. He was hoping to cuddle with his Bhaiya, but his chance was just ruined. Dev felt a pang in his heart. The deception was already taking a toll on their relationship. He feared losing Dhruv forever.

When he felt Dhtuv pull him closer, he looked surprised. He was prepared for Dhruv to walk away in anger like he always did.

"Let's go inside. You need to sleep and so do I. The work can wait."

Dev could only bob his head as Dhruv guided him away from there. He turned around and looked at the neighbor's house. He could see her silhouette at the window. Alisha Dikshit. The girl could weave magic with her violin. She had taken several awards for her exceptional musical skills. At seven she had performed at the national level and won the competition. She was the best teacher he could ask for. Dev could only hope that she would not annoy Dhruv much. They could not afford more trouble.

Dheer turned around on the cheap motel bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. It was almost impossible. The mattress was too hard, and the room smelt of cheap perfume. Dheer felt a sharp sting on his neck and bolted upright. The motel owner had warned him about the mosquitoes. Dheer had not taken the warning seriously. Now he regretted not taking the mosquito coils the man offered. The mosquitoes were having a feast on his blood.

Dheer got up and swatted a few away. The way they were circling around him terrified him. He was not ready to become a sacrifice for the monsters.

"Stay away or I will burn you alive." He threatened in anger. The only reply was a sharp string on his back. The monster got him where he could not even scratch himself. Dheer groaned in annoyance and wrapped the blanket around him. Sleep was out of question. He wished he had chosen a better place, but 5000 was a nominal amount. Like Dhriti said he had to watch every penny. Even the dingy motel cost him 300 a night and he had to pay for water separately.

Dheer did not even wish to think about the washroom. He would rather die of bladder failure than use the sorry excuse of the commode. It was pathetic. Until he found a source of income he had to make do with what he had.

Dheer's stomach groaned in protest, reminding him that he had skipped dinner. He had ordered food from a local vendor, but when he had seen the man serve without using gloves, in the same plate that he had only washed with dirty water, Dheer could not stomach the food. He closed his eyes in frustration trying hard to ignore the pangs.

When he could not take the hunger anymore, Dheer reached for his phone to order a pizza. Though it would take a nip in his budget he could not go hungry. The screensaver faded away revealing his grandmother's smiling face. He always had her photograph as his background image. He always wanted to carry her wherever he went. Dheer's fingers gently traced her smile. The pang of hunger faded away as he reminded himself that he was doing it for her.

He leaned down on the bed and closed his eyes. He could do nothing for his mother, but he would not ignore the wishes of his grandmother. All she wanted was a few days with her son's children. He would make it happen, even if he had to walk through hell to fulfil her dream. 

Dheer woke up early in the morning and packed his stuff. He would have to find another place to stay. The manager told him that the checkout time was 10 in the morning. He had to report to Dhruv's restaurant at 10. He could not afford to be late on his very first day.

Dheer grabbed his laptop to check progress on the game. He had given a late night run and hoped the results loaded. He was disappointed to read the reports. The run had crashed in the early morning hours. Dheer scanned through the programme hoping to find the bug. He must have added the wrong variable. He was always careful but mistakes could not be avoided. Dheer scanned through the program until he found the error. It was a simple syntax error. Dheer shook his head in frustration. Nothing was working in his favor.

He quickly corrected the error and gave a rerun. Aama would not be happy about the delay, but the man was running on a different agenda. Dheer did not think Aman would mind a 24 hour delay, when he was rooting for a different cause. He closed the laptop and rushed to take a quick shower. Though the state of the washroom disgusted him he could not put off his morning routine, especially when he would be reporting to a commercial kitchen. He had already seen how meticulously Dhruv maintained the kitchen. He could not contaminate the place with his germs.

Dheer doused the restroom with a generous amount of sanitizing spray he got with him. By the time he was satisfied the bottle was empty. Dheer let out another frustrated sigh. The damn bottle cost him 400 bucks. More than the motel rent. He needed to find a better place as he could not waste the double amount on sanitization. He needed to plan it smartly, that is the only way he could survive. Dhriti expected him to fail, and he could not give her the satisfaction. He would learn to survive.

Commuting proved the next biggest obstacle for Dheer. The cab rates were astronomical. He had never taken public transport before and the crowds scared him. So he had chosen a hotel that was closest to Dhruv's restaurant. Even that was a good 2 miles away. Dheer decided to walk the distance. It would take him 40 minutes but he could do it. It was better than the local bus.

As he made his way to the restaurant his stomach grumbled again. He could not walk on an empty stomach so he ordered a sandwich from a local bakery. The only place that offered a closed display of food. Restaurant food was too expensive and road food was not for him. Bakery was his compromise.

He took a bite and regretted the choice immediately. It was laced with spice. He should have asked about the ingredients but the bakery was over crowded and every other customer was singing praises of the sandwich. It was only him who had a problem. Dheer tried to force a few bites, but his tongue cried in protest. He quickly grabbed his water bottle and emptied it. He could not stomach the killer sandwich. The people were crazy to even order it. The praises were an overkill.

Dheer wanted to give the chef a good piece of his mind but then realized that it was a useless thing to do. No one would care and it would only create an unnecessary scene. Not to mention that it would delay him further. He walked to the trash bin to discard the uneaten sandwich when a small hand grabbed his hand and stopped him.

Dheer looked surprised as a young boy with disheveled hair and shabby shirt looked at him with haunted eyes. He could see the boy's bones. Clearly the kid was malnourished.

"Aap nahi khaoge toh de do mujhe sahab. (If you don't want to eat, give it to me, sir.) I have not eaten for two days."

Dheer felt a pang in his heart. No child should go hungry. He offered him the sandwich without thinking. His family donated millions to homeless kids and orphans but the world was a large place. Not every child could receive their help. That was the sad reality of life. The kid chewed on the sandwich in a hurry, not caring about the spice. The pangs of hunger were the hardest to ignore.

Dheer knelt before the boy and gently ran his fingers through the disheveled hair. He could smell the sweat and dirt. That did not disgust him in any way. It only made him feel sad. The boy looked barely seven. It was not the age to be begging for food.

"Aapke parents kahan hai, beta? (Where are your parents, beta?)"

The boy shrugged his shoulders and told him that he had never seen him. Dheer looked away. He had been the same age when his parents were taken from him. Thankfully he had a wonderful family to take care of him. The kid had no one.

"Kahan rehtey ho? (Where do you stay?)"

The boy pointed to the footpath. Dheer shook his head. It was not safe. He could not leave the kid there in good conscience. It went against everything he believed in. Dheer gave his word that he would not use his grandfather's influence, but there was something he could do as a commoner. Randhawa foundations always took care of the homeless children, all he had to do was contact the NGO and inform them about the situation. He did so without hesitation and was quickly assured that someone would take care of the boy.

He was about to leave when he saw a few other kids approach the boy and ask him for a share. The boy hesitated for a few seconds before offering them each a share. Dheer shook his head. He could count more than 10 homeless children. The sandwich would not do anything for them. Dheeren Singh Randhawa could change the kid's destiny with a snap of his fingers, but he was just Dheer and he did not have the means. He quickly counted the cash in his wallet. He was left with 3800. One sandwich cost him 50 bucks. He quickly ordered fifteen sandwiches and offered it to the kids. They were surprised but happy to have the meal. Where more kids sneaked out of the shadows, Dheer could not turn away. It was not about money for him. In each child that looked at him with a desperate plea, he saw a reflection of himself. He never got the help when he begged for it. Though the pain of humiliation had only lasted a day, Dheer could never forget what he went through in those 24 hours. If he was Mrs. Randhawa would have felt qualms about walking away, but he was raised better. So he set his apprehensions aside and made sure all kids ate to their heart's content. By the time he walked away his wallet was empty, but he was happy. He would find a way to survive.

Working in a commercial kitchen was like working in a coal mine. Dheer had only started but he was sweating bullets. The head and lack of food got to him. He tried to take a few sips of water to get rid of the heat, but nothing helped. He was already flushed. The only task the sous chef assigned him was to wash the dishes and he was not able to do so without struggling.

When Dhruv walked into the kitchen he found Dheer leaning heavily against the sink struggling to breathe. He quickly rushed to the boy's aid. He had told his sous chef to keep the boy engaged until he came, but he did not want him overworked on the first day.

He quickly grabbed the dishes from Dheer's hand and asked for an assistant to take over. Dheer condition worried him.

"Do you have asthma?" That was the first question that struck his mind. Dheer struggled to concentrate but could not hear a word. He could barely breathe. Dhruv recognized the signs immediately. Only one person in his family suffered from Asthma, he knew the struggle. He helped Dheer sit down and offered him a glass of water.

"Where is your inhaler?"

Dheer tried to reach for the inhaler from his pocket but the apron was blocking it. Dhruv gently helped him reach for it and then take the required dose. Dheer was leaning heavily into Dhruv for support. The staff gathered around them worried. They had never had such an incident in the kitchens before.

"Shall I call the doctor?" The sous chef asked in worry. Dhruv shook his head and helped Dhreer to his feet. All the boy needed was a little fresh air and if he was not wrong something to eat. He asked one of the chefs to send him breakfast in his office and gently guided Dheer out of there. If it was one of his employees he would have sent them home immediately, but there was something about the way he was holding onto him that made him reluctant to let go. Dheer's hands were fisted in his apron the same way Dev's did when he was scared. He could not ignore a kid's distress.

By the time they reached the office, Dheer was feeling a lot better. Once outside the furnace he was able to breathe normally again. Dhruv guided him to the chair and encouraged him to sit. Dheer flushed when he realized that he was holding on to his Bhaiya. 'Dhruv. Not Bhaiya.' His mind whispered in caution. Dheer pulled his hands away and apologized quickly.

"You were alright yesterday" Dhurv pulled a chair and sat down next to him. "What happened today?"

Dheer remained silent. He was hungry, that was the problem, but he was too proud to say it out loud. The knock on the door startled them both. Dhruv asked the assistant to place the food on the table.

"Have it." Dhruv nudged the plate towards Dheer. "You look dehydrated and flushed. A little food always helps."

Dhruv got up and poured him a fresh glass of juice that he kept handy. "How long were you washing the dishes?"

Dheer shrugged his shoulders again. He would not complain about any work. He was there as an apprentice and it was his job to do as he was told. No work was big or small. His grandfather always told him that and he believed in it.

"I asked you a question, Dheer."

The sharp tone made Dheer look up. No one spoke to him that way. It was not demeaning but it had an edge that compelled obedience.

"For two hours" He answered against his wishes. Dhruv's eyes glinted. The kid's job was not to wash the dishes. They had cleaning staff to take care of it. He needed to have a word with his sous chef. He was already hearing complaints about the man, now he had proof on his side. He treated his employees fairly and expected the same from them. The man had no right to misuse the power he had.

"That is not a part of your job." Dhruv clarified as he once again nudged the dish towards Dheer. "Next time someone asks you to do it, tell them it is not your job. You are here to learn cooking from me. You report to no one but me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir"

The sir did not sit well with Dhruv but he did not correct the boy. "Now eat something and drink the juice. If you are asthmatic you have to be careful in the kitchen. Always keep liquids handy. We have freshly squeezed juice available to the staff. Help yourself without hesitation. You get 4 breaks in an eight hour chef. Use them wisely. Eat at every break. You need to have stamina to be on your feet for eight hours. Once service starts its madness. You cannot survive without food. The fridge is stocked with snacks. You can eat anything you want. Perks of the job. All meals are on the restaurant." Dhuv clarified.

Dheer was relieved to hear that.

"Now finish that. I will teach you the basics today. Let's see how much you can learn in a day."

Dheer finished the juice but he did not reach for the sandwich. The one he ate in the morning made him wary.

"Khao. (Eat) You need to work."

"That is spicy." Dheer told him reluctantly.

"So?"

Dheer did not answer.

"You don't eat spicy food?"

Dheer shook his head. He was not complaining.

"But our diners do," Dhruv clarified again. "You don't have to eat the same stuff but you would have to taste everything that you plate before a customer. You told me it was spicy. How do you know it?"

Dheer frowned. It looked spicy.

"Take a bite."

Dheer hesitated.

"Are you serious about the job, Dheer?" Dhruv looked into his eyes, worried. Dheer grabbed the sandwich. He could not fail the first day. If he had to burn his tongue to prove his worth, so be it. He bit into the sandwich prepared for the heat, but he was pleasantly surprised when he found it appetizing instead.

"Is it spicy?"

Dheer shook his head, savouring the bite. It was good, decent even. Not delicious, but edible.

"How would you rate it?"

Dheer gave it a little thought. "A 4.5 maybe?" If he was honest he would not give it a 3. He did not wish to offend Dhruv's feelings.

"Can I taste a bite?"

Dheer offered him the second sandwich. Dhruv cut it into four pieces and took a bite. His eyes glinted in annoyance. "That would not even rate a 2. The bread is stale."

"Is it?" Dheer had no clue.

"Yes and the cilantro is over done. It's not spicy but it is bland. I would never serve such a thing in my kitchen." He rose to his feet, his eyes sizzling in anger. Dheer knew someone would have hell to pay. He knew the glint in Dhruv's eyes. It was the same glint he had seen his grandfather's eyes often. The Randhawa's never tolerated under-performance. Dhruv was no different.

The first day proved both challenging and intriguing. Dhruv was a slave driver. Though he treated his staff fairly he expected obedience and performance. He had almost fired the chef who prepared the sandwich, sending the fear of god into everyone. Dheer quickly learned that he should not piss off the boss. If he had to win the challenge he would have to prove his worth. Dhruv taught him the basics of cutting vegetables and asked him to practice. That is all he did the whole day and yet he was exhausted.

When his shift ended, Dheer was glad to walk out of the restaurant, until he remembered his plight. He had no money in his pocket. Nowhere to go. He had to thank Dhruv for the meals. At Least he did not have to go hungry.

His stomach growled, reminding him that he needed dinner. Which was out of question. He had to wait until his shift resumed. Dheer tried to not think about the situation. Several people slept on the footpaths. Those kids survived. He was a grown up man and could do the same. His hands reached for the cigarette case. He very rarely smoked. As a teenager he engaged in the vise. When his grandmother found out about it she was extremely disappointed. He gave up the vise to please her, but despite all the help he had taken the habit was hard to let go. Everytime he was nervous he had to take a puff. He did not engage in more than a guilty puff but he did not yet find a way to break the vicious cycle. As usual the pull helped to relax, and at the same time it filled with self loathing. He wished he could get rid of the weakness.

Dhruv was about to leave when he smelt the smoke. His nose crunched in disgust. He loathed smokers. He wanted to walk away, but then he saw the boy pacing outside, looking restless. The cigarette in his hand did not sit well with him. He would have still walked away but there was something about the slouched shoulders that forced him to walk towards Dheer instead.

"Smoke karna teri adaat hai ya zarurat? (Is smoking your habit or your need?)" The cigarette slipped from Dheer's fingers. He had not heard him come. When their eyes met, Dheer felt the reproach and immediately lowered his eyes. He knew no one would appreciate the vice.

"Sorry. I won't smoke here again, sir."

Dhruv shook his head. That was not what he asked. The kid was doing it outside the restaurant. It was none of his business, but he could not hold back the reproach. Dhruv had to remind himself that the kid was 21. He did not need advice from anyone, least of all his boss.

"Go home, Kid." Dhruv said, trying to school his emotions. He did not understand why a stranger was having that effect on him. He did not wish to come off as overbearing. Dhruv frowned when he realized the kid was not moving.

"What happened?"

Dheer shook his head. He had to find some other place. He was thinking of bunking in the restaurant lobby but that was out of the question. Dhruv would never agree.

"Where do you stay?"

Dheer did not answer.

"You must be staying at a hotel right? I mean you are not from India. Did Aman make arrangements for you?"

"Aman is not my boss, sir. He does not have to take care of me. Yet" he added as an afterthought. "I can take care of myself."

Dhruv nodded his head. "Okay, so where are you staying?"

Dheer shrugged his shoulders.

"That is not an answer, kid. Where are you staying?" Dhruv's voice left no room for silence.

"I don't have anywhere to go." Dheer looked away. He had spent the 5000 Dhriti gave without meaning to. Now he was out of funds and desperate. How could he tell Dhruv that?

"Nowhere?"

Dheer shook his head but looked back at Dhruv. "But I will manage sir. I will get a night job and look for a place to stay. See you tomorrow."

Dheer wanted to leave but Dhruv stopped him. "You put in eight hours today. Why would you need a night job?"

"To earn my keep?" Dheer's eyes flashed with annoyance. He needed to get rid of Dhruv. The man asked too many questions.

"And Aman is not paying you for your job?"

"I am an apprentice who will likely fail. Why will Aman invest in me? He is not my boss, anyway."

"Then why did you take up the job?"

Dheer took a deep breath. His brother's logic was always on point. He wished he did not like that about him.

"Because if I succeed I will have three restaurants under my control and a big salary. I thought it was a good deal."

"You never work without pay, Kid. It's a dumb deal to make. If you fail you will get nothing."

"That means you will fail too?"

Dhruv shook his head. None of his staff spoke to him that way. He liked the kids honesty as long as he was being polite.

"We never know what the future holds. It's best to be prepared. You can't let Aman take advantage of you. Make sure he pays you for your time."

"I made a deal sir and I intend to keep it. I am good. Once I get another job,....."

"You will be overworked and will be of no use in the kitchen. I cannot accept that."

Dheer was at a fix. He needed another job or he would lose the bet on day one.

"I think that leaves me with no option. I will compensate for your time."

Dheer's eyes widened in shock. "Why?"

"Well because I don't take advantage of anyone." Dhruv shook his head. "And I need you to concentrate on your work. If you lose I lose too kiddo. We can't have that now. Can we?"

Dheer did not know what to say.

"Let's go home and discuss the terms of your employment. The road is not a place to have a conversation."

"Home?" Dheer tensed. His head was spinning. He did not know what Dhruv was playing at. Dhruv surprised him by placing a warm hand on his shoulder and guiding him away from the restaurant.

"Even taken the Mumbai Metro?"

Dheer shook his head. He could barely talk. Dhruv confused him.

"Then brace yourself, kiddo. You will remember the first ride for the rest of your life."

All Dheer did was gawk like an owl. For the first time Dheer was lost for words. What was Dhruv Singh Randahwa playing at?

1- Is Dheer wrong?

2- What do you think happened between Dhruv and Dheer?

3- Will Dheer stay with the Randhawa's?

4- What will be Dhriti's reaction.

5- What did you like in todays episode?

Stay tuned for the teaser.