"Memories are a way of holding things you love, the things you're, and the things you never want to lose." 

- KEVIN ARNOLD

Harshad stood from his chair, his eyes darting at every corner. Those dark orbs were staring curiously at him, numerous faces staring at him with high-profiled expectations.

Harshad loosen his tie as he passed a smile at the co-partners he was going to represent the presentation on the project assigned to him. One figure stood from the crowd as he had the most assuring smile on his face as he encouraged his son to start with the presentation.

Harshad smiled back at Mr. Mathur, he spare a glance at the audience before his eyes darted to the screen before him. "As you are aware we have joined together in a mission of connecting more people to our media. We have a tough job competing with other channels. But I will like to turn your attention to a different topic related to our goal."

He passed a warm smile, pointing his finger at the screen. "Those are the pictures of a small firm working under our branch." He went through some pictures he had clicked in his ex-office. "I was working under the firm as an employee and came across many aspects that might have gone unnoticed if I hadn't taken the job." His eyes darted to his father as if proving to himself that his decision wasn't wrong.

"We are so wrapped up in the race of coming first that we fail to realize, are we doing our job properly?" Harshad stared at them curiously to find them staring at him in confusion.

"What are you trying to initiate?" A member voiced out in exasperation. "We had worked in this manner for years. You can't simply work in the firm and point out our errors." He sounded offended as his stern gaze met senior Mathur as if degrading his idea of choosing Harshad as the successor.

"I am not pointing out the flaws but suggesting ways to improve." Harshad attempted to convince him.

"It's the same," he groaned.

"No, it isn't. I am not pointing out how the old system was bad but suggesting ways to make it more productive. I want you people not to concentrate on increasing our traffic but concentrate on the main goal of the media. We are meant to provide the audience with news, and information that could be a help not a way to provide more horror, and fear in their life. In an attempt to increase trafficking will concentrate on and exaggerate the illogical news, the news that shouldn't be given importance, and at times we just exaggerate the truth to make it spicy for the audience. That's not how audiences, especially youth minds work. They don't want irrelevant information, they are not going to believe each word printed on the paper or shown on the screen. We need to earn the audience's trust so they will come back to us."

There was silence for a minute as Harshad voiced out his suggestion. The audience was staring at him with unreadable expressions. Mr. Mathur stood from the chair and the rest followed with clapping their hands and rounds of praises followed.

Harshad had a warm smile receiving it, "thanks." He was glad to find that everyone supported his views. "So, from today our mission will be gaining the trust of our audience by providing them with authentic news as much as we can." Everyone nodded in agreement.

"We had never viewed things in this manner." The same individual that had opposed Harshad spoke. "Mr. Mathur you were correct, the young generation isn't a source of destruction but can help us to look at the world from a different perspective." He smiled at Harshad, "I will try to take your suggestion into consideration."

"Thank you, Mr. Agarwal." Harshad passed him a warm smile. "We young generation won't be able to move an ant if we don't have your support."

Mr. Agarwal smiled and patted Harshad's shoulder. "You are well-mannered as well; I must say you have impressed me with your skills at such a small age. I can imagine how wonderful this firm will progress in your hand." With those words, he walked out and the rest followed him as well.

"So, how was it?" Harshad provided senior Mathur with a goofy smile.

"I hadn't thought that your working in that office was of any use than providing me with a daughter-in-law."

"Dad!" Harshad warned him as a slight blush covered his face.

"Is my son blushing?" he voiced out in a dramatic manner. "What had that girl done to my only son?"

Harshad narrowed his eyes, "dad, are you aware of how annoying you're at times?" Harshad shook his head.

"You have started acting like her."

"You haven't even met her," Harshad pointed out in irritation.

"You have described her enough, I don't even need to meet her." Mr. Mathur winked at Harshad in a playful manner.

___

Harshad was taping his finger continuously on the streeling wheel. His eyes locked on the red-signal waiting impatiently for the signal to go green. He heard a familiar voice and darted his gaze in that direction.

"Oh! Please, I am not stupid to come in your talks." Aditi laughed at the guy sitting beside her in the car. The guy seemed a year or so older than her. His orbs glittered as he was staring at her with mischief.

"Though you might consider yourself smart you often come in my talks." The guy argued back as he pecked a kiss on her gloomy face.

Harshad smiled at the view, he didn't want to bother them so he drive off as the car signaled green. He was in rush to meet Kiara, to inform her about his greatest success. After all her wishes are a lucky charm of his.

He parked before her house, staring patiently at her balcony. He had dismissed the idea of walking into her house as he was aware that Kiara's dad was mad at him.

He dialed her number and she received it after a few minutes. "What takes you so long to receive my call?" He complained as he always picks up her call on the first ring. "It makes me feel that I am not on your priority list."

Kiara had a beautiful smile on listening to his complaints. The way he would express his innermost feelings without getting conscious. Harshad was like an open book, with no hidden secret attached.

"I am not glued to my phone like you." Kiara mocked back, "I have other important things to work on."

"Do you really consider that I am idle?" Harshad sounded offended but Kiara played along.

"Should I write it down for you?"

"Fine..." and with those words, he hung the call.

Kiara's eyes widened in shock. She re-checked her phone. Was he serious? From when he started taking her words seriously? Weren't they allowed to joke with one another?

She dialed his number. He wasn't receiving it, she groaned at his name on her screen. "Idiot, pick it up." She pouted to herself. She re-dialed him again but he cut the call. On her fifth attempt, he received her call.

"Hello," he sounded distant.

"I am sorry," Kiara mumbled softly.

"For what? And why have you called me so much?"

"What do you mean by called you so much?" Kiara groaned, "you weren't receiving my calls."

"I was discussing something important with a client." Kiara paused, feeling embarrassed. Her over-thinker mind had suggested to her that he was ignoring him.

"Oh!"

"So? Why was I disturbed so much? Don't you have anything to do?"

Kiara narrowed her eyes, "stop doing that!"

"What?"

"Using my words on me."

There was a pause for a minute before Kiara spoke again. "Weren't you upset by my words?"

"Which words?" He acted confused.

"Harshad!" Kiara groaned, "stop acting like Dhruv. I had hoped you will be different. At least you won't hesitate expressing yourself."

"What more expressive do you want me to be?" Harshad sounded exhausted, "I can't be more vocal than this. I had made it clear that you own my heart and yet you ignore my words."

"I don't ignore you, Harshad. I was busy downstairs, and I couldn't receive your phone in front of dad. He is still displeased with me. I need to sort things among us before bringing you into the discussion."

"You should tell the truth," Harshad commented.

"We aren't discussing it." Kiara sounded exhausted, "please..." she added in a pleading manner.

"Fine," Harshad gave in sensing her tension. "Come out, I am waiting for you." He muttered before ending the call.

Kiara's mouth opened in horror, she dialed his number. "Kiara! Can't you listen to my words for once?" He grumbled.

"Harshad did you again end up drinking and so early?" She glanced at the watch which was indicating six in the evening, "I had forgiven you last time because it was your birthday if you again end up in front of me in your drunken state I will kill you." She warned him making a smile to reach him.

"Damn!" Harshad chuckled, "you and your over-smart brain." Kiara was confused by his choice of words. "What conveyed to you that I am drunk? You think so ill about me?" He acted to sound offended but Kiara rolled her eyes at his drama.

"Why are you outside?"

"Are you so dumb?" Harshad accused her, "why will I be outside your house?"

"Harshad, stop fooling around and go back before dad notices your presence." Kiara sounded worried, as she slowly glanced from the window.

"I came to meet you, sweetheart." Harshad eyes were rooted on the window as well though he couldn't glance at her. His orbs were desperately waiting to get a view of her.

"Harshad, try to understand," Kiara was going to oppose but Harshad interrupted her in between.

"I want to share some news with you, Kiara. Can't I be offered with your few precious minutes?" Kiara melted at those words. She sighed, shaking her head.

"I will be there in a minute but you promise me that you will walk as soon as you have shared the news." Kiara wanted to assure herself before walking out to him.

"I will," he promised, Kiara to smile. She ended the call and slowly slipped out of her room. The hallway was empty as well, she glanced at the living area and it was vacant. She sighed in relief as she slipped out of the house without coming to notice.

Her eyes soon found Harshad leaning on his black Audi, his eyes fixed on the entrance. A smile reached his spirit on her mere glimpse. Kiara won't ever express it out loud but she loved it when that smile would surface.

She walked towards him, scanning that none was following her. "Why are you here? You could have called me or asked me to meet you at Avni's." She glared at him while he was staring at her with a heart-warming smile. His orbs were glittering in happiness, Kiara frowned.

"You seem excited, what's the matter?" Kiara sounded curious.

"I informed you about the new chapter of my life." Harshad pointed it out and Kiara nodded recollecting it. "It started with a blast, everyone was so proud of me, especially dad." His eyes were dancing like a joyful kid.

Kiara smiled, the importance of his father's approval was visible in his orbs. Just like Dhruv! The smile disappeared, why she kept on comparing him with Dhruv? But how was she to ignore their resemblances?

"Kiara," Harshad waved a hand before him. "Where are you lost?" He sounded disappointed. "I came here to talk about something so important and it seems like you share no interest."

Kiara smiled, "it isn't like that." She clarified, "I was just having some random thoughts." The most admiring trait of Harshad was he voiced his disappointment in a dramatic, friendly manner and she loved it about him. She wished only that Dhruv could learn it from him.

"You know..." Harshad voiced with enthusiasm. "Today, I derived a new notion for success and you will be proud to hear my views on it..." he narrated the entire incident Kiara wanted to concentrate but her mood drifted as Dhruv popped into her mind.

At the moment she couldn't stop her mind from comparing Harshad to Dhruv. The way Dhruv would keep his enthusiasm aside and would concentrate on her gloomy state. Questioning her, inquiring her about what was bothering her?

She wasn't considering Dhruv superior or Harshad inferior. She was just analyzing the traits she adored in them as well as disliked in them. Harshad valued her happiness; he kept her above him but there were events when she missed Dhruv.