Shaurya walked up to the sliding doors leading to the balcony of his penthouse. He stepped outside, barefoot, the floor still wet from the rain earlier. It had finally stopped pouring. The rain left behind it the refreshing monsoon breeze along with the soft subtle scent of the wet soil. Leaning against the railing of his balcony, he soaked in the aftermath of the rain.

A small smile appeared on his face as he watched a few children from the street release a paper boat into the nearby pothole that was filled with rainwater. While adults like himself will see the pothole as a significant inconvenience, the children saw it as an opportunity to have fun.

He heard Lucky call out his name and knock on his bedroom door, but he ignored him and focused on the way the breeze felt on his skin.

Shabby uniform, tousled hair, and worn out shoes. A 15 year old Shaurya stood in front of the class at St. Thomas high school in Dehradun.

"Class, I would like you all to meet your new classmate. Shaurya Gupta." The teacher had said.

Some clapped with genuine enthusiasm, some snickered and laughed at his attire, while some just sat quietly. He hadn't bothered to look up. He didn't want to be here. This school wasn't for people like him, and he knew that he would always stick out like a sore thumb.

"Have a seat beside Dhvani." She instructed.

He finally looked up to see where he was supposed to sit.

A bespectacled young girl had her hand raised in the air for him so he could spot her. She wore a uniform similar to his, but hers were much more cleaner and probably her own. Unlike his uniform which his father had gotten from the son of the man, he worked for.

He dragged his feet and slumped into the seat beside the girl that had raised her hand.

She gave him a small smile as she moved her books to make room for his books on the desk.

"Open your social studies textbook to page 25." The teacher demanded. Not waiting to see if her instructions were being followed, she began reading from the textbook.

He didn't have a textbook. The principal had said they would give him one as soon as they found a donated one. So, he watched the ink stain on the desk, not being able to follow along.

A book suddenly covered the ink stain - a social studies book, which belonged to the girl that was sitting beside him.

With a smile, she pushed the book more to him and scooted over so they could share.

A loud howl from the opposite side of the door made Shaurya roll his eyes. He wiped his feet on the mat and walked over to the bedroom door to open it. Lucky was sitting on the floor holding his shoulder and groaning.

"What the hell were you trying to do?" Shaurya asked as he stepped over Lucky, who was still crying in pain, to go to the kitchen.

"I was trying to break the door open. Like in the movies because you weren't replying." Lucky said and slowly getting off the floor to slowly follow him.

Shaurya scoffed. "That was a stupid move."

"Yes. Again forgive me for thinking about your wellbeing, douchebag." Lucky said as he watched Shaurya rummage through the kitchen.

"Are you okay?" Lucky asked softly. Both of them were standing on either side of the kitchen island with a steaming cup of coffee that Shaurya had made them.

Shaurya ran his tongue over his teeth, and the grip on his cup got a little tighter. "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

Lucky shook his head and began arguing, but Shaurya interrupted him. "I said, I am okay."

"Fine. You are okay." Lucky snapped. "I'll talk to Red Eagle and terminate the contract."

Shaurya looked at Lucky over the rim of his cup "Why?"

Lucky raised his eyebrows, "Why?" He repeated Shaurya's reply to make sure he hadn't heard incorrectly. "Because both of you are still immature teenagers that can't keep it professional."

"Stop being ridiculous." Shaurya took the last sip of his coffee and placed the empty cup on the island. "Of course, I can keep it professional."

"Oh, yes. I saw a teaser of your professionalism in the boardroom. I don't know about both of you, but I was embarrassed for the both of you." Lucky said with an exaggerated shudder.

"As usual, it was all my mistake. Did you not see her attitude?" Shaurya snarled. "She compared me to a bhel wala. That's okay, but-"

"That was a little funny." Lucky laughed. "Plus you are the one that started it."

"Why do I even bother talking to you." He turned around to find something to eat. "You are my friend. Don't forget."

"I am just glad she is okay. I can't believe that was the Dhvani we knew. It was great seeing her after so long." Lucky said with little sense of pride and warmth. "I wonder if she got married again?" He mumbled more to himself, but maybe he should have been a little quieter.

"Why are you asking me?" Shaurya roared, "Ask her if you care that much."

Lucky, who had gotten used to Shaurya's tantrums just sat there quietly while Shaurya went on a tangent about of Dhvani had ruined their marriage and broke his heart.

"I'll never forgive her." He said, standing by the doorway of his bedroom. "But you know what I have forgotten about her. She doesn't matter to me anymore. That Dhvani Mishra at Red Eagle is just going to be my PR manager and nothing else. I am going to pretend no...Actually, she is just like any other person that works for me." He closed the door of his bedroom, and Lucky knew the conversation was over.
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Dhvani thanked the autorickshaw driver and quickly made her way into the building. Slinging the strap of her purse over her shoulder, she half-jogged through the corridor that she had grown quite familiar with in the past two years.

"Dhvani Mishra." She told the lady who was filing her nails. Dhvani didn't know why she introduced herself.

"I know who you are, Ms. Mishra. You are practically here every week." She rolled her eyes.

Dhvani gave her an awkward smile as she tried to calm her breathing because she was still panting because of how fast she had made her way there.

Luckily, after the meeting with Shaurya Gupta, Kritika had only given her a light warning to keep her attitude in check. She would do it if Shaurya could keep his attitude in check.

"Go in. They are waiting for you." The lady said to Dhvani after giving her a long condescending look.

Dhvani took in a deep breath and entered the room. Only to find the man that had phoned her, with the same condescending look.

She looked around the room and found her son, Dhruv, standing in the corner against the wall. He stood up a little straight when he saw his mother enter the office, and even attempted to look like he was regretting his actions, but she knew it was all a facade. Dhruv and mischief went hand in hand and he was always up to something or the other that Dhvani could barely keep up.

"Ms. Mishra, please have a seat." The principal said. "And you come here." He beckoned Dhruv closer.

Dhvani tried to glare at her son, but his puppy dog face was making it very difficult. "I am really sorry, Sir! I don't know what he did, but I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." Dhvani said.

"Ms. Mishra, there are some great companies around the school. I have some friends there, maybe they can get you a job there." The principal's tone was dripping with sarcasm. "I think it would be a better option than you having to come down from the other end of the city every other day to apologize."

Both mother and son looked at each other and then at the floor, feeling ashamed.

"Take your son home, Ms. Mishra and please make sure this doesn't happen again. Mrs. Rastogi is upset." The principal demanded.

Dhvani sprang up to her feet and held Dhruv's hand. "I promise I'll talk to him and make sure he doesn't-"

"Do it again." The principal completed. "I think there is some miscommunication here. When we say don't do it again, we mean it because in Dhruv's case, it happens that he moves onto another mischief. He is a bright boy. Why don't you try and divert his energy to something else? Please collect a few brochures from Mrs. Patel as you leave. There are some sports camps happening around the city and it would be very beneficial for Dhruv."

"I'll look into it," Dhvani mumbled before leaving the room and dragging Dhruv along with her.

"New dress?" Mrs. Patel asked as she passed her the brochures. "Looks good."

"Thank you." Dhvani said. If your child's school's administrative assistant knew your dresses by heart there was definitely a problem.
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Before Dhvani could even open the door completely, Dhruv pushed his way in. Dropping his backpack on the ground, kicking his shoes off and rushing to pick up the iPad before slumping onto the couch.

Dhvani hadn't spoken to Dhruv at all the entire ride home as her idea of punishment, but Dhruv didn't see it that way because he thought he has escaped the repercussions of his actions.

"Oh! You guys are home early." Trupti said as she walked over to the couch to sit beside Dhruv and shower him with hugs and kisses.

Dhvani wanted to hug and kiss her son too, however these constant complaints about his behaviour needed to be addressed.

"Mummaaa" He whined when Dhvani pulled out the iPad from his hands.

"What did you do today?" She asked, trying to sound as stern as possible.

"Oh, another complaint?" Trupti giggled but stopped when she saw Dhavni's angry face.

"I ate my lunch," Dhruv said, shrugging his shoulder.

Dhvani put away the iPad and leaned against the sofa he was sitting on. "Dhruv, Mumma is already angry don't make her angrier. What did you do?"

Dhruv huffed and stood up on the couch to face Dhvani "I am telling you the truth. I just ate my lunch, and Mrs. Rastogi got angry at me."

"Dhruv," Dhvani warned, but Dhruv just stuck to his story.

"Why would she yell at you because you ate lunch?" Trupti asked.

"Because she tells us to not to eat in class. We have to wait for recess." Dhruv rolled his eyes as if explaining how he got into trouble to his mom and aunt was the most challenging task of all time.

Dhvani folded her arms "I knew it. Why do you not listen to your teacher? Who told you to eat in class?"

"I was hungry." He pouted. "Mrs. Rastogi always eats in class, but she doesn't let us. I told her that she was mean and evil."

Dhvani shook her head when Trupti let out a chuckle. "Dhruv, she is a teacher. When she tells you to do something you do it. You understand."

"I was hungry. It is not fair!" He screamed as he jumped off the couch and ran into Dhvani and his room.

"Dhruv, that's it." Dhvani yelled in his direction. "No iPad. No ice cream and I told you I was going to Essel World that is cancelled too. We are not going anywhere."

"Not Fair!" He screamed and closed the door angrily.

"I am also going to tell the Ankush to not play with you anymore. You are going to sit at home and study." She said loud enough for him to hear in the bedroom.

Dhvani bent down to pick up his shoes to put it in its proper place. "He is becoming more and more like his father. Getting angry and throwing tantrums are in his genes. His father does it on the cricket field, and my son does it here at home." She grumbled as she washed her hands and got started on the dinner preparation. "How is it possible that he has inherited all the bad qualities from both Shaurya and me?" She kept on grumbling about the similarities between Dhruv and Shaurya.

Trupti cleared her throat to get Dhvani's attention. "How was the meeting?"

"Just as I imagined, terrible." Dhvani sat down on the dining table and massaged her temple. "Even after so many years, his attitude hasn't changed one bit. Kept interrupting me and mentioning that I was inexperienced to handle a client of his calibre."

"Otherwise, how is he?" Trupti rubbed Dhvani's arms to calm her down.

"I don't know," Dhvani answered honestly. "And it doesn't matter. He is my client, and I can and will act completely professional around him."

Dhruv opened the door and glared at his mother as he walked over to sling his backpack over his shoulders and walk back to his room.

Dhvani closed her eyes and let out a frustrated groan.