Warrior - Chapter Forty

You would think that after two nights of interesting conversations - one being massively informative - that I would have had enough.

But nope! Not for this girl! No fucking way!

So I waited for the following night, hardly giving a crap of my family's foolishness towards Arnav. I'm sure even Gomez looks at then like they're monkeys that belong at the zoo. As for the man I'm married to, I'm sure he'd love to go into the witness protection program and steer clear of them, as well as the massive trays full of food that they would try to feed him.

It's a good thing he enjoys the wine and charcuterie board.

"So," Arnav said once he settled down to the floor, "what should we talk about tonight in your lavish closet?"

"I'd like to keep the focus on you."

"Okay, sure."

Oh? Well I was expecting a bit of resistance but... well, okay then.

"So... from what I gather, you and your parents lived separately for 12 years in a tiny apartment, your mom had her tiny tailoring business that you would help with when you were old enough, and your family would get bullied by the world any time you guys stepped out, yes?"

"That's correct."

"And it went this way for quite some time. What I don't understand is why after 12 years did your grandfather decide it was time to bring you all back into the fold."

"Hmm. ...Well, if I'm not mistaken, Ma did mention to you that Dad worked for a rival company?"

"She did; she said how it was hard for him to get a job at first since people refused to give him one due to your grandfather. But then he started working for a rival company, and she said that while it hurt her to see him battling against his father, your father didn't care."

"That's right," Arnav nodded. "The family business has its feet dipped in a variety of things - agriculture, energy, mining - all sorts of things. AR has been at the top for many decades now, so it's no wonder we have a few jealous competitors."

No kidding.

"When these people started to learn that my dad could barely keep a job for long because of my grandfather, they started to look towards my father greedily. One of them finally stepped forward and made their offer, to which at first Dad laughed. After all, he knew how angry the old demon would get once he found out."

Notice how he said once and not if he found out.

The old geezer was truly something else.

"But Pops had a bone to pick with the old demon, so he agreed and took the job. When Dadaji found out, he was furious, but he tried to play it down that Dad wouldn't be able to do anything, that he wouldn't be successful. The way Dadaji saw it, he didn't think Dad was smart enough because in his mind, Dad was too busy trying to take care of us and not getting his education."

"But he did."

"He did and so did Mom. Though Mom did graduate later, Pops was able to finish high school just fine, having gone to summer school to make up for stuff. Mom took time with college, going part-time before she was finally able to finish, and Dad started part-time as well, but then thanks to his new job, went full-time."

"Wait, they actually allowed that? When did he work if he was going to class full-time?"

"He didn't work that many hours. What mattered to them was that they had him and that they were going to use him to their advantage. Pops wasn't dumb, he knew that, so he used them to his advantage as well. But all Dadaji saw was him succeeding, and he couldn't stand it."

"Old fool," I muttered.

"Indeed," Arnav chuckled. "The demon truly had no bounds, no limits at all. When people were starting to mutter and mumble about Dad doing amazingly well, Dadaji couldn't tolerate it. So, he decided to put a stop to it. 

"Tradition was a thing Dadaji highly valued, and despite that he didn't want to give the family company to my father whatsoever, he knew he had to. That's how it had always been - passed down from generation to generation from oldest son to the next generation's oldest son. So Dadaji quickly bought the rivals out, took Pops out of it, and had him, Mom, and me move back into Raizada Mansion, where Dad would one day become the CEO."

"And he did, eventually; I remember Babuji talking about that."

"Yeah, Dad was in charge for several years, though I'm absolutely positive Dadaji was waiting to see him fail; only for that to never be the case. And once Arani was opened, Dadaji had lost for sure. So he changed tactics and turned to me."

"Meaning?"

"Since his son didn't fail, he thought he'd screw with his eldest grandson instead - the next in line for the family company."

What a fucking dick!

"I pretty much spent all of my time learning about business and how to run one. I learned of the responsibilities I would have to take and all of that crap. Dadaji barely let me spend any time with Akash or NK, or Dadi - or anyone for that matter. All he cared about was tormenting me and breaking me... but he'd never get it."

For some odd reason, pride spread through me. I have no fucking clue why, but the only thing I could feel was pride.

What the fuck?

"Not long after I turned 20, Dadaji fell ill. He had a heart attack and remained bedridden for the rest of his days. There was no knowing how long or for how little he'd live... so Dad took his step."

And I bet I know what it is, given the facts I already know from my time in business. "He stepped down and made you CEO."

Arnav nodded in return. "Once I turned 21, Dad started to set things in motion. Once Dadaji heard the news, it was very obvious that the old demon was not happy. He nearly lost his shit, but Dadi tried to keep him calm - not that it helped much anyways because he was adamant that I wasn't ready yet. But Dad believed in me, he always gave me courage whenever Dadaji tried to break it and break me. I knew the old demon hated me, that was his only reasoning as to why he didn't want me to step into the role. But I happily took it and stepped into the role of CEO of AR Industries."

"Hmm, the badass, tattooed CEO," I smirked, holding my wine glass up.

Arnav let out a laugh and held his glass up, clinking it to mine. "That's one way to put it," and he took a sip, as did I.

"I remember when you became CEO; everyone was curious how things would go since you were so young. But the company only thrived, and Arani was greatest of all, so I can only imagine how pissed your grandfather must've been, seeing you achieve so much."

"I'm pretty sure I've seen smoke come out if his ears a few times."

For whatever reason, that made me laugh, even though it really wasn't that funny. However, just picturing the old geezer I had seen in photos raging with anger and having smoke come out of his ears, made me laugh like an idiot.

I think the wine is starting to get me, I didn't eat so much today.

"I bet if he had met you, he definitely would've erupted like a volcano," Arnav grinned.

This time I couldn't help but to snort, nearly spitting my wine out, but I quickly caught myself, placing my glass down and putting my hands over my mouth. Arnav momentarily stared at me, then burst out into laughter, making me laugh even more. The more one laughed, the more the other laughed, to the point where our stomachs were starting to hurt! 

Shit, I was even crying!

"Why... why are we... laughing so hard," I laughed, trying to calm down.

"I... I don't know," Arnav laughed in return.

I wiped away the tear that had escaped from my eye and calmed down, as did Arnav. Laughter finally started to subside. However, the moment we looked at each other, we burst out laughing like a bunch of hooligans!

What is wrong with us?

"Oh fuck, I can't take it anymore," I wheezed.

"My stomach hurts," Arnav laughed.

"Okay, okay, we'll calm down! No more laughing... no more talks of the old demon smoking up like a chimney... we're all good," I said as I recomposed myself.

"Right, right," and Arnav wiped away the tear that had escaped from his eye. "Change of topic then?"

"Change of topic and no more wine for me," and I slid my glass away from me.

"Same," and Arnav slid his glass away as well.

For a moment, we just looked at each other, small smiles still ghosting over our faces. But then Arnav's switched into a wholesome one.

"This is nice. I didn't expect things to go this way," he smiled humbly.

"Me neither," I nodded, and I'm suddenly aware of how much the dynamic has changed between us in just these few evenings.

"To be honest, I'm a little surprised that I even shared as much as I did. I've never shared any of these secrets before, not with anyone."

Sharing secrets, huh...?

I reached out and ran my finger over the cushion I was sitting on. "Well... that's what friends do..."

Arnav's eyes immediately met mine, slightly gaping at me.

"...right?"

His shock quickly subsided, and that small, polite smile of his graced his face. "Right."

"Hmm, and that's especially what friends do during sleepovers, right," I smirked, arching my brow at him teasingly.

"Mm, that part I wouldn't know - I've never been to a sleepover. However, from what I've heard, girls love doing pillow fights while jumping up and down on the bed - is that true?"

I couldn't help but to snort. "Oh, come on Arnav, don't fall for such dumb clichés," and I threw a cushion at him.

Arnav instantly caught it with a chuckle and set it aside. He was about to say something, when a yawn escaped from my lips.

"Tired, huh? It's pretty late."

"Yeah," I said through another yawn, though I wasn't expecting to be this tired so easily.

I'm blaming the wine!

"Let's get some sleep."

After cleaning up and putting everything away, we settled down into our beds.

"Good night, Khushi."

"Good night, Arnav."

Reaching over to my bedside table, I turned off the lights and snuggled into bed.

Though tonight was nowhere near as deep as last night, or even the night before, tonight was... nice. I liked it... I really liked it. It really felt like I was hanging out and chilling with a friend, and not with a stranger.

This was really nice.