Note - Guys, Please read this just as a fiction, everything in this story is a fiction, it's a part of author's imagination, a few facts are used here like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and I hope you people will handle the story I weaved around it maturely. I keep reiterating this, I disrespect no religion, I'm a proud Hindu, and in our culture, our ancient scripts, we were taught to respect everyone and I keep following it. I'm sure every religion teaches it so please No hate for any religion.

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After Ali returned, Arshad and Ali with their team went to meet a man, a prominent business man, Mr. Rahman Syed who is in his early 60's. Arshad asked to not inform anyone about this meeting and Mr. Rahman who held immense respect for Arshad obliged.

"What you want from me is too much and I alone can't take a decision regarding this, I need to convince the board and it's not easy", Mr. Syed said softly and in a respectful tone.

"You have a lot of requirement for graduates, just do some percentage of the hiring from the colleges we mentioned", Ali proposed

"You are right! We run a IT company, we do hire a lot of graduates to handle offshore projects for our clients but we already have tie-ups with many educational institutions and universities, if I had to get the colleges you are mentioning into our list, I need some concrete reasons to do so, otherwise board will reject instantly stating a simple reason that these all are Islamic colleges where only students from a single community belong", Mr. Syed said.

"I was just asking you to visit the campuses for interviews, don't hire them if you don't find potential, but at least give them a chance, you too belong to the same community and don't you think it's high time you give them back something? I have invested a lot in their training, I'm sure you will have some good hires for your company, people are asset Rahman saab", Arshad said in his sharp yet respectful tone.

"I can never deny you Sir... You have done a lot for the people, you are an inspiration, I'll propose it to the board soon, I would like a few details regarding the colleges and the student achievements if any", Rahman said respectfully. Arshad nodded looking at Ali.

"I'll ask the college authorities to handover the necessary documents and details", Ali said and Rahman nodded.

"I will try my best but if I failed, don't think I didn't do anything for my community and the people... I will do something, will definitely do something", Mr. Rahman said and Arshad could see the conviction in his eyes. He nodded and left from there followed by Ali.

Rahman Syed cofounded Veltrix Technologies Inc., with his best friend Prateek Awasthi. It provides technical services to both onshore and offshore clients, and the company has grown big in the past one and half decade. Most of the developed countries outsource services to developing countries to save costs as these countries offer relatively cheap labour and India is known for offering one of the best software services in the world.

Veltrix Technologies has 300+ clients across world and they outsource services, and for the same purpose, they hire graduates mostly and train them. The main advantage they have that even a man like Arshad Wasim Siddiqui came to them is they hire a lot of graduates, and their requirements are low compared to many big software companies in the nation.

Getting inside Vetrix Technologies is easier and it offers the same skillset and exposure other multinationals do. So it's a great start for someone with mediocre skills but has a zeal to grow in career. Arshad knew if he had to improve employment ratios in their community is through Vetrix Tech. Another major advantage is the MD of the firm, Mr. Rahman.

Arshad runs a behemoth but it doesn't hire people in bulk, also their investment firm need highly talented and skilled people, they cannot train them, though they have all the money in the world, they don't have time to do so.

So Arshad approached Mr. Rahman, if they agree, the employment percentage levels shoot up to impressive levels.

Vetrix technologies is also famous for the kind of mass hiring they do and how effectively they train their employees shaping their careers. Arshad eagerly waited for the good news but days passed, he didn't hear anything.

Ali even proposed they talk to Mr. Syed again but Arshad denied. He saw conviction in Mr. Syed's eyes, he wanted to do something for his people and Arshad knew he would do it. He can never be wrong in judging people. And Arshad's this belief is going to come true but it will come with a price that AWS had to pay.

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Rahman proposed the plan at the board meeting but most of them were against it, hiring from educational institutions consisting of only one religion might upset the majority in the country and they weren't ready to do this. What got Rahman disappointed is his best friend Prateek Awasthi too didn't back him.

Both the friends met in Prateek's cabin after the board meeting. Rahman looked visibly upset.

"I expected everyone's rejection but you? You supported me in everything", Rahman said

"And you discussed that everything with me before going directly to the board, but this time you didn't", Prateek said calmly

"Because I thought at least my best friend would support my plan, and you are the chairman and CEO, if you have supported me, many would have", Rahman said and Prateek sighed

"If you believed in me you should have discussed it with me personally, but you gave me a shock there. I know you too well Rahman, you somewhere knew I won't be okay with this, so you decided to propose this directly in the board meeting and I would be forced to support you to save the face of our friendship and trust me I would have done it if it's anything else, but this would clearly compromise our firm's identity, we never hired from institutions belomging to a single religion, we can't do it now", Prateek said

"Don't forget we did hiring from Christ university last year", Rahman pointed out

"Are you hearing yourself, that's because students belonging to every religion studied there", Prateek replied

"Leave all this... Tell me the truth, did you do this to me because of Arya?", Rahman questioned hurting Prateek

"You ask me this? You out of all Rahman? I thought you knew me the best... My daughter wanted to break my friendship with you from years but I never gave in to her hatred, I always reprimanded her we had multiple fights, she stopped talking to me for some period but I didn't break my friendship with you, your importance in my life never reduced, and still you ask me if I did this because of Arya?", Prateek sounded hurt and Rahman regretted his choice of words and his harsh tone. He shouldn't have doubted his best friend's loyalty and friendship, their friendship stood the test of times.

Rahman still remembered the hardest time of his best friend's life. When his wife died in 26/11 mumbai attacks. They were in Mumbai for a meeting with the investors and Prateek's wife, Meera came there to surprise him. She stayed in the famous Taj hotel but the horrendous terrorist attack took her life.

After the Babri masjid demolition and Ayodhya issue and riots, loss of lives, there had been differences between the communities, and many of his hindu friends distanced him but it was only for some period, things got better soon and most of them put these incidents behind them and everyone was like before. This is what he liked about them, they were always taught to accept people, welcome them wholeheartedly. Their ancestors gave them the phrase 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The world is one family).
They let Islam rulers enter their land, let them live there and rule them too. They dealt with the destruction of their culture, the pain of seeing the ruins of their temples yet they never left their innate quality of excellent hospitality.

The history told the tolerance and hospitality of them, it was always other religions that invaded them and ruled over them, but they never invaded others. He immensely appreciated and respected their acceptance, tolerance love and care. Despite dealing with so many atrocities, they never saw everyone in the same lens. There are always an exception everywhere but Rahman spoke about the most of them. He always saw Hinduism as a way of living, not as a religion, because it taught tolerence, respecting everyone and every faith, and India is called 'The land of refugees' only because of the majority in the country who treated the refugees with utmost kindness.

But things changed a bit after a series of blasts and terrorist attacks, and a tragic loss of lives, they faced the harsh judgment of the society. This time the friction between the majority and second majority in the country was real because the people who carried these attacks were fed with hatred towards the country and religion as well.

Rahman was scared to attend Meera's funeral, he was worried of the backlash, though there was no fault of his but definitely of someone who shared the same faith as him and now that seemed to be a problem. His father advised not to go but he couldn't leave his friend to his misery, he knew Prateek needed him the most. And he went there, only to have his best friend hug him tightly and break down.

Not just that, when some of Prateek's friends and family tried to humiliate him based on the incident, despite his own pain and loss, he stood for him, and that's just one incident, there are many where his friend proved his love and friendship and today he accused the same friend of not supporting him because of his daughter.

"Prateek, yaar I am sorry", Rahman said but Prateek was too upset to respond. He just walked away.

Rahman didn't like refusing Arshad, he wanted to do something for the people of his community, especially when utmost respected man in their community asked him to, and in that frustration he hurt his friend.

It's been a week Prateek picked up his call or talked to him about anything other than work and he had had enough. He decided to go to his home and settle with him directly.

Arya was having her tea with Narayan when their watchman calls her to ask if they could allow Mr. Rahman She's car inside. Despite being Prateek's best friend, Rahman wasn't given unrestricted access due to Narayan and Arya.

The past experiences Narayan had didn't let his son give the access to his home to anyone. Arya and Narayan told they would leave the house if Rahman was given free acess so Prateek had to give in to his father & daughter.

Arya so wanted to say No but she knew he might be here to talk to her father, she noticed her father's upset face and him avoiding his best friend's calls, so she figured out something is wrong between these two, which is very rare in fact it never happened before.

"Check him thoroughly before letting in", she said and hung up. She knew it would be  bit insulting to a man who is the house owner's best friend but her past and what she was taught from childhood didn't let her guard down.

Arya closed her eyes remembering her grandfather's words when he narrated his past.

"I married Sumati, I loved her a lot and so, requested my father to go and ask for her hand, he was very upset, because Sumati's family is not well off, I got many matches from wealthy families and my father already found a suitable bride for me, but I  was adamant, finally he had to give in to my demands... My closest friend khalid was so happy for me, he was always happy for me, he always supported me, he supported my ways of fighting for freedom but my father was so against me participating in freedom fights in a violent manner. I liked the path the bengal tiger, Subash chandra Bose showed while my father is a follower of Gandhiji.

It was Khalid who always stood with me, we both participated in the freedom struggle together, the only thing we had differences on was regarding the importance given to religion, for me country and our freedom came before religion, it's beyond everything for me but for him it was his religion and faith before country. I tried to change his views while he tried to change mine but we never changed. I didn't know his this habit was going to kill me forever.

It was 1947, that time the whole nation was celebrating while we were mourning. The partition left deep scars on the families that had to move from there, we chose India so we had to leave from there, our business, our properties, and our people, everything was there but we were left with no choice, it was tough, but we decided, we will sell everything off there and start a fresh in India. But suddenly the clashes broke out.

The massacre began, they didn't leave us while our people chased them, but the death toll of our people was much more because they were in majority there. I moved my family to India a few days before, as soon as we got the insider information regarding the probable split of the country during independence. I stayed back to settle regarding the property sale, I asked Sumati to leave with my family but she was adamant, she didn't want to leave me, especially when the situation was so tense, I gave in to her stubbornness and that was the worst mistake.

Sumati and I were planning to leave our home, they couldn't enter the building due to the security but Khalid had unrestricted access, when I saw him, I was glad, I thought now he would help me and Sumati reach India safely but what I witnessed that night made me numb. My best friend stabbed me wife and he was about to stab me but my security men entered hearing Sumati's scream. I tried to save her but the city was chaos and before I could take her to the hospital, I lost her...

My men helped me and few other people reach India, but it took my family years to realize that only my body reached India, my soul was dead along with Sumati. My family wasn't happy with my way of life, so they got me married again, but I knew I could never be able to love anyone, I told the girl the same but she was okay, her family was okay and I tied the knot with your dadi, though I told her not to expect the love and care of a husband and she didn't, I tried to give her whatever I could, I gave her respect, freedom, affection, care  and everything but love? I couldn't, Sumati was the only person that's in my heart, my love stayed so did the betrayal I got that day. I lost my life my sumati and gained a lesson for life, never to trust them",

The pain she saw in her old man's eyes that day didn't let her forget his words. She was always close to her grandfather the most.

Rahman's car entered the lobby, he got down and his driver drove to the parking, Rahman walked to the Porcha and sat at the sitters. Arya walked out with the servant asking him to offer water to Rahman and also ask him if he would like to have coffee or tea.

"I told Papa, he will be here in a while", Arya said and Rahman nodded with a smile, he always loved Arya like his daughter but he knew she had her own reasons to hate him, his faith wasn't the only one.

"How are you Arya?", Rahman asked

"The same... Like I was when my mother passed away and you took my father away too from me", she said and walked inside.

Rahman arranged everything for Meera Awasti's body to be shifted home from Mumbai, the police recovered the bodies after the terror attacks ceased and terrorists caught by the brave and selfless sacrifices of the Indian Army.

He was with Prateek every minute till they reached home but unfortunately he couldn't follow him till home knowing Narayan Awasti's distate for him. But he couldn't stop himself from attending Meera's funeral as she was like a sister to him and most important, his best friend needed him the most during this time.

Rahman's car stopped at the gate, he walked in and saw the family was mourning Meera's death. He saw 9 year old Arya sitting beside her mother's cold body clutching her father's arm tightly, snuggling into him. She was crying badly holding her father while her grandfather consoled her.

Prateek stared lifelessly at his wife's body. Rahman's heart bled seeing his best friend in that state. He walked towards them and before Prateek's younger brother, Saket could stop him from moving any further, Prateek spotted his bes friend and the strength he gathered till now for his daughter and family disappeared, he wanted a shoulder to cry too, Meera was his life... Prateek rushed to Rahman hugging him tightly.

What Prateek didn't realize was he jerked his 9 year old's arm to rush to his best friend's arms and his this act shocked the little Arya. Her tears stopped suddenly. All the things she was told by her grandfather reeled in her mind, and now what happened to her mother numbed her, her father's this act was the final nail to the coffin. Her little red eyes filled with tears stared at Rahman woth hatred.

Rahman noticed it and he knew the reason but couldn't detach himself from Prateek, he needed him, Prateek cried inconsolably in his arms while he hugged him tightly trying to handle him.

Rahman knew his presence was hated by everyone in the house except for Prateek. The younger brother of Prateek, Saket and his wife Sharmila lived in Australia with their two kids. Though they didn't carry the same view point as Narayan, they didn't like Rahman as they thought Prateek gave importance to him rather than family.

After the funeral was completed, he made Prateek rest in his room and came down.
He saw Arya clutching her grandfather tightly. Rahman moved towards Arya to ask how she was and maybe make her understand what she saw wasn't the truth but Saket came in between.

"I'm sorry Rahman bhai but you can't meet Arya", Saket said respectfully, and Rahman understood his boundaries.

Though Saket never disrespected him because of Prateek, Rahman understood what he felt for him so he calmly walked away, praying for their wellbeing. But he didn't know Arya's hatred for him will multiply with every passing day.

He was pulled back to reality when Prateek walked to the porch where Rahman is waiting for him.

"What are you doing here?", Prateek asked, he was very surprised because Rahman reduced visiting his place after Meera's death and his visits stopped after a while. He knew somewhere it was his daughter's hatred that stopped him from coming there and he couldn't fight his daughter on this and hurt her more so he too didn't ask Rahman to come there.

"I wanted to talk to you... Don't ignore me now", Rahman said and Prateek nodded.

"What will you have? Coffee tea?", Prateek asked

"Nothing... Arya already asked", Rahman said with a smile. "I wonder how would she treat people she loves, of this is how she treats me, the man she hates so much", Rahman said with a chuckle and Prateek nodded with a smile.

"You should see how she looks after my father... She is a gem", Prateek said that proudly

"She is... She is pure, innocent and strong, her love is like ocean", Rahman said and Prateek nodded

"I'm sorry I hurt you with my words, I didn't accuse you or blame Arya's hatred, I was just upset that I couldn't be of any help, but now I found a way for it... Will tell you about it soon", Rahman said and Prateek nodded with a smile, sipping his coffee... "You do know I take Arya as my daughter right?", Rahman suddenly asked

"Yes... Why do you ask now?", Prateek asked

"Nothing... Just know that I want the best for her always and her hatred for me would never stop me from loving her like my child", Rahman said and Prateek smiled knowing it.

"I know, where do you bring this much patience from?", Prateek asked

"From the same place from where you bring kindness, compassion and intelligence", Rahman responded making his friend chuckle.
"I am proud to be born in this country yaar... I got to experience your selfless friendship, you know people think being a minority in a country is threatening, it maybe threatening anywhere else in the world but here, in our country, it's a boon, this is the only place where minorities have more rights, honestly a government could do only so much, if you want to better your life, you have to work for it, people often forget this fact and blame governments of biased behavior", Rahman expressed

"True... It's high time people are offered opportunities based on their potential and caliber not on their caste or creed, India could become much better, in case of developments of everyone could think like you", Prateek said and Rahman laughed

The friends chit chatted for a while and after some time, Rahman left and Prateek too got up to walk in, and that's when he spotted his daughter staring at him with red eyes from her room window which is in the second floor. Her eyes expressed how she hated her father smiling with his best friend.

He dialed her number wanting to reduce her anger which she cut and shut the curtains as she is in no mood to talk to her father now.

She was about to go to bed but seeing the caller ID. It was her paternal uncle Saket Awasti.

"Chachu...", she greeted in excitement and the next one hour went in talking to him and his wife.

The next day during breakfast, Arya broke the news. She cleared her throat and everyone looked at her. She was grinning widely but didn't speak a word.

"Didi yaar come on... Now tell us... We know there's some news that's exciting you...", Karan guessed

"Aree wah Munnu... You became quiet intelligent", she teased her cousin brother.

"Stop calling that, I'll really kill you", Karan got irritated at the new Nick name.

"Okay okay, by the way, how did you guess?", she asked making all of them groan, they understood that Arya Awasti is in a mood to tease.

"Because you got dadu here to have breakfast at the dining table which he usually does at his room and most importantly the stupid grin on your face is giving away, now tell us", Karan said and Arya threw the keera(cucumber) slice at him at his words.

"Di... Come on tell us", Kiara, her little cousin asked and she smiled widely at her breaking the news.

"Chachu and Chachi are coming to India", Arya squealed getting up...
Karan and kiara too squealed in happiness hearing Arya. They too got up from their chairs and jumped at her.

The three of them hugged forming a circle and made circles hooting and squealing making Narayan and Prateek smile widely at the trio.

"Let's plan their welcome grandly", Karan asked, Arya and Kiara nodded getting excited...

"Who is the bestest trio?", Karan asked

"AK Square", Kiara and Arya replied squealing.

"Who is the bestest trio", he asked again

"AK square", they repeated

"Okay, now come here and continue with your breakfast", Prateek called them and they sat down.

"So when are they coming?", Narayan asked

"On 20th... This time they are gonna stay for 3 months", Arya said and the trio got up again to enjoy in happiness.

"Woah... That's really great... I spoke to Saket last afternoon, he didn't share anything like that", Prateek said

"When were available for chachu to share anything, you are always busy with that friend of yours", Arya taunted her father and Narayan scoffed glaring at his son.

"Arya... Not again", Prateek sighed

"That's what I am saying too, dad... Not again", Arya said shaking her head at her father.

"Di, come on... Let it go, don't fight with bade papa... Also Rahman uncle isn't that bad", Karan said

"Tujhse pucha kisi ne(did someone ask for your opinion?) Shut your mouth", Arya said and Karan shut his mouth with his palm making Kiara giggle and Arya smile softly.

"Acha okay... Today try to come early from your college both of you... We'll plan the welcome party, morning we'll have the puja and evening a lavish dinner party?", Arya said

"Puja... Di please... No boring stuff", Karan stated and this time Kiara sided with her brother but Arya glared at them strongly.

"Shut up... Bhagwan's blessings are foremost important, anything is after that", Arya said and walked away to bring to Narayan's medicines.

"Sometimes, I feel dadi's soul makes a surprise visit to her body", Karan whispered in Kiara's ears. Narayan and Prateek heard it and chuckled.

"Oh trust me, even she wasn't this religious", Narayan said loudly so that Arya knows Karan said something behind her back... Karan glared at his grandfather.

"What did he say dadu?", Arya asked giving him the medicine...

"Nothing di...", Karan said

"Oh it's nothing... He was just talking about your dadi's soul occasional visits to you... Right Karan?", Narayan teased his grandson...

"Dadu... Not fair", Karan said, quickly got up and ran upstairs, Arya chased him ordering Narayan to have his medicines.

"Hey you useless idiot... Wait... I'll tell you whose soul visited me now", Arya said making the other three burst into laughter.

Later Karan and Kiara went to college. Arya gave them their boxes. She was like a mother figure to both of them. She took care of them, their education and diet, everything they needed. She still remembered why her Chachu and Chachi left their kids there.

"Bhai... We'll take Arya with us... The place change will help her cope up with the loss", Saket asked and Sharmila nodded.

Arya listened to the conversation from a corner.

"No Saket, I can't let her go, after Meera, she is the only one left for me... Please", Prateek said

"Bhai I understand but Arya can't stay here... All these days Sharmila took care of her, also she was playing with Karan and Kiara, so she was a bit fine, but after we leave, she won't be able to handle herself she is too young for all this, Papa(Narayan) is getting old too... Also you have your business to run, I don't want Arya to be neglected", Saket said

"Yes bhai... Please send Arya with us... You can visit her frequently", Sharmila said

"No... She is my only child, why can't you both understand", Prateek said in anguish and Saket sighed. He didn't want to leave his niece without anyone to care for. His father is here to take care of her but what all would he do, no matter how much he loves Arya, he can't be there with her always.

"Bhai... You know if I could shift to India, I would, but we recently got into a new organization, my employer trusted us with big responsibilities, we can't disappoint them...", Saket said but Prateek shook his head. He would never let his only child go away from him.

"Maybe I can quit and shift to India", Sharmila said

"No", both Saket and Prateek said at a time... They knew how hard she worked for her career.

Despite the company Prateek has, Saket and Sharmila wanted to build a career for themselves on their own and Prateek too didn't stop them, he was proud of his brother and sister-in-law.

"Just a few weeks ago, you both were thinking of sending the kids to us for a few years as the work is hectic and you can't rely on caretakers to do their upbringing", Prateek said

"That was when Meera bhabhi was there... But now...", Saket trailed but suddenly something strike him. He looked at his wife and she nodded her head with tears in her eyes. It's tough for a mother but she has to take a decision. It's important for Arya.

"Karan and Kiara will stay here, bhai... Arya will be happy with her brother and sister, I know you and papa will take care of all the kids... They three will be there for each other too", Saket said and Sharmila nodded.

Prateek hugged his brother for the sacrifice.

"Thank you... From today, I have not one but three kids... I'll do their upbringing... You don't have to worry about anything, thank you for trusting me and doing this for me and Arya", Prateek said folding his hands in front of Saket and Sharmila.

"Bhai... Please... What are you doing... Arya is also my child... Can't we do this for her... When Karan and Kiara were born, both the times it's Meera bhabhi who stayed with us to help Sharmila with the kids", Saket said

"My parents were never there bhai, it's always you and Meera bhabhi... Can't we do this for you?", Sharmila said and Prateek nodded patting her head.

After a few weeks, Saket and Sharmila were leaving for Melbourne when Arya held his palm.

"Chachu... I promise you, I'll take care of my brother and sister always", Arya said and Saket and sharmila nodded with a smile.

"I know my baby, I know you will take care of them, that is why chachu and chachi are leaving them here", Saket said and hugged Arya.

Arya was still stuck to that promise. Karan and Kiara never wanted to go back leaving Narayan, Arya and Prateek so Saket and Sharmila too didn't force them. They visited India whenever possible.

@After a few weeks

The trio planned the grand welcome of Saket and Sharmila, they purposely didn't go to the airport to pick them up. They sent the driver instead.

"Guys... Everything ready? As soon as I open the door... Everyone should pop these party poppers and shout 'Welcome Home' ", Arya reiterated for the Nth time.

"Yes we remember, stop repeating", Karan said in irritation earning a slap on his head.

The calling bell rang and Arya opened it.
Like planned everyone blasted the party poppers and Arya along with everyone shouted 'Welcome Home'

But Arya stood frozen a man instead of her uncle aunt. Soon, everyone noticed him.

Precap - Arshad reveals his purpose of visit.