"Who are you?", Arya asked him, her tone not too soft as she was irritated that this man spoiled her surprise for her uncle-aunt.

"AWS ?", She heard Karan say... And her heart beat raised.

"Achyut Wishwanath Sharma", he said...

His voice rang in her head but suddenly realization stuck her. He couldn't be that man because Karan didn't know him right? So he must be some other AWS. Also her AWS looked like a common man, she didn't see him clearly but he wore a plain white cotton kurta, like most of the pandits wore. That's what she thought as she couldn't spot him clearly without her spectacles.

"Di... It's Arshad Wasim Siddiqui, All India head for... for...", Karan trailed and she understood what he wanted to say.

"Rajini... Please take dadu to his room", Arya ordered their house keeper and she acted instantly.

"Call the driver and ask where are they?", Arya told Karan when he started walking towards Arshad to welcome him inside.

Arshad stared at Arya with something similar to amusement and recognition. He could see the instant hate in her eyes as soon as her brother uttered who he is. Also, she is still so protective of her grandfather, maybe even more now. He knew her grandfather was paralyzed, he got to know from the hospital about him the next day after he helped them reach hospital in the rain. The pain and anxiety he saw in the girl's eyes for her grandfather didn't let him in peace until he knew the old man was fine, otherwise he could only imagine the devastation it would cause Arya Awasti. After he got to know the status, he decided not to ponder on her or her thoughts anymore and once he decided something, he would do it no matter what.

He is meeting her again after years, he wouldn't have come here if not for the urgency the matter held. He could see she isn't wearing any glasses nor lens. He realized she might have gotten laser and he was so right.

"Bhai...", Ali called Arshad seeing him staring at Arya as if he liked her.

"Prateek Awasti...", Arshad said coming out of his thoughts hearing Ali's voice.

Arya frowned while Prateek who stood frozen came out of his reverie. So, the man who helped them in taking his father to hospital years ago is one of the most respected leaders of Muslim community, Arshad Wasim Siddiqui? He heard a lot about him from Rahman. Prateek knew he also owned PSL holdings, one of the three largest investment firms in the world, the wealth this company creates and manages is beyond people's imagination. Even the richest of the rich needed his firm. This man had a very unique combination of power, religious + financial + political. What is a man of that stature doing at his door step? Was he here to talk about what Rahman proposed some time ago?

"I am Prateek Awasti... Please come inside...", Prateek said.

Arya glared at her father who sighed Karan and Kiara to go inside a long with Arya. She didn't like her father making him sit in the hall.

"Dad... I think you guys should talk in porch. Chachu and chachi will be arriving any minute and we have to welcome them here", Arya said, if her father thinks she would bow down then he didn't know her well.

"Di... Driver just texted me, mom dad's flight got delayed", Karan said and Arya thought he is lying to help Prateek and his guest. He did this before as well so she didn't trust her brother.

"Show me the phone", she said, and Ali noticed Arshad smile with his eyes at her disbelief. He was left surprised, he thought only Inaaya could make Arshad smile like that.

"Come on Yaar di... See", Karan said stuffing the phone in her palm and walking away. Arya checked the phone and then walked inside with Kiara.

"Sorry about that...", Prateek started but Arshad interrupted him.

"How is your father?", He asked

"He is fine, but couldn't walk", Prateek said and Arshad gave him a nod. He knew Prateek was waiting for him to speak about his purpose of visit.
Arahad could see the gratefulness in Prateek's eyes but he was purposely not talking about and he knew the reason. Arya Awasti.

"Mr. Rahman Syed decided to write some part of his wealth to the welfare of his community.", Arshad said

"I'm aware, he didn't detail me, but yes he told me about it, it's his money, he can do anything he wanted, I have no say in it sir", Prateek said respectfully.

"Maybe you don't, but your daughter surely does", Arshad said

"Sorry? I think you have mistaken...", Prateek started. Arya can never have a say in anything related to Rahman. She hates him so how could she...

"Since Mr. Rahman Syed didn't have a legal heir or family, he was preparing a will which states that all his wealth post his death would belong to his community, that includes his shares in Vetrix Technologies", Arshad said shocking Prateek.

There's no way his friend could do something like this, if that happens, he would lose control of the company and what if they really start hiring based on religion? Preferring students from particular colleges? It would destroy the balance of the company and eventually leads to their fall. How did Rahman even think of something like this.

"But it also stated that we can take over only with Ms. Arya Awasti's permission, also she will hold the power to make decisions. The dividends on his shares, all the money can be used for the welfare of his community but the shares can't be sold or transferred without your daughter's permission, in brief, she holds the key to his wealth", Ali added.

"It's about the community's welfare, so I'm personally here to take clarity from your daughter that she wouldn't create any issues for us in using Mr. Rahman's wealth for the betterment of people", Arshad said, everything is numb for Prateek. He didn't understand a thing, why didn't Rahman discuss with him before taking such a big decision?

"I have to discuss with Rahman first", Prateek said and Arshad nodded.

"It must be a huge shock for you, I can understand, but you have a choice, if you don't want this to happen, then support Mr. Rahman's idea of hiring. If he gets to help the community that way, he wouldn't have to choose any other way of doing it", Arshad finished

"Are you the one forcing Rahman to do this?", Prateek asked Arshad.

"Mr. Awasti? Hold your tongue... We don't need Mr. Rahman's money, PSL holdings can afford that money in a blink", Ali said, offended by how Prateek thought they need Mr. Rahman's wealth.

"Think about this proposal, I'm not asking you to hire people with zero talent, do not lower your requirements, just include these colleges in your hiring list, that's all", Arshad said... "I wouldn't have come here, but I got to know about Mr. Rahman's will and trust me when I say I wasn't happy, I don't need money, I need resources to uplift my people, and employment is one such resource, think about it", Arshad spoke and Prateek nodded.

"I'll try my best", Prateek said and Arshad nodded. Both the men shook their hands, Arshad and Ali left and Prateek dropped on the sofa. Rahman gave all the power to Arya so that his community people don't misuse the company. He distributed the power equally to the community organization and Arya. That only meant the power fight was between Arshad and Arya. It could reap best benefits only when these two are on the same side but will that ever be possible?

His daughter doesn't even want this man to step inside their house, why will she work together with him? God! This is all such a mess and Prateek decided to speak to Rahman about it immediately.

After Arshad left, Arya walked to lash out on her father.

"Dad... How could you...", Arya started but Prateek wasn't in a mood to take it.

"Not now Arya... I have to leave now... We'll talk after I am back", Prateek said

"Dad... Where are you going? Chachu and chachi will be here in a while", Ary said

"It's important Arya... Try to understand", Prateek said and left with his car keys...

"I'm sure he went to meet that friend of his... He came first always, chachu and chachi will be here after almost a year, can't he stay at home", Arya shouted getting upset with her father.

"It's okay di, it must be really important, otherwise he wouldn't have left like this", Karan said

"I am not some devil, Karan, I too understand emergencies, but there are some things that can be pushed to later to make some space for the family, dad never did that when it came to us, but when it's his friend's call, he left everything behind for him, priorities", Arya said staring at her father's retreating back. Waiting for him to come back to her, it's been 16 years he left and she has been waiting since then.

A small tear left her eye but she soon wiped it and smiled for her cousins. She could hide any amount of sorrow and smile for them. They came into her life when she thought she lost everything.

Saket and Sharmila entered home and the trio and Narayan welcomed them along with the house help, in the same way with party poppers. Thanks to quick commerce they were delivered in 10 minutes again, otherwise with the amount of curses Arya was throwing at Arshad for spoiling their surprise, he sure would have died due to hiccups.

"Chachu... I am so glad to have you back... Now I don't have to handle these monkeys alone", Arya complained pointing at Karan and Kiara.

"Di... Don't say that... I never trouble you... It's Karan bhai", Kiara defended herself.

"Oh! Is it? Why did I have to visit your college last month? For Karan?", Arya said glaring at her sister.

"Wait! What did she do?", Saket asked looking at his daughter.

"Dad... I did nothing, actually its all my friends who did...", Kiara started but Arya glared at her.

"I still haven't forgiven you Kiara, don't increase my anger by pushing all the fault on your friends, you are equally a part of it", Arya said glaring at his sister.

Narayan starts coughing badly, Arya gets up to get water for him while Karan fills in with the details.

"Dad... Actually Kiara's friends planned to do a small party since it's last day of semester, her friend brought alcohol for it and some bottles are hidden in Kiara's bag... Unfortunately a bottle was broken and they were caught due to the smell, it wasn't her fault", Karan defended his sister.

"Woah! Really? Why did she let them use her bag to hide the bottles? And when she knew they are planning to drink, then why the hell did she thought of going? And don't forget Karan, she wanted to have alcohol too... How can she even think of it? No fear of God at all... We belong to a traditional brahmin family, I carry pooja and aarti every day and she is doing all these... And you are supporting her? What is wrong with you both?", Arya snapped, walking in handing water to her grandfather.

"Lo... Mil lo apni ma se... (Go... Meet your mother) these ", Karan whispered to his father... "These days, she visits Arya di frequently...", he added making Sharmila and Saket laugh...

"What did he say? Chachu, chachi... You are laughing?", Arya got upset...

"Arre no no... We are laughing on this stupid, not you", Saket said but Arya kept glaring at them...

"See... She looks exactly the same... I'm telling you, we should take her to a tantrik who could get rid of dadi's soul... I know you love your mother and it's tough for you dad, but this is necessary", Karan said, Saket laughed out loud followed by Sharmila and Kiara.

"Shut up... If you don't stop your stupid soul theory, I'll make you one", Saket scolded his son looking at Arya's angry face.

"Stupid theory? It's the truth dad... Or else tell me why would a girl in her twenties behave like a woman in her 80s", Karan said earning a slap from Sharmila.

"This time I agree with bhai, mum... Di made us visit Shiv mandir for a whole month, every single day... And you know she has been fasting every monday from that day...", Kiara said

"Ha toh... Paap kiya toh dhona toh padega na(Or else you have committed sins, so you have to wash it also)", Arya said

"Mum, she visited Kaal Bhairav Mandir in Ujjain and offered alcohol praying him to never to let us touch it again as if we are some addicts", Karan complained

"Dad, she also wanted to take us there... Thanks to bade papa, he stopped her, otherwise she would have made us promise to never touch it", Kiara said as if even imagining it is painful.

Arya glared at her cousins who were portraying her as villians.

Suddenly Sharmila started laughing hard.

"What happened to you? Gone mad?", Saket asked his wife looking at her in amusement.

"Looks like mum lost her mind hearing our sufferings... Mum it's okay, hum sehlenge(we will bear it) don't worry about us", Karan said making Sharmila slap his arm without pausing her laughter.

It's after 5 minutes she actually stopped laughing...

"When... When you were 5, you suffered from fever, your temperature wasn't coming down, then your father looked at your dadi's photo and asked her to protect you and your sister by staying with you always, looks like she took it seriously", Sharmila said looking at Arya and burst out laughing followed by everyone including Narayan.

"Chachi...", Arya whined

"Sorry... Sorry", Sharmila said sidehugging Arya but she jerked her making Sharmila laugh more at her daughter's anger.

"You should be happy that your dadi is alive in the form of your sister", Narayan said chuckling

"Dadu... Shut up", Arya said

"See... She is scolding dadu just like dadi used to do", Karan whined acting as if she is possessed and everyone laughs at his teasing.

"Karan, enough now ha... No one will tease my Arya", Narayan scolded everyone.

"Mum dad, you left us in this old man's care? He always supports Arya di", Karan and Kiara complained.

Arya glared at their childish complaints but she knew they were just saying all this for fun.

"Arya is not that strict too, if she is, why would she let you attend all the parties in the club", Narayan defends his elder grandchild not knowing she didn't know about many of them.

"Wait! What do you mean by all? They only went there once", Arya asked looking at her grandfather who looked like deer caught in headlights. "Did you both lie to me... So all those house parties are in the club? Which idiot friend of yours lives in the club?", Arya chased Karan and Kiara who ran for their lives...

Karan and Kiara hid behind their parents...

"Arya... Leave them for this time... I'll make sure they don't repeat", Saket said and Arya glared at them. They realized they are dead now, so thought to use their only weapon to melt their cold sister.

"Dad we will come with you, we can't live with this hitler... Please take us with you", Karan and Kiara pleaded shocking Arya.

She got upset, she knew she was being strict but that's for their own good. She thought to loosen up some rules so that they don't even think if going away from her. She is scared of staying away from her family, especially her cousins. She takes care of them like her kids. Saket and Sharmila understood her fear looking at her face and glared at Karan and Kiara.

"Okay... Relax.. I will...", Arya is about to relax some rules but Saket and Sharmila flopped their plan.

"No, no... You are not coming with us", Sharmila said

"The thing is we got used to our freedom too much, now we don't have the patience to handle you monkeys, only Arya can pull that stunt, so you are staying here", Saket said making Arya smirk at her cousins.

"So... Ready to hear the punishment for lying?", Arya said and both of them protested.

"No... We are announcing a hunger strike to bring down this autocratic regime", Karan said.

"Arya Awasti... Down down", Kiara followed her brother making all others sigh at their drama.

"Good, stay on your word, I'll pull your eye balls if you even look at the dining table...", Arya said... "Rajini... Serve lunch", She called the househelp.

"Arya made all the specials for lunch, menu included Chinese and Italian as well", Narayan said making Karan and Kiara whine.

"Kal se... (From tomorrow)", Kiara said

"Yes... We'll go on hunger strike from tomorrow... Mum dad came just today, they will feel bad if we won't have lunch with them", Karan added

"No we won't, you can carry on with your hunger strike, we won't mind, we will enjoy our Arya's handmade delicacies", Saket said and Sharmila nodded.

"Dad, tell me the truth, did you and mum find us in the garbage ?", Karan asked and Saket gasped, his wife joined his drama.

"It's okay Saket, there's no use of hiding now, let's tell them the truth", Sharmila said.

Karan and Kiara narrowed their eyes at their parents drama.

"Mum... Stop your drama, everyone say I look like dad and bhai too", Kiara said

"Mum, did dad bring us home and told you he found us in garbage?", Karan asked cupping his mouth... "Haw... Dad how can you do this to mum?", he added

Everyone chuckled understanding what he meant.

"Idiot... Shut up", Saket smacked his spn's head followed by Sharmila.

"Well I would have considered the possibility if your father is even 1 percent handsome as me. No woman is blind to give him attention... If it wasn't an arranged marriage, even your mum wouldn't even have glanced at him", Narayan said and everyone laughed while Saket glared at his father.

"Okay... Let's go, lunch is ready", Arya said "and you both, I'm forgiving you for this once, next time, if you want to go, party, ask me, don't lie to me", Arya warned Karan and Kiara.

"Really? Will you allow us?", Kiara got excited where as Karan knew his elder sister very well.

"No, I'll arrange the party at home", Arya said making them protest.
"Sh... Now come for lunch", she ordered making them stomp towards the dining hall.

"Arya... We'll wait for bhai, you kids carry on with your lunch, I am sure he must be on his way", Saket said

"Chachu... I don't think he will be here any sooner...", Arya said with a bitter face as she guessed where her father might have gone.

"No problem, we'll wait for an hour more, anyways we are not that hungry", Saket said

"I'll call him and ask, how much time will he take... If he will get late, you arw having lunch with us, now", Arya said and dialed her father ignorimg her uncle's protests not to disturb Prateek.

"Dad... Where are you? How long will you take? Chachu chachi are waiting for you", Arya said

"Arya... I.. I can't come home now... I am with Rahman", Prateek said

"Of course, I knew... Enjoy", Arya said and hung up without hearing her father.

She stormed towards the dining table in anger followed by Saket and Sharmila, trying to cheer her up.

----------------------------------

"Hello... Rajeev... Did you track Rahman's number? Where is he?", Prateek asked

Prateek reached Rahman's house to talk to him, but he was not at home, he tried calling him but he didn't pick his call, he called everywhere Rahman could probably go but he was nowhere. So, Prateek asked his CTO, Rajeev to get his number tracked.

"The signal is showing at somewhere on the highway to our head office sir... It was constantly showing here for the past 10 minutes, either his phone might have fallen there and he hasn't realized yet or he might be involved in an accident...", Rajeev started but Prateek shut him up.

"Rajeev...", Prateek called, his heartbeat rising at the probable thought of something happening to his best friend.

"Why else would he stop in the middle of the highway sir? There are no nearby hotels or even chai tapris... Anyway, I sent someone to look for Rahman sir there, will let you know once I receive any info", Rajeev said

"S.. Send ambulance as well, in worst case", Prateek said, he was feeling good, there's this unknown fear and anxiety inside him, he just hoped his instincts were wrong at least this time, he felt the same when his wife Meera died too

Rajeev obliged and called for ambulance, if the phone was just stolen or fallen down, they would be bashed by the ambulance driver for wasting their time but if it was the later case, Rahman would be saved.

In the next 10 minutes, Rajeev called to give the heart breaking news to Prateek.

Precap - Arya and Arshad meet in the hospital.

What happened to Rahman?