June’ 2002,
Midtown, Manhattan Borough, NY.

Aryan rushed towards his mama who was grappling to seize forty winks in the lounge waiting for the arrival of her adorbs son, “What happened,” he questioned “Where is Nemo?”, Aryan plummeted on to his knees.

Rekha kept trying her best to appear to be unflappable, “He is upstairs. Doctors have come, running check-ups.” She answered in a mild voice.

Aryan locked his eyes with Rekha, he had a grok of awful vibe. His anxiousness grew exponentially, “What happened to him,” he asked with a bundle of nerves.

“I don’t know Aryan” She appeared to be apprehensive yet cliff hanging, “the butler had seen him lying on the floor with the blood spilled all over”

Aryan heaved and got to his feet. He tugged his cell phone out of his coat pocket, he typed a text and asked his mother, “Where is a dad?”

“He is out there with Nemo”, Rekha got to her feet abreast Shalu treaded at slow pace towards her.

“Alright! I will go see Nemo, Shalu stay with mama” he said and trudged in the way to take the elevator to Nemo’s bedchamber.

Aryan stepped into the room and had seen three doctors. One of them seemed as the senior amongst them. He was holding the diagnosis report gazing into the file while the other two were having a discussion on the fettle and infirmity with the senior doctor. The senior doc walked towards Nemo where he was lying on the bed. He lay hand over dayanand’s metacarpus, got hold of the nerve on the right-hand Manus to check the pulse, he then yanked his stethoscope out of the blue for a check on dayanand. He gyrated and looked at his ticker.

He ambled towards the spot where Aryan propped his stance, “No problem,” he said stowing his stethoscope back in the kit, “Nothing to be worried of junior. It’s just an acid reflux, it can be relieved through proper diet” he placed his arm over Aryans shoulder blade and walked towards Vivek, “he is doing good, let’s put him under medication. It’s gonna take some time” he said to Aryan and patted him on the scapula.

“Vivek, just a min,” he sighed him to walk out of the place along with him into the corridor.

“Is there anything else we should look after?” Aryan checked on the two other assistant doctors who were wrapping up their tools and tackles.

“Yeah! Take good care of your Nemo. Would you?” one of the doctors replied with a smile

---

Vivek fidgets divulged his feeling of the consternation, “Yes Bryan, what’s the matter?” he uttered.

“I hate to come clean ‘cos it’s my obligation as a physician. Vivek,” he paused, “Dayanand is suffering with Gastroesophageal reflux disease”

“What is it” he questioned.

“It’s a digestive disorder, the stomach contents come into the oesophagus. It affects the oesophageal sphincter” he explained motioning his hand over his throat to diaphragm region.

“Does that mean it needs a surgery for a recovery?”

“That’s not the only problem Vivek,” he stumbled upon his asseveration, “he is also affected with pulmonary fibrosis”

Vivek was down in the doldrums when he’s put in the picture, “Now what is that Bryan? Let me understand the problem,” he muttered.

“It is a lung disease resulting in the scarring of lung tissues. It obstructs the supply of oxygen causing severe breathing problems” he described.

“So what should I be doing” Vivek rushed towards to him, “You mean he should be operated immediately, well we don’t wanna be late, if that is what we are to do. Will do it in the next hour. I am gonna do whatever it takes me to bring him back on his feet”

“Vivek, I can get in your shoes and feel the dread by myself” he assuaged the angst, “but I gotta tell you friend. It occurs to me that this is an Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It means there is no cure for the disease”

“What do you mean” Vivek exclaimed, “What do you mean by there is no cure, every bonking disease has to have a cure. There should be a solution to this doc. don’t you wanna sound out words please”

“I am sorry Vivek but that’s the truth you have to digest,” he walked into the portico, “there are no practices or provisions to cure the disease. It is impossible to remove the scar by a surgery, it will develop over time and you can’t stop it. There is only one way and it is to bring down the rate of progression. I don’t want you to be optimistic about it either because dayanand is in his middle dotage. The medicines cause’s side effects and I may not assure you that dayanand’s immune system helps him in sustaining the effects”

“Lung transplant?” Vivek advised, “That should work, have seen several successful cases”

“I am afraid Vivek,” He replied in short. Vivek imploded and was utterly bogged down, he felt perspicuously shattered after lending his ears to Bryan.

---

“Certainly, thank you for the provision of care, please take your seats” Aryan said as he plonked onto the canape few meters away from dayanand’s bed, “it means a lot to us”

“We gotta leave”, one of the doctor reverted, “That’s our job Junior, don’t mention. Take care boy,” the other doctor said and they both scrammed out.

---

Junior calling…

“Aryan” Shalu answered the call.

“Come along with mama to Nemo’s room, the doctors have left. He is doing just fine” he informed her.

“Okay, we are walking” she said and hung the call.

---

Following day, Saturday – 22:00 Hrs.

Aryan went in to Rekha’s room, he found her lying on the bed in stargazer posture with her eyes locked over the roof.

“Mama, are you here?” Aryan broke into her reverie.

She was jerked with the sudden interruption into her deep thoughts “Yes junior, what’s the matter?”

“It’s about my travel. I have my flight day after tomorrow early in the dawn” he said “you want me to stay back or take it”

His words took her by surprise, “I had the conjecture that you are having holidays for a month more” she opined.

He moved close to the divan sliding his hands inside his jacket pocket, “Yes, mama but I have to attend a training outside town. I have planned this before arriving here” he said sprawling on the divan.

She got up to her high-fowlers and lay her torso on the king pillow shams, “What’s the training for,” she looked for an answer.

“Well it’s related to a competition on building a car. You knew it, right?”

She gleaned and asked with a surmise, “Building a racing car?”

“Exactly and I was really looking forward for this,” he continued explaining her what he was intending to do and why he had to leave.

“If that’s the exposition, we have the A1 engineers in our industry,” she said “Rest assured that we have all the technology and logistics, you can certainly get your mitts on all of them at the R&D centre”

“But we don’t manufacture cars. How will that help me?”, Aryan checked on her intuitions.

“That’s okay. You will build it by yourselves. Justin Amell will help you out,” Rekha assured him.

“Great! Who’s gonna usher me to the centre,” he harked to his retention, “wait… is it not too far away from the headquarters?”

“Sure it is. Thirty miles, in the city outskirts. You can reside in our guest house and get trained in the R&D dept.” she insisted “and above all, I will have my son in my vicinity. You can come home if you wish to, couple of hours drive”

“Fantastic, please do the talking with the lead concerned. I will meet with them the day after tomorrow” he said “I will cancel the flights right away”. He wends his way out of the room.

June’ 2002,
Midtown, Manhattan Borough, NY.

“Aryan, I am walking down to 14^th street from union square subway. Where are you?” a message flashed on his phone screen.

“I will be there in five minutes, I’ve almost reached” he replied instantly.

“Okay great, I will wait outside wall greens,” another message from the same number.

“Perfect” he replied and accelerated towards East 14^th street.

---

“Hey, Shalu.”

“Hi handsome” she said getting into the car, “look at you, young man. Gone are those salad days, aren’t they?”

“Quite Shalu,” he started the engine, “you draw the longbow, every time.” he said driving down the roadway.

“Okeydokey”, she tried to emulate his voice.

They drove a few miles, “How is everything?” Aryan broke the ten-minute silence.

“Absolutely fine. I am having a great time at your company and as always, with your company” she retorted and cleared out, “By the by, no pun intended”

Filled with awe, Aryan lost for his expressions, “Fair play,” he responded.

“Whatever! Where are we driving to?” She asked gazing at her phone.

“Wait and watch,” he said driving her to a Marriott five-star restaurant having made a name for seafood.

Shalini’s infancy had been down in the dumps. She lost her parents when she was in her babyhood. Kinsfolk had felt her being a trammel to their family and relinquished her to a govt. orphanage. Fortunately at the same time, the administration was being nice to the penurious nippers, urchins and other toddlers. So there were adequate funds being allocated to the orphanage undertaken by the govt. That being so, she got well-read and learned in her schooling subsequently in college under the regulation of the central regime. She was a highbrow woman and had been the titlist in her college at the state level. She helped and made a name for herself by securing a position in an university for her undergraduate degree with full tuition and fee waiver. Eventually she had been the top dog in her department of computer science at the university. Impressed by such a massive intellectual ability and steadfastness approach towards life, she was offered a full time position at JAPMI as a computer engineer.

At a later time, she had done commendable research and implementation in the Programmable Engine control units. She made her mark yet again at the professional front and a series of industry night shindigs left her with an invitation by Rekha to the chairman’s home for a lunch. As it goes without saying, like minds wend and rove cheek by jowl. In no time, Rekha and Shalini snugged in common circles. She was also a multi-talented damsel and she revelled in playing her role in the activity management department.

By the time Shalini has started her professional career at JAPMI Aryan was in his seventh grade. Since then she never left the company even after the fact that she had many proffers knocking her door every month. Nobody ever knew of her personal rationales but when Aryan asked her about the subject, her response was that she maintained a very special relationship with Rekha and Aryan himself.

Shalini was delighted to see her driven to a multi-cuisine restaurant well known for sea food, “Uh-huh, so you do remember my love for seafood” She expressed in a beatific manner as they sat down in the seats reserved for them.

“Forever Shalu,” he said.

“So we gonna go for shrimp shells” Shalini sounded out without a shufti over the menu.

“Seriously?” Aryan said with his eyes locked on the set menu, “You’re an audacious woman, it was intentional isn’t it? You knew it I am mentally allergic to shrimps”

Shalini giggled.

“Paelle Valenciana and Grilled Halibut,” Aryan said, “will have’em. Looking for more choices?”

“Oh sure I do. Crab cakes with remoulade” she skimmed over the menu on the double and said, “and Scallop Piccata”

“I know you would be fine with Halibut, don’t you?”

“Of course junior”

“Junior, you seem to have gained weight lately,” she said, “also good physique, I smell something fishy”

“Uh-huh! Maybe because there are fishes in the backyard and the aura might be hovering around” he said, in germane we are in a seafood restaurant he thought, “by the by, pun intended”

“Ah! Solid sally,” She now made her hunch talk into words, “any girlfriend lately?”

“No! None for now” Aryan shrugged off, “I would definitely lend your help if there is one on the way”

“Much obliged. I will very much be glad to be at your service” she sipped from the glass of water, “you know, you should get one real soon ‘cos woman can change a man’s world”

“Yep! Agreed. They do in reality.” he said brooding over the relationship of Vivek and Rekha.

With a smirk Aryan catapulted his inkling, “So when are you going to change a man’s world”

Aryan had no tip-off on what was about to come. “Very soon,” She said promptly alongside the garçon arrived with the order.

It was unforgettable luncheon that Aryan ever had. They talked their hearts out, recalled all the instances where they pulled each other’s legs and shared the merriment after trudging through each other’s memory lanes.

Shalini not in any time had tried to patronize Aryan. She neither acquiesced nor acceded to consider him to be coequal with friends of her peer group. Aryan greatly admired for her affable nature and basked her camaraderie. They had a jaunt on their itinerary to the Whitney Museum of American Art few miles drive away from the restaurant. They got into the car to follow the course but in the spur of moment Aryan received an unexpected call.

“What?” Aryan bawled, “How? Is he alright? Where are you all?” he kept asking unceasing questions on the call.

“Aryan, I want you right here. I will talk again” the voice over the call stumbled with the words and the phone went dead abruptly.

“What happened, anything wrong?” Shalini asked with an apprehension, “Aryan, I’ll come with you. Everything is gonna be fine” she said jostling for serenity concomitantly pacifying his fear, “Let’s drive now” She said patting his shoulder.

June’ 2002,
Midtown, Manhattan Borough, NY.

Jixin’s automotive parts manufacturing industry was founded by Dayanand. The industry by and large manufactures transmission and power train components, engine parts, body parts and trims, braking systems, and suspension components. It had gained its recognition over years of time. It was one of the leading original equipment manufacturer suppliers in the country. The company had spread over 30 different locations across three countries namely Germany, USA, and Switzerland. The company had also been recognized as the producers of the widest range of automotive products to major vehicles, spesh in the category of sports and racing cars, in the Country automotive industry.

Dayanand had started up his tenure in this field first by setting up a business venture in collaboration with a Germany-based company. In the fullness of time, after the investors were convinced with the dexterity and domain expertise, they laid the control over the company to Dayanand. It was the same time where the automobile industry was at nascent, thus there was a scope to win a huge market. Dayanand found the need for high functional effective powertrains for the sports and racing car industries in the near future and thus started the research and development in the field of powertrains. In the course of time, within close range of six years down the line, he established the brand JAPMI very successfully.

Nearly after four years of the initial success in powertrains. A sports car company based out of Switzerland had made an alliance with JAPMI for manufacturing engine parts and suspension system for the cars. Although there was no prior usage of latest technologies by then, the contract was signed for adding a new product line focusing development of the product using the advanced technology. That was the highest and largest equity investment and capital outlay venture into JAPMI. After a sufficiently long time, the project had blossomed making huge profits and showcasing the industry with the one of the best ever results across other original equipment manufacturers. The further success of the industry drove Dayanand in getting a position among the millionaires in the world. It took a lot of time for a massive success of the industry but it was worth the wait for Dayanand to see himself one among the millionaires.

---

“Aryan, are you ready? Nemo is waiting downstairs” Rekha said hurrying.

“Just a minute more, I will see you” he said making up hair with the last touch of the hair gel.

Dayanand and Vivek were dressed up quite professionally while Aryan and Rekha were in the general run of accoutre. Never mind! It doesn’t matter anyway. Aryan prospected.

“Mama I will go with Nemo and you can join dad,” he said winking at Rekha “let us not allow him to have a lonely ride”

“Uh-huh,” She bobbed her head.

The family arrived at the venue, Radio City Convention Centre, drew attention from all and sundry as the name was coruscating on the crest of the building. Almost all of the delegates and attendees have arrived in time.

“Mama, who is the new CEO?” Aryan asked while they were being escorted inside the centre.

“I am not sure honey, Nemo haven’t told me anything about the person” she answered.

“… Knows anything?” Aryan asked pointing the first finger at Vivek who was walking in the front abreast with Nemo.

“I am not sure,” she chuckled, “no more asks”, She said with the finger on her lips, “It’s time to meet delegates”

Aryan turned his mug off of his mom and then he saw …

“Welcome sir, it’s a great pleasure seeing you after many years,” said to Dayanand, one of the guys who was escorting them to a private chamber based just before the entrance to the rostrum of convention hall.

“Where is Shekar?” Dayanand asked the Vice President who was close at hand in the antechamber. Vice Chairman, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, Committee chair, and other board of directors were all seated in the private chamber.

Aryan and Rekha were flabbergasted when Dayanand voiced out the name to the Vice President. Shekar was the outside director in the board. He was never expected to scud across the sky from Germany and made himself available at the jamboree. It’s been a long while since Aryan had seen his grandpa, Shekar. Albeit being taken by surprise, it didn’t hold on to both Rekha and Aryan for too long. Shekar had arrived in USA no more than half a dozen times, the same went with Shikar, he had his rationales lugged under his arms. The expat left Germany a couple of times for USA. So Aryan hadn’t seen both of them in more than half times of his current age. Rekha not on her nelly knew much about him yet if she tried anamnesis it only bleared her cerebral cortex. Be that as it may, Dayanand had occasional interactions.

“He is upstairs” vice-president whispered with Dayanand, “he sighed to surprise his daughter and son in law”, he said realising Rekha and Aryan were out of earshot.

“Hey old man!” there came a voice from behind the scenes.

“How about you, a young man?” Dayanand riposted to Shekar. Both of them laughed at the remark.

“There you go my beautiful rose, my princess, my loveable daughter with her handsome hubby, the perfect couple I’ve will ever see” he said sauntering with an ecstatic smile so as to advance toward Rekha and Vivek.

He slid his hands inside Navy blue tuxedo and looked at Rekha with a grin, “Who is the guy,” he asked gesticulating with eyes ushered at Aryan’s spot.

“Guess who” Rekha sling the question back at him.

“My sonny?” He hazard a guess. He gazed at Rekha for a few seconds, his face had manifested the credence that he finally intuited who the youngster was.

Without hearing to what Rekha had got say, “Oh boy! You grew up very soon. Beard, mustache, good physic and you are just about in even shoulders to me” he said in astonishment, “I missed you see grow up, I have no locution to say how I feel right now”.

“So am I grandpa, I am bunged up to paint any words” he extended his hand for a handshake, “I am happy to see you too after many years”, he couched his etiquette.

They continued to confabulate up until a manager from the Activity department assisted by a compeer intervened the kinsfolk.

“Sir, my consociate will walk with you to your seating”, she said, “Madam and junior, could you please come along with me, I will guide you to your seats” and the kindred followed the damsels.

“Time to invite the dignitaries on stage,” Manager mumbled with an assistant.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I heartily welcome you all …” A woman in yellowish skin tone with basil green checked shirt and in an onyx black short skirt with feathered hair centre parted, stretched along touching down the shoulders. She tucked the hair covering her left ear, looked veritably professional. She drew the attention of the concourse with her contralto, very pleasing to hear as she delivered the introductory speech.

“Mama is she the Sr. Executive Shalini from the activity management dept.?” Aryan reckoned.

While Aryan was piling up the memories he had with her a few years back Rekha fragmented the recall to reply, “Yes, she is her”

“It’s been a while since we had seen each other,” he said to Rekha, “would love to catch up with her sometime tomorrow”

“Sure you should”, Rekha encouraged and grinned “I will do a check on her schedule”

Aryan and Shalini were always together since she joined the company back then when he was staying at home. He had the impression that she was a mirth and fantastic woman to scrag the time.

The seats on the stage were occupied by all the board of directors except for one.

“And now I cordially invite Mr. Satya, the next CEO of JAPMI” Shalini announced.

There came a bloke in his late thirties walking, with broad shoulders and wide chest in Prussian-blue coloured three button suit where the third button was left open. It also had a double vent at the rear end of the jacket conveying his arrival from a European nation. He’s wearing super fine thin-framed spectacles untouched at the temporal sides of the head. He’s got short cut thick damp hair slightly exaggerated lengths in the crown area, the hair appeared to have a light appliance of a moisturizing pomade, smoothening sides back and down, styling the fringe up and down for an upshot. The hombre fairly looked to be CEO of the company.

“I am honoured to take the dais before the board. I am much obliged to take the charge as the CEO of the industry. Before I would evince the industry strategy for the next few years”, Satya paused and glanced at the board sitting behind him, “I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the Chairman, Vice Chairman, CFO, COO and other board of directors for entrusting me with the coveted position in a reputed industry like JAPMI”

Satya continued with his speech for a while. The man had strong vocals which kept the mob interesting in every aspect of the speech. He discussed propositions across diverse business units, he conveyed and took around his intentions for the company under his tenure. The horde encouraged the flag bearer with an unremitting acclamation. Following this, Dayanand was requested for his appearance.

“It is an immense pleasure to see my dear chum’s son as the new chief executive officer for JAPMI. The decision has not been made overnight, the board has put a lot of thought before arriving at the choice of assigning the position. When all that is said, here I see Mr. Satya, an etiquette personality with all the world class dignity and valour to lead the company from this day forward. I believe all through my heart that he will take JAPMI to another level by making revolutionary implementations in the automobile industry” Dayanand continued, “I don’t want to take much of your time. So, I will wind up here with my regards to the new CEO and to the future of JAPMI” He concluded.

“Do you know him? Mr. Satya?” Aryan asked Rekha.

“Not on top of my mind but I am aware of his existence,” She left a smile and glanced at her watch, “You know, I was away from home right from my high school. I have not seen much of him, in fact any of the extended family members” she said adjusting her thick frizzy and twisted spiral hair over her forehead.

“Oh! Alright, where will we be heading after this?”

“Dining, where else you wanted to go? It’s already 21:00 hrs” She said indicating at her ticker.

“I need some fresh air and a drink, would like to come with me?” he asked twiddling his thumbs.

“Keep twiddling few more minutes, we will be leaving for dinner” She said ruffling his hair.

“Mama, you are looking beautiful today, did your husband say this to you?”

“He might not have noticed me, honey. Never mind, I have my son to complement me” her eyes glittered and her lips spread broadly apart for one more time, “What say, Aryan?” She asked.

“Always!” he replied in crisp and kissed her right dorsal hand. While the mother and son engaged in talking further. After fifteen minutes, Mr. Satya took charge officially by accepting the “token of esteem” presented by the founder and chairman of JAPMI, Dayanand, which was a memento given as customary to the new officer before absorbing his position in the industry.

“… and also I would like to thank everybody …….” The pretty woman continued with her vote of thanks and directed all the attendees to the dining.