March’
2004,
Garden City Park, Nassau County, NY.
“Congratulations to the head on his promotion to head – USA,” Aryan announced as Justin walked into the hall of Aryan’s residence. “What a journey it has been” Rekha said as she walked out from her room when she heard Aryan speaking to Justin.
“Thank you for your greetings,” Justin grinned, “I was informed on the same day of Aryan’s birthday. I was engaged in multiple meetings with the executive administration. So I was caught up all day and couldn’t make some time to stop by,”
“That’s very understandable Justin,” Rekha said, “Aryan have let us known about your schedule the other day, Anyway, congratulations and we are happy for you,”
“Where’s my…” before Justin finished asking, “Fiancée?” Aryan intervened.
Justin asked, “It was hard enough to play the trick on her, isn’t it?” he felt pity.
“Oh no way! She loves them,” Aryan dabbed his shoulder.
“Trick?” Rekha was bewildered. Aryan hopped in, “Mama we did the talking about the marriage of Shalini to Justin, remember?” Rekha answered, “Yes!”
Aryan continued, “And when we wanted it be a surprise element to her we weren’t anchored with the notion,”
“Uh-huh!” she nodded.
“So we had happened to nail it down with the support of Justin,” Aryan said and elucidated on the line of action.
“Stark Mad,” She commented.
“Mama…” Shalini was calling out at the hilt of her voice on her arrival into the hall. She was flabbergasted to see Justin standing in the hallway among the others. She loved him deeply inside her but she was in two minds to express it. She wasn’t aware of the subterfuge and Aryan didn’t take the courage to spill the beans about the plot to her as she would lose the pleasure she experienced. “Well, Shalini. I am having the hunch that you didn’t meet the would-be but it seems you did meet the lover” Aryan interrupted in the silence.
“Just because he had spoken a few fanatical words and slipped his visiting card into my hands, in any manner doesn’t make him a lover, lover!” She rejected the thoughts of Aryan, “I have respect for him. Story end!” she said.
Justin and Aryan were utterly taken aback after listening to her. They believed the ploy was executed to its perfection but they found themselves twisted in their despair, “So it looks like the story is going to have a bad end,” Justin expressed his displeasure, “May be we didn’t just do it in her way, the right way” he said and started to walk back.
“But…” Shalini stepped in and paused, “the fact that he cares for my family gave him the licence to be that one,” she said and turned back with shyness crawling into her eyes.
Aryan moved in haste towards Justin and signed him to hotfoot towards her. Justin did comply with Aryan and stealthily wend his way in the direction; He stood right behind her. Shalini didn’t discern his presence, when she suddenly gyrated she found herself slipped into the arms of Justin.
“Mama, got you something but let’s walk out to lend them the private the space,” Aryan uttered. “Ah! Sure we should,” Rekha smiled.
“So where have you been to?” Justin asked Aryan, “You dropped me at the city centre Starbucks and you left the place for?”
“I was out of the city,” Aryan said, “I met with the policeman, Mr. Vincent Louis,”
“But why?” Justin asked as he was taken aback.
“Long story short,” Aryan answered, “there’s lot happened with the Hadars, and there’s more to be happen with the Hadars,”
“I am sorry Aryan,” Justin recollected instances from the past, “I am sorry that I was not available in the country while every odd things were happening with the family. I had to leave for Japan and I was there for three months working on site with the clients. By the time I returned home the state of affairs were already settled by then. I had no clue of your whereabouts, I tried to reach out for you guys but I just couldn’t,”
“Justin, there is no need for any repentance,” Aryan and Justin took the seats in the veranda.
“Congratulation dear,” there came a voice from behind. Aryan and Justin traced back, “Ah! Professor Malcolm,” Aryan said and got up to his feet.
“Congratulations to you too, Aryan,” Malcolm voiced out on his rapture, “Please be seated,” he said.
Aryan didn’t see the light about the regards from Malcolm, “What’s with me, Professor?” he asked.
“There is something with you as much as it is with Justin,” He said.
“If there’s something that is not in my knowledge. You may wish to enlighten me,” Aryan said.
“Ten plus one is not going to help us anymore. We will be needing more of them,” Malcolm said looking at Justin. Justin reciprocated with his eyes and then both smiled from ear to ear.
“Ah! I see it,” Aryan sensed the vibes, “Steve and mates plus I, and we need more resources? But why?” he questioned.
“We will be in partnership with the Volkswagen Group. The contract is to commence from the next week that is the start of April. We are expected to be the engine assembly plant from the North American region for the Manufacturer. They see the prospect for a monthly production of at the least hundred engines for the phase one venture and it is assumed to go four fold as the relation ensues over time,”
Aryan was half-surprised about the tidings as he had already drew up conjecture from his past experiences. “Great,” Aryan said.
Justin stepped in, “Aryan, we have to name the plant and you may want to do it,”
“I will bring it to the notice when I think of something,” Aryan replied, “For now, we require resources and we do require a committee,”
“Yep!” Justin said. “What’s on your mind? You have any suggestions to increase the team” Malcolm asked.
“I do,” Aryan said, “It’s time to get back to them,”
“Who are they?” Malcolm asked. “You will know soon,” Aryan answered.
Power and Pelf 