Their hidden agony

It was another beautiful morning for everyone except Abhimanyu(Abhi) and Sitaara(Situ). He woke up early to engage himself in work to forget his painful past while she is still sleeping to avoid herself from facing her cruel fate and her dreadful past. He was letting out his pain by lashing out at people around him while she was hiding her pain with a beautiful smile dancing on her lips.

Abhi's pov:

As usual, I woke up early in the morning, went for a jog for about an hour. I came back to my mansion and went to the gym. I was punching the punchbag continuously remembering my past. My knuckles started to bleed.

"Anna(brother)" my brothers Naman and Druv shouted. "It's bleeding anna, stop it" shouted Druv. I neither turned towards them nor responded to them.

Naman pulled me back while Druv went to fetch the first aid kit.

"Have you gone mad anna? Don't you feel pain punching it daily until your knuckles start to bleed?" Asked Naman dressing my knuckles. I chuckled humourlessly. "The pain I am enduring is nothing compared to this," I said.

"Instead of letting out your frustration and pain by punching the punchbag and hurting yourself, why don't you share it with us?" Asked Naman.

"My pain cannot be reduced if I share, Naman," I said.

"We know what happened four years ago was completely unfair, but it's past anna. Move on. This Abimanyu is not what we are aware of. You have changed yourself into a rude, ruthless and cold man. This change of yours isn't making everything correct. We want back our old Abhi anna" said Druv. I sighed audibly and left from there.

I went to take bath. I stood under the shower and cried. This is the only place and time I cry as I can't see my flow of tears. I don't want myself to know that am vulnerable who cry over the past. I took bath and went to the closet. I chose a grey suit and gelled my hair.

I looked into the mirror and tried to smile but I guess my muscles gave up. Sighing I went downstairs to have my breakfast. Everyone was present in the dining room.

"Good morning Abhi/anna" greeted my family. I nodded at them.

"Anna this isn't your office nor we are your employees to just nod at us when we greet you," said Aarya, my sister. I looked at her blankly.

"Good morning everyone," I said in a cold tone. Everyone smiled back but it didn't reach their eyes and I know am the reason.

''Oh my God Anna it's better you just nod at us rather than wish us in a cold tone which is making us scared" said Disha, my cousin sister.

"Disha, shut your mouth and have your breakfast," said Anjali pinni(aunt/Chachi).

"Didn't Aastha(my cousin sister, married to my best friend) come home?" I asked as mom and aunt were serving us.

"Why would she come here?" Asked grandma.

"Anish is leaving for Newyork and his family are visiting their relatives' marriage. Since Aastha's health isn't well and also she needs to take care of Ishitha, he informed me that he would drop them in the morning" I explained.

"Okay, but that girl didn't even care to notify us" muttered aunt.

"Abhi" called my dad, Aman. I looked at him questioning.

"We found an alliance for- "

"Am not interested" I said cutting off him in mid.

"Why aren't you interested?" asked Grandpa.

"I don't need to answer, I guess" I replied arrogantly. My parents glared at me as if they are ready to kill me.

"You have to answer Abhi, till when are you going to be single?" Yelled my mother, Sakshi.

"Do you love anyone, Abhi?" Asked my uncle, Suman. I closed my eyes in annoyance and shook my head in 'no'.

"Then, what's the problem Abhi? By chance, you aren't gay right?" Asked Grandpa, Vijay, making me choke on my food. My cousins and siblings chuckled. I glared at them.

"How could you think like that? Anyways am not gay" I said.

"Not only we Abhi, this whole world think you as a gay. Initially, everyone thought that you are in a relationship with Rishi(my other best friend). But it was cleared as he got married 2 years ago and have an 11 months old daughter now. Employees around you including your P.A. are male. If any woman has to come for a deal, either you send Naman or any higher officials under you. In case your presence is needed you don't even look at those women" said my father shrugging his shoulders.

"Now stop this discussion. Am not gay and am not going to get married nor have anyone in my mind" I said in a cold tone.

"Why aren't you interested in marriage Abhi? Your best friends Rishi got married, Anish got married and even became fathers. But you are still single. As you are the eldest we can't get Naman married though he attained 26 years and you are least Interested. Don't be selfish, think about people around you. All my friends and relatives always bicker about their grandchildren even I want a grandchild" shouted mom.

"First, don't link my marriage topic with my brothers and sisters. Second, I don't care what your friends and our relatives talk about. Third, if you are adamant about a grandchild you have our Ishitha, Aastha's daughter and you can even get from my siblings and cousins. If you aren't satisfied still I will adopt one. So don't ever try to bring marriage and grandchildren topic" I said calmly yet dangerously.

"Okay if you are firm with your decision then, am also taking one. If you aren't getting married to a girl we got for you today get ready to face my dead body" screamed mom.

I got up from my seat and stormed out of my mansion. I directly went to my office. I ignored everyone's greeting and strolled to my cabin.

"Vinay" I called my P.A. He came inside immediately.

"Y..yes sir," he said stuttering.

"Don't fucking stutter" I shouted at him.

"Yes, sir," he said clearly.

"Schedule?" I asked. He explained my schedule and went away.

Vinay Mehra is my P.A. and like my right hand. Only he could bear with me. He saved me from a goons attack 2 years ago when I went to Mumbai. I came to know that he is in search of a job and from a middle class yet huge family so I appointed him as my P.A.

At 10' O clock I have a meeting with foreign delegates. Rishi is also in this project as my business partner as it's a joint project and Naman is interviewing a few employees for the first round and I'll interview the second round personally.
...

Situ's Pov:

As usual, I woke up late to avoid my cruel fate. My mother was yelling at me or so my whole family for oversleeping. I don't feel any pain at their scoldings as it's nothing compared to the pain am facing now. Sighing I took shower and dressed in a baggy t-shirt and track pants. I went downstairs to the dining room only to receive cold glares. It's our family rule that we all should eat our meals together. They all were starving for 45 minutes as I was late.

"Good morning and thank you for waiting," I said taking my seat. Mom and aunts started serving us.

"Sisira, we got an alliance for you. If everything goes right, you will get married in a month" said grandpa. In our family they never ask opinions, they impose their decisions on us.

Sisira Akka(sis) nodded. "But I have a request," she said. Everyone looked at her to continue. "Tell the groom family beforehand that I don't care about anyone or any situation if my patients need me. Other than this I don't have any objections" she said. Grandpa nodded reluctantly after thinking for some time.

"So, Ms Sitaara Dev Shetty, how long are you gonna stay like this?" Asked grandpa mockingly. I stayed silent as I don't have an answer for it.

"Silence!! Silence is the only way you find to dodge a question. It's been 6 months since you completed your masters. You neither work in our company nor in other companies. Always roam on roads aimlessly. You go to someplace where no one knows. Sometimes even disappears for a week. You are leading an aimless life wasting your degree" he taunted. I gave deaf ears to him as it's normal for me.

"If you aren't getting a job within 10 days I will marry off you immediately after sisira," said grandpa dangerously.

"I won't get married. I want to stay single for the rest of my life" I declared.

"Situ, enough of your stubbornness. Am telling you now, even if you get a job or not, I will get you married to a good person. Prepare yourself for getting married after sisira" said Sid anna furiously.

"I won't, I don't want to- "

"Shut up, just shut up. Am not giving you choice, it's my order as an elder brother" he shouted. I laughed like a maniac.

"Challenge accepted Mr Siddhanth Chowdary. Am not getting married neither after Sisira Akka nor even after your child" I said and went to my room.

I stood on my balcony at the railing with a recorder in my hand thinking about him. Tears started flowing down my eyes.

Why? Why did you leave me? You broke our promises, you shattered our dreams, destroyed our happy life I cried. My every sadness and cries, I save them in the recorder.

My phone started ringing flashing my best friend's name, Aarya. I declined it. She started ringing again and again. Finally, I lifted the call.

"I'll be at your place within 15 minutes. Get ready for the job interview. Dare you to dump this golden opportunity I'll kill you" she barked and hung the call not even allowing me to utter a single word. I sighed.

One of the topmost construction companies in India and it's her brother's company offered me a job with the highest post and handsome amount of salary. She applied for it on behalf of me without my knowledge and they instantly offered the job as am a topmost graduate of Massachusetts Institute of technology, from my batch. I was thinking about how to dump the interview I heard a car honk. I ran into the bathroom to hide and Aarya, my bestie barged into my room with shopping bags.

"You can't hide anymore, Situ. Just get out of the bathroom or I don't even care to break it" she threatened. I immediately came outside. She dragged me and made me wear a white boat neck shirt and white blazer on it with black trousers.

She pulled my long butt length hair into a ponytail and applied only lipgloss as I don't like to apply makeup. Picking up my files, she started dragging me out.

"Aunty- uncle today she has an interview, bless her" shouted aarya. My family face lightened and was about to come near me but I stormed out wearing my stiletto heels. I sat in our car followed by Aarya.

"What was that?" She asked. I ignored her. She asked, again and again, more than 10 times, I chose to remain silent and pretend to sleep. Finally, she gave up.

I don't want to give them false hopes. However, am not going to get this job. I will try my level best in dodging it, so I didn't take their blessing I thought and drifted into sleep.

I opened my eyes when I felt someone shaking me.

"We have reached," said aarya. I nodded. I was trying to get off the car but I couldn't as I felt a tug on my wrist. I turned back and saw my hand only to find it's handcuffed to Aarya's hand. I glared at her.

"Don't glare at me. I can't take risk of trusting you. So I handcuffed as you left me with no choice" she said grinning.

"Aarya, unlock it," I said coldly.

"Nope," she said winking at me. She kissed my cheeks and pushed me out of the car and she too got down from my side.

I stood in front of the company building. It's truly a skyscraper. Aarya started dragging me.

"Aaru, stop everyone are looking at us" I whisper yelled. She ignored me. She went to the reception.

"Good morning Divya, we are here for interview purposes. Could you tell us which floor we should go to?" Asked aarya.

"Mam-"

''It's aarya, call me aarya. I came here for interview Divya, not as your boss's sister" said Aarya cutting off her. Divya smiled at us and we reciprocated it.

"Floor no 23, mam oops Aarya. Is she(situ) your friend?" asked Divya.

"Yes, she is my best friend. She is also here for the interview" said Aarya. I smiled at her.

"She is beautiful and has a breathtaking smile," said Divya.

"Thank you," I said blushing.

"So am I not beautiful?" Asked aarya in fake anger.

"You are the most beautiful girl I have come across, baby," said someone from behind us before I and Divya could reply.

We turned and look at the other person. It's Arjun, our bestie also Aarya's boyfriend.

"JUN" screamed aarya ran into his arms forgetting that we are handcuffed. I was about to fall, Vikram, our other best friend caught me.

"Idiot, if Ram isn't here I would have broken my teeth" I yelled at aarya.

"Am sorry I just got overwhelmed seeing my jun" she said smiling sheepishly.

"Crazy girl" I muttered.

"Thank you Vikram," I said. He hugged me followed by aarya and Arjun.

"How come you both are here?" I asked

"I told them to come," said aarya.

"Why?" I asked.

"Security!!, so that you don't run away like last time," said Vikram

"You guys are insane. You both are the CEO of your companies but you both came here dodging the meetings. Seriously?" I said annoyed.

"Anything for you, Situ," said they both. I rolled my eyes.

We went to the 23rd floor and took our seats. Everyone stood up recognising Aarya. She gestured for them to sit.

No one knows about me though am a daughter to a multibillionaire dad who spread his wings across the globe in the business world. I don't like to become the centre of attention, so I never came in front of this world as Sitaara Dev Shetty. Even all my photos are highly confidential.

I looked at my wristwatch. My interview starts at 10:00, it's 9:45 now, I need to escape. I got an idea.

***********

So guys, what do you think about their past? What do you think is the reason behind situ's unwillingness to get a job? Who is 'he'?

Precap:- Their first meet and Abhi's decision.

Yours,
Surya.