Chapter dedicated to :- iam_arpita111

Come on guys... It took me lots of time for a come back. Also I made the banners. So, the shoutout is mine... 😛

Published on :- 27 May 2023

Words Count :- 3353 words

Life is a race...

This is what the virus of three idiots did say in the movie. Some take it practically while others just make fun of it. The latter is the one who's the main loser in the race of life.

Run... Compete... Push... Win.

This is a simple mantra of the race of life. I have failed in the relations of life but the race is what I am the best at. 

I have everything that a man could desire.

Money... Looks... Family... 

Yet I am nothing but a failure. 

The things that seem in reality are not true, and the things we want to see in reality are too good to be true!

This is what my experience has led me to. 

Impressing him was my greatest aim...

I am Neil Malhotra, the CEO of Malhotra Group of Industries. Popular amongst girls for my looks and infamous amongst guys for my anger issues. I am the man who makes it to the news headlines every single week. 

Am I arrogant? Oh yes...

Am I short-tempered? Very well yes...

Am I handsome? Fucking yes...

Am I perfect? No...

Sitting in my Mumbai office, I was busy listening to Sara, my personal assistant. She was telling me about my today's schedule. 

Drinking black coffee and listening to this girl is what starts my day perfectly. She has been with me for the last 2 years since I started working but yet she gets nervous around me. Whenever I drill my eyes towards her direction, she stumbles in her speech and this surely does make me chuckle every time. This is what makes my day perfect now you see!

"Repeat what you said." I announced out loud after this girl again stumbled with her words because of my sharp gaze. 

She bit her lips and again blinked her eyes twice before going through the previous words all over again. I tilted my head to the side, raised the cup of coffee in her direction, and smirked.

Troubling her is fun because even though she's loyal to me, she doesn't carry the aura of being my secretary. This is surely needed to teach her all the stuff.

My phone then vibrated thrice drawing all my attention towards the intruder. I showed my hand to Sara indicating her to stop and looked forward to the intruder. I took my phone and saw in the notification section that showed that my dad had sent me a WhatsApp message. It read, 

"Neil, we have got an important deal to crack. It's a very profitable deal. So, I want you to cancel all your meetings for today and come to paradise hotel because that is the place where the meeting is supposed to take place. I have come to Mumbai and right now I am sitting with that client. I will see you at paradise hotel at 3 pm sharp."

I read the message and sighed and informed Sara to cancel all the meetings for today. It's the 27th of May today. Another special day of my life if I might add...

"What happened to my flowers?" I asked Sara as I was shutting down my laptop.

"I have ordered them, sir, like already." The girl claimed.

"But do I get to see them now here anywhere?" I asked setting up my hair with my hands and giving her a serious look.

I don't like when my hair is messy enough on days like this.

"No... No... sir. I mean... They must be... Here... Coming. I will check and let... you know. Give me some time." She stumbled both on words and her path as she ran away from my room straight away.

I sighed and closed my eyes as memories of the past lingered in front of me as visions. I smiled... But I was taken aback as soon as the hauntings of the past came. I took a deep breath and composed myself as soon as I felt Sara entering the room. There was a bouquet in her hands.

"Here they are sir!" She exclaimed as she gave me my favorite bouquet of dandelions.

I took a smell of them and drove myself to the place where my peace once lingered. 

After 5 hours

Neil's POV

It was 2:50 pm sharp now. I know that I have arrived before time. But I am a very punctual businessman who doesn't like to make anyone wait and also does not tolerate if anyone makes me wait.

This hotel is one of ours. The guards smiled at me and took the keys of the cars in which my pack was traveling. My men and I entered the hotel. The staff stood up on their place acknowledging my presence. I didn't even care to spare a look at them as I made my way towards the conference room.

We opened the room and found no one was there. I turned my head and threw daggers at Rohit, my best man in charge. He took out his phone and called dad.

"Come to the garden view restaurant of this hotel. Mr. Desai has asthma and appreciates nature instead of sitting in a suffocating room." These were the instructions of my dad.

I so wish to choke Mr. Desai with my bare hands. The garden view restaurant is gonna take 10 minutes from here making it 3:10 pm by the time I reach there. I wonder how he even sleeps at night in his bedroom instead of choking out and dying out of suffocation. 

Without wasting any time further I went to the restaurant.

I saw that Dad, my two beloved brothers - Abhay and Jai, Mom, and Granny were all sitting there. Also, an old man, an old woman, and a young lady were there who were sitting with them.

"Were we invited to a family luncheon, Rohit?" I asked taking a step back and whispering to my man.

"Shall I declare that we have another meeting to attend sir?" He was gracious enough to offer.

"Mogambo is sitting here and do you really wish to be beheaded, Rohit?" I asked him smiling at my Dad.

"Neil, what's with the whispering? Come here..." Dad called out. 

I shook my head in defeat and received a pat from Rohit as I walked in front of him with my pack following me.

"And you all, go to the conference room and prepare the chart for Dhirani's project." Dad said pushing all my men away from me.

My mouth was open at this as I felt someone trying to pull me away from my cars. That's the level of attraction that I felt currently with my men.

Rohit gave me a last look of pity before leaving the place. I let out a loud sigh and sat beside Dad.

I eyed Mr. Desai. He was not that old but rather a person in his early fifties. He had a muffler wrapped up around his neck, wearing sweaters and then they say that this man was complaining of the suffocation. Well, I am the one who's feeling suffocated now looking at him this way.

I let out a huge fake smile as my brothers laughed at my misery. 

Oh... How much do I wish to beat the hell out of these two idiots! It's been a long time since they have got a taste of my hand.

I gave them a sheepish look and that was more than enough for them to stop.

We then started off with our usual business talks. Jai was finding it to be boring while Mom, Mrs. Desai, and Granny were busy whispering something amongst themselves. 

I am not getting one thing which is that if what are these people doing here.  As much as I remember, we don't share any such family relations with the Desais. What's brewing up here is what I am failing to understand currently.

We were almost done with our talks when Dad said,

" Neil, why don't you just go to the garden and have a chat with Sneha, Mr Desai's daughter."

I shifted my gaze to that young lady who was smiling and was more than willing to go with me. Her eyes showcased her desire and her smile was inviting enough. Well... Well, This has to be! After all, I have such a charm that no woman can resist me.

But honestly, I don't have any interest in her. Neither am I flattered by her smile nor am I gonna be flattered by her words too for sure. I denied saying that I was fine with the family here but Dad wasn't in the mood to take no for an answer. 

He gave me a cold stare and schooled me in front of everyone on how I was still his little boy.

Well, the irony you see...

So, I was forced to go to the garden with her. 

The girl was playing with the end of her dress. Her breathing was steady and with this, I know she's nervous to say whatever she wants to but unlike me, she willingly came to the garden for sure. I let out a huge sigh and gazed at my watch. 

It's getting late and she's clearly wasting my time here. I groaned out of frustration and decided to break the ice so as to get away from all this as soon as possible.

"Hi! I am Neil Malhotra, the eldest son of Anirudh Malhotra." I introduced myself.

"I am Sneha Desai. Currently, I am pursuing BCom." The girl replied as she avoided making eye contact with me. 

What is she?

Till now, she was smiling in front of the family to go for a walk with me and here she was not even looking at me. 

Do I look like a joke to her?

Taking this on my ego, I refrained from asking any questions to her. I have already initiated the conversation. Isn't what is considered to be etiquette for her to ask me a question after this? If she's not gonna ask me anything or say anything, then I won't speak the next word too.

Time passed by... Well, it was just ten minutes already and none of us spoke. Granny was looking at us only and suddenly the women's gang laid their eyes on us and started whispering something to one another.

It's enough... I shall take my leave from this place now!

As I took a few steps ahead of her, the girl asked,

"What are your hobbies?"

What? Is she a painter who's willing to give me a competition?

"Well, I am totally a workaholic person who keeps on working and working on. But besides that I love painting." I replied loosening my tie a bit. 

Well if I have to waste my time here then I should do it with a good supply of oxygen now, isn't it?

The girl checked me out on this shamelessly and didn't even care to shift her gaze somewhere else when I did already catch her doting on me like this.

I so wish that her communication skills were so great like her staring ones...

"Tell me something about your likes and dislikes." I said taking this question game forward.

Well, it was my turn only you see.

"I like playing guitar and I hate amusement parts. I am scared of heights you see." She replied in a perfect American English accent. 

"Neil and Sneha! Come back here. It's been twenty minutes already. We have to proceed for the evening coffee." My dad called out.

So, this girl stole the precious twenty minutes of my life for nothing. I would have finished painting the face of a person within this period. 

I clenched my jaws and moved towards my Dad without even caring to wait for this lady for she might be a lady but I am no such gentleman. I left her behind and stood in front of Dad who was already drilling holes with his laser-like eyes into my skulls. 

I ignored his looks and the lady finally managed to reach us. 

All thanks to her lengthy dress I guess...

"Papa, it's a yes from my side." Sneha said looking at the floor as her cheeks turned red.

I ignored her words royally thinking it to be best not to meddle in her issues.

"It's a yes from our side too." Dad declared making me smirk out of victory.

I never knew that walking with the daughter is the new trend of winning the deal in the market now!

"Congratulations, Mr. Desai!" I exclaimed and went on to shake my hands with the man.

The man stood up with his lips stretching to their maximum extent. His shivering hands held mine as he said, 

"We are so glad to have you as our son-in-law, son!" 

"What the fuck!" I cursed him in front of everyone and dropped his hands in an aggressive manner. 

I eyed my Dad who was already fuming in anger and found my entire family giving me sympathizing looks except for those two idiots.

"Dad! Did you lie to me? You told me that this was supposed to be a business deal and now when I finally come here on your call, all I get to know is that you have fixed my marriage proposal without my consent. Dad, I am not gonna marry her!" I made myself clear as crystal in front of everyone out here.

Dad walked towards me faking a smile at the Desais. He came closer to me and whispered, "Stop creating a scene."

I looked at him in disbelief and then looked at Sneha who was on the verge of crying. 

"You can't force me into this." I stated in a very harsh tone which I believe I am using for the first time in front of my Dad.

"I am sorry sir. But I cannot marry your daughter. " I said firmly looking into the eyes of Mr. Desai directly.

It's better to say it clearly than to play with lives for some stupid business deal.

"I dare you to say that!" Dad shouted at me but I paid no heed to him or his words.

"Am I not good for you?" Sneha finally asked a question within all this mess.

"No... No, Sneha..." I said walking towards her.

"You are good for anyone. Hell... You deserve the best." I said rubbing off her tears with my thumb. 

"Are you not good enough already?." She asked.

"See, I strongly believe that my family has not yet told you about my habits. I am a person who drinks, smokes, and the one who has fucked many girls on my bed. In short, I have no such qualities which a girl expects to be there in her future husband. I am always seen with a new girl. New night and then there is a new girl on my bed. Would you want your future with such a guy, Sneha?" I asked taking her hands into mine this time. 

"Then reform yourself I guess. You said that I deserve the best then in that case, you try to be the best." She demanded while I looked at everyone thinking about how to make them understand.

Why is she so overreacting? It's not like you can fall in love with someone so quick for real!

"I can't..." I said.

"Why so? I like you already. You are my business ideal. After meeting you for real, I want to be selfish enough to keep you for myself. Your personality and your honesty have touched my heart. I was made to believe in our match by our families for the last entire month. As for your bad habits... leave it." She once again demanded something which I can never give to her.

So, this was brewing up for an entire month now I see... 

"I am so sorry..." I said pecking her forehead for one last time and taking a step back. 

"See, I am not good enough for you. In that case, I am sorry..." She said.

"Enough of the drama, Neil! You are marrying her and that's final." Dad said and I looked back and found granny trying to control his anger by holding his hand. 

"What if I am already taken by someone else?" I asked her. 

She let out a hoarse cry at this and said, "I won't play with the happiness of another girl."

With this statement of hers, she earned my respect and now I felt guilty for hurting her so badly.

"In that case, please don't." I said looking into her genuine eyes.

"Let's go, Mom and Dad." Sneha said and made herself scarce within seconds.

"Anirudh! There is nothing left for me to say anymore. All I can say is that the deal is now canceled." Mr. Desai said and left the place along with his wife stamping out their feet loudly all the way long.

Dad pulled me by my arm at this and yelled, "Neil, till date I had always been proud of you. But today you really made me embarrassed in front of my clients. Neil, I had given my word to them that you will marry their daughter. I repeat that I had given my word to them."

"Dad! I can understand that you have given your word to them. But I have already given my name to someone else." I finally got the guts to say this to my family.

"Who's this new fling of yours? Don't tell me that you have given our family name to that foreigner slut of yours?" Dad demanded an answer.

"Firstly, call her with respect because she's a Malhotra now. Secondly, stop forcing me for things that I don't want to do, Dad. I am a 26-year-old grown-up now and it's high time you respect that." I said in a monotonous voice.

"Neil! What are you trying to say?" Granny asked me.

"First, let's get away from this place. Media has already been watching us like a hawk. Let us not serve them with something new this time." I said and left the place as others continued to follow me. 

I drove myself to my home here in Mumbai as others continued to follow me with their cars.

"Am I suspecting a bomb blast, sir?" Rohit asked as he accompanied me to the front stairs of my mansion.

"Hasn't it already occurred?" I asked giving him a small smile.

"8 months back to be exact." I heard him say from behind as I entered the living hall of my mansion.

I was silent as I heard footsteps approaching near me. They also maintained the silence and let some time pass when my mom broke the ice saying,

"Neil! Please tell us the truth. Don't kill us with your silence."

I pointed my finger toward the sketch of my angel.

"Bhai! Who is this girl!" Jai asked.

"Ayesha Neil Malhotra." I replied.

_____________________________

So, guys how was the chapter ?

I hope that you can see the ways I have edited the first chapter.

I have already started getting negative comments and suggestions regarding my decision of re-writing the books.

So, a final answer to them all again is I don't relate to my previous writings anymore. I am firm with my decision. Reading or not reading the book is your choice and same goes for me and my writing.

As of the next chapter, don't ask me please. Let me update on my own pace. I don't wanna run away feeling burdened again.

Apart from that, all the love to you. You guys are the best. Do tell me which part did you like the most in this chapter and lastly...

Neil is love... ❤️
#TeamNeilAlways