C33 LOVE IS ALWAYS WIN

For three days, no one knew about Aarav’s death. Then the stench from the dead body made people suspect something. The door of his room was broken, and Aarav’s dead body was discovered. There was blood splattered all around, which had dried by now. News of his death had spread in the media. Every small and big news channel and news paper was full of this news.

On Monday, when Mr. Bajaj reached his office, he found the news of Aarav’s death on the front page of all news papers. Alongside were two photographs – one of Aarav, and the second of the wall, on which Aarav had written something. The whole world may not have understood the reason behind the words, but Mr. Bajaj understood. He knew that this was a message for him. Today Aarav was not in his office, but his name was there. He remembered what he had told Aarav – “The day your name reaches me before you come, I will definitely publish your Novel.” What he had not realized was the extreme to which Aarav would go to make a name for himself, and fulfill his dream.

Somewhere Mr. Bajaj considered himself responsible for his death. If he had not put the tough condition, maybe Aarav would have been alive today, he thought. He immediately decided that he won’t let Aarav’s sacrifice go in vain. He called his manager to his room.

“You called me, Sir?” The Manager said.

“Yes. Start the TV and put on any news channel” Mr. Bajaj asked him.

The manager started the TV and put on a news channel. Every channel carried just Aarav’s name.

“Do you know this boy came to my office a few days back? He wanted to publish a Novel. I had refused citing the company’s rule that we give a chance to only those who are already famous. Look at this picture, what has he written on the wall.” He showed the newspaper photograph to him.

“He has written this for me. Whatever you have to do, use money, use power, anything, just do it. But I want that Novel written in blood at any cost. Got it?” He said.

“Yes Sir, I have understood.” The manager said.

“Just see. This Novel will break all the records of previous best-sellers, and make our company, number one.” Mr. Bajaj said.

…….

The blood written pages of Aarav’s Novel had reached Mr. Bajaj. After a few days, they took the shape of a Novel, with Aarav’s last photograph after his death, on its cover page. The name of the Novel was ‘The beginning of my End’. When Mr. Bajaj released the Novel in the market, as he had expected, the love story of Aarav and Rihana broke all the records with its sale within two months.

For the first time, people had formed queues outside bookshops to buy the Novel. On every online site too, it had become the best seller. People went crazy to read it. It sold millions within a few days.

Two months had passed. The Novel was still creating waves in every market. But Akbar Khan couldn’t decide whether he had won with Aarav’s death, or lost, because the Novel had become a best-seller. Aarav had killed himself to fulfill Rihana’s dream, and he himself could not fulfill his only daughter’s last wish. He had lost everything in his arrogance and ego. His wife had already left the world a few years back, battling cancer. Now his ego had driven Rihana also away from him - forever.

One day he stood in front of Rihana’s picture and said,

“Your mother left me long time age due to cancer. You also left me alone. You didn’t think, even for a moment, how your father will live without you. Forgive me, my daughter. I have given you a big punishment due to my ego. I will sell everything and fulfill your dream.”

Next day he and his manager were going in his car to meet Mr. Bajaj in his office. He had decided to buy the copyright of Aarav’s Novel from Mr. Bajaj, even if he had to give him everything. This was the only writing of Aarav left, the rest he had already burnt.

His manager advised him to think once again.

“Please think once again, Sir. You are going to give all your life’s earnings for just one Novel. I don’t understand this way of doing business.”

Akbar Khan looked at him.

“Today Akbar Khan is not going to do a business deal. Today a father is going to give up all his wealth to fulfill his daughter’s unfulfilled dream. I never said ‘no’ to my daughter for anything. Her last wish was to publish Aarav’s Novel from my company. There is no Novel which I can publish. That is why I have asked Mr. Bajaj to sell the rights of this Novel. I will give him everything I have, but the Novel will get published from my company now.”

“Sir, you are getting emotional. You have put in so much hard work over the years to establish this company. Now you are going to destroy it all in a single shot.” The manager tried to explain.

Akbar Khan smiled.

“All this wealth, this company, I had made for someone. Now, when she is not here, then everything is useless. I only wish that when I die, and meet my daughter in heaven, I am able to look her in the eyes.” His eyes were filled with tears, as he said this.

The manager offered him his handkerchief.

“Control yourself, Sir. Wipe your tears. I appreciate your feelings. Perhaps what you are doing is right.”

A little later they arrived at Mr. Bajaj’s office, where Mr. Bajaj was already waiting for him, with his lawyer and manager. Mr. Bajaj welcomed them.

“Welcome Khan sahib. Please have a seat. What will you have – hot or cold?”

“I have not come here to have tea. It would be better if we finish the work for which I have come here.” Akbar Khan said.

“Why not? (turning to his lawyer) Please show him the papers. Let them satisfy everything is ok.”

Akbar Khan took the papers from the lawyer, signed on each sheet, and handed them back to Mr. Bajaj.

“So Khan Saheb, from now onwards, my best-seller Novel from Aarav is yours. You have transferred everything you had in my name… for just one Novel.” Mr. Bajaj smiled.

“It is not just any Novel. It was my daughter’s last wish. Now every copy of this Novel will be published from my company. Now, maybe, my daughter will forgive me. I will leave now…”

Mr. Akbar Khan and his manager came out of office. Mr. Bajaj tells his manager – “See, how this Novel has made me number one in an instant.”

Mr. Bajaj notices Akbar Khan opening the gate of his Jaguar car to sit. He shouts at him.

“Khan Saheb, have you forgotten so soon? Everything you had, now belongs to me - even this car.”

Akbar Khan turns around to see Mr. Bajaj smiling. He waits on the road for an Auto-rickshaw. Suddenly, he starts smiling. His manager is surprised. He asks him,

“Sir, you have lost everything, and yet you are smiling?”

“I just remembered what Aarav had said. One day I had told him that I will bring him on the road. And today, I myself have come on the road. He won because of his love, and I have lost. But, frankly, for the first time I am happy at my defeat, because this is my daughter’s victory.”

(End of flashback)