Nine

After playing piano to their hearts content, they sat down next to fireplace. The kids were supercharged after having so much fun and started telling stories about their school, friends, favourite food, favourite places to have fun and so on. Soon they felt tired and fell asleep in Aryan's arms. He took them to their room which they both shared one after another. Rather than facing the cliche blue v/s pink room, he noticed the constellation theme of the room - the two walls behind the beds were painted in deep blue colour with pattern of stars and constellations made on it, while the rest walls were white in colour. Two beds were placed against the walls at right angle, their heads together. The beds had light blue bedheets and same navy blue blankets matching with the wall behind with pillows having same shade. There were stars being projected from lamps to the roof from all the four corners of the room. They had a small semi open section of the room as their study room with the view of the garden through the window next to the tables. The study room had a mini library as well as playing area in it. On the other side of the bed, there were glass doors opening into balcony, covered with curtains in mix of blue and white with two doors - one two washroom and other to walk in closet. He noticed that the basic theme of entire house was the same as before he left, consisting of various colours in combination with white.

After placing them carefully on their bed and covering them with blanket, he started observing the room. There was a memory wall with photos clipped to threads in them, which caught his attention- the photographs capturing various moments of their life, their smiles, their memories with their Granny and Grampy and last were his photographs, lots and lots of photographs - in army uniform, him smiling at Karan's antics, him in casuals, him playing piano and many more. These photographs revealed a part of the twins which he never knew before, it brought tears to his eyes. He realised that other than his Grandparents, there were still people for whom he held importance, who loved him and considered him a part of their lives even when he was absent from their lives. He went and kissed both their foreheads and sat on a chair between their beds.

Aryan realised that leaving everything to cope up with the situation then was not the best choice he could have made. Though, he came back before his decision could inflict serious damage, he still felt guilty for leaving the twins in an unknown place, unknown environment. He realised that the twins needed a parent figure in their life. It was a position which could not be filled by his Grandparents and he needed to step up for this responsibilty. Even when he was not here, the twins did not forget him. They remembered him in their hearts without any ill feelings. This was more than what he could ask for. He was glad that he came back for good. After those incidents, this was the first time where he could move on happily without his past dragging him and he very well intended to live his life to the fullest with the twins. Aryan felt as if a load lifted from his shoulders. He promised himself to be the best father out there for Aarav and Aarushi. Thinking about this, he fell asleep right next to the twins, sitting on the bean bag.

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Around lunchtime, Manisha went to check on the kids. She knew they were tired but was worried about them being hungry. She froze at the door of the room, she saw Aarav sitting on the carpet next to Aryan reading the book from morning, while Aarushi climbed up to Aryan's lap and started counting his eyelashes loudly.

"Dad has such pretty lashes. Wow....., one,two three,four,.....", Aarushi stood on his lap and continued. Aarav seemed content being next to his Dad. Manisha couldn't help but smile at this scene. She immediately took a picture to capture this beautiful moment between the three. Next second itself she notice Aryan's face, he was desperately trying to lay still, controlling smile from breaking out on his face. After a few seconds, he couldn't help himself and hugged Aarushi making her squeal in happiness.

"Does my princess find her Dad handsome?", Aryan teased.

"Yup, my Dad is the most handsome man in the whole world.", replied Aarushi smugly, her face filled with pride.

"Then what about your Grampy Aarushi?", asked Ajit from the door, standing next to Manisha, with a fake frown on his face.

Aarushi saw him and felt bad her Grampy, while Aarav felt bad for his sister falling into the elders trap. He knows everyone thinks that Aarushi was his sheild in social events due to her bubbly and people friendly nature but only a few know that she mingles with those people only who he felt were safe to interact with.

Aarushi climbed down from Aryan's lap and hugged her Grampy's legs. She looked at him with her puppy like eyes and said, " Grampy, Don't feel bad. You are the second most handsome man in the whole world.", leaving a flabbergasted Grampy, amused Granny, smiling Aryan and a resigned Aarav behind.

They all moved to the dining hall, where the entire time Aarushi was pampering her spoilt acting Grampy with Aarav as assistant.

"Grampy, Do you want me to massage your shoulders?"

"Grampy, shall we go out for a walk in the evening?"

And so on....

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After dinner,

"Grandma, Grandpa, It's Karan's wedding in a month."

"Yes..Yes...Alok and Sheetak called us yesterday. He and his wife personally invited all five of us for their destination wedding in their farmhouse at City N.", remembered Manisha.

"Yes, Karan called me just now, telling me the rough schedule of his wedding. Since it's a destination wedding, he wants us to leave along with The Singhs and The Singhanias in their private jet. He even wanted all of us to be a part of the wedding preparations over there."

Ajit and Manisha nodded, agreeing to go with the arrangements. All three families have been close friends and the elder Ahluwalia couple knew how much they have helped them from behind the scenes; even though they control seperate fields of origin - the Ahluwalis were giants in the fields of Technology and Security, cyber or otherwise; during their son and daughter-in-law, Samar and Nisha's accident. One of the main reasons for the harmony among three families can also be attributed to the set of three couples of the older generation who took the initiative to start their career in different fields. Some might consider it to be a move of cowardice that they couldnot compete healthily and hence decided to branch out but one more perspective could be that these people chose the so called cowardice instead of the healthy rivalry which could turn into a full blown war among the future generations as they were best friends but what about the next generations. Friendships can't be forced. Ajit Ahluwalia, Shekhar Singh and Pratik Singhania were childhood bestfriends who decided to become big in their repective fields of interest and would never allow any such clashes to come between them and by far they have done excellent work in doing so.

"Grandpa, I want to join office from tomorrow."

"Brat, don't think I don't know who has been processing my documents trying to reduce my workload, working in cahoots with my secretary.", Ajit gave a stink eye to Aryan resulting in his sheepish smile.

"Grandpa, Grandma I know you both have been rushing to and fro from office and at the same time taking care of the twins. As soon as I realised this, I knew I need to be back but I didn't want to leave any loose ends in the Army and hence I took around a year to wrap them up. It didn't mean, I was not aware about the situation of the company. That was the only way I could help you out at that moment.", replied Aryan taking Ajit's hands in his own.

"So brat do you know anything about the attempt to breach our firewalls last month and how miraclously an unknown hacker got into our system, strengthened our firewalls and even added a virus back to the source, helping us in identifying the culprit - our rivals The Batras.", asked Ajit, at the same time explaining the situation to Manisha who was listening with rapt interest.

"Ahmmm, Grandpa I think I should go check on the twins once", Aryan tried escaping but Ajit held his collar and made him sit down next to him. He looked at Aryan sharply, waiting for the needed confirmation.

"YupIwastheonewhodidit.".Aryan said in a breathe.

"I only understand a few languages and the one you are speaking is not one of them.",said Ajit with a poker face. Aryan turned to his Grandma with an innocent face and made his eyes bigger, asking her help to escape from this situation.

"No...no...I am not doing anything.", saying this Grandma pretended to enjoy her hot chocolate, a favourite which she strongly shares with the twin.

"Yes, I was the one who did it. I asked your secretary, Uncle Kumar to install a software in the systems of the cyber cell so that I could help out in case there were situations needing help."

"Aryan, I know. I know that your father taught you everything in secret, how to handle the company, Management as well as the technical side. I also know you have been working in the shadaws for the company since long time back, even before you joined the Army. You are an expert in handling computers, especially the software part and there is no one else other than Samar who could have taught you everything, covering even such minute details. You know Aryan, you are more than capable of taking over the company completely. You don't need much of my help actually. I want you to join the company as the CEO. I am tired now and want some rest. It's not like I am leaving you to handle everything on your own. I'll retain the position of the Chairman and will help you from behind the scenes if and when needed. I have spent a lot of time on the company, a huge part of which, I should have spent with your Grandma. Now I want to make up for those times.", Ajit said taking Manisha's hands in his own, with tears in his eyes.

"I understand Grandpa. I'll do everything to the best of my capacity. You don't need to shoulder everything on your own.", assured Aryan with moist eyes and a heartwarming smile on his face.

"Oh come on..... Don't make me cry okay. I just got my facial done yesterday. I don't want to get it spoiled.", whined Grandma making all three of them laugh.

"Ajit go and introduce Aryan to everyone tomorrow. Hand over everything officially and help him get used to the atmosphere there. Then only you are allowed to come back. Got it??", ordered Manisha.

"Yes, Madam.", replied Ajit, doing a mock salute.