Drop.
Drop.
The rain was pattering continuously on the tiles of the mansion, momentarily complemented by the sound of thundering. The breeze moved from the warm kitchen to the dark basement room, From the north rooms to the rooms located at the south side.
It was the first rain of the season.
Usually, people would be either sipping a warm beverage while admiring the nature or would be getting drenched under the wetness disliking the weather.
But the mansion was abnormally silent. As if, no one actually existed even, save for the sound of the footsteps which felt like the supporting act to make a non-existent person believe that people were living here.
The breeze flowed through the rooms, to the doors making its way, passing the curtains. The silent cool air became a disruption to Vivaan, who was in his study room. The file was placed right in front of him.
The breeze again fluttered the page. A sigh left his mouth before he secured the page again.
There was a picture of graduation of Rushaan's father.
Another picture was of the opening of the company.
Another picture was of an article stating that the company has started collapsing.
Another cutout of an article which defied the previous article.
And in none... was his father, or grandfather.
The basement, which was solely kept for confidential knowledge contained this file which seemed incompetent to the other files.
It served as a history.
A history, devoid of its main rulers.
He flipped the pages.
Ayesha's father.
Rushaan's father.
Assembly of people.
Opening of the company his father built, and who was missing?
His father himself.
No one knew the reason, why were those two successful companies suddenly collapsed except the one under Rushaan's father.
Malhotra and sons.
No article cutout on that company.
Not even mentioned anywhere.
And yet, that was the infamous company he heard from everyone, that changed the course of this family's lineage.
He closed the file with an exhaustive force.
He was searching for the hook of the story, which was never known to anyone, not even himself. And deep down he knew, that skyline crest had something to do with it.
Kruthi has connection with it.
Svidevzalia would be on stake if he stopped midway.
And at the end, it all pointed at one thing. Destroying not only him. Something much bigger.
He stood up and went toward the window.
His eyes stared at cityscape, which was all wet. The honking of the cars.
Would Rushaan have reached the airport?
He had already left for honeymoon with Ayesha that morning.
If he told Rushaan how silent the mansion was without him, Rushaan would probably be on cloud nine.
At least he would feel that he has a purpose other than being a pawn. Vivaan had already warned Rushaan thoroughly, to not hurt Ayesha even by a scratch, or a thought. Kruthi had given him tips to apologise to Ayesha but said one thing foremost-to not demand an apology. Be sorry genuinely, but don't force her or manipulate her to forgive.
Kruthi!
Where was she now?
He remembered that she was laying on the bed when he left the room hours ago. She must be looking around, worried, awaken from her slumber.
Without wasting any moment, he rushed to the room. The door was already unlocked. He turned the knob as a habit and entered the room. Sheets were crumpled, pillows scattered around the bed. But there was no sign of Kruthi.
He went to the en suite bathroom. Knocked there twice.
No response.
Suddenly, his gaze stopped at the window.
The garden downstairs.
A melodious voice of someone singing.
He rushed downstairs, but kept his footsteps silenced while approaching her.
She was there, sitting on the corridor floor, staring at the pattering of rain. Her loose end of maroon saree was sprawled across the floor, as if it was claiming its own space. A glass of water was kept near her. Her arms were crossed on her chest, face resting on the folded knees, and a smile on her lips.
This was different. Because this silence was different from the one inside.
This voice was a stark contrast to the footsteps inside.
He forgot for how long he stared at her. His slippers supported him this time, or perhaps that's what he thought.
She suddenly stopped humming and looked directly at him.
For a moment, his breath hitched.
He was caught.
And she was... mesmerising.
With slow steps he came towards her.
"You don't have to silence your footsteps now." She spoke to him with that nonchalant expression and looked back at the grasses, in front of her. "Allow them to speak."
He nodded and sat next to her.
"Why are you outside?"
"The silence was suffocating."
"But you are silent too."
"If I was silent, you wouldn't be standing there silent yourself."
He chuckled looking away.
"Fair enough. Credits to your voice. But how did you know I was there?"
"Instinct."
"You follow your instinct over brain. Different approach."
She nodded.
"I don't like when people hear me sing."
His eyes snapped at her side profile.
"Why?"
"Habit."
He sighed and nodded.
"But some habits should be changed. Allow me to listen you."
She looked at him for a moment in confusion.
"Why are you being insistent?"
"Well." He forwarded his head, slightly towards her. "I don't like talent being wasted."
She chuckled lightly.
"And? what will you do? make me a singer in your company?"
"Maybe."
"No need. I am happy being a celebrity manager."
Silence.
But this silence wasn't suffocating. It felt... serene.
"Kruthi"
She looked up at him.
"Sing."
"What? Why?"
He didn't respond at first.
"Your voice is calming from all this turmoil."
Kruthi looked away suddenly. Her cheeks reddened ever so slightly.
"I beg you Kruthi. Sing."
She looked at him again.
He was resting his head on the wall with closed eyes. Exhausted. Utterly stressed.
She nodded.
Seene mein tere pyaar ki udti hain patange,
udke yun hawa mein tera, main aanchal hua-a-a...
Ho, bheega hun tere saath main baarishon mein teri,
Bikhri jo teri zulf toh, main badal hua-a-a...
Teri kaali aankhein,
Mere khwaab ka hai dariya,
Main utar ke inmein kho gaya-a-a-a.
Hai yahi iraada, tujhe chahun khud se zyaada,
Dil se hai ye vaada-a, main hoon saath tere-e-e
Main hoon saath tere.
(Translation)
kites of your love
fly in my chest.
I have become your scarf
flying in the wind like that.
I have been drenched with you
in your rains,
when your hair spread
I became a cloud.
your black eyes
are the sea of my dreams.
I have drowned in them.
this is the intention,
that I love you more than myself,
this is my promise with the heart.
I am with you...
She paused for a moment. Then sighed with a smile and returned to her position, unknown of the fact that her 'just singing' had almost brought tears to the man sitting beside her.
"Why did you sing that, Kruthi?"
Kruthi squinted her eyes and looked at him.
"It's my favourite song. If you didn't like it, you should have told me which song to sing."
He pulled his head back and finally opened his eyes.
"I have never heard songs sang like that."
"For that you need to be around such people."
Vivaan sighed which would have been a chuckle if he didn't suppress.
"Hmm. Point taken. Thanks to my wife."
She stayed silent.
"Why aren't you talking, Kruthi?"
She didn't look up from the rain.
"I like watching rain in silence."
"What makes you like it?"
Kruthi smiled softly.
"It makes me feel happy. Sukoon milta hai. Feels like diamonds are falling from the sky. Ever since I was in high school, I started walking to home alone. But rain was the only season where I always reached home later than usual."
Vivaan nodded.
"And that song? what makes you like it?"
Kruthi chuckled softly, as if Vivaan was asking an illogical question.
"Main hu saath tere? From that- Shaadi mein zaroor aana?"
She asked suddenly. But he wasn't asking that. He was asking the reason behind that specific song.
"Because that song speaks to my soul. I love songs which have meaning or vibe. This has both. Its calm. Everyone can I say I love you, but people rarely say and mean that I am always with you."
Vivaan paused for a moment.
"Kruthi... things have complicated."
She looked up at him softly.
He continued.
"Found a file at the basement. It questions everything I knew about the family history. And it had everything to do with you, Skyline crest, Svidevzalia. At this moment... I can't even recognise myself."
Kruthi stared at him for a moment.
"You are thinking a lot, Vivaan. Give yourself time. Sometimes the biggest answer lies under the smallest question."
Vivaan nodded. But this wasn't the reply he wanted.
"I am with you Vivaan, as long as we are together."
She spoke finally.
Vivaan chuckled looking away.
"You deliberately delayed that sentence?"
Kruthi looked at him shocked.
"You were waiting for that?"
Vivaan nodded.
"Perhaps."
He stood up and stretched himself lightly.
"Who drinks just water at rain?"
"You don't drink water during this season?" She looked at him almost shocked again.
"People often prefer warm beverages. Coffee, tea..."
"Oh. They dehydrate me. So, I avoid them."
Vivaan turned around to leave.
"Pack your bag Kruthi. We're leaving tonight."
Kruthi blinked at him in surprise.
"Suddenly? But where?"
He didn't respond outright, just took out his phone, responding to a mail.
"You should sing often Kruthi, even when it doesn't rain."
With that he left from there, with that same coldness which pissed Kruthi off.