A U T H O R  P O V

Hyderabad

The room was dim. No lights. Dark walls. Silence.

An alarm buzzed sharply amidst calm ambience of the room.

 A hand shot out from the sheets and stopped it, followed by a low groan . It's five in the morning, too early for the world. But not for him.

He sat up slowly and placed his feet on the cold floor. He rubbed his palms together and pressed them over his eyes.

His sleep left. But the thoughts didn't.

He stretched his neck to the left, then right. His veins stood out clearly. A sharp jawline. A body shaped by discipline.

He reached for his phone , opened the lock and paused for a minute looking at it.

Then he locked the screen and kept it back in the same place.

He stood up.

Agastya Ranav Varma.

CEO and sole owner of  Agastira .

A man  often people admired from afar, his dark brown eyes that revealed nothing. A presence that silenced rooms.

Women admired him. Men respected him.

But none of them knew him.

They saw success. Not the cost.

They saw calm. Not the storms he kept locked inside.

He wasn't cold. He wasn't heartless.

He had simply learned how to survive without showing anything.

Work was his escape. Agastira was built brick by brick, sleepless night after sleepless night.

He walked into the bathroom, finished his routine, and headed straight to the gym inside the house.

His father - Ex RAW chief

His grandfather - Ex army

It's a bloodline of discipline. Silence. Secrets. But he chose business.

In the gym, the metal clanged soflty as he lifted them one by one. His muscles tightened under strain and sweat dripped down his back.

After completing , he removed the gym gloves , and took the water bottle and let the water down from his face .

His eyes closed briefly, and a face flashed. Soft big eyes, with a mix of innocence and strength. 

He took a deep sigh, walked out of gym and then returned to his room.

Dressed in black and white suit, looking calm and composed, Agastya walked downstairs.

His phone rang. "Nakul", he answered. "Yes. Send the files before ten. I want everything clean." He added and disconnected.

Ahead , the pooja room which stood calm, Vijaya Devi sat chanting, rudraksha moving through her fingers. An idol of Lord Shiva stood in the center.

Agastya stepped inside and he joined his hands ,eyes closed .

 Vijaya devi smiled and touched his forehead to place vibuti, "Everything will be fine, Kanna"

(Child)

He smiled faintly.

"Nanamma", he asked , voice low, "How do you always know I'm worrying about something?"

(Grand mother)

She chuckled.

"How can a mother not know her childeren's worries? This old woman is living only to pray for all of you."

He sighed.

"Nanamma.." he warned gently.

"Okay, okay" she laughed, shaking her head. "I won't talk like that again"

She held his hand.

"Come. Everyone is in  dining room"

The dining room buzzed with voices. Agastya helped his grandmother sit and took his seat beside her.

Aadrit to came sliding his black legal coat to the chair and sat.

Avantika looked at him and asked, "Aadi yekkada Aadrit"

(Where is Aadi, Aadrit)

"Inka nidra levaledu , Maa" . He set his hand cufflinks of his white shirt and took a plate to serve himself.

(He is still not up from sleep)

"Ee madya veedu yekkada thirigi vasthunnado asalu ardaratrulu raavatam , madyanam varaku padukovatam" Aruna expressed as concerned mother of Aditya.

(These days don't know where he is roaming , coming at midnights and sleeping till afternoon)

Avantika served breakfast.  Achyuth in the middle cleared his throat to announce,

"Next week is Arjun and Aditi's anniversary. Also Aksh's birthday. Vishwanath invited us all."

Agastya paused mid-bite and glanced at his father. Then continued back.

"Aditi too, called me today and strictly warned to not miss." Aravind said and everyone chuckled.

"So , everyone keep everything aside for that day as it's been after years Agastya too came and we are going, understand" Vijaya declared.

Aadya smiled excitedly "I always wonder that Akka- Bava anniversary and Aksh's  are on the same day. What a coincidence."

(Sister- Brother-in-law)

A voice ranged in the sharp and cold in the air.

"Yenti coincidence, vaalla iddariki pelli ayyi 6 years paine ayyindi inka Aksh ki oka chello tammudo sangathe ledu. Papam Aditi akkada a kutumbaniki chaakiri cheyleka yenni badalu paduthundo "

(What coincidence they have been married for more than 6 years and still no sign of a sister or brother for Aksh. Our poor girl Aditi ,don't know how much she is bearing there big family.)

It was Triveni the widowed sister of Achyuth and Aravind. Her words made the hall silent and filled with irritation due to utter nonsense she is speaking.

Triveni continued, "Adi chaaldu annattu aa  Arjun chelli pelli kakundane intiki yevaro dikku mokku leni pillanu...."

(As if it is not enough that Arjun's sister not even married but  brought a kid home....)

Before she completed the sentence the sound of Agastya's spoon hitting the plate boomed.

His eyes darkened.

"Aditi is not a child-producing machine" he said , calm but sharp.

"What she chooses is her right. Arjun is not just my brother-in-law. He is my friend. His father is my father's friend"

His eyes turn colder as he looked directly at her.

"Think wisely before you speak, Atta"

(Aunt, dad's sister)

He stood up.

"Tell Vishwanath uncle that we are attending" he said to his father and walked out.

Raghava pushed his chair back.
"Mom, you spoil every moment in this house. Can't you live without interfering in others' lives?"

He left.

Raghava and Riya were nothing like their mother. Raghava admired Agastya not just for his success, but for how perfect he is in everything.

Triveni remained seated.

After her husband's death, she had come to this house, settling in with sympathy. She taunted everyone. Yet no one stopped her.

Because she was the only daughter of Trinadh Varma and Vijaya Devi.

Outside , Agastya stepped into his car and settled into the driver's seat. He started the engine and pulled out of the driveway.

His phone rang. He answered it without even checking the name as he know who would be the person.

"Received the invitation?" came the voice from the other side.

"Hm," Agastya replied, eyes fixed on the road.

"Everything is set then." The person spoke.

"Good job , Arjun"

From the other side, a low chuckle followed.

"Thank you, bava" Arjun replied, the teasing clear in his tone.

Agastya rolled his eyes slightly, already understanding that smile on the other end. He cut the call without another word.

The car sped forward.

His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

He murmured, barely audible

"Just one more week...and we will meet - Ira"

_______________

Chapter two is out here

Agastya?

Question for the readers

How did you know this book?