Home.
The word resonated deep within a man as he emerged from the crowd outside an airport; Sunglasses protecting his eyes from the mocking smugness of the sun.
He wore a plain white t-shirt paired with basic blue jeans yet his tall and perfectly sculpted physique made it look like some limited collection from a luxurious brand.
Removing his sunglasses, he looked around, trying to spot a familiar someone.
The bright sunlight made him squint his eyes. Just then he saw a man—same features but years apart—was waving his hand with a big smile. Even from afar anyone could see the way his eyes were sparkling with excitement.
As soon as he saw him, a radiant smile instantly broke across his blank face, mirroring the younger one. Without any thought, he hurriedly walked towards him and took him in a brotherly hug.
"Finally you came, bhaiya." the younger man said in pure joy of seeing his elder brother after a long time and hid his face in the crook of the older one's neck. The man just chuckled and patted his back affectionately.
"Yes, now I'm not going anywhere. No early booking of a U.K flight like everytime." he replied and parted away from his younger brother.
The man caressed the younger one's head and said in his low, tired voice "You have grown even finer than the last time I saw you." His voice carried warmth despite the tiredness creeping in his body.
He looked at the younger man; a bittersweet ache blooming in his chest from the slight regret of not being able to watch his siblings grow up into adults.
The younger one—Krishiv Singhal looked at him with huge eyes; his face glowed in the aftermath of the compliment he had just received.
He complimented him back—a habit he has grown into from a young age.
After the brief exchange between them, they both sat in the car and drove away from the airport.
The man leaned back in his seat as he exhaled through his mouth and then looked outside the window. The city looked anything but quiet, people were busy in their own world.
From children running after a hectic school day, random shopkeepers fighting with each other—perhaps for taking their customers to how some old aged ones sat near the garden watching the younger generation have the same fun as their own childhood. As he observed the city; something stirred inside him— he was back to his mother land.
Quite an irony for the man who was eager to leave this country just twelve years ago is now happy to return to the same country that carried memories of nineteen years of his life .
This city was home to him.
Krishav's voice felt like background music; probably talking about how everyone missed him. Or how the dog in their neighbourhood who once used to furiously bark at him whenever he came from school is now waiting for him at the threshold of his owner's house.
He half heartily listened to what he said.
The small smile never left his face even if he was tired from spending hours on the plane. His mind filled with so many thoughts that almost made him overwhelmed.
Almost.
As he kept looking outside, his eyes caught a live billboard where his photo was displayed with the headline:
"Veer Singhal returns to India after twelve years of living in the UK. What began as the journey to acquire higher education; Veer remained in the UK for another eight years overseeing the operations of the UK branch of VASTRA & CO.—the company's largest international market after India. Recently, there have been rumors regarding the next heir of VASTRA & CO. It is said that the eldest son of the Singhal family—the founder of the company will take the helm of the entire organization.
But now a shadow of doubt lingers: is he really the next CEO? Or if he is then does he possess the intellectual capacity to govern the company?"
His last twelve years summary was there—on that board. His capability was questioned even before he got the chance to show it to the business world.
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