CHAPTER 8

Aarav's POV

"Get the jet ready" I said that to my bodyguard over the phone quickly after reading the information sent by my private investigator. I then packed my bags. I had no idea that for how long I will be staying there but I will be there until she doesn't come back with me I need to apologise. That word just sound so foreign.

"Sir the jet is ready we will be leaving in awhile" James said.

"Find out where in India is Dia Patil is staying" I said.

"Right away sir" with that he went to make few calls. I was just taking my few files when dad called.

'What am I hearing' he asked in a dead serious tone.

'Dad you don't have to overreact it's just for the company's good' I tried to be rational.

'Don't give me that excuse' he said in a very cold tone. 'I know Aarav what you are doing so don't be so secretive with me. If you have told your mum then isn't it obvious that you need to tell me as well' his voice had softened.

'I know that dad' I said feeling guilty I should have had informed him too.

'Fine do whatever you are going to do there... and all the best have a save journey' he then hung up.

Don't tell me mom told him everything. Godddd!!!!!

"Sir the car is ready" my bodyguard said while snapping me back to the reality "And here is the information you asked for" he said while giving me an envelope.

"I will be coming in a minute" with that he went away with my suitcase. I quickly ripped that envelop and there was the address. I kept that paper in my bag and went to the car.

We reached the airport in less than 15 minutes and then was escorted towards the jet. I greeted my pilots Mark and Steve.

I was seated on the one side of the plane and on the other side my four bodyguards. It took us about 22 hours to reach Kolkata, India.

When I came out of the airport there were media everywhere I don't how do they even know about me. Maybe dad's connections. I was quickly escorted to the car. We then drove from the airport to the hotel. It was one of dad's hotel.

"Good morning Mr. Rai I hope you had a safe flight. These are your room keys enjoy you stay" the receptionist said while giving me a flirty look. God.

I quickly dumped my bags and then went where Dia was staying. The place was a little away from the main city but seemed really nice.

"Sir the car won't be able to go any further I think we will have to get down here" the driver said.

"Fine you can go back to the hotel I'll call you" I said and got down. I didn't wanted to show up to her house with all my bodyguards and all. It was a little sloppy but I managed to get to the villa. It was a small farm house not too fancy. It looked quite cozy though. I ringed the bell.

"Pakhu open it" someone said. And instantly the door opened. It was Dia. She was all pale her nose and cheeks were red and she was dressed all white. Wait white.

"Mr. Rai" she was shocked to see me.

"Miss Patil" I said in a low husky voice.

"Pakhu who is it" there was an old man maybe in his late sixties who came behind her in the view.

"Yes" he asked.

"Dadu" she said before I could say anything, "why don't you go inside I will come" she said.

"No but who is he" he asked again.

"Da-" I cut Dia off.

"Hello sir I am Aarav Rai" I said immediately.

"Aarav Rai?" He asked. "I have heard of you somewhere" he said.

"Maybe on TV" I said with a laugh.

"Uhhh..... no..... yes Om told me about you. You are her boss right" he stated with a bright smile. "Oh you are such a nice boy I must say thank you for helping Dia that night" he said and shook hands with me.

"Dia where are your manners" he turned to her. "Please come inside" he said with a welcoming smile. I was really confused as to how does he know about me and who us this Om. As I entered the house there were chairs everywhere. The first thing that caught my attention was the centre of the room. There was photo of a lady not more than forty. And near her there were a lot of flowers. Wait was that Dia's mom.

"That's my mum, in case you are thinking" she said with a chuckle.

"I didn't know" I said in a low voice. "I am sorry" she just shrugged her shoulders. I was still not understanding how can she be so cool. I mean her mother had died.

"Oh so you are the nice boy" a voice came from behind me.

"Um.. that's my Dida" Dia said. "She is completely mad" she whispered the last part.

"Aie Dia I heard that" the lady said as she kept a bowl on the table.

"Hello I am Swagata Bose Dia's grandmother" she said sweetly. "I don't know how to thank you, who does even help someone in this generation thank you" she said.

"Oh ma'am it was nothing really" I tried to be moderate.

"Oh you can call me Dida if you want well that's what Dia calls me" she said. I had not noticed that Dia was no longer by my side and was sitting near the photo and making a garland out of the flowers.

"Please have a seat and I will just come back" she said.

"Yeah sure" I said with a smile. I went and sat near Dia. I was just looking at her and thought that how much I had missed her. Her face her eyes her everything.

"Would you like to tell me why are you here" she asked still fiddling with the garland she was making.

"Don't you know that you are my employee and I was worried" I said simply.

"Ex ex - employee Mr. Rai" she said.

"I don't understand why you had to give the resignation you could have asked for a leave" I said.

"Contract" she said.

"What" I asked her.

"What about the contract which said that I can not take a leave before three months of working" she said.

"It could have been changed. Dia you have to understand when you are working with a multi million company you can't just resign" I said while moving close to her. "You had already left that's why I came here do you get that" I said. She made made a knot in the garland and then carefully placed it over the photo.

"That just don't make any sense. You came all this way for a mere employee of yours that's just not acceptable" she said while getting up.

"And what if I say you are just not an employee to me, then" I asked her. "Will you still be at denial" I asked her.

"I don't know I really don't know" she said while shaking her head.

"You don't have to think about it now" I said and then turned to see Dida struggling with few things "let me help with you that Dida" I said.

"I must say you have quickly taken to that name" she said.

"Now, what can I say I am a quick learner" I said with a smirk.

Slowly many people started coming and taking their place Dia was still making some garlands and was sitting beside the picture. So the prayer meeting started. Many people said about her mother. Basically she was nice and a sweet person. It was Dia's turn to say.

"Hello" she said at the first. She was wearing a white suit with a scarf draped around her neck. "Many of you know my mother already and that just shows that how popular she was around" she had a radiant smile across her face when she was speaking. "I-I, don't know how will coupe up with this loss but now I at least know where ever she is she is happy and I think we should also be happy that at least now she is in no pain. I know ma have really really gone through a lot of pain in this 9-10 years it was best to just let her go" her voice cracked. "But there is a little disadvantage that now she will be knowing everything that I will be doing my bad luck" she said with a playful frown.

"Ah so now mend your ways" a boy said. I don't know who he was.

"Ummm that we will see" she said while waving her hand at him. "So anyways I know she loves and I love her too and I am gonna miss her" she said with a smile while looking at her mothers photo. She then sat on then came and sat near her Dadu. Slowly everyone started going.

"Dia won't you introduce to your guest to me" a girl came and stood beside me. Dia looked at her and came towards her.

"Well.... Samie this is my boss Aarav Rai and Mr. Rai this is Samira my childhood friend" she said with a smile.

"What's going on" a boy came and stood behind Dia.

"Om please help me with these trays please" Dida called her and he went to help her.

"Okay Dia I'll go but we need to catch a lot bye Mr. Rai" she said and went away. It was just me and Dia left we there was a really awkward silence. She was looking everywhere but not at me.

"Aarav where are you staying" her Dida asked.

"At the company's hotel" I replied.

"Hotel? You should stay here with us after all you helped Dia now let us pay you back right Ajay" she said.

"Of course you should def-" Dia cut her Dadu off.

"Dadu what's the need the hotel is free for him and-and I have already thanked him. I don't think it is required" she said with a nervous laugh.

"Yes well thank you for the offer but I thi-" I was cut off Dadu.

"You are staying with us and that is final" he said that and turned to Dia "Pakhu go and open your old room" he ordered her. And then she lazily asked me to come behind her.

"Can't you just say no" she said in an irritated voice.

"I tried to. But anyways I am quite liking it" I said with a smirk.

"Argh" I then followed her upstairs. The house was quite simple but then at the same time it had that home aura. She guided me towards a passage and opened a door. The room was normal with white painted walls and a double bed. It was clean. The room had a lot of photos and it was all of Dia's I was able to make out. She was really cute at as kid.

"Well you were really cute I must say that" I said while picking up a photo of hers.

"What do you mean 'was'" she asked with a frown.

"I mean you are still but a lot more beautiful now" I said with with a smirk while making her blush. I was happy that I was able to make her feel like that.

"Um... Um... I will just go..... I think you should get your clothes" she said that and went away immediately.

I don't know what am I going to do without her.