Banim Boys Part 2

'What is wrong with that man!' baffled Ajay
'Competition between brothers, is he out of his mind?' added Armaan, secretly he was scared with the idea of competing with Ajay and Aryan. Ajay wasn't that big a scare but Aryan definitely was.
Aryan sat quiet, he was still deducing that what could lead to such decision. 'It wasn't just his ill health, there had to be more' he thought.
'What do you think Aryan?' asked Ajay
'Huh? Hmm, yeah very bad'
'What? Have you not been listening to what I have been saying'
'I have, look I need to go' and Aryan left.

 It was sure that one of the Banim had decided to play the game. And soon enough the other two also decided to play along.
The Challenge : 1.To prove themselves they had to successfully run one venture of Shiradkar Private Ltd.
 2. Stand up as a capable leader and the last was a customary practice, the one that scared the shit out of them; before claiming the authority as the chairperson, they were to be joined in holy matrimony.
This challenge had fueled the relations of their mothers as well, Ajay and Aryan's mother wouldn't talk to Armaan's mother properly because as usual, she wanted the empire to be one of her son's. Since Ajay and Aryan's father passed away, they as family members did not have much claim in the family assets.


'Ma, how can I possibly win over Ajay and Aryan, they know more than I do' Armaan said helplessly
'Armaan, you don't need to worry, you are as smart as Aryan and as powerful as Ajay. All you need to work on is how will you find a girl before them. Ajay doesn't seem a big threat, it is Aryan that you need to outwit' his mother said.
The three brothers hadn't indulged in a proper conversation since that day, cold vibes were exchanged.
'Are you happy now sir, have you got what you wanted?' asked Mr. Gopal
'No Gopal, but I knew that this thing would come with the cost of my relations. Alas, I just can't give everything to anyone. I had three children out of which two died before me, my son's death was painful, but my daughter's death was heartbreaking. She too like my wife died on giving birth...' whimpered Mr. Shiradkar, for the first time he lamented his late children's death in front of some other person.

***

It was a sunny hot day in Raiza, Ajay was out in the streets riding on his bike. The so called competition was was getting on his nerves. Aryan and Armaan were doing well on their assigned ventures and proved to be capable leaders too! On the other hand, Ajay had already fought with his most employees and workers on petty issues. He felt inadequate at work and his patience level narrowed to zero. He had almost decided to quit, but then he saw her; in the shadow of the tree, her white skin covered with thin layer of dust, her black hair were tied at the back. Her face was anxious but she looked beautiful. The way she lifted her hair so that she could see him. Of course, she saw him and he saw her, for Ajay it was love at first sight. He could gaze her for hours altogether. But that is not how Banims do it. The girl called out for help, Ajay immediately saw this is an opportunity to woo her with his attitude.

'May I help you?' he asked, trying to flirty and helpful at the same time. The girl raised her head, oh she looked even more gorgeous from near vision. Ajay could feel the sparks flying already. 

'Sorry, but who are you?' she asked timidly.

'I am Ajay Shiradkar, I am sure you have heard of me', he said haughtily as if he was some Amitabh Bachchan. The girl looked skeptical as she had never heard of that name ever before. Ajay tried to think of some better way of introducing but suddenly the girl started to shake.

'No, sorry but I need help', she pleaded him. Her worry caused Ajay to panic.

'What happened, are you new here?' he curiously asked, she sure didn't belong to Raiza.

'What? No, but where am I exactly?' she asked again.

'You are in Raiza, where do you live?'

'I can't remember' she replied.

'Wait, what is your name?' he asked suspiciously

'I think I don't know' she answered skeptically, again.

And this led to a series of What, Where, How and in replies just "I Don't Know!"

'Is there anything that you do know?' Ajay asked in disbelief.

'All I can remember is waking up under this tree today', the girl was no more timid. She had opened up but still had her guard to secure herself.

'And you haven't moved away from this tree since then?'

'No, I didn't want to lose my way back'

'Whats that?' Ajay asked about the backpack lying near her

'Are they yours?' he asked

'I don't know!' she answered.

'Arghhh!' he tried to control his temper, the girl was too getting on his nerves. 'Why the hell did I stop here' he cribbed. He opened the bags, he was sure that it belonged to the dimwitted girl sitting right beside her. The bags were full with clothes and other girl stuff. He then opened up all the zippers and eventually found a wallet.

'Aha! Here it is', he said with enthusiasm. 

'What?' asked the girl.

'Your wallet. Let me see, some money and there'. Ajay had hoped for an ID but sadly none was found, there was a McDonald's bill dated two months ago in Sahibapuri, a place around three hundred miles from Raiza.

'So who am I?' the girl asked in the hope that the boy might have found something.

'I don't know' Ajay said dumbfounded

It took him for a while to think. 'What to do with her' he thought but it was clear, he had to help the poor soul, who despite all the "I don't knows" was still very attractive.

'Come with me to my place, I will help you' he said

'And why should I do that? You are no friend of mine' she cross questioned him, definitely not the usual naive girl.

'So stay here and wait until you find someone else because no one out there is going to help. Besides I don't even think that you will be in proper clothes by the end of this night' he delivered it in a hard manner.

'Excuse me! What assurance do I have of you? How am I supposed to be sure that someone like you wouldn't take advantage of me!' she fired back. 

'Woah! mind your tongue lady, I come from the most respected family of this town, I think its only me that you can trust. Now are you coming or shall I leave' Ajay said

She gave it a few minutes, the boy named Ajay seemed quit descent, he even tried helping her. He was dressed in good clothes and was riding not the conventional motorbike, definitely not the usual city chap.

'Okay, but if you try something with me...'

'Then what?' he laughed

She lifted her eyebrow, 'I will burn you'

'Oh I am scared' taunted Ajay. 

***

The family Shiradkar were having their lunch. All seated together, Ajay was the only one missing.

'Where is Ajay?' Mr. Shiradkar asked Ajay's mother

'I don't know, he had gone to the factory' she replied

'No Ma, he wasn't there' Aryan informed

But then soon, the gallery echoed with Ajay's voice, he was talking to someone. The question was who?

He entered the dining hall with a mysterious girl.
'Ajay, who is this?' his mother asked
'Ma let me introduce you to...' Ajay realised, she had no name but then suddenly she spoke
'My name is Shalini' answered the girl.
'Shalini?' Ajay paused, and gave her an incredulous look. 'Right! Everyone this is Shalini, Shalini this is my family' he introduced.
'How do you know her?' asked Mr Shiradkar who just got up from his dining seat.
'Baba she was lost, she has no idea where she came from and how she reached here, I was trying to help her, so I thought I would bring her here'
Mr Shiradkar examined Shalini like an exam sheet. He scanned her from head to toe, there was some resemblance in her. Shalini started to smile at him, which he found amusing.
'Ashok Shiradkar is smiling?! Impossible' thought Geeta Shiradkar, the spicy sister in law and aunt of Ajay and Aryan. Armaan's mother.
'She can stay, Sarika and Geeta, we have a guest, take care of her' spoke the old man and left with his unfinished lunch.