Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 24

Pratik's Pov

I moved to the conference room. On the way, my eyes scanned everything I had made. Yes, I made the office, and I made myself. I made the Pratik Ahuja, who only knew how to win. The last war I had lost was with Raghav Bharadwaj, and after then I forgot how to loose.

I went inside the conference room. Everyone stood up in respect. "Good afternoon, Sir." All of them said in a chorus. The conference room was a huge hall, where the deals, partnerships happened. There was huge oval shaped table present in the middle of the room. But only six people were sitting there, when I entered inside. Arav followed me and stood behind me.

I just nodded at everyone and moved towards the centre chair. I sat, keeping my one leg on other and signalled others to take there seat. Everyone sat on their place, while Arav sat on my side left chair.

"Sir, These is our presentation team." Arav said, grabbing my attention. "He is Rahul Ray, the one who lead such an awesome team. He is the one, who structured the outline of the presentation. Then these two are, Sukriti Bansal and Samar Nyar - they have been worked day and night to create the best content out of Mr. Ray's outline. Then the editing credit goes to Mrs. Ambika Singh. And finally he is Mr. Ashis Kashyap, our technician. He along with his assistant, Sameer Das designed the whole presentation." Arav introduced each and everyone to me.

"Arav! Knowing their name, won't make us win the deal. So next time don't waste my time in the name of these crap introduction." I said. Arav was about say anything, but I showed him my hand, signalling to shut his mouth. "Every second of mine cost me millions. So before wasting them, think about this. Now, start the presentation." I ordered, carrying the authority in my voice.

There was a pin drop silence in the conference room. The presentation designing team had already lost the colour of their face, hearing me. They became extra cautious, as now they were scared of me. I smirked. That was my way of business. We had to keep the emotions away, and learnt to control the people in our tune. With every step I took, I used an indirect method to show that I have the authority here.

The room went dark and the team lead, whom Arav had introduced as Rahul Ray, stood up from his seat. Yes, I did remember everyone's name here and their skills too. After all I was the boss. But I didn't tried to be personal with them. I maintained the distance, only to show all that I was the Pratik Ahuja. So that when again another Raghav Bhardwaj tried to destroy me, my own staff would think a thousand times before disobeying me. I had faced the consequences of being friendly and amiable. And I had promised myself to never repeat those mistakes again. I had to show the world that I was Pratik Ahuja - a man whom you can't simply think to destroy. What a man if he didn't learn from his mistakes!

The presentation had started. The team lead was explaining each and every details of the content. His chose of language was highly appreciable. You simply couldn't take your eye off from the way that man was speaking. He had a great communication skill. He knew how to spell people with his way of a giving a splendid speech. That's how I wanted my employees to be.

The presentation went on for twenty minutes. "And that's how we have designed the structure of a super speciality hospital's design. As an developing nation, India should adapt new technologies, because that's what will make the country stronger. And Ahuja Construction always promised for the best. That's what made us the number one construction company in India. Thank You." And the light of the room switched on.

I saw each and everyone's face. Indeed they had done a great job. I cleared my throat gaining everyone's attention. "And if we are going to present our in this way, then I think there is zero chances of an other company snatching the deal from us." A smile encrypted in everyone's lips hearing my indirect praising. "And you young man has a great presenting skills." I said to the team lead and he smiled at my recognisation. "So everyone did a fantastic job. I am impressed. But don't be overconfident until we win the deal." I sternly said and everyone nodded.

"Sir!" Arav grabbed my attention.

"Yes?" I asked raising one eyebrow of mine.

"The meeting is rescheduled." He said, reading the new schedule from his I-pad.

I growled in annoyance. I wanted that deal at any cost. And hear government kept delaying in the meeting only. "Now for how long we have to wait?" I asked. Irritation was clearly visible in my voice.

"Tonight." Arav said.

"What?" Everyone except me, shouted.

"Are you sure?" I asked Arav again for the confirmation.

"Yes, Sir the new notice is out just now. The meeting is scheduled at today evening at 6 PM." He said, showing me the new notice.

After seeing the time myself, I smirked. It was not only me, but the deal too was desperate to be mine.

"But, how can they just change the time at such a short notice?" A girl from the content creator department said.

"Exactly. This is ridiculous. They can't except us to prepare a presentation till evening, when they are putting the notice on same day afternoon." The lady, who was the editor I guess, said scrunching her nose.

I sighed. That's what annoyed me most about the girls. They had to object every thing, be it rules made by society or laws made by Government.

"So Miss and Mrs.?" I asked raising my eyes at both of them.

"Sukriti Bansal."

"Ambika Singh." Both of them said.

I nodded and said, "The project is given by Government of India. Can you hear me? Government of India is not responsible if you don't have the minimum ethics to follow its rules. And, you have to learn to work according to the rules. So stop questioning and start preparing. I won't tolerate any mistake regarding this." I sternly said and both of them nodded with a scared face.

I stood up and everyone did the same showing respect. While I marched towards outside. Arav hurriedly moved in front and opened the door for me. I looked at that boy with amazement. He was a twenty four years old young boy, who had completed his graduation. He was in a great need for his mother's surgery. I had helped him that day, as we met accidentally on hospital. I had went there for a routine check up. I paid his bill out of sympathy and from that day, he became my shadow.

He never praised me unnecessarily but always said the right. He never cared for promotion, but showed loyalty to his position. If I trusted someone in my life after my family, then it's definitely him.

"Arav! Prepare everything perfectly. And don't disturb me now." I said entering inside my cabin.

"Yes, Sir." He replied with a nod and moved out.

I opened my blazer and kept it on the chair's handle. I loosened the necktie and breathed some air. I was feeling suffocated and that was scaring me most. Why was I feeling suffocated in my own office.

"No... No... There is no such words like 'scared' and 'suffocated' in my word book. I am heartless and emotionless. I had to be only powerful. I had to gather enough power, so that no Raghav Bharadwaj will ever dared to mess with me." I shouted to emit my frustration.

There were moments, when we feared to fail. And it happened most of the times with the person, who showed himself as fearless to the outer world. After all a failure had nothing to fail, but a fearless had always a fear of fail. And here I, Pratik Ahuja was the fearless. I always had the fear to fail. The more power I had gathered, the more fear I had earned - fear of loosing everything I had achieved.

And to the worst, I was alone. I was alone while fighting the battle with my fears. I didn't share this with Sarmistha or anyone. Because I was afraid of being judged. What if they will think me weak and leave me? I will be again alone.

The only person I had as mine was my children. My sons and my daughter were my flesh, whom I could trust. But among them Prati was special. Despite of having a worst day, I forgot my worries seeing her one smile. That's why daughters were called as God's gift. While my daughter was a princess.

I worked like a labour to be the king of my princess. Raghav Bharadwaj had almost destroyed me. But it was my daughter, my lucky charm, whose first cry brought my smile back. Her aura of positivity made me strong enough to fight with the world.

My thoughts interrupted as the cell phone rang vibrating the wooden desk of mine. Looking at the screen, automatically a smile encrypted in my lips. 'Princess' - the scree was flashing the name.

I recieved the call. "Hello, Baba! Where are you? Are you fine? Why did you lift the call so late? Why are you not speaking anything?" She asked at once, not giving me a chance to utter a single word.

"Calm down, Baba's princess. I am in the office only, safe and sound." I said in a soothing voice.

That's why she was special. Her one call made my day. Her one smile solved my problems.

"Then why didn't you come home for lunch?" She asked. I smiled. She always asked me about my food and complained my food timing just like my mother.

"Sorry Princess. I was stucked with an important project." I said.

"Nothing is important than your health, Baba. You should take care of yourself." She said, faking anger. "Now go and have your lunch first. Work can wait."

"As my princess commands." I said and she giggled. "By the way? Today you are early from the college." I said looking at the clock. It showed 2 PM, while usually the college closed at 4 PM.

"No, Baba. Today I haven't gone to college." She said. I heard her fumbling. I knew, she fumbled whenever she had to share something with me.

"I am all ears, Princess." I said, assuring her.

"Actually Ishaan took me to a friend's house as she insisted." She said, but I felt as if she was hiding something.

"Your friend?" I asked. As much as I know, she had no such close friend.

"Yes, A new admission in college. She is too sweet. We hanged out a little. Even Ishaan was with us." She said the last line to ease my worry. I smiled.

"Prati! You are not only my princess, you are my lucky charm, my entire fortune. I can't take any risk with you. So make friends wisely. And I trust Ishaan. Still be careful, princess." I said.

"Yes, Baba." She replied like an obedient child. That's why she was different. She was not like other girls. She never disobeyed me and always stayed as my innocent and naive princess.

"By the way what's the name of your new friend?" I asked her.

"Ashia." She excitedly replied.

I was happy for her. She always craved for a true friend. On the other hand, I had to look that this friend of hers was not going to spoil my naive princess or not. I had to check whether she will be a harm on my princess' path or not.

"Only Ashia! What about her surname?" I asked again.

"Surname... I haven't asked her yet." She replied thinking for sometime. "Baba! I will talk to you later. Ishaan is calling."

"Ok." I said and the line went off with a beep sound.

I kept thinking about that new friend of Prati. Ashia! Why does the name sounding familiar! In the mid of the year, a new admission without a surname - I was connecting the dots. "Ishasn went with us." I recalled Prati's words. So now, I should ask Ishaan about that 'Ashia'.

But at that particular moment, I had better thing to focus on. The business meeting needed my attention. I wanted everything to be perfect.

A deal with the Government will opened the path of politics to me. Business and Politics are always cordial with each other in India. To raise as an International power, I needed support of politicians.

I would have achieved my target in business, but a month ago the equation changed. A new company named 'Hope' entered in the world of business. I searched about their background and found out that a teenager had started it. So I took them in a light way. But as they said, don't judge a book by its cover.

They grabbed a lot of deals in the last month. Now they have become the biggest competitor of my company. This deal was definitely a way of my profit. The profit was not only about money. But it will definitely ensured my authority again.