Will Rudvika win Raghav’s love or will she remain alone?
Hyderabad
In Hyderabad’s famous pub—dazzling lights, blasting music, men and women without any difference, drinking and dancing on the floor. Among all those people, away from everyone, sat one person.
Sitting apart, he poured wine from the bottle into his glass, took a sip, smoked a cigarette with the other hand, and with a dead expression, watched the crowd dancing. That person is our story’s hero—Raghav Nandan Reddy.
Raghav was born and brought up in Hyderabad, but he completed all his studies in America. Only six months back, he returned to India, took over his father’s company which was running in losses, and with his effort and intelligence, lifted it from the top 50 to the top 30 companies.
Now, with a 500-crore project in hand, his close friend and PA, Anand, insisted on a party and brought him here. To say Raghav was enjoying is not correct—it was Anand who was drinking and dancing with girls on the floor, while Raghav just sat watching.
Finally, when Anand got exhausted, he sat opposite Raghav, gulped another drink, felt the burning, cried out “Aah fire!” drank some water, then settled down. Looking at Raghav, who was still drinking quietly, he mixed some soda into his glass, and said:
“Why are you like this, man? Always serious! Always work work work! Even when I drag you here, you’re still the same. Raghav, at least smile once. Do you know how many years it’s been since I saw you laugh? Open your eyes, man, look at this colorful world. Life isn’t just about work—you should enjoy too.
We are still young, not like some guys in their thirties who only run after work. If not now, when will we enjoy? In another year or so, we’ll get married, then life will be full of responsibilities. At least now, let’s have some fun, Raghav!”
“Enough with your nonsense. Give me my mobile back—I have to send an urgent email,” Raghav said curtly, after Anand had snatched his phone earlier. Anand, sulking, gave the phone back and sat quietly drinking.
Raghav sent the email, turned to Anand, and said: “Done with drinking? Shall we go? Tomorrow morning we need to visit the site.” He picked up the car keys and stood up.
“Wait man, just one last peg,” said Anand. After the waiter brought the bill, Raghav paid, and the two of them got into the car. The driver drove towards Anand’s house.
Sitting in the car, Raghav felt his eyes burning. He opened the glass window, and the cool breeze hit his face. Closing his eyes in exhaustion, he leaned back.
“Day and night you keep working, no wonder your eyes burn like this. But tell me something honestly, Raghav—what’s your real goal in life? You don’t go to movies, you don’t attend parties, you hate shopping, and you came to this pub only because of me. Tell me—what do you truly enjoy?” asked Anand.
Looking at him, Raghav replied: “Right now, my only goal is to bring my dad’s company to the number one position. When he was alive, the company was at its peak. I want to bring it back to that glory. Until that happens, I won’t have peace. Other than that, I have no interest in pubs, parties, or shopping.”
“Raghav, at least talk to people once in a while. Do you know how much your mother worries about you? Poor aunty—she’s been waiting for years for your love,” Anand said.
“Stop it, Anand!” Raghav shouted so fiercely that the driver, scared, pulled the car to the side. Raghav jumped out, clenched his fists, trying to control his rage. The heat from his anger itself was frightening. Anand hesitated, but went and placed his hand on Raghav’s shoulder.
Raghav grabbed Anand’s collar, pulled him close, and with fiery eyes, demanded: “What did you say? She’s been waiting for my love all these years?”
Anand, trembling, nodded yes.
“Tell me clearly. Has she really been waiting for my love? Say YES or NO.”
“Yes, Raghav,” Anand said, freeing his collar. “She has been waiting. Every mother waits for her child’s love. Your mother is no different. You are her only son. How could she not wait? Even now, forget your stubbornness. Just talk to her with love, at least a few words.”
Raghav: “Enough, Anand. It’s not that simple. If you were in my position, you would understand my pain.”
“Raghav, you’re still holding onto the past. You’ve punished her long enough. Stop it. Whatever she did, it was for your future, for your good. Try to understand.”
“Understand? You want me to understand?” Raghav’s voice broke. “When Dad died, I was only ten years old. Do you know how much I craved my mother’s love then? One side, I lost a father who loved me deeply. The other side, my own mother ignored me. I suffered in hell.
But I never complained. I convinced myself she was busy handling Dad’s company, making sure it didn’t slip into others’ hands. Whenever she got time, she spent it with me, helping me cope with Dad’s loss.
But then… she brought another man into our house. Dad’s best friend—Mahidhar. She married him and asked me to call him Dad. I still remember that day—I had just come back from school, doing homework in the hall, when she entered wearing a wedding garland, with him by her side.
That day… my heart broke. I couldn’t imagine anyone else in Dad’s place. Until yesterday, I called him Uncle. Suddenly, I was forced to call him Dad. I couldn’t bear it. In rage, I snatched the mangalsutra from her neck, tore his garland too, pushed him away, and shouted, ‘You are not my Dad, you are only Uncle!’
For the first time in my life, my mother slapped me. She said, ‘From today, he is your father. He will live with us. You must call him Dad.’ She held his hand, took him inside the house, leaving me shattered.
The one who had never yelled at me, slapped me for him. She told me straight—that he was more important than me. From that moment, I felt I didn’t belong there anymore. That’s why I fought with her and left, choosing to study abroad just to stay away from them.
Now you tell me, Anand—should I really call her Mother?”
Anand had no answer. He sat in silence.
“See, Anand. It’s easy for you to say. But if you were in my shoes, you’d understand my pain.”
“Driver, start the car,” Raghav ordered.
After dropping Anand at his home, Raghav said: “Tomorrow sharp 9, be at my place,” and left.
Looking at Raghav walk away, Anand thought: “I understand your pain, Raghav. But one day, a girl will enter your life. She will melt your stone heart, bring out the love buried inside you, and turn the emotionless man you’ve become into someone alive again. She will give you back the joys you’ve missed. I sincerely pray that such a girl comes into your life soon.”
With that thought, Anand staggered into his house.
