Accepted Arrangements

"Have great day Ms. Kapoor" Flight attendant said to Asya and she replied quite 'you too'. Asya put on her Fendi cat-eye sunglasses to protect herself from harsh Indian sun. She quickly made her way to her matte black Range Rover as her luggage was already in back. The ride from airport to Kapoor mansion was short; she didn't realize she was already there. She stopped the car in front foyer and got out.

"Sat Sri Akal, babyji" one of the servant greeted Asya. She smiled at the person before replying.

"Sat Sri Akal, Ramukaka, kese ho aap?" She politely asked him.

"Bas bade saab ki krupa hain" Ramukaka replied. Asya nodes at him and politely smiles at him before she gives the keys to one of the butler, instructing him to take luggage to her room and have it arranged.

She makes her way inside to the living room, looks around for Khala. She makes her way to kitchen as she doesn't see Khala in living room. Khala wasn't in kitchen either so after that she made her way to her bedroom. Asya loved the feeling of relaxation her bedroom gave her. For this weekend she doesn't have much work, in fact she will finish all her office work today so she can enjoy the rest of weekend.

Knock on the door caused her head to snap towards the door. She put her pen down and straightened her posture and told the servant to come in.

"Bebyji, your grandfather has asked you to meet him in his office" he kept his eyes on floor while delivering the message. Asya sympathizes on servant's position.

"Thank you, I will be there in five minutes" She smiles at him in pity as there is nothing she can do about it. Rajesh Kapoor ruled his house with iron fist. The servants simply worked with him for years but none of them had it in their self to be able to look at him in eye. They simply feared him so much that they would change their way rather than walk past him. No one had strength to look at his cold face; they would simply shiver in cold hard gaze.

Asya walked through dimly lit hallways of the mansion. Red and gold colored rugs were spread on Italian marble floor, so that it can hide the coldness of marble. The cream walls of lobbies were decorated with expensive art works from all around the world and exclusive handmade vases. Asya stops in front of bamboo and mahogany wood made doors of her grandfather's office. She knocks on the door and waits for her grandfather's further instruction. 'Come in' husky cold voice comes through doors.

Rajesh Kapoor puts his Parker ink pen down as he watches Asya enter his office.

"Namaste, Dadaji" She greets him.

"Namaste Beta, how are you?" He asks her.

"I am well, how are you?" She politely answers. He can see her curiousness for visit through her posture.

"I am great as well, now the reason for your visit is" He looks at her face for expression but finds none. "Your engagement to Harry Sterlings" he finishes the sentence and still finds her poker face.

"Harry Sterlings as in Grandson of Richmond Sterlings?" she asks.

"Yes daughter, you see I have been in meetings with Richmond and he suggested the idea." He says.

"Harry has already agreed to this arrangement?" she curiously asks him.

"Yes, he already agreed to it and I said yes on your behalf" He replies her. 'If you have already made up your mind the why are you even asking me! Correction, he wasn't asking he was telling me.'

"Alright grandfather, anything else I need to know about?" She asked him.

"The Sterlings are coming here in two hours, so you will be welcoming them in mansion as I will be collecting them from airport." He tells her.

"Alright, I will make sure to do that" she agrees to his arrangements.

"Also the charity ball, this Saturday will, the first public appearance together as couple before announcing the engagement." He adds to his earlier statement.

"Alright I will add that to my agenda." She takes in the information.

***

Rajesh Kapoor loved his granddaughter to the moon and back, and would do anything in his power to ensure her happiness. If she wouldn't have agreed to arrangements he would have canceled it but he knew that she would never say no to her. Even in future if she decides that she doesn't like Harry he would break the engagement off without thinking. He brought up Asya and trained her to be able to handle the responsibilities that will fall on her shoulder.

***

Asya decided to dress up in simple lace white Valentino skater dress with star embroidered collar giving it ladylike touch. She paired her dress with Gianvito Rossi sandals and Dior watch. After getting ready she goes to living room to welcome the guests. Oops, correction, to welcome her in-laws. Asya laughs internally as she notices Khala stressing over the arrangements for the In-laws.

"Khala" she calls.

"What do you want?" Khala asks her in hurry as she still has to get guestrooms ready and set up the dinner table as well. Khala rolls her eyes at Asya as she hugs her.

Asya was like a daughter to Khala; she brought her up from the age of four till now. Khala doesn't have any kids as she worked for this household all her life. To Asya, Khala was the only thing she had close to mother because her parents died in accident when she was four. Khala was the one she would go to for any sort of problem, she was more close to Khala than her own grandmother.

Jasmeet Kapoor- Typical Indian grandma. Jasmeet loved her granddaughter but she loved her son more than anything. She blamed Asya for her son's accident. She couldn't forgive Asya or accept the fact that it was an accident. After the accident she was never the same with Asya. That's why Asya was much close to Khala than Jasmeet. Jasmeet acted like perfect grandmother as long as Rakesh was around but the second Rakesh was out she would start giving cold shoulder to Asya. That was only because to Rakesh, Asya was pearl of his eyes and wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her.

***

Asya gets up to greet her in-laws as she hears car engine die down and chatting of the people. She straightens out her dress before they can see her.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Sterlings" She formally greets them.

"Hello dear, How are you?" Mr. Sterlings ask Asya.

"I am well, thank you. Was the flight alright?" She politely asks them.

"It was alright dear" Mr. Sterling answers.

"We couldn't wait to meet you" Mrs. Sterlings speaks for the first time and Asya blushes at her answer.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Asya offers.

"Water would do, thanks sweetheart." Mrs. Sterlings replies. Asya asks one of the butlers to get water for guests. Asya notices that Harry isn't here but decides not to question it.

"Harry was held up by some work so he will be here in while." Mrs. Sterlings answers Asya's unasked question and Asya just nodes at her in return.

After the introductions, men folks start talking business and ladies start their own conversation. Asya feels out of place as she would hmm in response or would add a little to conversation to be polite. After a while Asya excuses herself and went to the garden for some fresh air and clear her head.

The mansion was surrounded by garden. Asya's favorite part of the garden was swing by the fountain; it has always been special for her. Asya remembers all the memories with her parents. Asya remembers innocent laugh she shared with her mum, dad and older brother before the horrible accident happened. Asya would always come to this swing, whenever she had bad day or just needed to breath. After her parents death this was the place, where she felt at home. As if the accident never happened and she still has her older brother and parents are with her.

Asya takes her heel offand leaves it by the leg of swing. She can feel the positive energy run throughher as she sat on the swing. Asya's peaceful moment doesn't last forever as shehears throat clearing noise. Asya opens her eyes, prepared to throw a fit atthe servant. In front of her there is no servant, it was in fact her fiancé.

***