01. She is coming

The whole Sen mansion was buzzing with excitement and murmuring. Today the last candidate for the succession of the Sen Corporation was coming back. The news even became headlines in newspapers. And why would it not be when the news is related to the succession of the richest and most powerful conglomerates in the country?

According to the family traditions, all the children from the youngest generation, who were interested in inheriting the company had to compete with each other. And the final results were declared by the current owner of the company.

The reason for everyone's excitement be it good or bad was that today marked the return of Arundhati Sen, the daughter of the present CEO Shalini Sen and the fourth grand-daughter of the present owner of the company, Ruchira Sen. Old Mistress Ruchira, the head of the Sen family had adopted nine children, five girls and four boys and Mistress Shalini, Arundhati's mother was her fourth child.

Arundhati and her cousins had gone abroad to further their studies after graduating from school. They had to come back for the competition which would be held in a week's time. All her cousins had already returned, and today with her return, the Sen family would have a complete family gathering after a long while.

The servants were busy preparing their Fourth Young Mistress's greetings. A group of reporters were flocking before the main gate with eyes like hawks holding their cameras and mics ready in hand thrusting them in anyone's face that came out of the mansion but to their dismay every one of their preys were nothing more than servants and none of them had any news worthy for them.

After about two or three hours they suddenly spotted a white sports car coming towards them. The previous wilted looks on their face were wiped off in an instant. The sight of the expensive car made them bloom with renewed vigour.

Rushing forward and shoving each other to reach first and be the first to capture something they surrounded the car.

"Excuse me, are you Arundhati Sen?"

"Please reveal your identity."

"What do you think of this competition?"

"Who do you think has more chances of winning?"

"Are you a residence of this mansion or just a visitor?"

"Can you tell us what the CEO Sen and Old Mistress Sen are thinking of this competition? Who are they pinning their hopes on?"

They burst into a blizzard of questions asking whatever came to their mind even before knowing who was inside the car.

The window slowly lowered revealing the face of a woman with an undercut hair and an earring on her right ear. Putting one hand on the steering wheel and other over the door she looked at the reporters with a piercing gaze.

"I'm not Arundhati and move out of the way if you don't wanna be crushed under my wheels." She gave them a look that said she was not kidding one bit.

The reporters immediately moved three feet away from her car making two rows on either side. They knew who it was. Kamolika Sen, the second granddaughter. Ever since she came back she had been involved in many scandals from beating people up in public to hit and runs and drugs. But everything had been clarified later with proof. The person she beat up was trying to kidnap someone, the victim of her hit-and-run case was actually a rapist and the drugs one was an accident where she chanced upon a couple of people trying to sell drugs to kids. And thankfully her actions did more good than bad to the company and her own reputation. So the reporters did not doubt that she could run over them if she wanted.

"Dang it! How long do we need to wait?"

"Right. It's been three hours since we came."

"Exactly. We've been here since five in the morning!"

"Hmph! We've been here from even earlier losers!"

"Aaahhh, my hands are cramped from holding this damn mic."

"You hand? I can't even feel my legs anymore!"

"I'm hungry."

"Hey! Be careful, you're going to drop the camera with how you're holding it. It's expensive and I'll have to pay from my pocket!"

They started chattering amongst themselves squatting on the ground.

Inside the mansion.

Komolika strode into the living room in wife strides and plopped on the sofa.

"Gosh, Didun, what are those pesky things doing at the gate? I almost couldn't get inside! And what's this fuss about Arundhati's return?" She ranted.

"All this fuss had also been made when you and your other cousins came back," Ruchira said sipping her tea and reading the newspaper.

"I can't wait to finally see my children and grandchildren all together again." Swapnodeep Dawn, Ruchira's husband and Old Master Sen said with a dreamy look.

"Just a few more hours Baba, Aru is preparing to head out. She texted me that she'll be on the plane in half an hour. You won't have to wait much longer." Pratap Mallick said.

"Hmph! You're speaking as if it's only me? Aren't you excited to meet your daughter?" Swapnodeep snorted.

"That's true. I really can't believe five years passed just like that. It feels like it was only yesterday that I took my Aru to school for the first time and now she's already a young lady fighting to prove her worth." Pratap said with a nostalgic look.

"Riiight. As of you didn't attend her graduation ceremony five years ago." Komolika muttered.

"You won't understand this feeling dear. If you ever become a parent or parent figure to someone in the future then maybe you'd understand." Pratap smiled softly.