8. Annual Ball

"Arun, where's your brother? And where's Anup? Didn't you two tell us that you're going to wake Selvan up so he would take you to the park today?" Charvi asked with a teasing smile.

She was sure that they weren't successful, as her stepson might want to sleep in since it's the weekend.

But...

"Haaahhaa. Papa." Arun cried and ran to his father instead.

Parvesh immediately picked him up. "What is it? Why are you crying? Stop crying and tell us what happened."

"Hm. Hm. Bro... brother is sick. He...is hot." Arun managed to say amidst whimpering.

"Your brother is sick?" Parvesh asked.

"Yes, he is sick. Anup is watching over him. Let's call the ambulance, Papa."

"Alright. Let's check on his condition first. Now, stop crying, will you?"

Parvesh then signalled to his wife, and the two of them got up and went to check on Selvan.

Little Anup sat by his big brother's bed. His attention kept going towards the door as he waited for his parents together with his twin.

His eyes lit up once he saw the three enter.

"Mama, brother is wet. He... he's sweating." He hugged his mom by the leg.

Charvi called their nanny to get them out of the room before she checked Selvan with the back of her hand to his neck and forehead.

Her facial expression changed. "Honey, we need to take him to the hospital..."

Selvan held Charvi's hand and shook his head.

"Why? You don't want to go to the hospital? But you're hot, and you seem quite lethargic." Charvi said to him.

"I'm fine. I just haven't been able to sleep well in a while, so I'm slightly feverish and weak. Let me sleep in today. I'll be fine when I wake up." Selvan said, through sign language.

*

A few hours later...

"You're finally awake. How are you feeling now?" Charvi asked Selvan again.

They were about to leave the house for an afternoon walk in the park with the twins. They've given the day off.

He just nodded that he was now okay and went for a bottle of water from the fridge.

Parvesh leaned into his wife's ear and whispered. "Should we ask him about the model thing now?"

"Hmm, do you think that now is the appropriate time?"

"I guess. Or? I mean, he can go through the papers while we're away and give me his response when we return. I only have up to tomorrow. We are to start work on the new model on Monday."

"Ok then."

"Kaur." Parvesh called him by his middle name. "There's some documents on the centre table. Can you check them and let me know if you're interested?

It's a new product that I am heading the team to work on. I would be very happy if you were to agree to it, though. We're going to the park now. See you later."

Selvan only nodded.

*

"Are you really sure about that?" Charvi asked for which Selvan reaffirms with a bob of the head.

"I don't want you to feel pressured into doing this. Your face is going to be used for a robot. Aren't you concerned?"

Selvan shook his head and replied in sign language. "I don't really mind. It's my dream to be in the entertainment industry, both as a model and an actor.

I've been auditioning but have had no success so far. But if I succeed one day, isn't my image going to be on many magazines and ad boards? Besides, the pay is really high, so it's not a bad deal at all, Mother." He tried to explain.

Parvesh then said. "Oh, that's great. I did discuss that with Charvi before, but she says we should leave you to decide. I'm glad that you also think the same. Then sign the documents since you've agreed. I have to turn them in first thing on Monday."

"Darling, have you really thought this through?" Charvi asked, still a bit concerned.

Selvan bopped his head several times and smiled to assure her.

***

That Evening...

Chairman Rajesh Kumar and his heir, Renjith Kumar, together with his main wife, Lalita, and his three smaller wives and other children, are now at the dining table having dinner at Kumar's main family mansion.

After the servants cleared the table, the chairman turned to make eye contact with his oldest son and the rest of his family that were at the huge dining table and said to Renjith, "Son, it's good that you're here today, for I have an announcement to make. In fact, there are two announcements."

All eyes were on him, including Renjith's, as they all waited to hear what announcements he had to make.

"I have asked the council to move this year's annual ball here. We're going to move it from the National Assembly Hall and host the ball here this year instead."

"Why, father? There will be too many people. Why make them come here when there's already a designated place for that? I hate large crowds." Rakesk, the chairman's fifth son, but the second and last among those still alive, said.

"It's because of you that I am doing this. You just turned twenty-two. I want you to find a partner among the attendees. Don't waste time like your brother did, only to be divorced for the twelfth time." He explained.

Lalita clenched her hand into a fist in anger at his last words while the other wives tried hard to hide their laughter.

As for Renjith, he tried very much to keep his cool and to wait till his father finished with the second announcement, so he too would inform them of his engagement and leave there afterwards.

"But father... ouch!" Rakesk wanted to refuse further, but his mother stepped on his foot to prevent him from doing that.

"Sorry for that, honey. Please go on." Gita, the chairman's third concubine, said and gestured with her hand for him to continue with his announcements.

"Alright." Chairman Rajesh turned to his first son and heir, Renjith. "The second announcement is about you, son."