Chapter 45: chapter 45

A few minutes ago, Adhiraj was seated with Virender in his room when Sanjay also joined them. Observing Sanjay’s expression, Adhiraj easily deduced that Imara did not welcome his presence. However, upon not spotting Suvika with Sanjay, Adhiraj assumed Imara was with her mother. Determined not to let this opportunity slip away, Adhiraj urged Sanjay to join him in his study. He needed to uncover the truth about what had transpired between Imara and Dheeraj.Sanjay had expected this and appeared ready for the impending discussion with Adhiraj. He was sure that Adhiraj was unaware of the circumstances that led to Imara leaving home a year ago, but he was unsure if Adhiraj knew about Dheeraj. Consequently, he followed Adhiraj into his study.And now, here they were, in Adhiraj’s study, with him settled on the chair near Sanjay’s, lightly grazing his jaw and stating, “Dadu told me about Dheeraj,” coming straight to the point.Sanjay nodded as he took a sip of water, mustering the courage to reveal the truth to him. Regardless of whether hr was aware of it before the wedding, the wedding had taken place, and he was now Imara’s husband, his son-in-law.“Dheeraj was…” Sanjay began.“I want to know everything,” Adhiraj interrupted. “I trust that you will tell me the unfiltered truth. What led Imara to leave her home?”Sanjay clasped his hands together, his gaze fixed on a distant point. The weight of the truth bore down on him as he prepared to reveal everything to Adhiraj.A year and a half agoImara, the beloved daughter of the Rathores, but not a spoiled princess. She possessed a unique charm that worked like magic, especially since she was the first daughter in generations. Whenever she desired something, all it took was a heartfelt, puppy-eyed plea to her father, mother, Chachu, Maa, or brothers, and her wish would be granted. One of her biggest dreams was to prepare for the IIT entrance exams and secure a spot in Mechanical Engineering. To the delight of both Imara and her family, she achieved just that and secured admission in IIT Delhi.After four years, she landed a job through campus placement in Delhi. Despite her father’s wishes for her to join the family business, she opted for a job, emphasising her need for individuality. Did her father really have a say in the matter? Thankfully, she didn’t demand to leave Delhi, providing a small sense of relief.Now, she was ready to embark on her professional journey, accompanied by Isha, a friend whom she met in her college. When they first met, Imara was astonished to learn that Isha was an orphan and a scholarship student. This revelation marked the beginning of their friendship, a bond they would cherish for a lifetime.That day, she skipped down the stairs, bursting with excitement, and exclaimed, “Mummy!”“Ready?” Suvika asked, her eyes glistening with tears.Just then, Sanjay arrived and wrapped his arm around Suvika’s shoulder, providing her comfort. She buried her face in his chest, overcome with emotion.Imara stared at her mother with her mouth agape, while Sanjay playfully comforted Suvika, saying, “She’s just heading to work, Suvi, not off to battle.”Imara burst into giggles, joined by Shaurya and Neel, who came over to give her hugs. Suvika looked up from Sanjay’s embrace, sniffling, “I’m just...overwhelmed that she’s grown up so quickly. She’s all grown up, going to the office, having a job.”With a giggle, Imara wrapped her arms around her mother and teasingly asked, “You really did want me to stay a baby forever, didn’t you?”Suvika tapped her cheek and affectionately replied, “You’ll always be my baby.”“Even after she ties the knot?” Sanjay arched an eyebrow and Imara playfully rolled her eyes.“What?” Shaurya interjected, grabbing Imara’s shoulders, “No eye-rolling, Imu. Your brothers will only settle down once you do. It’s the master plan from Mummy and Papa.”Imara jokingly punched his arm, firing back, “How mean?”Everyone chuckled while Dilip remarked as he came downstairs alongside Vibha, “Imu...you have absolutely no clue about the grand plans Bhaisahab has in store for your wedding. He’s been planning it since the day you were born!”Imara huffed, pleading, “Come on! All of you! It is my first day of work. Let me live a little.”“Have you not been living since you were born?” Neel teased.“You always dodge the question, Imu. Do you have someone special in mind?” Vibha asked, causing everyone to fall into silence.Imara shook her head and threw her hands up in defiance. “No way! I want someone who’s just like...” she rushed towards Sanjay, “Papa! Someone who can take care of me like he takes care of Mummy.”Dilip coughed, raising an eyebrow at Imara, earning a glare from Vibha. Imara, with a mischievous grin, swiftly rushed towards Dilip, wrapping her arms around him and quipping, “And someone who can understand me without words. Oh, and yes,” Imara winked at Dilip, “someone who can gracefully knock people down.”“Oh...this girl! Step out of your Bollywood fantasy, Imu. This is reality,” Neel remarked as he wrapped his arms around hers, dragging her out to drop her off at the office.Imara waved goodbye to her family with a smile, “Come on, Bhaiya... we are the ones who set the bar for those cheesy romances. So thoda to banta hai naa..”Neel playfully tapped her on the head and winked, “Sab banta hai...but the guy should meet Papa’s standards, Imu. You know that, right? We’ve raised you like a princess and we want a prince for you who will love you, cherish you, and spoil you just like we do.”Imara rolled her eyes and retorted, “Love doesn’t come with conditions...”“Well...it does come with expectations!” With that, Neel motioned for her to get into the car and ended the discussion.An hour later, Neel pulled up at Dhawan Corporations. “I’ll be back to pick you up at six,” he informed Imara as she prepared to exit the car.“About that! Bhaiya,” Imara fluttered her eyelashes and pouted, trying to work her charm.Neel wasn’t having it. He gave her a stern look and reminded her of their previous conversation. “Imu, we’ve discussed this. You’re always using a car to commute to and from work. There’s no room for negotiation.”“Bhaiya…”“Imu! You are getting late.” Neel raised an eyebrow and gestured for her to leave.With an annoyed huff, Imara stormed out of the car and slammed the door shut, causing Neel to chuckle. He waited there for a moment, watching as Imara walked inside and exchanged greetings with a girl near the entrance. It didn’t take long for Neel to realize that it was Isha, Imara’s college friend whom he had seen countless times before. He couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on her for a moment before driving away.Imara and Isha practically glowed with excitement as they stepped inside, looking like a pair of giddy schoolgirls. Landing a spot in Dhawan Corporations through campus placement was like hitting the jackpot—only a handful of companies in India offered such a top-notch work environment. This was one of them, along with Shekhawats and Rathores.“I still don’t get why you’re here. With your skills, you could have easily assisted your father in expanding his business,” Isha whispered as they made their way towards the boardroom for the induction.“Let’s not talk about business, Ish. I can’t stand it. I want a simple life. A nine-to-five job, a loving husband, two adorable babies, and a blissful family,” Imara exclaimed.Isha stared at her in disbelief, blurting out, “What are you getting at? We have just joined!”Another eye roll from Imara! She stepped into the boardroom with Isha, declaring, “Ish, handling business is a big deal. The men in my family love their wives, but they’re too busy for quality time. So, it’s just a job for me, not business. I would rather have a guy with a regular job than a business tycoon.”“Are you really that desperate to tie the knot? Do you have a whole marriage blueprint ready?” Isha struggled to stifle her laughter.Imara shook her head. “Come on, I’m not getting married today. But what’s wrong with knowing what I want in a man?”“Good Morning, everyone!” Zainab, the HR head, interrupted their banter, signaling the start of their first day on the job.Later that day, the new recruits were introduced to the company’s various CSR activities. Isha, having grown up in an orphanage, was well aware of the struggles faced by children in such institutions. She wasted no time in signing up to donate ten percent of her salary to her former orphanage, which happened to be on the list. Imara, noticing Isha’s commitment, decided to join in as well, pledging to make personal donations as well. Little did they know, this unintentional act of kindness would set their destinies in motion.