Chapter 71: chapter 71

Three Days Ago“Sir, Mr. Pratap Raghuvanshi has invited us for dinner,” Sanchit informed Adhiraj as soon as they drove out of Delhi to reach Jaipur.With a slight nod, Adhiraj powered on his laptop and began perusing the details of Pratap Raghuvanshi. He had been in charge of the construction business and had also been managing the Saraswati Group of Schools until Avir took control of everything.During the journey to Jaipur, Adhiraj repeatedly studied the investigation reports, searching for any weakness in the person he was scheduled to meet. However, his thoughts were also preoccupied with Imara, fearing that she might become caught in the crossfire between the two rival business factions. This enmity had begun from mere competition, but had grown into a bitter rivalry because some people couldn’t stand healthy competition.“We have reached!” Sanchit announced as soon as they arrived at the luxurious five-star heritage hotel—The Raghuvanshi Palace.Adhiraj closed his laptop and stepped out of the car, taking a moment to admire the grandeur of the place he was visiting for the first time. The Raghuvanshi Palace! However, if he didn’t achieve his purpose for being there, he wouldn’t hesitate to bring the place down. His family, especially his wife, meant everything to him.As they entered the hotel, they were greeted by the manager on duty, who led them to the room where Pratap was waiting for them.Pratap, swirling a glass of whisky, sat with his legs crossed, engrossed in some papers when Adhiraj entered. He looked up at the movement and Adhiraj greeted him with a curt nod. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Raghuvanshi!”Pratap’s lips curled into a smile as he nodded back, motioning for Adhiraj to take a seat on the empty couch opposite him. “Adhiraj Singh Shekhawat! I never imagined we would have dinner together like this.”“The feeling is mutual,” Adhiraj replied curtly as he sat on the single seater couch. Asserting his dominance, he crossed his right leg over the other and placed his hands firmly on the armrest.Pratap hid his irritation upon seeing a Shekhawat sitting so regally in front of him. If only he had more time, their reputation would have been irreparably damaged by now.“So, what brings you here? Leaving all your work behind to meet me,” Pratap gave a questioning look as he motioned for the waiter to bring Adhiraj a drink, which he refused with a shake of his head.“I suppose your years of experience in playing deceitful games have already given you an idea of the purpose of my visit,” Adhiraj replied, maintaining a mocking smile.“Well,” Pratap began. “That’s a quite heavy accusation coming from a businessman who doesn’t believe in following a saintly path himself.”“I believe in healthy and fair competition, Mr. Raghuvanshi. I never target the families of my rivals,” Adhiraj bit out, sliding away the dinner plate set for him. “I don’t have free time like you to keep this discussion going. Let’s get straight to the point.”Pratap’s eyes narrowed and his mouth opened, ready to respond, but Adhiraj swiftly interrupted him by raising his hand. “I will make it simple for both of us,” he stated firmly. “I will ask and you will answer. Imara?”Pratap burst into hysterical laughter. His voice filled with hiccups as he challenged, “And how did you come to the conclusion that I would reveal my plan to bring down your empire?”“Were!” Adhiraj remarked, standing up from the couch and making a move to step out of the room. “You were planning! I don’t need to remind you that you have been stripped of your control in Raghuvanshi Family, do I?”“How dare you?” Pratap yelled, getting up from the couch.Adhiraj stopped in his tracks and met his eyes as he smirked and replied, “I told you, I will make it simple! That was a one-time offer. You opted for the hard way. Now let me show you how hard I will make it for you.”Leaving a fuming Pratap in his wake, Adhiraj stepped out of the room, asking Sanchit, “When is the flight to Kochi?”“In two hours,” Sanchit replied, surprised as to how Adhiraj had timed it all so precisely.————The warm sand cradled Adhiraj’s bare feet, a gentle caress that felt like a lover’s touch. But this beach resort, a haven for couples indulging in luxury, was not the backdrop for his romantic escape; he wasn’t here with his newly wedded wife. As he breathed in the early morning air, his longing for Imara grew even stronger, and he missed the feel of her hand in his while they slept. And so he reached for his phone. His fingers danced over the screen as he sent her a sweet good morning message, fully aware that a reply was unlikely. Yet he hoped it would bring a smile to her face, a tender gesture aimed at softening the barriers she had built around her heart.Spotting the person he was looking for, Adhiraj motioned for Sanchit to step away. He had to meet Avir in person, not as Adhiraj Singh Shekhawat, but just as Adhiraj.Avir was lying on his stomach as the masseuse massaged his back under the early morning sunlight. Adhiraj silently sank into another recliner, shooting a menacing glare at another masseuse who dared to come near him. She backed off instantly.“Arrogant Shekhawat!” Avir scoffed.“Asshole Raghuvanshi!” Adhiraj retorted, sipping on coconut water.“Why are you here instead of honeymooning with your new wife?” Avir muttered, moaning as the masseuse worked her magic.“What do you mean, new? I only have one wife!” Adhiraj snapped, earning a chuckle from Avir.“I am still bidding for those two projects!” Avir responded.“That’s your right, you are a businessman!” Adhiraj replied. “But I expected a healthy competition, at least from you, Avir.”Avir’s hand shot up abruptly, halting the masseuse’s movements in mid-air. Sitting up straight, he turned his attention to face Adhiraj. His glistening, tanned skin glowed with a seductive sheen from the oil, enhancing his already irresistible appeal. As he slicked back his hair, his bulging muscles glistened in the light, making him appear even more powerful. He waved a hand at the masseuse, who quickly stepped back and left.“What the heck do you mean by that?” Avir growled.Adhiraj leaned back on the recliner, unlocking his phone and tossing it to Avir, who caught it effortlessly. As he went through the phone’s contents, Adhiraj shared, “I have done the investigation and found out what your Uncle dearest has done to bring me down. One of my car showrooms was set on fire to divert my mind from conducting an investigation about Imara’s past. Back when she was in a job, she found out about a financial fraud in her department. Consequently, a person named Yash Verma was fired, followed by an official FIR against him. The company that was benefitting from that deal was solely owned by Mr. Pratap Raghuvanshi.”Avir’s brows furrowed as he read what Adhiraj was summarising for him. However, Adhiraj continued, “A series of concerning incidents took place after I got married to Imara. Yash was bailed out of the jail the very next day and he joined the Saraswati Group of Schools a day after that. The same day, Dheeraj lost his job and a day later he was offered a position in the planning department of the Saraswati Group of Schools. A day after that, Imara received an email that the school would like to offer her a contract for designing customised toys.”Avir looked at him, motioning for him to continue. “Yash,” Adhiraj stated. “Has now vanished without a trace. My men are still searching for him. Bringing Imara face to face with Dheeraj was not the motive of your uncle, I can bet on it. And he has refused to cooperate and back off from harming my wife.”Avir locked the phone and gave it back to Adhiraj. “The family dynamics haven’t been good lately. Give me sometime and I will get to the bottom of this.”“I don’t have time,” Adhiraj cut him off. “If I hadn’t caught the person who set the fire, I wouldn’t have known that some planning was going against my wife. I don’t take chances when it comes to my family, Avir. And you definitely shouldn’t test me when it comes to Imara.”“Why are you here when you could have easily got Pratap Uncle under your radar?” Avir asked, standing up and putting on his bathrobe.“I don’t want these nasty games to continue after this matter is sorted. I want peace for my family, once and for all,” Adhiraj responded.“Isn’t that the reason why we mutually decided to leave the past behind and stay within the limits of healthy competition?” Avir asked as Adhiraj also got up and they walked back into the resort together.“Your Uncle clearly doesn’t want a truce. I am here to ask for your help in dealing with this situation without resorting to harm,” Adhiraj said, taking a seat in the dining area and signalling for the waiter.Avir leaned against the chair, tilting his head back and stretching his neck muscles. There was a moment of silence before he replied, “You want Yash?”“I want to know what your Uncle has against Imara that he thinks he can use against me. I’m sure Yash has the answers,” Adhiraj responded, then turned to the waiter. “I’ll have a white egg omelette and a glass of watermelon juice.”“I’ll have a glass of cold coffee with a cheese sandwich,” Avir added, then refocused his attention on Adhiraj. “I’ll need until evening to get you the answers you’re looking for.”“And assurance too. I need assurance that my family won’t be targeted again. Otherwise, I won’t show any leniency,” Adhiraj stated firmly, as he began to eat his omelette.Avir took a sip of his coffee and silently nodded, offering his reassurance.