Chapter 72: chapter 72

Present DayAt seven in the evening, Adhiraj arrived in Delhi. Nasir had informed him that Imara left for the factory in the evening, explaining that she had some important matters to attend to. Adhiraj had initially planned to go directly to Imara’s factory and bring her home, but he had already promised Sanjay that he would pick up Imara from Rathore Mansion. Moreover, Sanjay had invited them for dinner. Therefore, Adhiraj headed straight to Rathore Mansion.While on his way, he called Vandana to let her know about his arrival and inform her that he was on his way to Rathore Mansion. As he reached the mansion, he felt a strange sense of anxiety. It was his first time visiting Imara’s home, and it had been days since he had seen her, heard her voice, or touched her. With these thoughts in mind, he dialled Nasir’s number while walking towards the main door and pressed the doorbell. Surprisingly, Nasir did not answer, and just as he was about to dial again, the door opened.Suvika beamed with warmth as she stepped aside, inviting Adhiraj into their home. He mirrored her smile, bending down to touch her feet in a gesture of respect. In that very moment, Sanjay and the others gathered at the doorway, their faces alight with joy as they welcomed him. Adhiraj, touched and relieved, realised that Imara had finally reconciled with her family, that they had their daughter back in their lives.“Hello, uncle,” he greeted, lowering himself to touch Sanjay’s feet. Sanjay enveloped him in a strong yet affectionate embrace, words escaping him as he struggled to express his gratitude for Adhiraj’s role in bringing Imara home.“Welcome,” was all Sanjay managed to say before Adhiraj turned to greet Dilip and Vibha in the same respectful manner. He then pulled Shaurya and Neel into a hearty hug, waving at the twins, who responded with playful winks. Adhiraj rolled his eyes, trying to mask his impatience to see his wife. A nagging thought crossed his mind—Nasir still hadn’t responded or returned his call.“Jiju, come inside.” The twins wrapped their hands around Adhiraj’s arms and practically yanked him inside.“Did you two just switch teams?” Adhiraj quipped, raising an eyebrow as he plopped down on the couch.Tarushi let out a giggle, snuggling up on the opposite couch, and declared, “Here you are our Jiju.”With a mildly amused expression, Adhiraj shook his head, and Sanjay joined him on the couch, asking, “How are you?”“Good, uncle,” he said, taking a sip of the water handed to him, all while trying to find the right moment to call Nasir again. There was an anxiety brewing inside him.Meanwhile, Suvika and Vibha were busy in the kitchen, prepping dinner, while Anika and Tarushi, totally over the boring business chatter, decided to join their mothers in the kitchen.The conversation among Adhiraj and the others flowed seamlessly, each topic weaving into the next, until suddenly, Adhiraj’s phone rang. He answered urgently, “Nasir! It’s ten. Are you still at the factory?”“Sir,” Nasir’s uncertain voice broke out from the other line. “We are trapped. There is a riot.”“What?!” Adhiraj exclaimed, panic rising within him as he gestured for Neel to turn on the television.“A riot has erupted in the industrial sector of Delhi’s suburbs,” the reporter announced. The screen displayed the very area where Imara’s factory stood, flames licking the sky from a nearby building engulfed in fire.“Imara…” Adhiraj breathed, a sense of dread washing over him. Without a second thought, he dashed out of the house, shouting at Nasir over the phone, “Where is Imara?”In a blur, he found himself in the car, his heart racing as he took control of the wheel, racing towards Imara’s factory.“We are inside the factory.”“And why isn’t she back yet, Nasir? It’s already ten.” Adhiraj shot back. “She wouldn’t have been stuck had you taken her home in time.”“Ma’am said someone was coming for an urgent meeting.”“Who?”“Dheeraj Pandit!”—————Initially, Imara was reluctant to meet Dheeraj. But sensing the urgency in his text, she agreed. She informed her family and Nasir that something important required her attention. Now, Dheeraj sat across from her, his expression tight with worry, while Imara focused on the video he had recorded earlier that day.“I was at their headquarters for my relieving formalities. I was passing through the one of offices when I overheard Mr. Pratap Raghuvanshi speaking with his assistant,” Dheeraj murmured, rubbing his face in distress.Imara locked the phone and returned it to him. Facing Dheeraj was still not easy for her. It stung bitterly.With her hands trembling, she stood up and said, “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Pandit, but this doesn’t concern me and it shouldn’t concern you either.”Dheeraj’s brows knitted together as he rose, his voice firm. “It is my concern, Imara. It affects you, too. And what about Adhiraj?”Imara grasped her bag tightly, preparing to leave, and spoke with a calm yet heavy heart, “You are a man, Mr. Pandit. Our society turns a blind eye to men. And honestly, I don’t care. This could be my chance to escape this unwanted marriage.” Something clenched inside her as she said those words and Adhiraj’s face hovered in her mind.“Imara, listen!” Dheeraj interrupted. “Adhiraj…”“You may leave,” Imara replied firmly.Dheeraj sighed, stepping closer to her. He understood her struggle to let anyone into her heart, and he truly wished for her to move on. Hence, he urged, “I know you’re hurting, and it’s all my fault. But please, let it go, Imara. He truly loves you…”“There’s no such thing as love, Mr. Pandit. It’s merely about convenience,” Imara shot back, her eyes blank as she faced him. “You made your decision for your family, and he is doing the same for his.”“No! He cares for you. He loves you,” Dheeraj said as calmly as he could as he sensed the brewing storm in Imara.“Leave,” Imara whispered.Just as Dheeraj was about to speak, a loud noise erupted from outside, startling them both. Imara dashed to the window, her breath hitching at the sight of chaos—people wielding shafts, smashing cars, and setting buildings on fire.“What on earth?” Dheeraj whispered. At that moment, Nasir burst into Imara’s office, urgency etched on his face. “Ma’am, there’s a riot outside. We’ve locked the factory from within.”As Imara turned to face him, he explained, “I’ve been trying to contact Sir, but his phone is not reachable.”She nodded in approval and before stepping out of her office, Nasir swept a glance at both of them, saying, “I will keep an eye on the main gate.”“Nasir, how soon can we get home?” Imara’s voice trembled with anxiety as she witnessed the turmoil unfolding outside. It wasn’t the fear of physical danger that gripped her; it was her emotions that she was fighting to suppress. Her heart was aching to see Adhiraj.“I can’t say Mam. Once I have established contact with him, we will have reinforcements, so we can leave safely. He knows the commissioner,” Nasir replied.Imara nodded, her hand trembling as it hovered over her phone. But she resisted the urge to reach out and contact Adhiraj. The battle of emotions inside her intensified, leaving her feeling torn and confused. She wondered how he would react if he found out about her secret meeting with Dheeraj in the privacy of her office. Would he be angry? Hurt? The uncertainty gnawed at her.She wondered how Adhiraj would react when he saw that video. Would he believe her? Would he still trust her? Part of her wished he wouldn’t, so she could escape the turmoil of his home. Yet, another part of her longed for his trust, as the mere thought of leaving him made her stomach drop.Dheeraj, seated comfortably on the chair, observed Imara’s inner struggle. After a few tense moments of silence, he finally spoke up, breaking the tension that hung in the air. “I met Adhiraj,” he confessed.Imara spun around on her heels, her eyes widening with disbelief. Her voice quivered as she asked, “What do you mean?”Locking eyes with her, Dheeraj drew in a deep breath, before recounting the details of the day Adhiraj had summoned him to his office.Imara’s eyes grew wide with surprise, her lips parting as if to speak, but Dheeraj pressed on, “It wasn’t the presence of his wife’s ex that made him uneasy.”He rose from his seat, moving around the table to stand directly before her, his voice steady as he added, “What truly mattered for him was the thought that our meeting brought you to tears.”Their eyes locked, and he flashed her that signature warm smile, the one that always seemed to reassure her. He was about to reveal that Adhiraj had already sensed something amiss, noticing how the timing of his hiring coincided with her wedding. In that moment, Imara whispered, “Stay out of this.”Before entering into a relationship, Dheeraj and Imara had a strong bond as friends. Dheeraj had always respected and adored Imara. He cared for her deeply even before they realised their feelings went beyond friendship. With this in mind, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, causing her tear-filled eyes to meet his gaze.Dheeraj looked at her with the same care and consideration he would give to a friend, keeping his commitment to his wife at the forefront of his mind. He constantly reminded himself that he and Imara were no longer together. On the other hand, Imara felt an unsettling sensation. Surprisingly, his touch did not evoke any emotions within her. She had an impulsive urge to step away. The warmth and comfort she once found in Dheeraj’s presence paled as compared to the affection she felt with Adhiraj, and the realisation struck her like a cold wave. Just as she contemplated stepping back or voicing her feelings, the door swung open.Both turned their heads towards the door, only to find Adhiraj entering the room. His eyes scanned the scene, taking in Imara’s stiff posture and Dheeraj’s tender grip on her shoulders.