chapter 71

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!GChapter 71 :Hidden within the crowd, Nandu’s eyes were locked onto Rajveer, who was fuming—his face tight with frustration, his jaw clenched. Not only had he failed to win first place, but his company hadn’t even made it to the top three. Boiling with rage, Rajveer stood up abruptly and stormed out of the place without a word.A proud smile stretched across Nandu’s face. Encouraged by his father Yeshwanth, he finally stepped forward, making his way toward the dais, his eyes never leaving Aadhya.Aadhya, standing tall and graceful on the stage, kept her dazzling smile intact despite the storm of emotions brewing inside. Her eyes constantly scanned the crowd, searching, wondering if Nandu had left the place feeling defeated after Laila’s betrayal.But deep down, she knew him better. He wouldn't walk away—not like this. He must have recognized her stepping in as the model. He must be watching.Her eyes finally caught sight of him.There he was, Nandu, walking toward the stage with calm authority, grace radiating from every step. His gaze was locked on her, unwavering. And hers, glued to his.In that unspoken moment, their eyes conveyed everything—pride, gratitude, admiration, and something deeper, far more intimate. No words were needed. They simply understood each other.As Nandu reached the stage, standing tall and dignified, the chief guest stepped forward, offering the trophy with a warm congratulation. But Nandu gently paused him.He turned to Aadhya and gestured for her to step forward. Then, taking the microphone from the anchor, he addressed the crowd.“Good evening, everyone!”. His voice was steady, heartfelt.“Though I am the owner who has been declared the winner tonight, let me be honest. This victory does not belong to me. Absolutely not. The original model for this event was Laila, who, unfortunately, betrayed us at the last minute. I was prepared to face defeat...”, He paused, eyes turning toward Aadhya with emotion.“But to my surprise and pride, Mrs. Aadhya stepped in—took control of the situation—and walked that runway with her own design, for the very first time. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t be standing here. She is the true reason behind this win”.The crowd was silent, hanging on his every word.“I request the chief guest to kindly hand over this trophy not to me, but to the woman who saved the day. The woman who created these designs. The woman I am eternally proud of, my wife, the love of my life, Mrs. Aadhya Krishna”.His voice echoed through the place, filled with pride, love, and unmistakable reverence.Aadhya’s heart swelled with pride at Nandu’s public declaration. Hearing him speak of her with such unwavering confidence and love—right there, in front of the world—she felt her heart bloom with contentment. She couldn’t have wished for anything more. In that moment, she felt like heaven had opened up just for her.Receiving the trophy from the chief guest with grace and honor, Aadhya turned and offered it to Nandu. Her eyes sparkled with joy, pride, and quiet satisfaction—an expression that mirrored perfectly in Nandu’s gaze as he accepted the trophy from her hands.After exchanging a few words with the guests, Nandu gently leaned toward her and whispered, gesturing subtly,“Go ahead and change, love. I’ll introduce you to a few more people after that”.As Aadhya nodded and stepped down, heading to the changing room, Nandu turned to greet more of the business guests who had come forward to congratulate him. He welcomed them warmly.But amidst the crowd, his eyes caught sight of a familiar figure—a woman standing silently near the edge of the crowd.-  *KRISH*