chapter 48

After the party, the entire family gathered in the living room because Akansha had something really important to announce. She couldn't wait for any other day." What is it, Akansha?"The eldest lady of the house asked and Akansha nodded at her head maid, Kamla who hummed and went to Akansha's room.Akansha's voice trembled, but not from fear, from fury that had been buried for decades. Her eyes burned as they scanned the room, finally locking onto Angad, who sat motionless, his fingers casually swirling the drink in his glass."I stayed silent for years, Angad," she uttered, her voice growing louder with every word. "When you neglected Vikrant, I held our marriage together. When your so-called business trips were nothing but escapades with women half your age, I still remained your wife. I told myself I was doing it for my children, for this family's name!"Tears threatened to appear in her eyes but she held herself together."But this-" her voice cracked with emotion, "this I cannot forgive. Twenty-three years ago, you snatched my newborn daughter from my arms and handed her over to Rajeshwari like she was some toy to be exchanged for your selfish plans? You kept me drugged, isolated... and you lied! Lied for years?"The air thickened with tension."You watched me cry for a child I thought was dead. You watched me light diyas, pray, and break down in every temple, searching for answers while you sat beside me with a straight face."Angad's jaw clenched, but he remained quiet, unaffected on the surface. But everyone saw the faint flicker in his eyes, he hadn't expected her to bring it all out tonight.Akansha pointed a shaking finger at him, "You don't deserve to be called a father, or a husband. You deserve nothing from me anymore. I don't know how long I'll live, but I'll be damned if I spend even a day more being tied to the man who sold his own daughter for power."Anubhav stood up abruptly, the veins on his forehead pulsing. " Bhabhi, are you even thinking straight?" he snapped. You're talking about divorce in front of everyone like it's some evening gossip! This is our family. The Agnihotri name. What will society say?"Akansha's eyes narrowed. "Oh, now you care about what society thinks? Where was this concern when your brother was sleeping around and swapping children like poker chips?"" Enough!" Sugandha, Anubhav's wife, chimed in sharply, adjusting the pallu of her silk saree. " You've always been dramatic, bhabhi. But this... this is insane! Divorce? At this age? It'll destroy the family's name. It'll make headlines! Think about Vikrant, about Ranvijay!"Akansha's eyes flicked to Vikrant, who nodded silently-unwavering, a wall of support. And this was enough for her."I am thinking about my children," she said icily.Her mother-in-law, the aged matriarch of the Agnihotri family, cleared her throat and leaned forward from her high-backed chair. " Akansha," she said slowly, voice trembling with age but firm with control, "You are the bahu of this family. What happens in these four walls stays here. You do not drag our name into the dirt because of old wounds.""Old wounds?" Akansha laughed bitterly. "He stole my child, Maa. He handed over my daughter like a pawn in a business game and let me grieve a child I thought was dead. That's not a wound, it's a crime. And if you all had a shred of humanity, you'd stand with me, not with the man who shattered this family decades ago."She took a deep breath, " maa, I will forever be your daughter-in-law. My children- my sons will always help you all in difficult times but I can no longer be attached to a man who only used me as a pawn in his disgusting games. It's.. it's about my daughter, maa. Twenty-three years?"She grabbed Prena's hand, " my daughter was away from me for twenty-three years. Do you think this is justified? Do you think this man even deserves to be alive? No. Not at all. I am just being kind."Anubhav stood up, " bhabhi.. try to understand. This is about family."Akansha scoffed, " your brother should have understood this years ago."Kamla returned quietly, holding a thin folder. Akansha took it and dropped it in front of Angad."Sign it. Or I'll make sure every rotten secret of yours spills before the world."Akansha folded her arms, face unreadable as Angad picked up the pen with trembling fingers. He didn't speak a word, but the tightness of his jaw, the way his eyes refused to meet anyone's, showed the war raging inside him. Slowly, he scrawled his signature on the last page.The sound of the pen clicking shut echoed like a verdict.He slammed the file shut and shoved it slightly across the table. Vikrant stepped forward to take it, but as his hand reached out, Angad's eyes snapped up, and locked not on him, but on Pari.There was a flicker. A spark of something dark and cold in Angad's gaze. Challenge. Rage. A silent vow.Vikrant paused, immediately catching that shift. His brows furrowed. And then... understanding dawned. That glare wasn't for him. It was aimed at his wife.In a swift, fluid movement, Vikrant stepped fully between them, shielding Pari from Angad's line of sight. His body was calm, but his stance screamed protection. Dominance.His hand took the file off the table.Angad's eyes flicked up to meet Vikrant's again and this time, Vikrant didn't look away. His stare was like stone: cold, warning, final.He turned his back on Angad and walked to Pari, slipping the file into her hands wordlessly.Angad looked around, desperate for a thread of connection.His eyes found Prena. She was still sitting beside her mother, tears threatening to spill. When she noticed him watching, she turned her face away, quickly, like his gaze physically burned her.Ranvijay stood behind them. His jaw clenched. When Angad looked at him, Ranvijay looked away too.And that broke something.Angad sank back into the couch, hands balled into fists, a storm swirling behind his eyes. His own blood. His own children.Gone.And now, all that remained was silence... and the bitter taste of defeat....One week later.." Ahhh!! No!!"Pari giggled as Vikrant continued tickling her." Give me my phone, Pari-"" No!"She pushed him and got down from the bed, climbing on the couch with his mobile." Pari!"She did not flinch when he raised his voice at her. Instead, she hid it behind her back." Pehle batao, itni der se hum par dhyaan kyu nahi de rahe the?"( First tell me why you were not looking at me for so long?)He sighed and took slow steps toward her." I am busy, Pari."" You always are," she complained." Aur tum? Padhayi nahi karni tumhe?"( And you? Don't you have to study?)She scoffed, " you are my husband. Don't try to be my professor."" Pari, you are having exams soon. You have already taken admission in the mid semester. Is this how you will pass?"Pari pouted, arms still behind her back clutching his phone. "Mid semester or full semester, I'll pass. Don't underestimate me."Vikrant crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "I'm not. I'm just saying-""You're just saying I should study all the time," she interrupted with a dramatic sigh. "But when I want five minutes of your time, you act like I'm asking for the moon."He reached her, trying to snatch the phone, but she quickly climbed over the backrest and stood behind the couch."Pari!" he growled, exasperated yet amused.His expression got so furious that she startled for a second. An angry frown appeared on her forehead before she angrily placed his phone on the couch." Marry it!"" Pari-"She snapped at him and left the room before he could complete his sentence. Vikrant sighed and grabbed his mobile, sitting on the couch." She's such a headache," he uttered while shaking his head.Suddenly-" Humne sab sun liya."( I heard everything.)His eyes widened and he looked at her, " God! You haven't gone yet?"She clenched her jaw, came inside, grabbed her books and left the room before saying, " I am going and won't come back!"Vikrant shook his head and focused on his laptop, opening the project file he had been meaning to finish since morning. Let her sulk. She'll be back when she cools down, he told himself, though a part of him replayed her angry voice again and again. He scowled at the thought but forced himself to dive into work.Meanwhile, on the terrace...Pari sat curled up under the shaded couch, legs folded, a thick textbook open on her lap but clearly untouched. Her lips moved non-stop as she muttered under her breath."Headache? He's the actual migraine. Can't even tolerate five minutes of attention-seeking? Arrogant, cold, insensitive..."Crunch... crunch...Pari turned her head to find Prena walking in casually, holding a bag of chips and already halfway through it."What happened now?" Prena asked, eyes twinkling.Pari scoffed and crossed her hands around the chest." Your brother wants me to study!"Prena frowned and sat down beside her." What's wrong with that?"Pari raised her eyebrows at her and Prena quickly covered whatever she blabbered." Yeah, I am not studying because of some reasons and you? You have to study to secure your future."Pari chuckled sarcastically, " lecture doesn't suit you, Prena."Prena rolled her eyes and leaned comfortably against the couch." What did my innocent brother do?"Pari's face fell into an adorable pout, her lower lip jutting out like a child denied candy."Innocent?" she scoffed, "He ignored me for two hours straight. Two! I was sitting there like some forgotten houseplant, and he was just... typing away. Didn't even look at me once!"Prena fake gasped. "Two whole hours? That monster."Pari narrowed her eyes. "Mock me all you want, but you don't know how cold he gets when he's in his 'business mode.' I even stole his phone! And what did he say? 'You have exams, Pari.' As if I don't know!"Prena pretended to gasp. "He said that? How dare he be concerned about your education! Let's throw him off the terrace right now."Pari glared at her and Prena cleared her throat dramatically to control her laughter." I am serious," Prena said.Pari sighed and put the books aside, pulled her knees closer to her chest. She put her chin on her knees and stared at the weather. The cold breeze indicated a beautiful change in the weather. It was about to rain soon." I am just bored. I have been studying only for the last two days and he doesn't even spare a glance at me."Prena leaned back, pulling the chips closer, munching thoughtfully as she watched her best friend sulk."You know what your problem is?" she said, licking some masala off her fingers.Pari gave her a sideways glance. " What?""You're not used to being ignored," Prena grinned, poking her shoulder. "Bhai's" obsessed with you 24/7. Two days of silence and you're spiraling."Pari groaned, burying her face in her knees for a second before peeking at her again. " I miss him, okay? I know he's around. I know he's working just a few rooms away. But I miss him."Prena's smile softened. "It's normal. He's the kind who loves hard but expresses it weirdly."Pari tilted her head. "Why are you suddenly so wise?""I eat chips. Chips give you perspective."Pari giggled and leaned her head on Prena's shoulder.Prena reached over and gently tugged at her hair. "Just talk to him, Pari. He's not a mind-reader, no matter how many spreadsheets he stares at all day."Pari sighed. " I tried. He just keeps saying, 'Pari, you have exams' or 'Pari, don't distract me.' He doesn't even realize I'm distracting myself to get his attention."" Then stop trying to distract him. Do the opposite," Prena said with a smirk.Pari lifted her head. "What do you mean?""Completely ignore him. Don't whine. Don't pout. Just... vanish from his radar. He'll come crawling."Pari raised an eyebrow. "That sounds evil.""Revenge therapy. Works like a charm," Prena winked.Just then, a distant rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, and a cool breeze swept over them.Pari hugged her knees tighter. "Fine. Let's try your theory, but if it backfires-""Then we throw him off the terrace. I'm always ready," Prena said with a wicked grin.They both burst out laughing and just as the door opened and a servant entered." Prena didi, Saab is calling you."Prena nodded and got up. The servant left and before walking away, Prena glanced at Pari." Won't you come?"Pari shook her head and grabbed her book." You go. I'll just.. study," Pari replied.Prena chuckled, shrugged her shoulders and left the terrace. Pari took a deep breath and opened the book.Akansha was flipping through a magazine with her glasses low on her nose, though her attention was clearly focused on her sons murmuring in the background. Ranvijay was leaning against the pillar, arms crossed, and Vikrant was seated on the single-seater couch, fingers tapping against the leather armrest.Prena walked in, casually brushing crumbs off her kurti and popping the last chip into her mouth."Done gossiping, you all?" she said.Vikrant glanced up and handed her a slim black file. "Here. You need to sign the final section at the back."Prena blinked, confused, as she took the file. "What is this?""You're now the 40% owner of Agnihotri Empires," Vikrant said calmly.Prena's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? Come again?"" You heard me, Princess," Vikrant said.Ranvijay, however, didn't smile. He pushed away from the pillar, his brows drawing together. "You said 20% for her and 20% for me, bhai. That was the plan."Vikrant looked up, calm and composed. "I changed it."Ranvijay frowned deeper. "So, you're planning to give her 40% and me too? Then what's left for you? Just 20%? Of course not."Vikrant frowned slightly. "I don't care about numbers, Ranvijay. The shares are just numbers. If I have you two beside me, that's more valuable than percentages."Akansha frowned.Ranvijay exhaled sharply, pacing a bit before stopping in front of Vikrant. "That's very noble of you, bhai. But I'm not okay with this. I don't want more than my share. You deserve your place. Moreover Grandfather gave you 60% for some reason. Why change his decision? I don't need this. Well, I don't even want 20%."" Ranvijay-"" Hold on."Prena interrupted everyone and took a side beside her mother." What the hell? Why didn't you ask me before?"Vikrant frowned, " there is no need to. This is your right."" No it is not," she announced and put the file back on the table." Business and I should stay separated. I don't even know a bit about this. If I step in, I might drop the business. Don't pull me into this shit."Akansha slapped her back, " language."" Oops," Prena bit her tongue, " sorry."" But, board members agreed. Why are you refusing? I will teach you."Prena shook her head in denial, " seriously bhai. I can't handle this."Vikrant leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on Prena. "You don't have to handle anything right away. I'll take care of it until you're ready. You can just be a silent partner for now."" I don't even want to be a whisper," Prena muttered."I know nothing about business, mergers, profits, losses... I still struggle to read the stock column in the newspaper."Ranvijay added, arms crossed again, "And I meant what I said. Dadaji gave you 60% for a reason. He built this empire knowing you'd lead it. Don't insult that decision by scattering it out of guilt or sentiment."Akansha nodded solemnly. "He saw something in you, Vikrant, something none of us did at the time. And you proved him right. If anything, this business needs you at the top, not divided shares for the sake of fairness."Prena leaned against her mother's shoulder. "Honestly, I'm happy being your sister and Mummy's daughter. Not some boardroom queen."Vikrant's lips quirked up into a small smile. "So none of you want the shares?""Not unless they come with a free spa and a personal chef," Prena muttered.Ranvijay chuckled.Vikrant sighed, leaning back with a sigh as the thunder rolled faintly in the distance, hinting at the rain that had yet to fall.He frowned, noticing an absence." Where's Pari?"" At the terrace. Studying," Prena replied.Akansha knitted her eyebrows, " why is she studying so much? I told her to rest, still.."Prena pointed at Vikrant, " ask your son, maa. He has become her professor more than her husband."Vikrant crossed his hand around the chest, staring at Prena with strict demeanour, " and you, madam? When are you studying?"" Oh God! Here we go again," Prena groaned and laid her head on her mother's lap." Please bhai, stop nagging about study."" How will you pass-"" I'll manage. Just passing marks and I'll get the degree," Prena shared her plans and earned a light slap on her shoulder from her mother." Bad manners. Ranvi and Vikrant, both were very good in studies."Vikrant sighed heavily at his sister's half-hearted plans and shook his head. "Passing marks, really, Prena? That's your life goal now?"Prena groaned, pressing her forehead into Akansha's lap. "Don't ruin this peaceful moment, bhai."Akansha smiled softly, brushing her hand over Prena's hair. "You're still a child, but you need to grow up someday, beta.""I'm creative," Prena defended with a grin. " One day I'll open a cafe and won't allow you guys to enter, except maa and Pari."Ranvijay and Vikrant groaned inadubily." Who even wants to enter?" Vikrant said." Ofcourse, what if you mix poison in my coffee?" Ranvijay added."Stop ganging up on me!" Prena laughed, sitting up. But her expression changed into something softer, more serious, as her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her kurti. She inhaled deeply, as if preparing for something big." Actually... I have to tell you something important," she said, her tone turning solemn.Vikrant frowned and Prena glanced at their mother, whose hand was still resting gently on her head."I found someone," she began. "A doctor from London. He's been working on a treatment that might... might actually work for maa's condition. Ranvijay bhai and maa know about it already."Vikrant's expression froze. His arms, still folded, slowly dropped to his sides.Prena looked directly at him, her eyes glowing with a quiet excitement. "His name is Dr. Ivan Adams. He's not just any doctor. He's led several successful trials on patients with degenerative brain conditions. I did some digging. And Ranvijay bhai got his background thoroughly checked. Everything is clean."Vikrant turned to his brother immediately, brows furrowed. " Is this true?"Ranvijay nodded, stepping forward. "Yes. I made sure of it. He's reputable, works with a private research team. If there's even the slightest chance..."A strange silence lingered in the room, the weight of the moment pressing gently on everyone. Akansha, silent all this while, gave her sons a faint, peaceful smile, as though their concern warmed her more than any medication ever could.Vikrant stared at her for a long moment. A flicker of hope stirred within him that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't the end of her timeline. That her story might have a longer arc than he had feared.Prena reached for his hand. "We have to go in two days, bhai."Vikrant's mouth parted slightly. Oh, how badly he wanted to go with them, to accompany them and make sure the team went well but how could he? Pari has exams and there are several more reasons.His eyes glistened as he looked at Ranvijay,"Ranvijay, you'll accompany them."Ranvijay nodded. "Already planned."" I'll handle the travel clearances and papers tonight," Vikrant said. "You two just focus on getting her there safely."Akansha looked at him gently. "I don't know if it will work, but..'Prena smiled through misty eyes. "You'll get better, maa. We'll make sure of it. You still have to attend my wedding."Akansha chuckled.As thunder rolled again in the distance and a light drizzle began tapping at the windows, the family sat quietly, united in rare hope.Vikrant got up, " I'll go and tell Pari."They nodded and he walked upstairs.⋆༺✷༻⋆To be continued.Read the complete book in scrollstack as early access.