The next morning began with its usual hollow quiet for Arundhita. Radha Aunty served breakfast in silence, allowing Arundhita her peace until she finally chose to break it with a soft question.
"Only three days left until the wedding," Radha said, her voice tentative. "Everything is prepared except the bride. Perhaps he won't be as cruel as Mr. Vardhan."
She was searching for a silver lining, knowing the girl could never truly run away; she realized that for Arundhita, acceptance was the only shield against reality. Arundhita let her spoon drop softly onto the plate. She stared into the distance, her gaze fixed on nothingness. Without a word, she stood and walked toward her room to change. She had already been forced to resign from her position at the school; there was nowhere else to go.
Radha shook her head, mourning the girl's fate. She had worked for the household since Manish Vardhan's marriage and had never seen a moment of harmony. The late mistress had refused to even be called Mrs. Vardhan, and soon, Manish began bringing other women home.
Eventually, the mistress had simply given up, spending her days staring at the walls, draped in nothing but sheets, fading into a shadow of herself.
Suddenly, years later, history seemed to be repeating itself in the daughter.
In the bathroom, Arundhita sank into the tub, submerged until the desperate need for air forced her to the surface. She had been so close-just a second more and the peace she craved would have been hers. But she couldn't do it. She wondered if she had the power to change even a fraction of what was coming.
Across town at Adhya Corporation, the sun climbed high as Adityaraj and Anand sat in the boardroom. Aditya's temper flared as he sneered at an employee.
"Is this what I pay you for? This rubbish? Bring me something worth reading," he snapped, tossing the files across the table.
"Meeting adjourned," Anand interrupted, his voice smooth and calm. He studied his friend's expression, knowing exactly what was happening. Aditya had been volatile as the wedding approached. Even if he intended to stop it, the mere mention of Arundhita's name unsettled him. Anand wondered if Aditya would truly be able to go through with hurting her.
Aditya ran a hand through his hair, his pulse visible in the veins of his arms. "Anand, go handle things at Adhya Corp. I'll deal with the rest here."
Anand raised an eyebrow, tilting his head.
"I'll go," Anand replied with a faint, knowing smile. "Provided you don't shoot anyone for a minor inconvenience while I'm gone."
Aditya rolled his eyes. "Spare me the jabs. I'll be fine."
"It's not you I'm worried about," Anand tsked, "it's the poor employees who have to face you."
As Anand walked out, the office fell into a hushed silence. He climbed into his Jaguar, his assistant trailing behind him. "To Adhya Corporation," he ordered. Meanwhile, back in his office, Aditya stared out the glass wall, a glass of scotch clutched so tightly in his hand that it shattered, drawing a thin trail of blood.
Just two more days.
At Adhya Corporation, the atmosphere was equally tense. The MD, a man in his late forties, was shouting at an intern.
"Must I explain everything? Can you not do one thing correctly?" He sighed in frustration before turning to Prachi. "Miss Prachi, I assume the presentation for the meeting is ready? I want no mistakes in front of Mr. Singhaniya. Is that understood?"
Prachi, clutching a stack of files to her chest, nodded rigidly. "Yes, sir. Absolutely."
When the meeting began, the room was thick with anticipation. The head chair remained empty until the glass doors swung open. A man in black attire walked in with an effortless, commanding elegance.
Prachi looked up, and her heart nearly stopped. It took her several agonizing seconds to realize this was the same man she had been with years ago. Of all the people in the world, she had never expected her past to walk in as her new boss. It was a waking nightmare.
Her throat went dry, and a fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. She felt exposed under his gaze-those pitch-dark eyes that seemed to hold a cold, deep secret. He walked toward her, his steps steady, while her own legs felt like they might give way. Just as he reached her, he took the seat at the head of the table.
"I am Anand Singhaniya, your CEO," he announced, his deep voice filling the room. "The company's market position has been slipping. I am here to personally ensure we return to the top."
He paused, turning his gaze toward her. She was still standing, paralyzed.
"Miss, you may take your seat for now."
He watched her every move-the way she flinched, the slight flush that crept up her neck as she hurried to sit. He almost chuckled. Prachi sat in a daze, her mind racing. A man of his stature... he surely doesn't remember that night, she told herself. As long as he doesn't recognize me, I'll be fine.
The meeting progressed until the MD pointed toward her. "Sir, Miss Prachi will present the current records and market standing."
"Alright," Anand said, his eyes lingering on her.
Prachi stood, forcing herself to be professional for the sake of her daughter. She began the presentation, but Anand wasn't looking at the slides. He was looking at her. He watched the way she moved, the way she spoke-the very things he had craved for years. He realized then that the void in his life hadn't been caused by the business; it was a space that only she could fill.