At that point, she’d have to tell them all the truth. No one would believe that she had suddenly fallen in love with Akash and decided to marry him. This wasn’t a fairy tale. It would have to be explained carefully and honestly. Sameer had promised to stand by her, and she would hold him to that promise.
One by one, the others hugged her as well. She could see the relief lining their faces, the tension in the room dissipating. Soon, the room filled with laughter and easy chatter, the kind of comfortable chaos that always followed their family gatherings. Excitement stirred inside her for the first time in days.
The pain she’d been carrying eased, fading in the background as she looked forward to what came next. To doing what she needed to do. Her mind buzzed. There was much to be done. She had plans to make. Terms to think of. Conditions to lock down. If she was going to do this, she would do it right.
As she slipped away to her room, her thoughts sharpened with sudden purpose. A smile curved her lips as she started to note down her conditions. It was late when she was finally done. Her phone felt warm in her hand as she opened Akash’s contact. It had been a long time since she’d texted him. She paused for just a moment, then typed.
I’ve thought through everything. I’m willing to marry you. But I have terms. We need to talk.
She sent the message and set the phone aside, a quiet sense of certainty settling over her. Whatever came next, she felt lighter than she had in days. It was time to claim the future that had been denied to her.
15
Akash sat in his office at Sehgal Media, waiting for Shauna to arrive. He reread their brief text conversation from the previous night.
I’ve thought through everything. I’m willing to marry you. But I have terms. We need to talk.
He wasn’t entirely shocked to read her message. Janak’s proposal had been circling his thoughts too. And the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Marrying Shauna was the most strategic option. Being attached to the Sehgal name via marriage would give him instant credibility. It would silence the board’s murmurs, neutralize Suveer Malhotra’s influence, and allow him to lead without constantly watching his back or waiting for someone to challenge his authority.
But marriage was a commitment, one he had to think very carefully about. And so, he’d taken his time to reply to her.
Let’s meet tomorrow morning at ten in my office.
I’ll be there.
She would be here soon, but before that, he needed to get some work done. Akash was halfway through an email when there was a sharp knock on his office door. Before he could respond, the door opened.
Suveer Malhotra walked in as though he owned the place. Instinctively, Akash rose and went to him, bending to touch his feet. As he straightened, a twinge of hurt mixed with anger flared in his chest. This man had known him for years, had watched him grow up. Yet instead of supporting him, he’d worked the board against him.
Akash offered him a seat in the chair across from him. Suveer lifted his chin, studying him quietly as Akash returned to his own chair behind the desk.
The older man was impeccably dressed. As always, he carried that faint air of entitlement, which had never really bothered Akash before. But today, this snobbery irked him. It felt pointed, deliberate, as if he was trying to intimidate him.
“Akash,” Suveer said, offering a thin smile as he took a seat. “I thought I’d check in. See how you’re doing.”
Akash leaned back slightly. “I’m well. Busy.”
“As one should be,” Suveer said. His gaze swept across the office, assessing. Judging. “Tell me, how are you finding the responsibility? Running such a large company can be… overwhelming.”
There it was. The real reason he was here.
“I’ve been preparing for this for years,” Akash said. “You know that.”
Suveer hummed. “The board is concerned. Sudden transitions make investors nervous. People are asking whether you’re ready.”
People? Or him?
“I’ve known you since you were a boy,” Suveer continued. “And familiarity can sometimes blur judgment. Which is why I want to be honest with you and say that you don’t have enough experience yet.”
Akash clenched his jaw. “You don’t trust me to run the company?”
“You’re too young.” Suveer met his gaze coolly. “Why do you think I haven’t handed Malhotra Productions over to Dheer yet? He’s my eldest grandson. He has more experience than you do. And still, I don’t believe he’s ready to take over from me.”
Akash didn’t know what to say to that. He knew beyond a doubt that no matter how much authority this old man pretended to have, Dheer was the backbone of Malhotra Productions.
“Sir, please understand?—”
“What I understand,” Suveer cut in, “is that Janak moved too quickly. He should have kept the reins longer, with you working under him for years.”
