𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝟓 (𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐚 𝐲𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥)

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 :-

Arsh lounged on his leather couch, swirling the whiskey in his glass as he admired his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. He was at the top of his game-soon to secure the Singhania Corp. deal, and even sooner, he'd have the Malhotras' wealth in his grasp. Everything was falling into place.

His phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen. Jatin Khurana-Rudra Sidhvani's secretary.

Straightening, he picked up the call, forcing his voice to sound casual. "Yes?"

"Mr. Verma, Mr. Sidhvani would like to meet you tomorrow morning at his office," Jatin's professional voice came through.

Arsh smirked. Finally. Rudra was acknowledging him as competition.

"Sure. Tell your boss I'll be there." He ended the call, confidence radiating through him.

Just as he put his phone down, it rang again. Ekanshika.

For a brief second, irritation flickered across his face before he schooled his features and answered in a warm tone, "Hey, sweetheart."

"Hey," Ekanshika's soft voice came through. "Are you free tonight? Let's go out. It's been a while since we spent time together."

Arsh suppressed a sigh. His priority was the meeting with Rudra, not entertaining Ekanshika's emotions. Still, he couldn't afford to make her suspicious.

"I would love to, babe," he said smoothly, "but I have an important meeting tomorrow with Rudra Sidhvani. I need to prepare."

There was a short pause. "Oh. Okay... It's fine, I understand," she said, though her voice carried a hint of disappointment.

Arsh smiled to himself. Good. Let her think I'm a hardworking, ambitious man.

"I'll make it up to you soon, I promise," he added, his voice dripping with charm.

"Hmm. Alright," she replied before hanging up.

As soon as the call ended, his fake warmth disappeared. Rudra was the real challenge-Ekanshika could wait.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝐑𝐮𝐝𝐫𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 :-

I leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled, watching the man in front of me with quiet calculation. Arsh Verma. He walked into the room with an air of self-assurance that bordered on arrogance. Dressed in an expensive suit, his posture screamed overconfidence-as if he already believed he had won.

The boardroom was quiet, except for the distant hum of the air conditioning. My secretary, Jatin, sat a few seats away, taking notes. Across from me, Arsh settled in comfortably, flashing a self-satisfied smile.

"It's a pleasure to finally sit across from the great Rudra Sidhvani," he started, voice smooth with feigned politeness. "Your name is everywhere in the finance industry."

I didn't return the pleasantries. "Let's not waste time. You wanted this meeting-speak."

Arsh's smirk faltered for half a second before he masked it with a chuckle. "Straight to business. I like that." He leaned forward. "The Singhania Corp. deal is a golden opportunity, one that both of us clearly recognize. But I believe I am in the better position to secure it."

I raised a brow, uninterested. "Oh?"

He nodded confidently. "I have the right connections, the perfect strategy, and most importantly, financial backing that guarantees success."

I drummed my fingers on the table, pretending to consider his words. "And this financial backing... where exactly is it coming from?"

His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Let's just say... my soon-to-be in-laws believe in me. They're willing to invest heavily to ensure I win this deal."

I let out a small, amused breath. So, that's his game. Using his fiancée's family's money to boost his own ambitions.

"Impressive," I said, feigning indifference. "Convincing others to fund your ambitions takes talent."

Arsh chuckled. "It's about trust, Mr. Sidhvani. My in-laws trust my vision."

I leaned forward slightly, my eyes sharp. "Or maybe it's just about convenience? Marry rich, use their money, and call it business acumen."

For the first time, I saw his smile falter.

"I don't believe in taking risks I can't handle," he said, his voice still controlled, but there was a slight edge to it now.

I tilted my head. "And yet, you're relying on someone else's money. That doesn't exactly scream self-sufficiency."

Arsh's jaw tensed, but he forced another chuckle. "You misunderstand. It's not just about money-it's about alliances. Strong connections build stronger businesses. Isn't that how you operate as well?"

I gave him a slow, deliberate nod. "Oh, I do believe in alliances, Mr. Verma. But I choose mine carefully."

He met my gaze, his confidence returning. "Then perhaps it's time you consider a partnership."

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "Not interested."

His smirk returned. "Then I suppose we'll see who walks away with the deal."

I studied him for a moment before standing up, signaling the meeting was over. "We will."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as Arsh left the meeting, I turned to Jatin, who stood by my side, his usual composed expression in place.

"Jatin." My voice was sharp, commanding.

"Yes, sir?"

"I want a full background check on Arsh Verma's fiancée and her family. I want names, financial records, business details-everything."

Jatin nodded without hesitation. "I'll have the report ready soon."

Arsh's confidence had been misplaced. If he thought he could use his fiancée's family to secure power, I needed to know exactly who was backing him.

I exhaled slowly, thinking back to Arsh's overconfidence. His reliance on his in-laws. His smugness.

Something about him didn't sit right with me.

Who was this fiancée? And why was her family willing to fund him so easily?

I intended to find out.

And if there was something hidden beneath the surface-

I would uncover it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just as I stood to leave the conference room, my phone buzzed. Grandfather.

I let out a slow breath before answering. "Dadaji."

"Rudra," his deep voice came through, steady as always. "You are coming to the engagement ceremony this weekend."

I frowned. "Engagement?"

"Yes. My close friend's granddaughter is getting engaged. You know him-Harsh Malhotra."

Malhotra. The name sounded familiar.

"I'm busy dadaji," I replied curtly. "Send my regards but I'm sorry i won't be able to come. I have more important things to manage here."

"Rudra," his voice hardened. "This is a matter of respect. You will come. We all are going and you will also come."

I clenched my jaw. "I'll think about it, but I'm not making any commitments." I muttered before hanging up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After talking to dadaji I went to my office. I sat on my seat and looked at the files that I had to check before signing them. I was so indulged in my work that I lost the track of time. I looked at the clock and realised it's midnight already. I stood up and packed my stuff and went out of my office room.

I was about to leave my office when Jatin returned, holding a file.

"That was quick," I noted.

Jatin nodded. "Sir, here's the information about Arsh Verma's fiancée." He handed me a photograph.

I took one glance at the image and froze.

Ekanshika Malhotra?

The same woman from 2 years earlier. The woman Arsh was using for money.

I can't believe this. Ekanshika is fiancee of that jerk.

Wait? Malhotra?

I turned to Jatin and asked him," Jatin, what's the name of her grandfather and father? "

Jatin forwarded the file towards ke and said, "Her grandfather's name is Harsh Malhotra and father's name is Keshav Malhotra."

She is granddaughter of my dadaji's close friend. The one who is getting engaged.

My grip tightened around the photograph. This changes everything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃...