Ishaan, Ayaan, and Pari were in the boardroom, watching the live reports from their men across the country who had been sent to conduct a full inspection of the children’s homes and old-age homes.
Vaishu and Ishika were on a video call, following the updates from Vaishu’s home office. Protests had broken out against Vaishu at both the state and central party offices and even outside Rey Manor. However, the security team managed to disperse everyone, preventing protestors from getting anywhere close to the property.
By midnight, most of the crowds had left, and Vaishu spoke to the party head, assuring them that everything was a setup and that she would clear it all at the earliest.
“Ishi, I think we should let the officials carry out a raid if we want to come out clean,” Ishaan said, looking at her through the screen. “You and Amma should address the public, make it clear that we’re open to a live and transparent inspection anytime at our children’s homes and old-age homes.”
“You’re right, Ishu, let me talk to the officials in the morning before we announce it publicly.” Ishika agreed.
Reyansh and Mithun, who had been quietly observing everything, felt a deep sense of pride watching how their children were handling such a major crisis with strength and clarity.
Ishaan stretched out his arm and patted Ayaan’s shoulder.
“Ayaan, the protestors won’t be back until morning. Go home and work with Ishi and Amma. I’ll handle things from here, we’ll stay connected.”
Ayaan rolled his eyes, propping one leg over the table and loosening his tie.
“Sorry, bro. Not leaving you alone,” he said with a faint smirk.
Ishaan chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Let me remind you, I’m not alone. I have my beautiful wife to keep me company. So get up and move before you get stuck in traffic or jammed by the protestors. Don’t take your RR, use Swathi’s car or my PA’s.”
Ayaan hummed in acknowledgment, then stood up and hugged Ishaan and Pari before walking out of the boardroom.
As the door closed behind him, Ishaan turned to Pari, who looked completely drained. He cupped her face gently and kissed her lips thrice. Pari’s eyes softened as she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her face against his chest, her cheek pressed over his heartbeat.
“You should rest for a while, baby. Let’s go to your room, I’ll tuck you into bed.”
Pari shook her head, refusing to let him go. Ishaan sighed softly, broke the hug, and scooped her up in his arms. He carried her out of the boardroom and into the relaxation room attached to her office, gently laying her down on the bed.
Pari still had a firm grip on his shirt, unwilling to let him move away. Smiling at her stubbornness, Ishaan kicked off his shoes and lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her until she finally drifted off to sleep. Once her breathing evened out, he carefully slipped away, turned off the lights, and closed the door behind him before returning to the boardroom to continue his work.
Meanwhile, Ayaan was driving Ishaan’s PA’s SUV through the nearly deserted road when a sharp pain throbbed in his head. He groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration. Taking a deep breath, he blinked hard to focus on the empty stretch ahead, when suddenly, out of nowhere, someone crashed right in front of his car.
“Shit, Please don’t let it be another crazy protestor…” he muttered, slamming the brakes.
Jumping out, he rolled up his sleeves and rushed to the front. A young woman lay sprawled on the road, barely conscious. Her simple cotton salwar was covered in dirt, her face smudged so badly he couldn’t make out her features. Blood trickled from her forehead.
“Please… help me…” the girl mumbled weakly.
Ayaan’s face paled. He crouched beside her and lightly patted her cheek, trying to keep her awake. Her trembling hand reached up, clutching his shirt as her eyes pleaded silently for help.
He didn’t think twice. Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the back seat of his SUV and laid her down carefully. Slipping on a mask, he jumped into the driver’s seat and sped toward the nearest hospital.
The girl moaned softly in pain, her breathing ragged. Ayaan’s jaw tightened as he pressed harder on the accelerator. Within minutes, he pulled up at a hospital, rushed inside carrying her in his arms, and called out for help.
“Doctor, Emergency”
Nurses came running with a stretcher, and Ayaan laid her down as the medical team took her inside. He stood there for a moment, glancing at his watch. His duty was done, she was safe.
Exhaling deeply, he stepped out of the hospital and immediately dialed Ishaan’s number to inform him about the accident.
Ishaan pinched the bridge of his nose as he heard about the accident.
“Just hold on, Ayaan. Stay in the car until I call you back. Don’t let anybody recognize you.”
Ayaan hummed in response and returned to the car, waiting for Ishaan’s call. Within a minute, his phone started ringing. Seeing Ishaan’s name flash on the screen and he answered immediately.
“Ayaan, open the dashboard. You’ll find some money inside. Hand it over to the doctor to treat the girl, and then leave from there. We’ll have one of our men check on her tomorrow. It’s not safe for you to stay outside too long right now. Go home as soon as possible before the protestors surround the manor again,” Ishaan instructed.
Ayaan ended the call, opened the dashboard, and found several stacks of cash. He grabbed two bundles and walked back into the hospital. Spotting the doctor who was treating the girl, he approached him quickly.
“I don’t know who that girl is, she was lying on the road, and I brought her here. I can’t stay for long, but I’ll check on her tomorrow. Please make sure she’s saved,” Ayaan said firmly.
Before the doctor could respond, Ayaan shoved the money into his hands and rushed out of the hospital. Taking a long breath to steady himself, he started the car and drove home.
When he reached Rey Manor, he found his family gathered in the living room, their faces filled with worry. Vaishu immediately rushed to him and wrapped him in a tight hug, followed closely by Zara.
“What happened, Ayaan? You were supposed to reach home at least an hour ago, we were all so worried,” Reyansh said, concern etched in his voice.
Ayaan explained everything that had happened on his way back. Reyansh and Vaishu exchanged a silent look, the memory of their own first encounter flashing through their minds. Reyansh understood what she was thinking and gave her a comforting side hug.
“Go to your room and rest for a while, Ayaan,” Vaishu said softly.
Ayaan nodded and headed upstairs, Zara quietly holding onto his arm as they walked away.
Once they were in his room, Zara handed him a glass of water. Ayaan took it with a sigh, muttering curses under his breath about Varun and Meghna for ruining the peace of their family.
“Stop worrying, Ayaan. Everything will be fine. We’ll get this under control,” Zara said softly.
Ayaan gave her a faint smile at her reassurance and pulled off his shirt. Just as he was about to head to the washroom, Zara caught his wrist.
“Ayaan, where’s your chain?” she asked, her eyes widening in concern.
Ayaan instinctively touched his neck, only to realize the chain was gone. His expression shifted to shock.
“Oh my god, fuck, fuck, fuck! How did I lose it? That was Mom’s gift to me ” he groaned, collapsing onto the couch and holding his head in his hands.
Zara sat beside him, gently stroking his back.
“Are you sure that girl was really hurt? What if she pretended just to steal your chain? Vaishu aunty specially designed that chain for you, remember? It had your initial and a star with a diamond in it. Not just any diamond, it was a red diamond cut from Rey uncle’s rare collection,” Zara reminded him, her tone laced with worry as she recalled the day Vaishu gifted everyone similar chains from her treasured collection.
Ayaan’s eyes turned moist as guilt sank in.
“She wasn’t pretending, Zara. Look at the blood on my shirt, she was really hurt. Maybe I lost it at the spot where I found her. I’ll inform one of the guards to check the area or maybe ask about it at the hospital,” he said, trying to calm himself.
Zara smiled softly, watching him disappear into the washroom.
Ayaan stood before the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. He touched his now bare neck, the absence of the chain suddenly feeling heavier than ever.
He quickly got ready in fresh clothes and noticed that Zara had already left. Entering Vaishu’s home office, he found his mother, Ishi, and Zara busy on their phones, coordinating with officials.
Seeing the gloom on her son’s face, Vaishu immediately gestured for him to come closer. Without a word, Ayaan walked to her and hugged her tightly.
“I’m sorry, Maa. I lost the chain you gifted me. I’m sure it must be around the place where I helped that girl or maybe she still has it somehow. I’ve already asked our guard to look for it,” Ayaan said, guilt and worry lacing his tone.
Vaishu gently patted his back.
“It’s alright, cupcake. We can always get another one if it’s really gone. What matters is that you’re safe. But let’s just make sure you’re not caught up in any trouble because of what happened last night,” Vaishu said, her voice calm and reassuring.
She gave his cheek a quick pat and left the office to meet Reyansh in his study. On her way, she caught Mithun smoking in the hallway and smacked his back lightly as she passed.
“Still smoking, huh?” she teased, and Mithun let out a chuckle.
Inside the study, Reyansh was sitting by his desk, listening to the faint, distorted voices of Varun and Meghna through the bug planted in their room.
“Got something?” Vaishu asked as she entered, closing the door behind her.
Reyansh shook his head.
“They’re being careful, too careful. Not a single word about us. Whoever’s guiding them is smart. I should almost admire that,” he muttered, rubbing his chin before turning to look at her. “Now tell me, Avi, why do you look upset? Enemies and problems aren’t new to us. Our kids are handling everything brilliantly. So why worry?”
Vaishu sighed softly and sat on his lap, resting her head against his shoulder.
“I’m not worried about our enemies or the crisis, Ansh. It’s Ayaan. He said he lost the chain we gifted him, and I can’t shake off this strange feeling ever since. My heart feels restless… as if what happened to him tonight is connected to something much deeper.”
Reyansh kissed her temple and handed her a glass of water.
“It’s okay to feel that way, Avi. That’s exactly how we met on a night just like this. I found you in front of my car, your head was bleeding, and yet you were carrying our babies. What happened today was completely different, it was just an accident. Ayaan saved that girl and left. He has Zara, and they’re madly in love. Honestly, they can’t stay away from each other even for a day. So just relax… he’ll be fine,” Reyansh reassured her.
Vaishu hummed in response, feeling slightly more at ease.
Back at Rey’s arcade, Ishaan returned to Pari’s office, where the outfits his PA and Pari’s PA had arranged lay neatly. Without disturbing Pari, he entered the washroom, got ready quickly, and returned to the boardroom, leaving strict instructions that no one should disturb her for any reason.
Overnight, the PR team had ensured that videos of Ishaan and Pari went viral. The business partners of Reyansh, Mithun, and Ishaan had worked tirelessly with their teams. Ishaan and Pari were once again trending as the sensational couple in love. Intimate glimpses of their London wedding, Ishaan proposing to Pari, and her reaction had captured millions of hearts.
Meanwhile, Ishika released a video from her official social media account.
“Hello, my dear people and respected officials,
There have been many assumptions and rumors that the trust founded and nurtured by my mother, Mrs. Vaishnavi Rey, and now under my care might be misused as a portal for drugs.
It is very easy for people to dismiss years of our work, our dedication, and our emotions as an act. I am not here to defend myself with justifications, nor to produce reports. Instead, I want to open every door with complete transparency.
All our children’s homes and old-age homes across the country are open for official investigation at any time you wish. The only request I make is that these inquiries are carried out with dignity, without disturbing the daily lives of the people who call these places their home. They are not just beneficiaries, they are our family, our people.
I welcome and respect every finding that comes from this process. Thank you.
Peace and grace be upon all of us.”
Ishaan smiled as he watched the video. Ishika had always carried a grace that could melt people instantly.
The door opened and Pari entered, freshly dressed in new clothes. She hugged him and puckered for a kiss. Ishaan obliged gladly until his PA interrupted.
“Sir, we’ve arrested the boys and the man who was acting as the mediator, passing information to Varun. Do you want Chief Security to start the investigation, or would you prefer to meet them personally?”
Ishaan smiled and shook his head.
“They’re just bait. Let Chief Security handle the interrogation, I’ll watch the live feed. I want to know the mastermind behind all this before I take down the bastard and the bitch.”
His PA nodded and immediately arranged for the live inquiry.
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