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Chapter 21
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
Priyal DessaiThank you dear reader for coming so far along the book. I hope you're enjoying. Support the author and this book by voting with gems!
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Shanaya recalled how the night had ended: with a kiss that was light and quick and yet so fulfilling. She wanted to seal that moment and keep it forever in her mind. “You’re tempting.”“I’m happy you’re not denying that,” Dhruv expressed, beaming. “Can you also agree that this is very comforting?” He drew her close until their breaths mingled. She nodded, her nose brushing against his. “But this isn’t what I should be doing right now,” she reasoned. “Who decides that?” Dhruv raised a brow, and continued in a low voice, “I think you’ll spend the rest of the day thinking about the offer.”“Let me prove you wrong,” she told him, making an impulsive decision. She called Shaheer as Dhruv watched her, mouth agape wondering what she was about to do. “I’m not coming today, Shaheer. I’ll see you directly on Monday,” she conveyed, her free hand caressing Dhruv’s back. As soon as the call ended, his lips collided with hers in a rough kiss. Shanaya could not help but smile and recovered soon
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Kabir exhaled heavily and placed his elbows on the desk. “Okay,” he said in a way like he always did when it was not. "How old is Neil?" Shanaya sighed, remembering how that was the first question that had entered her mind when Dhruv had told her about the matter. "Twenty-three. He's five years older than us." "We should've known that they're more than friends, " he commented. "I admire how well he managed to keep it hidden though. And he already proposed!""A diamond ring," she said, trying to sound bored. Kabir regarded her with a look she did not understand. "Kirti would expect nothing less." Shanaya had just recited all that had gone down in the last few days, excluding particular details of the previous night. She was in his clinic, sitting across his table piled with reports and notepads and medicines and pens that lay astray. The view was distracting. Her hands itched. Discreetly, she picked another pen and placed it in the holder. Kabir’s eyes watched her action closely,
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Driving in her new car, Shanaya recalled how she had been tormented the last few days. Now she did not need to pester those around her to lend her their cars. When she looked back, she blamed the presence of a certain someone for the delay in dealing with this matter. On her way back to the Arora mansion, she had stopped by the garage and given the mechanics a mouthful for being incapable of fixing her old car—although one could argue it was a little too old. Regardless, she had as much as told them to set it on fire for all she cared. But as soon as the words left her mouth, regret swooped in. Her father’s voice echoed in her mind: ‘No matter how rich you become, every penny will have the same worth. So spend judiciously, because you never know when the gods may turn on you for disrespecting the wealth they have blessed you with.’ He had hated it when people discarded things carelessly—things they had once craved and begged to own. Shanaya believed Dhiren Arora would have liked
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 25
No words left Suhala's mouth for what seemed like an eternity To Shanaya. But her gaze was unwavering, holding within them the threat of burning down mountains to dust. Her lips quivered as she took a step forward. "Is this a sick joke?" Her voice sounded constricted as if she had forced herself to speak. Shanaya frowned and shook her head softly. Her grandmother raised her chin, still considering the possibility of this being a farce before turning around abruptly.“He can marry her,” she said, startling Shanaya. But her next words brought her back to reality. “When I’m nothing but ashes.”“Please don’t say that,” Shanaya pleaded, reaching forward to place a hand on her arm but her grandmother flinched. "Yes. He can marry her when I'm dead." Suhala's voice was not stern, telling that she would not change her mind even if her life depended on it. "Dadi, we're talking about Neil… "There was a sharp increase in the pitch of her voice, "Anything that involves the Kapoors… ! My dear c
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 26
By the time Monday morning rolled in, Shanaya was tired beyond measure. This was very rare. If she could be very honest with herself she would admit that this was happening for the first time—the urge to stay back rather than attend work was strong. She had always been a workaholic and there was a good reason behind it. She knew how her mind conjured up the darkest of thoughts when it was unoccupied. Despite every nerve in her body pleading with her not to, she convinced herself to get out of bed that morning, even though it took more than a cup of coffee for that to happen. The bright daylight outside mocked her gloomy mood. To make things worse, she found the tire of her car flattened. She was sure she would lose a tooth or two from how she suppressed groaning at her state. Could it get any worse? she questioned herself rhetorically, silently fearing it could indeed happen. The aches in Shanaya’s body made themselves known as soon as she stepped out of the cab. Any sleep ha
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 27
The air filled with an unending blanket of silence. Shanaya took her time to fully absorb the meaning of Neil’s words, her eyes darting impulsively to the bunch of yellow blooms. This is really happening, she thought to herself. It’s real. It was long before she realized she had closed her fists too tightly. Her nails had dug a trail of half moons on her palms. She watched them with horror and surprise. “She has agreed, Shanaya,” Neil repeated, stepping forward as his hand reached to rest on the edge of the chair. His gaze was unwavering, his voice firm as if speaking a command. “I heard you the first time, brother,” she told him, sliding her chair behind as she rose slowly. “You don’t believe it yet, do you?” Neil simply shook his head, confirming her suspicions. She wished he was smiling then. He was after all conveying happy news. But this was a complicated matter. “It’s going to be the gloomiest wedding ever,” she added, folding her arms. “I hope you can manage to smile i
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The phone screen lit up yet again, flashing Neil’s name.Shanaya watched silently as the buzzing ringtone echoed in her room. He had not stopped calling her. Her cousin was not someone who gave up too quickly—he was persistent and sometimes to the extent that was plain anger-inducing. When the call ended, she checked the time. It was ten minutes past eight. Some more time and he would give up, she assured herself but not very convincingly. Rising from her vanity stool, she unclasped the ruby rose bracelet from around her wrist. It did not go along with what she was wearing— a blue saree with a silver sequined border. But her other option was a diamond-studded bangle which seemed too flashy. Sighing, she mumbled, “It doesn’t matter, babe. You aren’t going to that party.”The full-length mirror at a little distance from her held the reflection of a gorgeous woman.The heart-shaped shimmer blouse was a perfect fit; Shanaya had almost squealed in delight when she had first tried it. Th
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 29
“Would you like to go elsewhere?” Dhruv asked, his voice filled with amusement.It had been a while since the car had entered the paved driveway, past the dark metal gates. It now stood underneath the domed entrance supported by four enormous carved pillars. From where Shanaya sat, she could see the swarm of people gathered inside the hall. She recognized some of Dhruv’s relatives, even though she had not seen them in years. It was a bitter reminder of how involved their families once had been. “That’s Misha and Yukta, right?” she asked, pointing at the two girls standing near the staircase, just outside the main door. “Remember when we once told them a scary bedtime story? And they couldn’t sleep without their mom for the next few weeks?”Dhruv nodded, his hands still on the steering wheel. “Maybe we can spend the whole night here recollecting old memories?”“Not here,” Shanaya answered absent-mindedly. “That’s a better place,” she suggested, looking at a scantly illuminated corner
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The Billionaire's Second Chance Epilogue
Epilogue *A year later* “I need two more minutes, Shan,” Dhruv said through trembling lips. He let out a loud exhale. “Today’s an important day. I’ve never felt this way before any of my business meetings.” Shanaya placed her hand over his in a reassuring manner, passing him a genuine smile. “Hey, silly. This is a lot more difficult than any business meeting you’ll ever have.” Leaning forward, she reached out her hand to touch his cheek. “I’m glad I’m doing this with you. When we see her, everything will feel great. All this nervousness is going to fade into joy which will last a lifetime.” He nodded. “Of course, babe. I know that.” He wetted his lips before letting out another sigh. “Wow, I’m so ready to do this with you. Just give me one minute.” Shanaya agreed, nodding. She had never seen him so nervous. It was surprising and amusing at the same time. The air carried with it the scent of petrichor, greeting her senses as stepped out of her car. It was still warm despite the re
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 28
Shanaya couldn’t get any words out of her mouth as she watched Dhruv easily knock against the door to her grandmother’s room before he walked inside with a smile. How could he do that so casually? What was Shanaya missing? When she turned around to see Kirti’s face, she found amusement on it—not confusion like she had expected. “Is this really happening right now, Kirti? Please pinch me!” she said hurriedly, her voice filled with panic. Kirti laughed in response, instead urging her, “Go inside. I bet he needs you by his side.” “He’s not just about to do what he said he was going to,” Shanaya mumbled more to herself than to Kirti, gently patting her chest that stirred in anticipation. “Please, tell me.” His sister inched closer, a look of understanding crossing her eyes. “Dhruv hasn’t mentioned it to you, but he has been secretly visiting Dadi ever since she got sick. Actually, she was the one who requested him to meet her.” “But why would she do that?” “She… she felt sorry an
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 27
Ahail cleared his throat, adjusting the tie around his neck before he persuaded himself to press the doorbell. The moment was exhilarating. He felt as though he was going on an adventure—even though confronting someone did not count as one. But that night, he was determined to set things right. He had delayed far too long already. The door opened with a jerk and Noor’s face fell as she spotted him. The curious look faded away into a frown before she quickly replaced it with a difficult smile. He knew her enough to see right through it. Right then, as the moment stood silent, he debated with himself. He could walk away, ending the conversation before it started. Noor was already uncomfortable, he could see that. But the annoying voice inside his mind—that had been bothering him for days—urged him to stay put. He had to do this. He had to do it for Shanaya. And for himself. “Hey,” he managed to say, his voice coming out thick despite clearing his throat seconds before. When he he
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The conversation with Nazir swirled inside Shanaya’s mind long after he left with Shaheer. All through the day as she sat through meetings and walked around her office, she pictured how things would’ve been had Nazir found the courage to confess his love for her grandmother, Suhala. If fate had favoured him, Shanaya would not exist. And if Suhala had indeed rejected him, it would have likely ruined their friendship. Shanaya was more baffled than sorry for the old man. Not once had she sensed even the hint of unrequited love from Nazir despite seeing her grandmother with him for several years. He did a great job hiding his feelings, and she could only imagine how heavy it weighed on him. She realised how lucky she was to get a second chance with Dhruv. Where would she be had he not stormed back into her life? Everything was better with him. And she had missed that feeling for all these years never knowing she had been craving it. She sighed, an audible cue for when she was do
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As the morning sun bathed her white cabin in warm hues, Shanaya sat at her desk, engrossed in her work. She had things to take care of that day and with Priya back to work, she was glad to have someone to rely on. After the previous night had ended, Shanaya was reluctant to leave Dhruv’s side. She wanted to continue being in his arms, his touch bringing her the comfort that she craved. But then when Dhruv told her that at the end of the day, she’ll be back in his arms, she smirked at her and laughed it off. She teased him, making him look like a lovesick person. Once more, the world was abuzz with discussions about them. The rumors surrounding their relationship intensified, particularly when Anjali confidently appeared in public with her high school sweetheart and declared their engagement. Speculations arose regarding the nature of the bond between Anjali and Dhruv, yet neither of them contributed to the gossip mill. Dhruv reassured Shanaya that if she wasn't bothered by people's
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 24
Hours later Shanaya was in Kabir’s clinic, staring at the pictures hung up on the walls with other posters that gave out important information about hygiene as she recited the incident to him. Kabir’s eyes were wide as saucers. “She really asked you that?” “Yes,” Shanaya said, chewing on her bottom lip. “Future husband.” Kabir shook his head, sighing in disbelief. “Are you sure you didn’t just hallucinate that?” he emphasized, placing his elbows on the table. “Kabir, come on. She has… changed. I think she believes she doesn’t have enough time to hold grudges anymore.” “I think,” her best friend began. “She realizes that he makes you happy. And that’s what she wants for you. She has seen you struggle, Shanaya. No one else has been an active observer.” Shanaya shrugged. “So, that’s a good thing, right? It means she approves.” Kabir checked his wristwatch, his eyebrows narrowing. He stood up and took off his whit coat. He tried to sound nonchalant but Shanaya sensed the curiosity
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 23
The sun was shining outside, casting a bright and warm glow into the room through the pushed-back curtains. After a continuous spell of rain that had almost got Shanaya worried, the sky had cleared. ‘Everything is fine,’ she told herself. ‘I’m happy.’ But that was the way to jinx it—admitting that things were good. And then her brain did all it could to dampen her mood. This time, however, Raunak was there to distract her. “Alright, one more step… Ah, that’s great. You’re doing good,” Raunak claimed, helping Suhala get back to her wheelchair. “You’ve made a lot of progress, Mrs. Arora. It won’t be long before you’re sprinting up and down these stairs.” Suhala laughed it off, the sound of her croaky laughter echoing in the room. She sat down with a sigh, leaning her head back. If the venture had exhausted her, that was the sign. However, Shanaya could see nothing on her face that implied any pain. Shanaya smiled to herself, acknowledging that Raunak’s words were an exaggeration
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When the next morning dawned, Shanaya was eager to leave. She had begun regretting her decision of coming to her family house. She was sure nothing would’ve changed had her uncle revealed the truth to her on the phone call. But even then, a part of her knew she would not resist being away knowing her brother had been injured in a fight. Shanaya’s puffy eyes were noticed by everyone at the table during breakfast. Ahail was of course absent, so Suhala had sent breakfast over to his room. The old woman had let her go but not before giving her an emotional lecture, pleading at the end to find Ahail a job in their family business. Shanaya had no choice but to agree despite all the questions that had rushed past her mind. Did Ahail even want to work for the company? Suhala seemed not to care. Her only concern was to see him being busy yet again but everyone knew perfectly well what happened when he had nothing to do. Shanaya drove to her office that foggy morning after making sure
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 21
When Shanaya entered through the door of her family mansion, her doubt was confirmed. Something was definitely amiss. Harish, her uncle, sat with his hand holding his head. His face was covered with a worried expression. She could breathe the discomfort in the air—something grave had happened. Suhala was sleeping in her wheelchair. Well, at least her eyes were closed as her she leaned back, her head resting against the edge of the backrest. “Uncle,” Shanaya greeted, carefully treading forward. Harish jumped in his seat, startled by her approach. He held a hand against a chest before he stood up and nodded. “Shanaya,” he said. That was all he said. “Tell me what has happened,” she demanded, her voice unwavering. Suhala was awakened by their loud conversation. Her wearing eyes looked around the room in search of someone, before they finally landed on Shanaya. “Oh, my child. You’re here finally.” “Dadi,” she mumbled, facing her momentarily before she gazed at Harish again. She
