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Chapter 34
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The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 35
"What was that?" Neil questioned when Shanaya got into the seat and slammed the door shut. But she did not answer him immediately. She took her time to even her breath, looking back for a glance at the retreating man who had made her breathless. “Dhruv was just upset that I was leaving without saying goodbye,” she told Neil, feigning normalcy in her voice. It was the truth and yet, it felt a lot like she was hiding something. “I’ll believe that,” her cousin remarked, turning the key to start the car. They were on the road soon, the car running smoothly at a uniform speed. Trees and street lights sped past them, and Shanaya could not be more to be alone. Neil was not a fool—she knew he understood what was going on. He knew of their past, and from what he had just witnessed, Shanaya was sure he had jumped to a conclusion.She told herself she did not care what Neil thought of her. At that moment, she only cared about the privacy her apartment provided her. But her mind played evil
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 36
“Thank you, Shaheer,” said Shanaya, shakily stepping out of her assistant’s car into the parking lot. She was glad when the words left her mouth; she had not thought her current state could speak. “This is not a part of your job.” And yet you play my driver every other day, she thought to herself sullenly. “No trouble for me,” Shaheer replied, his voice cautious. Locking the car, he fell in easy, slow steps beside her. "Both of your houses are on my way to the office, so it's really no problem at all," he emphasized. He was nice to her all the time, perhaps because he thought that was expected of him. Shanaya had never seen even a hint of irritation, anger, or frustration on his face. She had no clue how real he was with her. There was also this thing she had never managed to get past: her bad luck with driving in general. She had been in a car wreck, failed her driving test twice, and had to send her car for repair every month. Even now with a new car, nothing about that had c
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 37
Dhruv did not greet her back, instead choosing to silently study her office. He walked around, tracing his fingers over the bookshelves and paintings hung over the walls. His eyes drifted back to her, taking in her outfit. “That,” he said, pointing a finger at her, “does not match the place.” Dhruv was the last person she needed to point it out to her. “Doesn’t it?” she pondered, pretending to be unaffected by his words, and walked to her desk, her handbag slipping off her shoulder. “You look very out of place as well. How did you even get in? Did you lose your way?” “I’m just where I want to be,” Dhruv mumbled, low enough almost to go unheard. Then he skeptically looked at the hoodie he was wearing, his lips twisting into a frown. “You want me back in a suit? Are you hoping to make a client out of me?” “One of those things will be very profitable for me,” she claimed, and noticed the twitch of his lips, but before she could see his smile, he looked away. Suddenly, the truth Shan
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 38
[DHRUV] “We’re going shopping together.” Dhruv could not tell if he was surprised by Shanaya’s words. It felt like an odd thing to do, but his sister was going to be a part of the Arora family, so it only seemed fair that they got to know each other better. He briefly recalled that one time when they were too young, Kirti had cut off some of Shanaya’s hair out of jealousy. They were on the playground—babysitting Kirti and Neil—and Shanaya had been too immersed in recounting every moment of her trip to Paris. Then, his little sister had got her hands on a pair of scissors and chopped off a chunk of Shanaya’s freshly dyed hair. He had only realized it when they were walking back home. He had expected Shanaya to lash out at Kirti since she was that sort of person. But instead, Shanaya had appeared in class the next day, flaunting her new short hair. But he had noticed her puffy eyes, although he could not bring herself to ask her about it. “Dhruv?” he heard Shanaya say softly, dr
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 39
Even long after Dhruv had left, Shanaya's heart would not slow down. She paced around the room, taking deep breaths but her hands were trembling slightly, denying her unspoken pleas. She wiped the sweat of her palms over the coarse fabric of her trousers.The lie had come quickly to her mind, but before she realised what an awful one it was, Dhruv had already heard it from her. His reaction on finding out she would be spending time with Kirti had been somewhat unexpected. He did not look happy, but even if he internally opposed the idea, he did a good job of hiding that. “It’s alright,” Shanaya tried to assure herself. Sighing loudly, she slumped back into her chair. “It’s okay. It’s absolutely fine.”She wondered if telling Dhruv the truth would have really been a bad decision because the way she felt after telling that lie was a feeling she did not like. After the events of the previous night, something had changed between them—no matter how much she despised accepting that—in mor
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 40
Sitting across Shanaya in the cafeteria, Kirti giggled again. After buying all the things from Ikea Shanaya was sure she did not need, Kirti had decided to get some pizza. She took Shanaya to a cafe in a remote corner of the city. It was not grand or fancy but it was cozy—just what Shanaya wanted. Now they had been sitting there for two hours, slowly munching on the slices of pizza they had ordered. Kirti slurped her milkshake before sighing. She began, looking into the distance, “I always knew you were cool. Damn, I wish we did this before. I mean, I admired you from afar. And there were times when I was so jealous of you. But now look at us! We’re going to be family soon.”“I can’t wait to welcome you into the family,” replied Shanaya with a smile. She knew she meant what she said. Kirti had always been dear to her. She was her highschool sweetheart’s little sister after all. Kirti smiled back at her, a gleam in her doe eyes. Then it faded all of a sudden, and she sighed loudly.
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 41
One, two, three… breathe. The world was a blur and there was a strange buzzing in Shanaya’s ears. It faded away to silence only to rise in amplitude again. She could hear her heart beating wildly in her chest.You have to breathe. Shanaya turned around the steering wheel and hit the brakes. The hazed traffic light changed from red to green and the car moved again. Kirti was saying something but she could not hear her. She was only thinking about her brother. I can’t lose him, she thought to herself. He’s the only one I have. Somewhere along the way Neil had called again, telling her that Ahail had to be taken to the hospital. Her mind had then begun spiraling, horrid images flashing against her inner eyes. Neil would not tell her what had happened but she could sense that it was something very grave.I can’t lose my only brother. Please, no.She sighed loudly, realizing she was holding her breath again. That was helping her keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks. She straig
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 42
“You scared us,” said Neil, rubbing the sides of his temple. “At least you don’t have a concussion.” Letting out a deep sigh, he slumped into the cold metal chair beside Shanaya. They were seated in the brightly lit waiting room of the hospital and the air was thick with the smell of antiseptic. Shanaya tried to avoid acknowledging the smell. Instead, she pressed the back of her head, the part which was now sore from the recent fall. She had fainted. She had actually fainted.Shanaya recalled the last time it had happened—about eight years ago, on the day of her mother’s funeral. She had put in too much of her to hold back tears and when she could not anymore, she had collapsed. It had been a while since she had regained consciousness. Kirti had then left to get her some coffee, and Suhala was inside the room where Ahail was admitted. And all Shanaya could think of was how she had fainted. Her family had needed her then and instead of being there to support them, she had ended up b
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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
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 26
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
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 25
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
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 22
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
