Chapter 19
“So… yes. Shauna and I are getting married.”
His words settled over the room.
Akash knew this was the point of no return.
He took in the faces of all the people gathered around him and Shauna in his sister Keya’s house, watching as his words slowly sank in.
After discussing with Rhea and Jiya, he and Shauna had decided to tell their families in this way.
All at once. Together. So they could answer all the questions, and face whatever came next side by side.
Five days after meeting with Rhea and Jiya, he’d texted Keya early that morning, asking her to organize a family dinner that evening and to invite everyone from Shauna’s side. Keya, though clearly curious about the sudden request, had agreed without hesitation.
He stood next to Shauna now, their shoulders almost touching, both of them watching the room as the silence stretched on
Keya sat on the sofa facing them, her legs crossed, her expression thoughtful. Kabier lounged beside her, relaxed but alert, his eyes flicking between Akash and Shauna with open curiosity.
Shauna’s parents sat together on the sofa next to them, their expressions… Blank? Shocked? He wasn’t exactly sure what they were thinking. Their faces gave nothing away.
Shauna’s brothers, Sameer and Rishi, exchanged a look with their wives, before turning toward Rhea, who was sitting composed as ever. Nirvaan stood behind her, a slight grin on his face, which showed that he’d already known this was coming. Of course, he had. Rhea would have told him.
Akash looked farther ahead at Janak. He stood slightly apart, his arms folded, his gaze steady. Then he gave Akash a slow, approving nod. Akash had run this plan by him before he’d planned this evening. Janak was, as always, a quiet pillar of support.
But as the silence dragged on, his nerves stretched taut. From his side, he could see Shauna had also stiffened, her lips pressed together as they both awaited their families’ verdict.
“As long as you’ve both thought it through, I’m good with it,” Keya said, finally breaking the silence. She gave them a small smile.
Sameer nodded. “Yeah. We only want you both to be happy. If this marriage is the right way forward, you have my support.”
“Mine too,” Rishi added without hesitation.
“I’m happy to hear this,” Kabier said. “It seems like the right thing to do.”
Akash blinked.
Wait, what? That was it?
He hadn’t expected them to accept this so easily. He turned to Shauna, who was staring back at him, looking just as stunned as he felt.
“That’s it?” Akash asked, looking at all of them in turn. “You’re not going to say anything else? None of you have questions? Objections? You’re okay with Shauna and me wanting to have a contract marriage?”
“What do you want us to say?” Keya folded her hands in her lap.
“You’re both adults, and obviously you’ve put a lot of thought into this.
Also, it’s clear you need one another to silence the board.
” Her gaze softened as it moved between them.
“I’m good with it as long as you both understand that this marriage doesn’t stop at the company or the boardroom.
It extends to your home as well, even if it’s only for five years. ”
“You’ll be living together, like you said, trying to build a life,” Shauna’s mother, Rita Sehgal, said gently. “That won’t be easy, given your history with each other.”
Raashi leaned forward, deadpan. “Yes. My only request is… please don’t kill one another. That will be very messy for the rest of us.”
Laughter rippled through the room.
Akash still couldn’t believe none of them were raising objections. He’d come prepared to face their questions and calm their worries. But this had been too easy.
Shauna’s father, Jai Sehgal, raised a finger, and everyone quietened. He looked at Shauna. “I know you’ve always wanted Sehgal Media. Are you certain this is the right way to achieve that?”
“I’m sure,” Shauna answered firmly.
Her father’s expression sharpened. “I’d like to read the contract you’ve signed.”
Shauna groaned. “Dad, it’s already done. We’re doing this.”
They’d finished all the signing formalities just that morning, with Janak present. He’d promised to stand by them in front of the family. But by the looks of it, his intervention wasn’t required.
“I’m not against it,” her father said calmly. “I just want to know what my little girl has gotten herself into without discussing it with me.”
Akash met his gaze. “I’m happy for you to make any changes you want, Sir.”
Her father nodded once. “Good. I’ll hold you to that if it comes to it.”
“Dad,” Shauna said again, softer this time. “I need your support.”
She crossed the small distance and kissed her father on the cheek.
“You have it,” he said. “You have all our support.”
Kabier clapped his hands together. “Well then. This calls for champagne. We’re going to have a wedding soon.”
He stood and disappeared down the hall, while Akash still stood there, feeling stunned.
Kabier returned with a bottle of champagne, a maid following close behind with a tray of flutes. He popped the cork with a practiced flick and began passing the glasses around himself.
Once everyone had one, he lifted his own and grinned at the two of them. “To Akash and Shauna,” he said warmly. “May this marriage give you a lot of strength, a truckload of patience, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.”
Glasses were raised, and the toast was echoed back. Soon, everyone resumed talking. Dates and venues were being discussed. Someone was already arguing about guest lists. Plans were forming at alarming speed.
Shauna moved closer to him. “Of all the scenarios I painted in my head, I hadn’t expected this.”
“This was too easy, wasn’t it?” Akash said, sipping from his glass.
She chuckled. “Don’t sound so suspicious. Let’s accept this as our good fortune. I’m glad they are on our side and have made it so easy for us to do this.”
“Yeah, but—”
She pressed her fingers against his mouth. “No buts. Take the win. The road ahead isn’t going to be easy. You and I living together… every day? Seeing each other at work and at home?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I really hope I don’t end up killing you.”
He caught her hand before she could pull it away, lifting it slowly. He pressed a kiss to the center of her palm.
Her eyes flared, and her lips parted on a soft exhale.
“If that’s the risk,” he murmured, “then I’ll consider it worth it.” His thumb brushed over her knuckles. “Besides, I’ve always had a weakness for dangerous women. And you are the most dangerous of all.”
Her breath faltered. The air seemed to thicken, charged with everything they’d never said out loud.
When she looked back up at him, there was confusion there, yes, but also raw and unmistakable want.
And for once, she wasn’t hiding what she felt from him.
She was openly showing him that she wanted him.
That hit him harder than he’d expected. There was an unguarded vulnerability in her eyes now. It mirrored exactly what he was feeling. His heart stuttered. This pull between them wasn’t new. It was old. Familiar. Like something that had been waiting patiently for them to stop resisting it.
When she touched his cheek, his breath slowed. The warmth of her palm grounded him even as his pulse kicked up.
“What is happening between us, Akash?” she asked softly. “Why now?”
“We’ve been circling each other for years,” he said quietly, leaning into her touch. “We kept choosing to fight.” His thumb brushed over her wrist. “Perhaps the timing was wrong before. But now, it feels… right.”
Her lips parted on a soft exhale.
“I want to go on a date with you,” he added quietly.
“A date?” Shauna echoed, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Yes.” He held her gaze steadily. “We’ve spent too much time fighting. Let’s see what happens when you and I are alone and not fighting.”
She looked away briefly, her teeth catching her lower lip.
He eased it free with his thumb. “I promise not to be too naughty.”
“Maybe I like it when you’re naughty.”
It was his turn to be shocked.
Fuck. Shauna was flirting with him, and he liked it a lot.
His thumb lingered at the corner of her mouth, unable to help himself. “Then I promise to be very naughty.”
Something hot and charged passed between them.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening after work,” he said. “Let’s do dinner.”
“A date on a Monday night,” she chuckled. “Will you be able to get away from work on time?”
“For you, I will make time.”
His thumb continued to stroke the corner of her lips. She didn’t pull away. If anything, she stepped closer.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Janak approaching. Akash stepped back from her, turning to face him fully. Janak clinked his flute against each of theirs.
“I’m happy you’re both doing the right thing,” he said with a smile. “It’s wise that you’ve chosen to put your differences aside and think beyond yourselves.”
Shauna returned his smile. Her eyes met Akash’s, warmth softening her features before she sighed. “We’re going to try to make this work.”
Around them, their families continued to discuss their wedding. Shauna’s mother was debating colors with Keya. Raashi was listing down venues in a notepad. Goa, Mumbai, Delhi… so many destinations were being tossed around.
Shauna laughed under her breath. “I should probably tell everyone that I don’t want a big, loud wedding. Just a small ceremony followed by a reception. That’ll do.”
Janak frowned. “I thought you always wanted a loud wedding.”
She shrugged, her tone calm, almost detached. “This is a contract marriage. It’s not forever.”
“It’s for however long we both want it to be,” Akash cut in smoothly.
As the words left his mouth, a quiet truth settled in his chest. He was going to try—really try—to make this real. But even so, the reality remained. This might not be forever.
Still, that didn’t stop him from saying, “Shauna, if it’s alright with you, I want to get married at Sehgal Plaza in Goa. By the beach.”
She frowned. “Why?”
He shrugged. “It’s a beautiful venue.”
She watched him for a moment, then nodded and made her way to the others. Almost immediately, she was pulled into discussions and opinions and plans. Akash stayed where he was, watching her.
This marriage might not be forever. And yet…
God, he was such a fool for wanting to marry her in the very place where he had first seen her. Nothing had been the same for him since then. She’d always been the storm he’d never been able to outrun, and now he wanted to stop running. He wanted to allow himself to be swept away by her.
Shauna’s eyes met his, and she gave him a smile. His own lips curved in response.
In the background, Janak cleared his throat.
Akash blinked and turned to him. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”
“Thinking,” Janak repeated dryly, “or staring at your fiancée?”
“I wasn’t staring at her,” Akash said quickly.
Janak’s lips twitched. “It’s alright. She is going to be your wife.”
Shauna’s eyes found him again, and something sharp and possessive curled in his chest.
Wife.
Shauna Sehgal was going to be his wife. His.
Janak cleared his throat again, this time laughing.
“It’s not whatever you’re thinking,” Akash protested a little too fast.
“And yet you can’t stop looking at her,” Janak said. “Strange, really. You’ve both spent years being at odds, and now that you’re getting married, neither of you can seem to look away. Maybe this marriage will be good for you.”
“It’s only for five years,” Akash said. “You’ve read the contract.”
“I also know you want more.”
From across the room, Shauna’s gaze drifted back to Akash, lingering.
“Maybe she does too,” Janak said softly. He clasped Akash’s shoulder. “Whatever happens from here on, move forward together. Relationships don’t work without compromise. Without both of you giving in at times. Be kind to each other. And forgive one another.”
Akash nodded, the weight of the words settling in. “Thank you. I’ll try.”
Janak nodded once, satisfied. “Come on. Let’s join the others. It’s your marriage too. You should have a say in what they’re planning.”
Smiling, Akash moved forward with him to rejoin the group. He was immediately drawn into the wedding planning. He looked around, a feeling of happiness settling quietly inside him.
They had just told their families they were getting married. And somehow, instead of the chaos he’d expected, everyone was celebrating.
Maybe, just maybe, this would work out after all.