Chapter 38
Dubai
The city was all bright sunlight and shimmering facades.
Glass towers rose like polished steel against a golden sun.
The city pulsed with energy and vibrance.
She now understood why her son had been fascinated by Dubai.
The city had a completely different vibe from Singapore.
Thinking of which, she quickly texted the head instructor at her college that she wouldn’t be able to attend the remainder of the week and that she’d cover up for it in the following month.
She looked out the window again, her fingers clenching and unclenching. They’d just landed in Dubai, and Mihir had sent his car to fetch them from the airport. She sat in the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, her fingers twisting in her lap, her heartbeat escalating with every minute that passed.
During the flight from Singapore, Aditya had filled her in on her brothers.
The rest of the time, she’d read up all the articles she could find online about them.
Fourteen years back, they’d been boys on the threshold of starting their lives.
But now, they were regarded as the most powerful men on the planet, not to mention dangerous.
Life had hardened them in ways she’d never imagined, and now she was going to meet them.
The Rolls-Royce passed through a towering gate, and moments later, a sprawling mansion came into view, with three wings jutting out of it. The car halted in front of the porch, and Aditya stepped outside first. She hesitated. What if they were strangers to her now?
She exhaled, gathering the courage to go outside and meet them.
Aditya leaned back inside, studying her. “Hey, there’s no need to be nervous. It will all be fine, trust me. I’ve requested Rajiv and Sheena to also be here to avoid any awkwardness.”
She gulped.
“Take my hand, beautiful,” Aditya said. “Come, they’re all waiting for you.”
Taking a deep breath, she put her hand in his and stepped out.
Sabrina paused, her gaze sweeping over the people who had gathered to welcome her.
And then she saw them—the three faces she’d been waiting for years to see again.
Her brothers. Happiness and pure relief shone on their faces.
She’d prayed for this day for years. And now they were here—all three of them—right in front of her.
All her hesitation vanished, and before she could think, she was running toward them.
Vedant reached her first, pulling her into a fierce embrace even as tears blurred her vision.
“Vedant!” she cried aloud. She shifted back to study the bespectacled man in front of her “I can’t believe I’m actually seeing you… touching you.”
Vedant drew her into a hug again, his eyes wet. “You’re here. You’re safe. We’re always going to keep you safe. You have nothing to worry about anymore.”
Armaan came to her next, his eyes alight with that familiar glint of mischief she’d longed to see again.
“Hi…” he whispered. “You look all grown up, little sister.”
She chuckled. “But your naughty smile is still the same. I’ve missed you so much.”
Armaan held her close for a long moment, and then she went to Mihir. She threw herself at his chest, hugging him hard. She was alive and well, thanks to him.
“Thank you,” Sabrina said. Tears dripped down her cheeks. “That knife you gave me saved my life more than once. You taught me to defend myself, and because of that, I lived a good life.”
“Hey…” Mihir kissed the top of her head. “You’re my sister. I’d do anything for you. All of us would do anything for you.”
“You look even better than before.” She touched the scar that ran down on one side of his face. “How did this happen? I’ve been thinking about it ever since I saw your pictures in the magazine. It must’ve hurt, didn’t it?”
“It’s a long story, sister,” Mihir said.
“And I can’t wait to hear it,” she said, pulling him in for a hug again.
Then she held her hand out to Armaan and Vedant, wrapping her arms around all three of them at once. Happiness bloomed in her chest. Her circle was finally complete.
“I’m so glad we found each other again,” she said. “I have so much to tell you all.”
“We’d like you to meet some very special women first,” Armaan said with a grin, as he guided her up the steps to a striking woman waiting with a smile on her face. “This is Navya, the love of my life.”
Navya embraced her. “Armaan’s been so worried about you. I’m so glad you’re here now.”
Sabrina returned her smile and then turned as Vedant beckoned her over, his arm around another woman.
“This is Reina,” Vedant introduced. “She saved my life once, and she’s…”
“…the love of your life,” Sabrina finished with a soft laugh, drawing Reina in a hug. “I’m so happy to see you all so happy and in love.”
Finally, she went to Mihir and the woman beside him.
“Hi, Ananya,” Sabrina said, embracing her. “I’ll forever be grateful to you for reuniting me with my brothers.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Ananya said.
Finally, she turned to her friends, Sheena and Rajiv. “God, this is such a small world. Imagine, we’re related now.”
Sheena smiled and gave her a hug. “I missed meeting you for Kush’s birthday party, but I’m so happy to see you here.”
“Come on,” Rajiv said cheerfully, “let’s take the party inside.”
Everyone began to move inside, but Sabrina lingered, waiting for Aditya to catch up with her. She took his hand when he reached her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, squeezing her fingers.
“I’m delighted! Thank you for bringing me here.”
He smiled, taking her inside with him. Everyone was assembled in the living room by the time Aditya and she reached inside. Her brothers exchanged glances with one another when they saw her hand in Aditya’s.
Armaan stepped forward. “Can we talk with you?”
Aditya released her hand and gave her a nod as she followed her brothers to their study. She took a seat and looked around. The room was done in wood, leather, and glass. The rich elegance surrounding her filled her with pride. She was delighted to see how successful her brothers were.
She found all their eyes on her, watching her.
She gave them a smile, and they all sat around her.
Mihir took the seat beside her, and Armaan and Vedant sat on the two armchairs facing them.
An old butler, European, she guessed, entered wheeling in coffee and cake.
Vedant made her a cup and handed one each to their brothers.
Finally, taking his own cup, he took a seat again.
“So, you went with Alexander?” she asked. “How did that happen?”
Mihir began. “Alexander had been talking to me about taking us all back with him to Russia. He wanted to adopt us. But I wanted him to wait till we were eighteen. The orphanage was going to let us go, in any case, and the adoption process would be easier once we were all adults. I told Armaan and Vedant about the plan, but I was waiting until your eighteenth birthday to tell you. You see, I didn’t want Dorab influencing you in any way. ”
Her smile wavered at this, but Mihir was quick to say, “I know it’s all in the past, and perhaps it’s my fault for not telling you earlier. Had I done so, we would never have been separated.”
“It’s not your fault…” She shook her head. “It’s mine for going with Dorab that day. I was so na?ve. So stupid.”
“Will you tell us what happened?” Armaan asked.
She looked at her brothers and told them everything that had happened, starting from when she left the orphanage with Dorab, right up to the point where Rithwik and Raashi had helped her family, changing her life for the better. They heard her patiently, gently asking questions along the way.
“I’ve heard about Rithwik Bali,” Mihir said. “He’s the owner of Fortuna, correct?”
She nodded.
“Then we owe him a debt for looking out for you,” Armaan said.
She laughed. “To be honest, he did it for Aisha. But he’s amazing.”
Vedant nodded. “I’m happy to hear you were surrounded by good people. But your husband and his mother…”
She shook her head. “Ajay has been dead for too long now. I forgave him a long time ago, just like I’ve forgiven my mother-in-law.
She’s the only mother figure I’ve known in my life, and despite her flaws, I do adore her.
And I know now she adores me too. She took me in when I had nothing and no one.
It is thanks to her that I’ve been safe all along. ”
They all nodded, even though their expressions were somber.
“I can’t believe you never returned to Rishikesh because you wanted to keep us safe,” Mihir said.
“At that time, I didn’t know how else to protect you all.
I’d made a mistake, and I didn’t want my brothers to pay for it.
But enough about me,” she chirped. “Look at all of you. How did you all get here? I have been told that the Oshnovs are the richest men in the world. Was it because of Alexander?”
Vedant laughed. “Alexander, it turns out, was a multi-billionaire.”
She gasped. “What?”
He nodded.
“Good God. When Alexander used to come visit us in Rishikesh, he used to have armed men with him. I’d assumed he was rich to support us the way he did, and to visit from Russia as often as he did. But multi-billionaire…” She shook her head. “I hadn’t expected that.”
Armaan took over from Vedant. “We were devastated after you left. We felt betrayed and hurt that you could leave us with just a note. And that too for Dorab!” He shook his head.
“The note said we needn’t look for you, but we searched for you for weeks before we gave up and finally left with Alexander. ”
“Dorab changed the note I’d written for you. My original note said I’d be back in the evening… Anyway, please tell me more about Alexander. I still cannot believe he was so rich.”
“Honestly, even we didn’t know how rich he was until we reached his home,” Mihir said.