Epilogue #2
All of their family and friends were with them, celebrating them tonight.
Keya, Kabier, Raashi, Sameer, Rithwik, Aisha, Nirvaan, Rhea—they were all here tonight.
He’d met Shauna too. Rohan and Jiya had flown in from Delhi, along with Rithwik’s parents.
Rishi and Mehak were here too with their newborn daughter, Ruhaani.
Even Diya and VJ were there with their newborn son, Reyansh.
She’d given birth only a few weeks ago, but nothing could have kept her from joining their celebrations.
He was truly delighted all his friends were here—some had come all the way from Dubai.
Sabrina’s brothers and their women, Rajiv, Sheena, the Rajpoots and the Luthras.
But hang on, where was Akash? He scanned the crowd, finally spotting him with Janak Sehgal. Akash was extremely capable, and soon he’d be leaving Aditya to intern with Dev Luthra in Dubai. His heart was bubbling with joy to see all his friends here.
A small hand rested on his arm, and Aditya looked down with a smile.
Ahaan stood beside him, dressed exactly like him in a dark grey suit with a charcoal grey shirt and tie.
His dark hair was neatly combed, his eyes bright with excitement.
He looked strikingly handsome. This kid was going to break so many hearts when he grew up, and Aditya was thrilled that he would be there at every step to guide him and watch him grow into a fine young man.
“Are you having a good time?” he asked Ahaan.
“I’m having the best time,” Ahaan said, his eyes focused in front of him where his friend Neil was playing with Maya. Then his eyes drifted to Sabrina. “My mom looks beautiful.”
Aditya followed his gaze and felt his heart rumble. “She’s the most beautiful woman here tonight.”
“Mom’s so happy to be with her brothers,” Ahaan said. “They’re all great, and my aunts are cool too.”
Aditya smiled.
“Uncle Mihir said that I can spend all my vacations with them in Dubai. Can I?”
Something tightened behind his ribs. Ahaan was looking at him not just as his mother’s husband, but as someone whose approval mattered to him. He was so grateful to earn this boy’s trust.
“If your mom agrees, I think that is a wonderful idea,” he said gently. “You’ll have an amazing time.”
Ahaan grinned before taking Aditya’s hand in his. “I want to say thank you.”
“For what?” Aditya asked, puzzled.
“For making my mom so happy,” Ahaan stated simply. “She wasn’t happy, you know. Before you. She never told me, but I understood.”
The words hit him in the center of his chest. He tightened his hold on Ahaan’s hand.
Fighting the sting in his throat, he said, “I promise I’ll keep her happy always.”
Ahaan hesitated, then looked up, his voice barely above a whisper. “Now that you and Mom are married, can I… can I call you Dad?”
“Yes…” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I am your dad. And you are my son.”
Ahaan’s face lit with a shy smile.
“I love you, Dad,” Ahaan said slowly.
Happiness burst through Aditya’s chest. He pulled Ahaan into a tight hug. “I love you too, my son.”
“Dad,” Ahaan repeated, as if testing the word again, before darting off toward Neil and Maya, whooping in joy. Aditya watched him go, his heart full in a way he’d never known before.
“You’re so good with him.”
Aditya turned to see Rithwik standing behind him, Keya and Raashi flanking his sides.
“He’s a good kid,” Aditya replied.
“And you’re going to be a great father,” Keya said, rising on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I like that you’re smiling.”
Raashi was next to give him a hug. “Seeing you happy makes us happy.”
“You’re finally married,” Rithwik said, patting his back. They all turned to look at Sabrina.
“You both are perfect for each other,” Keya said. “It’s like she’s calmed your restless streak.”
“And you’ve brought a spark to her that was never there,” Raashi added. “Look at her, she’s glowing.”
Aditya smiled. He’d always wanted a woman who would fit naturally with his friends and his family, and Sabrina had done exactly that. She’d always sat at the periphery of their circle, but now she fit right in. He watched as Sabrina’s attention shifted to him, and then she began to walk toward him.
Leaving his friends, he went to her.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said, on reaching her.
“Hello, handsome. You look happy.”
“You make me happy.” He took her hands in his. “And the fact that in a few hours it’s just going to be you and me… all alone again. I’m not letting you get out of bed for days.”
She laughed, the sound hitting him straight in the center of his chest, as always.
“I can’t wait either,” she said softly. She looked at Ahaan. “What was he telling you?”
“I like that you can’t get your eyes off me.”
She smirked. “Answer my question.”
“Ahaan asked if he could call me Dad…” he replied. “I said yes, obviously. And he said he loves me.”
Her eyes widened before they glimmered with joy. “Really?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Sabrina, I’d like to officially adopt him and give him my name. He will be my heir, after all.”
She gasped. “Oh my God, you can’t mean that.”
He frowned. “Till date, have you ever heard me say something I don’t mean?”
“But… but, what about the children we might have together?”
He tilted his head, a smile tugging at his mouth. “Do you want more kids, beautiful?”
Her cheeks flushed. “Yes, maybe in a year or so, if that’s what you want too.”
They’d never spoken about having kids before, and truth be told, he hadn’t considered having another child. Ahaan had already filled a space in his heart he hadn’t known was empty. But the idea of a baby with Sabrina stirred something deep and fierce inside him.
Seeing the crease of worry on her brow, he touched her cheek. “Hey, don’t look like that. I’d love a child with you—and everything that comes with it. But Ahaan will always be my first child. I’ll share everything equally between my children. Always.”
She stared at him, her eyes wide in shock. And then, she smiled. “Just when I think I can’t love you more, you prove me wrong.”
His heart swelled. He cupped her face, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone and whispered, “I love you.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I love you too.”
As if on cue, the music shifted to a slower, richer rhythm.
He extended his hand. “Come dance with me.”
Sabrina slid her fingers into his. As he led his beautiful wife to the dance floor, a quiet thrill unfurled through him, carrying him back to that night in Singapore when he’d first asked her to dance.
He hadn’t known then that that one night and that one dance would alter the course of his life.
He hadn’t known that he’d find his forever, but now, with her in his arms, he couldn’t imagine life any other way.
Janak Sehgal smiled, watching Aditya and Sabrina dance.
At Rohan and Jiya’s wedding, when Aditya had showed up with Kanika on his arm, Janak had wondered if perhaps he’d lost his edge.
But now seeing him with Sabrina, he was glad to know that his matchmaking radar was still intact.
He’d always believed Sabrina could give Aditya the stability he needed.
That she could curb his restless soul, and it looked like she had.
And Sabrina… The inherent sadness in her eyes wasn’t there anymore. It was a happy day indeed.
He looked at the crowd. All his grandchildren were here, as were their friends. He was fortunate to see them happy and thriving. So many had families of their own. He ought to be satisfied now. The time was coming close for him to hang up his boots and relax.
He sighed. Soon, but not yet. There was still one grandchild left to see happy. His eyes zeroed in on his beautiful granddaughter, Shauna. She was standing to the side, talking to Keya and Raashi.
In his eyes, there was only one man perfect for his dearest Shauna. Unfortunately, he was also the one man she seemed to detest with all her heart.
But that wasn’t the only problem he was going to face with her.
God only knew how she’d react when she learned the truth about Sehgal Media.
Shauna believed it would one day be hers, certain that Janak would leave it to her to run.
But lately she’d seen the shift. Akash was being drawn deeper into the business, mentored and guided, quietly shaped for a leading role in Sehgal Media.
He knew she resented it and Akash for this.
But there was nothing he could do to change her perception.
His hands had been tied for too long by a promise he’d made to an old friend.
A promise that involved Akash. He sighed.
In this game of life, whichever way he moved the pieces on the chessboard, the Queen would have to be sacrificed to ensure the King got what was rightfully his. His chest tightened.
Oh, Shauna. He didn’t want her to feel betrayed and hurt, yet that was exactly what was going to happen, and soon.
He studied her from afar. She was now talking to her twin Rhea, but every few minutes her eyes drifted to the right to…
Akash. His mouth twitched. It was this quiet, almost unconscious fixation on Akash that kept Janak hopeful.
An idea took shape in his mind. Perhaps there was one last move he could make to ensure the Queen survived along with the King. To ensure they won together. He smiled, feeling his heart settle as a strategy formed in his head.
He chuckled. He still had a few tricks up his old sleeves, and this last one might be his most reckless—or his most brilliant. Either way, it was a gamble he fully intended to win.
Akash and Shauna’s time would come soon. If all went well, he’d be celebrating another happy event like tonight. Smiling, he returned to his grandchildren. He had so much to look forward to now.
THE END