Chapter 24
Three days. It had been three whole days since he’d last spent any real time with Shauna, since that night when everything between them had shifted, when they had finally stopped holding back and chosen each other completely.
Akash pressed a hand to the back of his neck, finally shutting his laptop.
His days had been relentless as always. One thing kept bleeding into another until suddenly the day was gone.
He knew Shauna had been just as caught up.
Work had kept her occupied through the day, and by evening, the women in her family had claimed her time entirely, whisking her off for endless rounds of wedding shopping.
While she hadn’t managed to spend any real time with him, she texted often, stopping by his office for a few minutes, or he would find his way to hers.
They stole moments where they could, before being pulled back into their demanding days.
And he cherished those brief pockets of time.
She’d tell him about work, about her evenings, and listen as he spoke about his.
Somehow, those small conversations had become the highlight of his day.
He sighed. Shauna Sehgal had, far too quickly, become too damn important to him. And today had only driven that home.
He’d barely seen her, just a few hurried minutes in between schedules before they were both pulled into a senior editorial meeting with the news team.
They’d spent hours discussing the programming strategy for the coming week.
But all through it, he’d been aware of her.
Aware that she’d already been watching him.
His heart had thundered in his chest when he’d seen the need in her eyes…
for him. He’d been distracted from that moment onward.
It didn’t help that when she stood up to present, he had to actively drag his attention back to the discussion.
To the numbers, the projections, and the strategy she was laying out.
Because his mind had other ideas. Like the way that gray dress fit her just a little too well, and how it would feel to strip it from her body.
Fuck, he had to force himself to listen to her.
But now a restless need had settled under his skin.
He wanted her badly. He wanted her wholly to himself without interruptions, without people watching, without work pulling them apart.
It had been too long since he’d touched her, inhaled her sexy scent, or even kissed her properly.
His grip tightened slightly on the edge of the table. He needed her alone soon.
He let out a deep breath.
Oh God. What was happening to him? What spell had this woman woven around him that he simply couldn’t get enough of her.
He pulled out his phone and typed out a text to her.
Need alone time with you. Tonight?
Shauna
I can’t. Jiya is in town, and I’m having a girls’ night with Rhea and her.
You’re ignoring me, Shauna.
Shauna
You’ll live.
Not sure about that. Come home later after your night out.
Shauna
Okay. I miss you too. You promised to do bad things to me the next time we were alone. I’ll hold you to it.
His heart thundered in his chest as he read her reply.
Fuck. Now he was imagining all the ways he’d make her scream tonight.
Shauna
LOL. Stop dreaming.
What did you expect?
Shauna
I want to do so much to you too. It’s been too damn long. Tonight for sure. Gotta go now.
A smile curved his lips as he thought of the night ahead. The thought of having her all to himself sent a quiet, unmistakable thrill through him.
His phone buzzed again. It was his group chat with his friends.
Nirvaan
Our girls are meeting tonight, which means we’re doing a boys’ night. I won’t take no for an answer.
Rohan
Oh, and be ready for an interrogation. You owe it to all of us.
A small smile tugged at his lips as his fingers moved over the screen.
Rohan, you’re in town? That’s great. Vir & Dheer?
Dheer
We’ll be there too.
Armaan, you need to come to Mumbai soon. It’s been a while.
Armaan
Too long a while. You announced your engagement on group text
Sorry, it’s been crazy.
Dheer
That’s a shitty excuse.
Rohan
More on this tonight. Armaan, we’ll keep you posted and yes, try and come soon.
Can I request you all to be nice?
Vir
No chance in hell.
Akash smiled. He was looking forward to the evening ahead.
Nirvaan and Rohan had been close for years, and Akash had fallen into that circle naturally during his time in Delhi, when he’d interned with Rohan.
Luckily, during that same time, Vir had been in Delhi shooting for a film under his family’s production house, which meant Dheer was in and out of the city as well.
The four of them had ended up meeting often, and somewhere along the way, they’d developed a solid friendship.
And Armaan… Akash had met him on his very first night in Dubai. Dev Luthra and his wife, Avantika, had hosted a dinner at their home to welcome him, and Armaan had been there with his family.
They had started talking, and something had simply…
clicked. After that, Armaan had made sure Akash was never alone.
He would call, drop by, or drag him out almost every day.
He’d effortlessly woven himself into Akash’s life, and before long, he’d become a cherished friend.
Family. Just like all these men in this group were to him.
Dheer, Vir, Nirvaan, and Rohan would visit him once a month in Dubai, or Akash would fly back to India to see them.
On one of those visits, he’d brought Armaan along.
And just like that, their circle had expanded.
With his easy charm, natural charisma, quiet kindness, and that mischievous streak, Armaan had fit in naturally with them.
In fact, Vir and Armaan together were a riot.
Akash smiled, thinking of his friend. Damn, he missed Armaan.
He sighed. It had been too long since they’d all been in the same city at the same time. Since taking over Sehgal Media, he’d barely had a chance to spend time with those of them in Mumbai, let alone make a dash to Dubai.
While Dheer and Vir were already up to speed on his life, Nirvaan and Rohan would have questions, especially about his engagement to Shauna. Given how close their girls were, they probably knew more than he realized, but still… he owed it to them to tell them himself.
Gathering his things, he slipped his laptop into his bag, excited about the evening with his friends. Just as he was about to leave, his landline rang.
He paused, frowning slightly, then reached over and picked it up. “Yes?”
“Hello, sir, this is Mala from reception,” the woman said, a hint of hesitation in her voice. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but there’s someone here insisting on meeting you.”
“At this hour?” he asked, glancing at his watch.
“Yes, sir. He says it’s important.”
Akash leaned back against the desk, his tone sharpening just a fraction. “Did he have an appointment?”
“No, sir. And I told him that,” the woman clarified. “But he says he’s your father.”
For a fraction of a second, Akash didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. The words landed slowly. Heavily.
Fuck. His father was here?! His grip on the receiver tightened.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” Mala replied. “He insisted I tell you that and allow him up.”
A muscle ticked in his cheek. Of course he insisted. His father had returned after decades and expected him to jump at his command. Bloody fucking hell.
Akash closed his eyes, steadying himself, all his previous calm shattered under the weight of this. He opened them again, his mind already made up. He needed answers to protect the people he loved from this man, and what better way to get them than from the man himself?
When he spoke again, his tone was controlled. Deliberate.
“Don’t send him up. I’m coming down.”
He placed the receiver back slowly and typed out a quick message to VJ and Kabier, informing them about this.
A cold, steely resolve settled in his chest as he took the elevator downstairs. He stepped out into the lobby, scanning the area. And then he saw him. Standing near the reception.
Keval Karia was older, leaner. His face was etched with hard lines.
His clothes looked old and worn. But there was a strength to him that hadn’t been there before.
Prison had clearly hardened him, not broken him.
No wonder he could still climb trees like a man half his age to trespass into Akash’s house.
He turned, and his eyes met Akash’s. His father held his gaze, unflinching.
A stone dropped into Akash’s stomach. For a second, he was swept back in a tide of old memories. All the pain and anger that this man had caused his family rose to the surface. His hands curled at his sides. He exhaled and moved forward to meet this ghost from his past.
“You took your time,” Keval said, his voice harsh.
Akash moved to the side, forcing the other man to follow him. Only once they were sufficiently at a distance from anyone listening did Akash speak.
“What do you want?” Akash asked, keeping his tone neutral. He would never allow this man to know how much he affected him.
“You’ve done well,” his father said, studying him calmly. “Being the head of Sehgal Media suits you.”
Akash’s expression didn’t change. “Have you come here to compliment me?”
A faint, almost imperceptible shift passed through the older man’s face. “No,” he said.
Silence stretched between them again, heavier this time. Akash waited. He wasn’t going to make this easy.
His father studied him for a moment longer, then spoke. “You and your sister have both done well from what I’ve read. She’s a Sehgal now.”
This was the one thing he’d been worried about: his father learning about Keya and him through the internet. And of course, as expected, he had. But this… him showing up here in person… that was something Akash hadn’t seen coming at all.
Akash’s jaw tightened. “What do you want?”
A pause.
“I want my children back. My grandchildren…”
Akash’s blood ran cold, but he kept his gaze on him.
“You lost the right to all of us a long time ago. Keya and I want nothing to do with you. So I’m asking you for the last time…
what do you want? And I don’t believe for one minute that you want anything to do with us, not after everything you did in the past. Not after you abandoned us the way you did. ”
“And that was my biggest mistake.”
“I’m sure it was,” Akash retorted. “You’d probably have asked our grandfather for more money in retrospect.”
Something sharp flickered in the older man’s gaze. “Don’t talk to me like that. I am still your father.”
Akash barked out a laugh. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.”
Keval stepped forward. “I regret how I left things with you and Keya. I really do. I’ve made many mistakes. Please, I need to make amends.”
“Make amends?” Akash scoffed. “Funny how that thought comes to you after spending years in prison for murdering someone.”
His father didn’t react immediately, but something in his eyes shifted. Something more difficult to read. “How do you know about that? Have you been keeping tabs on me?”
Akash rolled his eyes. “I want nothing to do with a convicted criminal like you. Neither does Keya. Do not contact me again. Do not try to get in touch with her.”
“Please, Akash,” his father pleaded. “Give me a chance to explain. I was wrongly convicted. I killed that man in self-defense.”
“I don’t care,” Akash shot back, his patience snapping. “Listen to me carefully. Leave Keya and me alone. We want nothing to do with you. And the next time you try to walk in here unannounced, security won’t even let you past the gate.”
His father stilled, shock flashing across his face. “Akash, please listen—”
“—you have thirty seconds to leave, or I will call security.”
His father’s expression tightened. “This is not over.”
That look on his face... There he was. The man from his childhood.
His violence and his sharp edges were no longer hidden behind desperate pleas and hollow regret. Akash tipped his head to the security guard who had been watching him all along. His father saw the man approach, and without another word, he turned and walked away.
Akash let out a long breath, the tension draining from him all at once. The encounter had taken more out of him than he’d expected. For a moment, he just stood there, feeling exhausted. But at least it was done.
At least now… maybe they could finally put him behind them.
Maybe this was the end of him trying to force his way back into their lives.