Epilogue #3
“You see, more than five years ago,” he began, “I watched them meet for the very first time, right here at this hotel during Sheena’s wedding, and I saw the sparks fly.
” He looked at Shauna. “But I knew it wasn’t their time yet.
There were too many obstacles in their path, and the road ahead wasn’t going to be easy.
Akash hadn’t even known about his inheritance then, and I couldn’t tell him because of the conditions placed in the will by his grandfather.
Still, after the wedding, they returned to London, and despite me knowing it wasn’t their time, they grew close.
Shauna let it slip during our phone calls that Akash had become a part of their circle, and I knew…
if they kept walking that path, it would only lead to heartbreak. For both of them.”
From beside her Shauna could see Akash frowning. He looked as confused as she felt. Where was all this going? And how had her grandfather known what they’d felt for each other all those years back?
Her grandfather looked at both of them. “However, a few months later, at Keya’s wedding, Akash overheard Keya and me discussing his inheritance.
He realized that what was meant for him would stand in the way of Shauna’s dream of running Sehgal Media.
So he returned to London and put distance between them.
And that was the beginning of their war.
” He shook his head. “Years passed, and we all watched them circle each other, hiding behind arguments, dislike, and constant conflict. To the world, it looked like they couldn’t stand each other.
But we all knew better. There was always something more beneath it. ”
“Absolutely,” Vir said. “I knew it all along.”
“Tell me about it,” Aditya said dryly. “Sabrina and I witnessed everything firsthand.”
“And yet you didn’t think to tell us about their night in Singapore,” Keya shot back, raising a brow.
From beside Shauna, Akash muttered a curse under his breath. “Fuck… does everyone know about that night now?”
“Gossip never stays with one person in this group,” Kabier said, laughing.
Nirvaan, who was standing closest to them, said, “Looks like your secret is all out in the open.”
Shauna didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her mind was still reeling, trying to make sense of everything happening here.
“Anyway,” her grandfather continued. “After years, Akash was ready to take over his inheritance, and I knew that it would hurt my Shauna. So I did what I could to get them together, standing right here in front of you all as a happily married couple in love.” He smiled as he looked at her.
“The easiest solution for Sehgal Media had always been the two of them running it together. But if I had suggested that at the time, they both would have done the exact opposite. So I changed tactics. I roped in my dear friend, Suveer Malhotra, to help. And he was pivotal to this plan. He’s the reason we’re all standing here celebrating Akash and Shauna. ”
Shauna’s heart lurched as she began to piece everything together.
“Fuck,” Akash swore again. He addressed Janak. “So the board never had to be convinced? It was all a ploy to get us together?”
Janak arched a brow. “I trained you personally to take up the reins of Sehgal Media. If I said you were ready, it meant you were ready. No one would dare defy me.”
“Especially not me,” Suveer Malhotra added from the side. He looked at Akash. “Janak’s one of my oldest friends. There was a time when your late grandfather, Dhiraj, Janak, and I were inseparable. Dhiraj must be proud of Janak and me today.”
Shauna’s mind spun as her entire perspective shifted and realigned.
Her heart swelled as the truth settled in. Her grandfather had always known her. Her heart, her dreams, her deepest desires. And he’d ensured she got everything she’d ever wanted. The man she loved. And the chance to build the life she had always dreamed of… with him. With Akash.
She’d thought her grandfather had been unfair to her, that he had sided with Akash, when all along he’d been on her side, working in the background, nudging her, pushing her, and conspiring to bring her and Akash together.
Her eyes stung. She ran to her grandfather and wrapped her arms around him.
“You are the gift that always keeps giving, and I am so grateful to you. You made me see the light when I was trying so hard not to see it. You showed me the path I was always meant to walk on. By presenting the contract marriage, you showed us how we could work together, how we could be together, and along the way, we found our way back to each other. I don’t know how to thank you for that. ”
He kissed her forehead. “My dear girl. Watching you and Akash fall in love with each other again has given me the greatest joy.”
Akash approached them. He, too, gave her grandfather a hug. “Thank you for knowing my heart. Everything I am is because of you.”
Janak gripped his shoulder. “You are the very best, and I am proud of you. Both of you.”
Akash cleared his throat and took the mic from him, addressing the crowd. “I suppose it now makes sense that none of you opposed the marriage even once.”
“Of course,” Sameer said. “After Rhea found out that you two had agreed to a contract marriage, she came to us and insisted that we let you do it.”
“I saw you both together that night when you announced your engagement to Jiya and me,” Rhea added. “And I knew we had to allow this to happen. We had to give you space and let this play out. And see, here we are.”
Shauna’s eyes found her twin, who gave her a beaming smile. Rhea was truly the other half of her soul. She loved her so much.
“What I didn’t understand,” Keya added, “was why Janak would propose a contract marriage between you two when he’s the one who’s nudged all of us toward finding love with the right person.
So, before you announced your engagement to us, Shauna’s parents, Kabier, Sameer, Raashi, Rishi, Mehak, and I confronted Janak, and he finally told us everything—his entire plan. ”
“I was, of course, apprehensive,” her father said, looking at her. “You are one of my youngest. My most precious one. But I believed in my father, and for you… I was willing to take a chance. And someone had to show some disapproval when you made the announcement.”
Her mother stepped forward. “And then we saw you both together at Keya’s house when you announced your engagement. You both couldn’t take your eyes off each other, and that’s when your dad and I knew this was meant to be.”
She swallowed past the thickness in her throat and mouthed, Love you, to her parents. Her mom blew her a kiss, while her father simply beamed with pride. Happiness surged through her at learning how her whole family had rooted for her and Akash to be together.
And then a sudden thought struck her. She turned to her grandfather. “That night at Keya’s anniversary party, you kept calling Akash and me. You did that on purpose, right?”
Janak nodded. “Yes. I saw how you both were looking at one another. I saw you run away from him. I saw him follow you. I didn’t want you making a mistake or crossing a line before you learned of his inheritance.
” He rolled his eyes. “Little did I know that line had already been crossed once before.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks as laughter and teasing broke out around her.
Akash lowered his chin. “Then I’d like to thank each and every one of you standing here tonight for being there for Shauna and me.”
He smiled, looking at Shauna. “On the night of Sheena’s reception, Kabier said some words that stayed with me, so tonight I’d like to repeat them again: love is indeed a powerful promise. And I am so happy to make that promise to you.”
Shauna smiled, her heart almost bursting with the love and happiness she felt tonight.
Janak took the mic from him. “Finally, all my grandchildren are married, and I can finally hang up my old boots.”
“Oh God, he’s using the old word again,” Jiya groaned aloud.
“He only uses that when it’s convenient for him,” Rishi added.
Chuckles rippled around them.
Janak smiled. “Let’s all enjoy this reception and celebrate Akash and Shauna.”
He tipped his head toward the deejay, who immediately launched into a happy, playful song. Several couples began making their way to the dance floor.
Akash gave him a grateful nod before taking her hand. “Come with me.”
He quickly led her across the room to where Suveer Malhotra was standing, surrounded by his grandchildren, all of whom were wearing wide smiles.
She could hardly believe Suveer’s role in all this. All this time, he hadn’t just been an adversary… he’d been part of the plan. He’d been instrumental in pushing her and Akash together, forcing them to stand on the same side, to work against him, and in doing so… toward each other.
Reaching him, she gave him a hug. “Thank you so much.”
He patted her head. “All I want is for all you youngsters to find happiness in life.”
Akash leaned down to touch his feet. “Thank you, Uncle. What you did… it means the world.”
“We are so proud of him,” Dheer said.
Amara linked her arm through her grandfather’s. “You are quite the actor. You played your part so convincingly.”
Suveer chuckled. “Where do you think Vir gets his acting genes from?”
“Definitely from you,” Vir replied with a grin. Then, turning to Shauna and Akash, he added, “We’re getting champagne to celebrate our wily grandfathers getting the better of all of us.”
Akash smiled. “You go ahead. We’ll join you shortly. I need a moment with my wife.”
Shauna watched as the Malhotra siblings moved toward the bar with their grandfather, laughter trailing behind them.
Akash caught her by the waist and pulled her flush against his chest. “I still can’t believe they all conspired to bring us together.”
She cupped his cheek. “They believed we were meant to be together… even before we did.”
“Thank God for Janak and for our family and friends,” Akash said.