Chapter 1 #2
"Shruti!" Myra shrieked, throwing her arms around her. "You are finally back! I have so much gossip to tell you. You wouldn't believe what happened while you were away!"
"Table is ready, everyone! Come eat before the food gets cold!" Kavya called out from the dining room.
The large dining table was overflowing with traditional Indian dishes.
Everyone took their seats around the table.
Raghav sat at the head of the table, with Devendra and Kavya on one side.
Shruti sat on the opposite side, and to her slight surprise, Akhil smoothly took the seat directly across from her.
Vihaan and Myra sat nearby, already whispering and laughing among themselves.
"So, Shruti," Vihaan said, filling his plate with biryani. "Did you bring me any cool souvenirs from your trip, or did you just bring back more stories about mud huts?"
"I brought you a wooden puppet, Vihaan," Shruti smirked. "It reminded me so much of you, hollow and easily controlled by strings."
The entire table burst into laughter. Vihaan gasped in mock offense, holding his hand over his heart. "Unbelievable! Akhil, are you listening to this? She has been back for twenty minutes and she’s already roasting me!"
Akhil casually cut into a piece of chicken on his plate, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "She's not wrong, Vihaan. You do resemble a puppet sometimes."
"Traitor," Vihaan grumbled, though he was grinning.
"Eat properly, Shruti," Akhil commanded gently, pointing his fork at her plate. "You've barely touched your food. You spent the entire car ride complaining that you were starving, and now you’re just playing with your rice."
Shruti shot him a sharp look. "I am eating, Akhil! Stop monitoring my plate like a strict school teacher."
"Someone has to make sure you stay healthy," Akhil replied smoothly, taking a sip of water. "Otherwise, you'll collapse at my hotel tonight, and that would be terrible publicity for the Raheja Group."
"Oh, I see. You only care about your hotel’s reputation!" Shruti shot back teasingly.
"Exactly," Akhil said with a straight face, though his dark eyes sparkled with amusement. "Business always comes first."
"You two argue like an old married couple," Raghav chimed in with a loud laugh, shaking his head as he served himself more curry. "It’s been like this since Shruti was in high school. Some things never change."
Shruti felt a sudden flush of heat creep up her neck at Raghav’s careless comment about a 'married couple.' She quickly looked down at her glass of water, taking a long sip to hide her blush.
Across the table, Akhil’s smile faded slightly.
His dark eyes remained fixed on Shruti, watching the slight crimson flush on her cheeks.
For a quick, split second, the air between them grew thick with a quiet tension, an unspoken charge that didn't go unnoticed by Myra, who sat right beside Shruti and gave her a subtle, knowing nudge with her elbow.
"So, Akhil," Devendra Malhotra spoke up, breaking the brief silence. "How are the preparations for the new Lake Como project going? I heard from my contacts in Italy that you are expanding your resort there."
Akhil turned his attention to Shruti’s father, his posture instantly shifting into that of a formidable billionaire executive.
"Everything is moving according to schedule, Uncle Devendra.
We are renovating a historical villa on the shores of Lake Como.
It will be our flagship luxury property in Europe.
However... we are facing a few stubborn hurdles with local land permits. "
"Hurdles? Or dirty tactics from Reyansh Khanna?" Raghav asked, his tone darkening noticeably.
At the mention of Reyansh Khanna, the mood around the dining table noticeably chilled.
Reyansh Khanna was the head of Khanna Enterprises, a ruthless, cutthroat business rival who had been trying to destroy Akhil’s business empire for years.
Reyansh was known in the corporate world as a predator who used blackmail, political bribes, and illegal threats to get what he wanted.
He loathed Akhil because Akhil continuously outmaneuvered him in high-stakes European real estate deals.
"Reyansh is certainly trying his best to cause trouble," Akhil said calmly, his voice cold and steady. "He has been trying to buy out the local suppliers in Italy to delay our construction. But he won't succeed. I have my team in Lake Como handling it."
"Be careful with him, Akhil," Kavya warned softly, concern etched on her face. "That man has no morals. He will cross any line to win."
"Don't worry, Aunty," Akhil said with a calm, reassuring smile. "Reyansh Khanna is a nuisance, nothing more. I can handle him."
Shruti watched Akhil closely as he spoke.
She admired his absolute fearlessness. No matter how dangerous or complicated a situation became, Akhil Raheja stood like an immovable mountain.
But deep down, she knew that the corporate world in Mumbai could be deadly, and Reyansh Khanna was not a man to be taken lightheartedly.
***
By nine o'clock in the evening, the Malhotra family and their guests had arrived at the Grand Imperial Hotel in South Mumbai.
The hotel was a breathtaking masterpiece of modern architecture blended with classic Indian luxury.
Giant crystal chandeliers hung from high ceilings, reflecting shimmering gold light across polished white marble floors.
A soft classical orchestra played in the background as hundreds of dressed-up guests, billionaires, politicians, celebrities, and socialites, chatted animatedly while drinking expensive champagne.