Epilogue #2
"Clearly." Abhinav glanced between them, taking in the easy intimacy, the way Vikram's thumb stroked her hand absently, the way Divya leaned slightly toward him without seeming to realize it. "She's still here, which means the grand gesture actually paid off."
"She's stuck with me now," Vikram said with unmistakable satisfaction. "Made sure the whole world knew it."
"Subtle as always," Raghav muttered.
"Subtlety is overrated," Vikram shot back. "You should try grand gestures sometime."
"I planned an entire week of anonymous gifts and a Valentine's Day reveal," Raghav protested. "That was plenty grand."
"Anonymous gifts that she figured out were from you by day seven," Vikram pointed out. "Very mysterious."
"Not all of us need an audience of millions," Ishani threw a napkin at Vikram.
The easy banter continued through lunch.
Abhinav traded familiar jibes with both brothers, the kind that came from years of friendship.
He discussed business casually with Harshit, asked Kavita about the foundation's latest projects with genuine interest, matched wits with Ishani like they'd known each other for years.
Divya watched, fascinated by the dynamics.
"So, Abhinav," Harshit said, setting down his fork with the deliberate air of someone getting to business. "Raghav mentioned you're planning to relocate to India?"
"Temporarily." Abhinav's easy expression shifted, something complicated flickering beneath. "Dad left me an estate in Jaipur. The family seat, as it were."
"The Singh haveli," Kavita said warmly. "I remember your father talking about it. Such history."
"Too much history." Abhinav's jaw tightened slightly. "And too much responsibility I didn't ask for."
"You're not keeping it?" Vikram asked, leaning forward with interest.
"I have a life in Dubai. A career. A bungalow overlooking the Marina." His frustration was barely concealed. "I can't just drop everything to play feudal lord in Rajasthan."
"So you're selling," Harshit concluded.
"Trying to." Abhinav ran a hand through his hair. "There's a complication."
"The estate manager," Raghav said, not quite managing to hide his amusement.
"The bane of my existence." Abhinav's tone turned bitter. "My great-great-grandfather hired her family to manage the property. Four generations of Chauhans running the place like they own it."
"They don't own it?" Divya asked.
"They manage it. There's a difference." He turned to her. "Or there should be. The current manager seems to have forgotten that distinction."
"What's his name?" Ishani asked.
"Meera Chauhan. Apparently convinced that she has more right to the estate than I do."
"How is she blocking the sale?" Vikram's business instincts engaged.
"Refused to provide complete documentation.
Delayed every meeting with potential buyers.
Made access to the property nearly impossible.
" Abhinav's frustration was palpable. "I've been trying to handle it from Dubai, but she's ignored every email, dodged every call, and generally made herself as difficult as possible. "
"Hence the move to India," Raghav said.
"For three months. Long enough to deal with her, sell the property, and get back to my actual life." Abhinav's expression hardened with determination. "I'm not letting some estate manager with delusions of ownership stand between me and moving forward."
"Have you met her?" Kavita asked gently. "This Meera?"
"Not in person. Dad handled everything related to the estate." Abhinav's voice softened slightly at the mention of his father. "All I know is what the lawyers have told me, she's rigid, traditional, and completely opposed to any change."
"Maybe she has reasons," Divya ventured.
"Maybe she does." Abhinav's tone suggested he didn't much care. "But reasons don't change facts. I inherited the estate. I have every legal right to sell it. Her job is to manage it until I do."
"Estate managers who've been there for generations usually have strong attachments," Vikram observed. "Might be worth understanding her perspective before going in with all guns blazing."
Abhinav's jaw tightened. "I'm not interested in her perspective. I'm interested in her cooperation."
"That approach always works well," Raghav said dryly.
"It's worked fine in business."
"This isn't business," Kavita said gently. "This is someone's home. Her family has likely served yours for generations."
"Which is exactly why she should respect the family's decisions." Abhinav's frustration was evident. "I'm not trying to be harsh, but I can't let sentiment interfere with practicality."
"When do you leave?" Harshit asked, clearly sensing the need to move on.
"Two weeks. I've arranged short-term housing in Jaipur, close enough to the estate to handle things in person." Abhinav's smile turned rueful. "Though I suspect I'm in for a fight. The woman sounds absolutely immovable."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics like Dubai's oppressive heat, the challenges of filming in the desert, Pista's latest misadventure involving a hotel peacock and a very angry groundskeeper.
That Evening
Divya stood on the hotel balcony, watching the Dubai skyline light up as the sun set. Behind her, she heard the door open and close, then familiar footsteps approaching.
Vikram's arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her back against his chest.
"Tired?" he murmured against her hair.
"A little." She leaned into him. "It's been a long day."
"Your last week as my assistant." His arms tightened. "How does it feel?"
"Terrifying. Exciting. Right." She turned in his arms to face him. "Thank you. For insisting. For believing I could do more."
"You've always been capable of more." His hands settled at her waist. "I just needed you to believe it too."
She thought about the past two months. About finally pursuing her dream of producing. About the projects she'd already started developing. About the freedom to create and not just coordinate.
"I'm going to miss it though," she admitted. "Working with you every day."
"I'll still see you every day." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You're my wife. You're not getting rid of me that easily."
"And the new assistant?"
"Starts next week. Male. Fifty-three years old. Happily married with three kids." His eyes danced. "Thoroughly uninteresting."
She laughed. "You're ridiculous."
"I'm in love." He pulled her closer. "There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"Absolutely." His mouth found hers, kissing her with the casual intimacy of someone who had every right. "One is a character flaw. The other is a choice."
"And which one are you?"
"Both." He grinned against her lips. "Ridiculously in love with my wife."
She kissed him back and with an emotion she still struggled to name. This was beyond love, beyond reverence. Vikram had become a part of her soul.
When they finally broke apart, the Dubai skyline had fully illuminated, casting golden light across the balcony.
"I love you," she said, the words easy now. Natural.
"I love you too." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "My extraordinary wife who still doesn't quite believe how extraordinary she is."
"I'm working on it."
"Good." He pulled her back inside, toward the bed where they'd made love that morning before the shoot. "Because I plan to spend the rest of my life reminding you."
Later That Night - Raghav and Ishani's Suite
Ishani emerged from the bathroom to find Raghav on the balcony, phone in hand, staring at the skyline with an expression she couldn't quite read.
"You okay?" She slid her arms around him from behind.
"Thinking about Abhinav." He set the phone down, turning to pull her against him. "He has no idea what he's walking into."
"The manager? Wait! You researched her."
“Meera Chauhan.” Raghav’s smile held a hint of mischief. “Twenty-eight. Brilliant. Stubborn as hell. Utterly devoted to that estate.”
“And utterly opposed to selling it.”
“Violently opposed.” He laughed softly. “Abhinav thinks he’s dealing with some rigid old woman who’s being difficult. He’s going to show up and find...”
“A beautiful young woman who knows that estate better than he ever will,” Ishani finished. “This is going to be entertaining.”
“Disastrous,” Raghav corrected. “Abhinav’s used to getting his way. Meera’s used to protecting what’s hers. When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object...”
“Fireworks.”
“Or murder.” He kissed her temple. “Should I warn him?”
“Absolutely not.” Ishani grinned. “Some things are better experienced firsthand.”
“You’re terrible.”
“You love me anyway.”
“Unfortunately.” He echoed his brother’s earlier words, smiling at the familiarity of it.
They stood together on the balcony, watching Dubai’s lights, thinking about the friend who was about to have his entire world turned upside down by a woman he’d never met.
Some stories, they knew, were inevitable. Written before the characters had even met.
Abhinav Anand Singh and Meera Chauhan’s story was about to begin.
But for tonight, the Khanna family was complete. Together in Dubai. Celebrating love and new beginnings, and the way life had a habit of giving you exactly what you needed when you least expected it.
The future stretched ahead. Bright and unknown and full of possibility.
Just the way it should be.
THE END