Chapter 31 A Night of Revelations
The Annual Shergill Business Gala...
One of the most prestigious business events in the country.
Every year...
The nation's biggest industrialists, entrepreneurs, politicians, celebrities, and influential personalities gathered under one roof.
For many...
It was a celebration.
For others...
It was a battlefield hidden behind expensive smiles.
---
Rathore Mansion
The mansion buzzed with unusual excitement.
Servants hurried through the hall carrying garment bags and accessories while the women finalized their jewelry.
Savitri looked around with satisfaction.
"It has been a long time since our whole family attended an event together."
Rajveer smiled.
"Let's hope tonight is peaceful."
Riya immediately grinned.
"Peaceful? With Karan attending? Impossible."
Everyone laughed.
Karan simply shook his head.
"I haven't even done anything."
"Exactly," ayaan replied dramatically. "That itself is suspicious."
Before karan could respond, Vivaan came running downstairs wearing a tiny tuxedo.
"How do I look?"
Raghav smiled proudly.
"My son looks more handsome than all of us."
Vivaan's face lit up.
---
Arjun adjusted the cuff of his suit before looking at himself in the mirror.
Something felt... incomplete.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Arjun?"
It was Nandhini.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"What happened?"
"Aadhira's dress zipper is stuck. None of the girls are nearby."
Arjun blinked.
"What?"
"Just help her. She can't come downstairs like that."
Without waiting for another reply, Nandhini walked away.
Arjun stood frozen for a moment.
"Why me..."
Still...
He walked toward room whereAadhira is changing dress.
He knocked gently.
"Aadhira..."
The door opened only slightly.
She stood behind it, wrapped carefully in a shawl.
"I... I'm sorry to disturb you."
"It's alright."
Her voice remained calm.
"Mother told you?"
He nodded awkwardly.
She stepped aside.
"The zipper is stuck."
Arjun carefully fixed it without saying anything.
Neither of them spoke for several seconds.
Finally...
"It should work now."
Aadhira checked it before turning toward him.
"Thank you."
"It wasn't a big deal."
She smiled politely.
"It may not have been for you."
"But thank you anyway."
For some reason...
That small smile lingered in Arjun's mind even after they left the room.
---
Soon...
The Rathore family reached the grand hotel hosting the gala.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the magnificent ballroom.
Soft classical music echoed throughout the hall.
Business leaders greeted one another warmly.
Camera flashes filled the entrance.
One after another...
Influential families entered.
Among them...
The Devraj family.
Rajveer and Harshvardhan greeted each other respectfully.
"It's good to see you again."
"The pleasure is ours."
The elders exchanged warm smiles.
Rajesh looked toward Aadhira.
She politely folded her hands.
"Good evening."
Nothing more.
No complaint.
No resentment.
No warmth either.
She simply acknowledged them before looking elsewhere.
Meera's heart tightened.
She wished her daughter would look at her the way she once had.
But Aadhira remained composed.
Vedha stood beside Kavita.
Her eyes briefly met Aadhira's.
Only for a second.
Then she looked away with an unreadable expression.
Neither sister spoke.
The distance between them remained exactly as there.
---
Just then...
A familiar voice echoed behind them.
"Well... if it isn't Aadhira.
Kavya walked toward them wearing a confident smile.
"So you've started attending events like these now?"
She looked Aadhira up and down.
"I hope you don't feel out of place."
Several guests quietly turned toward them.
Aadhira remained completely calm.
"I've never measured my place by the opinions of others."
Kavya laughed lightly.
"Still pretending to be confident?"
"I admire your courage."
Before Aadhira could answer...
Another woman stepped between them.
"Naina Kapoor."
She folded her arms.
"Kavya."
"I almost didn't recognize you."
Kavya frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Naina smiled sweetly.
"I've only ever seen your photographs in business magazines."
"They usually crop out the jealousy."
Several nearby guests struggled to hide their laughter.
Kavya's smile disappeared.
"You should think before speaking."
"I always do," Naina replied.
"That's why my words usually hurt."
Kavya took a step forward.
"You-"
Before the argument could continue...
The host's voice echoed through the ballroom.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"The Annual Shergill Business Gala is about to begin."
Everyone slowly moved toward their assigned seats.
Kavya shot one final glare at Naina before walking away.
Naina leaned toward Aadhira.
"I've wanted to say that for years."
Aadhira chuckled softly.
"You certainly chose the right moment."
---
The award ceremony began.
One by one...
Outstanding entrepreneurs received recognition.
Innovation awards.
Social leadership awards.
Young entrepreneur awards.
The applause never stopped.
Finally...
The chairman returned to the podium.
"And now..."
"The most prestigious healthcare recognition of the evening."
"The National Excellence Award for Hospital Care and Management."
The giant screen displayed the winning hospital.
A murmur spread across the ballroom.
It was one of the country's top hospitals.
The chairman smiled.
"This hospital has become a symbol of compassion, innovation and patient care."
"We request the owner to come on stage and receive this honor."
The hall waited.
Then...
Aadhira calmly stood up.
For a second...
Silence.
The Rathore family stared.
The Devraj family stared.
Even Kavya's confident smile vanished.
Arjun looked at Aadhira in complete disbelief.
She...
Was the owner?
She gracefully walked toward the stage.
Every step reflected confidence earned through years of hard work.
The chairman handed her the award.
"Congratulations, Ms. Aadhira Devraj."
"You have transformed healthcare standards through your leadership."
The hall erupted into applause.
Many industrialists stood to congratulate her.
Several senior business leaders shook her hand with genuine respect.
Rajveer looked stunned.
"I thought she worked in an office..."
Mahendra slowly replied,
"So did I."
Meera's eyes filled with tears.
"My daughter..."
Harshvardhan's face softened with pride.
Even Arvind couldn't hide his admiration.
Vedha watched everything quietly.
Her expression revealed nothing.
Only her eyes followed Aadhira's every movement.
Kavya clenched her fists beneath the table.
"How..."
"When did this happen..."
---
After the ceremony ended...
Guests gathered around Aadhira to congratulate her.
Before anyone from either family could approach...
A familiar doctor entered the hall.
Raghav immediately recognized him.
"Doctor!"
The Rathore family warmly greeted him.
Raghav folded his hands sincerely.
"I owe my life to you."
The doctor smiled politely.
"The credit doesn't belong to me alone."
Rajveer looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
The doctor glanced toward Aadhira for a brief moment.
"If she hadn't personally called me that day..."
"I wouldn't have left my previous surgery and reached the hospital in time."
Silence spread through the group.
He continued calmly.
"Years ago, my wife needed urgent treatment."
"Ms. Aadhira helped us when we had nowhere else to turn."
"I've never forgotten that kindness."
"Besides..."
He smiled respectfully.
"She is the owner of the hospital where I work."
"As her employee, I would have come regardless."
The Rathore family looked toward Aadhira once again.
This time...
Their eyes carried gratitude instead of doubt.
Savitri whispered softly,
"She saved Raghav..."
"And never even mentioned it."
Arjun couldn't take his eyes off her.
His heart felt strangely warm.
Without realizing it...
A thought slipped into his mind.
My wife...
He froze.
My wife?
Since when had he started thinking of her like that?
He frowned at himself.
"What is happening to me..."
Before he could think further...
Aadhira's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
"Excuse me."
She quietly stepped away from the gathering and walked toward the balcony outside the ballroom.
The cool night breeze greeted her as she answered the call.
"Yes..."
"I've reached."
Her calm voice disappeared into the silence of the night.
Behind the glass doors...
Someone unknowingly watched her leave.
Arjun.
And for reasons he couldn't explain...
His curiosity about Aadhira Devraj had just become impossible to ignore.
End of Chapter 31
NOTE:
I am writing this note for some of my readers who will have doubts about why everyone is called Aadhira miss or Aadhira devraj even though she is married to arjun.
It's purely because even though guests were invited to their wedding only who are close to them was invited and officially and publicly their marriage was not announced so others don't know.i hope this explanation clears all the doubt regarding how Aadhira is addressed in this chapter.