2
The next day
"Waqas, bring out the files of supplies we have sent to Akshat and also the finance ones .", Zaviyar instructed.
"If there are any important documents left, tell me now. I'll finish them before I leave. Anything that'll take longer... shifts to next week. Keep this week clear.", Waqas nodded quickly pulling out his pad to check the schedule.
"Sir, you've already cleared everything pending. Even most of next week's work is completed. ", Zaviyar nodded.
" That dispute between the farmers of near the plant and the government officers. Has that been dealt with? ", he asked.
" Sir, the farmers aren't ready to hand over the land and the government officers won't increase the compensation. ", Zaviyar nodded, " I'll talk to Agastya till then try to avoid any feuds "
" Then I'll head to Almora tomorrow morning. I have to stop by Akshat's office."
"And if anything urgent comes up, don't contact me."
" Sir, if you're going to the city this time, I'd strongly recommend visiting the firm.", Waqas said, placing the tablet on the desk.
"The investors are asking for a meeting, and several high-profile clients have started demanding a face reveal.
Specially, Mr Oberoi. Al-Zahari's reputation has only grown because of its anonymous founder...
but people are getting curious. They want to know who's behind the empire.
", Zaviyar didn't even look up from the blueprint spread across his desk.
"Enough, Waqas." His voice was calm, yet final. "You know I don't make public appearances. I intend to keep it that way."
"But, sir-"
"The day my identity becomes public is the day people stop looking at the work and start looking at me." He finally lifted his gaze. "I have no interest in becoming a headline. End this discussion.", Waqas hesitated before speaking again.
"...Will they ever know who built Al-Zahari?"
A faint, unreadable smile crossed Zaviyar's face, "When the time is right."
"But, sir... you're the owner of Al-Zahari. Sooner or later-"
"Sooner or later," Zaviyar interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument, "they'll know exactly what I want them to know. Until then, the firm speaks for itself."
Silence settled across the room.
No one dared question him further. After all, Al-Zahari was known across the luxury world... yet not a single verified photograph of its founder existed. That mystery had become part of the brand itself.
Zaviyar shot Waqas a single, icy glance.
It was enough. The words died in Waqas's throat as he immediately lowered his gaze and took a silent step back, abandoning the conversation without another attempt. At that precise moment, the office door opened.
Kabir walked in with his usual carefree stride.
"Bhai, you called?"
"Hm... Kabir. Take a seat ", Kabir nodded and sta opposite to Zaviyar. He passed a smile at Waqas to sat on the sofa typing something on his laptop.
" I'll be in Almora for a few days due to some urgent work.", Kabir's mouth twitched.
"Urgent work... concerning a certain lawyer?", he teased witha toothy grin.
"Shut up.", the smile from Kabir's lips disappeared, as he tried to compose himself.
"Of course.", he said, straightening his shoulders.
"In my absence, you'll look after matters in Azamgsrh.", Kabir looked at him perplexed.
"Me?" Kabir blinked. "Are you sure Abbu shouldn't-", Zaviyar nodded curtly.
"No. He's not doing well. And it's time you started learning the business.", Kabir rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly caught off guard.
"You'll have to become my right hand soon. You have to prove your skills and then I'll be able to hand over a quarter of the responsibility to you. ", Kabir hesitated, unable to look at his brother.
"I thought Dada-jaan's arrangement was... different.", Zaviyar nodded.
"Yes. And you'll have that when you've earned my trust.", for a moment, Kabir said nothing.
" Bhai... You don't trust me. ", Kabir asked seeing Zaviyar treat him like an outsider that too infront of Waqas.
" Trust and respect is earned, Kabir. To bear such responsibility you must have what it takes to be my right hand. ", Then he lowered his gaze and smiled.
"You won't regret trusting me, bhai.", Zaviyar smiled.
"Waqas and Nizam will guide you while I'm gone. Listen to them."
"That'd be great.," Kabir said softly.
"I'll handle everything exactly as you would."
Just then, a knock echoed through the office before the door opened and Nauman stepped inside, a few files tucked neatly beneath his arm. His brows lifted slightly at the sight before him.
Kabir sitting inside Zaviyar's office was rare enough to surprise anyone.
"Arey wah... aaj touh bada ajeeb manzar hai. Kabir miyan tumhare office mein?", Nauman said patting Kabirs back before taking a seat beside him.
[Well now... this is quite a rare sight. Kabir in your office?]
"Main kuch zimmedaariyaan iske hawale kar raha hoon apni ghair-hazri mein.", a faint smile appeared on Zaviyar's face as he leaned back in his chair.
[I'm handing over some responsibilities to him in my absence, baba.]
"Yeh touh bohot achi baat hai. Ghar ke bachon ko kaam samajhna chahiye. Kal ko tumhare kandhon ka bojh bhi halka hoga.", Nauman's expression softened with approval.
[That's very good. The younger generation should understand the work. One day it'll lighten the burden on your shoulders too.]
"Hamare sahabzaade ko dheere dheere business ke dau pech sikha dou. Isse tajurba kursi sambhalne se hee ayega.", Kabir lowered his gaze while Nauman turned to him.
[Teach him all the tactics of business. He will gain real experience only when he starts carrying responsibility.]
"Theek keh rahe hain aap.", Zaviyar nodded.
[You're right.]
Nauman placed the files on the desk and handed one file to Zaviyar, the machinery in the factory had been approved.
"Factory ke saare charges officially hat gaye hain. Kaam dobara shuru ho sakta hai.", he said relifed.
[All the charges from the factory have officially been removed. We can start the work again.]
" Thore paise kharch hue hain, pollution, machinery in sab ki renewal vagera mein, lekin hamara lawyer jitna keh rha tha usska ek chotahi issa bhi nhi laga. ", Zaviyar nodded before studying the file in detail.
( We did spend some money on renewing the pollution clearance, machinery, and other permits, but it wasn't even a quarter of what our lawyer said it would cost. )
" Kuch clauses mujhe firse dekhne parenge. ", Zaviyar said circling a few points with a pencil.
a brief silence passed before Nuaman added calmly, " Tum kuch zyada hi nuks nikaal rahe ho. Tumhari hi biwi ne kiya hai, usse jaa kar baat karlena."
( You're finding far too many faults. Your own wife did it, so you can talk to her about it. )
" Waise... iska credit Safiya ko jaana chahiye.", Zaviyar's fingers paused over the papers.
[By the way... Safiya deserves credit for this.]
"Usne waqt peh cheezein handle karli warna masla lamba chal sakta tha.", Nauman gave a small approving nod.
[She handled things at the right time, otherwise the issue could've dragged on.]
" She is one of the top lawyers, even getting one appointment with her is nearly impossible. ", Kabir added.
"Main touh pehle din se keh raha hoon, ladki bohot samajhdaar hai.", Nauman continued.
[I've been saying this since day one, the girl is very intelligent.]
" Ab usne kardiya hain sab kuch touh aur usmein chedkhani karne ki zarurat nhi hain. Kuch hoga toub woh sambhaal legi. ", Nauman said with a shrug.
( Now that she has done everything, there's no need to poke at it. If anything happens she will handle it )
Then casually, "Mere zameen ke disputes bhi woh hi dekh rahi hai itne arse se. Bina kisi lalach ke.", Kabir quietly looked toward Nauman.
[She's been handling my land disputes too for so long. Without any greed.]
"Har file detail mein check karti hain bhabhi.", Nauman nodded softly.
[Bhabhi checks every file in detail.]
"Isi liye keh raha hoon... zaviyar purane factory waale jo complications chal rahe hain na... woh bhi usse dekh lene do. Akhir tumhari biwi hain woh tumhari maddad zarur karegi. ", Zaviyar quietly placed the file inside the drawer.
[That's why I'm saying... those old factory complications of yours... let her handle those too.]
" Aap sahi keh rahe hain. Safiya ka kaam bohot hee achcha hain. Aakhir mein woh uska profession hain, aur mein nhi chahta ki hamare rishte mein yeh sab business ki baatein ho. ", Zaviyar said. Nauman frowned slightly.
( You're right. Safiya is very good at what she does. After all, it's her profession, and I don't want our relationship to be filled with all these business discussions. )
" And suddenly handing over all of it to her, will cause unrest in the functioning. Not to mention the intervention of the legal authorities will be formidable. ", he reasoned.
" And what happens when the legal authorities intervene on their own. That would end up in the factories getting sealed. ", Nauman said rubbing his chin.
" revenue ka zyada hissa rice mill aur brick kiln se aa raha hai. Main nahi chahta unmein koi disturbance aaye. Court tak usse abhi le jaane ka matlab hua, humein kaam rokna parega. "
[Baba, most of the revenue is coming from the rice mill and brick kiln. I don't want any disturbance there.]
"Kaam rokne ko kaun keh raha hai?" Nauman smiled gently. "Bas paperwork aur legal side peh nazar rahegi. Tumhara bojh halka hoga."
[Who said anything about disturbance? She'll only keep an eye on the paperwork and legal matters. Your burden will lessen.]
"Tum nawab zaroor ho, lekin har zimmedari akele sambhalne lage na... touh kahin na kahin dararein aane lagegi.", The words were spoken softly, almost fatherly.
[ You are the head of the village. But if you starts handling everything alone... cracks will begin to appear somewhere.]
" Uski rai liya karo, dekhna tumhe bohot maddad milegi. ", Before Zaviyar could answer, Nauman slid the files toward him.
"Yeh dekhna zara."
[Take a look at these.]
"Yeh kya hai?", Zaviyar opened the first file, confusion crossing his face.
[What is this?]
"Wajahat ki properties jouh baba neh uske naam par ki thi.", The room quietened. Kabir glanced at the file, and the acres and the properties written made his head spin.
[Wajahat's properties.]
"Rice mill... brick kiln... mustard oil mill... a few of the farms and farming lands", Nauman folded his hands calmly.
"Yeh sab unke naam peh transfer hona hai?", Zaviyar's eyes slowly lifted toward him. Why was he not aware of this part of the will? He looked at Waqas who was shocked too.
[All of this is to be transferred to his name?]
"Will mein touh yahi likha hua hain.", The air in the office shifted slightly. Zaviyar shut the file slowly.
[It was written in the will.]
"Lekin baba..." he spoke carefully, "in factories ko yahan tak laane mein bohot waqt laga hai. ", Nauman watched him quietly before speaking in an even tone.
[But baba... it took a lot of time to bring these factories to where they are today.]
"Mujhe pata hai.", he said leaning into the chair, "Tumhari mehnat se bhi mein vakif hu."
[ I know. and I am aware of your hardwork too.]
"But haq phir bhi haq hota hai, beta.", Waqas already started calculating in his head.
[But a right is still a right, son.]
"Sir, honestly... mills chalana asaan kaam nahi hai. Wajahat sir city ka business dekhte hain. Village setup alag hota hai. And it was Zaviyar sir, who worked day and night to revive these factories.", Waqas spoke after sensing the heaviness.
[Sir, honestly... running mills isn't easy. Wajahat sir handles city business. A village setup is different.]
"Isi liye main ek aur baat soch raha tha.", Nauman nodded slowly, as if considering the point deeply.
[That's exactly why I was thinking of something else.]
"Factories ki jagah yeh property de dete hain usse.", He tapped the red file.
[Instead of the factories, give him this property.]
Zaviyar opened the red file and his brows furrowed instantly. The land stretched across several hectares.
"Yeh touh bahar wala ilaqa hai...", he said taking abetter look at the map.
[This is the outer area...]
"Hmm." Nauman leaned back. "Usne khud kaha tha usse gaon ke andar kuch nahi chahiye.", Zaviyar's eyes furrowed.
[He himself said he doesn't want anything inside the village.]
"Lekin Dada-jaan ne will mein specifically mills ka zikr kiya tha...", Kabir finally spoke, hesitantly
[But Dada-jaan specifically mentioned the mills in the will...]
"Aur Safiya ke naam kuch zameenein bhi thi.", Nauman's gaze shifted toward his son.
[And some lands were in Safiya's name too.]
"Safiya bhabi touh ghar ki hi hain. Unke naam ho ya Zaviyar bhai ke, baat aik hi hai.", Kabir said.
[Safiya bhabhi is family. Whether the property is in her name or Zaviyar sir's, it's the same thing.]
For the first time, Nauman's expression hardened slightly.
"Nahi."
[No.]
Everyone looked toward him.
"Jiska jo haq hai, woh usse milna chahiye. Mein nhi chahta ki hum baba ki kisi bhi baat ko nazar andaaz karein. ", his voice remained calm, but firm.
[Everyone should receive what rightfully belongs to them.]
"Baba hote touh kabhi yeh pasand nahi karte ke hum apni sahulat ke liye kisi ka hissa rok lein.", Nauman said..
[If Baba were alive, he would never like us withholding someone's share for our own convenience.]
Then Nauman's tone softened deliberately.
"Baaki faisla tum karo.", He pushed the files toward Zaviyar. Before getting up and walking out.
[The final decision is yours.]
Just when he reached the door, he said, "Waise bhi tum Almora jaa rahe ho."
[Besides, you're leaving for Almora.]
Zaviyar watched his father walk away, Kabir following silently behind. The moment the office door clicked shut and only Waqas remained, he picked up the neatly arranged files and, without sparing them a single glance, flung them straight into the dustbin.
"Sir... those were the will papers.", Waqas stiffened.
"Will papers? More like trash.", Zaviyar let out a cold, humorless chuckle.
He leaned back in his chair, his expression utterly indifferent.
"What's mine will remain mine.", His gaze flickered toward the dustbin before returning to Waqas.
"I don't care who pays the price for it."
"But... what about the properties that belonged to Safiya?" Waqas asked cautiously.
The room fell silent. Zaviyar slowly lifted his eyes. One look was enough to make Waqas's blood ran cold.
"I-I mean... Safiya ma'am.", Zaviyar leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
"Watch your tone when you speak about my wife.", His voice was quiet.
"She's the only person I tolerate having an opinion."
A faint, dangerous smile appeared on his lips, ":The freedom she enjoys exists because I allow it.", He tapped his fingers once against the armrest.
"The day i stop allowing it... she'll have none.", Waqas swallowed hard.
"As for those properties...", Zaviyar's gaze hardened into something terrifying.
"Everything she owns is mine. Everything she touches becomes mine the moment she became my wife.
", He paused deliberately. Waqas gulped.
He knew Zaviyar wasn't talking about wealth.
He was talking about Safiya. Behind the polished image the world admired stood a man driven by only one thing-power.
Everything else was merely a means to obtain it.
"She can fight me, hate me, even curse my name.", His smile widened, devoid of warmth.
"In the end... she'll still belong to me.", Waqas lowered his head, unable to meet his eyes.
"And her family, sir?", Zaviyar let out a low, dismissive laugh.
"Her family?", He looked almost bored.
"If burning every last one of them to the ground secures what's mine...", He shrugged.
" Then so be it. ", Zaviyar rose from his chair. Waqas stood frozen.
For the first time in years...
He understood why even the most powerful men feared Zaviyar Khan.
Truthfully, she had even posted a story with Ahaan, hoping to make him just a tiny bit jealous.
Ahaan was her brother, of course, but Zaviyar had a habit of becoming possessive the moment another man's name entered the conversation.
She had expected at least one suspicious question or a jealous remark.
Instead, he had spoken to her as if nothing had happened, asking about her day and reminding her to take care of herself before ending the call.
To say she was annoyed would have been an understatement.
"Yeh aadmi kabhi hints samajhta hi nahi.", she muttered under her breath.
[This man never understands hints.]
Letting out a defeated sigh, she stared up at the ceiling. She missed him more than she cared to admit. She missed stealing his blanket in the middle of the night, annoying him over the smallest things and watching him pretend not to enjoy her company.
Tomorrow would be another hectic day anyway. She had to wake up early to oversee the final preparations for her parents' anniversary celebration. As her annoyance faded, all that remained was how much she missed having Zaviyar beside her.
The celebration was being held in the spacious community hall near their neighborhood.
Every last detail had already been taken care of.
The catering had been booked, invitations had been delivered, decorations finalized and the guest list carefully prepared.
She had invited all of her father's business associates along with her mother's closest friends.
On top of that, she had arranged a haldi, mehendi and sangeet ceremony that afternoon before the grand celebration at night.
Her mother had always dreamed of having a proper mehendi celebration as a bride, but because her marriage had happened in such a hurry, that dream had quietly remained unfulfilled for decades. Safiya had decided that if life hadn't given her mother that memory then, she would create it for her now.
She rolled her eyes as she remembered Rabiya's embarrassed response.
"Main buddhi ho gayi hoon, Safiya. Nayi dulhan ki tarah phir se celebrate karungi toh log kya kahenge?"
[I'm old now, Safiya. If I celebrate like a new bride again, what will people say?]
Safiya had simply laughed it off. That was exactly why she was doing all of this. She never wanted her mother to keep burying her wishes just because she thought she had outgrown them.
Yet despite all the excitement surrounding tomorrow, one sentence refused to leave her mind.
"You're fulfilling aunty's dream wedding... what about yours?" Adira had asked.
Rabiya's reluctance only strengthened Safiya's resolve, but Adira's question lingered in her heart long after the conversation ended.
Safiya bit down on her lower lip as her eyes slowly filled with tears.
Why did those words hurt so much?
Because six months had passed since her own wedding.
And somewhere deep down, she knew Zaviyar had forgotten the promise he had once made. Adira's question forced Safiya to confront the painful truth. While she was busy fulfilling her mother's dream wedding, her own dream had quietly been forgotten.