I sat on the throne-like chair in my office, the weight of the day pressing heavily on my shoulders. The whiskey bottle on my desk was nearly empty, a testament to the frustration and anger that had been brewing inside me. I stared at the reports on my laptop, but the words blurred together, eclipsed by thoughts of Mayura.
She had been on my mind constantly. The way she looked at me, the way she tried so hard to make me smile todayâit was eating away at me. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much she had gotten under my skin. It was infuriating, but at the same time, it was intoxicating.
A sharp knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I knew without looking that it was Rajeev. I nodded for him to enter, and he walked in with his usual quiet efficiency, bowing his head slightly in respect.
"Boss," he began, his tone deferential.
I waved away the formalities. "What is it, Rajeev?"
"The Maity deal has been canceled, as per your instructions," he said, meeting my gaze.
I felt grim satisfaction in his words. It was a small victory, but it was a start. I was determined to show Mayura that I was committed to her and to our marriage, even if it meant tearing down everything that had bound us in the first place.
"Send me the details of the aftermath of canceling the Maity deal," I instructed, my voice cold and commanding.
Rajeev nodded. "Yes, Boss. I'll send the reports immediately."
As Rajeev left, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the laptop screen. The reports started pouring in within minutes, but I barely registered them. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Mayura. The deal's cancellation would undoubtedly stir the industry, but I didn't care about the fallout. I cared about her.
I quickly drafted a statement to the press, laying everything outâthe deal, the clause, the reason I had married Mayura. It was a bold move, one that would send shockwaves through the media and the business world. But I didn't care. Let them talk. Let them judge. I had to show Mayura that I was willing to bear the weight of my decisions, even if it meant becoming the villain in the public eye.
The document was released, and within moments, my phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. The media had picked up the story, and the headlines were as brutal as I had anticipated. "King Abhimaan's Desperate Move," "Marriage for Business," "King of Rajasthan's Shameful Deal." They could speculate all they wanted, but only Mayura's opinion mattered to me.
The day dragged on, with protests gathering outside the palace gates and investors flooding my phone with threats. But my mind was elsewhereâin Mayura. I wondered how she would react to the news, if she would see it as a genuine attempt to make amends or as another one of my manipulative moves.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the office, I made up my mind. I had to see her. I couldn't sit idly by, wondering if she understood why I had done what I did. I needed to know, to see the look in her eyes, to understand if I had made a mistake or if this was the beginning of something new.
Finally, lunch break! Just two more classes to go. I sat with my friends in the courtyard, but my mind was a million miles away. I couldn't stop thinking about Abhimaan and our encounter in the principal's office about yesterday . His intense gaze, his unwavering presenceâit was too much to handle. My thoughts were interrupted by Tanisha's excited shout.
"Guys, check the news! It's about Abhimaan Deep Shekhawat!"
My heart skipped a beat. I quickly grabbed my phone and opened the news app, and there it wasâthe story that would change everything. My heart sank as I read the headlines, the article detailing the marriage clause and the deal between Abhimaan and my father.
"He really did it," I muttered under my breath.
My friends were chattering away, debating whether the news was true or just another media stunt. But I knew better. Abhimaan had taken the fall for everything, and not once was my father's name mentioned. It didn't make sense. Why would he do this?
"Mayura, are you okay?" Tanisha asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
I forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, just a bit surprised. I didn't think he'd do something like this."
"Maybe he's trying to show his love or something," Nisha suggested with a shrug.
As my friends continued to speculate, I decided I couldn't sit there any longer. I needed answers. I needed to understand what was going on. I made an excuse about needing to meet my boyfriend and quickly left the courtyard. My mind was racing as I walked to the principal's office.
When I arrived, the principal greeted me warmly. "Mrs. Shekhawat, what a surprise. How can I help you today?"
The moment I stepped out of the principal's office, I felt like I was suffocating. The air seemed thicker, heavier, with the weight of everything that had happened in the last few hours. My mind was a chaotic swirl of emotionsâfear, confusion, anger, and above all, determination. I had to get out of here.
"Mrs. Shekhawat, wait!" the principal called after me as I reached the door. I stopped, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Sir, I need to leave immediately," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Something urgent has come up, and I can't stay any longer today."
He looked at me with concern, but after a moment, he nodded. "Very well, you can leave i will handle here ."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, offering a small, strained smile. Without another word, I turned and hurried out of the building, the door closing behind me with a loud thud.
As I walked through the courtyard, my mind was racing with thoughts of Abhimaan. He had taken the blame for everythingâpublicly, no less. My heart ached at the thought of him bearing the weight of this mess alone. He must have been furious, thinking I changed my name because I was ashamed of our marriage. But that wasnât true! I needed to explain it to him.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the group of girls approaching me until it was too late.
"Hey, look who it is," one of them sneered, blocking my path. I recognized her instantlyâRitu, the self-proclaimed queen bee of the college. Her cronies, Priya and Anjali, stood flanking her with smug smiles on their faces.
I sighed internally, knowing this was the last thing I needed right now. But I kept my face impassive, refusing to show any fear.
"What do you want, Ritu?" I asked, my tone cold and distant.
Ritu smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, nothing much. We just wanted to have a little chat, mishka." She emphasized my maiden name with a mocking tone.
I kept walking, trying to push past her, but she stepped in front of me, blocking my way again. "Not so fast," she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Why are you in a hurry ?"
The other girls snickered, and I felt a surge of anger rising within me. I didnât have time for this. I needed to get out of here, to find Abhimaan.
"I don't have time for your nonsense, Ritu," I said, trying to sidestep her. But she grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin.
"Don't be so quick to leave, mishka," she hissed. "Weâre not done yet."
The courtyard was empty, and I realized with a sinking feeling that no one was around to help me. But I wasnât about to back down. I glared at Ritu, pulling my arm free from her grip.
"I don't care what you think," I said, my voice steady. "I have more important things to deal with than you and your pathetic attempts at intimidation."
Ritu's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a threatening step closer. "You think you're so special, don't you? Well, guess what? Youâre still nothing but a nobody, Mayura."
Her words stung, but I refused to let them affect me. I stood my ground, refusing to be intimidated. "Say whatever you want, Ritu. It doesnât matter. I know who I am, and I know what I have to do."
Rituâs face twisted with rage, and she lunged at me, her hand raised to strike. But I was faster. I ducked and sidestepped her, using the momentum to push her away. She stumbled, losing her balance, and I took that moment to run.
My heart pounded in my chest as I sprinted down the path, the sound of their shouts fading behind me. I didnât look back. I couldnât. I had to keep moving, had to get away from them and find Abhimaan.
My lungs burned as I ran, but I didnât stop until I reached the main gate of the college. My hands were trembling as I hailed a cab, quickly giving the driver the address to the palace.
As the car sped away, I leaned back against the seat, trying to calm my racing heart. I couldn't let them get to me. They were just distractions, obstacles in my way. Right now, the only thing that mattered was getting to Abhimaan and clearing things up before it was too late.
I sat in my office, the statement I had released to the press still fresh in my mind. The fallout was worse than I had expected. Investors were pulling out, the media was tearing me apart, and yetâ¦none of it mattered. The only thing I cared about was Mayura and what she must be thinking right now.
I couldnât shake the feeling that maybe she had changed her name because she was ashamed of our marriage. The thought gnawed at me, filling me with a mix of anger and hurt. I couldn't help but think that from yesterday ,Did she regret marrying me?
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Rajeev again, holding a tablet with the latest reports. I waved him off, not interested in anything he had to say. My mind was too consumed with thoughts of Mayura.
"Boss," Rajeev began cautiously, "the situation outside the palace is getting worse. Protesters have gathered, demanding an explanation."
"Let them protest," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "They can scream all they want. It wonât change anything."
Rajeev hesitated, then nodded. "Very well, Boss. Butâ¦may I suggest you reach out to Mrs. Shekhawat? She might needâ"
"Leave," I ordered, cutting him off. I didn't want to hear another word.
As Rajeev left the room, I clenched my fists, trying to keep my emotions in check. My mind kept circling back to Mayura, wondering where she was and what she was thinking. I needed to talk to her, to understand why she had done what she did.
The longer I sat there, the more agitated I became. Finally, I couldnât take it anymore. I stood up, grabbing my keys and storming out of the office. I was done waiting. I was going to find Mayura and get the answers I needed, one way or another.