40. Papers

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It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, and Amrita was seated in her sleek, modern office, reviewing the financial reports for the week.

Her brows furrowed as she analyzed the figures, her pen tapping rhythmically against the mahogany desk.

The sudden ringing of her phone broke her focus. She glanced at the caller ID, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

‘Mama’s PA?’ she thought, her lips curling into a frown.

Why the hell is he calling me?

Letting out a sharp breath, she swiped to answer.

"Hello? Amrita?" came a familiar male voice from the other end.

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady and strong, exuding authority.

"Your Mama has signed the papers for Dreamlight to be transferred under your name," he informed her in a formal tone.

"Only Mama?" she asked, her tone sharp as glass.

"Ishika's family, Divya's family, and Ananya's family have also signed," he clarified.

A ghost of a smirk played on her lips. "Good."

"They want you to come and collect the papers. Also, they require at least one signature from any of the four of you girls."

Amrita leaned back in her chair, tapping her finger lightly against the armrest. "Only one signature?"

"Yes, Miss Amrita."

"Where do I need to come?" she asked, her voice dripping with an edge of impatience.

"Sir’s penthouse," he replied. There was a slight pause before he added cautiously, "Ishika's chacha ji suggested that Ishika should come, as she is the eldest."

Amrita’s smirk vanished, her expression turning icy. "Tell him he doesn’t get to decide. I. Decide." Her voice was sharp, firm, and final before she hung up the call with a snap.

For a moment, she sat in silence, her hand resting on her forehead.

Her usually composed exterior showed a flicker of weariness as she muttered to herself,

"You have to do this. For the company. For your sisters."

Shaking off the momentary hesitation, she pressed the intercom button. "Mahima, come in."

Mahima, her ever-efficient assistant, walked in briskly. "Yes, ma’am?"

"I’m going out for a while," Amrita said as she stood up, grabbing her coat and car keys.

"Oh! Where to, ma’am?" Mahima asked curiously.

"Just some work. I’ll be back soon. Inform Isha mayya, Divi, and Anu," Amrita instructed as she draped the coat over her shoulders.

Mahima hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Be careful, ma’am. I won’t stop you, but I can’t stop the calls you’re about to get either."

Amrita paused and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Mahima gestured towards Amrita’s phone, which was now vibrating insistently.

With a sigh, Amrita picked up the call, pressing the phone against her ear. Divya’s sharp voice came through immediately.

"You are not going there alone," Divya said, her voice carrying a tone of authority that matched Amrita’s own.

"How do you even know—"

"I’m a hacker, Ritu. I know everything. And you are not walking into that penthouse alone," Divya said firmly.

Amrita rolled her eyes slightly. "I’ll be fine, Divi."

"Nope. You’re not going anywhere, Ritu."

This time, Ishika’s calm but commanding voice came through the speaker.

"God, mayya, I’ll be fine!" Amrita said as she stepped into the elevator, her voice growing sharper with each passing second.

"You always think you're invincible, Ritu," Ishika continued, her voice steady yet carrying concern.

The elevator doors opened, and Amrita stepped out, heels clicking confidently against the polished marble floor. She walked towards her car without missing a beat.

"I know what I’m doing," Amrita said, sliding into the driver’s seat and turning the ignition.

"You better call us the moment you get there," Ishika said, her voice softening slightly.

"Fine. I’ll call," Amrita said with a sigh before hanging up.

She tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white.

As she drove through the bustling streets, her mind raced with thoughts.

The weight of responsibility hung heavy on her shoulders. Dreamlight wasn’t just a company—it was a legacy, a bond that tied all four of them together.

And if she had to walk into a den of wolves to protect it, she would do so without hesitation.

The tall silhouette of the penthouse came into view as her car pulled up to the entrance.

It was evening as she reached.

Amrita stepped out, her sharp gaze scanning the area before she handed her keys to the valet.

Adjusting her coat and taking a deep breath, she walked towards the elevator that would take her straight to the top floor.

Her reflection stared back at her from the polished elevator walls—fierce, determined, and unwavering.

"Time to face them," she muttered under her breath.

The elevator dinged, and the sleek metal doors slid open to reveal the lavish grandeur of the penthouse.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a cold glow over the polished marble floors.

The air was thick with tension, and the faint scent of expensive cigars lingered in the atmosphere.

Amrita stepped out, her heels clicking against the marble, each step echoing with authority.

Her sharp gaze swept over the room, landing on the three men seated leisurely on velvet armchairs.

Her Mama sat at the head, flanked by Ishika's Chacha and Ananya's Mama.

"Well, look who's here," her Mama drawled, leaning back in his chair as he regarded her with a smug smile.

Amrita walked forward, her movements precise and confident. She stopped a few feet away from them, her posture straight and her chin lifted.

"The papers." She extended her hand, her voice steady and sharp, cutting through the stillness of the room.

Ishika's Chacha chuckled, a humorless sound that grated on her nerves. "I expected you'd send Ishika instead."

Amrita’s lips curled into a smirk, but her eyes remained cold. "My Queen doesn’t need to come all the way here just to meet you," she replied icily.

Her words dripped with disdain, each syllable delivered with an edge sharp enough to cut glass.

The room fell silent for a moment before Ananya's Mama spoke up. "You’ll not go anywhere with this attitude, Amrita," he said, his voice low and disapproving.

Amrita turned her head slightly, her gaze locking onto him. "I don’t have to go anywhere. I’ll raise my kingdom right where I stand." Her voice carried the weight of a thousand unspoken promises, her confidence unwavering.

Her Mama leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked her straight in the eyes. "Is that the way you talk to your family? To your elders?"

Amrita took a step closer, her heels clicking sharply. She wasn’t intimidated by their presence, by their authority, or by their attempts to belittle her.

"I didn’t come here for a lecture," she said coolly. "I came here for the papers. Hand them over."

Her gaze didn’t waver, and neither did her extended hand.

For a moment, no one spoke. The silence was heavy, oppressive even. The three men exchanged glances, their confidence faltering under Amrita’s unyielding stare.

Finally, her Mama let out a sigh and gestured to a stack of papers resting on the table beside him. "Fine. Take them."

Amrita stepped forward, picked up the documents, and scanned them briefly.

Her sharp eyes caught every detail, every clause, every signature. Satisfied, she closed the file and tucked it securely in her handbag.

"Anything else?" she asked, her tone neutral yet biting.

"You’re going to regret this arrogance one day, Amrita," Ishika's Chacha said, his voice laced with bitterness.

Amrita’s lips twitched into a humorless smile. "Arrogance? No. This is called certainty. And you’ll regret underestimating me."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heels and walked back towards the elevator, her steps echoing through the vast penthouse.

Every click of her heels was a sharp reminder of her presence, her power, and her unshakable resolve.

But just as she reached the elevator, her Mama's voice cut through the silence like a blade.

"I wonder how you're treating the Raghuwanshis." His voice was calm, almost taunting. "Remember, Amrita—one mistake with them, just one, and you'll lose Dreamlight. It's all there, clear as day, in the contract."

Amrita froze mid-step, her hand hovering over the elevator button.

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, a cold reminder of the fragile thread holding everything together.

But she didn't turn back. Her shoulders stayed squared, her chin lifted.

After a moment of stillness, her finger pressed the button, and the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

She stepped inside, the polished metal walls reflecting her stoic expression. Her Mama’s words echoed in her mind, but her face remained composed, unreadable.

As the elevator doors slid shut behind her, Amrita let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

Her chest rose and fell in a slow, controlled rhythm as she closed her eyes briefly, grounding herself.

The weight of the moment settled on her shoulders, heavy and cold, but she refused to let it bend her.

Whatever the future held, whatever traps or challenges awaited her, Amrita was ready.

The fight for Dreamlight was far from over, and she would ensure it remained in the right hands—no matter the cost.

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