32. Defying the Rules

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Author's POV

Ishika reached the mansion and was greeted by the butler, who asked her to take a seat in the living room. She merely nodded in response and settled down, waiting for everyone to gather. One hour passed in tense silence.

Finally, Aunt Kavita Malhotra and Sakshi entered, but neither of them said a word. They simply stared at Ishika intensely. The weight of their gaze made Ishika feel uneasy, unsure of what was happening.

After a while, other female elders and Sahil's uncles arrived, but Sahil's grandmother was notably absent. The group took their seats, and the atmosphere grew heavier, as if they were preparing for a serious discussion. Ishika's nerves heightened as she waited, still unsure of what was about to unfold.

Suddenly, a few pictures were thrown onto the table. They were of Ishika coming home from school. She glanced at the pictures but remained silent, not saying a word.

Sakshi broke the silence. "Why are you quiet?"

Then Kavita Malhotra asked sharply, "Is it true that you're working?"

Ishika replied calmly, "Yes."

Another woman spoke up, "You know, in our family, it's not allowed for women to work outside."

Ishika nodded again, acknowledging the rule.

"Then why are you doing it?" the woman continued. "How can you disrespect our norms?"

Ishika met their gaze and replied, "There is nothing wrong with being a teacher."

"Are you trying to justify yourself?" the lady asked angrily.

"Don't shout, Aunt. I'm not deaf," Ishika replied calmly, her tone sharp. Everyone in the room was stunned by her response.

Ishika glanced around and said, "If you people don't have anything else to say, I'm leaving. I'm really tired."

The room fell silent, shocked at Ishika's newfound boldness. Sakshi, her sister-in-law, stepped forward, her voice laced with indignation. "Let me remind you, Ishika, you're here for punishment-for breaking the family rules."

Ishika turned to her, her eyes unwavering. "What rules? That I'm earning some money? What's wrong with that? At least I have something meaningful to do, unlike you, who has no life other than meddling in others' affairs."

Sakshi's face turned red with anger. "You're crossing the line, Ishika! I'll tell my brother. He'll fix that attitude of yours."

"Fix yours first," Ishika retorted without hesitation.

Fuming, Sakshi grabbed a glass of juice and tried to throw it at Ishika. But Ishika caught her hand mid-air, her grip firm. Without breaking eye contact, she calmly emptied the glass-not on herself, but on Sakshi instead.

The entire room froze in disbelief. Was this the same Ishika who had always been so quiet and obedient?

Sakshi, fuming with anger, stepped closer to Ishika. Ishika stood her ground and said calmly, "Fine. If you want to get physical, go ahead. After all, there are so many elders here to witness it."

She placed a hand on her abdomen and continued, "But let me warn you, if anything happens to me, the responsibility won't be mine alone."

Kavita, confused, asked, "What do you mean? Are you... pregnant?"

Ishika shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. Who can say for sure?"

"You're lying!" Sakshi shouted, her voice rising. "It's been over two years, and you haven't gotten pregnant. And now, all of a sudden, you claim this? Who would believe it?"

Kavita Malhotra, Sakshi's mother, was about to say something when the sound of a walking stick interrupted her. Grandma entered the room, accompanied by Sahil. Ishika's gaze shifted to them, her expression softening when her eyes met grandmother's warm smile.

A chair was quickly brought for Grandma, who sat down gracefully and gestured for Ishika and Sahil to sit beside her. Sahil took the seat to Ishika's left, his expression calm and unreadable.

One of the relatives broke the silence. "Aunt Reema, you need to teach Ishika a lesson. She's been misbehaving with everyone, even bullying her sister-in-law."

Sakshi chimed in immediately, "Yes, Grandma! She just threw juice on me!"

Grandma remained silent, her eyes scanning the photographs. Then, without looking up, she said, "The photo quality is poor. What kind of camera did you guys use?"

The room was stunned into silence. Ishika struggled to hold back her laughter, glancing at Sahil, whose calm composure remained intact.

Grandma's unexpected comment lightened the tense atmosphere. She finally spoke, her tone firm yet kind. "I understand everyone's concern for the family's traditions, but times are changing. Rules are made by people, and people can change them. And now, the one who makes the rules has changed."

"Changed to whom?" someone asked hesitantly.

Grandma smiled knowingly. "To Sahil."

Rakesh Malhotra, Sahil's uncle, frowned. "Mom, this is too much. She insulted my daughter!"

Sahil's voice cut through the room. "Uncle, Your daughter insulted my wife first and tried to bully her."

The room fell silent again. Grandma nodded. "Yes, I saw everything. Sakshi, the way you spoke to your sister-in-law was unacceptable. Apologize to her immediately."

Sakshi looked stunned, glancing at her mother, who signaled her with her eyes to comply. Reluctantly, she muttered, "I'm sorry, Ishika."

Ishika felt a strange sense of satisfaction but remained silent. Before she could respond, Sahil spoke again, his voice cold. "It's interesting how, in my absence, you all decided to gang up on my wife."

"Who ganged up on your wife?" Sakshi snapped, her tone defensive.

"Your wife is practically a menace. Who would even dare to bully her?" his aunt added with a mocking sneer.

"She's the one who broke the rules and had the audacity to talk back to her elders," another relative chimed in, their tone dripping with disdain.

Sahil slammed his hand on the table, silencing the room. Ishika flinched slightly, glancing nervously at him.

"As for the rules," Sahil began, his tone steady, "they were made by my grandfather. But now, I'm in charge of Malhotra Enterprises, and my rules will be followed. I have no objection to my wife working outside. If anyone has a problem with that, they can come to me directly. But don't you dare bully her again. If I find out, it will be a challenge to me personally."

The room erupted into murmurs, but Rakesh raised his voice. "What are you saying, Sahil? Are you implying that the women of this family can work outside now?"

Sahil's lips curled into a faint smile. "Uncle, times have changed."

Sakshi smirked. "Oh, we know why you're doing this, Sahil. Shanaya also works, doesn't she? You've bent the rules to make it easier for her, so you can secure your son's legitimate place in this family."

Ishika's expression changed, her face pale. The mention of a child she knew nothing about made her feel nauseous. She clenched her fists tightly, her mind racing. Sahil noticed her reaction, his brow furrowed and he frowned.

Grandma's voice broke the tension. "What child? Why haven't I heard of this?"

Sakshi opened her mouth to respond, but Grandma's sharp glare silenced her.

Rakesh interjected, "Mom, if Sahil has a child, it's better to be open about it instead of hiding it."

Grandma remained composed, taking Ishika's hand in hers. The warmth of her touch calmed Ishika, who managed a faint smile.

Grandma addressed the room. "Don't pay attention to baseless gossip. I'll make one thing clear today: I will not acknowledge any child except the one born to Sahil and Ishika. As soon as they have a child-boy or girl-I will transfer all my private property and shares to them as a gift when the child turns one year old."

"What?" Sakshi exclaimed in disbelief.

Not only Ishika but everyone in the room was stunned. Even Kavita's face turned pale, her hands clenching tightly as she struggled to maintain her composure.

The entire family was well aware of Sahil's strong position within the business, backed by his significant shares and influence. For many, the best outcome would be for Reema to distribute her remaining assets among the other children, creating a balance of power. Otherwise, they feared losing their voice in the family's decisions in the future.

After a tense silence, Rakesh finally spoke. "It's been two years already, and they haven't conceived yet! Who knows when they'll have a child?"

Others quickly chimed in, urging Grandma to reconsider and distribute the assets more fairly among the other children.

Grandma, however, remained composed. She gave Ishika a warm smile before addressing the room. "Sahil was too busy before, focusing on work and neglecting his family. But he has promised me that he's now planning to start a family with Ishika."

Ishika's eyes widened in shock. She turned her head to look at Sahil, her mind reeling as if struck by lightning. Did he really say that? she wondered.

Sahil, however, remained calm and expressionless. He glanced at her briefly, his look clearly saying, Just go along with it.

The room erupted in discontent, with murmurs of dissatisfaction filling the air. No one seemed pleased with Grandma's decision. Finally, Ayaan Malhotra, Sahil's cousin, spoke up. "Grandma, this is unfair. In the end, everything will go to Sahil."

Grandma turned her sharp gaze to him. "And who else should it go to? I know how you've been using the family's resources for your luxuries while contributing nothing to the business. If not for Sahil, this family would have been bankrupt long ago."

The room fell silent.

Suddenly, Grandma received a call from one of her friend. They talked about health and when they would meet next. Then, she mentioned, "My grandson is doing well in his studies, all thanks to your granddaughter in law, Ishika." Hearing Ishika's name, Grandma was a little surprised, and then her friend continued, "She really helped him overcome his difficulties in studying. He always talks about how good she is, and now she's his favorite teacher." She then added, "I would like to thank her personally. Let's arrange dinner together one of these days."

Grandma smiled and replied, "I'm so glad to hear that, Devanti. Ishika has always been dedicated and caring. She'll be delighted to know she's made such a positive impact. Let's definitely arrange dinner soon-it would be wonderful to catch up."

Listening to this, Ishika thought of the boy and smiled briefly, but she quickly brushed it off, convincing herself it was merely part of her responsibilities. She glanced at Sahil, who sat calmly with an unreadable expression. Everyone in the room turned their attention to Ishika. The woman praising her belonged to the influential Rathore family, and receiving her approval meant making a strong impression within their elite social circle.

Then they talked for a little while longer before ending the call.

After that, Grandma said, "Oh, where were we... um... yes, you all are against my decision to give Sahil my shares."

Then Rakesh replied, "No, it's not like that, Mom."

Grandma asked, "So, you agree?"

Rakesh fell silent.

Later, Sahil's voice cut through the tension, calm yet firm. "I've successfully managed Malhotra Enterprises over the past few years. Uncle, are you not satisfied with the results?"

The room fell silent again, but Sahil wasn't finished. His voice grew colder. "If that's the case, let me make it clear. Malhotra Enterprises, as of today, is under my name. In the future, it will also be under my children's control. If anyone has a problem with that, you're welcome to try and take it."

As soon as he finished, he stepped toward Rakesh Malhotra, his movements deliberate and confident. "Uncle," he said calmly, "you don't need to worry about me not having children. I can assure you, within six months, it will happen."

His words were delivered with such quiet conviction that the room fell into a stunned silence. Ishika's mind raced, her heart pounding as she struggled to process what had just been said.

***

At 9 o'clock in the evening, Ishika sat on a bench in the small garden, looking confused. She couldn't understand why the focus had shifted to whether she would become pregnant. Sahil had confidently said it would happen within six months. It was bold of him to make such a claim, especially since it had been over two years, and they were still childless.

The family meeting inside was still dragging on with no end in sight. Ishika could already imagine the expressions of Sahil's relatives if the couple failed to have a child as promised. Sahil would inevitably become the subject of ridicule, which, oddly enough, she found slightly amusing.

Her mood lightened at the thought, and she pulled out her phone from her bag. She noticed missed calls from both Sahil and Aditi. She intended to call Aditi back but paused when she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Turning around, she saw Sahil walking toward her. She cleared her throat, intending to speak, but he walked past her indifferently. Annoyed, Ishika stood and followed him.

Sahil slid into the back seat of their car, while Ishika made her way to the driver's side. She didn't mind-she just wanted to get home as soon as possible. She was hungry and exhausted. As soon as she sat down, her stomach growled loudly, and Sahil chuckled.

Ishika remained calm and said, "I haven't eaten anything since morning, so of course, my stomach would growl. You must be hungry too."

"Hungry?" Sahil replied with a smirk. "I thought it was our child calling."

Ishika gritted her teeth, embarrassed. He had undoubtedly overheard the part where she'd hinted at being pregnant to scare his relatives.

Sahil added with a teasing tone, "You better watch out and not lose the child again."

Cursing him inwardly, Ishika fastened her seatbelt and retorted, "Thanks for your concern, but I'm pretty sure it's my stomach, not a child."

Sahil coldly snorted.

Ishika started the car, and as they left the old mansion, she suddenly asked, "What did you mean by the pregnancy in six months?"

"What do you think?"

Ishika carefully chose her words and replied, "It's not happening. We're divorced, so I'm not responsible for bearing you a child."

"That kind of good fortune won't come your way."

"Well, good. I'm just reminding you. If you find someone else, wait until our contract expires. If you calculate, time is quite tight."

She raised her head and met his murderous gaze through the rear mirror, which sent shivers down her spine, prompting her to shut her mouth. As they stopped at the traffic light, Ishika took the opportunity to call Aditi, but no one answered. She tried calling again, but still no answer.

Ishika checked her current location and realized she was close to Aditi appartment.

She sneaked a glance at Sahil through the rearview mirror and saw he was not paying attention to the road, so she changed the route.

When they were nearing Aditi's house, his cold voice came from behind. "Ishika, where are you going?"

Sahil casually replied, "Oh, I bought something and thought I'd take a detour to pick it up."

"Do you know what time it is now?"

"It won't take long."

"Don't pick up anything. Head back home now."

"Okay," Ishika said but kept driving toward Aditi's Apartment.

Sahil was not a fool. He could tell she was heading in a different direction.

"Ishika!!"

"Sit tight. It won't take long."

"Turn around!"

This time, Ishika ignored him. Sahil had a feeling that she was about to make trouble. He leaned forward. Ishika suddenly jerked the steering wheel, and Sahil slammed into the car door. She stepped on the accelerator and sped forward, making the seatbelt yank him backward. Sahil almost vomited from the movements, but she could not care less. Shortly after, they arrived at Aditi's apartment. She unfastened her seatbelt and exited the car, slamming the door behind her.

Sahil leaned against the back seat, staring at her reckless behavior in disbelief.

Ishika rushed to Aditi's apartment without hesitation. The corridor was quiet when the elevator door opened, with only a few rooms on that floor. She walked up to her door and knocked.

"Aditi?"

There was no response from inside, but someone came to open the door.

Ishika turned her head to look but was met with a fierce gaze. Before she could react, the person reached out and pulled her inside.

Sahil stood in the elevator with a dark expression, suppressing his anger. Seeing the elevator descend from the ninth floor, he pressed the button for the ninth floor as well.

He got out of the elevator. " Ishika?"

He called out twice, but there was no response. He then heard a scream. It came from one of the apartments on the left.

He walked over and knocked on the door. When there was no response, he kicked the door.

The apartment fell silent, and shortly after, someone came to open the door. It was a man.

The man furrowed his brow and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Sahil didn't respond Instead, he leaned against the door frame, his intense gaze fixed on the man in front of him.

The man stepped back slightly, confused and wary "What are you doing?"

Without warning, Sahil shoved the door open and delivered a powerful kick to the man's chest sending him crashing into a nearby table.

"Sahil, be careful!" Ishika cried out her voice trembling with fear.

Inside the room, six burly men turned their attention to the commotion. Those lounging on the sofa immediately jumped to their feet and charged toward the door.

Sahil was clearly outnumbered and Ishika, unable to stand by any longer, moved to help him.

But just as she took a few steps forward, the sound of screams erupted near the door. Sahil had already incapacitated one of the attackers with a swift kick to the stomach, sending the man flying into a nearby vase. The vase shattered on impact, scattering shards of ceramic across the floor.

The man groaned in agony, clutching his stomach as he writhed on the ground The sheer force of the kick had left him unable to get up. Despite the odds, Sahil stood his ground, his determination unshaken.

The remaining men hesitated, exchanging nervous glances it was clear that Sahil wasn't going down without a fight.

Within a few minutes, Sahil had taken down every man in the room. They lay groaning on the ground, defeated. Though victorious, Sahil hadn't emerged unscathed-his hands bore fresh cuts and bruises.

He unbuttoned his cuffs, sank onto the sofa, and leaned back, his chest rising and falling heavily as he caught his breath. His eyes scanned the room, landing on the men with a look of cold disdain.

Aditi stood frozen in terror, her wide eyes darting between the unconscious men and Sahil. Ishika, standing beside her, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.

She approached Sahil cautiously. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, concern evident in her voice.

Sahil turned his gaze to her, his expression softening slightly. He gave a small nod before pulling out his phone and handing it to her. "Call Yash," he said, his voice steady but strained.

Ishika immediately took the phone and dialed Yash's number, her fingers trembling as she pressed the buttons.

Shortly after, Yash arrived with a group of men and quickly took control of the situation.

Assessing the scene, Yash turned to Ishika and said, "It's not safe for your friend to stay here anymore. These men are part of a local gang, and now they know her location. It's better if she moves somewhere else."

Ishika nodded in agreement and turned to Aditi. "You'll stay with me until we find a new place for you," she said reassuringly.

Aditi hesitated but eventually agreed, her fear evident.

They all left together, with Yash driving the car. Aditi sat in the front passenger seat, while Ishika and Sahil were in the back. Sahil leaned back silently, still recovering, while Ishika glanced at him, concern flickering in her eyes. The tension in the car was palpable as they drove away.

______________________________

End of the chapter.

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