‘Watch yourself,’ Kartik warned, but Abhay couldn’t care less.
‘Try it, I dare you.’
Kartik recoiled slightly as if he’d struck him and he stopped mid-step, his eyes flicking between Abhay and her.
Mihit stood up in an instant, and his threat rang through the room. ‘Siya is our daughter-in-law. If you harm her, we will burn Kashyap Luxe down to ashes by tomorrow.’
Her heart dropped into her stomach at the sincerity in his tone.
‘You’re foolish if you think you can ruin us,’ Sharda taunted.
Neena followed suit. ‘Sharda ji, you underestimate our power. If we come down to use it for nefarious purposes, your empire will crumble into dust within a day.’
‘You would do nothing that will threaten the girl you’re so fiercely fighting for,’ Sharda said, amused at the notion.
‘She will be fine,’ Neena said confidently. ‘She is talented, driven, and someone who has the ability to build a name on her own.’
‘Siya?’ she laughed. ‘Oh don’t kid yourselves. She can’t even cook. A girl like her has no guts to build something like this.’
Sharda’s delight in tearing down her self-respect was evident in her eyes. How Siya could stomach growing up aroundher all these years, Abhay didn’t know. He couldn’t bear to think of just how many such family dinners she’d suffered through.
‘My grandfather did it, my mother did it, and so can I,’ Siya declared with conviction.
‘And with the Agrawal empire backing her up, she’ll be unstoppable,’ Abhay announced.
‘Why are you so desperate to protect her?’ Sharda asked, confused.
‘Because she’s a part of our family, and unlike both of you, we protect our kids,’ Neena said and Mihit held her hand in show of support.
‘I still don’t understand. Why are you wasting all this effort on someone who clearly doesn’t belong in your family when you should be focused on getting your son remarried.’
‘Have you lost your mind?’ Abhay shouted loud enough for the staff to flinch. She felt his whole body tremble behind her. ‘How could you even suggest something so horrible?’
Sharda leaned forward and addressed the Agrawals. ‘Why not? Take Kashvi, for example. What’s the difference between her and Siya? Why not just replace Kashvi with the defective sister?’
Kartik chimed in. ‘Well, if you agree to it, we can find a way to spin this. If Abhay were to get publicly involved with Kashvi, and Siya retreats somewhere out of sight, I’m sure the media can be guided to accept it.’
‘Stop right there. Do you think I’m livid because I want to be connected to your brand name? I could care less. I didn’t choose Siya because of what she could give me. I chose her for who sheis and for everything she makes me feel. If you can’t see that, then I’m not interested in your worthless opinion.’
Sharda didn’t back down. ‘And what would you rather have me say? You’re the only son and you married someone who cannot give the Agrawals a successor. I’m only pointing out the practical implications, however harsh it may be.’
Abhay turned fully toward Sharda, and the tension in his jaw made his words sound more like a growl. ‘If I wanted a woman only for her ability to reproduce, I’d have picked a surrogate instead of a wife.’
Sharda studied him for a moment. ‘You know, Abhay, I didn’t know you have such a saviour complex. I just wonder if you’ll still feel the same way ten years from now, when everyone else you know has children and your defective wife still has empty hands.’
Siya flinched, and something inside her broke, slow and soundless. The voices around her blurred into muffled echoes. Sweat dampened her forehead and her world shrunk down to her grandmother’s words.
It hit her then, the gravity of what she’d lost. There had been times in the past when she’d resented being a guardian as a teenager, but every time Kashvi came home with an award, tried her hand at cooking Siya’s favourite dish, held her when their father hurt them yet again, it all felt worth it.
Siya wanted that to be her future too. She didn’t know when but she’d begun to envision a life with kids running around, as Abhay playfully got on her nerves, as usual. That dream of a home filled with laughter and love was now turning into dust, piece by piece.
And Abhay… Though he was defending her now, what if that defence didn’t last forever? What if the life they build can’t withstand something as monumental as the absence of a child?
What if he would never say it aloud, but someday, the emptiness in their home would start to echo louder than their love?
‘Defective? You think I would trade my wife like she’s property? Have you no fucking heart?’ he roared, his angry words bouncing off the marble walls.
Sharda shrugged, unbothered by his outburst. ‘My son had the sense to do it. I’m so glad he made the wise choice by getting involved with Dhruv’s mother when Arohi couldn’t produce a son. Family business runs on continuity and stability, Abhay, but you seem too weak to make difficult choices.’
