It was the most beautiful moment in her life and the happiest and she couldn't wait to share the news with her husband.

They were happily married for a year and she couldn't be happier to have a wonderful loving and caring husband. She was nineteen and came from a middle class family of two, her father having succumbed to the liver disease with only mother to support the two children, thanks to the little property her father owned.

It was Dheeraj's father who brought the proposal to their eldest daughter Shalini who was beautiful and a smart girl. Since their families were old friends, it didn't get much delayed and they married soon after. Dheeraj was already on his way to success and a supportive and loving wife only added to his new found achievement.

He loved his bride dearly but left her alone more often to go away on business tours. But she never complained and understood how important it was for their family since she was as ambitious as him.

And now as she rubbed her flat belly absently, she felt goosebumps on her arms when she thought about his reaction to the news. He would probably jump with joy and scream with happiness. Their family was going to be complete.

But he didn't come home as promised. Slightly worried, she waited for almost a week when he finally arrived. But he wasn't alone.

A small pair of coal black eyes stared right through her and she gazed intently at the little boy of almost three years, holding her husband's hand.

"Dheer? Who's this?"she asked, her face expressing bewilderment. Dheeraj looked a little exhausted "I didn't have time to tell you while returning....a lot of things happened suddenly and..."

"Who's this Dheer? Answer me!"her voice rose louder and he bit his lip but he addressed the boy who merely blinked at both of them "Daksh? Why don't you rest for a while..." he called their maid who took the boy away to the other room.

He led her to their bedroom and closed the door behind them. She could sense something was wrong and he was definitely hiding something and it wasn't good at all.

"What happened Dheer? I know there's something wrong...who's that boy? Why is he with you?"she asked once they were alone.

He didn't answer immediately but kept staring at her with a mixture of defeat and despair and that worsened her state even more, not to mention the dizziness which was playing havoc with her senses "are you hiding something from me? You know you can tell me anything" she tried to console him in a positive way.

He took her hands in his "I wasn't on a business trip this time..there was an emergency and I had to leave to Dhanbad..". She waited for him to finish without bombarding him with questions.

"You asked me about the boy" his voice was a hoarse whisper "he's my son".

She could feel the silence between them stretching a lot longer, her insides churning with the food she ate and the hormones kicking in but nothing prepared her for this.

"Son?"she repeated again and again, wondering if all this was a dream. He didn't remove his hand "it happened a long time ago...even before we got married...so I never cheated on you I swear" his voice got desperate "I didn't even know I had a son from a small affair...and I'm not justifying the mistake as well" he scratched his hair "she's dead and the boy was all alone and I didn't know what to do...I couldn't just leave him alone with no one to take care of him.."

"Are you even sure he's yours?" Shalini finally found her voice. He blinked "of course Shalu...she raised the boy without marrying anyone...she wouldn't lie about such a big thing..."

The rest of his words didn't seem to register in her mind as the dizziness was back and she fainted in his arms.

When she regained consciousness, she saw they weren't alone. Her mother in law was staring at her in concern "Shalu beta?how do you feel now?"she asked sweetly. Beside her, Dheeraj gave a concerned look.

"You shouldn't stress at this time..it's not good for you" the old lady advised her. Dheeraj stared at both of them in shock "wh..what time? What happened to her?" His mother shared a happy look "didn't she tell you? You're going to be a father".

Shalini avoided his guilty look and turned to her mother in law "maa? Can you leave us for sometime? I didn't tell him the news yet". The old lady nodded with understanding and walked out of the room.

Again, the room was filled with silence as both looked at each other with stillness "I'm sorry Shalu....I shouldn't have chosen this time...I swear I didn't know you were..." Dheeraj finally spoke up with a guilt ridden expression "but I'm very happy we are going to have a baby...".

"Why Dheer?"she cried "why did you do this to us? When things were finally getting better and we were about to have our own family, you had to dump your dark past on us".

He clasped her hands in his "I didn't know what else to do...he's all alone in this world and he needs me...his mother's dead leaving him alone....he didn't even utter a word since he came with me...I don't think he even remembers what happened..he's in shock".

"I don't understand Dheer" she shook her head "how can you be sure he's yours? Some people just extort money and blame it all on you".

"No" he said firmly "I'm sure he's mine..please accept him like a son and I promise you there won't be any complications...it'll be the same..I swear".

She looked away "nothing will be the same anymore, you know that" she rubbed her belly "I'm ready to overlook the fact because it happened much before we were married..but I'll never acknowledge that boy as my own...don't even ask me to..he can stay here as long as you want him to but to me, he's a liability".

Dheeraj didn't know what to say to that and kept himself silent. Shalini understood his dilemma "know this Dheer...that boy will be the ultimate destruction...remember that".

◇◇◇◇◇

Yash hadn't felt more guilty as he looked now, comforting his mother. Ever since he knew himself, his mother had been the rock in his life. He never shied away from sharing away important part of his life. But when his mother was looking at him in a hurtful way, he couldn't help but feel a little hurt himself.

"I..told you everything about Meera" he lied "they shifted from their hometown because her father had his job transferred from..."

"Enough Yash!" Shalini said simply "I raised you better than that..I know when you lie...I knew there was something fishy in your story so I had her background checked".

"You didn't have to do that!"he almost yelled in irritation. She cast a stern glance at him "all my life I overlooked many things in life...I'm not repeating the same thing with you again...I don't want history to repeat itself".

"It was all a scam mom!" Yash merely shrugged "they were caught in a huge betrayal".

"Her father was caught in crores of embezzlement and fraud...you call that a scam?"she snapped "he was imprisoned for six months and later granted bail because of lack of sufficient evidence...and then he was gutted off to an asylum for a year because he was mentally unstable".

"It was a psychiatric rehabilitation.. because he had sunk into depression" Yash corrected her "because the people whom he trusted betrayed him".

"That's what your girlfriend told you and you believed her, being the naive person you are" she stated coldly "how could you hide such a huge thing from me?"

He bit his lip in agitation "whatever happened wasn't Meera's fault...I love her and want to marry her..I don't care if her past was terrible...it's the present that matters".

"The present isn't great either" she suggested "they are living in a rented apartment on a lease...and her father's still medicated with anti depressants and antipsychotics...so don't tell me everything is sunshine and rainbows".

"So that's why you're so against her? I already told you she's not financially sound...and I agree I hid her scandalous past from you because I was afraid how you would react...I didn't want to complicate things further" Yash tried to explain to her by trying to diffuse the tension "it'll be fine mom I promise".

Shalini got up from her chair "this isn't the only reason I'm against your liason with her...there's something else too".

He stared at her in confusion and she looked at him firmly "we both know how Prime Corp is suffering from all the sides....we need a huge capital and sound investors if we want to hold the company your father built from scratch...I spoke to one of our old partner and investor Mr Shukla..he said he already has given tender to someone else..." there was an icy edge to her voice "don't even guess who".

Her son's expression changed to disgust "that bastard!"he winced "he's taking over our investors and making us look vulnerable...and he's not even signing to sell the stocks".

"Exactly" she nodded "I've already set up a meeting with our new investor who's interested...he wants to meet you...and you need to impress him badly if you want to defeat your brother".

"Of course I will...but I don't understand what's that got to do with Meera and me" Yash still was confused.

"He has a daughter...and right now he's searching a perfect partner for her" Shalini looked serious "that's why I want you to..."

"You can't be serious mom!" Yash bellowed angrily "I love Meera and I want to marry her...she's more important to me than any other business deal...I'm not sacrificing myself to this kind of dirty tricks.... please let me out of it".

"This is our only chance Yash...how long have you known her? Six months?" Shalini stormed "you know Daksh better than that...how can you forget what he did to us? He's the reason your father's dead...he's only given us destruction and animosity..he even destroyed your relationship with your father...are you ready to forget all that merely for a girl?"

Yash didn't answer, instead he stared at the large portrait of his father. The immense hatred he had for his half brother seemed to have engulfed him.. but Meera was his only love. She was smart but naive girl who loved him dearly as well...how could he forget everything and leave her just to get in par with his brother?

"I know you think this isn't right" Shalini shrugged "but you have to think about everyone involved in this company...by agreeing to this alliance, you're saving the entire corporation, not only our own".

"I love her mom" he sighed deeply "I can't break up with her...she will be broken hearted...she trusts me".

"She will survive it...take it from me" Shalini said calmly "no one dies from a broken heart...time heals everything...I'm sure she'll understand...I've gone through the same phase once. Maybe not similar but I know it's only a phase which will pass".

Yash stared into empty space, his mind filled with thoughts of Meera. On one side, he was obliged for his company and the destruction of his brother. On the other hand, there was immense love for her.

He looked up at his mother who was observing him with an uncanny intensity "what do you suggest we do?"

"I'll explain" she said.

◇◇◇◇◇

Tanvi barged into the conference room, her high heels clicking away and drawing attention from most of the employees but she didn't care. All her life, she had learnt not to give a damn about what others thought and stuck to it till present.

Ever since her ex had blackmailed her, she had little choice in the matter. If it had been anything else, she wouldn't bother but he had exposed the most vulnerable part of her and there was no taking lightly of the matter.

The conference room was empty save for one man whom she needed badly and true to her thoughts was snoozing on the nearest leather couch. She sat next to him with a sudden thud "so..which girl kept you busy last night?"

Daksh blinked his eyes and frowned at her "how did you know I was here?" She rolled her eyes "your uptight secretary told me or rather reluctantly...I hate her".

"I pay her to be uptight" he quirked his eyebrows at her "what do you want Tanu?" She pursed her lips "can't I come to visit you just like that? You're like a big brother to me".

"You know that line is getting really overrated...you should think of a better one" he quipped. She laughed "fine...I wanted your help..." she bit her lip "I need some cash".

"How much?"he asked straight away. She gulped "twenty five lakhs" and waited for him to say something or probably stare at her in suspicion but he merely nodded "I'll call Shlok...he's in the accounts section as we speak.. he'll draw out a check".

"Won't you even ask me why I need this much cash?"she gazed intently at him "anything at all?"

He gazed back at her "I would have but I know you won't give me a straight answer...why do we need to pretend isn't it?" She had no answer to that and simply gave a brief smile.

Even though she had decided not to involve him in her mess, things were getting out of hand and she had no choice but to turn to him. Now, as he said those words, she realized how much she needed him and how much he will protect her.

"Hectic day?"she asked, briskly changing the topic. He got up from the couch "just had meeting with one of my clients which stretched longer than necessary..had to literally take a pain killer to relieve the headache".

She laughed but when he didn't, realized he wasn't joking. He rarely joked these days and even when he did, no one would get them.

"I think I'll go to the accounts section.. see your loyal pet" she smirked and got up. He scowled "don't let him hear that". She blew a flying kiss at him and made her way to the top floor.

Daksh's assistant was busy talking to one of his staffs when he saw her heading towards them "Daksh isn't here if you're looking for him" he said curtly, after the staff had been dismissed.

"I know..I met him before coming to you..didn't he call?"she asked in an irritated tone. Shlok was one of her least favourite people and sometimes she wondered how Daksh had come to associate with this grumpy man. No one exactly knew how they had become close buddies but there were a lot of theories which she was sure were absurd. But nonetheless she hated the guy.

"He didn't..." just then the phone rang and Shlok grudgingly received it as she watched in amusement and turned to her with grimace "the royal princess is planning another vacation..." he mused "where is it this time? Bali?"

"Are you jealous Shlok?"she sneered. He gave a thin smile "of course...you managed to marry twice and got yourself two divorces which most men struggle to find in a lifetime...so I'm a tad bit jealous".

She ignored the sarcasm "can you make it faster? Or do you have to go wipe your boss's ass?" He couldn't help but grin "I'll be back in a minute".

She waited in apprehension as he came back after a while with a check in his hand which he handed over to her.

She took it and got up "guess I'll leave you to your boring job". She was almost near the door when he called her name and she turned, a little perplexed.

"You're not in some kind of trouble, are you?"he stared at her and she wondered if he was genuinely interested or simply badgering her for the sake of it.

"You know what Shlok? It's none of your bloody business" she snapped, closing the door on him.

◇◇◇◇◇

"The meeting went on successfully" Shlok explained his friend "they are ready for the deal and I'm sure we will close it by the end of this week".

"Good" said Daksh as he looked out of the glass panelled window "does anyone know about it?"

"If you mean Yash, no" Shlok gave a short laugh "let's surprise him...give him an early wedding treat". Daksh turned with a raised eyebrow "what do you mean?"

"He's seeing someone for a while and planning to get married..." Shlok stated coolly "I found out recently".

"Really? Who's she?" Daksh asked, curiosity getting the better of him. Shlok closed the file and looked at him "she's a baker...works in a big gig..".

Daksh let out a laugh and stared at his friend "a baker? He's dating a baker?" When Shlok didn't contradict, he approached him with a sly grin "my God! You're serious...who would have thought?"

"Love is blind" Shlok rolled his eyes "but there's more...I'm sure you'll find it to your liking".

Daksh wouldn't have given a rat shit about others personal affairs but this particular scandal affected him "go on" he said, his mind already running for more ways to get even with his brother....

Maybe the time had come...

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