Species Of Life

52. 📄 The Decision He Can't Sign(Updated)

At Nigam Empire, Siddharth was reviewing a presentation he was scheduled to deliver in just an hour. After thoroughly checking each slide, he shut down his laptop, leaned back in his chair, and took a deep breath. Something nudged at his mind, a thought unshaken. He rose, left his cabin, and headed toward Abhi's office, only to find it empty. Right—Abhi had gone for a meeting. Sid made a mental note to speak with him once he returned.

Later that day, after the meeting was over, Sid was immersed in his work again when the cabin door burst open with an uncharacteristic force. Startled, he looked up—and froze. Abhi stood there, his face set in anger.

Sid rose from his chair. "What happened, dada?"

Abhi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he locked the door behind him and marched toward Sid, a file clenched tightly in his hand.

"Care to explain this?" he demanded, shoving the file into Sid's hands.

Sid took it, flipped through the pages, and instantly paled. "Dada... I was going to tell you only—"

But Abhi cut him off, his voice rising. "Just how could you even think of this, Ashu?"

"Please, at least listen to me," Sid pleaded, his tone now anxious.

"Speak," Abhi said coldly, crossing his arms.

Sid gently pushed him down onto the chair, offering him a glass of water to calm his rage. Once he saw the tightness in Abhi's face ease slightly, he began.

"Dada, I was on my way to talk to you about this. But tell me... how did this file even get to you?"

Abhi looked at him with disbelief. "You and Sumedh were in a meeting, and I needed Mr. Chadha's file. I sent Vishal to your cabin to get it. He brought this by mistake. And thank God he did—otherwise I would've never known."

"It's not like that—" Sid began, but Abhi shut him down again.

"Then what is it, Ashu? Explain it to me!"

Sid sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, let it be... but dada, just hear me out calmly. This is important."

Abhi's eyes were still clouded with frustration. "I'm telling you this clearly—I'm not going to sign these papers."

"But why?" Sid's voice cracked slightly.

"What do you mean 'why'?" Abhi's disappointment was louder than his anger now. "You know what this means, right? And yet before drafting this document, you didn't think it was important to come talk to me?"

"I know it's a huge step," Sid admitted, "but it's also necessary."

Abhi stood up abruptly. "No. It's not."

Sid stepped closer. "Dada, please try to understand. I can't handle both things anymore—Active Brand and Nigam Empire together. It's taking a toll."

Abhi placed his hands firmly on Sid's shoulders. "Who's asking you to handle both? Just focus on Active Brand. You don't need to pull away from everything else."

But Sid gently removed Abhi's hands from his shoulders and instead held them. "You know very well that's not possible. As long as I hold a share in this company, I will be called to every meeting, asked to be part of every decision. I can't stay halfway in. That's not fair to either of us."

Abhi didn't respond immediately, the conflict visible in his eyes. He was about to speak when Sid's phone buzzed. He looked down—Sumedh was calling.

"Dada, I have to take this one. But please... think about it with a calm mind. I need your support."

Without waiting for a response, Sid walked out of the cabin, leaving Abhi surrounded by heavy thoughts. Alone now, Abhi sat down slowly, placing his head in his hands.

"Oh God," he murmured. "What is this? I can't let Ashu do this... Not this time. Every time I've accepted his decisions, but this... this time, he has to understand."

Abhi took a long breath, drank the remaining water, and then walked back to his cabin, burdened.

That night, the family decided to dine at a restaurant. Sid and Abhi were riding together, but neither spoke a word during the journey. The silence between them was thick with the tension left from their earlier quarrel. When they reached the restaurant, Abhi got out at the entrance while Sid went to park the car.

Just as Sid stepped out from the driver's seat, a young waiter approached him with a small envelope.

"Sir," the boy said, handing it over before quickly disappearing.

Sid looked around, puzzled. He opened the envelope cautiously and read the note inside: "Come to the garden at the back of the restaurant. –Your well-wisher."

He frowned. "Who the hell is this 'well-wisher'?"

For a moment, he debated. Then, making up his mind, he took out his phone and texted Avni: I'll join you in a bit. Have to take care of something.

He slipped the card into his pocket and turned toward the rear side of the restaurant, unaware that the evening was about to bring more than just a casual dinner.

Vote: 45+