Six Journeys One Destiny

Chapter 2 Shadows of Past

The ballroom thrummed with the slow hum of conversation, laughter weaving in and out of the symphony of glasses clinking. The Singhanias, Malhotras, and Lambas were all under one roof again after years, but not without old wounds and buried secrets lurking beneath the surface.

The elders of the three families sat at a more secluded table, away from the younger crowd, their interactions filled with the weight of the past and present.

The Elders' Table 

Kirtan Singhania,  Nil, Heyansh and Paridhi's father, leaned back in his chair, his imposing presence hard to miss. His eyes, sharp and calculating, skimmed the gathering. Beside him sat his wife,  Arti Singhania,  whose elegant charm softened the tension in his demeanor.

Opposite them were Avinash Malhotra and Meera Malhotra, Ayan and Prisha's parents. Meera's quiet strength contrasted with Avinash's more stern, rigid nature. He had been in business for decades, his family once close allies of the Singhanias, though time had slowly pulled them apart. Next to them sat Ravi Lamba and his wife, Puja Lamba—Radhika's parents—who seemed to be watching the gathering with an air of quiet contentment.

The three families' history was steeped in friendship, rivalry, and a complicated entanglement of alliances. They had stood together in business for years, but those ties had grown more fragile as their children grew up and the mistakes of the past began to show their cracks.

Kiran broke the silence first, swirling his whiskey slowly. "It's been a long time since we've all sat down like this."

Avinash grunted, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Too long, Kiran. These things... They never stay the same, do they? Children grow up, alliances shift."

Meera, sensing the tension, shot her husband a glance. "Avinash, it's a celebration. Let's not get into business tonight."

But Kiran's smile was thin, eyes lingering on Nil across the room. "Business or not, everything comes back to the family. Don't forget that, Avinash. We wouldn't want the past to repeat itself."

Ravi Lamba chuckled lightly, easing the palpable tension. "And here I was thinking we were all here for a good evening, not to rehash old grudges."

Nina joined in with a soft smile. "Ravi's right. We should focus on celebrating our children tonight."

The words "our children" hung in the air, their double-edged meaning unmistakable. The future lay in the hands of their children now, but none of the parents could forget the mistakes and choices that had brought them all to this point.

As their conversation continued, an unspoken agreement hovered between them—to keep certain things buried, for now. But it was only a matter of time before the past caught up with them all.

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At the bar, Heyansh continued nursing his drink, trying to distract himself from the escalating tension he felt every time Prisha was near. His eyes tracked her instinctively, unable to ignore her presence, despite his better judgment. She was standing near Paridhi, her cold, composed demeanor making it impossible for anyone to get close—anyone but one particular man.

A tall, well-dressed stranger approached Prisha, a confident swagger in his step. He leaned in slightly, his intent clear. Heyansh watched, his eyes darkening as the man struck up conversation with her. Prisha, ever cold and indifferent, seemed uninterested, but that didn't stop the stranger from pushing his luck, moving closer, his hand lingering near her waist.

Heyansh felt something primal surge within him—anger, jealousy, protectiveness? He didn't know what it was, but it clawed at his insides, urging him to act. He clenched his glass tightly, jaw tensing as he tried to steady his emotions. But the sight of the man laughing at something Prisha didn't even seem to care about made the pressure inside him spike.