A Bargain Made with Frosting

Ch. 30. A Glimpse of the Past

Shivay sank back into his chair, the memory of Natasha a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, a bittersweet mix of youthful love and the searing betrayal that followed.

Years ago, Shivay and Natasha had been inseparable. College sweethearts, their love had bloomed under the shade of banyan trees and stolen glances across crowded lecture halls. He'd seen her as sunshine personified, her laughter a melody that filled his world. He, in turn, had been her rock, a constant presence in her whirlwind life.

Shivay, then a bright-eyed dreamer, saw a future with Natasha, a future painted in vibrant hues of love and success. But dreams, as he learned the hard way, could be shattered with a single blow.

The memory of their shattered engagement ceremony was a vivid scar.  Natasha, the woman he planned to spend his life with, simply didn't show up. The public humiliation tarnished their families' reputations, delivering a devastating blow to Shivay's grandfather, who tragically suffered a fatal heart attack in the aftermath. The weight of his grandfather's passing, a direct consequence of the broken engagement, added a layer of bitterness to Shivay's heartbreak.

Haunted by grief, Shivay sought solace in the apartment he and Natasha had purchased, a symbol of their unfulfilled dreams. But as he entered with a spare key, the sounds emanating from a nearby room froze him in his tracks.  Slowly, with a growing sense of dread, he pushed open the door, only to witness a scene that would forever alter the course of his life. Natasha, entwined with Rohit, her step-brother, was caught in a blatant act of betrayal.

The initial shock gave way to a torrent of emotions – anger, betrayal, and a profound sense of disillusionment. As they scrambled to cover themselves, Shivay stood rooted, his world crumbling around him.

Natasha, ever the manipulator, attempted to salvage the situation with a flimsy excuse. She claimed her love for him, but her love, it seemed, came with a hefty price tag. She couldn't bear the thought of a life without the opulent lifestyle the Oberoi wealth provided. The dream of building a life together, brick by brick, held no appeal for her. Her desires lay in instant gratification and luxurious comfort.

When confronted about Rohit, Natasha offered a pathetic justification.  Apparently, a drunken stupor the night before the engagement had led her to Rohit's bed. She blamed Shivay's decision to wait until marriage for intimacy for her lapse in judgment. The hypocrisy of her words only deepened Shivay's disgust.

Disgusted and enraged, Shivay stormed out. He contacted Natasha's father, delivering a chilling ultimatum – either get her out of Mumbai, or face the consequences of a public scandal that would bring their company to its knees.  The Oberoi name held significant weight, and Natasha's father, well aware of their power, swiftly whisked her away to the United States.

Years had passed since that fateful day.  Natasha, upon her return to Mumbai, discovered a surprising truth – Shivay, the man she once deemed an unambitious dreamer, had become a colossal success. The very wealth she had disdained was now within her grasp, and with it, a renewed interest in Shivay. Her past betrayals meant nothing to her; she was determined to have him back, at any cost.

Shivay, the starry-eyed dreamer, had vanished. In his place stood a hardened businessman, a testament to the past he'd meticulously fortified. Love, in his experience, was a cruel deceiver, and towering walls now guarded his heart. Annika, with her radiant smile and genuine warmth, had begun to chip away at those defenses, unknowingly offering a glimpse of a different future. But Natasha's reappearance, with her veiled threats and manipulative tactics, threatened to bring those walls crashing down.

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Brushing aside the turmoil stirred by Natasha, Shivay focused on the present. He called Mishra, his voice firm, "Make sure Natasha never steps foot in this office, and keep her away from Annika." Mishra, understanding the weight of the request, simply nodded.

Later that evening, upon returning home, Shivay was greeted by a series of colorful sticky notes adorning the refrigerator. The first read, "Skip the cold water! Warm is best after a long day." The second chimed in, "Change and hurry! Prep work's done, just cook! Empty containers are a good sign." The last, a playful farewell, "Sweet dreams! Don't miss me too much!"

A smile tugged at the corners of Shivay's lips. Annika's messages, a balm to his troubled emotions, painted a warm picture of domesticity that contrasted starkly with the turmoil of his professional life. They were a reminder of the life he was building, a future he wouldn't let Natasha destroy.

The next day, Shivay arrived at the office, a mask of composure firmly in place. As soon as he settled into his cabin, Tej, his ever-concerned uncle, barged in.

"Shivay," Tej boomed, his voice laced with worry, "Have you finalized the deal with Mr. Jackson? He's leaving tomorrow, you know. We can't afford to miss this opportunity."

Shivay, despite the turmoil churning within him, maintained a calm demeanor. "Don't worry, Uncle," he assured Tej, his voice betraying none of the anxiety gnawing at him. "Everything is under control."

Tej, somewhat reassured by Shivay's confident tone, nodded curtly and exited the cabin. The moment the door shut, Shivay's calm facade crumbled. His expression hardened, betraying the anxiety gnawing at him.

Mishra, who had witnessed the entire exchange, approached Shivay cautiously. "Sir," he began hesitantly, "why did you lie to Mr. Tej? We both know things are far from under control. Without Mrs. Annika there to present, Mr. Jackson is unlikely to sign."

Shivay sighed, the pressure evident on his face. "Don't panic, Mishra. I'll do everything in my power to convince Mr. Jackson at the party tonight. You, just focus on your usual tasks."

Mishra, sensing Shivay's attempt at self-assurance, offered a sympathetic look. He knew these were mere words, spoken more to maintain a facade than out of genuine conviction. A heavy silence descended upon the cabin, broken only by Shivay's shallow breaths. Mishra, his heart heavy with worry, could only offer a silent prayer, hoping for a miracle to intervene and save the deal and Shivay's future.

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Thankyou for reading

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