Reclaimed Legacy

(32) - In The Shadow of Morality

Kaveri sat in her dimly lit room, the air heavy with the weight of the day's events. Her hands gripped the arms of the chair as her thoughts churned, replaying everything that had unfolded. They had lost the case. How could they have lost the case? When Rohit and Jamai-sa had left this morning, she had been so certain, so confident that victory was within their grasp. But instead, defeat had slapped them in the face. And to make matters worse, Karan Rao had to threaten them. Her heart tightened with unease—she knew men like Karan Rao, the type who didn't make idle threats. Messing with someone like him wasn't just risky; it was dangerous, and now, a dull fear simmered inside her, shadowed by anger.

And Armaan. Her mind latched onto him next. He had the audacity to lecture her, to stand up to her as if she had been wrong. What had she said to him that was so out of place? Nothing, absolutely nothing. If anything, she had complimented him—yes, she had blamed him, but only to point out the truth. If Armaan had fought for the case like he should have, they wouldn't be in this mess, and Karan Rao wouldn't be hovering like a storm cloud over their heads.

But now, as she sat in the suffocating quiet of her room, she forced herself to reflect on his words. Her lips pressed together, thin and hard. Armaan wasn't entirely wrong, was he? She had given all the high-profile cases to Rohit. It had been deliberate, an unspoken promise she had made to herself. Rohit was her favorite, the apple of her eye, the one she had always wanted to see shine. But the truth was, Rohit wasn't ready. He lacked experience, that much was clear, and that was why she had insisted Sanjay—her ever-reliable Jamai-sa—be with him, guiding his every step. Yet even now, she could see how it looked to the outside world. To them, it seemed as if Rohit was incapable of handling anything, leaning on Sanjay's shoulders like a crutch.

Kaveri's fingers drummed against the chair, her mind racing. She had to do something. The firm belonged to her family, the Poddar name was its legacy. If Sanjay continued to handle everything, there would come a day when the firm would be known more for Sanjay Bansal than the Poddars themselves. Sanjay was exceptional, no doubt, but the firm needed a Poddar at the helm, not an outsider—no matter how skilled. And yet, even as she thought this, a bitter realization crept in: Armaan was more her own blood than Sanjay ever could be.

Manoj... her thoughts flickered to her younger son. Manoj was no match for Sanjay or even Armaan. There was no denying that. She could name him successor, of course, but the truth was, everyone in the office would still sing Sanjay's praises. No, she needed to separate Sanjay from Rohit before it was too late, before Sanjay's victories became Rohit's by association, overshadowing the Poddar legacy entirely. And for that, she had Armaan to thank. He had made her see what needed to be done.

But who would guide Rohit if not Sanjay? Manoj? She scoffed silently. Manoj needed as much guidance as Rohit, even after all these years. No, there was only one person who could help Rohit, only one person who could mold him into the successor the family needed. Armaan. But after what she had done—after taking away all his cases and insulting him, after today's confrontation—would he even agree? Would he guide Rohit? Rohit had stopped speaking to Armaan long ago, and after today, it seemed like Armaan wanted nothing to do with him either.

Her mind wrestled with the dilemma, her thoughts pulling her in every direction. But Armaan, he was family, wasn't he? Her blood. Despite everything, he loved Rohit. Kaveri could see that, even through today's shouting. Armaan wasn't lashing out because of hate; it was love, it was frustration. It was the care of an elder brother who had always protected his younger one, even if Rohit failed to see it.

Yet, the truth lingered in the back of her mind like a shadow she couldn't escape. If she were honest with herself, it should be Armaan who stood as the successor of the firm, not Rohit. But how could she choose Armaan when her heart had always favored Rohit? She had spoiled Rohit since he was a child, doted on him more than anyone else. He was the son of her favorite daughter-in-law, the heir of her elder son—the one she had always been most proud of. Armaan... Armaan was also her elder son's child, but he came from a woman Kaveri had never accepted. That made it difficult, even after all these years, to truly see Armaan as her own, even though he had lived every day for the family's happiness.