His Bride

17 / Family

Dhruv's Pov

The moment the words left my mouth, the room descended into stunned silence. My family—people who had seen me handle the darkest dealings, people who had witnessed me build an empire from the ground up without flinching—now sat frozen, their expressions ranging from disbelief to sheer shock.

I had just dropped a bomb, and they were still trying to process the explosion.

All eyes were on me, questioning, demanding answers without a single word being spoken. My siblings, my Bua, everyone I had grown up with—none of them had ever seen me like this. And certainly, none of them had ever expected me to walk in with a wife and a child.

I didn't give them a chance to recover. Without hesitation, I took Arushi's hand in one of mine and Aadhi's in the other, guiding them towards the couch in the center of the room. I could feel the slight tremor in Arushi's fingers, but she didn't resist. Aadhi, on the other hand, clung to me without hesitation, completely unaware of the storm brewing around us.

Once they were seated, I took my place beside them, exuding a calm that I knew would only aggravate my family further.

"Ask now," I said, my voice steady, unwavering.

That was all it took.

The room erupted.

"What the hell do you mean wife?" Dada was the first to speak, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Since when do you—" He gestured between me and Arushi, trying to form a sentence but failing.

"Since when are you even married?" Baba chimed in, his brows furrowed in confusion. "We didn't hear a word about this!"

"And daughter?" My mother's voice cut through the chaos, her sharp eyes narrowing on me. "When did you have a daughter, Dhruv? And why is this the first time we're hearing about it?"

Their reactions were expected, but I had no patience for their interrogation. I wasn't here to seek approval or beg for acceptance. I had made my decision.

Arushi sat beside me, her posture rigid, her hands clasped together in her lap. I knew this was overwhelming for her. She wasn't used to this—being the center of attention, being questioned, being in my world. But she held herself together, her face carefully neutral, as if willing herself to be invisible.

Aadhi, on the other hand, was completely unbothered. She swung her legs back and forth, looking at everyone with wide, curious eyes. Then, as if sensing the tension in the room, she leaned against me, her tiny fingers gripping my sleeve.

That one small action silenced the room.

Aadhi had chosen her side.

The weight of their silence lingered in the air, thick with unsaid words and suppressed emotions. My family, who had always believed they knew every move I made, were now staring at me as if I had turned into someone unrecognizable. Their shock was palpable, but I didn't flinch.

"I'll answer all of your questions," I said, my voice calm, but firm.

I let my words sink in, watching their expressions shift from disbelief to intrigue. They wanted answers, and for once, I was willing to give them. Not because I owed them an explanation, but because I wanted them to understand that this wasn't something they could question or undo.

I exhaled slowly before continuing. "Remember when I was in London for three years?" I asked, my gaze flickering to my Bua, knowing she would remember that period well.

"Yes, almost six years back," she said with a nod. "You were handling business there, expanding the company's reach. You rarely spoke to us during that time."