Her Only Saviour

74. Fire and laughter

𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖖 𝖐𝖎 𝖉𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖓𝖎
𝖗𝖔𝖟 𝖏𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖆𝖞𝖊

𝖚𝖙𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖆 𝖉𝖍𝖚𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖔
𝖉𝖍𝖚𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖔

𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝖈𝖍𝖍𝖚𝖕𝖆𝖆𝖞𝖊..

~~~~~

2:00 𝘱.𝘮. |𝘖𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘈𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮

Security escorted the investors out, their files left abandoned, their threats hanging in the air like dying embers.

Ram approached cautiously. “Sir, should I alert legal to start proceedings?”

Anirudh didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were locked on a photo on his desk.

Nandini.

She was smiling—months ago—her eyes filled with fire and laughter and love.

He traced a finger over the edge of the frame and finally spoke.

“Start with freezing their affiliate accounts. And call the media. I want them exposed tonight.”

Ram blinked. “Sir, that could get ugly. You’re risking reputation, lawsuits—”

“I’m risking nothing,” Anirudh said softly. “I’m doing what’s right.”

He walked away then.

Not as a CEO.

But as a man who refused to let his pain turn him cruel.

---

Anirudh arrived home early. Not to be noticed. But to sit alone on the terrace where the wind could drown his thoughts.

He didn't expect Nandini to be there too.

She was standing barefoot, hands on her bump, staring at the sky like it held answers.

He paused at the doorway.

She sensed him but didn’t move.

“You look angry,” she murmured.

He stepped beside her. “I was.”

“Good,” she said. “Some monsters only respond to rage.”

He glanced at her, a hint of something unspoken in his gaze.

“I heard what you did,” she added quietly. “Vivaan told Dadi.”

He said nothing.

Then, without warning, she looked at him.

“You’re trying to become a better man,” she whispered. “Don’t stop. Even if I never forgive you.”

He nodded.

“Even if I burn for it,” he murmured.

For a second, just a breath, the silence between them didn’t feel like a wall.

It felt like a bridge—shaky, uncertain, but possible.

And for Anirudh Singh Oberoi, that was enough.

For now.

-----

The Oberoi Mansion was bathed in its usual golden glow as the sun dipped beyond the skyline.
Inside, laughter echoed faintly from the living room — Rudra was watching a comedy show, guffawing at the screen like a child. But the warmth didn’t reach the corners of the house where Anirudh Singh Oberoi sat, motionless, in his study.