Page 6 of The Secret Bride
"So. I heard through the grapevine that someone is finally going to get hitched. Congratulations, man. It is about time you settled down."
I gave him a slight smile.
"It is time. Dadi has been pushing for this, and Avija is ready. It makes sense."
Aryan studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
"You make marriage sound like a corporate merger."
"Maybe it is," I said evenly. "Compatibility. Shared goals. Mutual respect. What else is marriage supposed to be?"
Aryan shook his head, but he was still smiling.
"If you say so, brother. Good for you anyway."
Anuj cleared his throat politely.
"Shall we begin, Mr. Khanna?"
I nodded.
"Go ahead."
Anuj clicked something on his laptop, and the screen lit up with the first slide of the presentation. He began talking, walking us through projected revenue streams, market analysis, risk assessments, timelines. His voice was clear and professional. The data was well organized.
But I was barely listening.
My mind kept drifting back to the elevator. To the woman who had collapsed into my arms. To the way she had looked at me with those wide, frightened eyes before whispering a thank you and vanishing into the hallway.
I could still feel her. The weight of her fragile body. The softness of her hair beneath my fingers. The way her breathing had finally steadied when I held her close.
I shook my head slightly, forcing myself to focus on Anuj's presentation. He was pointing at a graph now, explaining something about quarterly growth projections. Aryan was nodding along, asking the occasional question.
This was important. This was business. I needed to pay attention.
But even as I tried to concentrate, the image of her stayed with me. Lingering at the edges of my thoughts like something I could not quite shake loose.
Chapter 2
Viya
I got the job.
Oh my god, I got the job.
Three days after the interview, the HR department called just as I was stepping out of the auto near my home.The woman's voice on the other end of the line was professional and warm, and when she said the words "We are pleased to offer you the position," I had to stop walking because my knees suddenly felt weak.
"You will be joining as a Junior Developer in our tech department," she continued. "Your start date is this coming Monday. We will send you an email with all the necessary details regarding your onboarding process and documentation requirements."
I managed to choke out a thank you, my voice shaking with excitement. After the call ended, I stood there on the sidewalk, clutching my phone to my chest, a huge smile spreading acrossmy face. People walked past me, giving me odd looks, but I did not care.
I had done it. I had actually done it.
For the first time in my life, I had something that was truly mine. Something I had earned on my own merit. Not charity. Not pity. Not something given to me out of obligation. This job was mine because I deserved it.
I needed to tell someone. I needed to share this happiness before it burst out of me.
Uncle would be proud. I knew he would. He had always supported my education, always encouraged me to study hard and build a future for myself. But before I told Uncle, there was someone else I needed to call.
