Behind them, Rudra and Aarav watched in stunned silence as the red car danced ahead.
Aarav's eyebrows shot up. "Bhai… that's your wife?"
Rudra didn't answer right away. His gaze was locked on the Mercedes, his pulse quickening. He felt a fierce pride ripple through him—this woman, his wife, was untameable, free, alive.
"Yes," he finally said, voice husky. "That's her."
Aarav let out a low whistle. "She's… something else."
Rudra pulled the G-Wagon to the left, matching Anaya's line, keeping a steady distance. "Keep low. Let her lead the way."
They arrived at the sprawling glass-and-steel façade of Singhaniya Towers, the city office block rising like a beacon of ambition. Anaya guided the Mercedes into the private entrance, Janvi leaning out the window to point.
"There!" Janvi said, pointing past the valet lanes. "Back entrance!"
Anaya eased the car into a narrow drive, the engine's growl softening to a muted hum as she parked neatly beside an empty loading dock.
Anaya turned off the engine, then turned in her seat. Her chest rose and fell with excitement. "We made it."
She stepped out, smoothing her tailored blouse. Her hair fell around her shoulders in perfect disarray—just the way she liked.
Janvi hopped out and joined her. "You were born to drive that car. Bravo."
Anaya's cheeks warmed. "I'm glad you're here."
Janvi leaned in. "Always."
Behind them, the G-Wagon drifted to a stop. Rudra stepped out, his presence a calm, powerful contrast to Anaya's electric energy. Aarav followed, slinging an arm around his brother in affectionate mischief.
Anaya felt her breath catch at the sight of Rudra's crisp suit, the way the morning light danced on his dark hair, the faint scent of sandalwood and something unmistakably him. She realized in that instant that life with him would always be an adventure.
Rudra approached, covering the short distance in steady strides. He stopped just beside her, hand resting lightly on the car's roof.
Anaya looked up at him, her heart fluttering. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion—more than just gratitude for the car. "For believing in me."
Rudra's lips curved into a soft, genuine smile. "Always," he replied, voice low, private. "Now… go win them over."
Anaya's eyes glistened with determination as she turned to Janvi and Aarav. "Ready?"
Janvi and Aarav both nodded, then slipped inside through the service door. Rudra and Anaya shared a long look—an unspoken promise in their eyes—before she followed.
Inside, the corridor was cool and quiet, the hum of air-conditioning and distant footsteps guiding them to the boardroom. Anaya's nerves fluttered once more, but Rudra's hand found hers—steady, reassuring.
She squeezed his fingers. "Let's do this."
He nodded, then quietly withdrew his hand, giving her the space to step forward as a professional in her own right. "Show them who you are, Velvet."
Anaya squared her shoulders at the threshold. With one last glance at him, she opened the door…
…and stepped into her future.
.______.📑.______..______.💻.______..______.
The gates of Singhaniya Corp opened like the quiet wings of destiny unfolding.
The low hum of an engine echoed through the underground parking lot as the ruby-red Mercedes pulled into its designated spot. It was an ordinary Monday morning to most—but not to her.
Anaya Malhotra stepped out of the car in a pair of nude stilettos that clicked confidently against the polished concrete. She adjusted her deep olive-green coat dress, cinched perfectly at the waist, its silhouette accentuating her feminine strength. Her makeup was soft, hair gathered in a high ponytail, every strand in place. There was no overstatement in her appearance, but there was something about her aura—calm, yet assertive—that made people pause.
From the other side of the car, Janvi Sharma emerged.
In a muted grey pantsuit with sharp shoulder cuts and a satin inner blouse tucked beneath, Janvi looked like she'd just walked off the cover of a Forbes feature. Her watch gleamed under the parking lights, and her heels were Louboutin—scarlet-soled and unapologetically expensive. The kind of expensive that wasn't just about money—it was about statement.
The two women glanced at each other, sharing a silent nod before walking toward the elevator that would take them to the battlefield.
Today was the final boardroom presentation for their AI-integrated virtual assistant. Months of research. Weeks of sleepless nights. And now… ten men on the board would decide if it deserved the future.
As they stepped into the lobby, heads turned.
Receptionists at the front desk looked up in perfect synchrony, their smiles automatic but their eyes stunned. A few interns froze mid-conversation. Employees glanced up from their phones. The air shifted.
"Ms. Malhotra. Ms. Sharma. Good morning!" A familiar voice greeted them, tinged with enthusiasm.
"Good morning," Anaya replied, tucking the car key into the deepest zippered pocket of her tote with subtle precision. No one needed to see the logo on that key.
"You both look stunning today," the man added. "Big day, huh?"
"The biggest," Janvi smiled sweetly. "Wish us luck."
"Oh, I don't think you need luck," he said, half-joking. "You look like you've already won."
They made their way to the elevator, poised and focused. Anaya's fingers were laced over her phone, hiding the tremble of adrenaline as she hit the button.
The doors opened.
As they stepped inside, the mirrored steel walls reflected not just their appearances but their energy—professional, refined, powerful.
But just before the doors could close—
Ding.
The elevator beside theirs opened.
Rudra Singhaniya stepped out with Aarav at his side, both dressed in three-piece charcoal suits. Power personified.
Rudra's hair was slicked back, his usual stoic expression fixed in place, but his eyes—those sharp, unreadable eyes—locked on Anaya in an instant. And for the briefest second, time faltered. The hidden tether between them tugged quietly.
Aarav, ever the mischievous one, waved with a smirk. "Hi, Miss Sharma," he said teasingly.
Janvi gave him a bored look, unamused. "Focus on your files, intern," she retorted playfully.
The elevator doors shut.
Janvi chuckled once. "He's cute when he tries."
Anaya just smiled.
But inside, her chest fluttered. Rudra had looked at her—not just with pride but with… reverence. As if he didn't just know she'd do well. He believed it.
.______.(^///^)(^///^)(^///^).______..______..______..______.💕
Thirty-seventh floor. The floor where voices shaped futures.
The corridor was quiet as they stepped out. The heavy doors to the boardroom stood like silent sentinels.
Pranali approached them with a warm smile, a file clutched in her hand. "Best of luck, you two. You look like bosses already."
"Thank you," Anaya said softly, her heart pounding.
Janvi, ever the unbothered one, leaned closer and whispered, "Ready to show the men what vision really looks like?"
Anaya nodded, exhaling deeply.
The staff coordinator stepped out of the boardroom and called their names.
"Ms. Malhotra, Ms. Sharma. They're ready."
The boardroom was massive, oval-shaped, and sterile in design—but thick with tension.
Ten board members sat in a curved row at the far end. Dev Singhaniya stood beside the central table, Ravi on his left, Aarav seated casually with one leg over the other. Rudra sat to the right—hands folded, face unreadable.
As the women stepped in, the entire board turned.
Their entrance was not dramatic—but it changed the room's air. Their calmness was threatening, their femininity disarming, and their silence before speaking more eloquent than any rushed words.
"Welcome," Dev said, nodding. "We've been looking forward to this."
Anaya bowed slightly. "Thank you for having us, sir."
Janvi nodded once. "Shall we begin?"
The presentation began.
Anaya stepped forward, the projector casting soft blue light onto the screen. Her voice—measured, soothing—filled the room.
"We live in a time where technology walks beside us. But we often forget that technology is not supposed to just assist—it's supposed to understand."
She raised the small silver bracelet. Sleek. Simple. Understated.
"This is our answer to that. A wearable AI assistant that doesn't require charging, wires, or commands. It is shockproof, solar-powered, and satellite-run. It senses the environment, detects emergencies, translates, guides routes, provides reminders—and most importantly, it learns from you. From your tone. Your pattern. Your world."
She held the room in quiet authority.
Rudra didn't blink.
Janvi took over from there.
"The current virtual assistants are loud. Bulky. Invasive. What we offer is a personalized experience—a device that doesn't just follow instructions, it feels like a companion. A partner."
She walked slowly, making eye contact with each board member.
"It's intuitive. Compact. Affordable. Usable by any age group. You don't need to speak tech to use it—you just need to live."
Her words hit like gentle arrows. Sharp, but graceful.
"This isn't just innovation," she finished. "It's inclusion. And that… is our future."
A silence followed.
Not of dismissal.
But of impact.
Dev Singhaniya leaned back, arms crossed, his face unreadable but eyes thoughtful.
Ravi smiled, intrigued. Aarav stared at Janvi like she had just won a championship. But Rudra?
Rudra Singhaniya sat with his hands still folded.
But his thumb was moving—rubbing the edge of his ring finger slowly.
A sign of focus. Of pride.
Of admiration.
His eyes, fixed on Anaya, were softer now. She stood tall, not looking at him—but he was certain she felt his gaze.
She had just led a room of men like she was born to rule them.
And in that moment, Rudra didn't see his wife.
He saw his equal.
His partner.
His pride.
And for the first time in his cold, quiet life—he wanted the world to see her too.
.______..______..______.📑.______..______..______..______.💘
A stillness followed.
Not of boredom. Not of hesitation.
But a silence so heavy, it hung between the ceiling lights and the fingertips of every man seated at the boardroom table.
Anaya stood still, her fingers resting lightly on the edge of the polished mahogany table, the bracelet now placed neatly in front of the board as if it were a crown waiting for its kingdom. Beside her, Janvi folded her arms calmly, her chin slightly raised. They had said everything they needed to. The room could decide what to do with it.
The first to speak was an older board member with greying hair and a reputation for shooting down ideas before they bloomed.
"Well…" he said, tapping his pen twice against his pad, "this is—unexpected."
Ravi raised an eyebrow. "In a good way, I hope?"
The man chuckled softly, adjusting his glasses. "Very much so. The last ten ideas we reviewed were technically strong but lacked vision. These girls have it."
"They're not girls," Rudra's voice cut through suddenly, calm but steely. "They're innovators. Professionals. And they've earned that title."
Anaya's breath caught—but she didn't look at him.
She couldn't.
One glance, and she might unravel.
Aarav sat up straighter, nodding. "I agree. I wasn't even breathing during that demo."
"I second the motion," another board member smiled. "Ms. Sharma, Ms. Malhotra—you both presented like seasoned veterans. Tell us—what kind of rollout are you expecting in phase one?"
The questions followed in waves—sharp, curious, intrigued. Janvi handled the technical metrics. Anaya addressed the marketing plan. Every word, every answer, was polished with quiet confidence.
By the end, Dev Singhaniya stood.
"I've been in this room longer than any of you," he said, hands folded behind his back, gaze sweeping across the table. "And rarely have I seen two young minds present something with such clarity, conviction, and grace. I want this to go into development immediately."
Janvi's eyes flickered.
Anaya blinked once, almost in disbelief.
Dev turned toward Rudra. "You'll take charge of this team. Oversee development personally."
Rudra nodded once. "I already intended to."
The statement lingered like a silent vow.