Inside the meeting room, the atmosphere was tense.
One of the clients finally spoke.
"Mr. Mehra… Mr. Raichand is a very big businessman. We can't afford to go against him. I think it's important to maintain good relations with such people."
Aryan slowly looked at him.
"Mr. Rathore, I understand what you're trying to say," Aryan replied calmly. "But we had a deal. And as a businessman, the most important thing is not to back down from your word."
The room fell silent.
"What has happened now, Mr. Rathore?" Aryan asked, his tone sharp.
Mr. Rathore lowered his head slightly.
"Mr. Mehra… we just think—"
Aryan interrupted.
"Mr. Raichand and I have some personal issues. I will deal with them myself. It would be better if none of you involve yourselves in this matter."
The clients exchanged uneasy glances.
One of them tried again. "But Mr. Mehra, we all—"
Aryan cut him off firmly.
"I hope I've made myself clear. That will be all. Excuse me."
Without waiting for a response, he stood up and walked out of the meeting room.
Back in his cabin, Aryan sat down heavily in his chair.
He loosened his tie slightly and stared ahead, lost in thought.
"This is going beyond personal now…" he muttered to himself.
Aravindh was pacing inside his cabin, speaking angrily on the phone.
Meanwhile — At Raichand's Office
"Mr. Rathore, how could you not say anything?" he snapped.
Just then, the cabin door opened slightly.
Dev stepped inside quietly — and froze when he heard his father's voice.
"I don't need any excuses," Aravindh continued. "You should not make any deal with Aryan Mehra. He should suffer. I want him to go back to the position where he started."
Dev's expression changed.
Aravindh ended the call and turned around — only to see Dev standing there.
"Dev… when did you come?" he asked.
"Just a few minutes ago. I was speaking with our staff," Dev replied calmly.
"Oh…" Aravindh said, trying to sound normal.
"Dad… what were you talking about on the phone?"
Aravindh stayed silent.
Dev's eyes hardened.
"Whom do you want to suffer?"
Aravindh exhaled sharply. "I'm doing this for you, Dev. I won't spare the people who made you suffer."
Dev let out a frustrated breath.
"Dad, please stop saying you're doing this for me. At least admit you're doing this because of your ego.
Aravindh's eyebrows furrowed. "My ego?"
"Yes, Dad. What else?" Dev replied firmly.
"Did I ask you to do this? Did I ever tell you I'm suffering?"
Aravindh remained quiet.
"Dad, I'm fine," Dev continued. "I'm actually happy the marriage didn't happen. If Prerna and I had gotten married, we both would have suffered our whole lives."
"I know what happened was wrong," Dev said. "Their family made a mistake. But if we try to hurt them now, what difference will there be between us and them?"
Aravindh tried to speak. "Dev, you're not understanding. I—"
"I understand everything, Dad," Dev interrupted gently but firmly. "But tell me something… after making them suffer, what do you expect in return?"
Aravindh fell silent.
"Do you want them to force Prerna to marry me?" Dev asked, his voice steady but sharp.
"No, Dev… I—" Aravindh tried to explain.
"Then what, Dad?" Dev pressed.
"What exactly do you want? Revenge? Satisfaction? Or just to prove that you're more powerful?"
Aravindh looked at his son, unable to answer immediately.
He stepped closer.
"We both know Aryan is a capable builder.
We need his partnership. Please don't take risks that could affect our company."
His voice softened.
"And please… don't fight a war in my name."
With that, Dev turned and walked out of the cabin.
Aravindh stood there, watching his son leave —
At the College
Aanya and her friends walked out of the campus, chatting.
Tara looked around and teased,
"Looks like your Mr. Aryan didn't come."
Aanya tried to sound normal.
"He'll come. Sometimes a few minutes' delay happens here and there."
Meera smiled. "Okay then, we'll leave."
"Bye," Aanya said softly.
"Bye!" her friends waved and left.
Soon, Aanya was standing alone near the college gate, waiting.
She kept looking at the road.
Meanwhile — At the Office
One by one, the employees left.
Simran came to Aryan's cabin.
"Sir, is there any other work?"
"No," Aryan replied without looking up.
"Then I'll leave, sir."
He didn't respond.
After she left, Aryan leaned back in his chair. Exhaustion took over. He closed his eyes… and unknowingly drifted into sleep.
His phone lay on the table — on silent mode.
Back at the College,
Aanya checked the time again.
Why hasn't Mr. Aryan come yet?
Did he go home without picking me up?
Her heart tightened.
"Let me call him," she whispered.
She dialed his number.
The call rang.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
"Why isn't he picking up?" she muttered nervously.
Is he really that angry?
After hesitating for a moment, she said,
"Wait… let me call Devika aunty."
At Home,
Devika glanced at the clock.
"It's getting late. Why haven't Aryan and Aanya come yet?" she said worriedly to Nandini.
Nandini hid her thoughts.
Oh Devika… you're waiting for them. But I'm waiting for Aanya's parents to arrive, she thought silently.
Just then, Devika's phone rang.
"Aanya is calling."
She answered immediately.
"Aanya? Why haven't you both come home yet? Where are you?"
"Aunty… I called you to ask about Mr. Aryan," Aanya said nervously.
"What do you mean?"
Aunty, he hasn't come to the college yet. I tried calling him. The call is ringing, but he's not answering. I thought he might be at home."
Devika's face turned serious.
"What? No, he hasn't come home."
"Wait," she said quickly and cut the call.
She dialed Aryan's number.
No response.
Devika immediately called the office security.
The guard answered.
"Is Aryan sir still there?" Devika asked.
"Yes, ma'am. Sir is still in the office."
"Is he in a meeting?"
"No, ma'am. Everyone has left. Only sir is inside."
"Please go and tell him I'm calling. He isn't answering his phone."
"Okay, ma'am."
Devika ended the call.
Nandini asked casually, "What happened?"
"I don't know why he hasn't left the office yet… and he's not answering his phone," Devika replied worriedly.
Inside Aryan's Cabin,
Aryan was asleep — but restless.
In his dream…
His father, Anand, stood before him.
"Aryan, you are my son. If you don't trust me, then who will?" Anand said.
Aryan looked at him emotionally.
"Why did you do it, Dad?"
"Do what?" Anand asked, confused.
"Don't fool me. I know everything. I saw everything," Aryan said, his voice breaking.
Anand's face turned pale.
"Why, Dad? Why did you do that?" Aryan demanded.
"Didn't you ever think about us?"
Anand remained speechless.
Suddenly, Anand collapsed to the ground.
"Dad! Dad!" Aryan shouted desperately.
"Sir… sir…"
A voice interrupted.
Aryan suddenly opened his eyes.
The security guard stood in front of him.
"Sir, I received a call from home. They said you're not answering your phone."
Aryan blinked, coming back to reality.
He quickly grabbed his phone.
Missed calls.
Aanya.
Devika.
Multiple times.
"Damn it… it's 8:00," he muttered.
Without wasting another second, he grabbed his coat and rushed out of the cabin.
Minutes later, Aryan was driving fast toward the college.
On the way, he called his mother.
"Mom…"
Devika immediately answered, her voice full of worry.
"Aryan! What happened? Why didn't you lift my call? Even Aanya called you. She's been waiting for you. Is everything okay?"
Aryan closed his eyes briefly, guilt washing over him.
He didn't know what to say.
"Uh… Mom, I kept my phone on silent," he replied. "Anyway, I'm on my way to pick up Aanya. Don't worry."
Before she could say anything more, he cut the call.
At the College Gate,
Aanya stood near the gate.
Why didn't Devika aunty call back? Did something happen to Mr. Aryan?
Her heart started racing.
"No, no, Aanya. Don't think stupidly," she muttered to herself. "Nothing happened.
Maybe he's just busy in a meeting."
Just then, headlights flashed near the gate.
A car stopped.
It was Aryan.
Aanya's face lit up.
Thank God… he came.
Aryan stepped out of the car, his expression serious.
Aanya forced a small smile.
"Mr. Aryan, it's okay—"
"Have you lost your mind?" Aryan said sharply.
Her smile vanished instantly.
"If I can't come, can't you take a cab or an auto? Do you need to stand here the whole time?" he continued sternly.
"What if something happened to you again?"
Aanya looked down.
"That's why I called you, Mr. Aryan… to ask whether I should go by myself or you would come," she replied softly.
Aryan paused.
"Next time, if I'm late, just go by yourself. Don't wait for me."
"Okay," she said quietly. "By the way, I wasn't alone. The watchman was here."
Aryan glanced at the watchman — and suddenly remembered the day he had almost lost his temper with him.
The watchman smiled respectfully.
"Sir, how are you?"
"I'm fine… thank you," Aryan replied calmly.
Aanya walked ahead and sat inside the car.
Aryan followed and started driving.
Silence filled the car.
Aanya stared straight at the road, her face serious.
Aryan glanced at her.
"You didn't—"
"No need to say anything, Mr. Aryan," Aanya interrupted.
Aryan looked at her, surprised.
"It's your habit, right?" she continued. "Making mistakes and then saying sorry as if you don't know what you did. Even if you say sorry now… I'm not forgiving you."
Aryan blinked.
"You didn't wear your seatbelt."
Aanya froze.
She slowly looked down.
Indeed, she hadn't worn it.
Embarrassed, she quickly pulled the seatbelt across and clicked it in place.
So… he wasn't about to say sorry? she thought irritably.
Meanwhile — At Home
Devika and Nandini were sitting in the living room.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Devika stood up quickly.
"Looks like Aryan and Aanya are back."
She walked to the door and opened it.
Her expression changed instantly.
Standing outside were Naveen ji and Radha ji — Aanya's parents.
Devika was shocked.
"Naveen ji… Radha ji… you're here?"
Hearing this, Nandini came quickly.
The moment she saw them, a slow smile appeared on her face.
So… they finally arrived. Perfect timing, she thought to herself.
---
End Of Chapter 60.