chapter 4:
The Kapoor household was alive with tension that evening. The long dining table gleamed under the chandelier, but the atmosphere was anything but warm. Ishani sat rigidly, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass, while parents' voices filled the room.
Pratap Kapoor, her father, spoke with the authority of a man who had built his reputation on discipline and ambition. "Ishani, Dev Sen's offer is not something you should dismiss lightly. His company is expanding rapidly in the gaming industry. Aligning with him could secure your future, and ours."
Across the table, Meenakshi Kapoor, her mother, frowned. "honey, she's not a pawn to be placed in someone else's empire. Ishani should choose her path, not be forced into it. You forget she has her own dreams."
Ishani's cousin, Rhea, perched beside her, leaned in with a whisper.
"Honestly, Ishani, working with Dev might be exciting. Imagine the opportunities. But… you'd have to deal with Aarav too."
The mention of Aarav's name made Ishani's jaw tighten. "I don't want anything to do with him," she said sharply. "He thrives on arrogance, and I refuse to be dragged into his shadow.
Pratap's voice grew firmer. "Sometimes, Ishani, we must put aside personal feelings for the greater good. Dev Sen is a man of influence. If you join his company, doors will open for you that would otherwise remain closed."
Meenakshi's tone softened, but her words carried weight. "And sometimes, Pratap, ambition blinds us. Ishani's happiness matters more than alliances."
Rhea's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "But isn't it thrilling, Ishani? To prove yourself in a world dominated by men like Dev? To show Aarav you're not afraid?"
Ishani's silence was heavy. She hated Aarav, yes—but the thought of proving herself, of standing tall in a world that underestimated her, was tempting.
Outside, Aarav lingered in the shadows of the Kapoor estate. He had overheard fragments of the conversation, each word cutting deeper than the last. Ishani's dismissal of him, her consideration of Dev's offer—it twisted inside him like a thorn.
When he finally confronted her in the garden, his voice was low, edged with hurt. "So you'll choose Dev? My brother's empire over me?"
Ishani's eyes blazed. "Don't flatter yourself, Aarav. My choices have nothing to do with you."
Aarav stepped closer, his jaw tight. "Everything you do has something to do with me. You hate me, Ishani, but you can't escape me. Not when my brother is the one offering you the world."
Her reply was sharp, almost trembling with fury. "I would rather walk through fire than depend on you—or him."
The words cut deeper than any blade. Aarav's conflicted love twisted into resentment. Ishani's hatred, already sharp, grew sharper still. And in the shadows of the Kapoor home, the thorns between them dug deeper, promising wounds neither could escape.