Ranveer's deep voice was low and hasitat as he began to speak,

"You—"

His eyes locked onto Dhruvika's, filled with concern , but she cut him off before he could express his thoughts.

"I am fine, Veer," Dhruvika said .

"I just need to discuss upcoming things... nothing else."

Ranveer's gaze lingered on hers for a moment, searching for any signs of distress behind her calm facade.

His chest relaxed slightly as he sighed audibly, accepting her reassurance.

He nodded slowly.

Dhruvika's face broke into a gentle smile, her lips curving upward as she added,

"Okay bye, husband. Don't forget to pick me up later."

Her voice was light, playful , a hint of mischief.

As she turned to leave, Ranveer started to nod again, but his head froze mid-motion.

A gentle, fleeting touch on his cheek left him breathless and immobile – like a statue.

Time stood still as his mind struggled to process the softness on his skin.

Minutes ticked by before Ranveer regained his composure, his chest rising and falling with slow breaths.

He blinked slowly, realizing Dhruvika was gone, leaving behind only the ghost of her touch.

His fingers instinctively rose to his cheek, touching the spot where her lips had grazed his skin.

It's so soft...her lips..

He shook his head , removing those thoughts before starting the car and drove from there.

Meanwhile, inside company Dhruvika leaned against the wall, phone pressed to her forehead, a faraway look in her eyes.

A shy, secretive smile spread across her lips, curling upward like a blossoming flower.

Her cheeks flushed softly as she replayed the moment – Ranveer's stunned expression, his frozen breath..

She glanced down at her phone screen, where CCTV footage showed Ranveer's car pulling away slowly.

Her smile widened, and she chuckled softly, feeling playful and mischievous.

Shaking her head, still grinning, she walked inside, leaving the screen glowing with Ranveer's departing vehicle.

"Mam actually..." Harsh's voice trailed off on the phone before Dhruvika interrupted him with a hint of amusement and a touch of authority.

"Oo Harsh, guest is already here," she said, cutting the call  and turning her attention to the person who had entered her cabin without knocking – a bold move that hinted at familiarity or audacity.

That person – tall, dark-haired, with beard and piercing-eyed – strode confidently towards her desk and claimed the chair across from her, his movements graceful yet powerful.

"Nice way to call someone," he remarked dryly, his gaze locking onto hers with a dash of challenge.

Dhruvika leaned back in her chair, a sly smile spreading across her face as she replied,

"Oo btw, I don't remember calling you... I just said I needed to discuss something. Anyone related to the project would have been fine."

He rolled his eyes in irritation, before speaking in a low, cold tone,

"Why did you call?"

Dhruvika chuckled softly, leaning forward in her chair, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I like it... the way you directly come to the point."

Just as he began to respond with

"See I...",

a gentle knock at the door interrupted their banter, and Dhruvika called out,

"Come in."

Megha entered, and the room was filled with her serene presence. She wore a stunning traditional Tamil salwar set in shades of emerald green and gold, perfectly complementing her skin .

The long, flowing dupatta draped elegantly behind her, its intricate golden embroidery catching the light as she moved towards Dhruvika's desk.

Her mid-rib length hair cascaded down her back like a rich, dark waterfall, adorned with delicate jasmine flowers woven into a subtle braided crown.

"Mam, the documents needed your signature," Megha said softly, her voice melodious and professional, without acknowledging the guest with even a glance.

Dhruvika nodded graciously, taking the papers from Megha.

"Oo."

As Dhruvika signed the documents, she instructed,

"And take the designs from the table."

Megha nodded subtly.

Then, she walked towards the table, her dupatta flowing gracefully behind her.

The guest's eyes followed Megha's movement, his gaze lingering on her elegant attire and poised demeanor.

Finally, Megha exited the cabin as quietly as she entered, leaving behind a subtle scent of jasmine .

Dhruvika raised an eyebrow at the guest, noticing his gaze still fixed on the door Megha had closed behind her.

A hint of amusement danced in her eyes as she cleared her throat with a smirk, drawing his attention back to their conversation.

He looked at her, cleared his own throat, and took a deep breath before speaking in a mocking tone.

"Oo I see.. The biggest company doesn't have any dressing code."

Dhruvika's smirk widened as she replied,

"Oo we do..."

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, inviting him to ask the obvious question.

He obliged with a raised eyebrow, prompting her to continue,

"Wanna know?"she asked

He remained silent, his eyes fixed on hers, so she spoke anyway.

"It's actually... 'wear whatever makes jerks  breathless.'"I

His expression changed instantly – eyes narrowing, jaw clenched .He glared at her intensely, his eyes burning with a mix of curiosity and irritation, before asking in a low, even tone,

"What the matter?"

Dhruvika smiled , clearly amused by his reaction, and replied,

"Done with your staring?"

Her voice was playful, yet laced with a hint of challenge, prompting him to take a deep breath before responding,

"Come to the point, Mrs. Dhruvika."

Dhruvika chuckled , leaning forward in her chair as she said

"Okay okay, calm down."

She slid a sleek, black file across the desk towards him, her eyes sparkling with intent.

"I want you to take down the illegal businesses of the Rawals – expose them to the people."

He picked up the file, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise as he scanned the contents.

His gaze returned to Dhruvika, curiosity etched on his face, before he asked,

"May I know what enmity you have with the Rawals?"

Dhruvika's expression turned guarded, her voice low and mysterious, as she replied,

"Something personal."

The air was thick with intrigue as he leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

"Personal enough to take down an entire business empire?"

he asked, his tone neutral yet probing.

Dhruvika's smile returned, subtle yet menacing, as she leaned forward again.

"Oh, it's personal enough."

He asked with a smirk, trying to provoke her,

"Btw did you forget the first and foremost aim of your life?"

Dhruvika's eyes sparkled with amusement as she replied,

"Don't worry, I don't forget anything."

He trailed off before leaning back in his chair, a sly glint in his eye,

"I see... does your father know that his sweet daughter is anything but sweet?"

His tone was laced with mockery, aiming to infuriate her – revenge for the "jerk" label she had subtly bestowed upon him minutes earlier.

But Dhruvika remained calm, her expression serene, before she countered with a velvet-wrapped dagger,

"Does YOUR father know about the dark side of yours?"

The room fell silent as he froze, his eyes flashing with anger.

His jaw clenched tightly, muscles tensing – he had walked into her trap.

Dhruvika smirked triumphantly, leaning forward in her chair,

"Tsk tsk... losing calm isn't good...... especially for the future CM....Mr. Vidyut Sisodia."

His eyes narrowed, anger still simmering, before he rolled them  and spoke in a dry tone,

"Why do you want to expose the Rawals?"

Dhruvika's smirk never wavered as she replied softly,

"I told you it's personal."

He leaned back in his chair, eyes locked intensely on hers, seeking clarity behind her two simple words.

"And what benefits will I get from this?" he asked.

She smiled subtly before handing him another file.

"Many. Samesh Rawal's party poses the strongest competition to yours... exposing them near election time will be highly beneficial."

He raised an eyebrow, voice dry, "Elections are 7 months away."

She leaned forward, confident.

"Don't worry, the list of their wrongdoings is long. We'll release information gradually – scandal by scandal – ensuring it remains relevant till election day."

"Why do you want me to do it... you can do it yourself?" he asked, curiosity etched on his face.

Dhruvika muttered under her breath,

"Typical politician..."

Then spoke aloud, her voice low and calculated,

"Right now, I need to stay in Samesh Rawal's good books – appear innocent and cooperative. So, I couldn't possibly take the risk of exposing him myself."

He nodded thoughtfully, seeming to understand her strategy, before standing up and collecting the files.

But instead of confirming their agreement, he simply turned to leave – no verbal acknowledgment, no handshake, no "deal."

Dhruvika rolled her eyes , amused by his nonchalance.

"And, Mr. Sisodia... tell Uncle the showroom is ready," she called out casually.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his back still turned to her, before slowly pivoting around – eyes narrowing slightly.

"Completely?"

"Completely" she confirmed with a tight smile . He left from there.

Megha entered with Harsh, interrupting the lingering tension between Dhruvika and the departed Vidyut Singh Sisodia.

"Mam, the client postponed the meeting," Megha announced, and Dhruvika nodded graciously.

Megha took a seat beside Harsh, scanning some files before Harsh spoke up,

"Mam, any problem? Mr. Sisodia was looking irritated..."

Megha looked up, a sly glint sparkling in her eye, and asked instead,

"You don't know?"

Harsh's curiosity was instantly piqued, he leaned in slightly.

"Know what?"

Megha's tone turned dry, laced with amusement,

"His face is like that only.... stupid and irritated. Monkey"

Harsh surprisingly disagreed, a big frown spreading across his face,

"No no Megha, I'm not with you on this today... he's quite handsome yaar!"

Megha's eyes widened in utter shock, her jaw dropping slightly.

"Handsome... Adapaa ve... from which angle he looks handsome to you, Harsh? Are you blind or what happened to your taste?"

Harsh chuckled at Megha's dramatics,

"Simply put, Megha – his intense eyes and strong features and with those beared... they work for him!"

Megha looked like she'd just swallowed bitter medicine,

"Work for him?  they work only in nightmares!"

"What? Nightmare" Harsh asked in shock... Rajasthan girls are crezy behind him

"Nightmares, yes! That's exactly where Vidyut Sisodia's face belongs – in horror movies, Harsh! Not on handsome lists!"

Dhruvika poked her cheek with her tongue, amused by the conversation,but then her eyes fell on door so she muttered interesting before speaking

"I think Harsh is right...... He is quite handsome, Megha."

Harsh nodded in agreement,

Megha looked at her like she has lost her mind before scoffing

"Handsome ka 'H' bhi nahi hai wo... with those long beards... he looked....."

Harsh cut Megha off before she could insult Vidyut further,

"Hot."

Megha's eyes almost popped out of her head,

" Hot?! With those beard ? Vidyut Sisodia is like... a gorilla in suit!"

Harsh spoke in defensive tone

"Your Yash also -"

Megha's expression turned fierce as she pointed a warning finger,

"KHABARDAR! If you compare him to my Yash even once...  how dare you! My handsome, dashing Yash..."

She made a dreamy face before twisting it into disgust,

"Aur wo.... gorilla chimpanzee Sisodia!Ayoo Agar mein yaha ka nagrik hoti to main kabhi use vote na deti"

(And that... gorilla chimpanzee Sisodia! If I were a citizen here, I'd never vote for him)

Harsh frowned and spoke up,

"You can't directly vote for CM, Megha..."

Megha looked up and spoke

"Uske party ko hi na deti.... gorilla!"

(I'd not vote for his party either... gorilla!)

She then engulfed herself in work, trying to appear nonchalant despite her earlier outburst.

Dhruvika smirked , glancing towards the door and muttered,

"Say bye to Mr. Sisodia's beard..."

Just as Dhruvika was about to leave, her phone rang, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen and saw that it was her husband calling. A soft smile spread across her face as she quickly answered.

"Hello," she said, her voice warm and inviting.

"Hello," her husband replied, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.

"Yeah, Veer," Dhruvika said

"Actually, the road is jammed here, and it's going to take some time to clear up. Maybe around half an hour i-," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of apology.

But before he could finish, Dhruvika interrupted him. "Okay, I'll wait," she said, her voice firm and reassuring.

Veer cleared his throat, trying to express himself  which was too new to him. "I was saying... you should eat your dinner," he said, his words laced with concern.

Dhruvika's face scrunched up in a frown. "No, I'll eat dinner with you," she said, her voice stubborn.

"You have to take your medicine," he reminded her

"I'll take it after we have dinner with you... bye," she said stubbornly, cutting the call before Ranveer could respond.

Dhruvika sat in her chair, lost in thought, her eyes fixed on some distant point as she pondered the events that had unfolded. The sound of the door opening broke the silence, and she turned to see Harsh entering the room.

"You haven't left yet?" Harsh asked, noticing Dhruvika still seated, a look of curiosity etched on his face.

Dhruvika shook her head, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "No, the road is jammed," she replied

Harsh nodded , taking a seat infront of her. For a moment, they sat in silence, the only sound being the quiet hum of the air conditioner. Then, Harsh spoke up, his voice thoughtful and reflective.

"Mam, I was thinking... why the sudden decision to expose them? It's not part of the original plan, is it?" he asked, his eyes locked on Dhruvika's face, seeking answers.

Dhruvika's gaze drifted off, her eyes clouding over as she delved into her thoughts. "I know it's not planned, but it's necessary," she began, her voice laced with reflection.

"For the first time, Veer stood up to the royals instead of giving explanation.It caught me off guard, too. I think seeing me in a fragile state pushed him to react out of frustration."

She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "That night, I took too many painkillers and couldn't get out of bed. Veer was worried sick, and that's when he finally spoke up to the royals. It was a moment of raw emotion, and I think it shook him to his core too."

Dhruvika's eyes snapped back into focus, her gaze locking onto Harsh's face. "But I know this newfound boldness won't last. They'll try to guilt trip him, manipulate him... and Samesh is cunning. He'll stop at nothing to keep Veer in line."

Her voice took on a determined tone, her words dripping with conviction. "That's why I've planned this. I want the change in Ranveer to be permanent. He needs to see the royals for who they truly are – monsters, not the great people they pretend to be. He needs to understand  their actions ."

"You are right mam and what about the property paper?" He asked

"Let it be for now... right now I need to concentrate on the metter...I will take care of it later "

Her phone again ring and she got up..

"I am outside " Ranveer spoke before cutting the call

"Veer is here" she spoke before getting up.

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