Page 125 of Right Where I Belong

They’d never spoken about having kids before, and truth be told, he hadn’t considered having another child. Ahaan had already filled a space in his heart he hadn’t known was empty. But the idea of a baby with Sabrina stirred something deep and fierce inside him.

Seeing the crease of worry on her brow, he touched her cheek. “Hey, don’t look like that. I’d love a child with you—and everything that comes with it. But Ahaan will always be my first child. I’ll share everything equally between my children. Always.”

She stared at him, her eyes wide in shock. And then, she smiled. “Just when I think I can’t love you more, you prove me wrong.”

His heart swelled. He cupped her face, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone and whispered, “I love you.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I love you too.”

As if on cue, the music shifted to a slower, richer rhythm.

He extended his hand. “Come dance with me.”

Sabrina slid her fingers into his. As he led his beautiful wife to the dance floor, a quiet thrill unfurled through him, carrying him back to that night in Singapore when he’d first asked her to dance. He hadn’t known then that that one night and that one dance would alter the course of his life. He hadn’t known that he’d find his forever, but now, with her in his arms, he couldn’t imagine life any other way.

Janak Sehgal smiled,watching Aditya and Sabrina dance. At Rohan and Jiya’s wedding, when Aditya had showed up with Kanika on his arm, Janak had wondered if perhaps he’d lost his edge. But now seeing him with Sabrina, he was glad to know that his matchmaking radar was still intact. He’d always believed Sabrina could give Aditya the stability he needed. That she could curb his restless soul, and it looked like she had. And Sabrina… The inherent sadness in her eyes wasn’t there anymore. It was a happy day indeed.

He looked at the crowd. All his grandchildren were here, as were their friends. He was fortunate to see them happy and thriving. So many had families of their own. He ought to be satisfied now. The time was coming close for him to hang up his boots and relax.

He sighed. Soon, but not yet. There was still one grandchild left to see happy. His eyes zeroed in on his beautiful granddaughter, Shauna. She was standing to the side, talking to Keya and Raashi.

In his eyes, there was only one man perfect for his dearest Shauna. Unfortunately, he was also the one man she seemed to detest with all her heart.

But that wasn’t the only problem he was going to face with her. God only knew how she’d react when she learned the truth about Sehgal Media. Shauna believed it would one day be hers, certain that Janak would leave it to her to run. But lately she’d seen the shift. Akash was being drawn deeper into the business, mentored and guided, quietly shaped for a leading role in Sehgal Media. He knew she resented it and Akash for this. But there was nothing he could do to change her perception. His hands hadbeen tied for too long by a promise he’d made to an old friend. A promise that involved Akash. He sighed.

In this game of life, whichever way he moved the pieces on the chessboard, the Queen would have to be sacrificed to ensure the King got what was rightfully his. His chest tightened.

Oh, Shauna. He didn’t want her to feel betrayed and hurt, yet that was exactly what was going to happen, and soon. He studied her from afar. She was now talking to her twin Rhea, but every few minutes her eyes drifted to the right to… Akash. His mouth twitched. It was this quiet, almost unconscious fixation on Akash that kept Janak hopeful.

An idea took shape in his mind. Perhaps there was one last move he could make to ensure the Queen survived along with the King. To ensure they wontogether. He smiled, feeling his heart settle as a strategy formed in his head.

He chuckled. He still had a few tricks up his old sleeves, and this last one might be his most reckless—or his most brilliant. Either way, it was a gamble he fully intended to win.

Akash and Shauna’s time would come soon. If all went well, he’d be celebrating another happy event like tonight. Smiling, he returned to his grandchildren. He had so much to look forward to now.

THE END