Author
******

For Dhriti, the meeting as it was going seemed propitious. She through her intelligence, had outsmarted the new investors and had almost convinced them how detrimental it would be for them not to invest in her construction firm. Even though Kapoor Industries had been in the steel, iron, and construction industries for millennia, the new Japanese clientele lacked confidence in them. But Dhriti was a promising player. To get them to sign the contract, she was only one step behind.

"Mrs. Khanna. Let's finalize the deal tomorrow?" Akihiro Hayashi made the suggestion. Even though Dhriti preferred to have it concluded on the same day, she hid her displeasure. Besides, the upcoming day was important for her as it was a pre-planned date with Namit, which she would not postpone.

"I won't be available tomorrow, Mr. Hayashi, she said, flashing a smile across her features. I have a date with my husband. If it's acceptable to you guys, we can finish it the day after tomorrow if you need my availability."

The investors were pleased. Dhriti's natural tendency to maintain a pleasant and healthy work-life balance worked like a charm for them.

"Nothing to worry about. My assistant will be in touch with you today only, in a few hours." They suggested the concept of an early signing since they thought investing sooner would be a better choice than delaying.

"Sure, have a good day."

"You too."

They left delighted.

Dhriti smiled and slouched down in her chair. Her efforts and labour were successful. She was working on her dream project in an effort to accomplish the wishes of her late father, and after the meeting went well, she felt a lot better. She sighed in relief as she closed her eyes while humming a tune. However, her period of relief was fleeting. She was caught off guard as the door suddenly opened.

"You watched the live broadcast?" Her assistant Sonia's questions muddled her.

"Live broadcast?" Sonia set her tab on the table in front of Dhriti.

She looked at the screen in confusion as she noticed what was occurring in front of the Saxena house, and her expression changed to one of dread. Dhriti immediately stood up from the chair. As she dialled Namit's phone, she ran her fingers over her hair.

"Namit..." As soon as the call was answered, which happened immediately after the first ring, she took a breath.

"Don't go anywhere. I'm on my way to your workplace." She got aware he knew. However, what he requested of her seemed like herding cats.

"Sama, promise me you will wait for me." Dhriti chose not to respond, as she was still processing what she had just seen on the live stream. Just like she had been before in the past, her best friend was terrified.

"Love..." That was Dhriti's last straw. She gave in to her husband's plea and was trying to placate her racing heart.

"Yeah...yeah...I'm waiting."

******

Saavi Kapoor, the wife of Dhruv Kapoor, was choosing the cookies she wanted to buy for her husband while she puzzledly perused every section of the bakery next to her university. She was the beloved wife of Dhriti's twin brother, who was one of the prominent faces in the business world. The fact Dhruv was born into the Kapoor family gave him an advantage. Besides, at a young age, he had his own startup he built with his blood, sweat, and tears. Saavi constantly took pride in her husband, knowing how benevolent, diligent, and admirable a jewel of a guy he was.

She finally settled on snowball cookies after spending a little over fifteen minutes carefully examining the entire section. They were the ideal combination of buttery shortbread, nuts, and powdered sugar. When the pack of cookies was delivered to her, she sniffed them and a smile immediately sprang on her face. Stepping outside the bakery to wait for her husband to pick her up, she did so with joy in her heart to share those cookies with him. Unfortunately, she was besieged by a horde of sly reporters who would harrow anyone to find out the answers to their dreadful, abhorrent inquiries.

"Did you know about the verboten affair?"

"Since when Ms Saxena has been sleeping with her father's associate?"

"Is he the baby's child or someone else?"

They took no regard for anyone's sentiments and hurled as much opprobrium accuses on Shruti, stripped her naked, and painted her with vile vilification.

Saavi took a few steps back while holding the cookie bag close to her chest. A white Mercedes slid over closer to where she was standing before she could become entirely lost in the chaos. Dhruv hurried outside, and after rushing throw the crowd, he discovered his muffin. He drew her closer to him before bolting to get into his car. As soon as they were both seated inside, he drove off, leaving the kettle of vultures behind.

After a fifteen-minute of strange, hushed drive to make sure they weren't being followed, Dhruv pulled into a little alley and parked his car.

When Saavi was finally able to talk, she turned to her husband after taking a breath and setting the cookie on the dashboard.

"What is going on?"

She quickly slid herself onto Dhruv's lap after having her seatbelt unbuckled. Saavi fiercely hugged him because he was the only person who could give her comfort, as she was so terrified. Even though she had faced similar circumstances as Dhruv's wife, she occasionally would be reminded of her painful previous experiences, which would terrify her to her core. Only Dhruv's consoling words and his embrace would provide her with the needed peace.

"I have no idea myself, sweetheart."

In an effort to calm her down, Dhruv gave her a gentle hair stroke and a kiss on the temple. She retreated from his embrace and asked the crucial question, "Something is wrong?"

She scanned his eyes for an answer and realized the reaction would not be favourable.

"Yeah."

"Take me to Shruti." Dhruv shook his head in denial.

"Let's go to Kapoor Industries first."

She returned to the passenger seat, and Dhruv buckled her seat belt before giving her a bottle of water and directing the vehicle to The Kapoor Industries, the destination of the situation's demand.

******

Following their return from a week-long vacation in Hawaii, Nitya, Arjun, and Kiaan were moving in the direction of the exit of the airport. The trip was Nitya's idea, and she had planned everything using the three months' salary from her dream job.

Right before going out, Kiaan had rushed to the restroom and had his shirt changed, which Nitya noticed later.

"How come you're wearing this?" She pondered what she was missing out on because it was the shirt he occasionally wore.

"There would be paparazzi outside." Being shot as unattractive was one of the many things that Kiaan Chauhan, Dhruv, and Dhriti's cousin and an astute business owner hated. He would therefore take care to always look stylish.

"You called them?" Nitya scowled at him since she didn't like the fact she would be clicked as soon as she would exit.

"No. He did." Kiaan gestured in the direction of Arjun Malhotra, his best friend, and Nitya's husband.

Arjun Malhotra, one of the most famous and the youngest criminal lawyer in the country was known not for his exceptional skills in court, but his charming and empathizing personality and his incessant love for food and his wife, Nitya, who worked for a fashion firm and was his childhood best friend, Namit Khanna's younger sister.

Nitya glowered at her husband, who was endearingly munching on a chicken burger.

"God! Jun you are unbelievable." Arjun flashed a toothy smile in response, which was enough for Nitya's heart to melt.

The paparazzi gathered as soon as the three were outside of the airport. Though there were press too. None of the three was ready for an interrogation that would cause all three of them to experience flashbacks from the past.

"Mr. Malhotra, what do you have to say about Ms. Saxena's revelation? Last time you helped her out with the lawsuit. Do you have anything to say now? This time, we have evidence." 

Confounded, Arjun glanced briefly at Kiaan, who shared his daze.

"Are they high on opium or something?" Kiaan murmured.

"Must be starving. I won't give them my burgers". Arjun attempted to salvage the burger by placing it inside the paper bag he was carrying.

"Mrs. Malhotra, is your friend pregnant with her dead father's old friend's child."

Nitya froze as the incident that led to her being falsely accused of killing her ex-husband flashed back in her memory. Now the one being targeted was her friend, Shruti.

"Considering your notoriety, Mr. Chauhan, you must have kept an eye on Ms. Saxena. Was she romantically linked with multiple men?" 

Kiaan felt the jibe the reporter took. He would have thrashed him then and there, but he was unconscious of what was transpiring. Hence, he kept silent. But for certain, he was not letting it slide.

"Did she actually sell her body to climb the ladder of success?"

Kiaan and Arjun have had enough. Kiaan took out his phone and before he could call or text anyone, he noticed that he already had multiple messages, several of which were from Namit and Dhruv.

"Mrs. Malhotra..."

Arjun's fury knew no boundaries.

"How about you guys shut the fuck up?"

He yelled aggressively, as he drew a hazed Nitya closer to his chest.

"Rather tell me how Regina is doing." Regina, who was facing criminal charges, was the senior editor of that media organization. Nobody dared to tangle with a furious and lethal criminal lawyer because they knew Arjun's remarks meant for them to keep their mouths shut.

"Precious, let's go." As memories of Nitya's recent, terrible history flashed before her eyes, she snuggled up against Arjun and closed her eyes. She trusted her husband to lead the way.

"Holy hell!" While reading the texts from his friends, Kiaan cursed as he strolled next to the Malhotras.

"Chauhan, what's going on?" Arjun appeared severe and agitated.

"codice rosso"

[Code Red]

Kiaan would only speak Italian when he was extremely fretted or when dealing with Italian delegates or undertaking dangerous jobs. That was one of Kiaan Chauhan's obscure layers.

Arjun's security team leader, Ronald, was waiting to pick up the three from the airport. Arjun and Nitya slid into the backseat, and Kiaan hurriedly shifted into the passenger seat. Nitya felt significantly better once she was inside.

"Is Shruti all right?" In the hopes that someone would know the answer, she first glanced toward Arjun and then Kiaan. Arjun's cluelessness was similar to hers, but Kiaan was no longer as oblivious.

"I won't answer that," Kiaan answered solemnly.

"Head over to Kapoor Industries," Kiaan told Ronald and the latter ignited the vehicle.

"Why there?" Arjun enquired.

"Because everybody else is there. Meanwhile, you guys see this." Kiaan gave Arjun his phone. Arjun and Nitya both watched the gory live stream.

While Arjun could do nothing except scream obscenities in his head, Nitya gasped and put her trembling hands to her mouth. For Shruti Saxena, things had suddenly and inexplicably taken a severe downward turn.

******

"Should we not be with her?" Dhriti was devastated, but she was also furious. Everyone had gathered in Dhriti's cabin, and Namit had made sure that nobody had left to visit Shruti. In contrast to the three girls, Dhriti, Saavi, and Nitya, the men were fine with the decision and were acting practically.

"Exactly. Why you guys are keeping us here is beyond me." Saavi gave a firm reply.

"Muffin." In an effort to get his wife to see things his way, Dhruv called her sweetly. She and the other two girls, though, were now too obstinate to listen to anyone. They only wanted to be with Shruti and get her out of the perilous predicament she was in.

"Quit being cute to me." Saavi crossed her arms and rebuked Dhruv's crafty attempts.

Nitya reached her breaking point. While the other two tried persuading the men, she simply made her decision known to everybody.

"I'm going."

Arjun blocked her way as she advanced towards the door, barring her from leaving the cabin.

"No, you are not. This is risky."

"So is Shruti's situation." Her rage took over her and so did the vulnerability which was hiding inside her. Her eyes brimmed with the tears she had held back. As she sobbed, Arjun sought to soothe her with his reassuring words and pulled her into an embrace.

Dhriti hopelessly gazed at Nitya before turning to look at her husband, whom she believed to be acting unyielding and challenging.

"Our best friend is in pain. And so are we." As her heart became obstructed with emotions, her voice became softer.

"Mark would be there in no time." Dhriti blinked away her tears as Namit sought to reassure her. Even though she was being difficult too but Namit's hug helped in getting back her lost tranquility slowly.

"Andrew would too," Dhruv added, but looking at his wife, making sure she was assured. But the truth was the fact Shruti was not fine niggled her.

"Dhruv, she must be hurting..." Dhruv moved a little nearer to his wife.

"Baby, have faith in your Dhruv. Will you please do it for me?"

Saavi averted her gaze from him, feeling the harrowing pain of being powerless as Dhruv took her in a firm hug.

The three men were attempting to calm their wives and trading worrisome glances in between when the door to the cabin was abruptly opened and then shut with a bang. Kiaan, who had been outside the cabin since he entered the building, hurried inside. Everyone was staggered by his troubled expression, and the three couples broke the hugs.

"You guys better hear this." 

On his phone, Kiaan played a recording, that for the first two minutes, appeared to be wholly incoherent. But soon enough, the abusive hurls, maligning shouts, and mortifying yellings were audible. All of it was directed towards none other than Shruti. After a minor commotion, what they all heard next rendered them all stupefied and appalled. All recognized the voice, but they were not prepared for the next turn of events.

"The child this woman is carrying is mine. She is bearing the Royal Empire's heir. Shruti Saxena is pregnant with Hredhaan Rajvansh's child, my baby. And if anyone, any of you, takes a step or dare to utter even a single syllable, I would have you all beheaded, right here and right now."

"I'm confident I don't need to demonstrate that I am a man of my Royal words."

"FUCK!"

A chorus of the four-letter word exploded from the men's lips while the women's faces turned ashen.

"It is a mess," Namit muttered as he looped the recording.

"Not simply a mess, Lamentable Mess," Dhruv tacked on.