Board review meeting.
Media pressure abhi bhi high tha.
Rumors escalate ho chuke the.
"Conflict of interest."
"Hidden agenda."
"Personal leverage."
Room full tha — directors, legal advisors, auditors.
Apurva presentation de rahi thi.
Calm.
Controlled.
Professional.
Par ek senior board member ne interrupt kiya.
"Before we proceed — I'd like clarification."
She paused.
"Ms. Sharma, your past association with Mr. Malhotra raises ethical concerns."
Room silent.
Camera recording.
Minutes documented.
"Are you capable of remaining unbiased?"
Indirect attack.
Professional insult.
Apurva straight khadi rahi.
"Yes."
"Because from what we observe," another director added, "your proposals seem… accommodating."
That word.
Accommodating.
Jaise woh compromise kar rahi ho.
Jaise woh weak ho.
Apurva ke fingers table edge pe tighten hue.
She was about to respond.
Par usse pehle —
Chair scrape hua.
Rithvik khada hua.
Voice steady.
"Enough."
Room attention shift.
"Question her strategy," he said. "Question the numbers. Question the risk models."
Pause.
"But don't question her integrity."
Silence.
Senior director frowned. "Mr. Malhotra—"
"She's the only reason this merger model even survived regulatory review," Rithvik continued calmly.
No anger.
No shouting.
Just fact.
"If you think her presence is a liability, then remove me from the project too."
That line dropped heavy.
Board members exchange looks.
"Because," he added, "if there's anyone in this room who doesn't mix emotion with work — it's her."
Apurva looked at him.
Not grateful.
Not shocked.
Just… processing.
Seven years ago, he questioned.
Today, he defended.
Publicly.
Without hesitation.
Meeting adjourned after that.
Issue closed.
Officially.
Outside corridor.
Empty.
Apurva stood near glass wall.
City view below.
Rithvik walked toward her.
"You didn't have to do that," she said.
"I know."
Pause.
"Then why?"
He looked straight ahead.
"Because once I didn't stand where I should have."
That hit.
Direct reference.
School.
Silence stretched.
"You don't owe me correction," she said softly.
"It's not correction," he replied. "It's choice."
She turned toward him.
"And what exactly are you choosing, Rithvik?"
He stepped closer.
Not invading.
But close enough that distance felt intentional.
"This time," he said quietly,
"I'm not choosing ego."
The air shifted.
Dark tension different feel lene laga.
Less rivalry.
More gravity.
Apurva's heartbeat steady nahi tha.
But her voice was.
"Be careful," she warned.
"Of what?"
"People don't defend without expectation."
He held her gaze.
"I don't defend expecting return."
Beat.
"I defend when it matters."
That was heavier than any confession.
No "I like you."
No "I missed you."
Just loyalty.
Adult. Intentional.
She didn't move away this time.
But she didn't move closer either.
Balance.
Fragile.