The morning light spilled softly into the living room when Yuvan stepped out of his room.
Black suit. Crisp shirt. Hair neatly styled. Calm, composed—dangerously handsome.
Sachi looked up from her phone and froze for half a second.
He adjusted his watch casually. "Good morning."
She blinked, then frowned. "Where are we going?"
He picked up his keys. "Office. Obviously."
Her patience snapped instantly.
"Yuvan," she said sharply, standing up, "this is not a joke. You are not allowed inside Magnus premises. There's an active lawsuit against you. You can't just walk in like nothing happened."
He looked at her, completely unfazed.
"And before you say something dramatic," she added, "your accounts are frozen. You're not even rich"
"Who said I'm not rich?" he interrupted calmly.
Before she could argue, he grabbed her wrist—not rough, just decisive—and pulled her toward the elevator.
"Come."
The basement lights flickered on.
Sachi stopped dead.
Eleven Harleys stood in perfect alignment.Five black Mercedes G-Wagons gleamed under white lights.
She stared at them, stunned. "Do you… run a showroom down here?"
He shrugged. "Dumped assets. One year's collection."
Her mouth opened, then closed.
"And if this isn't enough," he continued casually, "my investments are untouched. Around three to four hundred crore. Equity in Echo4 Group. Silent partner at Royal Club."
She looked at him slowly, disbelief turning into realization.
In her mind: This man is never going to experience poverty.
"You bought all of this… and dumped in one year?" she asked quietly.
"Yes." He nodded. "Bought them. Sold most of them."
She frowned. "Then why keep—"
"The resale money," he cut in evenly, "went straight into investments. Long-term. Clean. Off-radar."
She looked at him again—really looked this time.
She exhaled. "So what now? Planning to open a museum?"
He smiled faintly. "Good idea."
She shot him a look. "I'm serious."
"So am I," he replied.
She crossed her arms. "I always thought you were just unbothered. Reckless."
He leaned against a car, expression unreadable."As far as I remember, Sanjay never liked me," he said calmly. "So I prepared for days like this for survival. A safety net. Something of my own."
She scoffed. "You call this survival?"
He met her gaze. "Survival looks different when you know you'll be pushed out one day."
Silence fell between them.
Then Sachi straightened. "Fine. Enough flexing. What's the real plan?"
Yuvan's tone shifted— Just wait and watch.
Magnus Group – Boardroom
The room felt heavier than usual. No one spoke at first.
Directors sat stiffly in their chairs, files unopened, eyes avoiding each other. Coffee cups remained untouched. The usual casual authority in the room had vanished—replaced by something closer to fear.
One director adjusted his spectacles for the third time, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
Another kept flipping through the same page of his notepad, though nothing was written there.
Sanjay Manjrekar stood at the head of the table, composed on the surface—but his fingers betrayed him, tapping twice too often against the polished wood.
Then the door opened.
Yuvan walked in.
Calm. Controlled. Unhurried.
Not the accused man the media screamed about.Not the fallen heir they expected.
He took his seat without asking permission.
Silence stretched.
Finally, one director cleared his throat."We… should begin."
Yuvan leaned back slightly, eyes scanning the room—not challengingly, not arrogantly.
Observing.
Good, he thought. They read it.
Sanjay spoke first, choosing his words carefully."Given the circumstances, the board had concerns about your… continued association."
Yuvan was silent, composed. He didn't argue. He didn't defend. He didn't demand.
He simply said, calmly,
"I am a shareholder of Magnus Group."
That was all.
No explanation followed—because none was needed.
Under Indian corporate law, Magnus Group was still under MM's ownership and controlling stake. Until MM himself took a decision, no removal, no restructuring, no transfer of authority could be finalized. Titles could be questioned. Roles could be suspended. But ownership—that could not be erased.
Yuvan's voice was steady.
"As per the Companies Act, any decision impacting core ownership or permanent removal requires approval from the principal shareholder."
He paused briefly.
"I hope none of the directors here have a problem with that."
No one spoke.
Not a single director objected.Not one raised a question.
Sanjay watched in disbelief.
He had spoken to them.Convinced them.Prepared them.
Yet now—every mouth remained shut.
He didn't know what Yuvan already had.
The directors avoided eye contact. Some folded the papers back into their envelopes. Others stared at the table.
Sushant sat quietly at the far end, observing everything without expression.
The Sanjay cleared his throat. "This meeting is concluded."
Chairs moved. Files closed. One by one, the directors left.
Soon, only three remained.
Yuvan.Sanjay.Sushant.
The silence thickened.
Yuvan turned to Sanjay, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"This isn't over uncle," he said. "Soon, I'll rejoin—after clearing the mess you created. Until then, be ready."
Sanjay stepped forward, rage breaking through restraint. His hand rose—
The doors opened. Every movement froze.
MM walked in. Upright. Calm.
Sanjay's face drained of color.
MM looked older—but stronger. Sharper. His eyes locked onto Sanjay with something far more dangerous than anger.
"Enough," MM said.
The word echoed.
He walked slowly toward Sanjay.
"You want to know why I collapsed?" MM continued. "Because of you."
Sanjay swallowed.
"You came to me that night," MM said. "You pushed. You provoked. You poisoned my mind with your hatred. My asthma attack came after you left."
He raised his hand—and slapped Sanjay.
Hard.
"One crime of yours," MM said coldly, "I kept hidden. Because I didn't want to lose my other son."
Sanjay staggered back, stunned.
MM turned toward Yuvan.
"Yuvan," he said quietly, "you want to know the truth about your parents' accident?"
Yuvan's breath caught.
MM continued, every word measured.
"The accident was planned."
Silence crashed into the room.
"It was meant for you," MM said. "But that day… your father decided to drive your car. Your mother went with him."
Sanjay's fists clenched.
MM turned back to Sanjay, his voice no longer calm.
"You hated him," he said quietly.
Sanjay's face twisted—anger flashing, shame following close behind.
"Because of that hatred," MM continued, each word pressing down harder, "my son and my daughter-in-law paid the price."
Sanjay opened his mouth, but MM didn't let him speak.
"Stop this now," MM said firmly. Sanjay's jaw tightened.
MM's voice broke, just slightly.
"When I collapsed, you didn't stop there. You used it. You put the blame on him."
He stepped closer.
"But the truth is—it happened because of you."
Sanjay's eyes flickered.
MM took a breath, the weight of years in his chest.
"The day Yuvan was adopted," he said, "he saved Sushant's life."
The room went still.
"A man tried to kidnap him. You were abroad. You didn't know—because you never cared enough to look after your family."
Sanjay's face drained of color.
"That day," MM continued, voice trembling, "Your brother decided to bring Yuvan into this family."
MM shook his head slowly.
"Your hatred has done nothing but create more damage. More pain. More loses."
He looked at Sanjay with tired eyes. "Understand that."
Yuvan hadn't moved.
He stood there, silent—eyes glassy, tears gathered but refusing to fall. The words hit him all at once: truth, love, loss, guilt—everything he never knew he was carrying.
Without a word, he turned and walked out of the meeting room.
MM didn't stop him.
Sanjay remained frozen, staring at the floor.
Sushant watched Yuvan leave, something unreadable crossing his face—regret, perhaps.
The room felt empty long before it actually was.
One Year Later
Sachi POV
One year can change lot of things.
The noise fades. The accusations dissolve. Truth finds its way back to the surface—slowly, painfully, but completely.
Yuvan's name was cleared.Not just legally, but morally too.The past that had chased him for years finally loosened its grip.
At Kindle Creation, life moved forward.
Work flowed. New clients came in, one after another. The office buzzed again—not with gossip or fear, but with purpose. Neha officially joined us after her internship ended. Megha offered her the role without hesitation. She had earned it—through long nights, quiet improvement, and a stubborn refusal to give up. The branding team settled back into its rhythm, familiar and dependable.
Some things changed outside our walls too.
Sanjay left the Magnus Group.
Guilt does strange things to people. In his case, it made him walk away from everything he once fought to control. He started traveling with his wife—different countries, different cities. Maybe distance was his way of making peace.
Sushant took his father's place in the Magnus Group. Calm, composed, steady—he fit the role in a way no one questioned. MM worked mostly from home now, visiting the office only when necessary. His presence was quieter, but stronger than ever.
Varun stayed with Kindle Creation, exactly where he belonged.
Echo3, though… Echo3 was everywhere.
Their music filled cafés, cars, headphones at midnight. Fallen Stars became the most-streamed track of the year. I heard it in places I never expected—on strangers' phones, in crowded streets, in moments where I wasn't ready to feel. Every time, it felt personal. Like the song knew me.
Urvi changed too.
After years of hesitation, I finally convinced her to take the first step toward her own boutique. She wasn't confident yet—she second-guessed everything—but she was trying. Sketching late into the night. Researching fabrics. Learning. Watching her build something of her own felt like watching courage grow in real time.
Megha came to my house one evening, Karan and Nishi in tow.
They barely let me open the door before hugging me, talking over each other, excitement spilling out in every word. Megha stood behind them, smiling in that quiet, composed way of hers.
She handed me the wedding invitation herself.
"I wanted to give this to you in person," she said.
I didn't say anything. I just pulled her into a hug. Some happiness deserves silence before celebration.
The wedding was intimate, filled with familiar faces.
Neha hovered near the stage, helping everyone with genuine enthusiasm. Ricky and Hitesh argued over food like always, while Rekha pretended to scold them and then laughed the loudest. SM stood nearby, watching it all with quiet satisfaction.
Sushant arrived later, calm and composed, carrying the weight of Magnus Group with ease—but today, he was just there as family.
When Megha walked in, Karan and Nishi walked beside her, holding her hands as if they were her anchors. Her husband waited at the mandap, steady and sure, the kind of man who didn't promise the world—only partnership.
As Megha took her vows, I saw something settle inside her. A long chapter of responsibility gently closing… and a new one beginning, not lighter—but shared.
I smiled, knowing some people don't wait for life to soften.
They build a life strong enough to hold everything.
And me?
I turned down the transfer to the Magnus Group.
I chose to live the life I had postponed for years—the one I kept delaying in the name of responsibility, guilt, and survival. I still worked hard. MM kept his promise and promoted me. But my days no longer felt heavy.
Some weekends were for my mother and Urvi.Evenings were slower. Lighter.
Sometimes Neha would drag me—forcefully, really—to Echo3 concerts. Urvi never complained; she was a fan long before Neha ever was. I went along, pretending I didn't enjoy it as much as I did.
Life was… good.
Balanced.
Quiet.
And yet—
No one knew what Yuvan was doing.
One year had passed, and I hadn't seen him since the day he walked out of that room—eyes full, words exhausted.
No calls.No messages.No accidental crossings.
Just absence.
Some days, it felt peaceful. Other days, it felt unfinished.
At home just like that, the quiet returned.
I picked up my keys and stepped outside, deciding to go for a walk. The evening sky had darkened, clouds thinning enough for stars to peek through.
My feet carried me somewhere familiar before I even realized it.
The park.
The same one where I had once stood frozen at front of my ex in the past—until Yuvan had pulled me out of it without asking, without hesitation.
I sat on the bench, tilting my head up, eyes tracing the stars scattered across the sky.
Where are you?I miss you.
The thought surprised me with its honesty.
And yet—somewhere deep down—I think I always knew.
Some stars don't disappear when they fall.They just take time to find their way back into the sky.
After a while, I stood to leave.
That's when my foot caught on something.
I stumbled, the loose lace betraying me. I sighed and bent down to tie it—
Footsteps approached.
"Still clumsy as usual?"
The voice made me freeze.
Hands reached for my shoelace, fingers moving with familiar care. Before I could react, he finished tying it, then placed a steady hand on my arm, helping me up.
I looked at him.
Yuvan.
My eyes filled before I could stop them. I didn't speak. I couldn't.
He noticed immediately.
His expression softened, something unreadable passing through his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, holding my gaze."For making you wait."
Sachi straightened and she turned away, already walking."Who said I was waiting?"
Yuvan smiled faintly and followed her without another word.
After a few moments, Sachi stopped abruptly and turned back."Why are you following me?"
"Aren't you curious," he asked lightly, "to know what I did for a year?"
She folded her arms. "No. Least interested."Then, sharper, "Anyway, you have a great habit of pushing people aside."
"People?" he asked, stepping closer. "Or you?"
She pushed him gently, avoiding his eyes, and continued walking.
He didn't wait for an answer.
"I was preparing myself," he said, walking beside her. "Becoming stronger. Because next time, I don't want to fall apart. Because next time, I won't be alone."
Sachi slowed.
"There will be someone I love," he continued calmly, "and I want to be responsible enough that if life tests me again, it doesn't hurt her."
Her steps stopped completely.
"Because," he added, almost casually, "I'm getting married."
The words landed heavily.
Sachi remained quiet. Her face gave nothing away, though something in her eyes dulled. She had accepted this possibility long ago.
"Then why are you telling me?" she said evenly."Go tell the woman you're marrying."
She continued walking.
Behind her, Yuvan's voice rose, steady but firm.
"I went to her house. She wasn't there. I found her here instead. And still, she won't talk to me."
Sachi stopped.
He closed the distance, his voice lower now.
"I fell in love with her the first day I saw her," he said. "I just didn't realize it. She even confessed to me—and I was foolish enough to let her walk away."
Her breath hitched.
"I realized later," he continued, standing in front of her, "that I'm deeply, hopelessly in love with you, Sachi."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said again.
He lifted her face gently, wiping away the tears with his thumb. Then he stepped back.
Slowly, deliberately, Yuvan knelt down.
"I almost missed my chance once," he said, taking out a diamond ring. "I won't let that happen again. Will you marry me? I can't promise perfection—but I promise effort. And honesty. And a lifetime subscription of annoying you."
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
"And if I say no?" she asked quietly.
He lifted his chin with mock pride."Then I'll keep trying until you get tired and say yes."
She smiled fully this time."Sounds exhausting."
"Worth it," he replied.
"Okay," she said. "Let's try then."
She turned and began walking again. After a few steps, she looked back.
"Are you going to stay like that forever? I'm hungry."
Yuvan stood up instantly, still staring at her. "So… is that a yes?"
Sachi stopped walking. Slowly, she turned back and held her hand out toward him.
Yuvan's breath hitched for a moment before he smiled, a quiet, overwhelmed smile. He slid the ring onto her finger, his touch gentle, steady.
As the ring settled in place, he began to sing—his voice low, raw, carrying every emotion he had never said out loud.
"Drifted alone, no place to belong, Burned too fast, lost my space, Then you looked at me like I still shine, Like I was more than wasted time, I was fading in the dark so far, Till you found this fallen star."
When he finished, he looked at her and said softly, almost breathless,"I wrote this song for you."
Sachi's eyes widened. "For me?" she whispered. "But this song was released before we even met."
Yuvan didn't reply immediately. Instead, he reached into the pocket of his black jacket and took something out—a small keychain, worn but carefully kept. A pressed four-leaf clover rested inside it.
Sachi froze.
She took it from his hand, her fingers trembling. "Where… where did you find this?"
Looking at the keychain she said, when my parents separated, I cried alone in this park.
I remember sitting on the same bench, my chest hurting so much that breathing felt difficult. I didn't care who saw me. I just cried.
A boy—maybe seven or eight years old—came up to me. He asked why I was crying. I looked at him, tears blurring my vision, and cried even harder.
He didn't say anything after that. He just walked away.
I thought that was it.
A few minutes later, he came back. His hands were full of mud, his clothes dusty. He held something out to me—a four-leaf clover.
He told me his mom said it brought good luck.
"Keep this," he said. "Everything will be fine."
I didn't know why, but those words made my chest feel lighter. I felt calmer. A little stronger.
I lost that clover years later…
Yuvan instantly realized nad flashed back to That day. The same park, he met Sachi.
A slow smile curved his lips, soft and stunned, meant only for himself.
"So… you were there from the very beginning," he murmured under his breath.
Sachi frowned slightly. "What?"
He shook his head, brushing it off gently. "Nothing."
Before she could press him, he reached for her hand instead, his fingers lacing with hers—steady, familiar, reassuring. Together, they started walking toward his bike parked near the exit.
"There was this day," he continued, eyes ahead but voice steady, "when a few boys were bullying me here." He glanced at her then, smiling. "And you showed up like a rescuer."
She stopped walking. "I remember," she said slowly.
Yuvan grinned, instantly. "So you saved me from bullies and again saved me from my family's mess," he said lightly, tilting his head. "Guess I owe you alot."
She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "I was just doing what anyone should."
"Sure," he replied, clearly amused. "You've always had this habit—walking into trouble like it's nothing."
She rolled her eyes, but the smile refused to leave her face.
As they continued walking, their voices gradually softened—talk of hot chocolate versus cake, arguments about which one was clearly superior, laughter trailing behind them as the park lights flickered on.
Their words faded into the night, but the certainty remained, they had always been finding their way back to each other.
This story ends here, for now. If these characters still live in your heart, maybe one day their journey will continue.