The moment he stepped into the conference room, the atmosphere shifted. The board members, seasoned professionals in their own right, stood up immediately, their faces a mixture of awe and apprehension. Abhimaan was not a man who tolerated inefficiency or weakness. He was ruthless in business, but fair to those who respected the rules of the game.
"Sit down," Abhimaan commanded, his voice low but unmistakably authoritative.
As the board members took their seats, the room became a battleground of minds. Abhimaan listened intently as the discussions began, his cold gaze never leaving the faces of those speaking. He asked questions, probed for weaknesses, and demanded results. If someone made a mistake, they were corrected—but always with precision, always with control
And yet, despite his reputation for being heartless, there was one thing that set Abhimaan apart from many of his peers—he never punished the innocent. He believed in fairness, in justice. If someone made a mistake out of incompetence, they were reprimanded, but if they were a victim of circumstances, they would receive his aid.
A young employee, a man named Rajesh, was nervously presenting a project he had spent weeks on. His hands were shaking, but he stood tall, his voice quivering as he explained the details. Abhimaan listened closely, his eyes never wavering.
When the presentation ended, Abhimaan didn't say a word for a moment. The room was tense, everyone holding their breath, waiting for his verdict.
"You've made some errors in your calculations, Rajesh," Abhimaan said finally, his voice icy. "But the potential is there. Fix the errors and come back to me. I will give you another chance."
Rajesh, surprised and relieved, nodded fervently. "Thank you, Mr. Rathore. I won't disappoint you."
With that, the meeting continued, the respect and fear for Abhimaan palpable in the room. His empire was not built on kindness, but on results. And anyone who worked under him knew that his cold heart could be as unforgiving as it was just.
As the meeting wrapped up and Abhimaan returned to his office, his thoughts drifted back to the conversation with his Dadu. Marriage. Legacy. Responsibility.
But for now, the business world demanded his attention. The empire was his first and only love.
Keeping all the thoughts aside Abhimaan started to focus on his work Soon he heard a knock on the door
" come in " he said in his always cold voice , the door opened and came his assistant Aditi
" Sir , your next meeting is in 10 minutes " she told him
" Ok , leave " he said and she left his cabin and like this all his day went in back to back meetings.
after Abhimaan went home his mother told him to ready tomorrow as they will be going to meet the girl they choose for him .
.
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On the other side
Ishika sat on the small iron-framed bed, her fingers nervously twirling the edges of her white cotton dupatta. The room was quiet, except for the soft rustle of pages in the nearby corner where Rekha Ji was reading something. The aged lady, who had been a mother figure to her for as long as she could remember, had called her into her office today for a discussion, a conversation that had both excitement and anxiety building up in Ishika's heart.
"Beta," Rekha Ji's voice broke the silence, warm but tinged with something unfamiliar. "I got a call yesterday. From the Rathores."
Ishika looked up, her big doe eyes reflecting curiosity. She had heard the name "Rathore" actually who hadn't , many times in passing. The Rathores were a prominent family, known throughout Rajasthan for their wealth, legacy, and the most recent addition to their family—a young king who had inherited not only the throne but an empire. The young king, Abhimaan Rathore, was often spoken of in whispers, admired by many, yet never seen to show any interest in any woman.
"What about them, Aunty?" Ishika's voice was soft, almost hesitant. She had always respected Rekha Ji's words, and when the elderly lady looked at her with such a serious expression, Ishika could sense that this was important.
They are interested in you, beta. For their son... His highness Mr. Abhimaan singh Rathore." Rekha Ji paused, watching Ishika's reaction carefully. "Dada hukum saw you at the charity event a few days ago. It seems... it seems he liked what he saw. They wish to meet you, Ishika, but only if you agree to it."
Ishika's heart skipped a beat. Her mind raced to the charity event that had taken place in the orphanage, an event she had helped organize with Rekha Ji. She remembered the glint of admiration in the eyes of many guests, but she hadn't thought much about it. After all, what would someone like him—the ruler of Rajasthan, the man who owned half of India—see in her? She was just a poor orphan girl, raised in the Shanti Orphanage, a girl with no family, no name, and certainly no fortune.
Rekha Ji's voice broke her thoughts. "Ishika, I know you're not one to chase after wealth or fame, but this is an opportunity, my child. The Rathores are a good family. They will take care of you. Mr Rathore , he is a good man, too, despite the rumors you may have heard about him."
Ishika lowered her gaze, her fingers still playing with the fabric of her dupatta. She had heard rumors. Women in Rajasthan talked about him incessantly. Some called him the devil for his ruthlessness, others called him a cold-hearted prince who would never find love. They said he had the world at his feet, but his heart remained locked behind cold walls of power and arrogance.
"I respect you, Aunty, and if you think this is a good match, then... I will say yes," Ishika said quietly. There was no hesitation in her voice, just a calm acceptance. She didn't know why she felt compelled to say yes, but the truth was, Rekha Ji was everything to her. She had been her mother, her friend, her guide, and the one person who had never judged her. If Rekha Ji thought this was the right step, she would trust her.
Rekha Ji smiled, though her eyes seemed a little too bright. "Ishika, you are such a pure soul. I don't want to force you into anything, but I really think this could be good for you."
Ishika nodded, feeling a knot in her stomach tighten. She wasn't sure what to expect from the meeting, but she knew it would change everything. The Rathores would come to meet her at six in the evening, as they told .
NEXT DAY
As the day passed, Ishika went about her usual duties in the collage . She assisted with the younger children, helping them with their studies, cooking simple meals for them, and ensuring they were all comfortable and safe. But all the while, a storm brewed inside her mind. What was she supposed to do if the King of Rajasthan truly wanted to marry her? Was this some grand show for the world? Or was it real? Could someone like him ever truly like someone like her?
As evening approached, Rekha Ji's quiet assurances couldn't calm her nerves. She stood before the mirror in her small room, looking at the reflection of the girl who had never known anything other than simplicity. She was a plain girl—beautiful, yes, but not in the way that would turn heads or stop hearts. Her features were delicate, with long black hair that cascaded down her back in waves, and deep brown eyes that always seemed to reflect kindness. Her innocence and purity were her greatest strength, yet sometimes she wished they didn't make her so vulnerable.
As the time was passing Ishika's heartbeat was running fast the horn of cars made her come out of her thought see peaked out of the window only to see 10 black cars entering the gate of the orphanage , making her nervous , she then saw the gaurds came running to open the gate for, the Royals and they all made their way towards the gate , After almost half n hour Rekhaji came to her room and said
" Ishika beta , they arrived niche jaane ka samay ho gya hai , do not feel nervous " she said and took her down with her .
finally 30k readers🎉🫶🏻🤩 thanku for supporting , it motivates a lot the comments you all do makes me so happy , also sorry for late update , hehehe.
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