Chapter 29: The Heart of the Empire
(Vihaan's POV)
The grand ballroom of the Malhotra Plaza was unrecognizable. Thousands of white orchids hung from the ceiling, creating a floral canopy that smelled like a fresh beginning. The city's elite were all there—politicians, billionaires, and industry titans—but for the first time in my life, I wasn't scanning the room for networking opportunities.
I was standing at the edge of the aisle, adjusting the heavy gold embroidery of my velvet sherwani. My hands were sweating. I had closed billion-dollar deals without a flinch, but today, my heart felt like it was trying to break out of my chest.
"Relax, son," a voice said behind me.
I turned to see my father. He looked regal, but the hardness in his eyes had been replaced by something softer. He reached out and straightened my collar. "You look like a man who knows exactly what he's doing."
"I do, Dad," I said. "For the first time in my life."
He nodded, glancing at the front row where Janvi's parents sat, looking honored and comfortable. "We did the right thing. The company is stronger because you are happy. Remember that."
The Entrance
The music shifted. The deep, resonant sound of the shehnai filled the hall, and the massive oak doors swung open.
The room went silent.
Janvi appeared, and the air seemed to leave my lungs. She was a vision in a deep crimson lehenga, encrusted with thousands of tiny hand-sewn crystals that caught the light with every step. She wore the Malhotra heirloom emeralds, but they were dull compared to the glow on her face.
She wasn't walking like the shy girl from the office or the heartbroken woman from the waterfront. She walked like a queen returning to her throne.
As she reached the mandap, I stepped down to take her hand. Her fingers were warm and steady.
"You look breathtaking," I whispered, loud enough only for her.
"And you look like you're about to faint," she teased, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous light I had fallen in love with years ago.
The Sacred Fire
We sat before the sacred fire. As the priest chanted the Vedic hymns, I looked at our joined hands. This wasn't a business merger. It wasn't a PR stunt.
As we performed the Pheras, circling the fire seven times, I made my own silent vows.
First Circle: I vow to never let you feel like a "line item" ever again.
Second Circle: I vow to protect your laugh as if it's the company's greatest asset.
Third Circle: I vow to be the man who earns the words in that notebook every single day.
When it came time to apply the sindoor (vermilion) to her parting, my hand was steady. As the red powder settled, the reality hit me: She was mine. I was hers. The bet was officially dead, buried under the weight of a love that had survived the impossible.
The Celebration
The reception was a blur of laughter and light. Priya, wearing a saree that was almost as bright as her personality, gave a speech that had the entire room in stitches—and half of them in tears.
"I spent five years wanting to punch Vihaan Malhotra," she said, raising her glass. "And honestly, I still might if he messes up. But seeing the way he looks at my best friend today... I think I'll put my boxing gloves away. For now."
Even Raj stood up, offering a toast to "finding the courage to follow your heart, no matter how late you are."
Late in the evening, I pulled Janvi away from the crowd, leading her to the balcony overlooking the city lights. The hum of the party was a distant murmur behind us.
"Are you tired?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.
"A little," she admitted, leaning back into my chest. "But I've never felt more awake. We actually did it, Vihaan. We're here."
"We're just getting started," I said, kissing her temple. "Tomorrow, the world will see a new V.X. Enterprises. One run by a man who finally knows what truly matters."
Janvi turned in my arms, linking her hands behind my neck. "And what is that, Mr. CEO?"
I looked into her eyes—the eyes that had seen my worst and still chose to see my best. "The girl in the shadows," I whispered. "The one who became my light."
As the fireworks began to explode over the city skyline, painting the night in vibrant colors, I leaned down and kissed my wife. The echoes of the waterfront were gone, replaced by the beautiful, loud, and chaotic music of our future.