It was early morning, the sky still wrapped in a faint golden haze when the Rathoure mansion buzzed with quiet activity. Everyone was dressed and ready, luggage lined neatly near the door. The air was thick—not with excitement for Eshan's wedding—but with a heavy silence that no one dared to break.

One by one, they all stepped into the sleek black cars waiting outside. Eshan, Rudra, Kabir, Zayan, Ayan, Advik, Arjun, and Innaya—all sat together, yet miles apart. Not a single word left their lips during the entire one-hour drive. The hum of the car engine was the only sound that dared exist between them.

When they reached the Jaipur airport, the staff greeted them respectfully and guided them toward the Rathoure private jet, shining proudly on the runway. Everyone boarded quietly, their steps echoing in the cabin like unspoken thoughts.

Once seated, the silence continued.
No teasing. No laughter. Just the sound of seatbelts clicking and the soft murmur of engines warming up.

Innaya, without meeting anyone's eyes, slipped on her headphones, her face calm but unreadable. She leaned back against the window seat, gazing outside as if the clouds might carry her pain away.

The boys exchanged glances. Zayan tried to start a light chat with Ayan, Kabir threw in a sarcastic joke, and soon a few chuckles filled the air—but their laughter was short-lived. Every few seconds, their eyes drifted toward Innaya, who was now peacefully asleep, her hair falling gently across her face, the faintest trace of exhaustion still visible.

Rudra exhaled softly, his tone careful yet caring.
"She can go to her room and rest properly. The jet's got enough space, after all."

Ved glanced toward her, then nodded quietly.
Kabir gestured to her gently,
"Innu, room mein jaake so jaa... it's a long flight."

Innaya didn't speak—just nodded silently, removed her headphones, and stood up gracefully. Without meeting anyone's gaze, she walked down the narrow passageway of the private jet and disappeared into one of the private suites.

The door closed softly behind her, leaving behind that same, familiar silence.
Only the sky outside seemed to move freely—calm, endless, and unaware of the storm still resting in their hearts.

In the private jet's room, silence wrapped around her like a heavy blanket. The low hum of the engines was steady, but Innaya's mind refused to rest. She lay there, eyes half-open, staring at the soft light spilling through the cabin window. Sleep... was a stranger now.

Just then, her black laptop pinged—a soft chime breaking through the quiet. She sighed, sat up slowly, and reached for her phone. A new message flashed on the screen:

Carl: Miss Sofia Volkov, Mr. King would like to discuss the Italy branch expansion. He requests a short meeting before landing.

For a moment, Innaya froze, her eyes flickering over the name Sofia Volkov—the name that wasn't hers, but one she'd learned to live behind. A name that protected her, but also haunted her.

She brushed her hair back, inhaled deeply, and whispered to herself,
"Let's get this over with."

Pulling her black laptop from her bag, she opened it. The cool glow of the screen reflected against her face, painting her features in pale silver. A flicker of strength, a hint of control—this was her armor.

The call connected.
"Good afternoon, Mr. King," she greeted, voice smooth, professional, detached from the chaos she carried inside.

Mr. King began, "Miss Volkov, regarding the Italy branch—there are concerns about the new investment partners..."

And as the meeting unfolded, Innaya transformed completely—the fragile girl faded, replaced by the sharp, commanding woman.
Her voice didn't tremble. Her eyes didn't soften.
She was Sofia Volkov now—the name that ruled boardrooms, not hearts.

Outside, the jet cut through clouds like a silent arrow, carrying a girl who hid her pain behind passwords and power. ✈️

After some time, the meeting began to wind down. Innaya closed a few tabs on her laptop, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as Mr. King smiled politely.

"Bene, grazie per il tempo, Miss Volkov," he said warmly. (They spoke in Italian — "Good, thank you for your time, Miss Volkov.")

"Prego, signor King. Arrivederci," Innaya replied smoothly, her accent perfect. (They spoke in Italian — "You're welcome, Mr. King. Goodbye.")

With that, she closed the call, leaned back in her seat, and let out a quiet sigh—the weight of both worlds pressing silently against her shoulders.

The black laptop snapped shut, and for a moment, she just stared out the small jet window, lost in thought as the clouds drifted lazily past. ☁️

After the meeting, Innaya picked up her phone and typed a quick message to her assistant, Carl:

"Carl, please complete the paperwork we discussed and send it over to Mr. King. Make sure everything is double-checked before submitting."

She hit send, then leaned back in her seat, letting out a soft sigh, her mind already shifting back to the whirlwind awaiting her with the Rathoure family.

After some time, Innaya stepped out of her room and sat beside Kabir.

Kabir, with a playful grin, nudged her:
"Come on, play with us. Don't just sit there."

Innaya smiled softly and nodded. The group gathered, spreading the Ludo board on a small table, laughter finally filling the jet cabin as dice rolled and playful banter echoed.

An hour later, their game ended, laughter still lingering, and the private jet touched down in London.

Everyone disembarked, climbed into waiting cars, and settled in for the ride toward the wedding venue—the excitement from the flight still buzzing among them.

There were six cars in total. The elders settled into the first three, while Eshan, Zayan, and Arjun took the fourth car. The fifth carried Ayan, Advik, Kabir, and Rudra.

Just as they were about to leave, Innaya spoke up softly but firmly:
"I'll go in a separate car... I need to stop by the Kavi area to pick up some files."

Without hesitation, Rudra said:
"I'll come with you, Innaya. I have some work in that area too."

Eshan nodded in agreement. Soon, only Innaya and Rudra were left. Rudra opened the car door, Innaya slipped in, and they drove off toward the Kavi area.

The car moved smoothly through the streets, both focused yet aware of each other's presence.

They arrived at their destination, ready to take care of their tasks before joining the rest—
though, truth be told, Rudra didn't have any work at all.
He just wanted to spend a little more time with Innaya. 😌

Innaya stepped out of the car, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as she walked toward the glass building. Inside, everything was pristine and quiet — the air smelled faintly of coffee and printer ink. She greeted the receptionist with her usual calm grace, collected the sleek black file she had come for, and signed a few papers with practiced ease.

Rudra, meanwhile, leaned casually against the car, pretending to scroll through his phone like he was busy — but truth be told, he was just staring at her reflection in the window.
The way she moved — confident, silent, almost untouchable — made him forget that this was supposed to be just another errand run.

After a few minutes, Innaya returned, file in hand, her expression calm but sharp as ever.
She opened the car door and slid inside, placing the file neatly beside her.

Rudra followed, shutting the door behind him, and as the driver started the engine, he couldn't help but grin.
"So, Innaya— mission accomplished?" he teased lightly.

Innaya gave him a side-eye, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"You really didn't have any work here, did you?" she asked, voice soft but knowing.

Rudra chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
"Maybe not... but London traffic's boring alone, and someone had to make sure you didn't run off on another business call."

Innaya rolled her eyes, shaking her head, though the hint of a smile betrayed her.
"You're impossible, Rudra."

"And yet," he replied with a playful smirk, "you didn't ask me to leave."

The car rolled on through the golden London morning, sunlight brushing across their faces. Between the teasing and silence, something unspoken hung in the air — light, comfortable, and maybe a little dangerous.

Rudra leaned back, hands behind his head, a small smile still playing on his lips.
He didn't have any work. He just wanted to be where she was — even if it meant pretending to." 🤭

After about an hour on the London streets, the car came to an abrupt halt — traffic had brought them to a complete standstill. The morning sunlight glinted off the windshield, and a faint breeze fluttered the papers inside the car.

Innaya's phone buzzed against her lap. She glanced down and saw a notification from Carl:

Carl: Mr. King has some queries regarding work. He would like to discuss them over a video call.

Innaya's expression remained calm, though her mind immediately shifted gears. She turned slightly to Rudra, her voice low but firm:
"Rudra bhai , I have a college meeting — don't make any noise. I'm moving to the back seat to attend."

Rudra, pretending to be absorbed in the window view, simply nodded.
"Got it. Don't worry, I'll behave," he teased softly, though the smirk on his face betrayed how amused he was.

Innaya slid quietly to the back seat, her black laptop already open and ready. She adjusted her headphones, the faint hum of the traffic fading into the background. The car felt oddly silent now, save for the muted honks and distant engine roars outside, as if the city itself had slowed to give her this moment.

Rudra, sitting up front, kept his eyes discreetly on the road but stole glances at her occasionally. He tried to hide it, but the way she focused — her brow slightly furrowed, fingers poised over the keyboard — made his heart skip.

Innaya took a deep breath, muted her mic for a second, and then whispered quietly to herself:
"Let's just get through this... one call at a time."

As the video call connected, Mr. King appeared on the screen, a stern yet composed figure. Innaya straightened instantly, her posture commanding even in the cramped backseat. Rudra, pretending to scroll through his phone, stole another glance, silently marveling at how effortlessly she transformed — from the playful, light-hearted Innaya he knew into the poised, professional figure the world expected.

Innaya adjusted her headphones, cleared her throat, and addressed the screen with calm precision:
"Good morning, Mr. King. I'm ready to discuss the queries you have regarding the project."

Mr. King's eyes, sharp and observant, scanned her carefully.
"Miss Volkov, I need clarity on the Italy branch expansion. Some discrepancies were flagged in the last report."

Innaya nodded subtly, her fingers already moving across the laptop keyboard.
"Yes, I've reviewed the numbers thoroughly. The discrepancies were due to delayed inputs from the local team. I've attached the corrected sheets in this meeting for your verification."

Rudra, sitting in the front, pretended to be adjusting the car mirror, but he couldn't hide the faint grin tugging at his lips. Every now and then, he peeked at her over the top of the seat. He whispered under his breath:
"Wow... she's amazing... why do I even bother pretending to work?" 🤣

Innaya's gaze, however, was fully fixed on the screen. She spoke clearly and professionally, switching seamlessly between English and Italian phrases when needed, explaining budgets, logistics, and timelines. Mr. King nodded approvingly at her detailed responses.

Mr. King: "Impressive, Miss Volkov. Your attention to detail is... remarkable. I only have a few minor follow-ups."

As she answered each question concisely, Rudra's smirk grew. He leaned back slightly, whispering to himself:
"And here I thought I was the important one in the car... clearly not."

Innaya, oblivious to his playful commentary, completed the meeting with finality.
"All points addressed, Mr. King. Please review the attachments, and I'll await your confirmation."

Mr. King's eyes softened ever so slightly.
"Excellent. Grazie, Miss Volkov. Arrivederci." (Italian – "Thank you. Goodbye.")

Innaya responded politely:
"Prego, signor King. Arrivederci." (Italian – "You're welcome. Goodbye.")

She closed her laptop and leaned back, a small sigh escaping her lips. The tension of the meeting evaporated slightly, replaced by the hum of the idle car and Rudra's subtle amusement from the front seat.

Rudra broke the silence with a teasing grin:
"So... you speak Italian too? And here I am thinking you only play Ludo and manage family drama."

Innaya smirked faintly, glancing at him over the back of the seat:
"Why don't you learn it, then?"

Rudra nodded dramatically, pretending to be serious:
"Yeah... I guess I'm doomed. Not everyone can be a secret polyglot."

Innaya chuckled softly, shaking her head, then returned to looking out the window. The city lights of London glimmered in the distance, promising chaos, celebrations, and perhaps... a little calm amidst the storm.

The car remained quiet after that, but the playful tension lingered, a mix of respect, amusement, and subtle affection between them—two worlds colliding quietly on the road to the Rathoure wedding.

you know what ...........thiss is a huggggeee chapter and also read myy new book Kismat