The boardroom had emptied, but the weight of its decisions still lingered in the air. As the last of the members left with congratulatory smiles and firm handshakes, Janvi and Anaya stood near the door—polite, composed, waiting. Their expressions masked the flicker of excitement underneath. This wasn't just any approval. It was the moment. The future had opened its doors, and they were standing right at the threshold.
The room buzzed with fragments of praise.
"Ladies, brilliant concept. We're expecting the prototype soon."
"Innovative. Smart use of legacy tech."
"Keep up the good work, both of you."
The girls responded with grace—a smile here, a respectful nod there. Anaya kept her hands folded neatly in front of her, her posture straight, her smile calm. Janvi, slightly behind, followed her lead, absorbing everything with wide eyes and a heart that still beat too fast. She was nervous, but today... she wasn't shrinking.
Dev Shinganiya turned to the girls with an air of calm authority. "Ladies, meet me in the cabin."
Anaya's lips curved into a practiced, polite smile. "Yes, sir," she said, her voice light yet respectful. She couldn't afford to let anything slip—not here, not now. No one outside this office knew her true relationship with the Shinganiya family, and it had to stay that way. Not until the time was right.
Janvi gave a small nod, her eyes lowering for a moment before lifting again. She respected Dev immensely, but something about facing him directly made her nerves dance. She walked with Anaya, close but slightly behind.
Rudra, Aarav, and Dev moved ahead, discussing some follow-up with the board. Their tall frames and businesslike presence filled the corridor. Behind them, Ravi stood waiting for Anaya and Janvi. He didn't speak at first, just gave a calm, steady nod that said more than words.
"You both did a great job," he finally said, voice warm but composed.
Anaya responded immediately, her voice even. "Thank you, Ravi sir."
Janvi added, more quietly but with growing strength, "Thank you, sir."
Ravi gestured slightly with his hand. "Shall we go? Dev sir is waiting."
They followed, walking down the polished corridor toward the cabin. The marble under their feet gleamed like a stage prepared for something important. Janvi's steps slowed as they neared the door.
"Anaya," she whispered, "What if I freeze up? What if Dev uncle asks me something I can't answer?"
Anaya paused. Her hand gently brushed Janvi's arm in reassurance. "He's more than a mentor to me, Janvi. He's like my second father. And trust me, he's already impressed. Just be yourself."
Janvi swallowed hard but nodded. It was enough.
Ravi reached the cabin door first.
CLICK.
The sound of the door unlocking seemed louder than it should have been. Ravi's hand gripped the steel handle and turned it with a soft creak. The polished wooden door opened slowly, revealing a room bathed in mellow gold from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind the desk.
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The room was silent, plush, and filled with an air of gravity. Rudra stood facing the glass wall, his arms crossed behind his back, his silhouette framed against the sunlight. He wasn't moving, just gazing out—lost in thoughts only he knew. He always looked calm on the outside, but Anaya knew better.
Aarav sat comfortably on the left-side couch, his jacket off, a glass of water in hand, resting on his knee. He looked relaxed but observant, eyes flicking between everyone as they entered.
Dev was seated across from Aarav, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. As the girls entered, he looked up.
"Please, take a seat," he said.
Ravi stepped back to allow the girls in before closing the door behind them. Click. The latch sealed the room into an intimate, private space.
Anaya walked in with confidence and took the seat next to Aarav. Janvi hesitated just a second before sitting beside her. The soft whoosh of air from the leather couch cushions was the only sound.
Rudra turned. Slowly. His eyes scanned the room until they settled on Anaya. He walked over and, instead of taking a separate chair, sat on the armrest right next to her, his posture casual but his presence unmistakable. His hand drifted lightly to the back of the couch—not touching her, but close. She didn't move away. She didn't need to.
Janvi noticed but said nothing. She had begun to understand the quiet codes they spoke in—glances, gestures, proximity.
Dev took a long breath.
"You both have done remarkable work."
His voice was calm, measured, but proud.
"You came into this company as fresh minds. You turned an old blueprint into the foundation of something revolutionary."
Ravi handed both girls a glass of water. Anaya accepted it with a nod. Janvi murmured, "Thank you, sir."
Rudra leaned slightly toward Anaya, the smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. He didn't speak, but his body language said everything.
Dev leaned forward in his seat, his eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity. "So, Anaya," he asked, folding his hands thoughtfully, "where did you get the idea to create an AI-powered bracelet?"
The question hung in the air.
Anaya turned her head gently to look at Rudra, a knowing softness in her gaze. She smiled.
Then, with slow deliberation, she rolled up the left sleeve of her suit jacket. The fabric made a delicate rustling sound as it slid back, revealing the sleek bracelet sitting snug on her wrist—its black surface absorbing the warm light, intricate micro-circuits visible beneath the smart-glass exterior.
Dev's eyes locked onto it. His brows knit together with sudden recognition.
"That design..."
He turned his head toward Rudra, who met his gaze calmly.
Janvi's voice broke the moment. "It was all Anaya's idea to turn the original concept into wearable AI. I just worked on the backend code with her."
Aarav looked back and forth between his father and brother, confusion forming across his face. "Wait... what's going on? Dad? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Dev didn't answer immediately. He kept his eyes on Rudra.
"Rudra," he said slowly, "did you... did you find the treasure?"
Rudra didn't flinch. He simply rolled up his own sleeve, mirroring Anaya. The bracelet gleamed on his wrist—an exact twin.
And just like that, silence swept through the room.
He turned slightly so that Dev, Aarav, and Ravi could see it clearly.
"Yes, Dad," Rudra said, voice steady but charged. "We found Dadaji's prototype. It never left us. I had it with me all these years. We just didn't realize what it truly was."
Anaya added softly, her voice thick with emotion, "It wasn't just a relic. It became the spark. The idea grew from that single bracelet. When I realized its origin... I couldn't ignore it."
Dev leaned back in his seat, letting out a slow breath. Then, a quiet laugh escaped him—unexpected and genuine. He covered his mouth for a second, his face breaking into a rare expression of wonder.
"You brought it back," he whispered. "You actually brought it back."
Aarav, still unsure, scoffed a little. "It looks like a normal couple bracelet."
Ravi, standing near the wall, had the same skeptical look but remained silent.
Janvi looked at both men, her voice clearer now. "It's not just a couple bracelet. It's your grandfather's vision—technology decades ahead of its time. Rudra and Anaya are wearing history."
Anaya nodded. "It connects more than data. It connects people. When worn together, it begins syncing the wearers' emotional states, heart rhythms, even stress levels. It's not fully activated yet, but I'm close to cracking the final code."
Aarav blinked in realization. "So that's why you wear it all the time... I thought it was just your thing."
He turned to Rudra. "You actually kept it all these years? You never told me."
Rudra gave a faint smirk, one of those rare, boyish expressions he let slip only with those closest to him. "Some things don't need words until the time is right."
Dev leaned forward again, pride glowing in his eyes. "I'm impressed. This—this is more than a project. It's legacy reborn. Rudra, you're lucky. You have a wife who's not just talented, but visionary."
Rudra looked at Anaya, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Yes, Dad. I'm very lucky."
Anaya lowered her eyes, cheeks faintly flushed, but the smile remained on her face.
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Janvi, sitting beside her, couldn't help but smile too. Not because of what was said—but because she had seen it unfold firsthand. She had watched Anaya stay up through nights, dig through outdated blueprints, and write code that defied convention. And now, she was being recognized. Rightfully.
Ravi finally stepped forward, his expression composed, voice steady. "Sir, this may be an old invention. But what they are building now—it's not just a re-creation. It's a re-invention. They are taking something rooted in the past and giving it a future."
He walked over to Dev's side, stopping just behind the desk.
Aarav, as always, couldn't help himself. He grinned. "Ravi, you're turning poetic. I almost don't recognize you."
Everyone laughed lightly.
Anaya sat upright in her slate grey office suit, her posture formal, yet her presence radiated something else entirely—warmth, intellect, confidence. Her bracelet shimmered every time she moved her hand.
Rudra, seated on the armrest beside her, didn't need to say anything. His nearness said it all. It was comfort. It was pride.
Dev, from across the room, watched them closely. His heart was fuller than he'd admit. He wasn't just looking at a project. He was looking at the future of his family. The two young minds in front of him had taken the past and turned it into a promise.
Janvi's transformation was quieter but just as powerful. The shy, reserved girl had spoken clearly. She had stood beside her friend, not in her shadow. And Ravi had noticed. He always did.
The golden light poured over them all. In that moment, everything felt exactly as it should be.