A handsome man stood by the glass wall, watching the rain lash against it, the city drowning in its relentless downpour. His silhouette was sharp against the dim light of the room, his broad shoulders stiff, and his hands tucked deep into his pockets. The tension in his posture suggested he was lost in thought.

Minutes passed before his phone rang, the sharp sound slicing through the stillness. He turned his head toward it, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips. He already knew who it was. Slowly, he walked over to the phone, the heavy sound of his boots echoing on the hardwood floor.

"Hello," he said, his voice cold, with a gravelly edge that sent a chill down most people’s spines.

"Hello, Bhai*! What's up? Where were you? How many times did I call? Why didn’t you pick up?"

A sharp exhale escaped his lips as he sat down, his movements deliberate and unhurried. "Relax, Vir. Take a breath. So many questions at once? Do I need to remind you how to breathe?"

"Okay, okay, bro. Sorry!" Vir inhaled audibly, a nervous habit his elder brother found amusing. A faint chuckle escaped the man’s lips, a rare sound that softened his otherwise formidable demeanor.

"How are you, Bhai? How’s everything over there?" Vir asked, his voice eager.

"I’m fine," the man replied. His tone was curt, but there was a subtle warmth in his words. "All thanks to your constant micromanagement from miles away. How’s my not-so-little brother? And..." His voice faltered slightly, softening as he asked, "How’s Mom?"

"Mom is fine, Bhai." A heavy silence settled between them for a moment. Vir cleared his throat, attempting to dispel the weight. "Uhmm... and don’t call me little brother! I’m already 24. If you tease me again, I’ll really get mad."

A low chuckle rumbled from the man. "Okay, okay. No teasing."

Vir smiled on the other end. "Oh, yeah! I called to tell you something important."

"Important?" His tone sharpened, his focus shifting completely.

"Uh... Bhai... I’m getting married!" Vir’s excitement was palpable, his voice bursting with energy.

The man froze. His sharp features betrayed no emotion, but inside, a storm brewed—surprise, pride, and an unshakable sense of protectiveness. "What?" he finally said, his voice low and measured.

"I said I’m getting married!" Vir repeated, laughing nervously.

The man leaned back in his chair, his piercing eyes staring into the shadows of the room. "You’re serious?"

"Of course! Why would I joke about this?"

The man exhaled, his fingers drumming against the armrest. His mind wandered to the past. Vir had always been the child who clung to him, shadowing his every move, relying on him for guidance. Now, his baby brother was ready to take this monumental step on his own.

"Hello? Bhai, are you there?" Vir’s voice snapped him back. "Are you even listening?"

"I’m listening," the man replied. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Why the rush? You’ve only known her for a year. You’re still young. Are you sure about this? Is Mom okay with it? And what about her parents?"

"No congratulations? Nothing?" Vir retorted, feigning offense. "Of course, Mom is okay with it, and so are her parents. And I don’t want to wait any longer!"

"Fine. Congratulations," the man said, though his tone lacked its usual sharpness. "So, when’s the wedding?"

"Thanks, Bhai." Vir noticed the subdued response but chose not to press further. "We haven’t decided yet."

"Why not?"

"Because I want you here," Vir said firmly. "I want you to meet her and her family. You’re the eldest son of the Singhaniya family. You have to be there."

The man stiffened, his jaw tightening. "Vir, you don’t need me there. You and Mom can handle everything." His voice carried a note of finality, but underneath it was a flicker of hesitation.

"There is a need," Vir pressed. "It’s been five years, Bhai. Five years since you left. I know you’re busy, but is work more important than us?"

The man closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. The weight of guilt began to creep in, tightening around him like a vice.

"And you know," Vir added, his voice quieter now, "Mom’s still upset with you for leaving. She hasn’t talked to you once all these years."

That struck a nerve. The man clenched his fists, the guilt now undeniable. He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Fine. I’ll come."

"Really? You’re serious?" Vir’s voice lit up.

"Yes, I’m serious," the man said firmly, though his expression softened as he imagined Vir’s beaming face on the other end.

"You won’t go back on your word?"

"I won’t," the man replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite himself.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, Bhai! Mom’s going to be so happy!" Vir’s enthusiasm was infectious, and for the first time in years, the man felt a glimmer of warmth pierce through his cold exterior.

"Hmm," he murmured.

"Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Love you, Bhai. Bye!"

"Yeah... love you too. Bye." The man sat there for a moment, staring at the now-silent phone. His cold expression softened, the faintest hint of a smile lingering on his face.

After ending the call, Minar placed his mobile on the glass table and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. Memories flooded his mind as if everything had happened just yesterday. He was still grappling with the shock that his younger brother wanted to get married so soon. It wasn’t that he was against the idea—far from it. But Minar couldn’t shake the suspicion creeping into his thoughts.

Marriage had always been an afterthought for Viraj, who often teased, “I’ll marry only after Bhai does.” Now, this sudden change of heart was perplexing. Something didn’t add up.

Minar Singhania—the chairman of "MIRAJ," an automobile giant—had always been the cornerstone of his family. With a commanding presence and piercing eyes, he exuded authority. But beneath the cold exterior, he harbored an unwavering love for his family: his mother, Suhana, and his baby brother, Viraj.

After their father, Rudra Pratap Singhania, tragically passed in a plane crash, Minar stepped into his shoes. Rudra had built the nation's leading automobile company through grit and determination, and Minar idolized him. Taking over as president at such a young age wasn’t easy, but Minar had proved his mettle. Under his leadership, the company thrived, expanding domestically and internationally. Despite his success, his heart remained tethered to the legacy his father had left behind.

Though revered by employees for his brilliance and dominance, they knew one truth: his family was his Achilles' heel. While Minar commanded respect, his love for his mother and brother defined him. His bond with Viraj was especially profound—an inseparable duo who once shared every secret. Yet, in the last five years, an unspoken distance lingered between them, ever since Minar left the country.

One and a half years ago, something shifted. Viraj, with his boyish charm and magnetic personality, had revealed he was smitten by a girl. His excitement was palpable as he confided in Minar.

Flashback: One and a Half Years Ago

“Bhai, are you even listening to me?” Viraj’s voice broke Minar’s train of thought, his impatience evident.

“Yes, Vir, I am,” Minar replied, rubbing his temples. “But who is this girl? What’s her name? Have you looked into her background?”

“Background? Seriously, Bhai? She’s not a criminal! And no, I don’t know her name yet.” Viraj groaned, covering his face with his hand. “Who asks these questions anyway? Aren’t you supposed to ask if she’s pretty or smart?”

Minar couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “Vir, you’ve been chasing her for two weeks, and you don’t even know her name? What exactly are you planning to say when you finally approach her? If Mohit had taken this up, he’d probably have her entire family history by now.”

“Yeah, yeah, your loyal Mohit,” Viraj retorted, pouting. “I don’t want his help. I want your help, Bhai. Please? Pretty please?”

Minar leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. “Vir, I don’t know the first thing about love. I can’t help you there. Why don’t you ask Ryan? He seems to be an expert in... romantic endeavors.”

“Ryan? Bhai, he’s a playboy, not a love guru!” Viraj sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping. “Fine, I’ll talk to him.”

Minar smirked. He knew Viraj’s exaggerated sulking all too well. “Alright, kid, don’t pull that face. You’ll figure it out. I’ve got work to do. Talk later, okay? Take care.”

As the call disconnected, Viraj paced his room, muttering under his breath. “Okay, Vir. You’ve got this. You’re brave, you’re charming, and you can handle this. You’re going to make her fall for you.”

Minar’s train of thought was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. His brows furrowed slightly as he straightened in his chair and called out, “Come in.”

A young man, probably in his mid-twenties, stepped in. His demeanor was casual but respectful. “Sir, you called me?”

“Ryan,” Minar said, his voice steady as he set the file in his hands aside. “Call Mohit. I need him to look into someone.”

Ryan blinked, his confusion evident. “Someone? Who, exactly?”

“Viraj’s girlfriend,” Minar replied with unsettling calmness, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Ryan’s jaw dropped slightly. “Wait… what? Viraj’s girlfriend? Are you serious? Sir, you do realize this isn’t just anyone we’re talking about! If Viraj finds out, it’ll crush him!” His words spilled out in a single breath, momentarily forgetting the unspoken rule: Don’t question Minar Singhania.

Ryan had been Minar’s personal secretary for five years. A 25-year-old who’d been with Minar ever since he got his first job at MIRAJ Autogiant, thanks to his dad being Minar’s father’s secretary. But this wasn’t just some hand-me-down position—Ryan had earned it through his own hard work. After that, he followed Minar abroad to help set up the business, and for five years, he hadn’t had the chance to go back to India—either with Minar or without him.

Minar had always been someone Ryan admired, almost like a fan. Even though they were almost the same age, Ryan had always looked up to him—how Minar spoke, how he handled tough situations, how he turned into the man he was after losing his father. He was basically Minar’s biggest fan, second only to Viraj.

But right now, Ryan couldn’t wrap his head around this. Investigating Viraj’s girlfriend? That felt like crossing a line. But he also knew Minar—when he said something was important, it was important. And no one, not even his closest friends, dared question him when it came to family.

Minar, who had resumed flipping through the papers in the file, froze mid-motion. Slowly, his sharp, piercing gaze met Ryan’s panicked one. The room felt a few degrees colder.

“You wanna die?” Minar asked, his voice icy and terrifyingly calm.

Ryan gulped audibly, sweat forming at his temples. “S-sorry, sir! It… it just slipped out! I swear, I didn’t mean to overstep!” He inwardly cursed himself for his big mouth. Five years by Minar’s side should have taught him better by now. Minar was fiercely protective of his family, and when it came to his brother Viraj, there were no boundaries he wouldn’t cross.

Ryan’s mind raced. He wasn’t genuinely scared for his life—Minar wasn’t the kind to lash out unjustly—but he also knew better than to test the limits of Minar’s patience.

Minar finally broke the silence. “Do you plan on standing there all day, or do you have work to do?”

“Uh… no, sir. I mean, yes, sir. I mean…” Ryan stammered, mentally facepalming at his inability to form coherent sentences.

“What is it, Ryan?” Minar snapped, growing impatient.

Ryan hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. “Are you sure about this? About investigating her?”

Minar’s lips twitched into a smirk, though his eyes remained cold. “You’re still questioning me? Yes, I’m sure. It’s important.”

“I get that, but…” Ryan started, but Minar cut him off with a wave of his hand.

“No buts, Ryan. You remember the last time, don’t you? I let it go because you asked me to. I stopped myself because you thought it wasn’t necessary. But this time, I’m not taking any chances.”

Ryan sighed, defeated. There was no point in arguing with Minar once he made up his mind. “Alright. I’ll talk to Mohit.”

As he turned to leave, Ryan couldn’t help but glance back at Minar. Despite his cold demeanor, Minar’s actions were always driven by love and loyalty. He just hoped Viraj wouldn’t misunderstand this as interference, but rather as the unshakable bond of an elder brother who would do anything to protect him.

“Don’t overthink it, Ryan,” Minar called out, not looking up from his papers.

Ryan chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

A faint smirk tugged at Minar’s lips. “And yet, here you are, still working for me.”

As Ryan left the room, Minar leaned back in his chair, his mind wandering. He’d do whatever it took to ensure Viraj’s happiness—even if it meant making some tough calls along the way.