BILLIONAIRE'S IRRESISTIBLE TEMPTATION

SHOT 50

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Parinidhi's pov!

The next few days, I couldn't get the anguish I saw in Siddharth ji's eyes out of my head. For some inexplicable reason, it was hurting me.

How did he tolerate that pain? Losing both parents? I can't even imagine such a situation. Jeevika ji and Siddharth ji had to go through such a huge loss.

I got startled out of my thoughts when I heard the message tone on my phone. My heart sank seeing it was a message from the bank. A reminder to pay the loan instalments.

As I went about my daily routine, the weight of my family's financial problems pressed down on me like a leaden cloak. The reminder to pay the loan instalments from the bank only added to my sense of despair. How were we ever going to dig ourselves out of this hole?

The pressure felt suffocating, overwhelming. It was as if I was sinking, drowning in a sea of debt and uncertainty. I felt powerless, helpless, like I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of struggle and hardship.

Staring at the bank message, I felt hopeless. Our financial problems weighed heavily on me, making me feel defeated. How did things get so bad? It seemed like we were drowning in debt, and I couldn't see a way out.

Every day felt like a struggle just to stay afloat. The pressure was overwhelming, and I felt like no matter how hard I tried, it wasn't enough. I worried about letting my family down, about not being able to provide for them. They deserved better than a life filled with worry and uncertainty.

The sale of Bhadra Bua's plot is getting delayed due to some formalities. Viraj ji is trying his best to deal with it. Since the plot was inherited by Bua ji's husband from a distant relative, without any transaction of money, some buyers seem reluctant to buy, worrying about some non existent consequences.

Deepali's phone call brought me out of my depressing thoughts.

"Hey there, stranger," Deepali's voice came through the phone, her tone laced with sarcasm. "I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me completely."

I forced a weak smile, trying to hide the turmoil raging inside me.

"Sorry, Deepali. It's been a crazy few days."

"Of course, it has," she replied, her voice softening. "But you could at least spare a few minutes for your best friend, couldn't you?"

I sighed, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"I am sorry, Deepali. I have just been so caught up with work and... other things."

"Other things?" Deepali echoed, her tone curious. "What other things? Why do you sound so upset"

And then, before I knew it, the floodgates opened. I poured out all my worries and fears to Deepali, confessing the depths of my despair and the overwhelming burden of responsibility I carried on my shoulders.

"I feel like I am drowning, Deepali," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how much longer I can keep going like this. The pressure feels so high, and I am afraid I won't be able to do it."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then Deepali spoke, her voice filled with compassion and understanding.

"Nidhi, listen to me," she said gently. "You are stronger than you think. I have seen you overcome obstacles before, and I have no doubt that you will find a way through this too. And remember, you are not alone. You have me, and you have your family. We will get through this together, okay?"

Her words were like a lifeline, pulling me back from the brink of despair. In that moment, I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me, a glimmer of light in the darkness that surrounded me.

"Whiling away your work hours on phone calls, are we?" The booming voice startled me and I hurriedly disconnected the call.

Siddharth Singh Raichand was standing across from me, staring down at me with those intense golden amber orbs.

Damn his eyes! Why do they look as if they have the ability to hypnotise me?

"Ms Vyas, you are getting paid for doing your job, not for wasting your time on phone calls." Siddharth ji said and I wasn't in a mood to argue. Also, it was a fault on my side. I shouldn't have attended the phone call during my working time. I was too depressed and I needed Deepali's support at that time.

"Sorry, Mr Raichand. I will not repeat this." I said, wanting to end this conversation somehow. I wasn't feeling comfortable with whatever I am feeling when Siddharth ji is around.

He turns around and walks a few steps, but stops and turns around again.

Siddharth ji looked at me, his gaze piercing through me as if he could see right into my soul.

"Ms Vyas," he began, his voice surprisingly gentle, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation just now."

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a flush of embarrassment creep up my cheeks. I hadn't realised he was listening.

"I understand the weight you carry on your shoulders," Siddharth ji continued, his eyes softening ever so slightly. "I have been there myself."

I blinked in surprise, taken aback by his unexpected vulnerability.

"After my father's death, our family was left in ruins," Siddharth confessed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "He had squandered away our entire wealth, leaving us on the brink of bankruptcy. It was a dark time for the Raichands."

As he spoke, I could see the pain etched in his features, the memories of that tumultuous time still raw and vivid in his mind.

"My uncle tried to manage the business, but he was an artist, not a businessman," Siddharth ji continued. "Assets were sold off one by one, and by the time I turned nineteen, we were on the verge of losing everything."

I listened intently, captivated by his story. I had never imagined Siddharth ji or the Raichands had faced such hardships in his life.

"But instead of giving up, I made a decision," Siddharth ji said, his voice growing firmer with determination. "I was not going to let my family fall apart. I was not going to let us lose everything."

He looked at me, his gaze unwavering.

"So, I threw myself into learning everything I could about business," Siddharth ji continued. "I made risky investments, relied on sheer luck at times, but I refused to back down. And you know what kept me going? It was my single-minded focus and my unwavering confidence that I could turn things around."

His words hung in the air, a silent reminder of the power of resilience and determination.

"You have that same strength within you, Ms Vyas," Siddharth ji said, his voice filled with conviction. "You have the power to protect your family, to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. But you have to believe in yourself, just as I did."

I looked at him, stunned by his words. At that moment, I saw Siddharth ji in a different light. He wasn't just a cold and distant businessman; he was a survivor, a fighter who had faced adversity head-on and emerged stronger because of it.

I couldn't help but admire him for what he is..

A/N

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