Once freshening up, Shreya came and sat over the counter waiting for food.

"Here you go.." Charan said keeping the two sets of sandwiches beside her.

Shreya took one and stuffed her mouth while simultaneously stuffing another into Charan's mouth. Given it was noon, it did not take long for them to finish their food. Shreya practically breathed in the food.

But before any of them could say anything else, Shreya got a call from the office. She stiffened her jaws unconsciously when she heard what was said from the other side.

Once she hung up the phone, she just stood there gripping on her phone for a minute until Charan asked worried, "Hey, what is it?"

"It seems Uncle Ram and his wife are at Sri corp. and are making trouble now.." Shreya mumbled answering his question unconsciously. She then frustratedly ran her hands over her cheeks and walked towards her room. She reached for some change of clothes as she said, "I need to go to the office now.. sorry.. I wanted to be with you today.. but things just seem to keep popping up somehow.. I just.." She did not know how to continue. Somehow, something always seems to come up today. Before, it was Delaney, now her own uncle. It seems the universe was against her from spending time with Charan today.

Charan went to her and simply gave her a hug.

"Hey, it's alright.. in fact, I will come with you.. you just shower and change here.. I will get ready in the guest room. We will go together.." Charan said softly.

"No, it's okay.. I will go by myself. You go to your house or go pick up Akira.. I will join you guys whenever I am done!!" Shreya said shaking her head.

But Charan did not budge.

"Not happening.. you are not getting rid of me that easily today.." Charan insisted while taking his own clothes. He really was not willing to send her alone to meet with Uncle Ram or any of his family members. The last time his family met with Shreya at the New year's party, they made Shreya into a crying mess. He was not going to take that chance again.

Last time, he was not near her.. he would not do the same mistake again.

So, both of them ended up in her office building in a matter of an hour. Shreya called in advance and asked her people to contain the situation and make them sit in a conference room until she can come.

In no time, Uncle Ram and her aunt, Anitha entered the office. They obviously gave Shreya a condescending look. Obviously, Charan who was standing beside her saw it clearly. But he did not comment on it seeing as Shreya was silent.

The room was filled with suffocation silence. Shreya did not even bother to ask them to sit down.

"Have you lost your manners too along with your humanity?" Uncle Ram asked breaking the silence.

"I should be the one asking you that, uncle Ram. Trying to kill your niece is a new low even for you!" Shreya replied mockingly. Even when they had fought before.. even when they had been unpleasant with each other before, Ram never resorted to hurting her.. that was why he had been tolerant of them for so long.. as long as they do not turn evil, she can accommodate their greed and jealousy.

But then she also has a very clear bottom line and when they crossed it, she would completely disregard them as family. anyways, she never had any personal attachment with this family in recent years..

"You were the one who started it!! You were the one who used underhanded methods to completely ruin my son's life.. Did you think I will just sit aside and do nothing after what you did? Did you take me and my family for a pushover or what?" Ram fumed.

"Let's get one thing straight!! I never used any underhanded method and I never did anything to your so-called son which was unwarranted for!! I gave him multiple chances.. I even personally warned him to back off.. but he had to be stupid and provoke me!!" Shreya rolled her eyes.

"He just spread some baseless rumors!! For that, you had to pit him so cruelly??" Anitha flared up looking pissed off.

"Well, the center of those baseless rumors was an 11-year-old innocent kid!! If he had just done something to me, I wouldn't have bothered about him.. but he dragged an innocent kid into the mix for few benefits without regard to basic human decency, then I can also show him how I would be when I forget about family relationships!!" Shreya replied looking at Anitha sharply. There was a special sort of ice when he talked to Anitha which was more profound than when she talked to Ram.

"What's so important about a nameless kid!! At most, people are going to talk some shit online.. for that, you actually sent my son into a firing pit!!" Anitha exclaimed without giving up..

"Well, the 'nameless kid' in your mouth is my kid! She is Shreya Srivastav's daughter.. and I will never allow anybody to talk shit about my daughter.. not with me present! It doesn't matter how many people stand in my way.. nobody gets to touch my daughter and get away with it." Shreya's voice vibrated through the walls when she said it. Her voice held so many emotions when she said it.. you can clearly see the agitation in her voice.

Shreya really hated the high-sounding voice Anitha used. As if she was above everyone. As if, only the suffering of her son was of utmost importance and somehow the suffering of others as insignificant and trivial..

Shreya was someone who was taught to respect people and not status.. But for someone like Anitha, it did not matter how many people are sacrificed as long as she can be happy..