Chapter: Respect

The boardroom was calm and formal.

Files were arranged neatly. Lawyers and senior members from both families were present. The collaboration papers lay on the table—final signatures pending, connected to Rehan and Gayathri’s engagement and the upcoming merger.

Ravi flipped through the documents carefully, then paused.

“Miss Poornima Rathore’s signature?” he asked calmly.
“She is also part of this, right?”

The room went silent for a moment.

Gayathri adjusted her chair and replied coolly,
“We removed her from Rathore Industries long back. She declined the position and chose cooking and restaurants instead.”

Ravi looked at her, steady and composed.

“Cooking and running restaurants is also work, Miss Gayathri,” he said.
“And not an easy one.”

A few heads turned.

Ravi continued, his voice firm but respectful.

“Impressing people once with food is easy.
Doing it every day, across three successful restaurants, with consistency—that takes discipline, vision, and hard work.”

He paused briefly.

“My daughter and I are big fans of Mannat Inn.
Traditional food, soulful taste.
Prakriti Inn—variety and balance.
Express Inn—quality with speed.
And her desserts—pure passion turned into business.”

Ravi smiled faintly.

“She is a very good businesswoman.”

Before anyone could respond, Veeresh spoke.

“I agree.”

All eyes turned to him.

“In the market, Poornima Rathore is known for her work, not her surname,” he said evenly.
“She is humble, polite, and never brags about her success.”

He added quietly,
“That kind of professionalism earns respect.”

Then, looking around the table, Veeresh concluded,

“Every profession deserves respect—especially when it’s built honestly.”

No one argued.

The pens were picked up.

Signatures were signed.

The merger was completed.

And without knowing it, something else was signed too—

Respect that could no longer be taken away from Poornima Rathore.