The Celebration

By Asmi Mahajan

The candles flickered, casting shadows over the table. Laughter swelled, glasses clinked, voices layered.

Aiden sat at the head, taking it in. The toasts, the congratulations, the hands clapping his back. He had built this company from nothing. Today made it official.

Across the table, a hushed conversation.

“Unbelievable.”

“After everything?”

He ignored them. Let them talk. They didn’t know the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, the weight of every choice.

A fork tapped against glass. Silence.

His business partner stood.

“Aiden,” he said, smiling. “We wouldn’t be here without you.”

A pause.

“And we won’t be moving forward with you, either.”