Just as they were about to exit the room, the small key slipped from Gnapika’s grasp, clattering to the floor with a metallic ring that seemed to echo in the tense silence. Gnapika and Ram both froze, their hearts racing as they exchanged panicked glances. How would they explain this to Gowthami?
Gowthami’s eyes were drawn to the key on the floor. She bent down and picked it up, her fingers closing around the cold metal. For a moment, she simply stared at it, her brow furrowing in thought. Then, as if something deep within her memory had been triggered, her expression changed. She appeared distant, as though she was being pulled back into some forgotten recollection. Without saying a word, Gowthami walked across the room, her movements deliberate yet almost dreamlike. Gnapika and Ram watched in stunned silence as she approached the large mirror on the wall. With a fluid motion, Gowthami reached down to a seemingly inconspicuous section of thGnapika turned to Gowthami, her eyes sharp and filled with determination. “Didn’t you have the slightest suspicion today, when those photos went missing, that Rudra might be behind it all?” she asked, her tone serious, almost demanding. Gowthami hesitated, her mind swirling with doubt she had been trying to suppress. Yes, she had considered the possibility that Rudra might have something to do with the missing photos, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it without proof. To her, Rudra was more than just her father-in-law; he was a man who had shown her kindness, who had accepted her into his family when she had no one else. But now, faced with Gnapika’s accusations, she couldn’t deny that the thought had crossed her mind. “I… I did think about it,” Gowthami admitted softly, her voice wavering. “But I didn’t want to suspect him without a reason.” Gnapika’s anger flared at Gowthami’s words. To her, it wasn’t a
As Ram stood there, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, he suddenly noticed both Gnapika and Gowthami turning their gazes toward him. Their eyes locked onto him with a seriousness that made his heart skip a beat. **Oh no, what now?** he thought, his mind racing to figure out what could be going through their heads this time. In that moment, Ram had a sinking feeling that he was about to be roped into whatever scheme they were concocting. **They’re definitely going to ask for my help,** he predicted with a mental sigh. **And they’ll probably make me swear not to breathe a word of this to anyone until they figure out what Rudra is really up to.** He felt like he could practically read their minds at this point—or maybe he just knew them too well. Sure enough, as if on cue, Gnapika spoke first, her tone a mixture of urgency and determination. “Ram, we need your help,” she said, glancing at Gowthami for support. “You can’t tell anyon
Gowthami turned to Gnapika, her expression softening as the tension in the room began to ebb. "Gnapika," she said gently, "why don't you go back to your room and start packing? We'll continue this in Dharmagiri. There’s more time and space there to figure everything out." Gnapika hesitated, her eyes darting between Ram and Gowthami. She wasn’t ready to give up the search so easily, but she knew that Gowthami was right. There was only so much they could do here, and she had to prepare for what lay ahead. Still, something tugged at her—an urge not to let Gowthami face the upcoming meeting alone. Before she could overthink it, Gnapika blurted out, “Can I come with you to the company? I mean, I think it’s better if we stick together.” Gowthami’s face brightened with a warm smile. “Of course,” she replied, her voice full of encouragement. “I’d be glad to have you with me. Just get ready, and we’l
The grand meeting hall of Kesari Group of Industries buzzed with a hum of voices as the shareholders gathered, filling the room with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The polished mahogany table gleamed under the bright lights, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the tension of high-stakes business. As the doors swung open, all eyes turned to the entrance. Rudra Raghuvanshi, tall and imposing, led the way with the calm authority of a man who had long commanded respect in the business world. Beside him, Nand walked with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to the power dynamics of the boardroom. Behind them, Ram entered, followed by Gowthami and, finally, Rajeev and Gnapika. The room fell into a hushed silence, the only sound the soft click of heels against the marble floor. The group of shareholders, many of whom had seen Ram before, exchanged glances of recognition. Nand and Rudra were well-known
Gnapika’s sharp eyes caught sight of something unusual—a vacant seat among the shareholders, standing out starkly in the otherwise full room. She leaned toward Nand, her voice low but laced with curiosity. “Nand , why is that seat empty? Who holds it?” Nand stiffened, clearly uncomfortable with the question. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering toward Rudra before quickly looking away. It was a subtle movement, but it didn’t escape Gnapika’s notice. Instead of answering, Nand pretended not to have heard her, his gaze suddenly fixed on the documents before him as if they had become the most interesting thing in the world. Gnapika’s suspicion deepened. She knew that pressing Rudra for an answer would be futile—he was far too guarded and calculating. If Nand, who was usually more approachable, was evading the question, then something was definitely amiss. But she wasn’t about to let it go. Her mind raced with possibilities. Who could
Gnapika’s eyes widened in shock as the realization hit her—she knew this man all too well. It was Nirbhay. The sudden recognition made her heart race, and for a brief moment, she felt as though the ground beneath her had shifted. Across the room, she saw the immediate impact of Nirbhay’s arrival on Nand and Rudra. Their faces flushed a deep red, the anger unmistakable, yet they remained silent, holding their tongues with a restraint that only heightened the tension in the room. Nirbhay’s lips curled into a sinister smile as he noticed their reactions. *They must have thought they could keep me out,* he mused to himself, his eyes glinting with a mix of satisfaction and malice. *But as long as I hold shares in the Kesari Group, they can’t stop me.* The thought seemed to amuse him even more as he settled into his place at the table, the air around him thick with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. Gowthami, on the other hand, felt a strange sense of
As Nirbhay exchanged pleasantries with Gowthami, Nand quickly seized the opportunity to steer the meeting back on track. He knew well enough that the longer Nirbhay lingered near Gowthami, the more tension would simmer beneath the surface. "Alright, everyone," Nand's voice cut through the low murmurs in the room, "let's get back to business. Please, take your seats." There was a slight shuffle as everyone moved to their designated places around the grand table. Rudra took his place at the head, the main chair symbolizing his authority within the Kesari Group. To his left, Gowthami gracefully sat down, her presence as the CEO commanding respect from all. On Rudra’s right, Nand settled into his seat, ever the dutiful ally, while Rajeev, ever so naturally, took the seat next to Gowthami. As Rajeev sat beside his wife, Nirbhay felt a surge of anger, a fire igniting within him that he had to work hard to suppress. His smile remained polite, his f
Gnapika sat quietly, her mind racing as she watched the exchange between her father and Nirbhay. The tension in the room was palpable, but what weighed on her the most was the unanswered question that lingered in her mind: why was Rudra hiding the truth about Athreya's death? She couldn’t fathom his reasons for keeping such a significant event a secret, especially from the company that her father had helped build. But despite her confusion, she knew better than to speak out in this moment. She was well aware of her own ignorance when it came to the inner workings of the Kesari Group. This was her first real glimpse into the company’s world, and she had come with the sole intention of observing, of trying to piece together what Rudra might be hiding. Gnapika understood that if she spoke out now, without fully understanding the implications of what she knew, it could cause more harm than good. Her eyes flicked between the faces in the room—Nirbhay’s smoldering anger barely masked b