empty chair

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