At that moment, Anu and Ammu emerged from the other room. They paused, taking in the scene: Bheeshma sat on the ground, holding his head in his hands, looking utterly defeated. My mother, noticing their arrival, told our maid to cut the call, abruptly ending the melancholic background music.
Anu's eyes darted between me and Bheeshma, confusion evident on her face. "Krishna, what's going on? And why is Bheeshma like this?" she asked.
I quickly recounted the recent events, explaining how JP uncle's hasty decision and our father's improvised plan had led to Bheeshma being named the next CEO. As I finished, Anu and Ammu burst into laughter, their mirth echoing through the room.
Seeing them laugh only deepened Bheeshma's despondency. He turned to my mother and father, his voice thick with frustration and disappointment. "To hell with you, ma and papa! The ACP wasn't wrong in yelling at you, dad. You lie to your son—yuck! I'm disappointed. I thought I was a millionaire living in this house like a poor guy, but this is... my original life. God, I hate my life."
After a brief pause, he directed his frustration towards my mother. "Ma, why did you call papa in the middle of all that?"
My mother sighed, looking somewhat exasperated. "Your papa was blabbering continuously, so I yelled to stop him, but he used that as a buildup."
Their argument continued, the tension between them palpable. I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. But then, suddenly, an idea struck me—a way to turn this chaotic mess into something positive.
Taking out my phone, I dialed Mr. Bheeshma's number. After a few rings, he picked up. "Krishna, I—"
Before he could finish, I interrupted, "Mr. Bheeshma, don't ask anything yet. Let me finish first. Do you remember that I told you not to announce our cooperation?"
"Yes," he replied. "I remember. You said you had a plan for this."
"Exactly," I said. "And now is the perfect time to announce our cooperation. Are you holding a press conference in an hour?"
"Yes, I am," he confirmed.
"Good," I continued. "Now is the time to announce our cooperation, and this rumor about my brother becoming the CEO of Bheeshma Organics is a great opportunity. I have a plan, and I'm coming to meet you in thirty minutes."
"Okay, I'll be waiting," Mr. Bheeshma said.
I hung up and looked around the room. My family members were all staring at me. Bheeshma, still looking dejected, spoke up. "You're going to do something, aren't you? And if yes, please spare me. I don't want to be part of this anymore."
I sighed. "You created this mess, and now I have to clean it up—not just for our family, but for our company. This news is already out, and we can't control it now. And what are you going to say to Chaitra? Think about it."
Bheeshma opened his mouth to say something, but his phone rang. It was Chaitra. He stopped talking to me and answered her call, his expression growing serious.
Turning to Anu and Ammu, I said, "Anu, Ammu, let's go. Come with me."
They nodded, and I addressed Viswanath uncle. "Uncle, I'll drop Anu home. You don't have to worry."
"Okay, Krishna," he replied.
We left the house and made our way to my car. I opened the door for Anu and Ammu, and they got in. As I started the engine, my mind raced with thoughts and plans.
The drive to Bheeshma Organics was tense but silent. Anu and Ammu exchanged glances, sensing the gravity of the situation. I focused on the road, mentally preparing for what lay ahead.
As we approached the Bheeshma Organics headquarters, I could see the media gathered outside. Cameras flashed, and reporters jostled for position. The sight reminded me of the stakes involved and the importance of handling this situation carefully.
We parked and got out of the car. I took a deep breath and turned to Anu and Ammu. "Stay close to me and follow my lead," I instructed. They nodded, determination in their eyes.
As we stepped out of the car, the atmosphere was immediately charged with a palpable intensity. One reporter spotted me and shouted, "Mr. Prasad is here!" Within seconds, a swarm of reporters rushed towards us, cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward. The cacophony of voices was overwhelming.
"Mr. Prasad, are you really the grandson of Mr. Bheeshma?" one reporter shouted, barely giving me a moment to respond before another voice cut in.
"Mr. Prasad, is it true that your brother is going to be the next CEO of Bheeshma Organics?"
Before I could get a word in edgewise, another question was hurled my way. "Why did Mr. Bheeshma choose your brother instead of you as the next CEO? Does he not believe in you?"
Their relentless barrage of questions started to grate on my nerves. My patience snapped, and I raised my voice, "Stop!"
A hush fell over the crowd, the reporters momentarily stunned into silence. I took a deep breath and said, "Now, ask your questions one by one."
A reporter quickly seized the opportunity, "Mr. Prasad, who are those girls with you?"
Suppressing a sigh, I answered, "Why are you interested in my personal life? Anyway, these two are my girlfriends. This is Anupama, and this is Amulya. Now, don't ask personal questions. Next."
Another reporter, undeterred, asked, "How long have you been dating?"
I clenched my jaw. "As I said, don't ask personal questions. Next."
"Mr. Prasad, is it true that your brother is the next CEO of Bheeshma Organics?" came the next question.
"You'll get that answer in the next thirty minutes at the press conference," I replied curtly.
Before another question could be thrown at me, the security team finally arrived, their presence a welcome sight. They began to escort us through the throng of reporters. As we made our way inside, I could still hear the reporters shouting questions, but I ignored them, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Inside the building, the chaos of the outside world faded into a muted buzz. Anu and Ammu stayed close, their expressions a mix of determination and curiosity. We were met by Mr. Bheeshma's assistant, who led us to a private meeting room where Mr. Bheeshma awaited.
As Mr. Bheeshma saw me, he greeted, "Ah, Krishna, I've been waiting for you." We shook hands, and there was an air of anticipation about him.
"What's the plan?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
I smiled, but before delving into my strategy, I wanted answers of my own. "I'll tell you the plan, but first, you need to tell me why you chose Bheeshma as your successor."
Mr. Bheeshma looked taken aback, his surprise evident. "How did you know that?"
I shrugged lightly. "I have my ways."
He sighed deeply, a mixture of admiration and resignation in his gaze. "Once, your brother saved my life. After that incident, I did some digging into his background and found out he was your brother. He's a good, knowledgeable guy. At that time, I was also looking for a successor. Bheeshma seemed like a suitable candidate, which is why I agreed to meet you and make a deal."
Hearing this, I smiled and said, "You truly are a genius, Mr. Bheeshma. Now I understand why your company has grown so much. After you heard the rumors that we are your grandchildren, you saw an opportunity. By appointing Bheeshma as CEO, people would think that Bheeshma Organics and Nirvana Enterprises are connected. You also doubted that I would help your company just because I own shares, so you thought that if my brother became CEO, I would definitely help."
After I finished talking, we looked at each other and started to laugh. Mr. Bheeshma nodded, "Yes, you are right, Krishna. I thought exactly that way."
"Then should we go to the conference hall?" I asked.
Mr. Bheeshma nodded, and we made our way to the conference hall. As we walked, Anu and Ammu asked, "Krishna, what's going on?"
"I'll tell you after the press conference," I replied.
They nodded, and as we entered the conference hall, Mr. Bheeshma walked to the stage while we found our seats in the audience. On my way, I noticed my brother Bheeshma talking to ACP Deva, but I decided not to call him and took my seat with Anu and Ammu.
As Mr. Bheeshma walked to the stage, the room fell silent. The audience's anticipation was palpable, their eyes fixed on him as they waited for him to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Bheeshma began, his voice resonant and commanding, "Thank you all for being here today. I am here to address some recent rumors and to make an important announcement about the future of Bheeshma Organics."
He paused, letting the suspense build before continuing. "Yes, it is true that Krishna and Bheeshma are related to me, but not in the way the rumors suggest. However, this connection has inspired me to take a significant step. Today, I am pleased to announce that Bheeshma Prasad will join Bheeshma Organics in a leadership role. His expertise and vision will be invaluable to our future growth."
The room buzzed with excitement and curiosity. Reporters scribbled furiously in their notepads, and cameras flashed, capturing this pivotal moment.
(Word's count:1574)