After talking for a while, we decided to head back home. Once Balu, Rajan, and Sridevi had left, the girls also departed. I had to drop Seenu off first since he had come with me and didn't have his car. After leaving him at his house, I finally made my way back home.
When I walked in, I saw the girls sitting in the living room, chatting and laughing. I headed straight to my room to freshen up. After a quick shower, I felt a bit more like myself and joined the girls in the living room. Papa and JP uncle were deep in conversation, so I decided to leave them be and focus on the lively chatter with the girls.
We were in the midst of discussing our plans for the weekend when my phone started ringing. Glancing at the caller ID, I saw it was Bheeshma. There was something about his call that felt urgent. I picked up immediately. "Hello, Krishna," came Bheeshma's voice, trembling slightly with nervousness.
"Yes, what happened, Bhaiyya?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
"Mr. Bheeshma suddenly started feeling pain in his chest. We've brought him to the hospital," he said, his voice fraught with worry.
Hearing this, I said calmly, "Tell me which hospital. I'm coming right away." Bheeshma quickly told me the location, and after I cut the call, I stood up with a sense of urgency.
Anu looked at me, concern etched on her face. "Krishna, what happened? What hospital? Is everything all right?"
"Mr. Bheeshma is in the hospital," I explained, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm going there to see him. You and Ammu should come with me, and after the hospital visit, I'll drop you both home."
They nodded, their faces reflecting the seriousness of the situation. I turned to Raji, who was watching us with worry. "I'll be back soon, okay?" I reassured her.
Raji nodded, her eyes wide with concern. "Okay," she whispered.
I smiled gently, touching her cheek before kissing her forehead. "Take care," I said softly.
After that, I called out to my mother, "Ma, I'm going out!"
From the kitchen, her voice came, "Okay, be careful!"
Anu and Ammu quickly gathered their things they had brought from the mall, saying their goodbyes to Raji. We stepped out of the house, the evening air crisp and filled with a sense of urgency. The sky was tinged with the colors of twilight, casting long shadows across the driveway.
As we settled inside the car, I started driving towards the hospital. The city lights whizzed past us, casting fleeting shadows on our faces as we sped through the streets. Anu and Ammu sat quietly, their expressions mirroring my own anxiety.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the hospital. I quickly parked the car and we made our way toward the ICU. The sterile scent of disinfectant filled the air, and the sound of distant beeping machines added to the tense atmosphere.
As we approached the ICU, we saw Bheeshma and Chitra standing outside, their faces etched with worry. I walked over to Bheeshma and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Bhaiyya, how is Mr. Bheeshma?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
Bheeshma looked at me, his eyes reflecting his uncertainty and fear. "I don't know," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "The doctor hasn't said anything yet."
Hearing this, I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. After a while, the doctor came out, and I immediately approached him. "How is Mr. Bheeshma?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
The doctor smiled reassuringly. "There's nothing to worry about. He's fine. It's just a little chest pain."
Hearing this, I let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "Thank you, doctor," I said gratefully.
The doctor nodded and left, and the girls excused themselves to go to the washroom. Bheeshma and I stood outside the ICU, the tension slowly lifting. Suddenly, Bheeshma's phone started ringing. He took it out of his pocket and glanced at the caller ID before looking at me. "It's Raghavan," he said, his tone a mix of surprise and annoyance.
I frowned, puzzled. "What does that idiot want now? Pick it up and put it on speaker."
Bheeshma nodded and answered the call, putting it on speaker. "Hello" he said, his voice calm.
Hearing this, Raghavan's voice turned cold and mocking. "Hello, Mr. CEO. This will be the last time someone calls you that. Do you remember how you always bragged about being a step ahead of me? Well, now I'm going to predict your future."
Bheeshma's face tightened with confusion and worry. "What do you mean, Raghavan?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Raghavan's tone dripped with malice. "Reports will be out soon that your company has been selling chemically tainted vegetables. This news is going to spread like wildfire around the world, shattering the trust people have built over 40 years. Your board members will have no choice but to fire you because of this scandal. Your reign as CEO is coming to an end."
A heavy silence filled the air as Bheeshma and I absorbed the gravity of Raghavan's words.
Hearing Raghavan threaten my brother Bheeshma, I couldn't stay silent. "Raghavan," I said, my voice steady but filled with anger.
Raghavan's tone shifted, tinged with a sinister amusement. "Well, well, if it isn't the CEO of Nirvana, Krishna Prasad. I didn't expect you to be there too. I'll give you the same offer I gave your brother. You have your own company, so don't get involved in my business. Instead, help me, and we can make millions. Don't be like your idiot brother. Your project FarmDirect is a great idea. Instead of Bheeshma Organics, make a deal with me."
Hearing this, I let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Haha, Raghavan, I have never seen an idiot like you—a man who is too self-confident for his own good. How do you even think I would help you and not my brother?" I shook my head in disbelief. "You just threatened my brother, claiming his career as CEO is coming to an end."
I felt my anger rising, my voice growing louder and more intense. "Well, Raghavan, you're gravely mistaken. As long as I am here, let's see if you have the confidence or power to even touch a hair on his head. You think you can destroy my brother's career? Let me tell you something—enjoy your life until tomorrow evening, because after that, neither you nor your company will have any value."
There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line. Raghavan, taken aback by my outburst, seemed to be at a loss for words. Finally, he spoke, his voice shaky. "You're making a grave mistake, Krishna."
Raghavan's voice trembled with anger as he continued, each word dripping with menace. "You've made a grave mistake, Krishna. Do you think you, a child who entered this industry just two or three years ago, have the power to threaten me? Don't be so overconfident just because your company has grown this big. It doesn't make you smart."
His voice rose further, filled with venomous contempt. "Don't be so arrogant in front of me. You know that old man, Bheeshma, is in the ICU right now? Do you know why? Because of me. That old man was so concerned about the plants, and now one of them is going to bring him down. Don't you understand?"
Raghavan's tone grew darker, more sinister. "Let me explain. I gifted him a rare plant on the day he announced your brother as CEO. A normal plant wouldn't have done any harm. But this one is different. It's a hybrid plant that I formulated myself. You need to pinch its leaves for it to grow, but every time you do, it releases a poisonous gas. This gas affects the nervous system, leaving the victim bedridden for life."
Hearing Raghavan's latest threat, I exchanged a knowing look with Bheeshma and smiled, feeling a glimmer of satisfaction. We had anticipated Raghavan's move. Before the plant even came near Mr. Bheeshma, we had already sent it to the laboratory for analysis, but we had kept it quiet.
Raghavan continued, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I'm launching my product tomorrow, and my executives will visit all the villages associated with Bheeshma Organics. They'll spread the word that Bheeshma has broken their trust and make them sign contracts with our company. Bheeshma Organics will be shut down, and my company will become number one in India. This is how you make executive plan, Do you understand cheap fellow. Do you really think you have the power to destroy me?"
His taunts only fueled my resolve. I met his challenge with a calm but steely gaze. "We'll see tomorrow, Raghavan, who will come out on top."
Raghavan's laughter echoed through the line, a harsh, mocking sound. "Haha, yes, we'll see," he said before ending the call.
After the call ended, I looked at Bheeshma and laughed. "Haha, this Raghavan is an idiot. He doesn't even know that the game he wants to win, he's already lost. But I don't understand about the chemical vegetables."
Bheeshma smiled, a sense of relief washing over his face. "Today, we suddenly received a visit from the food inspection department. They came to check the condition of our vegetables, and to my surprise, they found chemical vegetables. But the police officer who came was none other than Chaitra's father, ACP Deva. He handled everything and also arrested the one who placed the chemical vegetables there."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of what had happened. "I see. And you don't have to worry about tomorrow. I've already arranged everything." Bheeshma nodded, a look of trust and determination in his eyes.
(A/N: Hi guys, I want to share something with you. Yesterday, I left my job. I had been working in a café for the past two years while also attending college. However, a few days ago, the café owner sold the business to someone else. When I asked the new owner about my payment, he said he wouldn't give me the same salary that I had been receiving from the previous owner, so I left the job. Now, I need some suggestions. What should I do? If I start writing this novel regularly and create new novel, can you guys support me? Please give me some ideas and suggestions; I really need them.🙇♂️🙏😊)
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