UNIVERSITY ARC
A few minutes later, the doctors were ready for the operation. As the preparations were underway, Geetha's father received a phone call. He stepped aside, his expression tense as he answered.
He asked in a hushed tone.
|"How is the situation there? Is he cooperating?"|
The voice on the other end was grave.
| "No, sir. The situation is worse than we anticipated. If you don't mind, I have a suggestion."|
|"Please, go ahead. No need for formalities".|
|"Sir, I believe we should agree to his conditions, or we risk even greater harm."|
Geetha's father hesitated, conflicted.
| "Give me some time, Secretary. I need to..."|
|"I'm sorry, sir, but the decision is yours alone. The lives of our company members and staff are in your hands! Please take care of madam. If anything happens to her, we'll be in enormous trouble."|
The call ended abruptly, leaving Geetha's father staring at his phone, worry etched on his face.
Meanwhile, I headed downstairs for a break, grabbing some coffee and buying snacks and drinks for our friends and Geetha's parents. They seemed distraught, and I suspected they hadn't eaten anything since morning. When I returned, I offered them the snacks, but her parents refused with a polite shake of their heads.
|"Sir, she'll recover soon. Everything will be fine, so don't worry about her."|
My words seemed to have the opposite effect. Geetha's mother suddenly burst into tears, her sobs filling the room. Had I said something wrong? Before I could apologize, the doctor approached us with an unexpectedly excited expression.
|"Sir, you're very fortunate. We've just received word that some of the world's top doctors are visiting our city. We can reach out to them for help. What do you think? Is that acceptable?"|
Geetha's father's eyes lit up with hope. Our friends, too, seemed uplifted by the news. The atmosphere, which had been heavy with anxiety, shifted slightly.
|"Of course, Doctor! Don't worry about the cost. Contact them at any price. I want to save my daughter."|
The arrangements were made swiftly. Within hours, the renowned specialists had arrived, and the operation was underway. Time seemed to drag as we waited, our nerves stretched thin. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctors emerged from the operating room, looking pleased.
One of them announced.
|"The surgery was successful. She'll recover fully in two days. If you'd like, we can discharge her in six hours."|
The relief in the room was palpable. Geetha's parents, who had been on edge for so long, were finally able to breathe easy. But amid the smiles and tears of joy, I noticed that Geetha's father still seemed troubled, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Keshava picked up on it too.
|"Uncle, is something wrong? Geetha's okay now. She's safe."|
Geetha's father forced a smile, trying to conceal his worry.
|"Yes, she is. Thank you, Keshava."|
Despite his words, I could sense that something still weighed heavily on his mind. He was a good man, and so was his wife. They had even apologized to me publicly during Geetha's birthday party, which spoke volumes about their character. But today, something was different. There was a shadow hanging over him that I couldn't quite understand.
After Geetha was discharged, we all returned to our rooms. But as night fell, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that lingered. While Ramu and Suresh chatted, I stood by the window, watching the rain blur the city lights. The cool breeze touched my face, but it did little to calm my thoughts.
My mind drifted to Kusuma, my ex-girlfriend. The question that had haunted me for so long resurfaced: Did she leave me for money? I had always believed in our future together, planning to reveal my true identity once I met my family's expectations. But things hadn't gone as I'd hoped. Maybe I should apologize to her—maybe she would forgive me.
My thoughts were interrupted when Keshava burst into the room, his face tense with worry.
|"Guys, it's bad. Geetha is in big danger."|
We all froze, shocked by his words. Ramu, always the curious one, couldn't hold back.
|"What do you mean, Keshava? Did something happen to her after the surgery?"|
Keshava shook his head.
|"No, Ramu. It's worse. Her family's business has suddenly collapsed."|
|"What? But who could do that? The Lama Group of Industries is massive! It's not something a small company could bring down."|
|"You're right. But this isn't the work of a small company. It's Raghava, the son of Kubera. He's behind this."|
The mention of Kubera sent a chill through the room. His name was synonymous with power and ruthlessness.
|"Are you serious? Kubera? That man's a notorious gangster and businessman. Why would he target Geetha's family?"|
Keshava took a deep breath before responding.
|"You all know about my family's business. The Lama Group is a construction giant. Our company often collaborates with them, so my father is closely connected to their operations. He heard about the collapse almost immediately."|
Suresh's usually casual tone turned serious.
|"Kubera is a monster. What could her family have done to provoke him?"|
|"The real twist is that it wasn't her family, It was Geetha herself who got involved with him somehow. But I don't know the details."|
I frowned, trying to piece things together.
|"Why would she do that? This is getting out of hand."|
Keshava nodded.
|"There were rumours that Kubera had been eyeing her company for weeks. He was waiting for the right moment to strike. Now that he's made his move, the partners and shareholders are panicking. They're threatening to resign because of his intimidation tactics."|
The weight of the situation hit me hard. Geetha was caught in a dangerous game, one that involved far more than just her family's business.
Keshava suggested.
|"We should visit her family tomorrow. They're already devastated by what's happened to Geetha. Now, with this on top of it, they won't be able to handle it alone. My father asked us to see them personally. Manoj, what do you think?"|
I considered it for a moment.
|"Geetha's family is wealthy too. Why don't they seek help from someone powerful?"|
|"Because anyone who crosses Kubera meets a terrible fate. There are also some rumours that he has underworld connections, people who kill on his orders. No one dares to stand up to him."|
So it was Kubera's men who attacked that night at the restaurant, I realized. From what Keshava was saying, this man was more than just a ruthless businessman—he was a cold-blooded predator.
I nodded, my decision was made.
|"Alright, Keshava. We'll visit them tomorrow and see what we can do to help."|
Everyone agreed. My friends knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but we couldn't turn our backs on Geetha now.