UNIVERSITY ARC
When Rahul stole my report, and Kusuma urged me to break up with her, only to leave me the next day, I felt utterly devastated. It wasn't something I could dismiss as a simple mistake. I knew deep down that these events were deliberate. Yet, with time, I've come to realize that perhaps God never intended to harm me. In fact, He may have done me a favour, sparing me from a future bound to a traitor.
On the day Kusuma left, it felt as though my world had crumbled. My mind was engulfed in a suffocating darkness, as if all the light in my life had been extinguished. "Manoj, love is blind," you always said, Ramu. You warned me countless times, saying she was obsessed with money and not to trust her blindly. But I was foolish, too consumed by my emotions to heed your advice. You were right, Ramu. Her so-called love blinded me to the truth. I never listened, not even once. Despite that, you always respected my choices, even when you disagreed. Now, as I reflect on what happened, I think God was always looking out for me, guiding me toward a better future.
Oh, by the way, Geetha is recovering day by day. the thought lifting my spirits slightly. That's good news, isn't it? I've been meaning to deliver some food to her, but packing everything will take a little time."
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, there was a knock at the door.
I realized I hadn't mentioned that I was in a VIP room, having just wrapped up an important meeting. It had been an exciting session, and time had flown by. It was already 1 PM. I had requested some food to be packed for my friends, knowing they'd appreciate the gesture. Surya Raj had suggested I relax in this room while the packing was completed. Initially, I wanted to return to my room, but everyone insisted I take a moment to unwind.
|"Sir, may I come in?"|
|"Come in."|
It was Aarna. She seemed eager to share something with me. She had a warm smile on her face.
|"Sir, are you comfortable in this room? It's the most luxurious one in the entire hotel."|
|"Please, don't ask. I'm more than comfortable here."|
|"Is there anything you need, sir? You can ask me for anything."|
|"Actually, I do have a question, Aarna. Why did Surya Raj appoint you as my assistant? Was there a specific reason?"|
Aarna straightened slightly, a hint of pride in her voice.
| "Sir, I was chosen because I received the most votes from our employees. And Surya Raj Sir also personally wanted me to be your assistant."|
|"Oh! That's surprising, Aarna. What is your position in Vardhan Groups? From what I know, Surya Raj seems very selective about whom he trusts with business matters."|
|"Well, sir, until recently, I was the Marketing Director. But when our chairman decided to appoint an assistant for you, Surya Raj Sir wanted to appoint a Vice President from our group. But…"|
Prompted, intrigued.
|"But? Tell me!"|
|" But, You're supposed to take up our textile industries as CEO. But our Vice President had retired by then, so…"|
By noting the unease in her expression, I concluded.
|"So, you were appointed as the Vice President without your consent."|
She nodded, slightly embarrassed.
|"As you know, Vardhan Groups always emphasizes unity. In emergency situations or for promotions, we conduct a vote to confirm the winner."|
I piecing it all together for my final conclusion.
|"Now I understand. It helps to keep the company united. The workers can only decide if someone is eligible for the post through this voting system. And ultimately, you won, making you the Vice President of all textile industries within Vardhan Groups. Am I correct?"|
|"Yes, sir, exactly. Initially, I was responsible for marketing, production, sales, and even the stock market until the last day of being your assistant."|
Now it makes sense why my grandfather specifically appointed an assistant for me. There are more sections to manage than I had imagined. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
|"Am I putting too much on your shoulders? Please forgive me if I am."|
She responded immediately with tension.
|"Sir, please don't say that. It's fine; I can handle it. And besides, with you there to support me, I can manage."|
I smiled at her reassurance.
|"Then it's settled. Alright, I think it's time I return to my hostel. It's already past 1 PM."|
The packing had been completed, and as I made my way to the ground floor, I was surprised to see a massive pile of parcels waiting for me.
I exclaimed, taken aback.
|"Mr. Surya Raj!" I…I only asked for food to be packed for three people. Why are there so many parcels?"|
His face was filled with a kind smile.
|"Yes, sir. They are for your friends. Please allow me to give this small gift to your friends from my side."|
What could I say? How could I refuse him when he was showing such generosity? I had no choice but to agree. Then, Surya raj tried to offer something.
|"Sir, if you don't mind, I can drop you off at your college campus. Please don't misunderstand! There are so many parcels, and I can't allow you to carry them alone. So, can I…?"|
My mind was racing with tension.
|"What? No, please don't get any crazy ideas. Are you planning to put me in danger or something? If you drop me off at my campus, I won't be able to answer their questions. I can't even face them!"|
|"Oh! I'm sorry, sir. But how about Miss Aarna? At least let her drop you off."|
Aarna chimed in, supporting his idea.
|"Yes, sir, it's a great idea. Please agree."|
|"Alright, fine. She can drop me."|
Everyone seemed pleased with my decision, and after their respective send-offs, we began our journey.
As we drove, Aarna broke the silence with a question that caught me off guard.
|"Sir, why are you still hiding your identity?"|
I hesitated, but tried to explain.
|"Well,", "it's because of my friends. If they find out the truth, I don't know how they'll react. I might not be able to face them."|
But the real reason was much deeper. If I revealed myself, it could expose me to those who wanted to kill me.
Aarna pressed gently to know more.
|"Why do you think that, sir? If they knew the truth, they would be happy, maybe even proud to be your friends."|
|"No, Aarna, they're different. They're not like others. If they learn the truth, it could change everything. They might hesitate to talk to me, or even struggle with their own work. They're sensitive about these kinds of things, so…"|
|"Oh! I'm sorry for asking, sir."|
After a while, we were nearing my hostel when her phone suddenly rang. A look of worry crossed her face as she answered.
|"Hello? What? How could this have happened? Damn! I'm on my way."|
A sudden tension increased my curiosity.
|"What happened, Aarna? Is something wrong?"|
Her voice was tense, filled with urgency.
|"Yes, sir, our industry is facing a serious situation."|
I urged, anxiety creeping into my voice.
|"What happened? Tell me, please."|
|"Sir, what I'm about to tell you is highly sensitive. If this information leaks or becomes known to our chairman, the situation could escalate further. We need to solve this mess quickly."|
|"Hey! First, tell me what happened. If things get worse, I'll handle my grandfather. So don't worry about that."|
|"Sir, our textile company has been hit by a cyber attack."|
|"What? But it's a textile company, not a software firm. Wait! If their motive is to steal our…"|
Aarna confirmed, her tone grave.
|"Exactly, sir," "What you're thinking is correct. This will affect our profits and losses, without a doubt."|
|"What could be the motive behind this? Why would someone launch a cyber attack on a textile company?"|
|"I don't know, sir. But Surya Raj Sir has already taken action. He called for an emergency meeting at the hotel, keeping it very secret. Will you come with me?"|
I snapped, feeling the weight of responsibility.
|"Are you out of your mind? I'm the CEO of this company. How can I ignore this?"|
|"Oh! I'm sorry, sir. My brain just stopped working. Pardon me, but you look like you're already tired, so I thought…"|
|"It's okay, Aarna. I will join the meeting. But first, I need to deliver these parcels to my friends."|
Her expression shifted to one of disbelief.
|"What? Seriously? You want to do that in this situation?"|
I looked at her with a pleading smile.
|"Of course, it's a serious situation, but I've already promised my friends this food. If I don't show up, they'll probably kill me."|
She sighed, clearly frustrated but trying to keep her composure.
|"Huh… never mind. Do whatever you wish. You're my boss, and I can't do anything about it in this situation."|
|"Sorry for the trouble. Haha…"
I laughed awkwardly, knowing I was testing her patience. It looks like she would kill me if I still waste my time here.