UNIVERSITY ARC
It was a grand, ancient palace, steeped in tradition and mystery. As the wind howled through the empty courtyards, an old man dressed in ceremonial robes watched the horizon with anxious eyes. His voice trembled as he called out to a guard approaching in the distance.
"Where is she? Have you found her?"
The guard knelt before him, his face marked by exhaustion and despair.
|"No, my lord. We are searching tirelessly, but there's still no trace."|
The old man's heart sank. "Where could she be?" he thought. "This kingdom is teetering on the edge, held in the grip of traitors. If that monster learns of her existence... No! We must find her before it's too late."
— — —
A man in a sleek black suit sprinted toward a high-security communication room. He grabbed a special encrypted phone and dialed a number with precision. After a few tense rings, the line connected.
The voice on the other end barked.
|"Ranga, this better not be another bombshell like last time."|
Ranga steadied his breath.
|"No, Mr. Sagar, it's nothing too alarming. Manoj is on his way to his office today—for the first time."|
Sagar grinned, his frustration melting into a sly smile as he stared at a framed photograph on the wall.
|"Manoj, you fool. The day you were appointed CEO of Vardhan Industries, it rattled me. The old man may have chosen you, but did you think I would let that go so easily? I will bring you down. You won't even see it coming."|
Ranga's voice interrupted his thoughts.
|"Sir? Should we proceed with the next phase?"|
Sagar snapped back to the present.
|"Not yet. Keep a close eye on him, but make no move. It's not the time to strike. Are those monsters still shadowing him?"|
Ranga hesitated.
|"Yes, sir. I've seen them lurking. They're watching, just waiting for an opportunity."|
Sagar's jaw clenched.
|"This is bad. We have to be smarter than them. Listen closely, Ranga. Here's what we'll do..."|
Sagar hung up the phone, but the unease gnawed at him. His mind was swirling with dark possibilities.
— — —
I woke up early this morning, still groggy from the events of the past few weeks. The first thing I noticed was a message from Aarna, my assistant. She asked to meet at the office. It had been a while since the cyberattack that had thrown everything into chaos. I hadn't spoken to her since then.
After getting ready, I informed my friends as I was going to my work and set out for the office. Upon arriving, Aarna greeted me warmly and led me straight to the CEO's office.
|"Sir, this is your office now. I've already finalized your schedule for the day."|
I blinked, taken aback by how quickly things were moving. "
|Wait, Aarna. Aren't you supposed to check my availability first? You can't just decide my day without asking!"|
She smiled, clearly amused by my confusion.
|"Apologies, sir. This was your grandfather's direct order. He wants you to be fully involved in the business from today."|
I sighed. Of course, my grandfather. He was always pushing me to take on more responsibilities, but this felt like too much too soon. I had barely come to terms with recent events, and now I had to focus on running a company. But perhaps this was what I needed—to focus on something other than my troubled thoughts.
|"Alright, Aarna. What's the plan for today?"|
She handed me a tablet.
|"To start, we'll visit one of our top boutiques nearby. I'll also explain the finer points of the business as we go."|
With a nod, I agreed, despite feeling overwhelmed. Aarna excused herself to retrieve the car from the parking lot. When she approached me with her car, my eyes widened. The vehicle in front of me was a high-end luxury car, modified with expert precision. It was sleek, expensive—clearly designed to impress.
She lowered the window and smiled.
|"Sir, please get in."|
I hesitated.
|"Is this...safe to drive? I mean, it looks like a sports car."|
Aarna chuckled at my question.
|"Don't worry, sir. I have a driver's licence, and I promise to drive carefully."|
I settled into the backseat, and before I could say another word, we were off. The car handled like a dream, gliding effortlessly through the streets, and we reached the boutique within minutes.
The security staff greeted Aarna with the utmost respect, opening the doors as we stepped out. She led me inside to meet the manager. He was busy, but the moment he saw Aarna, he dropped everything and hurried over.
|"Madam! What a surprise! It's wonderful to see you after so long. How have you been?"|
Aarna smiled politely.
|"It's been a while, manager. How are things running here?"|
The manager responded, nodding eagerly.
|"Everything is going smoothly, madam."|
It was evident that Aarna had a reputation for being kind to her staff, and they appreciated her presence. She gestured toward me.
|"Manager, he is Mr. Manoj. From today, he's your new boss."|
The manager's face faltered for a second—he had clearly mistaken me for a mere assistant or chauffeur. But he quickly masked his surprise with a polite smile and nodded.
Aarna spent the rest of the morning explaining the intricacies of the boutique and its operations. She outlined how the garments produced at our textile factories were transported here to maintain quality across all our locations. She also gave me a rundown of our market trends, profits, and pricing strategies. It was a lot to take in, but I was determined to absorb every detail.
…..
As days turned into weeks, I immersed myself in the business. I made mistakes, costing the company some losses, but Aarna was always there to guide me and help me recover. Over time, I gained confidence, learning the ropes of running the empire my grandfather had built. After two months of rigorous training, I finally felt ready to take over completely.
Aarna gathered the staff to congratulate me on my progress. It was a humbling moment, knowing how far I'd come in such a short time.
Aarna said, a smile gracing her lips.
|"Congratulations, sir. You've exceeded my expectations. I think you're ready to manage everything now."|
Her words caught me off guard.
|"What do you mean, Aarna? What are you talking about?"|
She looked down for a moment, her tone softening.
|"My job here is done. Your grandfather asked me to oversee the southern textile industries in a few countries. I'll be leaving soon."|
A pang of sadness hit me. In the past two months, Aarna had become more than just a colleague—she was a trusted friend. The thought of her leaving was unsettling.
My voice betrays how much I'd come to rely on her.
|"You're leaving?"|
She smiled again, though it didn't reach her eyes.
|"Yes, but you're more than ready now. I'm sure we'll meet again."|
Her flight was soon, and I accompanied her to the airport. After a quick farewell, I returned home just in time to catch the red glow of the setting sun.
Later that evening, I found my friends waiting for me. Keshava greeted me with his usual energy.
|"Manoj! Done with work? We're heading out for a movie. Care to join?"|
I shook my head.
|"Thanks, but I'm not in the mood. You guys go ahead."|
They left with a nod, and I decided to go for a jog to clear my mind. Afterward, I craved a good meal but wasn't up for the usual grand dining at the Royal Meridian. Instead, I headed to a more modest yet exclusive restaurant on campus—a place I hadn't visited before, even though my family owned this Oakridge university.
As I approached, I overheard a group of girls snickering nearby.
|"Look at him! Has he ever seen himself in a mirror?"|
|"Yeah, his clothes are so cheap!"|
Their words stung, but I ignored them and stepped inside. As I entered, the atmosphere suddenly changed. The girls fell silent, turning their attention to a lone figure sitting quietly at a table. I glanced over, curious to see what had caught their attention.
It was a girl, sitting in solitude, her eyes filled with tension. Something about her drew me in.