Ayu stepped into the hotel lobby, his breath caught in his chest. The grandeur of the place was overwhelming. Gleaming marble floors, dazzling chandeliers, and the sheer opulence of the decor transported him into a world he had only glimpsed from the outside. Never in his past life, nor in this one, had he been inside such a luxurious establishment. He had often passed by grand hotels like this, admiring their magnificence from afar, but stepping inside had always felt like a forbidden dream.
Today, however, was different. Today, he was here, standing in the middle of the grandeur he had only imagined. Awestruck, his eyes darted from one corner of the lobby to another, drinking in every detail. The polished surfaces gleamed under the soft, ambient lighting, and the faint hum of activity—a mix of muffled conversations, the clinking of cutlery, and the occasional chime of an elevator—added to the atmosphere of sophistication.
For a moment, Ayu felt out of place. His simple clothes seemed like an anomaly in this world of polished suits and designer dresses. He tugged nervously at his collar, checking his appearance. "Am I looking okay?" he thought, straightening his shirt.
As his gaze wandered, it landed on the reception desk, where a poised and elegant receptionist stood. Summoning all his courage, he decided to approach her. His steps were hesitant, and his palms were clammy.
Reaching the desk, he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. His throat felt dry, and his heart pounded in his chest. A part of him feared that he might say something foolish and be thrown out for daring to step into a place like this.
Finally, after taking a deep breath, he managed to stammer, "Ma'am…" before falling silent again.
The receptionist, noticing his nervousness, offered him a warm, reassuring smile. Her voice was soft but professional as she leaned slightly forward and asked, "Yes, sir? How can I assist you?"
Ayu's face turned red as he struggled to form a coherent sentence. "Ma'am, uh… Room number 177… I have an appointment with Rakesh Singh," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The receptionist's smile widened slightly, exuding a calm confidence that Ayu found mesmerizing. "Of course, sir," she replied politely. "Just give me a moment to check." Turning to her computer, she began typing.
Ayu couldn't help but notice her charming demeanor. For a brief second, he felt lost, staring at her perfect smile. Shaking his head, he tried to snap out of his daze. "Get a grip, Ayu!" he scolded himself.
As he waited, his mind raced. "Man, even the receptionists in places like this are so stunning. And here I am, looking like I've been dragged in from a construction site. Damn this system! It could've sent me to a park or somewhere simple to collect my reward, but no, it had to be this massive hotel! I'm already a nervous wreck, and I haven't even met Rakesh Singh yet. God, please don't let me screw this up. Let me get the money and get out of here as fast as possible!"
The receptionist, still typing on her computer, turned back toward Ayu, only to find him staring blankly at her, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Rolling her eyes slightly, she said, "Sir, Mr. Rakesh Singh and his group checked into room 177, which is a party room, a short while ago."
Ayu snapped out of his reverie, realizing he had been caught gawking. Embarrassed, he ran a hand through his hair and replied, "Thank you, ma'am." Gaining a bit of composure, he asked her for directions to the room.
The receptionist gave him a professional smile, signaling for a nearby waiter. "One moment, sir," she said, before turning to the waiter and instructing him, "Please escort this gentleman to room 177." Then, looking back at Ayu, she smiled again and said, "Please follow him. He'll take you there. Have a pleasant stay!" Without waiting for a response, she turned her attention to another guest.
Ayu nodded, flashing a nervous smile. "Thank you," he murmured before following the waiter, who gestured for him to come along. As they walked, Ayu couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and apprehension. The opulence of the hotel was still overwhelming, but his nerves were steadily building as they neared the room.
The waiter led him to an elevator, pressing the button for the appropriate floor. The ride up was silent, Ayu's mind buzzing with thoughts. "What if something goes wrong? What if Rakesh Singh doesn't pay? And why does the system have to put me in such high-stakes situations? Can't it send my reward directly to my bank account?" He inhaled deeply, trying to steady his nerves.
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. The waiter guided Ayu through the hallway, finally stopping in front of room 177. Pointing to the door, the waiter said, "Sir, this is room 177. Let me know if you need any further assistance."
Ayu forced a smile and replied, "No, thank you. That'll be all."
The waiter nodded politely, wished him a pleasant time, and walked away, leaving Ayu standing alone in front of the door.
Taking a moment, Ayu checked his clothes again, ensuring everything was in place. He adjusted his collar and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
When the door opened, Ayu was greeted by a scene he hadn't quite anticipated. The room was larger than he expected, with soft music playing in the background. Around nine or ten people were scattered across the room, talking and sipping drinks. Among them, Ayu noticed two young women, likely around his age, and three older women. The rest were men, all dressed sharply.
As Ayu stepped inside, every pair of eyes turned toward him. One man, sitting comfortably on a couch, frowned and said dismissively, "We don't need anything right now. If we do, we'll call for you."
It took Ayu a second to understand the misunderstanding—they thought he was part of the hotel staff. Swallowing his nervousness, he responded, "Uh… I'm not with the hotel staff. My name is Ayu. Mr. Rakesh Singh asked me to come here to collect a payment."
The man's expression shifted instantly. With a wide grin, he stood up and approached Ayu. Slapping a hand on Ayu's shoulder in a friendly manner, he exclaimed, "Ah, so you're Ayu! It's about time we met!"
Turning to the rest of the group, he announced enthusiastically, "Everyone, this is Ayu, the young man I've been telling you about. The one who saved me from losing lakhs of rupees!"
He looked back at Ayu, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. "Let me tell you something, young man. Because of you, I'm hosting this party today! You don't know what a big deal it was for me when my restaurant's website crashed. If it weren't for your help, I would've faced a massive loss!"
Grinning, he led Ayu further into the room. "Come, meet everyone. They've all been curious to meet the person who saved my business."
Ayu's nervousness began to fade as he took in the genuine warmth of the man before him. Yet, an unsettling thought lingered in his mind—was he here just to collect his reward, or was there more to this encounter than the system had revealed?
The man, brimming with energy, clapped Ayu on the shoulder with a friendly smile. "Come with me, Ayu," he said, his tone inviting. "Let me introduce you to everyone here. You should know who you're standing among today."
He guided Ayu into the room, stopping first near a sharply dressed man seated on the couch. Gesturing toward him, the host began the introductions. "This is Thakur Dhanraj Singh," he said, his voice carrying a mix of respect and pride. "He belongs to the renowned Thakur family, one of the most influential in this region. He owns one of the largest real estate empires in the area, built over generations of hard work."
Ayu's gaze shifted to the man, whose calm yet commanding presence seemed to fill the room. Before he could dwell on it further, Rakesh turned toward a young woman sitting beside Dhanraj. "And this," he added, pointing to her, "is his niece, Pihu Thakur. She recently returned from London to learn the family business under her uncle's guidance." Pihu offered Ayu a polite smile, her sharp eyes appraising him with curiosity.
As they moved across the room, Rakesh continued with his animated introductions. "Ayu, meet Nakul Tiwari," he said, motioning toward another man seated nearby. "Nakul is not just a trusted business partner but also a close friend. And that," he added, nodding toward a vibrant young woman standing near Nakul, "is his daughter, Drashti Tiwari. Don't let her age fool you—she's a firecracker who keeps us all on our toes."
Ayu smiled nervously as Drashti gave him a small wave, her mischievous grin hinting at a lively personality. Rakesh didn't miss a beat, directing Ayu's attention to another couple seated together with an air of poise.
"This is Vipin Verma and his wife, Sumita Verma," Rakesh explained. "Both are brilliant lawyers and, might I add, the backbone of my legal team. They've saved me from more lawsuits than I care to admit!" Vipin gave Ayu a firm nod, while Sumita offered a warm smile.
Finally, Rakesh turned toward the last couple in the room, who exuded confidence and sophistication. "And here we have Asraf Khan and his wife, Ashiya Khan. Asraf has been with me since the early days, a partner I trust implicitly. And Ashiya," he said with a chuckle, "keeps us all grounded—and makes sure Asraf doesn't work himself to death."
Ayu nodded respectfully at each individuals, trying to take in the gravity of the people around him. It was becoming clear that this room was filled with individuals whose influence and power could shake an entire city. These weren't ordinary people; they were the kind of individuals whose mere thoughts could change the course of events.
As Rakesh led him further into the room, Ayu couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and apprehension. He had come here expecting a simple transaction, but now, standing among such formidable personalities, he realized that the system might have had a far more significant reason for sending him here.
-----
.
.
.
.
To be continued....