The Amarasinghe Estate stood silent, the heavy atmosphere of mourning settling into its walls. Despite the profound loss, the world outside did not pause, and neither could Arjun. He had too much to accomplish, too many lives to shape—not the least of which was his own.
The third morning after the accident, Arjun awoke in his room, sunlight filtering through the curtains. His heart ached as he remembered the events of the last two days. His parents' absence left an unfillable void, but his resolve to take charge of his future had never been stronger. He turned to see Ananya still asleep beside him, her peaceful expression a sharp contrast to the storm brewing in his mind.
"Thank you," he whispered softly before carefully getting out of bed.
Downstairs, the house's atmosphere shifted as relatives began to arrive. Word of his parents' death had spread quickly, and vultures had started circling. Distant cousins, uncles, and aunts whom Arjun barely remembered flooded into the mansion, ostensibly to pay their respects. In truth, they were there for one reason: the immense wealth that the Amarasinghe family had accumulated.
Arjun descended the grand staircase, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered relatives. Some offered sympathetic smiles, but most were already whispering among themselves, their glances darting toward him like hawks.
"Arjun, my boy!" an uncle exclaimed, stepping forward with exaggerated warmth. "How are you holding up? Such a tragedy at your age…"
Arjun's lips tightened into a polite smile. "I'm managing, Uncle."
The man clapped him on the shoulder, his grip lingering. "If there's anything you need—anything at all—you just let me know. Your parents trusted me deeply, you know."
Before Arjun could respond, a shrill voice interrupted.
"Trusted you? Please. If anyone should step in to help Arjun, it's me." A heavily adorned woman stepped forward, her jewelry jingling with each movement. "I was closer to his mother than anyone else here."
The murmurs grew louder as others joined the fray.
Arjun felt his patience fray. He knew this would happen—he had lived through it before. In his previous life, this same squabbling had dragged on for months, leaving him powerless and frustrated. But this time, he was prepared.
"Enough," Arjun said, his voice cutting through the noise. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him.
"Legally, a 14-year-old cannot inherit these assets," a distant cousin began cautiously, "but we're all family here. We only want to help."
Arjun's gaze was ice. "Help yourselves, you mean."
The murmurs started again, but he raised a hand to silence them. "If you're so concerned about who should manage my parents' estate, I have a suggestion."
The room went still.
"I want my aunt, Saumya Ananya Chowdary, to take control," he announced.
Gasps echoed through the room. Ananya, who had just entered the hall, froze in her tracks.
"Ananya?" an elder relative exclaimed, his voice dripping with incredulity. "She's only 18! What does she know about managing such vast wealth?"
Arjun turned to face them, his expression calm but unyielding. "She knows more than anyone here. She has been by my side since the moment I lost my parents. I trust her."
Ananya's face flushed with a mix of surprise and anxiety. She stepped forward, her hands clasped nervously. "Arjun, I… I don't know if I can…"
"You can," he interrupted, his voice firm. "You were there for me in my last life," he thought to himself, "and I won't let history repeat itself."
"Ananya, you're the only one I trust," he said aloud. "You've always been there for me, and I know you'll do what's best."
The room erupted into protests. "This is ridiculous!" one uncle shouted. "Ananya is just a girl. She has no experience—"
"And neither do any of you!" Arjun snapped, his temper flaring. "But the difference is, she cares about me. The rest of you only care about the money."
The bluntness of his words silenced the room.
Overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility, Ananya hesitated. Arjun placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes meeting hers. "You won't be alone," he assured her. "We'll find trusted advisors—lawyers, accountants, people who can help you manage everything. But I need you to be the one in charge. Please."
Her heart ached at the sight of his pleading eyes. She couldn't deny the bond they had formed over the past two days. He had lost so much, and now he was asking for her help.
"I'll do it," she said finally, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "I'll take care of everything."
Arjun nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you, Ananya."
As the day wore on, the relatives dispersed, their plans temporarily thwarted. Arjun retreated to his room, exhausted but satisfied. He had taken the first step in securing his future, and he wasn't going to stop there.
Tomorrow, he would begin the next phase of his plan. But for now, he allowed himself a moment to breathe, the weight of the day's events settling over him.
In the quiet of his room, he made a silent vow. "I'll rebuild everything. For my parents, for Ananya, and for myself."