The dramatic misconceptions had finally come to an end. Dhiviya and her family had come to accept that Athavan was an ordinary man, just like them. When he stepped out of the house to give them a private moment, an unexpected shift in the atmosphere occurred. What had been a tense and serious morning turned into a scene of laughter.
Guna became the subject of relentless teasing.
"Why do you overreact all the time?" Archana asked, shaking her head in amusement.
Dhiviya, unable to hold back her laughter, imitated Guna's earlier declaration with exaggerated dramatics, "I know you are a divine being!" she mimicked, clasping her hands together and bowing.
The contrast between their earlier anxiety and their current amusement was striking. Even Vasanthan, usually composed, chuckled at his son's expense.
Outside, Athavan leaned against the balcony railing, listening to their laughter. A small smile bloomed on his face. "What simple and innocent souls," he murmured to himself. "Somehow, I really like this family."
But with every step he took away from the house, the smile on his face began to fade. By the time he reached the stairwell, his expression was as unreadable as ever. Reaching into the hidden pocket of his dhoti, he pulled out a sleek, black phone and dialed a number.
A deep voice answered almost immediately. "Supreme Commander."
"How is the preparation?" Athavan's voice dropped to a tone so cold and authoritative that it sent shivers down the spine of the man on the other end.
"Almost complete, Supreme Commander. The Walaysian government has approved our project. The shell company has been fully established. Ragavan Manoharan, Rank 4 in the corporate unit, has been notified of your arrival. He is on standby, awaiting your call."
Athavan ended the call without another word. A moment later, his phone buzzed with an incoming message—a contact number. Without looking at the screen, he dialed it while descending the stairs.
The call connected instantly. "Ragavan, Rank 4, Corporate Unit, reporting to Supreme Commander."
"Do you know where I am?" Athavan asked, his voice impassive.
"Yes, Supreme Commander."
"North gate. Now."
Ending the call, Athavan continued walking. By the time he reached the north gate of the apartment complex, a sleek, dark brown Bentley was waiting. The driver hurriedly stepped out and opened the door for him. Without a word, Athavan got into the car, and the vehicle smoothly drove away.
Three hours later, explosive news rocked the Walaysian corporate world. A groundbreaking announcement spread like wildfire—Beyond Technologies Corporation, a world-renowned future-tech company, had invested a staggering $300 billion in the newly founded AD Tech Lab. The emerging billionaire businessman, Ragavan Manoharan, had been appointed as the CEO.
The press release detailed the company's ambitious plans: the construction of a cutting-edge Tech City on a private island in Walaysia. A trillion-dollar project in its early stages, the AD Tech Lab was set to revolutionize the industry.
The entire Walaysian business sector was in an uproar. Every corporation, entrepreneur, and investor scrambled to seize a piece of the opportunity. The announcement promised employment, infrastructure, resources, and immeasurable wealth. From manpower to material suppliers, from architects to software developers, everyone sensed a golden era on the horizon.
And yet, while the nation was abuzz with excitement, the man behind it all sat in a quiet prayer room, meditating, as if none of it concerned him.
In the living room of Dhiviya's home, Guna was practically bouncing with excitement as he scrolled through the news on his phone. "I've made up my mind! After graduation, I'm going to join AD Tech. If possible, I'll apply for an internship there first!" he declared.
Dhiviya, unimpressed, rolled her eyes. "Please focus on passing your current papers first."
Guna scowled. "Sister, when your brother shares his vision, you should be supportive! Don't demotivate me!"
Archana smacked the back of his head lightly. "Your sister is right. This is the thousandth dream you've declared. Stick to one. But before that, please pass the exam you failed last semester."
Guna's enthusiasm deflated. He grumbled under his breath, "That wasn't my fault—it was the lecturer's mistake."
He didn't argue further, but the moment Archana mentioned the failed paper, something flickered in his expression. He quickly masked it, but anyone observant enough could tell it still bothered him.
At that moment, Athavan emerged from the prayer room. Instantly, the lively atmosphere of the room dimmed into silence. There was still lingering embarrassment over the events of the morning.
Archana, determined to break the awkwardness, quickly invited him to sit with them. Athavan could sense she had something on her mind.
He met her gaze. "Tell me, Atte. Is there something you want to ask?"
Archana hesitated. The entire family turned to her. Vasanthan gave her a subtle but firm look—a warning not to ask anything foolish. They had agreed not to pry into Athavan's past.
Taking a deep breath, Archana chose her words carefully. "Maapillai, what are your future plans? Do you intend to open your own Ayurvedic center, or are you planning to join an established company in the field?"
No one had expected this question. But Athavan immediately understood—she was concerned about Dhiviya's future.
Smiling, he replied, "Why should I open an Ayurvedic center? That was my grandfather's profession."
Archana frowned slightly. "Then what did you study for?"
Everyone leaned in, interested in his response.
Athavan took a moment before answering. The truth was, he held more than ten PhDs in various fields. But revealing that would be impossible—no one would believe him.
"IT, Atte. I'm a software developer," he finally said.
Guna's mouth dropped open. "What?!" he exclaimed.
He himself was studying software programming, and he had never expected Athavan to be in the same field. The contrast between Athavan's yogi-like appearance and the title 'software developer' was baffling.
Dhiviya, recalling his earlier fluent English, had a sudden realization. "So... he isn't uneducated like we all assumed," she thought.
Athavan took another sip of his coffee before speaking again. "Actually, I run a few businesses. I have a decent income. More than enough to support everyone in the family."
And with that, he walked toward the kitchen, leaving them all stunned in silence.
The End