As Dhiviya walked out, she clenched her fists. She had no idea what Navin was planning, but she wasn't going to let him push her around anymore. Things were about to change.
Dhiviya stepped out, Punitha followed closely behind. "One of these days, I'm going to smack that bastard pig hybrid wolfman," she whispered under her breath.
Dhiviya chuckled. "This is nothing new. You know my dream, right? I'm going to absorb as much knowledge and experience as possible here. When I open my own company, all this will come in handy. Anyway, this is a damn good opportunity. Let's make it happen."
She quickly turned to her officemates. "Sanju, you handle all the current work follow-ups. Coordinate with Arjun to complete the pending tasks. You guys follow the blueprint draft guidelines. I'll check them later this evening. Got it?"
Sanjana, alias Sanju, and Arjun nodded before turning back to their work. They knew Dhiviya had entered her work mode, and when that happened, it was best not to mess with her. Everyone in the office was aware that the reason Blue Valley Architect had seen so much success over the last three years was largely due to Dhiviya's competence and dedication. Despite the mistreatment she endured from her uncle and his family—who often claimed credit for her achievements—she always gave her best. Raja Sekaran knew he could count on her for any difficult task, far more than his useless son and daughter. But for the sake of maintaining control and his pride, he allowed his son to order and bully her around, treating her as nothing more than a puppet.
Dhiviya turned to Punitha and Shankar. "Punitha, go check the website. Once the project list is out, print five copies. Shankar, prepare the project room. I want my laptop connected to the projector in five minutes."
She handed her laptop to Shankar and gathered her stationery and notebook. Everyone quickly immersed themselves in their tasks, unaware that Navin and Anjana were watching them from their room.
"Laborers are meant to work. Bosses are meant to make them work," Navin laughed while observing them enthusiastically.
"What are you going to do?" Anjana asked curiously.
"Nothing."
"What do you mean, nothing? I don't want to see her driving around in that BMW while I'm stuck with a Bezza!" she complained, her face twisting in resentment.
"Oh, about the car? Just wait, I'll make a call." Navin smirked as he took out his phone and dialed a contact named Muru Nagas.
"Brother Muru, how are you? It's been ages since we last met. I need a favor from you. Don't worry; do this for me, and I'll take care of you later today. I'll send you the details shortly. Call me once you're ready. Yes, yes, sure."
He ended the call and quickly sent Muru a picture of the BMW, its license plate number, and the office address. Then, he turned to Anjana with a cunning grin. "Go and turn off the CCTV recording. If anyone asks, tell the guard that the system is out of service. She won't be driving that BMW home today!"
Meanwhile, Dhiviya and her team were focused on shortlisting architectural and landscaping projects, formulating the best action plan for their tender submission. She studied and fully comprehended the project needs and started strategizing to outshine their competitors. By noon, they had completed the list as per Raja Sekaran's instructions. However, they continued working, excited by the opportunity and determined to secure the tender. R&D and brainstorming sessions ensued, as they refined their proposals to align with AD Tech's vision. Dhiviya had a knack for understanding client needs and exceeding expectations, often leaving clients in awe of her insight.
Sitting inside his cabin, Navin received an email confirming the task's completion. Chuckling, he called Muru.
"Bro, I was just about to call you. Everything is set. Shall I go ahead?" Muru asked from the other end.
"Really? I want to see it happen. Wait, I'm coming outside."
Navin and Anjana rushed to the parking lot. A Roro bin truck, filled with broken concrete debris, was positioned right in front of Athavan's BMW X5. Anjana quickly moved her Bezza from the lot while Navin hopped in. They drove a little distance away and called Muru again.
"Drop it," Navin instructed excitedly.
They watched in anticipation as the truck dumped all the concrete waste onto Athavan's car. Prathap, the security team captain, rushed to the scene with his team. Navin intercepted him immediately.
"You didn't see anything. You were in the toilet when this happened. Understand?" he ordered.
"Sir, but… my job…" Prathap hesitated. He was scared that this might cost him his job, but at the same time, this was the boss's son speaking.
"Don't worry. You won't lose your job." Navin quickly pulled out RW500 from his wallet. "Here, keep this."
Prathap hesitated for a moment before nodding. He turned back to watch as the Roro bin truck reversed and rammed into the BMW a few times before driving away.
"Now, run inside and tell Dhiviya that something happened to her car. We'll drive out and pretend we're just coming back," Navin smirked. Anjana beamed with excitement. They couldn't wait to see Dhiviya's reaction.
They drove out of the office premises and waited nearby. A few moments later, Prathap rushed inside to inform Dhiviya. She and her two officemates ran toward the parking lot.
When she saw Athavan's car, Dhiviya felt devastated. Her eyes welled up with tears, her breath coming in short gasps as her mind spun in panic.
She gripped her arms, trying to control her shaking hands, but the overwhelming fear crushed her composure. What was she going to do? How would she explain this to Athavan? Would he be furious? Would he blame her? A terrifying weight settled in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Navin and Anjana drove back in, faking innocence.
Punitha turned to Prathap. "What happened here?!"
"I—I don't know. I was in the toilet," he stuttered, avoiding eye contact.
Anjana gasped dramatically. "What a tragedy! The BMW is destroyed. How will you get home, Dhiviya? Should I book you a cab?"
She didn't hear Anjana's mockery. She didn't register Navin's presence.
Dhiviya stood frozen.
Her breath hitched as she stared at the crushed BMW. Glass glinted like shattered promises under the sun. The roof was caved in. Concrete debris spilled over the hood like a burial mound.
Her mind blanked. Her ears rang. Everything around her—the rushing footsteps, the hushed voices, the concerned calls—faded into silence.
The only thought spiraling in her head was: What am I going to tell Athavan?
This wasn't just a car. This was his father's wedding gift. Something precious. Something personal.
And now it was gone.
Her knees weakened. She hugged herself tightly, trying to hold together whatever fragments of strength she had left.
Dhiviya hadn't just lost her composure—she had lost her breath, her calm, her sense of control.
The world moved around her, but she stood still—drowning in a panic she couldn't escape.
The End.
Note: RW stands for Ringgit Walaysia, the fictional currency of Walaysia.