The flashing red and blue lights outside JH Merlin Hotel turned the once-opulent ballroom into a scene of chaos and disgrace.
The murmur of the guests had turned into hushed whispers, mingled with the sharp orders of the police officers securing the suspects.
A handful of elite businessmen stood frozen, some sipping their wine nervously, pretending not to watch. Others boldly recorded everything, eager to capture the downfall of once-respected men.
At the center of it all stood Raja Sekaran, his hands bound behind his back.
Beside him, Navin was on his knees, struggling against the officers, his face twisted in rage.
"You can't do this!" Navin spat, thrashing violently. "Do you know who my father is?! Do you have any idea who we are?!"
The lead officer remained unmoved.
Reading from his file, his voice cold and precise, he announced:
"Navin Raja Sekaran, you are under arrest for multiple offenses, including property destruction, harassment, and two counts of sexual assault."
A stunned gasp cut through the room.
Navin froze.
Anjana's wine glass slipped from her fingers, shattering against the marble floor.
"Two… what?" Her voice cracked. She took a sharp step back.
Navin's head snapped toward her, panic flashing in his eyes.
"Anjana, listen—"
SLAP!
Her palm struck his face, the sound ringing across the ballroom.
She trembled, eyes burning with shock and disgust.
Navin gawked at her, completely thrown off.
Leela, his mother, gripped the back of a chair, her knuckles white. Her entire body trembled.
"Navin… tell me it's not true."
Navin's mouth opened—but no words came out.
For the first time in his life, he had no defense.
And even worse—Raja Sekaran didn't speak for him.
The Mass Arrest Begins
"Sir," another officer reported, stepping forward. "We have thirteen confirmed suspects linked to this case."
A wave of movement followed as twelve more men—Muru, Mohan, the insurance agent, Habib the lecturer, former associates, corrupt officials, and business partners—were dragged forward, their hands cuffed.
Some resisted. Some cursed.
Some looked straight at Raja Sekaran, silent but full of seething rage.
The same people who once followed him—were now dragged down with him.
None escaped.
Raja Sekaran remained stoic, but his jaw was clenched so tightly it looked like it might snap.
This was not how the night was supposed to go.
He had planned to gain insider information tonight.
Instead, he was watching his empire crumble.
Raja Sekaran's Final Words
As the officers grabbed his arms, he lifted his head.
And his gaze landed on Leela.
His wife.
For years, she had been obedient. Submissive. Loyal.
But tonight… she stood pale, clutching the chair for support, her eyes filled with terror.
He smirked.
That pleased him.
His voice, low and razor-sharp, cut into her soul.
"Call my mother."
Leela inhaled sharply.
Her knees nearly buckled.
"Call her." His smirk widened. "Or you'll regret it."
The officers pulled him away.
His final words lingered—a curse, a threat, a promise.
Leela's fingers trembled as she reached for her phone.
Her hands shook violently as she dialed the number she feared most.
The call rang once.
Twice.
A click.
A breath on the other end.
And then—
Silence.
The soft hum of the projector shutting off left the room eerily quiet.
Athavan leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping against the table. Everyone was silent.
Vasanthan had not spoken a word since the projector had turned off.
Archana sat beside him, her head bowed, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of her saree.
Dhiviya sat stiffly, her hands clenched on her lap. She had no idea how to comfort her parents.
Guna's jaw was tight, his arms crossed, his eyes burning with restrained fury.
Finally, Athavan exhaled, breaking the silence.
His voice was steady. Cold. Unforgiving.
"This is the man you called 'family.'"
His gaze flickered to Vasanthan.
"For fifteen to twenty years, Raja Sekaran has been systematically stealing from you."
"He sabotaged your company."
"He orchestrated your downfall."
"He kept your family under his thumb with debt, lies, and fraud."
Athavan's fingers tapped the table once, sharp and deliberate.
"And he was waiting for your surgery—to cash in on your death."
A strangled breath escaped Vasanthan.
His entire life—everything he had believed—had been a lie.
Archana's sobs became uncontrollable, but she bit her lip, trying to hold herself together.
"No…" Vasanthan whispered, shaking his head slightly.
Athavan's expression didn't soften.
Because this wasn't over.
A knock on the door.
The heavy silence was shattered as the door swung open.
A man stepped in, dressed in a crisp suit, his police badge glinting under the warm dining room light.
Joseph Fernandez.
Athavan didn't turn to face him immediately.
Instead, he smirked slightly before looking back at Vasanthan.
"I told you, didn't I?"
Vasanthan blinked.
Athavan leaned forward slightly.
"I told you at the police station. I believed Mr. Joseph was an honest officer. I said he'd do his duty."
He gestured toward Joseph with a slight nod.
"And he did."
Joseph felt a twinge of guilt.
Because in truth—he hadn't done anything.
It was Athavan's men who had extracted confessions, staged the scenario, and ensured Raja Sekaran confessed unknowingly.
This man doesn't just expose his enemies.
He makes them bury themselves.
Anyone with a brain knew the truth.
Athavan was the mastermind.
But Athavan gave all the credit to Joseph.
Joseph hesitated… then slowly nodded, playing along.
Athavan finally rose from his seat.
"Dhiviya, take them home. Guna, drive safe."
Without another word, he left.
Vasanthan stared at the empty doorway long after he was gone.
As Athavan and Joseph re-entered another private room, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Five well-built men, dressed in sleek, tactical attire, stood at attention the moment Athavan stepped inside.
Joseph felt his pulse quicken.
These men… they weren't ordinary.
Their sharp, predatory eyes locked onto him like wolves sizing up their prey.
A bloodthirsty aura hung in the air.
Athavan, once calm and composed, now stood like a warlord.
Joseph swallowed hard. "Sir… these men?"
Athavan's gaze was unreadable.
"My most trusted brothers."
Then, his next words sent a chill down Joseph's spine.
"If I told you I brought them here to destroy Gang Nagas… would you believe me?"
Joseph's heart nearly stopped.
His breath caught in his throat.
"What…?"
He felt like he had been struck by lightning.
Gang Nagas wasn't just some street-level thugs.
They were a criminal empire, deeply embedded in every layer of the underworld.
And yet—Athavan spoke of wiping them out like it was already decided.
Joseph met his gaze.
"Why?"
The cold, unshakable authority in Athavan's expression made one thing brutally clear.
He wasn't asking for permission.
He was simply stating what was about to happen.
"Do you think today's incident just ended here with a simple arrest?"
The End.