"3RD PERSON POV"
"TWO DAYS LATER"
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city. The AB Group building stood tall and imposing, its massive glass façade gleaming under the sunlight, reflecting the clouds and the world around it. The soft rustle of leaves mixed with the faint chatter of employees filtering in and out of the main entrance. Shadows from nearby trees danced gently on the pavement, creating a peaceful yet professional atmosphere.
Not far from the company's entrance, Aravind stood quietly, his eyes fixed on the towering structure. The breeze tugged at his hair, brushing it gently across his forehead. He wore casual clothes—a light shirt, jeans, and sneakers—but his presence radiated calm confidence.
Just two days ago, everything had changed.
The day after he received the shares from SYS, he had been busy helping Suryakantham shift her belongings into his house. They had made the decision to live together, and though things were moving fast, it all felt natural. While carrying a box into the living room, his phone buzzed with a call from an international number.
It was Abhinav Vasudev—the CEO and founder of AV Pharmaceuticals.
Abhinav's voice was polite but carried a distinct energy. He personally congratulated Aravind for becoming one of the company's major shareholders. He spoke of an upcoming meeting and celebration in Australia where AV Pharmaceuticals was preparing to announce a groundbreaking project to the world. The excitement in his tone was genuine, and before hanging up, he extended a personal invitation to Aravind.
Aravind already done a quick background check. AV Pharmaceuticals was legitimate—well-established, with a reputation for innovation. Their research facilities were top-tier, and their stock value had seen a steady rise over the past few years.
Shortly after that, another call came through.
This time, it was from Varma and Sarma—senior board members of AB Group. Their tone was polite, even congratulatory, but Aravind could sense something beneath the surface. Their words didn't match the unease he heard in their voices.
He didn't push them then. He simply thanked them and ended the call.
When Aravind received the shares of the two companies, he immediately understood something important—while AV Pharmaceuticals welcomed him with open arms, AB Group would take his sudden entry much more seriously.
To them, it looked suspicious.
An unknown man, with no prior connection to the company, had suddenly appeared in the middle of an intense internal power struggle—and now owned more shares than most of the board. With 37% of the company under his name, Aravind had instantly become the second-largest shareholder, just behind Abhishikth Bhargav, who held 60%.
In simple terms, the board saw him as a new player in their game. A dangerous one.
Someone with the potential to influence major decisions, including the selection of the next CEO. What made it even more alarming was that no one could figure out how he had managed to acquire such a large stake so suddenly. There were no signs, no warning. Just silence—and then a shift in power.
After some internal discussion, the board finally decided to invite Aravind to the company for a formal meeting.
What surprised Aravind the most, however, was that Indrani Bhargav—the wife of Govinda Bhargav, and the current acting CEO—had not reached out to him directly. Given her position and the abrupt change in the company's power structure, he had expected a call. But there was nothing.
Still, he was sure of one thing—his involvement hadn't gone unnoticed. Especially by Seetharam.
A board member and a major shareholder himself, Seetharam wasn't just part of the company—he was also a main antagonists in the film's original story. His silence only confirmed what Aravind already knew: they were all watching him closely, trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted.
He hadn't told Suryakantham about the shares or the fact that he was now, directly or indirectly, her boss. He wanted to surprise her with a smile.
As Aravind stood calmly, gazing up at the towering AB Group building, he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.
Turning around, Aravind saw Bala, his newly appointed assistant, in the middle of a heated argument with the rickshaw driver who had brought them there. Eventually, he handed over the fare with a grumble and stormed toward Aravind.
"What happened, Bala?" Aravind asked, chuckling softly.
Bala huffed. "These rickshaw drivers today, boss! All they do is cheat people. I told him the meter was broken, and he just argued back like I was the one lying!"
Aravind smiled. "Chill, man."
Bala glanced at him with a frown. "Boss, seriously though, why aren't we using a car? You're literally a shareholder. We could've come in style."
Aravind gave a casual shrug. "Nah. Enjoy the simplicity, Bala. There's something peaceful about it."
Bala shook his head, muttering, "As you say, boss… But listen—those people who kidnapped me before, they might be watching us. I saw monitors in that place where they tied me to the chair. The guy who stole my certificates and identity—he's gotta be inside this building. We should do something."
Aravind's smile didn't fade. "Look to your right, Bala."
Bala blinked in confusion and slowly turned his head. Just across the street, some men stood watching them.
Bala's expression changed. "Boss… that's them."
Hearing this, Aravind smiled and said, "Don't worry about them, Bala. They're not going to do anything. But I'm honestly surprised you managed to escape from them."
Bala looked at him, a little puzzled. "I'm surprised too, boss. But I guess… God was with me."
Aravind chuckled, amused by his serious expression.
Bala then frowned slightly and asked, "But boss, what about the person who's using my identity? The one inside the company… What are we going to do about him?"
Aravind glanced at Bala and said calmly, "Don't worry, Bala. You'll get your certificates back. Everything that was stolen from you—you'll get it all back."
Bala nodded, but still looked uneasy. "Who is that guy anyway? He looked like a professional kidnapper to me."
Aravind let out a short laugh, then leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. "Well… he's actually the son of Govinda Bhargav from his first wife."
Bala blinked, stunned. "What? But I heard his first wife died in Bali while she was pregnant… some assassination attempt or something."
Aravind looked at the building ahead, his tone quiet but steady. "There's a long story behind that. I'll tell you later. First, let's head inside."
Bala straightened, a spark in his eyes. "Yes, boss! Let's go get my identity back!"
Aravind rolled his eyes with a smile and the two of them began walking toward the company entrance, their shadows stretching across the pavement under the afternoon sun.
Inside the building, as the lift doors slid open with a soft chime, Aravind and Bala stepped out.
The cool air from the central AC gently brushed against their faces. Around them, the office was buzzing with activity—some employees were seated at their desks, typing away, while others walked around with files or coffee cups in hand. The low hum of conversations and footsteps echoed faintly in the spacious hall.
Aravind looked around calmly, his expression composed as always, and began walking forward with Bala trailing close behind. A few employees glanced at him curiously, especially the women, some whispering to each other as he passed by.
"It seems pretty crowded in here," Aravind said casually, eyes scanning the floor.
"Yeah," Bala replied, "because of the recent hiring drive. I was actually one of the candidates who came here for an interview… before I got kidnapped by those frauds."
Aravind rolled his eyes playfully. "Come on, Bala. Isn't it a good thing you got kidnapped?"
Bala blinked at him. "How is that a good thing, boss?"
Aravind smirked. "If you hadn't been kidnapped, you might've ended up stuck in some boring desk job here. Instead, you became my assistant—with a good salary package and a front-row seat to some drama."
Bala chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Now that you put it that way, boss… yeah, I guess it really did work out well for me."
As they were talking and walking, more and more employees began to notice them. Whispers and curious glances followed their steps. Among them, Suryakantham, who was on her way to Sarma's cabin, heard the murmurs and turned her head toward the source. Her brows furrowed when she saw Aravind and Bala strolling casually through the office, as if it were their living room.
Her expression shifted instantly. She changed direction and quickly walked toward them. As she approached, she called out, "Aaru!"
Aravind and Bala stopped in their tracks. Aravind turned to see her, and a warm smile spread across his face. Without a moment's hesitation, he opened his arms—and before Suryakantham could react, he pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Suri," he whispered softly.
For a moment, she stood still in surprise. But hearing him say her name so tenderly, she relaxed and hugged him back. Looking up at him, she asked, "What are you doing here, Aaru?"
Aravind grinned. "What? Can't I come to meet my girlfriend?"
She frowned slightly. "Don't joke. It's office hours, and I'm working. What if someone sees you?"
Aravind looked around and smirked. "Too late. Everyone's already looking at us."
Suryakantham glanced around and saw the curious eyes of several employees fixed on them. Embarrassed, she immediately stepped back from the hug. She narrowed her eyes and said, "You hugged me on purpose, didn't you?"
Aravind shrugged with an innocent expression. "What? What are you talking about? Anyway, meet Bala Subramanyam—my assistant."
Suryakantham blinked. "Wait, I met someone named Bala Subramanyam earlier. He was listed as a new hire… Wait, that's not important. What's important is—why do you have an assistant?"
Aravind and Bala exchanged a look.
"Aaru…" she said in a warning tone.
Aravind turned to her, trying to suppress a grin. "Oh right. Why do I have an assistant? Hmm... let me think... probably because I need one?" he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Hearing that, Suryakantham narrowed her eyes and asked, "And why do you need an assistant?"
Before Aravind could reply, a sharp voice cut through the air. "What's going on here?"
Everyone turned to see a middle-aged man walking toward them, his expression stern and full of authority.
Seeing him, Aravind leaned slightly toward Suryakantham and whispered, "Who's this joker?"
She lowered her voice. "That's Koteswara Rao—our HR head. He's corrupt and... he harasses female employees."
Aravind's playful expression faded. "Did he ever try anything with you?"
Suryakantham glanced at him, unsure how to answer. "Not really. Since I was Mr. Sharma's secretary, he kept his distance. But… his eyes… they're disgusting."
Aravind gave a subtle nod, his gaze darkening slightly.
Koteswara finally reached them, his eyes scanning Aravind up and down with suspicion. "What's going on here? Who are you?"
Aravind smiled casually, almost too casually. "Oh, my name? Not important. But why I'm here—that's the real question."
Without waiting, Aravind took a slow step forward toward Koteswara, his smile widening just a bit, but his eyes growing sharper.
Koteswara stepped back slightly, unnerved. "Why… why are you here?"
Aravind's tone dropped, calm and dangerous. "I'm a contract killer."
The air went still. Bala blinked. Suryakantham froze.
Aravind continued, his voice like ice with a smile painted over it. "I was hired to kill you… for harassing the women in this office."
Hearing Aravind's words, Koteswara's face turned pale. His legs wobbled as he instinctively began stepping backward, panic setting in.
"B-But... you don't look like a killer," he stammered, his voice shaky.
Aravind took another step closer, a devilish grin playing on his lips. "Haven't you heard? Even the Devil wears a handsome face."
Before Koteswara could bolt, Aravind suddenly reached forward and grabbed the waistband of his pants, pulling him back with a laugh. "Whoa, whoa—where do you think you're going?"
Koteswara froze, heart pounding. The way Aravind was looking at him—it felt like the Devil himself had come calling. "Let me go! What are you doing? If you kill me, you'll be in big trouble! You won't make it out of here alive!"
Aravind tilted his head, still holding the man by his pants, and said in a calm, amused tone, "You really don't need to worry about me. Right now, I think you should be worrying about yourself."
Koteswara's voice cracked in desperation. "W-Wait! I can give you money! I'll pay double—no, triple—whatever your contractor gave you!"
Aravind leaned in, lowering his voice like a true predator. "I'm not interested in money. I have a reputation to uphold. I was given a contract… and I intend to finish it."
As he slowly reached into his back, pretending to pull out a gun, Koteswara's panic exploded. "Please wait! Don't kill me! I swear I'll change! I'll resign! I'll—just don't shoot!"
Around them, the office had gone silent, but the employees watching couldn't hold in their laughter for long. They covered their mouths, chuckling as they watched Koteswara flailing in fear, Aravind still gripping his pants like a mischievous villain from a movie.
Bala whispered, "Boss, you're going to give this guy a heart attack."
Aravind didn't look back. "Let's hope not. Paperwork is such a headache."