BONUS!!!! TODAY'S SPECIAL DAY! ENJOY!!

But... " Aanand’s voice carried a quiet weight as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his jaw tight, lips pressed into a thin line. The silence between them stretched before he finally spoke.

“Since you have made the mistake, you must face the consequences.”

Rudraksh’s brow furrowed, confusion cutting through his confidence. His heartbeat quickened, every nerve bracing for the words that would follow.

“You are demoted to junior manager, effective immediately,” Aanand declared, his tone steady, almost detached.

The words struck like a blow. Rudraksh blinked, stunned, his voice cracking as he forced it out. “What? That’s my company. You have no right to demote me.” His chest rose and fell sharply, the rebellion in his tone edged with desperation.

Aanand didn’t flinch. “This is not a debate. The decision has been made. You’ve had chance after chance, but you squandered them. The board has lost its faith in you.”

Anger surged across Rudraksh’s face, but beneath it flickered something rawer—hurt, betrayal. “You can’t do this. This is senseless! You can’t strip me of my place—it’s my company!”

“—funded with my money,” Aanand interjected, his voice even, unshaken. “Don’t forget who holds the Power of Attorney. You will accept this role, or you will leave the company altogether.”

The humiliation landed heavy, searing him like fire against the skin. Rudraksh’s fists curled. “I’ve always made you proud,” he said, the words trembling as he tried to steady them. “From school to engineering to my MBA—I topped everywhere. I honored this family. I’ve never brought you shame.” His throat tightened, but he pushed through. “I’ve obeyed you, always… whether you were there or not.”

Aanand’s eyes didn’t soften. “Mistakes have consequences, Rudraksh. And it’s time you stopped behaving like a child.”

Rudraksh’s gaze dropped to the floor, his voice barely audible. “What do you want from me?”

“Discipline,” Aanand replied after a pause. “Commitment. A company cannot survive on neglect and recklessness.”

The words stung like a slap. Rudraksh’s chest heaved as he looked up again. “You’ve never been proud of me, have you?” His voice broke, quiet but cutting. “No matter what I do, it’s never enough.”

Aanand’s tone stayed measured. “Your choices have put everything at risk. This demotion is not just punishment—it is a chance to correct your path.”

Rudraksh’s eyes blazed, defiance holding him upright. “I earned this. I built this company from nothing. I will not let anyone take it from me.”

“You built recklessness,” Aanand countered, his stare sharp, unwavering. “The company is still struggling to stand on its own. You are not ready to lead.”

Rudraksh’s fists trembled at his sides. “And you? What do you know about leadership? You’re just a figurehead, a name on the board. You don’t understand what I’ve done to keep this alive.”

“I may not be a businessman,” Aanand said, his tone firm, “but I know when someone is drowning. And right now, Rudraksh—that someone is you.”

Rudraksh’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You just want control. That’s all this is.”

Aanand’s eyes glinted with anger, though his voice stayed calm. “This is not about control. It’s about survival. And if you cannot see that, you are unfit to lead.”

Rudraksh’s face reddened, his breath quick and sharp. Rage tightened every muscle.

“Respect your elders. Learn to master your temper,” Aanand said, his expression collected, though concern flickered behind his gaze. “This fury will destroy you if you let it.”

In a flash, Rudraksh’s hand swept across the table, sending a delicate vase crashing to the floor. The shatter rang through the study, shards scattering like splintered trust.

“To hell with your respect,” he spat, his eyes burning with defiance and pain. He turned, the weight of betrayal etched across his face, and stormed out. The door slammed behind him, its echo reverberating down the empty corridor.

Aanand did not move. His hands remained locked behind his back as his eyes shifted from the broken vase to the door his son had disappeared through. The authority in his posture held, but disappointment and worry shadowed his features.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

At the breakfast table, Anusuiya waited for the men to join her, the morning sunlight streaming through the windows bathing the room in a warm glow. Siddharth and Karan sat with her, their smiles lightening the air—until Rudraksh stormed out, his face dark with fury.

“Rudraksh! Beta, come here,” she called after him, her gentle voice laced with concern. “Eat your breakfast.” Her eyes followed him, heavy with a mother’s worry.

He didn’t slow. Taking the stairs three at a time, he vanished from sight. A moment later, the sharp slam of his door reverberated through the hallway, rattling the quiet.

Siddharth and Karan exchanged a glance, unease flickering between them. Their eyes lingered on the staircase, torn between rushing after him or giving him the space he seemed to crave.

Both turned to Anusuiya, silently seeking her lead. Her face mirrored their concern, though she remained still.

“Aunty… we should go,” Siddharth said gently. Karan gave a small nod, adding, “We’ll catch up over breakfast another day.” His gaze held hers, waiting for her agreement.

Anusuiya’s eyes lingered on the empty staircase before she nodded slowly. “Okay, beta. Take care.”

The boys rose together, their movements quiet, and with a shared understanding, they made their way out, leaving behind the echo of Rudraksh’s storm.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

Rudraksh’s gaze lingered on the pictures hanging along the wall, and his eyes burned. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding together as though he were holding back a storm within.

FLASHBACKS

A boy burst into the basketball court, jumping and twirling while humming a tune.

A girl around his age stood frozen, staring at the goal net with the ball clutched in her hands. Her jacket was tied around her waist and her armpit-length hair sticked on her back, drenched in sweat.

As he approached her, a bright smile spread across his face. With silent steps he crept up behind her then swept her into a sudden twirl, cradling her waist. The girl's eyes widened, and she got startled by the sudden gesture.

Gently, setting her down, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and put his neck on her right shoulder. Smiling widely, he gently shook her from left to right under his hold. "Did you miss me!?" His voice echoed off the basketball court, reciprocating the excitement of getting to see his girlfriend after a long time.

But her body stiffened, and the name came out her lips nervously. "Rudraksh... "

Rudraksh's eyes narrowed at her hesitant tone, calling him by his real name. He turned her around and smiled before speaking in a soft tone, "Any problem, Sanam?"

Sanam's chest rose and fell rapidly and her eyes casted downward, avoiding his gaze. Her hands fell limply by her sides.

Rudraksh gently stroked some hair behind her ear, and lifted her head by holding her face in his palms. He gently caressed her jaw with his thumb. "Hey, Sanam. Tell me, what is it?" His voice was sweet like honey.

Sanam's gaze again dropped to the ground, and her throat bobbled up. "Let's break up." Her words came out dry and detached.

Rudraksh's laughter echoed, a gentle slap on her shoulder accompanying his playful dismissal. "Shut up, I'm not in the mood for jokes."

Sanam's eyes locked onto his-firm and resolute. "Let's break up, Rudraksh."

Rudraksh froze, his expression shifting from amusement to shock. His grip on her arms tightened. "Do you realize what you're saying, Sanam?" His voice was low and menacing.

The atmosphere shifted, tension replacing the earlier playfulness.

Sanam swiftly untied the jacket around her waist and wore it. Her movements were economical and detached. "I know." Her voice was barren of emotions.

Rudraksh stepped forward, blocking her path. His eyes narrowed and jaw clenched as he said with gritted teeth. "Don't toy with me, Sanam."

Sanam met his gaze with an unyielding poker face, then pushed past him, stroming out of the court.

"Sanam!" Rudraksh's desperate voice echoed through the empty court, bouncing off the wall.

He stood frozen, his chest heaving, as the reality of her words sunk in.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"Ahhh...! Why!? Why!?"

Rudraksh’s scream tore through the silence, raw and unrestrained, like something ripped from the deepest part of him.

His hand shot out, seizing a vase. With a savage thrust he hurled it at the wall. Glass shattered, scattering fragments across the floor – shards of memory breaking with it.

"I hate you!" His voice cracked, fury consuming every syllable. He slammed his palms against the mirror. The surface splintered, spiderwebbing under his hands before collapsing, raining sharp edges that drew blood from his skin. He didn’t flinch.

Another vase. Another crash. Splintered wood, shattered glass, echoes of destruction filling the room.

He clawed at the frames, ripping them from the walls, tearing photos until they were nothing but crushed paper in his fists. His boots ground the wreckage into dust, each stomp heavier, harsher, his breath ragged and uneven.

One more frame caught his eye. He snatched it, fingers digging into the wood until it cracked, the glass biting into his palm. Blood smeared across the broken photograph. Still, he pressed harder, fists driving into the wall until his knuckles split open, crimson blooming across the white plaster.

"You destroyed me, Sanam!" His roar shook with more than anger; it trembled with grief. "You ripped apart my heart, my trust... my life! And now even my career. Everything I built is in ruins because of you!"

His chest heaved. His eyes burned, but the tears refused to fall. He kicked the wreckage, shards scattering farther across the floor like splinters of his own soul.

"You’re poison, Sanam," he rasped, voice breaking into a whisper. "A disease that infected every part of me. I thought I was enough... I thought—" His words faltered. "I was just a pawn."

He sagged against the wall, blood dripping from his knuckles. His whisper cracked into silence. "I’ll never forgive you. Never."

A/N:

1. Who do you think is right, Aanand or Rudraksh?

2. What are your impressions of Sanam so far?