👀VENGEANCE BREWING-CHAPTER-10

Everything is fictional guys!

Third pov:

The morning sun bathed the Sathyan family's spacious hall in a warm glow as everyone gathered before breakfast. It was the weekend, a time when the family usually spent time together. Ajay, however, hadn't shown up, and Yamuna remained locked in her room, brooding over her recent string of bad luck. For two days straight, her shares value in share market, had desreaseddespite her best efforts to recover the losses. Little did she know, the mastermind behind her downfall was none other than Rudhran. After all, how could he let her off easily after what she did to Aaradhya? This was just the beginning.

Meanwhile, Aaradhya was slowly getting comfortable around Rudhran. Over the last two days, she had started joining him for dinner as he had requested, and their conversations had grown a little longer each time. The mornings weren't spared either—Rudhran had taken to meeting her near the Murugan shrine after his jog, striking up light conversations that always left her flustered but smiling.

In the hall, the chatter buzzed. Rajendhran and Sathyan sat discussing something serious, their voices low and focused. Gomathi was animatedly talking to Ganga, and  Rudhran, who was seated with Vishnu, Priya, and Dhivya. Dhivya is talking animatedly about something and Vishnu and Priya are focussing her. Rudhran, however, was only half-listening, his eyes drifting toward the kitchen.

"Anna, what are you looking at Kitchen?" Dhivya piped up,  She nudged him playfully, a wide grin on her face. "Here I am telling you how I stole the pakoras Amma made, and you're off daydreaming!"

Rudhran smirked, leaning back lazily. "Nothing important," he said smoothly, but the slight curve of his lips gave him away.

Priya smirked, her eyes meeting Vishnu's with a knowing glance. Vishnu had already filled her in on Rudhran's growing feelings for Aaradhya. She leaned closer to Dhivya and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "He's not looking at the kitchen, Dhivi. He's looking at Aaradhya in the kitchen."

Dhivya gasped,  "Oh-ho! So it's true, ah? Rudhu anna likes Aaradhya! What's this, anna, you didn't even tell me?" she teased, clapping her hands together in delight. Rudhran leaned back, a small smirk playing on his lips as he looked at them "You  ladies, you'll have to help me with this," he said, his tone playful yet serious.

Priya and Dhivya immediately perked up, their curiosity evident. Priya,  raised an eyebrow. "Help you? What are you planning, Rudhran? Are we supposed to sing about your greatness? Maybe list out all your achievements, your 'incredible' personality, and your groundbreaking career?" she teased,

Dhivya, already bouncing in her seat, clapped her hands excitedly. "Yes, anna! We'll hype you up! Don't worry, by the time Aaradhya hears us, she'll be so impressed she'll fall head over heels for you. I'll say things like, 'Rudhran Anna is the best anna, the smartest, the handsomest!' What do you think?"

Rudhran's eyes widened in mock horror. "Amma thaigala! Both of you, stop acting like you're on a loudspeaker at a political rally. Please turn it off! I don't need your extreme speeches turning this into some comedy show," he shot back, rubbing his temple as if their enthusiasm was giving him a headache.

Vishnu,  burst into laughter. "Oh, Rudhra, come on. You know their 'speaker mode' might actually work. Aaradhya might fall for you just to shut them up!"

Rudhran sighed and leaned forward, his voice lowering as he addressed Priya and Dhivya. "Now, will you both stop acting like stage performers and listen?" his tone sharp but laced with affection.

Priya and Dhivya nodded quickly, their playful energy momentarily dimmed by their curiosity. As Rudhran began outlining his plan, their faces lit up like sparklers at every detail, the excitement bubbling back into their expressions.

"Rudhra, this is perfect!" Priya said, practically bouncing in her seat.

"Anna, you're a genius!" Dhivya declared, clapping her hands together with excitement. "We're going to make this happen. Don't worry, Anna. This is our new family mission!"

Rudhran couldn't help but shake his head, a fond smile creeping onto his face despite himself. "God save Aaradhya from you two," he muttered. But deep down, he was grateful for their enthusiasm

Rajendhran sitting comfortably while conversing with his younger brother Sathyan. With her practiced pout and a flair for getting what she wanted, Dhivya flopped down beside Rajendhran.

"Periyapa!"  drawing out the word in her signature charming way.

Rajendhran, who had a soft spot for the only girl child in their family, smiled warmly. "Tell me, da. What do you want now?"

Dhivya wasted no time. "You know we're going to be here for two months, and both my annas are always at the office. Even you and Appa are busy too. Amma and Patti are either at the temple or talking about things I don't even understand. It's just me and Priya anni here, bored to death!"

Rajendhran chuckled, patting her head. "So, what do you want me to do?" he asked, indulging her antics. Sathyan, sitting beside his elder brother, watched the exchange with a knowing look. His daughter's puppy-dog expression was something he had seen countless times before.

Dhivya leaned in, with feigned innocence. "Aaradhya is the only one here our age who matches our vibe. The rest of the workers are older, and they don't get it. Let Aaradhya be with us till we go to Coimbatore, Periyapa! Please, pretty please!"

Priya, nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, mama! She'll just be with us, that's all. If you tell her, she won't say no."

Rajendhran considered their request with a thoughtful look. Before he could respond, Ganga, , chimed in "It's not a bad idea, Raja. Aaradhya works too hard as it is. Let her spend time with the girls. I'll take care of the rest of the work."

This unexpected support brightened Dhivya and Priya's faces. Dhivya beamed. "See, even patti agrees! Aaradhya deserves some fun too!"

Rajendhran nodded, amused by their combined enthusiasm. "Fine, da. Aaradhya can stay with you both. I'll talk to her."

Dhivya blinked in surprise, "Wait, really? But... what about Yamuna aunty? What if she gets upset?"

Rajendhran,  gestured to a worker. "Call Yamuna here," he instructed. Within moments, Yamuna walked in, her sharp gaze already questioning the situation.

"What is it, Raj? Why did you call me here?" she asked, Rajendhran didn't waste time. "Aaradhya will be spending time with Dhivya and Priya from now on. They'll get too bored otherwise," he said, his tone casual yet firm.

Yamuna's face hardened. "And who will do the cooking and cleaning? Should I take over those tasks?"  her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Before she could continue, Rudhran's cold, sharp voice cut through. "Don't we already have enough workers for that? Or is it just her you want to burden?" His fiery gaze locked on Yamuna, leaving no room for argument.

Rudhran rarely spoke to her, but he wouldn't tolerate her degrading Aaradhya. His authority and sarcasm struck like a whip, silencing Yamuna. She faltered, her mouth opening and closing without a word, before shamefully leaving the room.

Just then, Aaradhya entered the hall timidly, her innocent eyes scanning the room. She stood quietly, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, unsure of why she had been called.

Dhivya immediately ran to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Aaradhya! You're going to spend time with us from now on. No more boring chores all day!" she announced brightly.

Aaradhya hesitated,  "But... I still have work to do..."

Priya joined them, waving her hand dismissively. "We'll handle all of that, Aaradhya. You'll still cook because we love your food, but we'll help you with everything else. And we'll take care of Patti together!"

Rudhran's gaze softened as it rested on Aaradhya. There was an unspoken tenderness in his expression, a quiet protectiveness that no one but Vishnu noticed.

Vishnu smirked and leaned closer to Rudhran. "Dei, you're so obvious," he whispered teasingly.

Rudhran ignored him, his focus entirely on Aaradhya, who was now smiling shyly at Dhivya and Priya's excitement.

The next day

The Eswaran Group of Companies had built a reputation for excellence across its ventures, with their dairy products standing out as one of the best in India. Their factory, located on the outskirts of Chennai, was abuzz with activity.

Recently, the company had secured a significant contract with a major conglomerate to supply an energy drink mix—a deal won after fierce competition, thanks to Rajendhran's efforts. Now, Rudhran held full control over the project as CEO, and his leadership had transformed the company's operations for the better.

Rudhran walked through the factory floor with an air of authority, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. Accompanying him were Vishnu, Sandeep, his new personal manager; and Ajay, who trailed behind reluctantly. Rudhran had deliberately placed Ajay in a junior position—just low enough to bruise his pride, yet high enough to keep him under close watch. Ajay seethed internally, his ego wounded, but he had no choice but to comply.

Babu, also accompanied them,  the factory supervisor and Ajay'sfriend greeted the group with a polished smile, hiding his true nature behind a facade of loyalty. Unknown to most, he and Ajay worked as silent partners in petty schemes, skimming profits and cutting corners wherever they could.

The hum of machinery filled the air as workers bustled around, processing milk, packaging butter, and ensuring the smooth production of energy drink mix. Rudhran stopped by a group of older employees who were meticulously inspecting dairy cartons.

"How are things here? Are the work conditions up to the mark?" Rudhran asked, his tone firm but kind.

One of the senior workers, a woman in her late 50s, spoke up. "Yes, sir, everything's much better since you took over. But the heat near the processing unit is still tough to bear."

Rudhran nodded, his gaze sharp. "Noted. Sandeep, make sure air-cooling units are installed in that area within a week," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for excuses.

As he walked further, his eyes fell on a group of supervisors lounging near the storage section, engaged in idle chatter. Rudhran's expression hardened, and he strode over. "Taking a break during work hours? Must be nice. Who's handling the quality checks while you're all here?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The supervisors scrambled to respond, fumbling over their words. "Sir, we were just—"

"Save it," Rudhran cut them off sharply. "If you have this much free time, maybe you can draft your resignation letters during the next shift." His words stung, and the supervisors quickly dispersed, too afraid to counter him.

Behind him, Vishnu smirked, leaning toward Sandeep. "That's Rudhran for you—cutting corners isn't an option around him."

Ajay, however, glared at the scene silently, his resentment bubbling under the surface. As Rudhran continued his rounds, his sharp eyes caught something odd in the production logs stacked on a desk near the storage area. Flipping through the pages, he noticed differences in the inventory records for raw materials used in the energy drink mix.

"Vishnu," Rudhran called, handing over the logs. "Do these numbers look right to you?"

Vishnu, who had been jovially chatting with a worker, straightened immediately and reviewed the documents. His jovial expression turned serious. "This doesn't add up. There's a clear gap in the reported quantities. Either someone's asleep on the job, or worse."

Rudhran's jaw tightened as he turned to Babu, who was trying to keep his composure. "Babu," Rudhran said coldly, "explain these numbers. How does raw material worth several lakhs go unaccounted for?"

Babu faltered,  "Sir... uh... there might have been an slip—"

"A slip?" Rudhran's voice was icy, cutting through the air. "This isn't a small bookkeeping error. This is negligence that could've cost us the contract. Do you have any idea how critical these records are?"

The workers nearby stopped what they were doing,  Babu looked down.

"I'll fix it, sir. It won't happen again," Babu muttered.

Rudhran stepped closer, his tone lowering but gaining an edge of threat. "This factory runs on trust and discipline,Babu. If I find one more mistake—one more—your position here will be the first thing I eliminate. Consider this your final warning."

Babu nodded quickly, too ashamed to say anything more. Rudhran straightened and turned to the workers, his voice firm but steady. "If anyone here has concerns—about management, facilities, or anything else—you come directly to me or contact Sandeep. No matter how small, I want to know about it."

Vishnu, also addressed the workers with his characteristic charm. "You heard the man, folks. Don't sit on problems—speak up. You have a CEO who listens, and as your CFO, I'm not too bad either, eh?"

The workers chuckled lightly, some visibly relaxing.

Rudhran expression softening slightly as he addressed the gathered employees once more. "This factory succeeds because of all of you. Keep working hard, and we'll ensure your concerns are taken care of. Remember, your loyalty and effort won't go unnoticed and you guys will be rewarded." The workers nodded, some even murmuring their gratitude.

With that, he strode out of the factory, his commanding presence leaving a lasting impression.

Rudhran's sharp gaze fell on Ajay. "Step forward," he ordered coldly. Handing Ajay the inventory log, Rudhran's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Care to explain these differences? Or has your new position dulled your sense of responsibility?"

Ajay stiffened, forcing a reply. "It's under Babu's supervision, sir."

Rudhran turned to Babu, who stammered an excuse, but Rudhran cut him off with a glare. "Your negligence risks everything we've built. From today, you'll work two extra hours inspecting records personally. One more mistake, and you're gone." Babu nodded quickly, "Yes, sir. It won't happen again."

Rudhran turned back to Ajay, his voice cold"And you. Since you seem to think you're above the system, here's your punishment. You'll oversee Babu's additional inspections every evening. You'll report directly to Sandeep by the end of each shift. If I don't see marked improvements in efficiency within a week, I'll reconsider even keeping you in your current position. Is that clear?"

Ajay's nostrils flared as he struggled to contain his anger. "Crystal clear, sir," he replied through gritted teeth, his voice strained.

"Good, I'm not here to tolerate incompetence or arrogance. This factory thrives because of discipline and trust. If either of you fails again, you'll be out. Consider this your last chance."

With that, Rudhran stepped away, gesturing for Sandeep to follow him. Vishnu, watching the exchange with a mix of amusement and approval, fell in step beside him. Behind them, Ajay stood frozen, his fists clenched as he watched Rudhran leave with his usual commanding presence. His jaw tightened, eyes dark with suppressed fury. Babu, standing awkwardly beside him, cast a guilty glance his way.

"Ajay, I—" Babu began.

"Save it," Ajay snapped coldly, his tone laced with venom. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Call our men"

Babu's face paled as he glanced nervously around the bustling factory. " Are you out of your mind?"

Ajay's glare silenced him instantly. " He humiliated us one too many times. I won't stand for it anymore."

As Babu nodded reluctantly, Ajay's eyes followed Rudhran's retreating figure, the fury in his gaze promising trouble ahead.

Heyyy guys! 👋

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