🍁 chapter nine 🍁

Vivek clarified Shan’s confusion, saying politely “You are now a member of The Elegant.”

Hearing this Shantanu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What…what do you mean I’m now a member of the famous The Elegant brand? ” Shan still couldn’t believe Vivek’s words.

“are you now a member of The Elegant? ” a surprised voice interrupted them. When they looked toward the voice, they saw Pari standing there with supper astonished face. She hurried over to Shan grabbed his shoulder and asked in a nervous tone “Does this mean you’re being transferred from here, Shan?”

This time, it was Shan’s turn to be shocked. Slowly, he noticed everyone’s ID cards and realized why his new ID Card was different his previous one.They helplessly glanced at each other then Vivek, Both Pari and Shan were sad now. Shantanu was not sure how he should feel, Should he be happy for the promotion or sad for leaving these people?

Gradually, other people from the block are also gathered, saddened by the news of Shan leaving, it's not like they are jealous of shantanu's promotion but they don't want him to leave the block so soon. Everyone here had started to like Shantanu due to his cheerful behavior and now they were sad to see him leave so soon.

Vivek maintaining his professionalism, instructed Shan to start packing as he needed to move to the fifth floor and begin working on his new project with The Elegant team members. All members of The Elegant stayed on the fifth floor, just below Rudra’s office.

Pari helped Shantanu with his belongings to shift from third floor to fifth floor. On the fifth floor, there were small four cabins and four rows with six seats and six computers each.

Outside each cabin, the category and the owner's name was written on a simple name plate. There was also one large cabin that belonged to the CEO of The Elegant brand.

On reaching the fifth floor Mona briefed Shan about his new workspace and introduced him to his team members, ensuring they’d help and support him. Mona left shan there, not before wishing him good luck.

Shan’s team had only three members for now. He tried to interact with them, but no one gave him a warm response. They all seemed too engrossed in their work, making Shan feel unwelcome and unwanted. He began missing Pari and the others from his previous block. He sadly settled on his desk so that he can figure out his work in his new department.

During lunch break, when everyone went for refreshments and coffee, Shan was also about to leave his desk when a young man approached him, saying, “Hello.” Shan returned the greeting with a smile.

“I’m Sahil, your teammate.” the man introduced himself with a smile. Shan felt slightly better, knowing that someone is willing to talk to him.

“Dev doesn’t talk much, and Kajal doesn’t pay attention to anyone. You know only work and work type people.” Sahil said, explaining about the other team members.

“Oh,” Shan replied, remembering their previous ignorant attitude towards him.

Narrowing his eyes playfully, Sahil asked, “Shantanu, you joined this company just a month ago, right?”

“Do you know me?” Shan deflected the question with another, curiously eyeing him.

Sahil chuckled sarcastically and said, “Who doesn’t know you?!”

Shan blinked his eyes twice in confusion, and asked innocently “Why?”

“We met during brand sell meeting, don’t you remember?” Sahil reminded him. Shan vaguely recalled not so good meeting some Elegant members at a previous brand sell meeting.

Before Shan could respond, Sahil asked bluntly, “Are you related to the Oberoi family? No, wait—you’re a Joshi then you couldn't be from the Oberoi family then what’s your connection with the Oberois?”

“There’s no connection at all,” Shan replied in astonishment. “I just returned to India recently. This is the first time I am in contact with them that too professionally only.”

Sahil wasn’t convinced from shantanu's reply and said with sarcasm “Really that’s impossible. A newcomer without any background couldn’t have the guts to get their seniors fired just in a day.”

Shan got puzzled with revealed information and asked “What are you talking about? I didn’t get anyone fired. They angered the boss and the boss was the one gave them a deadline. I don’t know what happened after that. Again I am repeating my words that I am not related to the boss or his family”

Sahil glared at shantanu with irritation “Don’t lie, Shan. Everyone in the office knows, it was you who got them fired because they tried to bully you. And for your kind information it happened the same day—not three days later as Rudra sir said in the meeting room.” Sahil retorted. Shantanu felt like he will lose consciousness because of baseless blames.

Frustrated Shan replied, “I don’t know what you’re saying but I had no role in it. I have no connections here.”

Sahil did not like Shantanu's way of talking and he said in an irritated tone “I think if no one’s talking to you, it’s probably a good thing.Who knows whom you’d complain about next? And make them lose their job for nothing.”

Shantanu was also angry and shot back, “If that’s the case then you should be scared of me too! ”

With Shan's reply Sahil’s face darkened in anger and embarrassment. Shantanu felt like talking to sahil was a waste of time so decided to walk away, heading towards the coffee machine.

Meanwhile Rudra was sitting in his office and giving a crooked smile at the laptop's screen. With a knock, Mona entered the cabin hesitantly and informed him in a low and scared tone "Sir, Rajeev sir has called you "

Rudra's face turns expressionless again and he waits for Mona to speak next "Sir, after four days Mr. Oberoi has arranged a puja for the Badi madam and has invited you too."

At the mention of his mother, Rudra’s face hardened and turned more serious than he could ever have. He gestured for Mona to leave then closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. After some time his phone buzzed, showing “Prem” on the screen. He let it ring for a while before answering with a deep sigh.

“Hello,” a charming voice greeted from the other end.

“Hmm,” Rudra responded coldly.

“My friend ! How are you? ” Prem asked enthusiastically.

Ignoring Prem’s excitement, Rudra asked curtly, “When are you joining RS Enterprises?”

“What’s the rush? Missing me already? ” Prem joked and started laughing loudly like someone cracked a funny joke.

“Shut up,” Rudra snapped and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Prem, while controlling his laughter, speaks a little seriously, “I heard he’s back.” Rudra gave  no response to Prem's words, so Prem further says, "Rudra, have you met him?"

“Mn,” Rudra muttered slowly.

“What did he say? When did you meet? ” Prem asked eagerly like an excited child.

“Why don’t you come and ask him yourself? ” Rudra replied dryly.

Prem made an irritating face and yelled "What a great person has come to ask about, you haven't even introduced me to him yet,"

"Stop talking nonsense from there, Come and meet him here now." Rudra said in annoyance.

"I will definitely meet him, what does it matter whether you say it or not?" Prem said irritatingly.

After a brief exchange, they ended the call. Shan’s day hadn’t gone well—nobody on the fifth floor spoke to him, so he worked quietly.

Shantanu used to do his work without talking to anyone and without anyone's help. Four days later, Pari invited Shan to join their group outing at Blue Moon Club, as it had been a while since they’d properly talked.

All the people from B block had reached the club and were waiting for Shantanu. Vivek said, "Pari, till shantanu comes, let us go inside."

Saying "okay" Pari messages Shantanu that they are going inside the club. From the other side Shantanu says ok.

Almost 25 minutes later, Shantanu reached the club. Shantanu takes out his phone and calls Pari while going inside when he bumps into someone. Without paying much attention to the person Shantanu bows down and says sorry and moves on, but the man keeps staring at shan, murmuring, “Can someone be this adorable? ”

"I had no idea that I could find a boy who could be so attractive? " saying this the person too goes inside and goes directly to the private section.

Unaware of the attention, Shan found Pari and the group, Shantanu told them everything that Sahil had said to him.

"Wow Shan you have done a great job" Pari says happily.

“But what have I done?” asks Shantanu confused, eyeing the elated face of his friend.

"It's that you got that witch and those bully seniors fired." says Pari happily, sipping the drink.

"Dude I have not done anything, you don't start now." Shantanu says irritably.

"Whatever it is, you have given me very good news. Today's food is free for you from my side." Pari says while messing up Shantanu's hair.

On the other hand, the person who collided with Shantanu went to a private room and met Rudra. As soon as Prem went there, he greeted Rudra with a hug But Rudra pushed him away. "Stop clinging Prem," Rudra says irritably.

"You’re still as grumpy as ever", Prem says making a weird face. Rudra starts drinking his drink without saying anything to him. Prem takes a look at Rudra and then says, "Bro, have you come after fighting with your father again? "

Rudra stopped drinking and starts smoking cigarette. Prem got more irritated when Rudra does not answer his question."Rudra, I am asking you something?"

Rudra takes a look at Prem and then looks away for a while and says, "He wants me to make his wife The Elegant's CEO," After saying this, Rudra again fills his glass with alcohol and starts drinking again.

"Bro, Rajeev is now looking after Mr. Oberoi's business, so someone new will definitely come there." Prem himself did not know what he was saying but he just wanted to cool down his friend.

"But I don't want that woman in my  company." Rudra said angrily, veins were popping out in forehead, eyes turned red and cold. Prem understood after seeing Rudra's condition that Rudra is slowly getting drunk. "Rudra  stop drinking now, you are getting intoxicated."

"I am drinking only to get intoxicated" Rudra said in his deep and intoxicating voice. Prem tries to snatch Rudra's glass but Rudra refuses to give him the glass and Prem got tired and sat down on his chair again.

"You know I bumped into a very cute and handsome boy while coming here" Prem said bringing Shantanu's face to his mind once again.

Rudra said carelessly "Since when did you start getting interested in boys?"

"Bro, I like girls but he was something different, he was very cute. By the way, tell me, did no one come with you today? " Prem said, raising one of his eyebrows.

Rudra ignored him and kept drinking, "Okay, I will find someone for you and for myself too." Saying this Prem walks out of the room.

The people in the B block were also quite drunk. Everyone enjoyed a lot and slowly got ready to go home. Shantanu was not drunk because he had to drive the car.

When Prem comes out, he sees Shantanu and moves towards Shan with a smile.

Prem is unable to reach Shan due to heavy crowd in the club. Prem searches for Shaan here and there for a long time but he cannot find Shan anywhere and how could he see him, Shantanu has already gone out.

Prem takes two girls to the private room but he does not find Rudra in the room. Prem then goes out and searches for Rudra but does not find him.

Outside the club, Shantanu says bye to everyone and moves towards his car. While he is leaving, someone puts his hand on his shoulder and when he turns around...

_______________________________________

Who is it? Is it Prem or Rudra? To find out, keep reading Chained Heart: RuShan

---

Author's Note:

This is a BL story featuring Rudra and Shantanu. If gay couples are not your preference, please skip this book, as I don’t want to hate comments.

How was the chapter?

Did you like it?

Please support my book.

Like, comment, and share!

Thank you !