3
[Quiet hum of the A/C. Sunlight spills across the floor.]
Tarun sitting at the table
flipping through the newspaper.
Then stops eyes fix on a headline
> “AB Group Names Teja Varma as New CEO Following Sudden Demise of Chairman”
After Reads the article slowly
press conference photo – Teja behind a podium, sharp suit, blank stare, Tarun reaches for red pen
circles Teja’s face with
No expression.
After sometime,
He folds the paper
grabs a trash bag
leaves the apartment
Outside – Hallway
[Elevator doors closed. Amulya stands nearby, fidgeting.]
Amulya(pretending not to wait)
(turns at the sound of footsteps)
Amulya
Notices trash bag
“Hah—same garbage timing, huh?”
[Elevator arrives. They step in.]
Amulya
After a pause
“I forgot to ask… what do you do?”
Tarun
“Freelance. Content stuff—photos, videos. Online.”
Amulya
“Wow. That’s actually really cool.
I recently graduated. Still job hunting.”
Amulya, throws trash with unnecessary flair
Amulya
Blurts out
“Did you see the news? About AB Group? The new CEO looked… intense.”
Tarun
Walks ahead, brief pause
“…Yeah. I saw.”
[Elevator ride back – silence.]
Tarun
Nods, unreadable
“Yeah.”
[A modest suite. Balcony view. Distant city lights.]
Ram
“You know how many women are replaying that press conference?”
Ram
“You looked like some mafia-romance CEO.
Tragic. Dangerous. Heartbreak deluxe.”
Teja Varma
Dry chuckle
“I’m pretty sure no one heard a word I said.”
Ram
“Exactly! The look did all the talking.”
pavan
“CEO before 30. Not bad for the disowned son.”
Teja Varma
Raises glass
“To low expectations.”
Ram
“Jokes aside…
He’d be proud of you.”
Teja Varma
Smile fades
“…No.
He wouldn’t.”
Flashback – Two Months Ago
A
chairman( Teja father)
“You think I’d hand over this company just because you’re my son?”
Teja Varma
“I earned it. I never asked for shortcuts.”
A
chairman( Teja father)
“You’re soft.
You hesitate.”
Teja Varma
“And Chandu? Just because she wants him to have it?”
A
chairman( Teja father)
“Chandu listens.
He respects me.
You don’t.”
Teja Varma
“One day, you’ll regret underestimating me.”
A
chairman( Teja father)
“Not in this life.
Never while I breathe.”
Teja Sips quietly
memory burning like acid
Ram
“Let’s toast.
To make ghosts choke on our success.”
pavan
“To lifetime access to Teja’s wallet.”
Teja Varma
Softly
“To survival.”
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