Ch36 The Scar Of Past #4
Snapping Rudraksh out of his trance, Vyom spoke up reassuringly, "Listen, Rudraksh. What happened, happened. Don't overthink it right now. Just focus on yourself and your physical recovery. And if you feel up to it,
maybe open up to Rivanya a little bit about how these nightmares are tied to your past. The rest is up to you."
Rudraksh gave a slow, quiet nod. "Alright, let's drop it. Tell me, are you going to have some coffee?"
"Not right now," Vyom replied, checking his watch as he stood up. "I have to head out for an urgent site visit to Pune immediately. I just dropped by to let you know, and now I need to make a move."
Rudraksh's professional instincts kicked in. "Fine. But make sure to double-check all the safety protocols at the construction site, alright? Don't forget."
Vyom rolled his eyes playfully. "Rudraksh, this isn't my first day on the job. We've been running things together for years. I know exactly how strict you are about labor safety. Don't worry about it."
Rudraksh let out a dry, cynical laugh. "That's the tragedy, you idiot. You constantly pretend to work *for* me, when you are literally an equal partner in this entire business empire. Half of everything I own belongs to you, yet you happily roam around acting like my assistant."
Vyom's expression tightened with irritation.
"Don't start that again, Rudraksh. You know exactly why I do this. I have never viewed this business as yours or mine to me, everything we build is one and the same. I don't have a single issue being an assistant to my best friend. Besides,
managing things from the ground level helps me understand the operations much better."
Rudraksh fixed him with a knowing, piercing gaze. "Cut the act, Vyom. Tell me the real reason. It's because of your father."
The room went entirely silent as Vyom looked away, his jaw clenching.
"I don't understand why you keep degrading your own worth just to prove your father wrong," Rudraksh continued, his tone softening with genuine brotherly concern.
"Why else would the sole heir of a massive business house act like someone's assistant? Vyomrit Ranawat, you are the only successor to the Ranawat empire. Yet you choose to walk under my shadow, when the entire world could be at your feet."
"Because that is exactly what I *don't* want, Rudraksh!" Vyom snapped, his anger finally surfacing. "You know exactly what my father wanted. He expected me to join his company specifically to compete against you and tear you down. I will never do that.
He looks down on everyone, viewing them as beneath him, and he has spent my entire life comparing the two of us.
He doesn't understand what our bond means.
He thinks my ultimate goal should be to defeat you.
If he possessed even a shred of understanding, he would know that you and I are not separate.
A lifelong brotherhood like ours doesn't just shatter because of someone's fragile ego."
Rudraksh sighed, running a hand over his face.
"But that doesn't change the facts, Vyom. You are the rightful owner of the Ranawat empire. Good or bad, whatever it is, eventually you are the one who has to handle it. And besides, maybe your father has finally realized his mistakes.
He hasn't crossed our paths or interfered with our business in a really long time now."
Vyom let out a bitter, cynical chuckle, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Or it could mean that he is planning something massive against us from the shadows, Rudraksh.
Silence with a man like my father is usually the calm before a storm.
And even if the Ranawat empire comes to me, half of the Vardhan empire is mine anyway, right?
We'll just merge both companies together, problem solved!
Think about it with the heights of success we've reached through our hard work, if both giants unite, it will create an absolute storm in the market.
But don't worry, right now I am perfectly content with my assistant's job. I don't have an ounce of interest or attachment to my father's legacy. Now, stop this boring lecture, I'm already late. Bye!"
Without waiting for a counter-argument, Vyom waved a hand and casually strolled out of the office room, his usual easygoing stride completely back in place.
Rudraksh just leaned back in his leather chair, shaking his head with a rare, fond smirk playing on his lips. "This idiot is never going to change... He's going to annoy me and suck my blood for the rest of my life, absolute rascal."
Despite his mock irritation, the tension in Rudraksh's shoulders eased completely.
Vyom's fierce loyalty was a reminder of the unshakeable foundation he had in his life.
But as his gaze drifted back to the quiet laptop screen, the lingering warmth of the conversation and the memory of Rivanya's soothing touch from the night before settled heavily back into his mind, leaving him to wonder how long he could truly keep his walls up.
By the time Rivanya finally stirred, the bright morning light had long dissolved into the heavy warmth of a late afternoon.
Not a single person in the mansion had attempted to wake her; everyone in the household was well aware of how tirelessly she worked day in and day out, and they collectively agreed she desperately deserved the rest.
Sitting up in bed and stretching her stiff muscles, Rivanya glanced over at the wall clock. The moment her eyes locked onto the numbers, her jaw dropped. It was 3:00 PM.
"Oh my god! I slept through the entire day!" she cried out to the empty room.
Scrambling off the mattress, she rushed straight into the bathroom to wash away the exhaustion.
Emerging a short while later after a refreshing shower, she decided to skip her heavy post-wedding attire entirely.
Feeling absolutely no energy to pull off an elaborate look, she slipped into a simple, breathable, light kurta-pyjama set.
She kept her face completely bare, sticking to her basic daily skincare, a fresh touch of vermilion (sindoor) along her parting, her mangalsutra, and just two or three light glass bangles on her wrists.
Stepping in front of the mirror, a sigh of profound relief escaped her lips. Ever since the wedding day, she had constantly draped herself in heavy, restricting traditional wear.
It wasn't as if anyone in the Vardhan family had forced a strict dress code on her; Rivanya had simply assumed the burden herself, anxious not to give anyone a reason to criticize her or feel uncomfortable.
But over the last few months, she had woven herself so seamlessly into the fabric of this family that the lingering awkwardness had faded away entirely.
Today, she finally felt safe enough to prioritize her own comfort.
Just as she reached out to open the bedroom door to head downstairs, a domestic maid walked in carrying a covered silver platter, blocking her exit.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am," the maid greeted with a respectful bow. "Rudraksh Sir explicitly ordered this lunch to be sent up for you. He mentioned that you shouldn't trouble yourself coming downstairs and should finish your meal at your own pace."
Rivanya stared at the steaming platter, her eyebrows shooting up in absolute disbelief. Good lord... what is the reason behind such royal pampering from my dear Pati-Dev today? she thought to herself, a small, amused smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Oh well, why overthink it? Food is food, and my stomach is literally growling.
Dismissing her thoughts with a shrug, she sat down on the edge of the bed as the maid neatly set up the tray and quietly exited the room. Giving in to the enticing aroma of the fresh food, Rivanya began to eat, her heart feeling inexplicably lighter than it had in a very long time.