RK Solutions had threatened Shiv's company.
Hearing this, Shiv frowned. "Who's this RK?"
"RK is a massive corporation," Riya explained, her tone reverent. "RK Groups owns multiple companies, and one of them is RK Solutions. Their chairman, Radha Krishna, has connections all over Andhra Pradesh — even a private army. The projects they handle are huge, worth five hundred to a thousand crores each."
Shiv raised an eyebrow. "Then why is such a giant company so interested in this tiny project of ours?"
"It's not about money," Ranjit replied. "It's about prestige."
Shiv tilted his head. "Prestige? How can such a small project become a matter of honor for them?"
Ranjit sighed. "Because this particular project belongs to Radha Krishna's son — Ramakrishna. And it's his first one."
"Oh, that's the big deal?" Shiv chuckled lightly, mocking.
"Laugh while you can," Ranjit said, stepping toward the door. "First, you need to meet Ramakrishna. Then you'll see."
As Ranjit left, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get complicated. Riya started to follow him, but Ranjit turned back.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.
"With you, of course," she said simply.
"No need. Stay here and lock the door, got it?"
"Please, I'll come along," she pleaded.
"No means no," Ranjit said firmly, shutting the door before she could argue further.
A little later, Riya lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling — worried.
Meanwhile, Ranjit drove, scanning through online articles about RK Groups.
"Do we really have to go there now?" he asked.
"Just drop by, say hi, that's all," Shiv replied coolly.
"Let's first stop at the tender office," Ranjit suggested. "We can check the paperwork, and if needed, we'll meet Ramakrishna after that. Please, trust me this once."
"Fine," Shiv agreed. "Let's do that."
They drove to the office, collected the project files, and began reviewing them.
"Study these carefully," Shiv said. "We'll make our plan based on this."
"Got it," Ranjit nodded.
Just then, a sleek BMW M6 pulled up outside. From it stepped a sharply dressed young man — about twenty-five — walking confidently toward them.
Both Shiv and Ranjit turned.
"Who's that?" Shiv asked.
"That's Ramakrishna," Ranjit whispered.
"Oh, really?" Shiv smirked. "He looks just like a younger version of Balakrishna."
Ramakrishna and his aide, Rishi, approached them.
"Mr. Shiv?" Rishi asked.
"Yes," Shiv replied. "I'm Shiv Srivastav."
Rishi smiled faintly. "This is Ramakrishna, future head of RK Groups. He wants to make you the director of this project. He's willing to hand it over to your company."
Shiv frowned. "Hand it over? Why would he do that? We can win it fair and square through the tender process."
"What did you just say?" Rishi's tone sharpened.
Before he could continue, Ramakrishna raised his hand. "It's fine. Let's see if they can really win it."
"Confidence suits you," Shiv replied with a half-smile. "Let's see who earns it — and who deserves it."
With that, he and Ranjit walked away.
Rishi turned to Ramakrishna. "Sir, what do we do about him?"
"Leave him," Ramakrishna said. "He's not worth our time."
"And the project?" Rishi asked.
"This project will be ours," Ramakrishna said calmly. "But not through force — through strategy. We'll make sure they fail within thirty days. They must submit weekly reports. Miss one, and they'll be fined. If they slip even once, the project goes to the next bidder — us. It's my first project, so let's handle it smartly, not violently."
Rishi smirked. "Or… we could make their own people work for us."
Ramakrishna's smile widened. "Exactly."
"Understood, sir. I'll handle it."
Meanwhile, at Shiv's company, a meeting was underway.
"This project is critical," Shiv addressed his team. "I want everyone to give their best. If we complete it successfully, you'll all receive a one-month bonus."
The team cheered. "Yes, sir! We'll finish it on time!"
"Good," Shiv said. "Ranjit, Riya — focus on development. I'll oversee the testing with my team."
"Got it," Ranjit replied.
Everyone dispersed, motivated and energized.
But on the other side of town, Rishi sat in front of his laptop, scanning the employee list of Shiv's company. One profile caught his eye.
Name: Vijay
Age: 24
Debt: ₹15 lakhs
Rishi smiled. "Perfect."
He picked up his phone.
At that same moment, Vijay was at home, arguing with two of his old friends who'd loaned him money.
"You've got one week," one of them said, glaring. "Next time, don't expect us to be this friendly."
After they left, Vijay's wife, Kavita, turned to him. "Should we just sell the house and pay them back?"
"No," Vijay said firmly. "This house has been in our family for generations. Selling it would be like selling our bloodline. We'll find another way."
"Another way? You've already lost so much in that business scam," she said softly.
"I know," he whispered. "But I'll fix it. Somehow."
Just then, his phone rang.
He answered. "Hello?"
"Hello, Vijay?" a calm voice said.
"Yes. Who's this?"
"Doesn't matter who I am," the voice replied. "What matters is that you have a ₹15 lakh debt — and your friends just threatened you, didn't they?"
Vijay froze. "Who are you? How do you know that?"
"That's not important," Rishi said smoothly. "What's important is — what are you willing to do?"
"What do you mean?" Vijay asked warily.
"Simple," Rishi said. "You're part of Shiv's project team, right? Delete the project data… and send it to me."
Vijay stood there in shock, phone trembling in his hand.
Would he betray his company to save himself — or stay honest and face ruin?
And meanwhile, had Shiv already anticipated such a move and crafted a backup plan?
Only time would tell — whether Shiv could finish the project…
or whether RK's shadow would swallow everything he'd built.