The Hostile Takeover Attempt
Sonal and Jay listened intently as Rahul, the Chairman's son, detailed the hidden conflict at Techinnov.
"My father called a board meeting one day to propose electing the next major leader of our company," Rahul began. "My father put forth the proposal to elect Mr. Aryan. Most of the older board members, though they respected him, felt intimidated by Aryan's youth. They had already formed a group, planning to install someone they could easily control."
Rahul explained the hierarchy's resentment. "Aryan was young, and exceptionally brilliant. They absolutely did not want a younger man—a genius CTO—to sit in the highest executive chair and rule them. When my father proposed Aryan, the board wanted to object, but their fear and respect for my father silenced them."
"They resorted to corporate sabotage," Rahul continued. "They pressured Aryan by dumping their responsibilities on him, managed his team members to deliberately delay project results, and employed endless tactics to sink him. But Aryan is exceptionally high-skilled and intelligent. He neutralized every single one of their bureaucratic attacks."
The Engineered Crisis
Rahul leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Their jealousy escalated into violence. They began planning an accident. Aryan, being the strategist he is, suspected something was coming. He had an important project in his hands—a project that would change the fate of the company."
"The board believed the accident would ruin his reputation and, crucially, destroy the project files. When your friend Sonal was injured, Aryan saw his opportunity. He planned the meeting in Mumbai to coincide with his visit to Sonal. He suspected danger, so he completely changed his travel plan. He gave his authentic, completed project details to Dr. Runa."
"He instructed Runa to submit the real data for him, securely. To draw the board's attention and allow us time to work, he headed to Mumbai with fake documents and empty files, deliberately walking into the trouble he knew was coming."
The Rejoining and Resignation
"He had already informed Dr. Runa to take care of his medical situation," Rahul revealed, "and he tasked me with collecting the evidence of the board members' dark, treasonous actions. We both did our jobs well. The moment he was discharged from the hospital, we gave him all the evidence we had gathered."
"He took his time, analyzed the situation, planned his counter-move, and rejoined the company with the proof of his project completion and the evidence of the board's dark agenda," Rahul concluded triumphantly. "My father called an emergency meeting and took charge. Mr. Aryan was confirmed as the CTO and effectively ran the company. The rest you know well."
The Final Step of the Plan
"But one day, Aryan came to me. He told me he had another task for me, which he would reveal on the day he left the company." Rahul swallowed, recalling the shock. "The very next day, he announced his resignation and moved quickly. He messaged me that he would wait for the right time to throne the company through me."
Rahul's voice was tinged with admiration and regret. "Now, the old, corrupt board has reformed, and one of their members is running the company. Techinnov is running at a significant loss. My father desperately wants Aryan back, but unfortunately, Aryan left immediately after his speech."
Jay frowned. "Then why don't you, the Chairman's son, take the CTO position now?"
"It's our company," Rahul replied simply. "But I can't risk it for my own status. I'm not ready for that level of leadership yet. I'm leading a peaceful life until I am. For now, we need Aryan."
"So how do we meet him?" Sonal asked, the immediate threat to his friend overshadowing everything else.
The men quickly agreed on a strategy: they would contact Dr. Runa, the only other person outside the family who knew the full truth. Their combined inquiry began immediately, fueled by desperation to find the mastermind who had vanished into the stream of love.