A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

A shocking revelation

The mysterious man sauntered into the room, his confidence a stark contrast to the anxious faces staring back at him. With a theatrical flourish, he settled himself into a chair, his gaze sweeping across the stunned family.

"It seems like ages since I last saw my esteemed uncles, aunt, cousin, and of course, my dearest Dadi." A sly smile played on his lips as he witnessed their shock reflected in their wide eyes.

"Perhaps," he continued, his voice laced with a hint of mockery, "my appearance has changed so drastically that even Dadi can't recognize her grandson."

A beat of stunned silence hung heavy in the air. Then, a gasp escaped Dadi's lips. Recognition dawned on her face, followed by a wave of dawning horror. "Viraj?" she whispered, the name tumbling out in a shaky breath.

Shivay, unable to contain his anger any longer, burst out, "Dadi, who is this person? How does he know you and why is he calling himself your grandson?"

Viraj's smirk deepened as he addressed Shivay with a hint of amusement. "What, Dadi? You haven't told them about me? That's a shame. But fret not, I'll introduce myself." He turned his gaze back to the stunned family, his voice laced with bitterness.

"See here, you all," he began, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "your beloved Dadi has another son besides Tej Uncle and Shakti Uncle. My father, Virat. He was the brightest, the most astute among his brothers. He was instrumental in building the Oberoi Empire alongside your grandfather."  Viraj paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "But thanks to a minor misstep, he was discarded like yesterday's trash."

Tej, his face reddening with fury, roared back, "A minor misstep? Viraj, don't twist the truth! He deliberately set fire to one of our factories, disguised it as an accident to claim insurance money, all to buy company stocks and usurp control! He was consumed by jealousy, you see, because I, the eldest, was destined to lead Oberoi Industries!"

Viraj's eyes narrowed, his smile replaced by a cold fury that mirrored Tej's. "My father, a decent man, wouldn't dream of such underhanded tactics! He had the respect of the entire management team, the stockholders – they all saw him as the natural leader to take over the Oberoi empire. Why would he need to resort to petty tricks like insurance fraud?" would never resort to such tactics!" he roared. "You all swallowed those fabricated lies whole and threw him out on the streets – him, his wife, and their young children!"

And Dadi," he added, his voice dropping to a low growl, "you, who witnessed it all, remained silent. You allowed your own son to be banished on the basis of fabricated stories."

Dadi's voice, heavy with regret, cut through the tension. "Your grandfather," she began"commanded such respect that no one dared question his decisions. But beta," she addressed Viraj, her voice softening, "why didn't you return all these years?

Shivay, his voice laced with a hint of urgency, cut through the heavy silence. "Hold on a second. We can discuss your past and the family drama later. Right now, what matters most is Kanika. Do you – " he paused, his gaze locking with Viraj's – "do you have anything to do with Kanika and her family's disappearance?"

Viraj's smirk widened, a cruel glint in his eyes.  "Straight to the point, Shivay," he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement. "Just like you always have been, even as a child."

The room held its breath as Viraj shifted his attention back to the matter at hand.  "As for Kanika and her family," he began, his tone laced with a hint of satisfaction, "you're right. I had them… relocated. But fret not," he continued, his eyes flashing with a chilling coldness, "the land you were so eager to acquire through your marriage is already yours. The paperwork has been filed with the court."