Shiddat

Chapter 24

Arjun and Adiraj had been working together on the Dubai project for a week now, and every meeting felt like a battlefield, where their rivalry played out in sharp words and icy glares. Like today, as they sat across from each other in the sleek modern conference room of the Dubai office, the tension between them was palpable. The Dubai skyline shimmered through the large glass windows, but inside, the atmosphere was charged with silent animosity.

Arjun leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his face a mask of calm, but his eyes betrayed the storm brewing beneath the surface. "We should move forward with the aggressive expansion plan for Phase Two. The market here is ripe, and we need to dominate before any competitors can catch up."

Adiraj, sitting rigidly with his arms resting on the table, shot him a disdainful look. "That's reckless," he countered, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "You're rushing in without considering the long-term risks. This market is volatile, and if we push too fast, we'll end up overextending. But I wouldn't expect you to understand that—you've always been about the short-term win."

Arjun's jaw tightened, but he kept his tone level, his voice deceptively smooth. "And you've always been too cautious, Rajput. Playing it safe won't make you a leader. If we sit back and wait, we'll lose momentum, just like you've lost every opportunity to beat me so far."

The jab landed hard, and Adiraj's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about you or your ego, Rathore. It's about doing what's best for the company—something you wouldn't understand since you're too busy trying to stay in the spotlight." His words dripped with venom, each one aimed to wound.

Arjun's temper flared. He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "Don't pretend like you're above all this, Rajput. You're just bitter because every time you come close, I'm already ten steps ahead. You hate that no matter what you do, you'll always be second."

Adiraj stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the polished floor. His fists clenched at his sides as he glared down at Arjun. "You think this is a game? That everything's about winning for you? You're blind to the fact that your arrogance is going to destroy everything. I'm not here to stroke your ego, Rathore. I'm here to make sure this deal doesn't crumble because of your reckless decisions."

Arjun rose to meet him, standing eye to eye with his rival, the tension between them reaching its peak. "You're just afraid to take risks, Rajput. Afraid that if you put yourself out there, you'll fail—like you always do."

Adiraj's face hardened, his voice seething with barely contained rage. "Don't mistake my caution for weakness. The only reason you've been ahead is because you've been lucky. But luck runs out, Rathore. And when it does, I'll be right there to take everything from you."

They stood in silence for a moment, the hatred between them burning like a wildfire, neither willing to back down. Finally, Arjun spoke, his voice cold and final. "We're moving forward with the expansion. If you can't handle that, maybe you should step aside and let someone more capable take charge."

Adiraj's expression darkened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned and stormed out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him. Arjun stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space where Adiraj had been. His heart pounded in his chest, the lingering anger coursing through him. He knew this was far from over.

Later, in the afternoon, Arjun and Adiraj found themselves sitting together once more, this time in the office of Ahmed Al-Mansoori, the key investor for the Dubai project. The plush, minimalist decor of the office contrasted with the tension that still hung in the air between the two men. Ahmed, a dignified figure with sharp features and a calm demeanor, sat across from them, his fingers steepled in thought.