The new position

Dushiant stood by the glass window of the 21st floor, the city of Mumbai buzzing below. The skyline stretched into a haze of ambition and struggle. For a moment, he let himself breathe it in—the view, the power, the silence before the storm.

He was no longer just another intern.

Ravi Tripathi was gone—arrested for bribery, workplace harassment, and abuse of power. The carefully laid trap Dushiant had orchestrated had unfolded flawlessly. With Ranjan witnessing Ravi's downfall firsthand, the older man was impressed by Parth's (Dushiant's) daring strategy, composure under pressure, and quick thinking. In a surprising move, Ranjan had personally recommended him for the now-vacant HR Manager position.

And now here he was—inside Ravi's old cabin.

Dushiant looked around. The office still reeked faintly of cologne and arrogance. The leather chair, the slightly cracked desk, and even the motivational poster that read "Success belongs to those who dare" had Ravi's tasteless fingerprints all over them. But now it belonged to Dushiant.

He sat down, logging into the system with the credentials Ranjan had forwarded. The moment he entered the internal database, his eyes scanned every folder. He wasn't here for power—he was here for answers.

He navigated the shared drives and user logs. Something odd caught his eye: most of the company's employee surveillance, performance reviews, and internal communications were stored here—not in the security or admin servers, but under Ravi's archive. Especially a folder labeled "RANJAN."

Dushiant's brows furrowed.

Why are Ranjan's files here?

He opened the folder, but access was restricted by a local key. Not a password. A USB-authentication system.

Typical Ravi.

That meant he needed the exact USB drive Ravi used. He opened the drawers, searched under the fake documents, checked inside the framed certificate hung crookedly behind him, and finally found a black USB stick inside a coffee mug full of pens. It had the words "SecureAccess" written on it.

He plugged it in. The folder decrypted.

Emails. Meeting notes. Audio recordings.

But nothing immediately suspicious. Just daily updates, project delays, and strategic memos—most of them sent by Ranjan. It was clear Ravi had been monitoring Ranjan, possibly to gain leverage. There were complaints filed against Ranjan too, but most looked minor.

Dushiant copied the entire folder onto a secure encrypted drive.

Then, footsteps.

He minimized the window just as Ranjan entered.

"Settling in, Parth?" Ranjan asked, his voice less commanding than usual. There was a hint of... camaraderie in it now.

"Yes, sir," Dushiant replied with a practiced smile. "Trying to clean the... leftovers."

Ranjan chuckled. "Ravi never did like order. You did a good job, Parth. Exposing him. You're sharp. You've got a future here."

"I only did what felt right."

Ranjan sat opposite him, looking around the room. "I hated this cabin. You can feel the sleaze in the air."

"I'll replace the curtains and fumigate the desk," Dushiant said.

They both laughed lightly.

Then, Ranjan leaned forward, his tone more thoughtful.

"You know... this company needs people like you. Loyal. Efficient. Observant. People who aren't afraid to take action."

Dushiant tilted his head. "That's kind of you to say."

Ranjan looked at him closely. "Keep an eye out. This place isn't as simple as it looks. People play games. You'll learn."

"I've already started to," Dushiant said.

Ranjan nodded approvingly. "Good. I'll be in my cabin. Come by if you need anything."

As he left, Dushiant relaxed back in his chair.

Ranjan didn't know he had just offered advice to a ghost—a man he thought dead, wearing another face.

He wasn't ready to confront Ranjan about anything yet. The files were too clean. Too curated. If Ravi had something real on Ranjan, it wasn't on the office system—it was hidden. Somewhere else.

But one thing was certain now: Ravi had been collecting information. Whether it was for blackmail or insurance, Dushiant didn't know yet. But it meant Ranjan wasn't just an ordinary board member—he was being watched. Perhaps even manipulated.

Dushiant needed more time. And now he had access, authority, and a growing reputation.

He would build trust. Play the long game.

And eventually, the truth would surface—one file at a time.

To be continued....