Family of Shaows

[sexonmind]

Chapter 14 part 3

The next day, Aruna walked into Ratna Kumar’s office with an air of authority, her eyes cold and unwavering. She had spent the night planning this moment, and now, she was ready to claim her prize.

Ratna Kumar glanced up from his desk, masking his unease with forced confidence. “Aruna… you’re here early.”

Aruna didn’t bother with pleasantries. She placed both hands on his desk and leaned in slightly. “Show me the will.”

Ratna Kumar sighed, shaking his head. “Aruna, these things take time. Give me one more night. I promise I’ll—”

She cut him off with a smirk. “I knew you’d pull something like this. That’s why I came prepared.”

Ratna Kumar frowned. “What do you mean?”

Aruna took out her phone, unlocked it, and turned the screen toward him. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the video playing—him, drunk and vulnerable, entangled with Aruna. His face lost all color.

“When… when did you…?” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aruna leaned back, crossing her arms. “You were too drunk to notice.” Her tone was almost mocking. “If I show this to your wife, your life will be finished.”

Ratna Kumar swallowed hard, sweat forming on his forehead. He had underestimated her. Most people would have hesitated, afraid of ruining themselves in the process. But Aruna wasn’t like most people. He could see it in her eyes—she didn’t care if the truth destroyed both of them, as long as she got what she wanted.

He exhaled sharply, defeated.

“Fine,” he muttered, reaching into his desk drawer. He pulled out a file and handed it to her. “This is a copy of your father’s will. The original is registered and kept at the Sub-Registrar’s office. I can show you this, but I can’t change the contents.”

Aruna took the file with a satisfied smile, flipping through the pages quickly.

“You did the right thing, Uncle,” she said mockingly. “I knew you were a reasonable man.”

Ratna Kumar slumped back in his chair, knowing that he had lost. He could only watch in silence as Aruna read her father’s will.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF KOLLA NARENDRA PRASAD Date: **/**/**

I, Kolla Narendra Prasad , son of Ram Prasad, residing at [Permanent Address], being of sound mind and disposing memory, hereby revoke all previous wills and testamentary dispositions made by me and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.

I. APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR

I appoint Ratna Kumar, Advocate, residing at [Executor’s Address], as the Executor of this will. In the event that he is unable or unwilling to act, I appoint Sundhar Rao as the alternate executor.

II. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS

1. Immovable Properties:

I own the following immovable properties, which shall be distributed as follows:

Residential House in Guntur – I bequeath my house situated in Guntur, more particularly described as [Property Details], to my children from my first marriage, Aruna, Venu, and Vani, in equal shares.

Agricultural Land in Kakani (6 acres) – I bequeath the 6-acre agricultural land situated in Kakani, more particularly described as [Land Details], to Aruna, Venu, and Vani, in equal shares.

Residential House in Hyderabad – I bequeath my house situated in Hyderabad, more particularly described as [Property Details], to my wife Sunandha and our son Babu jointly.

Agricultural Land in Kazipet (3 acres) – I bequeath the 3-acre agricultural land situated in Kazipet, more particularly described as [Land Details], to my wife Sunandha and our son Babu jointly.

2. Control and Management of Property

Notwithstanding the above distribution, my wife, Sunandha, shall have full control over the entire property during her lifetime. She shall have the sole discretion to manage, lease, or derive income from all properties, including those bequeathed to my first wife’s children.

Furthermore, Sunandha shall have the authority to amend or write out any beneficiary from this will if she deems it necessary, except for the properties legally transferred to my children’s names.

III. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Any disputes arising from the interpretation or execution of this Will shall be resolved amicably among the beneficiaries. If no resolution is reached, the matter shall be settled in the [Relevant Court Jurisdiction].

In the event that any beneficiary challenges this Will, they shall automatically forfeit their share.

Any outstanding debts or liabilities shall be settled from my estate before distribution.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, Narendra [Full Name], have signed this Last Will and Testament on this [Date], in the presence of the undersigned witnesses who have attested to the same.

Signature: ___________________

Kolla Narendra Prasad

WITNESSES:

Name: ___________________

Signature: ________________

Address: __________________

Name: ___________________

Signature: ________________

Address: __________________

As soon as Aruna read the will, her hands trembled with rage. Her eyes darted across the document, rereading the crucial lines over and over again, as if hoping she had misinterpreted them. But the truth was undeniable.

Her breath hitched, and in a sudden outburst, she threw the papers onto Ratna Kumar’s desk. “That bastard did it!” she cried, her voice shaking with fury. “He really threw me at the mercy of that bitch!” Her chest heaved as she tried to compose herself, but the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

“Not just me,” she seethed, gripping the edge of the desk. “He did this to my brother and sister too. Vani… Venu… we are all at her mercy now!” Aruna clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as the reality of her father’s betrayal settled in.

Ratna Kumar watched in silence, gauging her reaction. He had expected anger, but this raw, unfiltered hatred surpassed even his assumptions. He leaned back in his chair, watching Aruna’s rage and anguish . After a brief pause, he cleared his throat and spoke in a measured tone.

“To my knowledge, your father never told Sunandha about this will.”

Aruna’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“In fact,” Ratna Kumar continued, “I doubt she even knows the full extent of the properties that are in Narendra’s name. He handled all financial matters personally. She may be aware of the Hyderabad house and Kazipet land, but beyond that? I don’t think so.”

Aruna remained silent for a moment, digesting this new information. Then, a slow smile played on her lips. “So, she doesn't know that she has everything under her control ?”

Ratna Kumar smirked. “Exactly.”

Aruna sat down and started to think. Ratna Kumar studied her carefully. “What are you planning?”

Aruna sighed, folding the will carefully and placing it back on the desk. “I don’t know what to do now,” she admitted, her voice calmer but still laced with frustration. “But I can only hope that an opportunity will present itself.”

“Before you get ahead of yourself,” Ratna Kumar interjected, “there’s one more thing you should know. Your father appointed an alternate executor for the will.”

Aruna raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Sundar Rao.”

Aruna let out a scoff, then leaned back in her chair with a satisfied smirk. “Don’t worry about him. I already have him wrapped around my fingers.”

Ratna Kumar gave her a knowing look. “Then I suppose you are all set .”

She turned toward the door, ready to leave.

“Wait,” Ratna Kumar called out, eyeing her cautiously. “What about the video?”

Aruna paused, then glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smirk. “I’ll keep it as insurance,” she said smoothly. “You never know when something like that might come in handy.”

With that, she walked out, leaving Ratna Kumar watching her retreating figure, a mixture of unease and fright flickering across his face.

Two years ago, when her father passed away, Aruna attended the funeral—not out of grief, but to assess the situation. She carefully observed every interaction, every expression, searching for any sign that Sunandha knew about the will.

When Sunandha greeted her with genuine affection and kindness, Aruna immediately realized the truth—Sunandha had no idea about the will or the control she held over the entire property. This knowledge gave Aruna an upper hand.

Without wasting time, she met Ratna Kumar in private and instructed him not to reveal the contents of the will to anyone until she decided otherwise. She knew that as long as Sunandha remained ignorant, she could manipulate the situation to her advantage. And now, two years later, that time had finally come.

Aruna entered Babu’s room, closing the door behind her. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching him pace restlessly.

“Babu,” she said firmly, making him stop and look at her. “Go to Amma and tell her you don’t want to marry Gita.”

Babu frowned, hesitation clear on his face. “Akka… with just two days left for the engagement, is this really the right time? Maybe I’m too late. Maybe I should just go through with it.”

Aruna stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. “No, Babu. This is the perfect time.”

He looked at her doubtfully. “How can you say that? Wouldn’t it have been better if I told her earlier?”

Aruna shook her head. “If you had told her earlier, Amma would have tried everything to convince you. She might have even found out that Gita was also hesitant, and then she would have done everything in her power to make this marriage happen. But now, with only two days left, she won’t have the time to pressure you into changing your mind. She’ll be forced to accept it.”

Babu sighed, running a hand through his hair. “But she’ll be so hurt…”

Aruna tightened her grip on his arm, her voice gentle but firm. “Amma loves you, Babu. She might be upset, but she will have no choice but to understand. Do you really want to spend your life in a marriage you don’t want?”

Babu exhaled slowly, looking at her, his mind clouded with emotion. His trust in Aruna wasn’t just because she was his sister—there was something deeper, something unspoken, something forbidden. And it made it impossible for him to doubt her.

Taking a deep breath, he finally nodded. “Alright, Akka. I’ll talk to Amma now.”

Aruna smiled, satisfaction flickering in her eyes as she watched him leave the room.

Aruna’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. It was Sundar Rao. She answered the call, leaning back in her chair.

“Did you do as I asked?” she inquired without preamble.

“Yes,” Sundar Rao replied. “Ratna Kumar will meet Sunandha as planned and give her the will.”

“Good,” Aruna said, satisfied.

“There’s something else,” Sundar Rao continued. “Ratna Kumar mentioned something interesting. Do you remember Anand, the enquiry officer?”

Aruna frowned. “Of course. What about him?”

“Well, according to Ratna Kumar, Anand had a crush on Sunandha. That’s why he never got married.”

Aruna rolled her eyes. “I’m not interested in this nonsense.”

Sundar Rao chuckled. “Maybe not, but think about it. Anand was a good friend of your father. If he truly had feelings for Sunandha, he might still be looking out for her. There’s every chance he could tell her the truth.”

Aruna’s expression darkened for a brief moment before she exhaled slowly. “I already considered that,” she said. “I’ve planned every step carefully, and I won’t let anything slip out of my control. So don’t worry about Anand or anything else.”

Sundar Rao hesitated for a moment before responding. “If you say so.”

“I do,” Aruna said firmly. “Just stick to what I ask you to do. Everything else is under control.”

She ended the call, a confident smirk playing on her lips. Everything was moving according to her plan.

End of Chapter 14