17-05-2026, 01:03 PM
Chapter 133 - The Litmus Test
Suresh stood frozen in the middle of the luxurious office, his mind reeling.
Everything felt surreal. One moment he was resigning in defiance, to protect his wife and family, ready to walk away from this dangerous world. The next moment, Aditya was clapping, Vinodhini was smiling, and two senior members had stepped in like they were welcoming a new brother.
Viraj -his ex-boss, was also there, standing near the glass wall with a relieved expression.
“You saved me from a facepalm,” Viraj said, letting out a heavy breath.
“I was genuinely worried for a second.”
Suresh’s voice came out sharp and confused.
“What the hell is going on here?
This man just openly asked for my wife… and you’re all clapping?
Have you all lost your minds?”
Viraj raised both hands in a calming gesture.
“Relax, Suresh. Sit down.
This was an LITMUS test,
we were all together in this and pulled strings from the start..”
Suresh didn’t move. His fists were still clenched at his sides.
Vinodhini stepped forward gracefully and gestured toward the lounge sofa.
“Please sit. We’ll explain everything.”
Still in a daze, Suresh lowered himself into the chair. Aditya leaned back in his own seat, watching him with a satisfied, almost proud expression. The two senior members and Viraj also took seats, forming a loose circle.
Vinodhini began, her voice calm and professional.
“I explained to you once how Aditya prefers talents to come to him instead of chasing them.
That’s why he created the ‘Hands’ - his network of shadow talent hunters.
But what I didn’t tell you was the painful lesson we learned.”
I did told you about lessons the company faced with Talents
But there are lessons we learned from ‘Hands’ too..
I didn't tell you because you need to be tested before that..
She paused, letting the weight settle.
“The very first hand we recruited… betrayed us. Exactly one year ago. He sided with the talent he brought in.
Took money behind our back. He even gave a brief idea of what's happening here, they together had looted a lot. That betrayal cost us heavily. The patent went to him, Aditya became a joke among competitors, he cannot afford it. Since then, we have become extremely cautious. Every new Hand must be tested for absolute loyalty.”
Aditya spoke next, his deep voice carrying quiet authority.
“Money can tempt anyone. Power can corrupt anyone.
So we created the ultimate test.”
He leaned forward, eyes locked on Suresh.
“If a man is willing to sell his own wife for money and power… then he will definitely sell us one day. That is the litmus test. We push him to the extreme. We offer him everything - wealth, luxury, even other women, in exchange for his wife. If he breaks… he is out. If he stands firm even when we threaten and tempt him… then he is one of us. I tried tempting you by offering a price even for an hour. Im Glad you stood strong”
Suresh’s breath caught. The pieces were falling into place, but it still felt unreal. He remembered Vijay telling “we were all together in this and pulled strings from the start.” He was not sure what role did Viraj, his ex-boss, play in this, He turned to him and asked.. You said you pulled strings behind my back.. What was it..
Viraj smiled.. He said, “I planted the ‘womanizer’ idea in your mind deliberately. If you are not corrupt, you would be on guard, But if you are corrupt, you might yourself try to speak something about your wife to Aditya, Show her photos, deliberately push her into meeting your wife with Aditya, expecting some favor through illegal way. But you never did it. So Adtiya pulled his method to test you. We needed to see your real character under pressure. And you passed, Suresh. Not just passed — you stood like a rock even when Aditya raised the offer to an insane level.”
Vinodhini smiled faintly.
“You are now officially one of our Hands.”
Suresh sat there, stunned into silence.
The anger, the moral outrage, the confusion,
everything was slowly being replaced by a strange, heavy realization.
He had come here ready to burn everything down.
Instead… they had welcomed him into the inner circle.
Aditya stood up and walked around the desk. He placed a firm hand on Suresh’s shoulder.
“Welcome to the real game, Suresh. You’ve earned your place.”
Suresh finally found his voice, low and guarded.
“So… all of this — the filthy offers, the threats about my wife — it was all a test?”
Aditya gave a slow, dangerous smile.
“Every single word. And you passed with flying colours.”
He paused, then added with a rare hint of respect, “Not just you. Even your wife impressed us. When I purposely sent you away to test her alone… she stayed guarded and loyal. You both are made for each other. I’m almost jealous.”
The room fell into a heavy, meaningful silence.
Suresh looked at each of them, Viraj, Vinodhini, Aditya and understood one thing clearly.
He had just stepped into a world far more dangerous and complex than he had ever imagined.
Suresh turned to Aditya, still processing everything.
“Even after all this…
I’m hesitant to stay.
The way you spoke about my wife…
those words are still burning in my head.”
Aditya smiled, almost apologetic.
“It was part of the test.
I can’t help it.
But let me be clear — Sneha is now one of us. Family.
I don’t touch the wives of my loyal people.
However, if you ever cross the line…”
His eyes turned ice-cold.
“You already saw what happens in the underground parking.
That is what I do to traitors.”
Aditya’s tone softened again.
“Let’s grow together. Tomorrow we have a casual investor meet.
I’ll take you there. Every company we’ve funded will be present.
Start analysing. Find your suitable industry where you will infiltrate and find a talent for V Activate.”
Viraj came closer and placed a hand on Suresh’s shoulder.
“You’ve been with me for more than seven years.
I treat you like my own son.
This is the best opportunity of your life.
Sign the dotted line and begin.”
Suresh stared at the fresh document placed in front of him.
After a long, heavy moment… he picked up the pen and signed.
Aditya pulled him into a firm, congratulatory handshake.
As everyone started dispersing, Aditya and Suresh were left alone for a moment.
Suresh, still curious, asked quietly,
“Just out of curiosity… what would have happened if I had agreed to any of your deals?”
Aditya’s smile turned dark and chilling.
“Three months later, you would have found your wife carrying my baby… while I slowly took back everything I gave you — money, cars, luxury villa, through clever legal tricks.
When I know how to give, I also know exactly how to take back.”
Suresh smirked coldly.
Aditya laughed. “I’m glad you chose this path.
Now I can focus on bigger things.”
He patted Suresh’s shoulder one last time.
“Choose to be a friend or at least a loyal person — I assure you, you will grow with me.
Choose to be a backstabber… and you already know what I would do.”
Aditya turned and left the room in a swift, commanding stride.
Suresh stood alone in the luxurious office,
the weight of his new reality settling heavily on his shoulders.
He had entered the lion’s den.
And the lions had welcomed him with open jaws.
Suresh stood frozen in the middle of the luxurious office, his mind reeling.
Everything felt surreal. One moment he was resigning in defiance, to protect his wife and family, ready to walk away from this dangerous world. The next moment, Aditya was clapping, Vinodhini was smiling, and two senior members had stepped in like they were welcoming a new brother.
Viraj -his ex-boss, was also there, standing near the glass wall with a relieved expression.
“You saved me from a facepalm,” Viraj said, letting out a heavy breath.
“I was genuinely worried for a second.”
Suresh’s voice came out sharp and confused.
“What the hell is going on here?
This man just openly asked for my wife… and you’re all clapping?
Have you all lost your minds?”
Viraj raised both hands in a calming gesture.
“Relax, Suresh. Sit down.
This was an LITMUS test,
we were all together in this and pulled strings from the start..”
Suresh didn’t move. His fists were still clenched at his sides.
Vinodhini stepped forward gracefully and gestured toward the lounge sofa.
“Please sit. We’ll explain everything.”
Still in a daze, Suresh lowered himself into the chair. Aditya leaned back in his own seat, watching him with a satisfied, almost proud expression. The two senior members and Viraj also took seats, forming a loose circle.
Vinodhini began, her voice calm and professional.
“I explained to you once how Aditya prefers talents to come to him instead of chasing them.
That’s why he created the ‘Hands’ - his network of shadow talent hunters.
But what I didn’t tell you was the painful lesson we learned.”
I did told you about lessons the company faced with Talents
But there are lessons we learned from ‘Hands’ too..
I didn't tell you because you need to be tested before that..
She paused, letting the weight settle.
“The very first hand we recruited… betrayed us. Exactly one year ago. He sided with the talent he brought in.
Took money behind our back. He even gave a brief idea of what's happening here, they together had looted a lot. That betrayal cost us heavily. The patent went to him, Aditya became a joke among competitors, he cannot afford it. Since then, we have become extremely cautious. Every new Hand must be tested for absolute loyalty.”
Aditya spoke next, his deep voice carrying quiet authority.
“Money can tempt anyone. Power can corrupt anyone.
So we created the ultimate test.”
He leaned forward, eyes locked on Suresh.
“If a man is willing to sell his own wife for money and power… then he will definitely sell us one day. That is the litmus test. We push him to the extreme. We offer him everything - wealth, luxury, even other women, in exchange for his wife. If he breaks… he is out. If he stands firm even when we threaten and tempt him… then he is one of us. I tried tempting you by offering a price even for an hour. Im Glad you stood strong”
Suresh’s breath caught. The pieces were falling into place, but it still felt unreal. He remembered Vijay telling “we were all together in this and pulled strings from the start.” He was not sure what role did Viraj, his ex-boss, play in this, He turned to him and asked.. You said you pulled strings behind my back.. What was it..
Viraj smiled.. He said, “I planted the ‘womanizer’ idea in your mind deliberately. If you are not corrupt, you would be on guard, But if you are corrupt, you might yourself try to speak something about your wife to Aditya, Show her photos, deliberately push her into meeting your wife with Aditya, expecting some favor through illegal way. But you never did it. So Adtiya pulled his method to test you. We needed to see your real character under pressure. And you passed, Suresh. Not just passed — you stood like a rock even when Aditya raised the offer to an insane level.”
Vinodhini smiled faintly.
“You are now officially one of our Hands.”
Suresh sat there, stunned into silence.
The anger, the moral outrage, the confusion,
everything was slowly being replaced by a strange, heavy realization.
He had come here ready to burn everything down.
Instead… they had welcomed him into the inner circle.
Aditya stood up and walked around the desk. He placed a firm hand on Suresh’s shoulder.
“Welcome to the real game, Suresh. You’ve earned your place.”
Suresh finally found his voice, low and guarded.
“So… all of this — the filthy offers, the threats about my wife — it was all a test?”
Aditya gave a slow, dangerous smile.
“Every single word. And you passed with flying colours.”
He paused, then added with a rare hint of respect, “Not just you. Even your wife impressed us. When I purposely sent you away to test her alone… she stayed guarded and loyal. You both are made for each other. I’m almost jealous.”
The room fell into a heavy, meaningful silence.
Suresh looked at each of them, Viraj, Vinodhini, Aditya and understood one thing clearly.
He had just stepped into a world far more dangerous and complex than he had ever imagined.
Suresh turned to Aditya, still processing everything.
“Even after all this…
I’m hesitant to stay.
The way you spoke about my wife…
those words are still burning in my head.”
Aditya smiled, almost apologetic.
“It was part of the test.
I can’t help it.
But let me be clear — Sneha is now one of us. Family.
I don’t touch the wives of my loyal people.
However, if you ever cross the line…”
His eyes turned ice-cold.
“You already saw what happens in the underground parking.
That is what I do to traitors.”
Aditya’s tone softened again.
“Let’s grow together. Tomorrow we have a casual investor meet.
I’ll take you there. Every company we’ve funded will be present.
Start analysing. Find your suitable industry where you will infiltrate and find a talent for V Activate.”
Viraj came closer and placed a hand on Suresh’s shoulder.
“You’ve been with me for more than seven years.
I treat you like my own son.
This is the best opportunity of your life.
Sign the dotted line and begin.”
Suresh stared at the fresh document placed in front of him.
After a long, heavy moment… he picked up the pen and signed.
Aditya pulled him into a firm, congratulatory handshake.
As everyone started dispersing, Aditya and Suresh were left alone for a moment.
Suresh, still curious, asked quietly,
“Just out of curiosity… what would have happened if I had agreed to any of your deals?”
Aditya’s smile turned dark and chilling.
“Three months later, you would have found your wife carrying my baby… while I slowly took back everything I gave you — money, cars, luxury villa, through clever legal tricks.
When I know how to give, I also know exactly how to take back.”
Suresh smirked coldly.
Aditya laughed. “I’m glad you chose this path.
Now I can focus on bigger things.”
He patted Suresh’s shoulder one last time.
“Choose to be a friend or at least a loyal person — I assure you, you will grow with me.
Choose to be a backstabber… and you already know what I would do.”
Aditya turned and left the room in a swift, commanding stride.
Suresh stood alone in the luxurious office,
the weight of his new reality settling heavily on his shoulders.
He had entered the lion’s den.
And the lions had welcomed him with open jaws.
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