22-05-2026, 08:44 AM
Chapter 159 - Practical Dreams & Hesitant Hearts
The sixth week began with Gowtham stepping back into the office after more than 40 days. He didn't expect some changes, but nothing prepared him for what he saw.
The familiar setup was gone. Prakash was nowhere in sight. Mirna had already left. A new face — Madhesh — sat in the main operations cabin like he owned the place. Varsha was running between desks, handling both her own work and temporary HR responsibilities.
And the arrangements in the office were unique. He felt like he entered a new place where he couldn’t recognize anything, and his old team was not in the visible arena.
Gowtham’s jaw tightened as he walked in. What the hell happened here?
He sat at his desk and the first thing he noticed was his user ID was locked. It had never happened before. He went straight to Madhesh’s cabin to address the issue. Madhesh coldly responded, he needs to submit all relevant documents like medical reports, doctor letter to resume work.
Gowtham tried his best to explain his worth in the company and who accused Madhesh was ridiculing and questioning a company's best asset person like him. Madhesh was not bothered by his arrogance or attitude or accusation. He responded like he is following new protocols, all your facilities end with Prakash tenure. Gowtham was irked.. He said the old boss, Prakash, assured him double the salary at the hospital and also paid leave amount which should have been credited by now. Let me clarify before resuming the work.
Madhesh barely looked up from his laptop.
“I don’t know anything about that,” he said flatly. “No one instructed me. You’ll continue on your existing package until higher management decides.”
Gowtham’s temper flared. “Prakash sir personally promised me. This is unfair.”
Madhesh leaned back, unimpressed. “ If you have issues, put it in writing. I’m not here to entertain verbal promises.”
The rift was instant. Gowtham stormed out, furious.
During lunch, he sat with Varsha in a quiet corner of the pantry. He was still seething.
“Nothing feels right anymore,” he complained. “New arrogant manager, half the old team gone, and now you’re acting as HR? This place is falling apart.”
Varsha stirred her curd rice calmly.
“I only found out this morning when Mirna asked me to handle HR until a full-time person joins. Madhesh was originally supposed to handle both, but he refused the HR part. So I’m managing for now.”
Gowtham exhaled heavily, rubbing his temple.
“I just wanted things to feel normal again.”
How could this idiot not know I'm the best asset here and see how he treats me?
Varsha said, didn't you see how the company is progressing in less than a month.. The company is shifting. Ever since Mirna took charge, she changed the eco system. The company is no more dependent on a single person or in fact any person for the record.
The results are right before your eyes.
Gowtham out of frustration said.. I dont know, months back i wanted to prove the world who iam, i wanted to earn a lot, stand on my own. Get every fucking things a rich person should get, i mean im becoming rich..
The actual reason why i tried to quit is i wanted to get started with new startup idea with a friend, but he tried to sold my idea, i came back, thats when an accident happen, when Prakash promised me double the pay, i thought that could allow me to save money for the startup sometimes soon. Now back to one.
Don't worry, you can still start it.
How?
Just believe in yourself, I believe you.. You have to believe in yourself.
Gowtham sat like he had no interest in anything..
Varsha looked at him for a long moment, then said softly, “Come with me in the evening. I have to show you something.”
Gowtham raised an eyebrow, curious despite his mood. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
The rest of the day passed in a haze of curiosity and irritation for Gowtham.
That evening, they left the office early. Varsha led him just one kilometer away to a quiet residential area. She stopped in front of a small but neat ground-floor flat that looked recently vacated.
“This can be converted into an office space,” she said simply.
Gowtham stared at the place, stunned and puzzled.
Varsha: What are you looking at, this is for our startup.
“Varsha… this feels too fast. How will I take this office just like that? I’m already pissed with the new manager. I have very little savings left. I don’t even know if I’ll get the paid leave Prakash promised. I’ve only thought about the startup idea — we need real funds, more money…”
Varsha turned to him, calm and determined.
“What’s your problem? Money, right?”
She took out her phone and showed him her bank balance — nearly five lakhs.
“I saved this over the years. No one in my family knows. It was for my sister’s education fees. We can use this to rent this place, buy basic furniture, and start small. I’ll bring my PC from home. You have your laptop. We can hire two juniors on a low salary to begin with. We ran it on trial for six months. The money should be enough to survive the initial phase.”
Once the project gets kicked in. We will earn money.
Gowtham was genuinely shocked.
“Are you mad? Why would you spend money saved for your sister on this? What if we lose everything?”
Varsha smiled softly, but there was steel in her eyes.
“We won’t lose it. Even if we do… it’s just money I hid. Let it be. We can use this to rent the place, I’ll use my contacts to get initial work. Let’s start. I trust your model — it will sell for sure.”
Gowtham shook his head, overwhelmed.
“No, Varsha. It won’t work. It’s too risky. I can’t let you do this.”
Even if we agree to this, think practically, the amount i earn and you earn are just enough to meet the needs of our family. If we get here all of sudden, how will we provide for the family?
Varsha stepped closer, her voice firm but gentle.
“Then don’t quit the company yet, Let that salary keep coming in to stabilize family needs. Run the startup in the evenings and nights. That income lets us recycle it for Startup growth. We can rotate shifts. Alternate days we’ll be here in the nights.
No Varsha, it's too fast, we cannot make decisions in a day. I feel we should wait.
I know it’s fast… but how long do you want to wait?
Gowtham's face was like he was not sure. He had sudden fear about withdrawing from his comfort zone.
Varsha understood it and asked .
Okay lets assume we are pausing this, but for how long?
Till Next week? Next month? Next year? In this competitive world, can you guarantee no one else will think of the same idea? We have to move fast.”
Gowtham looked at her — really looked.
The girl who once rejected him so brutally was now standing here, offering her hard-earned savings, her time, and her belief in him.
All he could see was her love for him.. Did I deserve her? A woman who did every trick to earn money, who once rejected him for a better lifestyle, today decided to lend her hard earned money to him. Chosen to travel a tough path struggling together to build a company together, without any clause or expecting any return except for love.
Did I really deserve her?
For the first time in weeks, something shifted deep inside him.
He didn’t answer immediately. But the seed had been planted.
Just give me a day, Varsha.
The sixth week began with Gowtham stepping back into the office after more than 40 days. He didn't expect some changes, but nothing prepared him for what he saw.
The familiar setup was gone. Prakash was nowhere in sight. Mirna had already left. A new face — Madhesh — sat in the main operations cabin like he owned the place. Varsha was running between desks, handling both her own work and temporary HR responsibilities.
And the arrangements in the office were unique. He felt like he entered a new place where he couldn’t recognize anything, and his old team was not in the visible arena.
Gowtham’s jaw tightened as he walked in. What the hell happened here?
He sat at his desk and the first thing he noticed was his user ID was locked. It had never happened before. He went straight to Madhesh’s cabin to address the issue. Madhesh coldly responded, he needs to submit all relevant documents like medical reports, doctor letter to resume work.
Gowtham tried his best to explain his worth in the company and who accused Madhesh was ridiculing and questioning a company's best asset person like him. Madhesh was not bothered by his arrogance or attitude or accusation. He responded like he is following new protocols, all your facilities end with Prakash tenure. Gowtham was irked.. He said the old boss, Prakash, assured him double the salary at the hospital and also paid leave amount which should have been credited by now. Let me clarify before resuming the work.
Madhesh barely looked up from his laptop.
“I don’t know anything about that,” he said flatly. “No one instructed me. You’ll continue on your existing package until higher management decides.”
Gowtham’s temper flared. “Prakash sir personally promised me. This is unfair.”
Madhesh leaned back, unimpressed. “ If you have issues, put it in writing. I’m not here to entertain verbal promises.”
The rift was instant. Gowtham stormed out, furious.
During lunch, he sat with Varsha in a quiet corner of the pantry. He was still seething.
“Nothing feels right anymore,” he complained. “New arrogant manager, half the old team gone, and now you’re acting as HR? This place is falling apart.”
Varsha stirred her curd rice calmly.
“I only found out this morning when Mirna asked me to handle HR until a full-time person joins. Madhesh was originally supposed to handle both, but he refused the HR part. So I’m managing for now.”
Gowtham exhaled heavily, rubbing his temple.
“I just wanted things to feel normal again.”
How could this idiot not know I'm the best asset here and see how he treats me?
Varsha said, didn't you see how the company is progressing in less than a month.. The company is shifting. Ever since Mirna took charge, she changed the eco system. The company is no more dependent on a single person or in fact any person for the record.
The results are right before your eyes.
Gowtham out of frustration said.. I dont know, months back i wanted to prove the world who iam, i wanted to earn a lot, stand on my own. Get every fucking things a rich person should get, i mean im becoming rich..
The actual reason why i tried to quit is i wanted to get started with new startup idea with a friend, but he tried to sold my idea, i came back, thats when an accident happen, when Prakash promised me double the pay, i thought that could allow me to save money for the startup sometimes soon. Now back to one.
Don't worry, you can still start it.
How?
Just believe in yourself, I believe you.. You have to believe in yourself.
Gowtham sat like he had no interest in anything..
Varsha looked at him for a long moment, then said softly, “Come with me in the evening. I have to show you something.”
Gowtham raised an eyebrow, curious despite his mood. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
The rest of the day passed in a haze of curiosity and irritation for Gowtham.
That evening, they left the office early. Varsha led him just one kilometer away to a quiet residential area. She stopped in front of a small but neat ground-floor flat that looked recently vacated.
“This can be converted into an office space,” she said simply.
Gowtham stared at the place, stunned and puzzled.
Varsha: What are you looking at, this is for our startup.
“Varsha… this feels too fast. How will I take this office just like that? I’m already pissed with the new manager. I have very little savings left. I don’t even know if I’ll get the paid leave Prakash promised. I’ve only thought about the startup idea — we need real funds, more money…”
Varsha turned to him, calm and determined.
“What’s your problem? Money, right?”
She took out her phone and showed him her bank balance — nearly five lakhs.
“I saved this over the years. No one in my family knows. It was for my sister’s education fees. We can use this to rent this place, buy basic furniture, and start small. I’ll bring my PC from home. You have your laptop. We can hire two juniors on a low salary to begin with. We ran it on trial for six months. The money should be enough to survive the initial phase.”
Once the project gets kicked in. We will earn money.
Gowtham was genuinely shocked.
“Are you mad? Why would you spend money saved for your sister on this? What if we lose everything?”
Varsha smiled softly, but there was steel in her eyes.
“We won’t lose it. Even if we do… it’s just money I hid. Let it be. We can use this to rent the place, I’ll use my contacts to get initial work. Let’s start. I trust your model — it will sell for sure.”
Gowtham shook his head, overwhelmed.
“No, Varsha. It won’t work. It’s too risky. I can’t let you do this.”
Even if we agree to this, think practically, the amount i earn and you earn are just enough to meet the needs of our family. If we get here all of sudden, how will we provide for the family?
Varsha stepped closer, her voice firm but gentle.
“Then don’t quit the company yet, Let that salary keep coming in to stabilize family needs. Run the startup in the evenings and nights. That income lets us recycle it for Startup growth. We can rotate shifts. Alternate days we’ll be here in the nights.
No Varsha, it's too fast, we cannot make decisions in a day. I feel we should wait.
I know it’s fast… but how long do you want to wait?
Gowtham's face was like he was not sure. He had sudden fear about withdrawing from his comfort zone.
Varsha understood it and asked .
Okay lets assume we are pausing this, but for how long?
Till Next week? Next month? Next year? In this competitive world, can you guarantee no one else will think of the same idea? We have to move fast.”
Gowtham looked at her — really looked.
The girl who once rejected him so brutally was now standing here, offering her hard-earned savings, her time, and her belief in him.
All he could see was her love for him.. Did I deserve her? A woman who did every trick to earn money, who once rejected him for a better lifestyle, today decided to lend her hard earned money to him. Chosen to travel a tough path struggling together to build a company together, without any clause or expecting any return except for love.
Did I really deserve her?
For the first time in weeks, something shifted deep inside him.
He didn’t answer immediately. But the seed had been planted.
Just give me a day, Varsha.
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