A House Divided

The news spread fast.

By morning, whispers of internal conflict within the Oberoi family had reached Devraj Malhotra’s ears.

Reports were fed to him by his spies—the Oberoi brothers were at each other’s throats.

Ayush had stormed out of the mansion after a heated argument with Anirudh. Aryan had broken a vase in frustration and left the house late at night. Avni was reportedly refusing to speak to anyone.

And Arnav?

For the first time in years, he seemed to have lost control.

At least, that’s what they wanted Devraj to believe.

The Bait is Set

Inside the mansion, the reality was very different.

Arnav stood in his study, his siblings gathered around him. His fingers tapped against the surface of his desk, his mind already several steps ahead.

"He took the bait," Anirudh said, scrolling through his phone. "His men have been asking around, trying to confirm if we’re really falling apart."

"Perfect," Arnav murmured. "Now, we let him believe we’re weak."

Ayush, still frustrated, leaned against the wall. "And how exactly do we do that?"

Arnav’s eyes glinted with calculation. "By giving him exactly what he wants."

Ayush and Anirudh’s Public Clash

The first step of the plan? A staged public fight.

That evening, at a high-profile business event, Ayush and Anirudh made sure to put on a performance worthy of an Oscar.

With media cameras flashing, Ayush shoved Anirudh, his voice laced with fake venom. "You think you can control everything, just like Arnav?! Maybe it’s time someone else ran this family!"

Anirudh glared, stepping forward aggressively. "And you think you’re capable? You can’t even handle yourself, let alone an empire!"

The tension was palpable.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

The media ate it up. "The Oberoi Brothers at War!" headlines screamed the next morning.

And just as expected—Devraj’s men reported back that the Oberoi empire was on the verge of collapse.

Avni Plays Her Part

While the world focused on the brothers’ feud, Avni played her own role.

She snuck out of the mansion, making sure Devraj’s spies noticed her departure. Her act was simple—she looked devastated.

She stayed at a high-end hotel under a different name, ensuring word would reach Devraj.

"A young, vulnerable sister caught between her warring brothers?" Arnav had smirked. "He won’t be able to resist."

And they were right.

That night, Devraj sent one of his men to approach her.

Aryan’s Mission

While Ayush and Anirudh played enemies, and Avni played the distressed sister, Aryan was assigned a more dangerous task.

"Find out who Devraj’s informants are in our business and legal networks," Arnav ordered. "We need to know who’s feeding him our weaknesses."

For once, Aryan took things seriously. This wasn’t just a game anymore.

The First Move

Three days later, the trap was fully set.

Devraj Malhotra believed that the Oberois were on the verge of self-destruction.

And when he finally moved to strike—he wouldn’t see the knives waiting for him.

To Be Continued…