After walking through the woods for a while longer, Rudra along with Guru Arvind and Mohan Bargav accompanying him finally stepped into a clearing at the forest's edge.
The orange hues of the setting sun stretched long shadows across the clearing, casting a golden glow over everything.
There, waiting silently on the lone dirt road, stood a sleek black car, its engine softly humming, as if it had been expecting them.
Rudra's boots crunched softly against the gravel as they approached.
Mohan Bhargav casually opened the driver's side door and slid in.
Guru Arvind moved with serene grace, taking the passenger seat.
Rudra, climbed into the back seat.
Hammy hopped onto his lap and curled up quietly.
As the car began to move, winding through the hills away from the forest, the silence was peaceful…
until Mohan spoke, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
"You did well, Rudra,"
he said, his tone calm but layered with meaning.
"But you need to prove more to get the third and final piece of Brahmastra."
Rudra looked up.
"____"
Mohan let out a soft chuckle.
Chuckle~
"I have already decided to give you the third piece."
Rudra's eyes widened.
Guru Arvind added,
"The final fragment has long been safeguarded. Now Mohan wants to trust it with you."
Mohan nodded.
Nod~
"And it was meant for you. But before it becomes yours, there's a condition."
Rudra leaned in, attentive.
"You need to earn it,"
Mohan said firmly.
"Unlike the other students who graduate from the Gurukul and are assigned under a guide, usually working as an assistant or apprentice… you are different."
Guru Arvind turned slightly in his seat to face Rudra more directly.
"You are the chosen bearer of the Brahmastra. My direct disciple. And that means your path is not the same as others. There will be no training wheels."
Mohan's eyes briefly flicked to the rearview mirror, locking with Rudra's.
"We're going to place you directly into your post. A real mission. A real responsibility. You will act as a full-fledged Bramansh… and you must hold that post for three years."
Rudra's breath caught.
"Three years…"
"Yes,"
Guru Arvind confirmed.
"Three years of service, commitment, and leadership. Only then will the final piece be yours."
"And until then,"
Mohan added,
"it will remain under Guru Arvind's protection."
Silence returned to the car for a moment, heavy but not uncomfortable.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Rudra looked down at his hands, still faintly tingling with divine energy, then out the window where the night had begun to set in.
Hammy peeked up from his lap.
Rudra finally nodded.
"I understand. I'll do it. Whatever it takes."
A faint smile played on Guru Arvind's lips.
"We know you will."
As the car drove forward into the encroaching night, the headlights cut through the darkness ahead.
After three days...
Ooty...
The car rolled along the winding roads of Ooty, the fresh mountain air slipping in through the windows as the sun peeked through the mist-laced hills.
Nestled among the dense woods and tea gardens, the small town exuded peace —
but Rudra knew better.
In the back seat, Rudra stared out the window silently.
The green hills reminded him of the forest trial.
The mist, the illusions, the energy of the Brahmastra still pulsed faintly in his core.
He closed his eyes briefly, adjusting to the calm after the storm.
At last, the car pulled up in front of a modest yet charming building —
"The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn."
Guru Arvind stepped out and nodded with a proud smile.
Nod~
"This place is yours now, Rudra. Don't be fooled by the quiet. This place once was quite lively."
Rudra nodded, gripping the key Guru Arvind had handed him earlier.
"I'll do my job perfectly."
Mohan Bhargav gave a rare smile.
"We'll be watching from the shadows. Remember, three years. Prove yourself, and the final piece will be yours."
As they drove off, Rudra turned toward the entrance, where Amirtha waited.
Dressed simply, with a large bag slung over her shoulder, she looked up at him with steady eyes.
"I took the liberty of sorting the storeroom and pantry,"
she said.
"And the kitchen's a mess."
Rudra raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Smirk~
"That's one way to greet your boss."
She chuckled.
Chuckle~
"You're not just my boss. You're also the reason I'm here instead of at the orphanage. So I'm making sure you don't mess it up."
Together, they entered the inn.
The air inside was warm with the scent of old wood and spices, and while the space needed a little cleaning, it held charm.
A reception desk stood by the front, a few tables scattered in the dining area.
Upstairs, a narrow hallway led to several cosy rooms for guests.
In the basement was a hidden chamber, accessible only through a rune-inscribed panel.
Guru Arvind had left it for Rudra —
a command centre equipped with communication equipment, a complete surveillance system for the region, and a concealed vault for any dangerous items Rudra might come in contact with.
As night fell, Rudra stood on the balcony of his room, looking out over the sleepy town. Amirtha brought him a cup of tea.
"Peaceful,"
she said.
"For now,"
Rudra replied.
"But if Dev's men show up... they won't get a second chance."
Amirtha nodded and glanced toward the dark horizon.
"Then let's make sure we're ready. For anything."
Below, the inn's signboard swayed gently in the breeze.
As Rudra and Amirtha stepped through the door into the reception hall, the soft creak of the old hinges went unnoticed by the girl inside.
The floor glistened with freshly wiped tiles, and the air smelled faintly of lemon and sandalwood.
Junoo, crouched on the floor with a mop in hand, was muttering to herself as she scrubbed furiously.
"Hmph, Rudra this, Rudra that! He gets to be the big hero while I'm stuck cleaning floors. 'Protect Ooty,' Guru says. Look at me! Housekeeping staff of destiny!"
she grumbled, puffing her cheeks in frustration, mimicking Rudra's serious expression with mock authority.
"'Junoo, make sure the reception is spotless.' Ugh! Next he'll ask me to shine his shoes."
Cough~ Cough~
"____"
Amirtha cleared her throat softly, but Rudra remained silent, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched from the doorway.
Junoo continued, holding the mop like a staff.
"'Oh, I'm Rudra, I will save the world and for now I own a hotel.' Bah! I swear, if he even blinks smugly at me, I'll—"
"—You'll what exactly, Junoo?"
Rudra asked calmly.
"____"
Junoo froze mid-mop.
Very slowly, like someone sensing a ghost, she turned around.
Her eyes widened when she saw Rudra standing behind her, arms crossed, one brow raised. Amirtha stood beside him, clearly trying —
and failing —
to stifle her laughter.
Junoo blinked.
"Uhh... surprise inspection?"
Rudra walked in, his boots clicking gently on the clean floor.
"I see. Excellent impersonation. Especially the part about shining my shoes."
Amirtha chuckled.
Chuckle~
"She's been assigned under me,"
she explained.
"Helping with daily duties while learning."
Junoo stood up quickly, flushed with embarrassment but trying to recover her dignity.
"Well… welcome to your hotel, Boss. Just making sure the floor doesn't collapse from the weight of your ego."
Rudra gave a short laugh and walked past her, patting her lightly on the head as he did.
"Good work, Junoo. Just… next time, wait until I leave before roasting me."
Junoo pouted but smiled in spite of herself, rubbing the back of her head.
"Noted."
After this Rudra went on and looked around the restaurant which he is going to manage from now on.
Nestled on the gentle slopes of Ooty, The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn is a charming three-story building that blends colonial elegance with earthy, modern aesthetics.
The exterior is painted a soft cream with moss-green trimming, crowned with sloped terracotta tiles that reflect the region's heritage.
Lush flower beds and trimmed hedges surround the building, giving it a fresh, welcoming vibe.
Upon entering, guests are greeted by a warm wooden reception desk and soft yellow lighting that gives the space a cosy, comforting ambience.
The ground floor hosts a quaint yet elegant restaurant with wooden tables and cushioned seating, its walls decorated with framed botanical illustrations and local art.
A winding staircase leads to the upper floor, where the guest rooms are located—
Each is named after local flowers for each floor Dahlia(D), Magnolia(M), and Hibiscus(H).
And each floor has 6 rooms.
the first floor the room number begins with D-1 to D-6.
For the second floor, the room number begins with M-1 to M-6.
And lastly, on the third floor, the room number begins with H-1 to H-6.
The rooms are simple yet elegant, offering warm wooden flooring, clean linens, and large windows that overlook the misty hills and tea gardens.
To the back lies a small enclosed garden area with seating arrangements for outdoor dining and a firepit for chilly nights.
A modest yet efficient kitchen, staff quarters, and storage rooms are tucked in behind the main building.
After wandering through the hallways and quietly taking in every corner of The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn,
Rudra returned to the main reception lounge where Guru Arvind and Mohan Bhargav sat comfortably on a wooden bench near the window,
sipping steaming cups of spiced Ooty tea.
The scent of cardamom and cloves lingered in the air, blending with the subtle chill that crept in from the hills outside.
Rudra approached them with a composed expression.
He gave a small bow of respect.
Guru Arvind smiled warmly.
"So? What do you think of your new post?"
"It's quiet. Peaceful,"
Rudra replied.
Mohan chuckled, setting his cup down.
Chuckle~
Guru Arvind stood and placed a hand on Rudra's shoulder.
"Remember—three years. Not just to guard the civilians, but to grow. This place is your responsibility now."
Rudra nodded.
Nod~
"I won't fail."
With a final exchange of respectful nods, Both Guru Arvind and Mohan stepped out into the golden evening light.
Their car, the same one that brought them from the forest, was parked just outside the gates.
Mohan slid into the driver's seat while Guru Arvind sat beside him.
With a soft rumble of the engine, the car drove off down the winding hill road,
disappearing into the mist that had begun to creep over the horizon.
Rudra stood at the threshold of his new life, the door to The Highland Leaf gently creaking shut behind him.
The scent of tea lingered.
Shutting out the chilly breeze that swept down from the mountains.
He turned around to find Amirtha already seated at the large wooden table in the center of the reception lounge, a notepad and pen in hand.
Junoo stood by the counter, arms crossed, her expression surprisingly serious.
Rudra exhaled and pulled up a chair beside Amirtha.
Sigh~
"Alright… before we even think about opening the doors, we need to build a proper team."
Amirtha nodded.
Nod~
"We'll need people we can trust. The bare minimum to run this place properly."
She quickly scribbled down a list, reading it aloud as she wrote:
"Cook… housekeepers… servers… dishwashers… maintenance worker, maintenance supervisor… and definitely security. For now..."
Rudra leaned back slightly.
"I'll take charge as General Manager and also handle banquet duties. Any special events or guest-related responsibilities fall under me."
Amirtha looked up.
"Then I'll be the Restaurant Manager. Kitchen supply, daily operations, and menu oversight—I'll handle it."
Junoo, still holding a broom, muttered,
"I guess that makes me the receptionist and Housekeeping Manager."
She gave Rudra a mock glare.
"So while you sit around looking important, I'll be stuck greeting guests and scrubbing floors?"
Rudra smirked.
"You'll be the face of the hotel, Junoo. That's a very important role."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile.
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't expect me to wake you up with tea."
Amirtha chuckled.
Chuckle~
"We'll need to recruit soon. Locals would be ideal—they know the area, and it'll help us blend in."
Rudra nodded in agreement.
"We'll put up notices around town starting tomorrow. Let's find people with clean records. No chances with Astra users hiding in plain sight."
Amirtha folded the notepad and stood.
"First goal—assemble the team. Then we make this place a restaurant and inn."
Junoo let out a dramatic sigh.
"Guess I better clean this whole place twice then."
As the last rays of sunlight slipped behind the hills,
After a warm dinner of freshly made magiee, courtesy of Amirtha, the team finally decided to call it a day.
The long journey, the planning, and the emotions had all taken a toll.
Rudra chose the room marked D-2 on the first floor—
simple yet cozy, with a large window overlooking the misty hills. Amirtha claimed D-1,
just next door, while Junoo grumbled a bit but ultimately settled into D-3.
The inn was quiet,
the only sounds being the distant whisper of night winds brushing against the window panes.
Rudra laid down for the night.
The next morning...
With the golden rays of the Ooty sun streaming through the glass, Rudra woke early.
After a quick breakfast, he stepped out, wearing a T-shirt and jeans that helped him blend in among locals and tourists alike.
The small town was still stretching awake as Rudra made his way to the local press office nestled near the market square.
Inside, he sat down with the printer, explaining the layout for the job vacancy notice.
Within the hour, Rudra left the office carrying a bundle of freshly printed posters, the ink still slightly warm.
[JOB NOTICE – THE HIGHLAND LEAF – RESTAURANT & INN]
NOW HIRING – Local Talent Wanted!Positions open for:
Head Cook
Servers
Housekeepers
Dishwashers
Maintenance Worker
Maintenance Supervisor
Security Personnel
Meals Provided | Competitive Salary | Safe and Friendly Environment
Visit The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn, located on Fernhill Road, near Pine Crest Trail.
Inquiries: Visit in-person or contact through the listing online.
After pinning a few of the notices on town bulletin boards, shop walls, and the entrance of the community center, Rudra stopped by a local internet café.
There, he logged in and submitted the job listing on several job-finding websites, tailoring it for regional and local reach.
By noon, the groundwork was set.
Rudra returned to the inn, satisfied with the progress.
Now, all that remained was to wait and see who would walk through their doors next.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone!!!
Which will motivate me more.