Neelima Menon, her face taut with unbearable headaches, followed Robin Seth to Regal Club, her skepticism warring with desperation over his claim that Sanjay Hooda poisoned her. The rain-soaked streets outside Aisha Seth's bar faded behind them, Neelima's steps heavy with doubt but driven by pain. "You'd better have answers, Seth," she muttered, her voice sharp, her power as Hyderabad's liquor queen looming.
Aisha and Vikram Malhotra, stunned by Neelima's decision to engage with Robin, lingered outside, their disdain palpable. "He's tricked her with some low tactic," Aisha hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Pathetic." Vikram smirked, his voice cruel. "He's a snake, charming his way to ruin. Neelima's too smart for him." Their mockery underscored their contempt, blind to Robin's strategy.
Sanjay Hooda, humiliated by Robin's slap and Neelima's rebuke, skulked away, his mind racing with dark intent. "She's too close to the truth," he whispered to himself, his fingers tracing a vial of poison. Confident its slow-acting nature was undetectable, he planned to hasten Neelima's demise, his threat escalating in the shadows.
Inside Regal Club's unfinished interior, Chetan Rana, the wiry manager now inspired by Robin's authority, eagerly arranged a private room, his eyes bright with hope. "Neelima's here, Seth," he said, his voice earnest. "A liquor deal with Global Exports could save us." His ambition for Regal's Future, once tied only to Priya Reddy, now hinged on Robin's gambit.
Neelima, her hostility sharp, faced Robin in the dimly lit room, her hand clutching her temple. "How did you know about my headaches?" she demanded, her voice a whip. "Speak clearly, or I'll crush you and Regal both." Her threat hung heavy, her pain fueling her impatience.
Robin met her gaze, his voice steady. "Sanjay's been using Poison to intensify your pain," he said, leaning closer. "I can ease it with a technique I've mastered." He gestured to a cushioned chair, his confidence unshaken. "Let me prove it."
Neelima, overwhelmed as her headache spiked, relented, her pride crumbling. "Do it," she said, her voice strained. Robin's hands moved with precision, applying a specialized pressure on neck and head point rooted in his Breathing skills, targeting pressure points with expert finesse. Neelima's tension eased, her gasps softening as the pain subsided, a reluctant trust flickering in her eyes.
Robin's skilled touch suppressed the poison's effects, his physical expertise calming Neelima's symptoms. "This isn't just relief," he said, his voice low. "I'm countering the poison Sanjay's been feeding you with my energy." Neelima's eyes widened, her skepticism wavering as his ability proved undeniable.
Neelima sat up, her face clearer than it had been in months, her voice softer but firm. "You're serious about Sanjay," she said, realization dawning. "His betrayal… it fits." Her trust shifted, Robin's claims about her cousin gaining weight as she recalled his daily tea ritual, now tainted with suspicion.
Robin seized the moment, his voice commanding. "Work with me, Neelima," he said, his eyes intense. "Global Exports' liquor supply will make Regal Hyderabad's crown, and I'll protect you from Sanjay." His successful alleviation of her symptoms positioned him to negotiate a deal, critical for Regal's Future and his rivalry with Aisha's non-tech ventures.