11-12-2025, 09:43 PM
Chapter 25: Vikram's Burden: Truth, Love, and a Dying Friend
Apartment - A Celebration of Life
The morning sun filtered through the apartment windows as Vikram, brimming with joy, called both families the next day to share the good news of Pooja's pregnancy. His voice carried pride as he ensured she secured a leave from the company, dedicating the pregnancy period to her care. His love shone through every gesture—preparing her favorite meals, arranging a cozy nook for rest, and soothing her with gentle touches. Yet, an unease about Arjun lingered in his mind, a shadow he couldn't shake. He enlisted a friend to dig into Arjun's details, determined to uncover the truth.
As Pooja's family and Vikram's family arrived, the apartment buzzed with laughter and blessings. Amid the celebration, Vikram seized a moment to slip away, gathering the information himself. The next day, armed with resolve, he drove to Arjun's house.
Arjun's House - The Confrontation
On the way, Vikram's phone buzzed with his friend's call, the details unraveling like a storm. "He sold the company," the friend revealed, "the partnering was fake, and the affair with Anjali was bullshit. Arjun built a bad image—stage IV cancer left him no choice. Anjali and her doctor husband staged it to free Pooja." Vikram's grip tightened on the steering wheel, shock and anger warring within him.
At Arjun's modest home, Arjun's frail form greeted him, shock widening his eyes at Vikram's arrival. Vikram grabbed his shirt, his voice a growl, "Why did you do this to Pooja? What crime did she commit? Tell me now!" Arjun, surprisingly calm, met his gaze with a faint smile, touched by Vikram's fierce care for Pooja. "I made a wise decision leaving her to you," he said softly. "You didn't hide knowing about me—let me tell the truth, but don't tell her. She'd break."
Arjun confessed the whole setup: his terminal cancer diagnosis, the deliberate ruin of his reputation, and the staged affair with Anjali to free Pooja from a widow's fate. "I wanted her to live, to love again," he whispered, tears glistening. Vikram broke down, falling to his knees, "I'm sorry—I misunderstood you." The weight of his error crushed him.
Arjun, voice weak, pleaded, "Take me to see her from afar—my last wish?" Vikram nodded, "We're friends. You blessed me with her—why wouldn't I? She's my wife now; that part you need to understand." A nod sealed their understanding.
Meeting Anjali - A Plea for Care
Later, Vikram visited Anjali to apologize and gather more details. She met him with weary eyes, saying, "He just has a few more days—his condition has worsened. All he needs now is love and care; he's sacrificed enough. You seem a good person—that's why Arjun, my brother, left Pooja to you. I guess you know what to do. A pay back? A thanking? Please, for him, I hope you do it."
Vikram, his voice thick, confessed, "Pooja is pregnant. I don't know how to open this, but I'm aching. She needs to know his sacrifice—her love was not at fault; this would clear her." Anjali, surprised by his openness and care for Pooja, thanked him warmly, handing over Arjun's medical details. Moved, Vikram appointed a caretaker that week to tend to Arjun, vowing to support him.
A Growing Brotherhood - The Unbearable Truth and Dual Role
Vikram began visiting Arjun daily, their bond evolving into a fragile brotherhood. He brought food, shared stories, and sat by his bedside, watching Arjun's strength fade. Day by day, Vikram realized Arjun was losing the battle, his frail frame a stark reminder of the ticking clock.
Yet, his heart remained split, torn between two worlds. At home, he managed Pooja's needs with meticulous care—waking early to brew her ginger tea for morning sickness, scheduling doctor visits, and ensuring she rested with pillows propped just right.
He cooked nutrient-rich meals, his hands steady as he chopped vegetables, whispering encouragements to her growing belly. Evenings were spent reading to her, his voice a balm against her fatigue.
Simultaneously, he carved out time for Arjun, driving to his house each afternoon after Pooja napped. He coordinated with the caretaker, adjusting medications, and sat with Arjun, holding his hand through bouts of pain. The dual role weighed on him—he couldn't hurt Pooja by revealing the truth, nor could he abandon Arjun, whose sacrifice had given him this life. Vikram juggled schedules with a planner, balancing hospital runs with prenatal checkups, his exhaustion masked by a forced smile. "You should have told me," he said to Arjun one day, voice breaking. "Pooja wouldn't have hurt so badly." Arjun's eyes dimmed, "Only hurt could make her stay away from me—my cancer would've chained her to grief."
The weight of the secret grew unbearable—Vikram couldn't hide it anymore, torn between protecting Pooja and honoring Arjun's dying wish. He resolved to find a way to ease her pain, even as he nurtured them both, his love a bridge over the chasm of tragedy.
The Car Ride - A Heartbreaking Revelation
Finally, Vikram gathered the strength to face the truth head-on. One evening, he took Pooja's hand, guiding her to the car. "See, Pooja," he said calmly, his voice steady but laced with tension, "I'm taking you somewhere. You need to be emotionally strong." Pooja tilted her head, her eyes searching his. "Vikram, do you love me to the end?" she asked, a flicker of doubt in her tone. "What kind of question is this?" she added, puzzled. He asked again, more firmly, and she nodded, "Yes." Vikram took a deep breath, "Then I shouldn't hide this from you. I love you the most, and I don't want you to one day find the truth and ask me, 'Are you human? How could you hide this?' The information I'm about to share will break you, but I found it myself only a few days back."
Pooja's brow furrowed, her voice trembling, "Please don't build a surprise—is it a bad one?" Vikram nodded gravely, "Yes, it's bad, but it shouldn't spoil our relation or love—that's why I've been worried." Pooja reached for his hand, "Nothing can damage our love, Vikram."
He sighed, "I hope so." As he drove, he continued, "You know, at the hospital when your pregnancy was revealed, my mind was off—it was because of this. I asked my friend to enquire, and a few days back, I took time to get the strength to tell you only now." The surprise built in Pooja's chest, worry etching her face. "No issues, be open—I can digest it," she urged.
As the car stalled, Pooja's breath caught—they had stopped at their old house, Arjun's home. "What is this about?" she whispered, her voice shaking.
Vikram turned to her, his eyes glistening, "Arjun has cancer they say its terminal..."
Apartment - A Celebration of Life
The morning sun filtered through the apartment windows as Vikram, brimming with joy, called both families the next day to share the good news of Pooja's pregnancy. His voice carried pride as he ensured she secured a leave from the company, dedicating the pregnancy period to her care. His love shone through every gesture—preparing her favorite meals, arranging a cozy nook for rest, and soothing her with gentle touches. Yet, an unease about Arjun lingered in his mind, a shadow he couldn't shake. He enlisted a friend to dig into Arjun's details, determined to uncover the truth.
As Pooja's family and Vikram's family arrived, the apartment buzzed with laughter and blessings. Amid the celebration, Vikram seized a moment to slip away, gathering the information himself. The next day, armed with resolve, he drove to Arjun's house.
Arjun's House - The Confrontation
On the way, Vikram's phone buzzed with his friend's call, the details unraveling like a storm. "He sold the company," the friend revealed, "the partnering was fake, and the affair with Anjali was bullshit. Arjun built a bad image—stage IV cancer left him no choice. Anjali and her doctor husband staged it to free Pooja." Vikram's grip tightened on the steering wheel, shock and anger warring within him.
At Arjun's modest home, Arjun's frail form greeted him, shock widening his eyes at Vikram's arrival. Vikram grabbed his shirt, his voice a growl, "Why did you do this to Pooja? What crime did she commit? Tell me now!" Arjun, surprisingly calm, met his gaze with a faint smile, touched by Vikram's fierce care for Pooja. "I made a wise decision leaving her to you," he said softly. "You didn't hide knowing about me—let me tell the truth, but don't tell her. She'd break."
Arjun confessed the whole setup: his terminal cancer diagnosis, the deliberate ruin of his reputation, and the staged affair with Anjali to free Pooja from a widow's fate. "I wanted her to live, to love again," he whispered, tears glistening. Vikram broke down, falling to his knees, "I'm sorry—I misunderstood you." The weight of his error crushed him.
Arjun, voice weak, pleaded, "Take me to see her from afar—my last wish?" Vikram nodded, "We're friends. You blessed me with her—why wouldn't I? She's my wife now; that part you need to understand." A nod sealed their understanding.
Meeting Anjali - A Plea for Care
Later, Vikram visited Anjali to apologize and gather more details. She met him with weary eyes, saying, "He just has a few more days—his condition has worsened. All he needs now is love and care; he's sacrificed enough. You seem a good person—that's why Arjun, my brother, left Pooja to you. I guess you know what to do. A pay back? A thanking? Please, for him, I hope you do it."
Vikram, his voice thick, confessed, "Pooja is pregnant. I don't know how to open this, but I'm aching. She needs to know his sacrifice—her love was not at fault; this would clear her." Anjali, surprised by his openness and care for Pooja, thanked him warmly, handing over Arjun's medical details. Moved, Vikram appointed a caretaker that week to tend to Arjun, vowing to support him.
A Growing Brotherhood - The Unbearable Truth and Dual Role
Vikram began visiting Arjun daily, their bond evolving into a fragile brotherhood. He brought food, shared stories, and sat by his bedside, watching Arjun's strength fade. Day by day, Vikram realized Arjun was losing the battle, his frail frame a stark reminder of the ticking clock.
Yet, his heart remained split, torn between two worlds. At home, he managed Pooja's needs with meticulous care—waking early to brew her ginger tea for morning sickness, scheduling doctor visits, and ensuring she rested with pillows propped just right.
He cooked nutrient-rich meals, his hands steady as he chopped vegetables, whispering encouragements to her growing belly. Evenings were spent reading to her, his voice a balm against her fatigue.
Simultaneously, he carved out time for Arjun, driving to his house each afternoon after Pooja napped. He coordinated with the caretaker, adjusting medications, and sat with Arjun, holding his hand through bouts of pain. The dual role weighed on him—he couldn't hurt Pooja by revealing the truth, nor could he abandon Arjun, whose sacrifice had given him this life. Vikram juggled schedules with a planner, balancing hospital runs with prenatal checkups, his exhaustion masked by a forced smile. "You should have told me," he said to Arjun one day, voice breaking. "Pooja wouldn't have hurt so badly." Arjun's eyes dimmed, "Only hurt could make her stay away from me—my cancer would've chained her to grief."
The weight of the secret grew unbearable—Vikram couldn't hide it anymore, torn between protecting Pooja and honoring Arjun's dying wish. He resolved to find a way to ease her pain, even as he nurtured them both, his love a bridge over the chasm of tragedy.
The Car Ride - A Heartbreaking Revelation
Finally, Vikram gathered the strength to face the truth head-on. One evening, he took Pooja's hand, guiding her to the car. "See, Pooja," he said calmly, his voice steady but laced with tension, "I'm taking you somewhere. You need to be emotionally strong." Pooja tilted her head, her eyes searching his. "Vikram, do you love me to the end?" she asked, a flicker of doubt in her tone. "What kind of question is this?" she added, puzzled. He asked again, more firmly, and she nodded, "Yes." Vikram took a deep breath, "Then I shouldn't hide this from you. I love you the most, and I don't want you to one day find the truth and ask me, 'Are you human? How could you hide this?' The information I'm about to share will break you, but I found it myself only a few days back."
Pooja's brow furrowed, her voice trembling, "Please don't build a surprise—is it a bad one?" Vikram nodded gravely, "Yes, it's bad, but it shouldn't spoil our relation or love—that's why I've been worried." Pooja reached for his hand, "Nothing can damage our love, Vikram."
He sighed, "I hope so." As he drove, he continued, "You know, at the hospital when your pregnancy was revealed, my mind was off—it was because of this. I asked my friend to enquire, and a few days back, I took time to get the strength to tell you only now." The surprise built in Pooja's chest, worry etching her face. "No issues, be open—I can digest it," she urged.
As the car stalled, Pooja's breath caught—they had stopped at their old house, Arjun's home. "What is this about?" she whispered, her voice shaking.
Vikram turned to her, his eyes glistening, "Arjun has cancer they say its terminal..."
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