25-01-2026, 07:54 PM
Chapter 65 – The Call & The Journey
The line rang twice.
Then clicked open.
A deep, familiar voice answered — cautious, guarded.
“Madhavan?”
Madhavan exhaled — smoke from his cigarette curling upward.
“Vikram. It’s me.”
Silence — thick, loaded.
Vikram — finally — “You never call unless it’s bad news.”
Madhavan — quiet — “Sir… looks like they are in action again.”
Vikram’s breath caught — sharp.
“You missed punishing them.”
Madhavan — “This person seemed more fightable. His name is Prem. He came looking for you… for them. He knows something’s wrong with his wife and Rohan. And Aadhil.”
Vikram — low — “Give him my number.”
Madhavan — “Already did. He’s waiting in Cochin.”
Vikram — after a pause — “Good. Tell him I’m out of station. Come back tomorrow. Day after tomorrow — let’s meet in a restaurant and discuss.”
Madhavan — “I will.”
Vikram — softer, almost pained — “Thank you… for not forgetting.”
Madhavan — “I never did.”
The call ended.
Madhavan looked out at the quiet street — the scooter still parked below.
He lit another cigarette.
The past was waking up.
Prem in Cochin – Waiting
Prem sat in his hotel room, He had not gone back to Chennai.
One more day — he told himself.
He needed more.
He needed Vikram.
The phone buzzed — unknown number.
He answered.
“Prem?”
A deep voice — calm, measured.
“Yes.”
“Vikram. Madhavan gave me your number.”
Prem sat up straighter.
“Thank you for calling.”
Vikram — “I’m out of station. Come back Day after tomorrow — let’s meet. There’s a restaurant near the Marine Drive. I’ll send the name. 7 p.m.”
Prem — “I’ll be there.”
The line went dead.
Prem stared at the phone — heart pounding.
He had a meeting. He just needed the full story. To connect dots to prove nivi they are vile mens..
Meanwhile – Back at the House
The day passed in uneasy normalcy.
Nivi, Rohan, and Aadhil moved through the hours like actors on a stage — polite smiles, careful distance, no boundaries crossed.
No stolen touches.
No locked doors.
Just the quiet tension of people pretending everything was fine.
Nivi felt the weight of it — every time she passed the study room where Aadhil had kissed her, her stomach twisted.
Vani felt it too — avoiding Nivi’s gaze in the kitchen, keeping conversations short.
Rohan watched them both — calm, patient.
He knew the break was temporary.
Evening – Nivi’s Departure
Evening fell — soft golden light through the windows.
Nivi found Vani in the living room — folding Aara’s laundry.
She stood in the doorway — voice low.
“I’m going for a business meet. Take care of Aara.”
Vani looked up — met her eyes for the first time that day.
“I will. I’ll be in the home.”
A small smile — shared, fragile.
“Aadhil will be traveling with us… it’s actually a true business meet.”
Both laughed — quiet, almost relieved.
Nivi — “That’s the truth.”
She bent — kissed Aara’s forehead.
“Good night, baby.”
Aara — sleepy — “Good night, Amma.”
Nivi left — bag in hand, heart heavy.
The Trio Boards the Mercedes
The Mercedes waited in the driveway — black, sleek, tinted.
Aadhil behind the wheel.
Rohan in the passenger seat.
Nivi slid into the back — alone.
No one spoke for the first few kilometers.
Then Rohan turned slightly — voice calm.
“Three days. Just business… and whatever else comes up.”
Nivi looked out the window — city lights beginning to glow.
She nodded — once.
Prem in Cochin – Awaiting Vikram
Prem sat in the hotel lobby — coffee gone cold, phone in hand.
He had checked in again — same room.
He looked at the basketball team photo — Rohan and Aadhil, young, grinning.
He thought of Nivi — alone in the house with Rohan and Aadhil’s influence still lingering.
He thought of Aara.
He thought of Vikram.
Vikram had just started his journey — would reach by noon tomorrow.
Prem closed his eyes.
The secrets were going to get out.
He just had to survive until then.
The line rang twice.
Then clicked open.
A deep, familiar voice answered — cautious, guarded.
“Madhavan?”
Madhavan exhaled — smoke from his cigarette curling upward.
“Vikram. It’s me.”
Silence — thick, loaded.
Vikram — finally — “You never call unless it’s bad news.”
Madhavan — quiet — “Sir… looks like they are in action again.”
Vikram’s breath caught — sharp.
“You missed punishing them.”
Madhavan — “This person seemed more fightable. His name is Prem. He came looking for you… for them. He knows something’s wrong with his wife and Rohan. And Aadhil.”
Vikram — low — “Give him my number.”
Madhavan — “Already did. He’s waiting in Cochin.”
Vikram — after a pause — “Good. Tell him I’m out of station. Come back tomorrow. Day after tomorrow — let’s meet in a restaurant and discuss.”
Madhavan — “I will.”
Vikram — softer, almost pained — “Thank you… for not forgetting.”
Madhavan — “I never did.”
The call ended.
Madhavan looked out at the quiet street — the scooter still parked below.
He lit another cigarette.
The past was waking up.
Prem in Cochin – Waiting
Prem sat in his hotel room, He had not gone back to Chennai.
One more day — he told himself.
He needed more.
He needed Vikram.
The phone buzzed — unknown number.
He answered.
“Prem?”
A deep voice — calm, measured.
“Yes.”
“Vikram. Madhavan gave me your number.”
Prem sat up straighter.
“Thank you for calling.”
Vikram — “I’m out of station. Come back Day after tomorrow — let’s meet. There’s a restaurant near the Marine Drive. I’ll send the name. 7 p.m.”
Prem — “I’ll be there.”
The line went dead.
Prem stared at the phone — heart pounding.
He had a meeting. He just needed the full story. To connect dots to prove nivi they are vile mens..
Meanwhile – Back at the House
The day passed in uneasy normalcy.
Nivi, Rohan, and Aadhil moved through the hours like actors on a stage — polite smiles, careful distance, no boundaries crossed.
No stolen touches.
No locked doors.
Just the quiet tension of people pretending everything was fine.
Nivi felt the weight of it — every time she passed the study room where Aadhil had kissed her, her stomach twisted.
Vani felt it too — avoiding Nivi’s gaze in the kitchen, keeping conversations short.
Rohan watched them both — calm, patient.
He knew the break was temporary.
Evening – Nivi’s Departure
Evening fell — soft golden light through the windows.
Nivi found Vani in the living room — folding Aara’s laundry.
She stood in the doorway — voice low.
“I’m going for a business meet. Take care of Aara.”
Vani looked up — met her eyes for the first time that day.
“I will. I’ll be in the home.”
A small smile — shared, fragile.
“Aadhil will be traveling with us… it’s actually a true business meet.”
Both laughed — quiet, almost relieved.
Nivi — “That’s the truth.”
She bent — kissed Aara’s forehead.
“Good night, baby.”
Aara — sleepy — “Good night, Amma.”
Nivi left — bag in hand, heart heavy.
The Trio Boards the Mercedes
The Mercedes waited in the driveway — black, sleek, tinted.
Aadhil behind the wheel.
Rohan in the passenger seat.
Nivi slid into the back — alone.
No one spoke for the first few kilometers.
Then Rohan turned slightly — voice calm.
“Three days. Just business… and whatever else comes up.”
Nivi looked out the window — city lights beginning to glow.
She nodded — once.
Prem in Cochin – Awaiting Vikram
Prem sat in the hotel lobby — coffee gone cold, phone in hand.
He had checked in again — same room.
He looked at the basketball team photo — Rohan and Aadhil, young, grinning.
He thought of Nivi — alone in the house with Rohan and Aadhil’s influence still lingering.
He thought of Aara.
He thought of Vikram.
Vikram had just started his journey — would reach by noon tomorrow.
Prem closed his eyes.
The secrets were going to get out.
He just had to survive until then.
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