08-02-2026, 07:17 AM
Chapter 66 – The Night Came Again
The night came again, soft and quiet, the kind of stillness that settled over the beach house after the sun disappeared behind the waves.
As usual, Vikram wore only loose shorts. Mirnaa slipped into a simple nighty — pale lavender cotton this time, thin straps, the fabric skimming her body in gentle waves. She crawled onto the bed, settled against him, and rested her head on his chest. Her fingers traced idle patterns over the little patch of hair there, the same way she always did when she wanted to feel close.
Vikram wrapped an arm around her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her body against his. The room was lit only by the faint glow from the balcony doors — moonlight and the distant flicker of the pool lights outside.
She was quiet for a long time. Too quiet.
Vikram tilted his head slightly. “What are you thinking?”
Mirnaa shifted, adjusting her head so her ear pressed more firmly against his heartbeat. “Nothing,” she murmured. “Mmm…” She nuzzled closer, as if trying to hide inside the sound of his pulse.
Vikram ran his fingers lightly through her hair. “Long day at the hospital? Tired?”
She shook her head against his chest. “Not much. Myself and Priya went to assist at the blood donation camp held inside the hospital. It was nice… people were so grateful.”
A small pause.
Then, softly: “When did Bharath arrive?”
Vikram kept his voice even. “In the morning. After I dropped you.”
Mirnaa lifted her head just enough to look at him, brow slightly furrowed. “It’s strange… he didn’t have any word with me. Or you. I expected some friendly conversation — like we usually have with friends. Like Shiney, Priya… even when Krish comes, he chats generally, right? Bharath is always so reserved. It was like we were forcing something on him.”
She paused, thinking.
“I’ve seen him like this before. When he saved me. When he saved you. When he was in the hospital. I can see he has a helping mind… but he’s off when it comes to communication. Is he always like this?”
Vikram smiled faintly — small, careful.
Inside, he knew exactly what game was being played.
Bharath wasn’t speaking much. Not because he was unsocial.
Because he was letting her think about him.
Constantly. Without spilling a single word.
Reverse psychology. Perfect.
Good Bharath but i will have cotrol..
Vikram stroked her hair again. “He was like one of us. Back in those days — fun chats, easy laughs. But as he saw too many betrayals around him… from his own family… he started losing trust in every basic relation. He’s just a wounded man. Only love can cure him.”
He let the word love hang there — soft, innocent, natural.
Mirnaa listened carefully, eyes on his face.
Vikram continued, voice gentle. “I know this already… but you know men being friends are so awkward, haha. Like we never really have words to comfort. All we have is to go to a bar, cry out, and come back in the morning.”
Mirnaa smiled — small, understanding.
Vikram shifted the tone slightly — more serious now.
“Thing is, Mirnaa… the big-shot threat is real. You know I’m telling you I’ll move abroad soon — like twice a month, maybe weeks at a time. I cannot risk you here alone.”
Mirnaa watched his eyes, suddenly still.
“So I decided to guard you with someone I trust. Someone I believe can tackle the big-shot. He will be the best.”
He paused, letting it sink in.
“I heard from him that you took care of him best in the hospital. He had that gratitude. I bet on that.”
Mirnaa’s breathing changed — softer, deeper.
Vikram added: “After all these selfish reasons… I wanted to give him back something. Your friendship.”
Mirnaa’s breath hitched. She wasn’t sure what kind of friendship he meant. Her voice came out quiet.
“What should I do?”
Vikram looked at her — really looked — and spoke slowly, carefully.
“You know for a man, friendship from the opposite sex always drives them. They listen. Bring him back to any extent you can. You feel him unsocial, right? Begin conversations. Drag him into activities. Get him to watch a movie with you on the sofa. Then go shopping with him. These are starts… slowly he will be back.”
Mirna asked this: Do you think i can bring him back
Vikram said: You fought back and bought many lives out as a nurse. You know human emotions better. With your grace you can bring him back like you did to me
Mirnaa listened carefully, eyes wide.
Vikram added: “Tomorrow I will ask him to drop you at the hospital. He cannot excuse you in conversations while driving. He has to open his mouth. Utilize it. Treat him as a good friend. That’s the repaying your kindness for many things he had done.”
He leaned closer, voice dropping.
“He saved your dignity. If you think I’m all well today, it’s because of him. The truck could have rammed me if he didn’t come in time.”
He lied — smoothly, convincingly.
Mirnaa’s eyes teared up instantly. She hugged him tight — arms around his neck, face buried in his shoulder.
Mirna said i want to forget that day.. You all hid that from me right?
Vikram held her, kissed her forehead, consoled her softly.
They slept in that hug — bodies pressed close, her heartbeat against his chest.
No words after that.
Just warmth.
And in the dark, Vikram stared at the ceiling.
he had just handed Mirnaa the first thread to pull Bharath closer.
For him he doesnt want Bharath doubt even a second, when everything is really really happening, he can unleash his schemen behind Bharath.
The night came again, soft and quiet, the kind of stillness that settled over the beach house after the sun disappeared behind the waves.
As usual, Vikram wore only loose shorts. Mirnaa slipped into a simple nighty — pale lavender cotton this time, thin straps, the fabric skimming her body in gentle waves. She crawled onto the bed, settled against him, and rested her head on his chest. Her fingers traced idle patterns over the little patch of hair there, the same way she always did when she wanted to feel close.
Vikram wrapped an arm around her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her body against his. The room was lit only by the faint glow from the balcony doors — moonlight and the distant flicker of the pool lights outside.
She was quiet for a long time. Too quiet.
Vikram tilted his head slightly. “What are you thinking?”
Mirnaa shifted, adjusting her head so her ear pressed more firmly against his heartbeat. “Nothing,” she murmured. “Mmm…” She nuzzled closer, as if trying to hide inside the sound of his pulse.
Vikram ran his fingers lightly through her hair. “Long day at the hospital? Tired?”
She shook her head against his chest. “Not much. Myself and Priya went to assist at the blood donation camp held inside the hospital. It was nice… people were so grateful.”
A small pause.
Then, softly: “When did Bharath arrive?”
Vikram kept his voice even. “In the morning. After I dropped you.”
Mirnaa lifted her head just enough to look at him, brow slightly furrowed. “It’s strange… he didn’t have any word with me. Or you. I expected some friendly conversation — like we usually have with friends. Like Shiney, Priya… even when Krish comes, he chats generally, right? Bharath is always so reserved. It was like we were forcing something on him.”
She paused, thinking.
“I’ve seen him like this before. When he saved me. When he saved you. When he was in the hospital. I can see he has a helping mind… but he’s off when it comes to communication. Is he always like this?”
Vikram smiled faintly — small, careful.
Inside, he knew exactly what game was being played.
Bharath wasn’t speaking much. Not because he was unsocial.
Because he was letting her think about him.
Constantly. Without spilling a single word.
Reverse psychology. Perfect.
Good Bharath but i will have cotrol..
Vikram stroked her hair again. “He was like one of us. Back in those days — fun chats, easy laughs. But as he saw too many betrayals around him… from his own family… he started losing trust in every basic relation. He’s just a wounded man. Only love can cure him.”
He let the word love hang there — soft, innocent, natural.
Mirnaa listened carefully, eyes on his face.
Vikram continued, voice gentle. “I know this already… but you know men being friends are so awkward, haha. Like we never really have words to comfort. All we have is to go to a bar, cry out, and come back in the morning.”
Mirnaa smiled — small, understanding.
Vikram shifted the tone slightly — more serious now.
“Thing is, Mirnaa… the big-shot threat is real. You know I’m telling you I’ll move abroad soon — like twice a month, maybe weeks at a time. I cannot risk you here alone.”
Mirnaa watched his eyes, suddenly still.
“So I decided to guard you with someone I trust. Someone I believe can tackle the big-shot. He will be the best.”
He paused, letting it sink in.
“I heard from him that you took care of him best in the hospital. He had that gratitude. I bet on that.”
Mirnaa’s breathing changed — softer, deeper.
Vikram added: “After all these selfish reasons… I wanted to give him back something. Your friendship.”
Mirnaa’s breath hitched. She wasn’t sure what kind of friendship he meant. Her voice came out quiet.
“What should I do?”
Vikram looked at her — really looked — and spoke slowly, carefully.
“You know for a man, friendship from the opposite sex always drives them. They listen. Bring him back to any extent you can. You feel him unsocial, right? Begin conversations. Drag him into activities. Get him to watch a movie with you on the sofa. Then go shopping with him. These are starts… slowly he will be back.”
Mirna asked this: Do you think i can bring him back
Vikram said: You fought back and bought many lives out as a nurse. You know human emotions better. With your grace you can bring him back like you did to me
Mirnaa listened carefully, eyes wide.
Vikram added: “Tomorrow I will ask him to drop you at the hospital. He cannot excuse you in conversations while driving. He has to open his mouth. Utilize it. Treat him as a good friend. That’s the repaying your kindness for many things he had done.”
He leaned closer, voice dropping.
“He saved your dignity. If you think I’m all well today, it’s because of him. The truck could have rammed me if he didn’t come in time.”
He lied — smoothly, convincingly.
Mirnaa’s eyes teared up instantly. She hugged him tight — arms around his neck, face buried in his shoulder.
Mirna said i want to forget that day.. You all hid that from me right?
Vikram held her, kissed her forehead, consoled her softly.
They slept in that hug — bodies pressed close, her heartbeat against his chest.
No words after that.
Just warmth.
And in the dark, Vikram stared at the ceiling.
he had just handed Mirnaa the first thread to pull Bharath closer.
For him he doesnt want Bharath doubt even a second, when everything is really really happening, he can unleash his schemen behind Bharath.
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