08-02-2026, 05:36 PM
Chapter 71 – Bharath's Game
The morning came back soft and golden, sunlight filtering through the balcony curtains, painting long stripes across the bedroom floor.
Vikram woke slowly — the bed still warm from Mirnaa’s side. He reached instinctively, but she was already gone. The sound of running water came from the bathroom — she was bathing again.
He sat up, ribs stiff but healing. His phone buzzed on the nightstand — Krish had sent a batch of papers to review: Dubai logistics, stock manifests, new partner contracts. Vikram glanced at them briefly, then set the phone aside.
He walked to the balcony.
The Thar was still parked in the driveway.
Vikram’s brow furrowed. Bharath hadn’t left at dawn today.
Surprise flickered .
Vikram went downstairs.
Bharath was already in the hall, leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee mug in hand, eyes on the pool view.
He looked up when Vikram entered.
“Did you decide?” Bharath asked quietly. “What’s the next move?”
Vikram took him aside — to the small study room off the hall, door closed.
He spoke low.
“I brainwashed Mirnaa last night. Told her everything — your past, Manya, the accident, how you saved me, how you’re wounded. I told her you have soft feelings for her… in a good way. That you deserve a good life. I asked her to help bring you back — as a friend. To hang out. Shopping. Movies. Dates.”
Bharath’s eyes narrowed slightly — calculating.
Vikram continued. “She agreed. Said she’ll do it from today . But give it a few days — natural time. She’ll take the initiative. You stay uninterested, reserved. Let her chase a little. Remember — no sex. Just roaming around together. Being free. Some flirt. Getting to know each other. When I’m in Dubai next week, you can take her to cinemas, beach, spend quality time. Is this enough?”
Bharath nodded slowly. “Enough for now.”
Vikram: more importantly, dont let the word date out, i casually injected that thought.. you never call that word
Bharath: Good
Vikram exhaled. “Good. Now we should work on the important stuff — business.”
Bharath sipped his coffee. “I’m meeting Manya today.”
Vikram’s head snapped up. “Manya today? Why?”
Bharath shrugged — casual, but eyes sharp. “Just meeting her for one chance. Evening you should pick Mirnaa. I’ll come back late.”
Vikram studied him. Is he up to something?
Bharath met his gaze. “Irrespective of outcome, I’ll help you.
We agreed. If you’re lucky, I may not have any chance of touching Mirnaa.”
Vikram’s face broke into a rare, genuine smile — relief flooding through him.
“I’ll be happy for you if Manya works out,” he said. “Keep me updated.
Don’t worry — I’ll pick up Mirnaa.”
He hugged Bharath — brief, brotherly.
“Thanks for understanding.”
Vikram felt real relief — like a weight had lifted.
Maybe this works. Maybe Manya pulls him back. Maybe I don’t have to push Mirnaa further.
Bharath returned the hug — then pulled away.
After breakfast — Mirnaa serving quietly, smiling softly at both of them — Bharath took the keys.
Mirnaa got into the Thar.
The drive was quiet at first.
Near the hospital, traffic thickened — barricades up, cops directing vehicles. Bharath slowed, then pulled over.
“Traffic,” he said. “Let’s walk.”
He parked neatly by the roadside, got out, and opened Mirnaa’s door.
She stepped out — surprised.
Bharath offered his hand.
Mirnaa hesitated — then took it.
He walked beside her — hand in hand — toward the hospital gate. Like lovers.
Mirnaa’s heart raced. Last night Vikram had wanted her to date him.
Today Bharath was holding her hand in public. She looked around — no one staring, but it felt… exposed.
Priya saw them from the entrance — eyes wide, mischievous smile spreading.
Bharath turned to Mirnaa at the gate.
“Wish me good luck.”
Mirnaa blinked. “For what?”
“I’m meeting Manya today. Remember I said yesterday?”
His face lit up — full smile, energy, hope.
Mirnaa smiled back — broader, genuine. She was happy for him.
“Good luck,” she said softly.
Bharath pulled her into a hug — sudden, warm, in open view.
Mirnaa froze — hands at her sides, then slowly came up to his back.
“Thanks,” he whispered. “I’ll call you when it’s done.”
He released her.
Mirnaa blushed — looked around. Her hands came to her mouth.
She didn’t know if she should tell Vikram.
But she remembered Bharath’s plea: Keep it secret. Even Vikram shouldn’t know.
She hesitated.
Finally — she put it on hold.
Hours passed.
No call from Bharath.
In the evening, Vikram came to pick her up.
Mirnaa got into the car — quiet, disappointed.
She didn’t ask why Bharath didn’t come.
Instead, she kept looking at her phone — waiting for a call from him.
Vikram noticed. “Everything okay?”
Mirnaa smiled faintly. “Yes. Just… tired.”
She stared out the window.
Her phone stayed silent.
Inside, a small seed of worry bloomed.
Bharath hadn’t called.
And she hadn’t told Vikram about the hug.
The secret had begun.
The morning came back soft and golden, sunlight filtering through the balcony curtains, painting long stripes across the bedroom floor.
Vikram woke slowly — the bed still warm from Mirnaa’s side. He reached instinctively, but she was already gone. The sound of running water came from the bathroom — she was bathing again.
He sat up, ribs stiff but healing. His phone buzzed on the nightstand — Krish had sent a batch of papers to review: Dubai logistics, stock manifests, new partner contracts. Vikram glanced at them briefly, then set the phone aside.
He walked to the balcony.
The Thar was still parked in the driveway.
Vikram’s brow furrowed. Bharath hadn’t left at dawn today.
Surprise flickered .
Vikram went downstairs.
Bharath was already in the hall, leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee mug in hand, eyes on the pool view.
He looked up when Vikram entered.
“Did you decide?” Bharath asked quietly. “What’s the next move?”
Vikram took him aside — to the small study room off the hall, door closed.
He spoke low.
“I brainwashed Mirnaa last night. Told her everything — your past, Manya, the accident, how you saved me, how you’re wounded. I told her you have soft feelings for her… in a good way. That you deserve a good life. I asked her to help bring you back — as a friend. To hang out. Shopping. Movies. Dates.”
Bharath’s eyes narrowed slightly — calculating.
Vikram continued. “She agreed. Said she’ll do it from today . But give it a few days — natural time. She’ll take the initiative. You stay uninterested, reserved. Let her chase a little. Remember — no sex. Just roaming around together. Being free. Some flirt. Getting to know each other. When I’m in Dubai next week, you can take her to cinemas, beach, spend quality time. Is this enough?”
Bharath nodded slowly. “Enough for now.”
Vikram: more importantly, dont let the word date out, i casually injected that thought.. you never call that word
Bharath: Good
Vikram exhaled. “Good. Now we should work on the important stuff — business.”
Bharath sipped his coffee. “I’m meeting Manya today.”
Vikram’s head snapped up. “Manya today? Why?”
Bharath shrugged — casual, but eyes sharp. “Just meeting her for one chance. Evening you should pick Mirnaa. I’ll come back late.”
Vikram studied him. Is he up to something?
Bharath met his gaze. “Irrespective of outcome, I’ll help you.
We agreed. If you’re lucky, I may not have any chance of touching Mirnaa.”
Vikram’s face broke into a rare, genuine smile — relief flooding through him.
“I’ll be happy for you if Manya works out,” he said. “Keep me updated.
Don’t worry — I’ll pick up Mirnaa.”
He hugged Bharath — brief, brotherly.
“Thanks for understanding.”
Vikram felt real relief — like a weight had lifted.
Maybe this works. Maybe Manya pulls him back. Maybe I don’t have to push Mirnaa further.
Bharath returned the hug — then pulled away.
After breakfast — Mirnaa serving quietly, smiling softly at both of them — Bharath took the keys.
Mirnaa got into the Thar.
The drive was quiet at first.
Near the hospital, traffic thickened — barricades up, cops directing vehicles. Bharath slowed, then pulled over.
“Traffic,” he said. “Let’s walk.”
He parked neatly by the roadside, got out, and opened Mirnaa’s door.
She stepped out — surprised.
Bharath offered his hand.
Mirnaa hesitated — then took it.
He walked beside her — hand in hand — toward the hospital gate. Like lovers.
Mirnaa’s heart raced. Last night Vikram had wanted her to date him.
Today Bharath was holding her hand in public. She looked around — no one staring, but it felt… exposed.
Priya saw them from the entrance — eyes wide, mischievous smile spreading.
Bharath turned to Mirnaa at the gate.
“Wish me good luck.”
Mirnaa blinked. “For what?”
“I’m meeting Manya today. Remember I said yesterday?”
His face lit up — full smile, energy, hope.
Mirnaa smiled back — broader, genuine. She was happy for him.
“Good luck,” she said softly.
Bharath pulled her into a hug — sudden, warm, in open view.
Mirnaa froze — hands at her sides, then slowly came up to his back.
“Thanks,” he whispered. “I’ll call you when it’s done.”
He released her.
Mirnaa blushed — looked around. Her hands came to her mouth.
She didn’t know if she should tell Vikram.
But she remembered Bharath’s plea: Keep it secret. Even Vikram shouldn’t know.
She hesitated.
Finally — she put it on hold.
Hours passed.
No call from Bharath.
In the evening, Vikram came to pick her up.
Mirnaa got into the car — quiet, disappointed.
She didn’t ask why Bharath didn’t come.
Instead, she kept looking at her phone — waiting for a call from him.
Vikram noticed. “Everything okay?”
Mirnaa smiled faintly. “Yes. Just… tired.”
She stared out the window.
Her phone stayed silent.
Inside, a small seed of worry bloomed.
Bharath hadn’t called.
And she hadn’t told Vikram about the hug.
The secret had begun.
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