10-02-2026, 07:18 PM
Chapter 80 – Bharath's First Move after realization
Same day, Evening 8:10 PM
Bharath pulled the Thar into the driveway just as the sky turned deep indigo. The house lights were on — warm, inviting from the outside.
He stepped out, keys in hand, expecting quiet.
Instead — laughter.
Priya and her husband were in the living room. They had come to invite the family for their child’s ear-piercing ceremony. They had waited — specifically so Bharath could receive the invitation too.
Priya beamed as he entered.
“Bharath! We were just about to leave.”
She handed him the elegant card — gold-embossed, traditional design.
“The function is next week —”
Bharath glanced at the date.
The date was exactly the same as Vikram’s departure for his Dubai trip… Oh… now it’s Noida, right? he thought to himself. Bharath’s mind instantly gave him some idea — fueling the schemas he had been thinking all the way while driving…
Vikram looked over from the sofa — casual, but eyes sharp.
“Look at the date. I’m out for Dubai trip, so because of that even Mirnaa can’t come.”
Bharath smiled — easy, relaxed.
“No issues. I will take Mirnaa and come there.” He said to Priya and her husband.
Vikram felt a jolt — small, but real.
Bharath saying he will take my wife and go out… before others… shit…
The words landed heavier than they should have. The kiss last night flashed in his mind — Mirnaa’s lips on Bharath’s, even if it was “comfort.” Now this casual claim.
Vikram forced a smile.
“Yeah… that’s a good idea… if Bharath is going… Mirnaa can join him… we are friends, right? They will come.”
Priya and her husband left after a few minutes of small talk.
Dinner was quiet — takeout from outside, since Mirnaa cooked idli for the night. Bharath ate little. Mirnaa was subdued. Vikram watched them both — uneasy.
After dinner, Vikram couldn’t sit still.
He knew Bharath had kissed her. That one thing gave him courage to say he would take Vikram’s wife out for a function.
Is he claiming her openly just after a kiss? He was furious inside. He decided to confront him finally…
He came to Bharath — low voice.
“Let’s discuss for a minute.”
They moved to the guest room on the ground floor. Door shut.
Mirnaa was in the kitchen — cleaning up.
Vikram closed the door — voice tight.
“So the day I go to Dubai… you want to take my wife to a function? Just because you kissed her means you got the certificate for bossing her around ?.”
Bharath smirked — slow, knowing.
“Sorry… you are not going to Dubai. You are going to Noida.”
Vikram froze.
“How do you know?”
Bharath stepped closer — voice low.
“So you did lie? Do you forget I’m your friend?
Oh sorry — I’m not your friend. I’m a double agent. Works for you… for Mirnaa as prize?”
Vikram’s mind raced. Something was off. Risky.
He decided to come clean — immediately.
“The Noida plan was just decided this morning. You were not here — I couldn’t get the opportunity.”
Bharath nodded — eyes sharp.
“I don’t care. But the thing is this: we have a mole inside the core. Voices are being recorded.
We can see that later. But what’s more important — Aadharsh is going to Noida the same day you go.
I don’t know his plans, but it could be an attack. I came here to alert you on that.”
Vikram was processing — fast.
Bharath continued — voice steady.
“I purposely said I will take your wife to the function because the word has to spread.
Like she is out of town… or going out of town. But she won’t go there.”
Vikram asked — tense.
“What? Why?”
Bharath said — calm, calculated.
“Can’t you think? You are in the similar business, right?”
Bharath had already planned this when he saw Priya earlier.
He said:
“Aadharsh can attack from anywhere — physical, emotional. Did you forget how he dealt with his own father? So Mirnaa staying here may not be safe. She is your emotional point. Krish’s wife is safe in Dubai…
Mirnaa — I’m here. I will take her somewhere — Trichy, Madurai, Bangalore — every day, new place, so Aadharsh could not get an idea. You guys get deals done. With risk around, you can’t take Mirnaa with you.
Hence I will protect her here. Aadharsh already said he won’t involve me as I’m a friend of you. He asked me not to tell the plan so that you will avoid going to Noida. But you need to go. Not to prove my credibility — but to beat him out. He needs to know Krish and you are stronger. Once the client signs — none can stop it. After Dubai — let’s grow together.”
Vikram looked at him for a long time.
Bharath asked — eyes narrowing.
“Why are you looking for long? Can’t you believe it?
Oh — are you thinking, how a person who wanted a sexual relationship with your wife wanted to protect and help?”
Bharath laughed — acted, short.
“I already stopped the thoughts on Mirnaa. She gave me better emotional support.
Once we wrap this up — empire is yours, Mirnaa is yours, Aadharsh is done.”
Vikram stared at him.
Then — he hugged Bharath — tight, grateful.
“Thanks… I don’t know how to thank you. You made it perfect.”
Bharath pulled back — eyes serious.
“Don’t thank yet. I have a request.”
Vikram froze.
Request?
His mind flashed — Will it be about Mirnaa?
Bharath said — slow, deliberate.
“YES. A REQUEST.”
Vikram’s heart thudded.
Bharath leaned closer — voice low.
“As you think… yes. It is related to Mirnaa… and me.”
The room felt suddenly smaller.
Vikram waited — breath held.
Bharath’s eyes never left his.
Same day, Evening 8:10 PM
Bharath pulled the Thar into the driveway just as the sky turned deep indigo. The house lights were on — warm, inviting from the outside.
He stepped out, keys in hand, expecting quiet.
Instead — laughter.
Priya and her husband were in the living room. They had come to invite the family for their child’s ear-piercing ceremony. They had waited — specifically so Bharath could receive the invitation too.
Priya beamed as he entered.
“Bharath! We were just about to leave.”
She handed him the elegant card — gold-embossed, traditional design.
“The function is next week —”
Bharath glanced at the date.
The date was exactly the same as Vikram’s departure for his Dubai trip… Oh… now it’s Noida, right? he thought to himself. Bharath’s mind instantly gave him some idea — fueling the schemas he had been thinking all the way while driving…
Vikram looked over from the sofa — casual, but eyes sharp.
“Look at the date. I’m out for Dubai trip, so because of that even Mirnaa can’t come.”
Bharath smiled — easy, relaxed.
“No issues. I will take Mirnaa and come there.” He said to Priya and her husband.
Vikram felt a jolt — small, but real.
Bharath saying he will take my wife and go out… before others… shit…
The words landed heavier than they should have. The kiss last night flashed in his mind — Mirnaa’s lips on Bharath’s, even if it was “comfort.” Now this casual claim.
Vikram forced a smile.
“Yeah… that’s a good idea… if Bharath is going… Mirnaa can join him… we are friends, right? They will come.”
Priya and her husband left after a few minutes of small talk.
Dinner was quiet — takeout from outside, since Mirnaa cooked idli for the night. Bharath ate little. Mirnaa was subdued. Vikram watched them both — uneasy.
After dinner, Vikram couldn’t sit still.
He knew Bharath had kissed her. That one thing gave him courage to say he would take Vikram’s wife out for a function.
Is he claiming her openly just after a kiss? He was furious inside. He decided to confront him finally…
He came to Bharath — low voice.
“Let’s discuss for a minute.”
They moved to the guest room on the ground floor. Door shut.
Mirnaa was in the kitchen — cleaning up.
Vikram closed the door — voice tight.
“So the day I go to Dubai… you want to take my wife to a function? Just because you kissed her means you got the certificate for bossing her around ?.”
Bharath smirked — slow, knowing.
“Sorry… you are not going to Dubai. You are going to Noida.”
Vikram froze.
“How do you know?”
Bharath stepped closer — voice low.
“So you did lie? Do you forget I’m your friend?
Oh sorry — I’m not your friend. I’m a double agent. Works for you… for Mirnaa as prize?”
Vikram’s mind raced. Something was off. Risky.
He decided to come clean — immediately.
“The Noida plan was just decided this morning. You were not here — I couldn’t get the opportunity.”
Bharath nodded — eyes sharp.
“I don’t care. But the thing is this: we have a mole inside the core. Voices are being recorded.
We can see that later. But what’s more important — Aadharsh is going to Noida the same day you go.
I don’t know his plans, but it could be an attack. I came here to alert you on that.”
Vikram was processing — fast.
Bharath continued — voice steady.
“I purposely said I will take your wife to the function because the word has to spread.
Like she is out of town… or going out of town. But she won’t go there.”
Vikram asked — tense.
“What? Why?”
Bharath said — calm, calculated.
“Can’t you think? You are in the similar business, right?”
Bharath had already planned this when he saw Priya earlier.
He said:
“Aadharsh can attack from anywhere — physical, emotional. Did you forget how he dealt with his own father? So Mirnaa staying here may not be safe. She is your emotional point. Krish’s wife is safe in Dubai…
Mirnaa — I’m here. I will take her somewhere — Trichy, Madurai, Bangalore — every day, new place, so Aadharsh could not get an idea. You guys get deals done. With risk around, you can’t take Mirnaa with you.
Hence I will protect her here. Aadharsh already said he won’t involve me as I’m a friend of you. He asked me not to tell the plan so that you will avoid going to Noida. But you need to go. Not to prove my credibility — but to beat him out. He needs to know Krish and you are stronger. Once the client signs — none can stop it. After Dubai — let’s grow together.”
Vikram looked at him for a long time.
Bharath asked — eyes narrowing.
“Why are you looking for long? Can’t you believe it?
Oh — are you thinking, how a person who wanted a sexual relationship with your wife wanted to protect and help?”
Bharath laughed — acted, short.
“I already stopped the thoughts on Mirnaa. She gave me better emotional support.
Once we wrap this up — empire is yours, Mirnaa is yours, Aadharsh is done.”
Vikram stared at him.
Then — he hugged Bharath — tight, grateful.
“Thanks… I don’t know how to thank you. You made it perfect.”
Bharath pulled back — eyes serious.
“Don’t thank yet. I have a request.”
Vikram froze.
Request?
His mind flashed — Will it be about Mirnaa?
Bharath said — slow, deliberate.
“YES. A REQUEST.”
Vikram’s heart thudded.
Bharath leaned closer — voice low.
“As you think… yes. It is related to Mirnaa… and me.”
The room felt suddenly smaller.
Vikram waited — breath held.
Bharath’s eyes never left his.
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