22-02-2026, 11:53 PM
Chapter 128 – Day 1: The Gentle Trap & Manya's New CEO
Chennai – Vikram’s Beach House – Morning
The same day the challange was accepted, Vikram got ready for a move, a real move in his attempt to stop Bharath, a challange which will automatically stop bahrath from reaching Mirna and this could be his revenge too if all falls in places.
Vikram stepped out of the bedroom, dressed for the day — simple shirt, jeans, jacket slung over his arm.
He had a flight to Bangalore. He had recently procured a call center company there — a small but strategic acquisition.
No one knew. Not even Mirnaa.
He had kept it quiet, even from her.
It was part of the larger plan — a foothold to reach Manya, to gather more leverage, to position himself one step ahead of Bharath.
Mirnaa came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. She saw him ready to leave.
“You’re going out?”
Vikram nodded.
“Bangalore. Work. I’ll be back by evening.”
Mirnaa hesitated.
“I’m taking leave today. So I can take care of Bharath.”
Vikram looked at her. No anger. No surprise. Just calm acceptance.
“All right. Take care of yourself.”
He kissed her forehead — light, reassuring.
“See you tonight.”
She smiled softly.
“Safe flight.”
After breakfast — idli, chutney, coffee — Vikram left. The car rumbled out of the gate. Bharath watched from the window, eyes narrowed. Mirnaa watched too — a small wave as he disappeared down the road.
Beach House – Mid-Morning
Mirnaa changed Bharath’s bandage in his room.
She unwrapped the old gauze carefully.
The cut looked angry — red, swollen, stitches pulling tight. Bharath winced when she cleaned it with antiseptic.
“Sorry,” she said softly.
Bharath shook his head.
“It’s okay. I don’t deserve your kindness after everything.”
Mirnaa paused. Looked at him.
“You’re hurt. That’s all that matters.”
Bharath’s eyes filled with tears — real or practiced, it was hard to tell.
“Thank you, Mirnaa. Truly.”
She finished the bandage. Sat beside him.
“Rest. I’ll bring lunch later.”
Afternoon – Guest Room
Mirnaa brought lunch — rice, sambar, curd. Bharath couldn’t hold the spoon properly with his bandaged hand
She sat beside him again. Took a spoonful. Held it to his mouth.
He ate slowly. Eyes never leaving her face.
“You’re the only one who ever cared for me like this,” he said softly. “Even my own family didn’t.”
Mirnaa’s heart twisted. She fed him another spoonful.
“You’re not alone,” she said quietly.
Bharath swallowed.
“I know you love Vikram. I just… I wish I could have one more day where you looked at me the way you did in Goa.”
Mirnaa looked down. Guilt stirred — familiar, heavy.
“I’m trying to move on,” she whispered.
Bharath nodded.
“I think you misunderstood im not saying about the sex we had..
I just wanted to feel the love,
the embrace we had after making love, the hands we tied together
the laugh we shared
you to know… you’re my only peace.”
Mirna knows it, she liked those but never took that as love, but she understand its love for him.
Evening – Guest Room
Mirnaa checked on him before dinner.
Bharath was lying on the bed, eyes closed. She thought he was asleep. She turned to leave.
His good hand reached out. Caught hers gently.
“Stay a little longer,” he whispered. “Just talking helps. You know after how Vikram labeled me… I feel shitty. Did I deserve this?”
Mirnaa sat on the edge of the bed. Held his hand.
“You don’t deserve to feel like that.”
Bharath’s voice cracked.
“I know I made mistakes. I keep on coming between you two .. But I never meant to hurt you. Im just protecting you and your love Vikram..
I just… I loved you. I still do.”
Mirnaa’s eyes filled. She squeezed his hand.
“Rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She left the room. Bharath watched her go. A small, satisfied smile crossed his face.
Bangalore – Call Center Office – Afternoon
Manya arrived at the call center as usual.
The moment she stepped inside, she felt the shift.
Employees were murmuring in clusters — nervous whispers, eyes darting toward the center of the floor.
The CEO stood in the middle, flanked by a few senior staff. Someone else — a man in a sharp suit — stood slightly aside.
Panic was escalating. Rumors flew: the company had been sold. The new MD might not retain old staff. Manya’s stomach dropped. She had been denied work everywhere else. This job — the one she had traveled to for almost a year — was her lifeline. Now new trouble?
The old MD stepped forward, raising his hands for silence.
“Don’t panic. The new MD and CEO is kind. He is retaining all staff and giving everyone a 10% hike.”
Relief rippled through the crowd. Then the old MD looked directly at Manya.
“Manya, your position alone has changed.”
The whole company went still. What? Only one person? She asked shakily.
“Why, sir? Is the salary going to cut off? Or should I…?”
The old MD said:
“You’ll hear it from the new MD and CEO himself.”
He gestured toward the man in the suit. Inside CEO Cabin.
“Both are the same now until the new MD arrives. The CEO/MD is impressed with your work. So he is shifting you.”
Manya’s voice trembled.
“Where, sir?”
“Just go and meet him.”
She walked to the CEO’s cabin, heart pounding. The door was open. She entered.
She could not see the MD. The chair was turned the other side, facing the wall.
Manya spoke, voice unsteady.
“Sir, I have enough troubles. Please give me the same position, sir. I cannot cut down a few bucks.”
The MD’s voice came — calm, familiar.
“No. I’m hiking your salary from 25k to 50k.”
Manya’s eyes widened.
“Am I dreaming?” she slipped out loud.
She caught herself.
“Thank you, sir. Thank you. What’s the role, sir?”
“You are shifted to my company in Chennai. And you will be my personal assistant.”
Manya: sir i have a family, my daughter and mother. i cannot shift easily
The MD: No need to panic, you will work here for few days, then once a week in Chennai.
I will arrange you place to stay..
Manya’s voice shook.
“But I’m a call center employee, sir. I don’t have managerial skill.”
The MD said:
“It doesn’t need. Just follow my lead. If you are okay, sign the paper on the table and you can go out.”
Manya bent to the table. Signed on the dotted line.
“Sir, I signed.”
The chair kicked against the wall. It rotated slowly.
The chair turned to her face,
and she finally saw the New MD & CEO
It was Vikram.
He raised his hands.
“Welcome to my company.”
Manya was not expecting it. Her eyes widened in shock.
Vikram leaned back, a small smile on his face.
He was in a whole new game — one Bharath could not smell.
Chennai – Vikram’s Beach House – Morning
The same day the challange was accepted, Vikram got ready for a move, a real move in his attempt to stop Bharath, a challange which will automatically stop bahrath from reaching Mirna and this could be his revenge too if all falls in places.
Vikram stepped out of the bedroom, dressed for the day — simple shirt, jeans, jacket slung over his arm.
He had a flight to Bangalore. He had recently procured a call center company there — a small but strategic acquisition.
No one knew. Not even Mirnaa.
He had kept it quiet, even from her.
It was part of the larger plan — a foothold to reach Manya, to gather more leverage, to position himself one step ahead of Bharath.
Mirnaa came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. She saw him ready to leave.
“You’re going out?”
Vikram nodded.
“Bangalore. Work. I’ll be back by evening.”
Mirnaa hesitated.
“I’m taking leave today. So I can take care of Bharath.”
Vikram looked at her. No anger. No surprise. Just calm acceptance.
“All right. Take care of yourself.”
He kissed her forehead — light, reassuring.
“See you tonight.”
She smiled softly.
“Safe flight.”
After breakfast — idli, chutney, coffee — Vikram left. The car rumbled out of the gate. Bharath watched from the window, eyes narrowed. Mirnaa watched too — a small wave as he disappeared down the road.
Beach House – Mid-Morning
Mirnaa changed Bharath’s bandage in his room.
She unwrapped the old gauze carefully.
The cut looked angry — red, swollen, stitches pulling tight. Bharath winced when she cleaned it with antiseptic.
“Sorry,” she said softly.
Bharath shook his head.
“It’s okay. I don’t deserve your kindness after everything.”
Mirnaa paused. Looked at him.
“You’re hurt. That’s all that matters.”
Bharath’s eyes filled with tears — real or practiced, it was hard to tell.
“Thank you, Mirnaa. Truly.”
She finished the bandage. Sat beside him.
“Rest. I’ll bring lunch later.”
Afternoon – Guest Room
Mirnaa brought lunch — rice, sambar, curd. Bharath couldn’t hold the spoon properly with his bandaged hand
She sat beside him again. Took a spoonful. Held it to his mouth.
He ate slowly. Eyes never leaving her face.
“You’re the only one who ever cared for me like this,” he said softly. “Even my own family didn’t.”
Mirnaa’s heart twisted. She fed him another spoonful.
“You’re not alone,” she said quietly.
Bharath swallowed.
“I know you love Vikram. I just… I wish I could have one more day where you looked at me the way you did in Goa.”
Mirnaa looked down. Guilt stirred — familiar, heavy.
“I’m trying to move on,” she whispered.
Bharath nodded.
“I think you misunderstood im not saying about the sex we had..
I just wanted to feel the love,
the embrace we had after making love, the hands we tied together
the laugh we shared
you to know… you’re my only peace.”
Mirna knows it, she liked those but never took that as love, but she understand its love for him.
Evening – Guest Room
Mirnaa checked on him before dinner.
Bharath was lying on the bed, eyes closed. She thought he was asleep. She turned to leave.
His good hand reached out. Caught hers gently.
“Stay a little longer,” he whispered. “Just talking helps. You know after how Vikram labeled me… I feel shitty. Did I deserve this?”
Mirnaa sat on the edge of the bed. Held his hand.
“You don’t deserve to feel like that.”
Bharath’s voice cracked.
“I know I made mistakes. I keep on coming between you two .. But I never meant to hurt you. Im just protecting you and your love Vikram..
I just… I loved you. I still do.”
Mirnaa’s eyes filled. She squeezed his hand.
“Rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She left the room. Bharath watched her go. A small, satisfied smile crossed his face.
Bangalore – Call Center Office – Afternoon
Manya arrived at the call center as usual.
The moment she stepped inside, she felt the shift.
Employees were murmuring in clusters — nervous whispers, eyes darting toward the center of the floor.
The CEO stood in the middle, flanked by a few senior staff. Someone else — a man in a sharp suit — stood slightly aside.
Panic was escalating. Rumors flew: the company had been sold. The new MD might not retain old staff. Manya’s stomach dropped. She had been denied work everywhere else. This job — the one she had traveled to for almost a year — was her lifeline. Now new trouble?
The old MD stepped forward, raising his hands for silence.
“Don’t panic. The new MD and CEO is kind. He is retaining all staff and giving everyone a 10% hike.”
Relief rippled through the crowd. Then the old MD looked directly at Manya.
“Manya, your position alone has changed.”
The whole company went still. What? Only one person? She asked shakily.
“Why, sir? Is the salary going to cut off? Or should I…?”
The old MD said:
“You’ll hear it from the new MD and CEO himself.”
He gestured toward the man in the suit. Inside CEO Cabin.
“Both are the same now until the new MD arrives. The CEO/MD is impressed with your work. So he is shifting you.”
Manya’s voice trembled.
“Where, sir?”
“Just go and meet him.”
She walked to the CEO’s cabin, heart pounding. The door was open. She entered.
She could not see the MD. The chair was turned the other side, facing the wall.
Manya spoke, voice unsteady.
“Sir, I have enough troubles. Please give me the same position, sir. I cannot cut down a few bucks.”
The MD’s voice came — calm, familiar.
“No. I’m hiking your salary from 25k to 50k.”
Manya’s eyes widened.
“Am I dreaming?” she slipped out loud.
She caught herself.
“Thank you, sir. Thank you. What’s the role, sir?”
“You are shifted to my company in Chennai. And you will be my personal assistant.”
Manya: sir i have a family, my daughter and mother. i cannot shift easily
The MD: No need to panic, you will work here for few days, then once a week in Chennai.
I will arrange you place to stay..
Manya’s voice shook.
“But I’m a call center employee, sir. I don’t have managerial skill.”
The MD said:
“It doesn’t need. Just follow my lead. If you are okay, sign the paper on the table and you can go out.”
Manya bent to the table. Signed on the dotted line.
“Sir, I signed.”
The chair kicked against the wall. It rotated slowly.
The chair turned to her face,
and she finally saw the New MD & CEO
It was Vikram.
He raised his hands.
“Welcome to my company.”
Manya was not expecting it. Her eyes widened in shock.
Vikram leaned back, a small smile on his face.
He was in a whole new game — one Bharath could not smell.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)