04-03-2026, 08:46 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2026, 09:17 PM by heygiwriter. Edited 6 times in total. Edited 6 times in total.)
Chapter 170 - The Hands that rescued
Hospital an hour later
Vikram expected Mirnaa to get in, but she didnt, he feared if mirna went behind bharath, after knowing she got back memory?
Shiney stepped in — white coat over casual clothes — stethoscope around her neck. She saw his eyes open — relief flashed across her face, quickly masked by professional calm.
Vikram’s voice came out hoarse, cracked.
“Where… is she?”
“She was here all night,” she said. “Didn’t leave your side until an hour ago. Didnt know what happened she got my car keys and said she is going somewhere.
“I wanted to meet you that day,” the day when Aadharsh took you to abaonded place. To ask you on one important thing, She puzlled what was it about
Now, i know every truth about her, the reasons, she did everything to save me, her distance, her anger, coldness but only one thing i didn't understand
Vikram’s throat worked.
“Why Bharath?” His voice cracked. “Why the sex? Why… let him have her like that?”
Shiney looked at him — steady, unflinching.
“She wanted to have sex with Bharath because she felt that was the only way she could keep him from getting distracted. He had his own revenge — he was volatile, obsessed. Sex kept him tethered — focused on her — not on rushing into something reckless that could backfire on you. She believed Bharath is only tool that can take her to aadharsh and play him so that she could save your protect you. And as for sexual relation, She had no guilt over it… because she had already decided to leave you. Forever.”
Vikram’s breath caught.
“What?”
“Yes,” Shiney said softly. “Even before she knew the full truth about Aadharsh — when you came back from Zurich — her original plan was to leave. To take a remote job — vanish from your life completely — so you could have a new life. A clean one. Without the shadow of her knowing your past. Without the weight of her staying out of pity or fear.”
Vikram stared at the ceiling — tears slipping silently down his temples.
Shiney continued — voice gentle.
“But after the truth came out… she didn’t feel it as a burden anymore. She was worried about your safety. So she consoled herself: Let the decision stay the same. Let him hate me. I will protect him from the shadows.”
She reached out — touched his arm.
“I only learned the full extent a few days ago — when you were admitted here. She broke down in front of me. Told me everything. The plan. The guilt. The love she couldn’t kill.”
Vikram stayed silent — tears falling freely now.
He didn’t speak for a long time.
Finally — voice barely a whisper:
“She was going to disappear… so I could be happy.”
Shiney nodded.
“She thought that was the kindest thing she could do.”
He turned his head — looked at the empty chair.
“I just want her back,” he said — broken. “I don’t care about the rest. I just… want her back.”
Shiney squeezed his hand.
You are still weak, trips still on.. Take rest Mirna will come back soon.
When she comes speak to her calm.
At the abandoned factory
The abandoned factory was a rotting giant — rusted girders, broken skylights letting in shafts of cold moonlight, the air thick with dust and oil.
A narrow metal bridge hung suspended over a thirty-foot drop old loading platform to storage loft swaying slightly in the night wind. Bharath was tied to a support beam at the far end wrists bound behind him blood drying on his lip from the earlier beating.
Mirnaa stepped inside heart slamming against her ribs Shiney’s car keys still clutched in her fist. The door clanged shut behind her.
Aadharsh stood in the middle of the bridge casual arms crossed smiling like a man who had already won.
“Welcome, madam,” he said — voice smooth, mocking.
His men down, gestured to the bridge short, treacherous — one misstep and it was a long fall onto concrete below.
Mirnaa walked forward eyes locked on Bharath. She climbed the short steps stepped onto the swaying metal each footfall echoing.
Aadharsh laughed — low, satisfied.
“In a few minutes Shobi will come here. I spoke with him. Let him know the truth you and Bharath tried to harm me by twisting hatred between me and Shobi.”
Mirnaa reached the center — stopped a few feet from him.
“Bharath had no link,” she said — voice steady. “I was the master planner.”
Bharath shouted - muffled — desperate.
“No — Mirnaa!”
She turned to Bharath and said.
“You have a kid. You still have parents.
He shouted — what about Vikram?
She said.. He will live with Swathi…
Let this end here. With me.
She turned to aadahrsh and said.. .You do whatever you want but leave my husband alone.
Also Bharath had no part in it.”
She prayed silently — scanning for any opportunity — any loose pipe — any moment of distraction.
Aadharsh looked her up and down — slow — leering.
“Maybe you need a different punishment.”
He stepped closer — voice dropping.
“Come near me.”
Mirnaa walked forward — stopped inches away.
“I will do whatever you ask,” she said — voice calm. “But release Bharath first.”
Aadharsh smiled — nodded to his men.
“Remove his ropes. Hold him.”
They cut Bharath free — but four men pinned him instantly — arms twisted behind — forcing him to watch.
Bharath struggled — shouting — but couldn’t break free.
Footsteps echoed from the far end.
Shobi arrived flanked by six of his men gun in hand — face cold.
Aadharsh spread his arms — welcoming.
Shobi just ignored.
Adharsh hide his hurt..
“Welcome, boss. I asked you to come here to show you who actually tried to hurt you. It’s this woman — the so-called Shadow King Vikram’s wife — and her lover Bharath.
They both tried to harm you and pinned the blame on me so we would fight.”
Mirnaa realized too late — she had no leverage left.
Aadharsh continued — smiling at Shobi.
“You finish them off. I will finish Vikram.”
He turned back to Mirnaa — eyes gleaming.
“But first… maybe you need a different kind of lesson.”
Mirna had just processed the word i will finish virkam..
He reached for her — hand grazing her arm.
Mirnaa didn’t flinch. Adrenaline rush kicked in ..
Instead — she lunged — grabbed Aadharsh’s collar — pulled him hard toward the edge.
The bridge swayed like a dying breath — metal groaning under their weight, wind whistling through broken beams thirty feet above the concrete abyss below. Mirnaa’s fingers were locked around Aadharsh’s collar — knuckles white — her entire body straining as she pulled with everything she had left.
It wasn’t rage.
It wasn’t revenge.
It was surrender wrapped in fury.
She had already decided — in the heartbeat between hearing the coordinates and stepping onto this rotting scaffold — that if this was the only way to end the threat to Vikram, she would take Aadharsh with her.
One final act. One clean cut. Her life for his freedom.
The sudden jerk threw the narrow walkway into chaos. The entire structure lurched — supports shrieking — bolts popping loose like gunfire. Aadharsh stumbled forward, off-balance, legs kicking air as the edge gave way beneath him.
But he caught it.
One hand clamped around a thick steel support pipe — rusted but still solid — his body slamming against the side of the bridge. His other hand clawed at Mirnaa’s forearm — nails digging into skin — dragging her with him.
“You bitch!” he snarled, face contorted, spit flying. “You tried to pull me with you!”
Mirnaa felt the burn of his grip — felt the bridge tilt further — felt gravity reaching for her ankles.
She didn’t scream.
She looked down once — into the black mouth of the drop — and thought, very clearly: If this is how it ends, at least he’s safe.
Aadharsh man rushed to resuce him .. both were safely at the edge
Aadharsh just said.. Sobhi shoot her.. let this bitch know her lesson..
He looked at Sobhi, the guns were aiming at Aadharsh.. not at Mirnaa.
Sobhi opened his mouth finally, do you think i forget how you attacked me in Noida. her husband saved me then..
Though this women tricked me, she didnt make me fall and its rare to see a women doing so much risk for a women..
Adarsh realizing situation signaled his men..
Gunfire erupted behind them — Shobi’s men opening up on Aadharsh’s guards.
Bullets sparked off metal, ricocheted into darkness. Bharath rolled free in the pandemonium — tackling one man — wrenching a pistol from lifeless fingers — already firing back.
The bridge bucked again — violent, sickening.
Mirnaa’s grip on the steel pipe near slipped.— sweat-slick palms sliding — her body tilting forward.
She lost him.
Her feet slid off the edge — stomach lurching — world flipping upside down.
She caught the rope — one desperate swipe — fingers closing around the coarse hemp line that dangled from a broken pulley overhead. Her body jerked to a stop — hanging — legs kicking uselessly over nothing.
The drop yawned beneath her — dark, endless, hungry.
She heard aadahrsh voice, the cry over his defeat on sharp thud on ground.
The gang war ended in sobhis favor..
She closed her eyes.
Not in fear.
In acceptance.
It’s okay, she thought. Vikram is alive. No more threats.. He will live a new life... That’s enough.
She decided to leave her grip on the hanging rope that safegaruding her..
& like a miracle
A hand clamped around her shoulder — strong — trembling — desperate.
Her eyes snapped open.
She looked up
breath catching
heart shattering all over again.
Vikram.
IV line still dangling from the back of his hand — needle bent, tape peeling, blood seeping through the bandage wrapped around his head. Face pale as death, eyes burning with something fiercer than pain, fiercer than love — something that had dragged him out of a hospital bed, through traffic, up a condemned structure, against every doctor’s order, every law of survival.
He had come.
He smiled down at her — cracked lips, blood-streaked teeth — voice rough, hoarse, cracked open with everything he had held inside for months.
“I said right…” he rasped, fingers tightening on her shoulder, arm shaking with the effort of holding her weight.
“Wherever you go… whichever corner you go… I will find you.”
Tears flooded Mirnaa’s eyes — hot, instant, unstoppable.
She couldn’t speak.
She could only stare up at him — at the man she had tried to destroy to save — at the man who had refused to let her go — even when she begged him to hate her, to forget her, to live without her.
The gunfire around them faded to background noise — Shobi’s men overwhelming Aadharsh’s — mens getting defaeted — orders shouted — but none of it reached her.
All she could see was Vikram.
All she could feel was his hand — warm, alive, refusing to let go.
She tried to speak — throat too tight — voice breaking on the first syllable.
“Vikram…”
He shook his head — once small — eyes never leaving hers.
“Don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t apologize. Don’t explain. Just… hold on.”
His other hand — the one with the IV line — reached down — fingers finding hers — interlocking — iron grip.
“I know,” he said — voice cracking. “I heard you. Every word. When I was unconscious. I heard you crying… saying you love me… saying you’re sorry… saying you wanted me to live clean…”
He swallowed hard — tears slipping down his own face now — mixing with the blood.
“I accept you,” he said — raw — final. “For what you are. For everything you did. For everything you tried to hide. I accept it. I only ever loved you.”
Mirnaa’s sob broke free — loud — ugly — shattering.
She gripped his hand tighter — nails digging into skin — as if letting go would mean falling forever.
Above them — Bharath fought his way through the last of Aadharsh’s men — gun empty — fists bloody — until he reached the edge.
He saw Vikram — saw Mirnaa hanging — saw the way Vikram refused to let go even as his own body shook with pain and exhaustion.
Bharath dropped to his knees — reached down — added his strength — helping pull.
Together — they hauled her back onto the bridge.
Mirnaa collapsed against Vikram arms around his neck — face buried in his shoulder — sobbing uncontrollably.
He held her rocking gently whispering into her hair.
“I’m here. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Vikram held Mirnaa against his chest — one arm locked around her waist, the other cradling the back of her head as if letting go would mean she disappeared again. Her face was buried in his shoulder, tears soaking through his shirt.
He didn’t speak at first — just breathed her in — jasmine, sweat, fear, love — all the things he thought he’d lost forever.
Finally — voice low, cracked from pain and everything else — he spoke against her hair.
“I know every single truth,” he said. “I won’t leave you now.”
Mirnaa stiffened in his arms. Slowly — painfully — she pulled back just enough to look at him. Her eyes were red, swollen, shimmering.
“No,” she whispered — voice trembling.
“I’m going with Bharath.”
The words landed like a slap.
Vikram’s grip tightened instinctively — fingers digging into her waist.
Before he could speak
Bharath stepped forward — fast — voice rough, urgent.
“No No No Sorry buddy, im not taking her.”
Mirnaa turned — stunned.
Bharath looked straight at Vikram — eyes steady, raw.
“She’s faking. She’s lying. Trust me — this bugger cannot live without you. And whatever she says… every second, every minute… she only think about you.”
Mirnaa’s breath hitched — tears spilling faster.
Bharath kept going — voice breaking just a little.
“Mirnaa… for once… live for yourself. Now Aadharsh is gone. No more threat. Just apologize to him. If he wishes, for sure he will — he’ll take you back. Live a normal life.”
Mirnaa shook her head violently — sobs choking her words.
“I’m not going with Vikram. He has to start his life with Swathi”
Vikram cut her off — voice firm, quiet.
“Krish is awake.”
Mirnaa froze.
Vikram continued — eyes never leaving hers.
“Even if that wasn’t the case… I won’t marry her.”
She stared — lips trembling.
“Why…?”
Vikram’s hand came up — cupped her cheek — thumb brushing away tears.
“Because i love you, I accept you for what you are,” he said — slow — deliberate — every word carved from somewhere deep. “I only loved you.”
Mirnaa’s sob broke free — loud, ugly, shattering.
She realized — in that instant — he had heard her. Every whispered apology, every tearful confession when he was unconscious — he had heard it all.
“I accept you for what you are…” she echoed voice barely audible tears flooding anew. “You heard me…”
He nodded once small — eyes shining.
“I heard everything.”
I got memory 24 hours back, i just pretended fearing you will move away..
He pulled her into a hug — tight — desperate — burying his face in her hair.
She clung back — fingers fisting his shirt — body shaking.
He pulled back just enough — looked at her — asked softly:
“You know my past already? Are you okay with it?”
She nodded tears streaming — no hesitation.
He swallowed — voice cracking.
“Did you already know… I had a small affair?”
She shook her head — slow — honest.
“No.”
Vikram searched her eyes — raw, vulnerable.
“Will you excuse me?”
Mirnaa’s lips trembled — but her voice was steady.
“It’s just sex,” she whispered. “I accept you for what you are.”
She giggled and laughed smiled.. with shyness and tears.
Bharath standing a few steps away — smiled. Small. Sad. Real.
He watched them — watched the way she melted into Vikram’s arms — watched the way Vikram held her like she was the only thing keeping him upright.
He exhaled — long — accepting.
They finally came down from the bridge , Vikram supporting Mirnaa — her head on his shoulder — his arm around her waist.
Shobi reached the place ,boots crunching on broken glass ,looked at the scene ,then extended his hand to Vikram.
“Thank you,” he said — voice gruff, sincere. “It was you who saved me in Noida. Now your wife — though she tricked me ,I appreciate her risk to save you. I wish I had a sister like her.”
He revealed ,quietly — that it was his men who had pulled Vikram from the hospital and brought him here.
Shiney’s car was parked outside — Bharath had driven it.
Bharath got behind the wheel ,Vikram and Mirnaa in the rear seats.
They didn’t speak much.
Mirnaa placed her head on Vikram’s shoulder , fingers laced through his ,gently checking the bent IV needle still taped to his hand from when he’d pulled her up.
She peeled it away carefully — wrapped the spot with the edge of her dupatta — soft, tender, like she was tending to something precious.
Bharath watched everything in the rearview mirror — eyes soft — resigned.
“Lucky bastard,” he said quietly — almost to himself.
“You won.”
Vikram heared it, looked at him in the mirror — no triumph, only gratitude.
Bharath smiled — faint — real.
He spoke again — louder this time — voice cracking just a little.
“Vikram… you are a lucky bastard. I had to trick her. Manipulate her. Fake love to win her. But even after so many things happend between us… she just chose you. Every second. Every minute. You are a lucky bastard.”
He laughed — soft, broken — shaking his head.
Mirnaa just tightened her embrace on Vikram’s hand ,cheek pressed to his shoulder ,tears still falling ,but quieter now.
The car drove into the dawn — carrying three broken people — and one fragile, stubborn hope. Nothing has to be said, three of them know.. the depth and what is best .
Hospital an hour later
Vikram expected Mirnaa to get in, but she didnt, he feared if mirna went behind bharath, after knowing she got back memory?
Shiney stepped in — white coat over casual clothes — stethoscope around her neck. She saw his eyes open — relief flashed across her face, quickly masked by professional calm.
Vikram’s voice came out hoarse, cracked.
“Where… is she?”
“She was here all night,” she said. “Didn’t leave your side until an hour ago. Didnt know what happened she got my car keys and said she is going somewhere.
“I wanted to meet you that day,” the day when Aadharsh took you to abaonded place. To ask you on one important thing, She puzlled what was it about
Now, i know every truth about her, the reasons, she did everything to save me, her distance, her anger, coldness but only one thing i didn't understand
Vikram’s throat worked.
“Why Bharath?” His voice cracked. “Why the sex? Why… let him have her like that?”
Shiney looked at him — steady, unflinching.
“She wanted to have sex with Bharath because she felt that was the only way she could keep him from getting distracted. He had his own revenge — he was volatile, obsessed. Sex kept him tethered — focused on her — not on rushing into something reckless that could backfire on you. She believed Bharath is only tool that can take her to aadharsh and play him so that she could save your protect you. And as for sexual relation, She had no guilt over it… because she had already decided to leave you. Forever.”
Vikram’s breath caught.
“What?”
“Yes,” Shiney said softly. “Even before she knew the full truth about Aadharsh — when you came back from Zurich — her original plan was to leave. To take a remote job — vanish from your life completely — so you could have a new life. A clean one. Without the shadow of her knowing your past. Without the weight of her staying out of pity or fear.”
Vikram stared at the ceiling — tears slipping silently down his temples.
Shiney continued — voice gentle.
“But after the truth came out… she didn’t feel it as a burden anymore. She was worried about your safety. So she consoled herself: Let the decision stay the same. Let him hate me. I will protect him from the shadows.”
She reached out — touched his arm.
“I only learned the full extent a few days ago — when you were admitted here. She broke down in front of me. Told me everything. The plan. The guilt. The love she couldn’t kill.”
Vikram stayed silent — tears falling freely now.
He didn’t speak for a long time.
Finally — voice barely a whisper:
“She was going to disappear… so I could be happy.”
Shiney nodded.
“She thought that was the kindest thing she could do.”
He turned his head — looked at the empty chair.
“I just want her back,” he said — broken. “I don’t care about the rest. I just… want her back.”
Shiney squeezed his hand.
You are still weak, trips still on.. Take rest Mirna will come back soon.
When she comes speak to her calm.
At the abandoned factory
The abandoned factory was a rotting giant — rusted girders, broken skylights letting in shafts of cold moonlight, the air thick with dust and oil.
A narrow metal bridge hung suspended over a thirty-foot drop old loading platform to storage loft swaying slightly in the night wind. Bharath was tied to a support beam at the far end wrists bound behind him blood drying on his lip from the earlier beating.
Mirnaa stepped inside heart slamming against her ribs Shiney’s car keys still clutched in her fist. The door clanged shut behind her.
Aadharsh stood in the middle of the bridge casual arms crossed smiling like a man who had already won.
“Welcome, madam,” he said — voice smooth, mocking.
His men down, gestured to the bridge short, treacherous — one misstep and it was a long fall onto concrete below.
Mirnaa walked forward eyes locked on Bharath. She climbed the short steps stepped onto the swaying metal each footfall echoing.
Aadharsh laughed — low, satisfied.
“In a few minutes Shobi will come here. I spoke with him. Let him know the truth you and Bharath tried to harm me by twisting hatred between me and Shobi.”
Mirnaa reached the center — stopped a few feet from him.
“Bharath had no link,” she said — voice steady. “I was the master planner.”
Bharath shouted - muffled — desperate.
“No — Mirnaa!”
She turned to Bharath and said.
“You have a kid. You still have parents.
He shouted — what about Vikram?
She said.. He will live with Swathi…
Let this end here. With me.
She turned to aadahrsh and said.. .You do whatever you want but leave my husband alone.
Also Bharath had no part in it.”
She prayed silently — scanning for any opportunity — any loose pipe — any moment of distraction.
Aadharsh looked her up and down — slow — leering.
“Maybe you need a different punishment.”
He stepped closer — voice dropping.
“Come near me.”
Mirnaa walked forward — stopped inches away.
“I will do whatever you ask,” she said — voice calm. “But release Bharath first.”
Aadharsh smiled — nodded to his men.
“Remove his ropes. Hold him.”
They cut Bharath free — but four men pinned him instantly — arms twisted behind — forcing him to watch.
Bharath struggled — shouting — but couldn’t break free.
Footsteps echoed from the far end.
Shobi arrived flanked by six of his men gun in hand — face cold.
Aadharsh spread his arms — welcoming.
Shobi just ignored.
Adharsh hide his hurt..
“Welcome, boss. I asked you to come here to show you who actually tried to hurt you. It’s this woman — the so-called Shadow King Vikram’s wife — and her lover Bharath.
They both tried to harm you and pinned the blame on me so we would fight.”
Mirnaa realized too late — she had no leverage left.
Aadharsh continued — smiling at Shobi.
“You finish them off. I will finish Vikram.”
He turned back to Mirnaa — eyes gleaming.
“But first… maybe you need a different kind of lesson.”
Mirna had just processed the word i will finish virkam..
He reached for her — hand grazing her arm.
Mirnaa didn’t flinch. Adrenaline rush kicked in ..
Instead — she lunged — grabbed Aadharsh’s collar — pulled him hard toward the edge.
The bridge swayed like a dying breath — metal groaning under their weight, wind whistling through broken beams thirty feet above the concrete abyss below. Mirnaa’s fingers were locked around Aadharsh’s collar — knuckles white — her entire body straining as she pulled with everything she had left.
It wasn’t rage.
It wasn’t revenge.
It was surrender wrapped in fury.
She had already decided — in the heartbeat between hearing the coordinates and stepping onto this rotting scaffold — that if this was the only way to end the threat to Vikram, she would take Aadharsh with her.
One final act. One clean cut. Her life for his freedom.
The sudden jerk threw the narrow walkway into chaos. The entire structure lurched — supports shrieking — bolts popping loose like gunfire. Aadharsh stumbled forward, off-balance, legs kicking air as the edge gave way beneath him.
But he caught it.
One hand clamped around a thick steel support pipe — rusted but still solid — his body slamming against the side of the bridge. His other hand clawed at Mirnaa’s forearm — nails digging into skin — dragging her with him.
“You bitch!” he snarled, face contorted, spit flying. “You tried to pull me with you!”
Mirnaa felt the burn of his grip — felt the bridge tilt further — felt gravity reaching for her ankles.
She didn’t scream.
She looked down once — into the black mouth of the drop — and thought, very clearly: If this is how it ends, at least he’s safe.
Aadharsh man rushed to resuce him .. both were safely at the edge
Aadharsh just said.. Sobhi shoot her.. let this bitch know her lesson..
He looked at Sobhi, the guns were aiming at Aadharsh.. not at Mirnaa.
Sobhi opened his mouth finally, do you think i forget how you attacked me in Noida. her husband saved me then..
Though this women tricked me, she didnt make me fall and its rare to see a women doing so much risk for a women..
Adarsh realizing situation signaled his men..
Gunfire erupted behind them — Shobi’s men opening up on Aadharsh’s guards.
Bullets sparked off metal, ricocheted into darkness. Bharath rolled free in the pandemonium — tackling one man — wrenching a pistol from lifeless fingers — already firing back.
The bridge bucked again — violent, sickening.
Mirnaa’s grip on the steel pipe near slipped.— sweat-slick palms sliding — her body tilting forward.
She lost him.
Her feet slid off the edge — stomach lurching — world flipping upside down.
She caught the rope — one desperate swipe — fingers closing around the coarse hemp line that dangled from a broken pulley overhead. Her body jerked to a stop — hanging — legs kicking uselessly over nothing.
The drop yawned beneath her — dark, endless, hungry.
She heard aadahrsh voice, the cry over his defeat on sharp thud on ground.
The gang war ended in sobhis favor..
She closed her eyes.
Not in fear.
In acceptance.
It’s okay, she thought. Vikram is alive. No more threats.. He will live a new life... That’s enough.
She decided to leave her grip on the hanging rope that safegaruding her..
& like a miracle
A hand clamped around her shoulder — strong — trembling — desperate.
Her eyes snapped open.
She looked up
breath catching
heart shattering all over again.
Vikram.
IV line still dangling from the back of his hand — needle bent, tape peeling, blood seeping through the bandage wrapped around his head. Face pale as death, eyes burning with something fiercer than pain, fiercer than love — something that had dragged him out of a hospital bed, through traffic, up a condemned structure, against every doctor’s order, every law of survival.
He had come.
He smiled down at her — cracked lips, blood-streaked teeth — voice rough, hoarse, cracked open with everything he had held inside for months.
“I said right…” he rasped, fingers tightening on her shoulder, arm shaking with the effort of holding her weight.
“Wherever you go… whichever corner you go… I will find you.”
Tears flooded Mirnaa’s eyes — hot, instant, unstoppable.
She couldn’t speak.
She could only stare up at him — at the man she had tried to destroy to save — at the man who had refused to let her go — even when she begged him to hate her, to forget her, to live without her.
The gunfire around them faded to background noise — Shobi’s men overwhelming Aadharsh’s — mens getting defaeted — orders shouted — but none of it reached her.
All she could see was Vikram.
All she could feel was his hand — warm, alive, refusing to let go.
She tried to speak — throat too tight — voice breaking on the first syllable.
“Vikram…”
He shook his head — once small — eyes never leaving hers.
“Don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t apologize. Don’t explain. Just… hold on.”
His other hand — the one with the IV line — reached down — fingers finding hers — interlocking — iron grip.
“I know,” he said — voice cracking. “I heard you. Every word. When I was unconscious. I heard you crying… saying you love me… saying you’re sorry… saying you wanted me to live clean…”
He swallowed hard — tears slipping down his own face now — mixing with the blood.
“I accept you,” he said — raw — final. “For what you are. For everything you did. For everything you tried to hide. I accept it. I only ever loved you.”
Mirnaa’s sob broke free — loud — ugly — shattering.
She gripped his hand tighter — nails digging into skin — as if letting go would mean falling forever.
Above them — Bharath fought his way through the last of Aadharsh’s men — gun empty — fists bloody — until he reached the edge.
He saw Vikram — saw Mirnaa hanging — saw the way Vikram refused to let go even as his own body shook with pain and exhaustion.
Bharath dropped to his knees — reached down — added his strength — helping pull.
Together — they hauled her back onto the bridge.
Mirnaa collapsed against Vikram arms around his neck — face buried in his shoulder — sobbing uncontrollably.
He held her rocking gently whispering into her hair.
“I’m here. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Vikram held Mirnaa against his chest — one arm locked around her waist, the other cradling the back of her head as if letting go would mean she disappeared again. Her face was buried in his shoulder, tears soaking through his shirt.
He didn’t speak at first — just breathed her in — jasmine, sweat, fear, love — all the things he thought he’d lost forever.
Finally — voice low, cracked from pain and everything else — he spoke against her hair.
“I know every single truth,” he said. “I won’t leave you now.”
Mirnaa stiffened in his arms. Slowly — painfully — she pulled back just enough to look at him. Her eyes were red, swollen, shimmering.
“No,” she whispered — voice trembling.
“I’m going with Bharath.”
The words landed like a slap.
Vikram’s grip tightened instinctively — fingers digging into her waist.
Before he could speak
Bharath stepped forward — fast — voice rough, urgent.
“No No No Sorry buddy, im not taking her.”
Mirnaa turned — stunned.
Bharath looked straight at Vikram — eyes steady, raw.
“She’s faking. She’s lying. Trust me — this bugger cannot live without you. And whatever she says… every second, every minute… she only think about you.”
Mirnaa’s breath hitched — tears spilling faster.
Bharath kept going — voice breaking just a little.
“Mirnaa… for once… live for yourself. Now Aadharsh is gone. No more threat. Just apologize to him. If he wishes, for sure he will — he’ll take you back. Live a normal life.”
Mirnaa shook her head violently — sobs choking her words.
“I’m not going with Vikram. He has to start his life with Swathi”
Vikram cut her off — voice firm, quiet.
“Krish is awake.”
Mirnaa froze.
Vikram continued — eyes never leaving hers.
“Even if that wasn’t the case… I won’t marry her.”
She stared — lips trembling.
“Why…?”
Vikram’s hand came up — cupped her cheek — thumb brushing away tears.
“Because i love you, I accept you for what you are,” he said — slow — deliberate — every word carved from somewhere deep. “I only loved you.”
Mirnaa’s sob broke free — loud, ugly, shattering.
She realized — in that instant — he had heard her. Every whispered apology, every tearful confession when he was unconscious — he had heard it all.
“I accept you for what you are…” she echoed voice barely audible tears flooding anew. “You heard me…”
He nodded once small — eyes shining.
“I heard everything.”
I got memory 24 hours back, i just pretended fearing you will move away..
He pulled her into a hug — tight — desperate — burying his face in her hair.
She clung back — fingers fisting his shirt — body shaking.
He pulled back just enough — looked at her — asked softly:
“You know my past already? Are you okay with it?”
She nodded tears streaming — no hesitation.
He swallowed — voice cracking.
“Did you already know… I had a small affair?”
She shook her head — slow — honest.
“No.”
Vikram searched her eyes — raw, vulnerable.
“Will you excuse me?”
Mirnaa’s lips trembled — but her voice was steady.
“It’s just sex,” she whispered. “I accept you for what you are.”
She giggled and laughed smiled.. with shyness and tears.
Bharath standing a few steps away — smiled. Small. Sad. Real.
He watched them — watched the way she melted into Vikram’s arms — watched the way Vikram held her like she was the only thing keeping him upright.
He exhaled — long — accepting.
They finally came down from the bridge , Vikram supporting Mirnaa — her head on his shoulder — his arm around her waist.
Shobi reached the place ,boots crunching on broken glass ,looked at the scene ,then extended his hand to Vikram.
“Thank you,” he said — voice gruff, sincere. “It was you who saved me in Noida. Now your wife — though she tricked me ,I appreciate her risk to save you. I wish I had a sister like her.”
He revealed ,quietly — that it was his men who had pulled Vikram from the hospital and brought him here.
Shiney’s car was parked outside — Bharath had driven it.
Bharath got behind the wheel ,Vikram and Mirnaa in the rear seats.
They didn’t speak much.
Mirnaa placed her head on Vikram’s shoulder , fingers laced through his ,gently checking the bent IV needle still taped to his hand from when he’d pulled her up.
She peeled it away carefully — wrapped the spot with the edge of her dupatta — soft, tender, like she was tending to something precious.
Bharath watched everything in the rearview mirror — eyes soft — resigned.
“Lucky bastard,” he said quietly — almost to himself.
“You won.”
Vikram heared it, looked at him in the mirror — no triumph, only gratitude.
Bharath smiled — faint — real.
He spoke again — louder this time — voice cracking just a little.
“Vikram… you are a lucky bastard. I had to trick her. Manipulate her. Fake love to win her. But even after so many things happend between us… she just chose you. Every second. Every minute. You are a lucky bastard.”
He laughed — soft, broken — shaking his head.
Mirnaa just tightened her embrace on Vikram’s hand ,cheek pressed to his shoulder ,tears still falling ,but quieter now.
The car drove into the dawn — carrying three broken people — and one fragile, stubborn hope. Nothing has to be said, three of them know.. the depth and what is best .
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