Karikalan's face hardened, his patience gone. In one swift
motion, he chopped Veera on the shoulder. The impact was precise,
controlled but devastating. Veera's body
went limp, collapsing to the ground unconscious.
The restaurant was silent, everyone even the gang members stunned by Karikalan's decisive chop that dropped Veera unconscious. Fear
rippled through the room.
Karikalan's voice cut through the tension, cold and
commanding.
Karikalan:"I'm
asking you — leave this place right now, except your leader. This is not a
request, it's my warning."
Terrified, the gang members scrambled out, leaving only
their broken leader behind. Karikalan stepped closer, his eyes sharp.
Karikalan:"Tell me,
brat… who is your father?"
But the boy couldn't speak — his jaw shattered from Veera's
punch. Karikalan sighed, regretful.
Karikalan:"Oh…
I apologize for asking such a stupid question. Show me your phone, so I can
identify and call them."
The boy weakly handed over his phone. Karikalan's eyes
widened in shock as he saw the guardian's name.
Karikalan (stunned):"What…
she? Pooja?"
Richard noticed Karikalan's frozen expression.
Karikalan (firmly):"Richard,
take him to his home. I'll talk to him tomorrow."
Richard frowned, confused.
Richard:"Why? What
happened? Why does your face look stunned?"
Karikalan's voice dropped, heavy with realization.
Karikalan:"We're in
trouble now."
Richard pressed again, desperate to understand.
Richard:"What
are you saying? I don't understand."
Karikalan's words landed like thunder.
Karikalan:"He… he
is that actress Pooja's younger brother."
Richard's voice broke the silence, frustration clear.
Richard:"Man,
this boy once again got us into trouble. What are we gonna do now?"
Karikalan's face was stern, his mind racing.
Karikalan:"I
haven't decided yet, Richard. But we need to do something… or else it could put
a full stop to those guys' career."
Richard frowned, confused.
Richard:"Why are
you saying that? You can inform the cops about this incident, right?"
Karikalan shook his head, his tone heavy.
Karikalan:"Yeah,
you're right. But even if I complain, it would be pointless. The cops won't
take action against them since they're popular. They'll twist the case, and
sometimes it could even backfire on us."
Richard pressed further.
Richard:"Then
what's your plan?"
Karikalan's eyes hardened, his decision forming.
Karikalan:"Now take
Veera to his home. I'll bring her to this guy's house. If possible, we'll try
to negotiate for a truce. But if the situation goes out of hand… then I'll have
to fight against them myself."
The night air was heavy with tension as Richard helped
Karthikeyan to his bike. The boy's eyes burned with quiet anger, his jaw still
aching from the fight.
Karikalan:"Do you
have your bike for going home?"
Karthikeyan nodded, his head stiff, pride wounded.
Karikalan:"You
leave now."
Without another word, Karthikeyan turned, his glare
lingering for a moment before he revved his bike and disappeared into the night
the sound fading like a growl swallowed by darkness.
Karikalan exhaled slowly, then turned to Maya.
Karikalan:"Wait
here for a minute."
He walked to the receptionist, exchanged a few quiet words,
and returned after a moment. Karikalan:"Come on, now we can go
to your home."
Maya hesitated.
Maya:"With
you?"
Karikalan raised an eyebrow.
Karikalan:"Is there
any problem bringing you home?"
Maya's voice trembled slightly, her eyes darting away.
Maya:"Yes… because
if anyone saw us at this time, they'd think we're a couple. It would be better
if you follow me from one meter behind. I'm not comfortable walking
together."
Karikalan paused, then nodded.
Karikalan:"Alright."
He followed her quietly, keeping his distance as she
requested. The streetlights flickered, casting long shadows on the pavement.
Inside his mind, frustration simmered. "Again!
Another annoying brat insults me… man, how long am I going to endure this kind
of humiliation in my life?"
But outwardly, he remained silent his steps steady, his expression unreadable.
The night swallowed his thoughts, leaving only the echo of his quiet endurance.
The street was quiet, only the sound of Maya's footsteps
ahead and Karikalan's steady stride one meter behind. The silence stretched
until Karikalan broke it with a casual tone: Karikalan:"Heh… by
the way, what does Veera usually do in school?"
Maya glanced back, her voice soft but tinged with memory.
Maya:"He's a good
boy. He plays with others, makes funny scenes in the classroom. At first, I
didn't speak to him… but now, he's not the same person since his brother's
health declined."
Karikalan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Karikalan:"What
kind of training did you give him? He's become physically strong I saw his fight in the school."
Maya shook her head quickly.
Maya:"Training? I
didn't give him anything. He grew strong on his own. He has potential… maybe
that's why he trained himself in martial arts."
Karikalan's voice dropped lower, probing.
Karikalan:"Do you
think that brat has interest in you?"
Maya froze mid‑step, her face turning pale.
Maya:"What? Why are
you asking me this kind of question?"
Karikalan's gaze was steady, his words sharp.
Karikalan:"Because
I saw a glint in his eyes when he fought those gang members. I've lived with
him for over six months. In all that time, I've never seen him fight with such
aggression. In simple words… he lost his mind."
Maya's silence hung heavy in the air, her expression caught
between shock and fear. Karikalan's words echoed like a warning not just about Veera's strength, but about
the dangerous path his rage was carving.
The walk continued in silence, the distance between them
heavy with unspoken tension. Karikalan's voice cut through the night air, calm
but probing:
Karikalan:"Then why
did your face turn pale when I mentioned Veera having an interest in you?"
Maya's steps faltered, her tone sharp.
Maya:"I
don't know about that… pipe down, please don't ask such nuisance questions to
me."
Karikalan's eyes narrowed, his words pressing closer.
Karikalan:"Come on!
Why are you hiding? Don't be so naïve. I won't tell this to him."
Maya's voice trembled, defensive yet uncertain.
Maya:"It's
not like that."
The silence returned, heavier than before. Karikalan's mind
churned with suspicion, while Maya's pale face betrayed emotions she refused to
voice. Step by step, they reached her home the quiet street now a stage for secrets
neither dared to fully reveal.