The private jet of Aryan landed in Chennai. Ranjith, along with his guards, took charge of Vivaan, who was unconscious. All the formalities were arranged, showing Vivaan as a patient returning to his hometown for treatment. They transported him directly to Aryan’s underground cell and locked him inside. Ranjith instructed the guards, “Inform me the moment he regains consciousness,” and left.
Meanwhile, Naren was sitting beside Maya. Despite his disapproval of her actions and stubbornness, he had always loved her. A doctor entered to check her vitals while Naren waited nearby.
“Doctor, is there any improvement?” Naren asked.
“Her injury is healing,” the doctor replied. “But more than our treatment, someone from her close circle must stay and talk to her, give her hope to return to normal life. If that doesn’t help, we might need to consider another surgery, but the risk of her losing memory is very high. You have to decide.”
“Sure, doctor. I’ll let you know. And please, keep this update only with me. Don’t inform my father. Just tell him she is showing progress.”
“As you say, Mr. Naren,” the doctor nodded and left.
Naren was deep in thought about Maya’s life when Aryan’s call came.
“Yes, Aryan,” Naren answered.
“Naren, we have Vivaan. Come to the mansion. Let’s go together to meet him.”
“I’ll be there.”
Naren reached the mansion, and Aryan, along with Ranjith, took him in their car to the underground cell.
“Naren, we are going to my underground cell. You’re the first person to know about it. I trust you,” Aryan said.
“Thanks, Aryan,” Naren replied.
“I need your help to find a similar underground cell your father might be using. It must be either at your home or his office.”
“He doesn’t have such a place, Aryan.”
“He does, Naren. If you help me find it, I can gather evidence to stop your father’s revenge.”
“I don’t think so, but if there is something, I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you.”
They arrived at the cell where Vivaan was tied to a chair. Naren, unable to contain his rage, punched Vivaan. Ranjith and Aryan pulled him back and settled opposite Vivaan.
“What is your relationship with Maya?” Aryan questioned.
“She is just my friend,” Vivaan replied.
“Do you know her current condition?”
“No, I don’t.”
Aryan nodded at Naren, who showed Vivaan a photo of Maya lying unconscious in bed. Vivaan trembled.
“What happened to her?” he stammered.
“She met with an accident. She’s in a coma now,” Naren said.
“Now tell me again,” Aryan’s voice turned cold. “What is your relationship with Maya?”
“I told you—just friends.”
Aryan kicked him, and the chair toppled. Ranjith lifted Vivaan and slapped him hard.
Aryan signaled Ranjith, who brought in a man, brutally beaten and barely recognizable. Vivaan immediately identified him as the friend who helped him in Ooty.
“Now tell me,” Aryan repeated.
“We were in the same college,” Vivaan began, voice trembling. “We were in love. She was madly in love with me, but one day, she told me she wanted to end it. I tried many times to talk, but she ignored me. Later, I heard she was interested in you, and that’s why she left me.”
“Then I heard she moved to Canada for you. I couldn’t move on. When I saw her again at the bar after three years, the old feelings returned. She wasn’t ready to talk, but I convinced her we could be friends. We started hanging out with Riya and Lekha. But my love and desire only grew. Even knowing you were married, she still wanted you. That triggered my ego. I wanted her.”
“At a nightclub, I drugged her, took her to Lekha’s house, and… I used her state. Later, in Ooty, my friend made a facial mask that looked like you. I wore it and took her to a room in a pub. I promised to marry her and took advantage of her trust. The next day, I convinced her friends to make her believe it was all a hallucination.”
“I haven’t met her since then. She got busy with business. I went to visit my parents.”
Naren grabbed Vivaan’s collar, slapped him, and tried to strangle him. Aryan pulled him back.
“Maya was pregnant,” Aryan said quietly, his voice low but heavy with weight. “She lost the baby in the accident.”
Vivaan’s expression shattered. He crumbled into tears, his breath catching in broken sobs.
Naren stepped closer, his eyes burning with fury and pain. “Do you still love her, or was all this just a twisted act of revenge?”
Vivaan shook his head helplessly. “I love her… I still do,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
Aryan leaned forward. “Then answer this—are you ready to marry her?”
Vivaan looked up, eyes filled with guilt and despair. “She won’t accept me…”
“That’s not your problem,” Naren snapped. “Just answer the question. Are you ready?”
“I’ve always wanted her in my life,” Vivaan admitted, his voice steadier now. “Yes. I’ll marry her.”
Aryan stood straight and gave a short nod. “Good. You’ll stay here until we sort this out. No more medical treatments or luxuries.”
He turned to Ranjith. “Keep him here. Watch him closely.”
“Yes, sir,” Ranjith replied. “And… what about his friend?”
Aryan’s eyes darkened. “Tell him to prepare another mask—of my face. Immediately. And bring it to me.”
Ranjith hesitated, confused. “Sir…?”
“Just do it,” Aryan ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
Aryan and Naren exited the cell. On the way, Naren informed Aryan about Maya’s condition. Aryan thought for a moment and then gave Naren a small smile.
“We’ll get Maya treated with another operation then,” Aryan said with quiet determination.
Naren looked troubled. “She will lose…” He trailed off, his voice fading as he turned to look at Aryan.
“Trust me,” Aryan said, holding Naren’s gaze. “We’ll sort this out once and for all.”
Naren nodded, then said, “Dad… we need to handle him.”
“You need to find his cell for that,” Aryan replied calmly.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
“Maybe Rajesh should be able to help you,” Aryan suggested.
“He will be of no use. He’s a heartless bastard,” Naren snapped.
“Ranjith will handle him to help you.”
Naren hummed a reluctant “okay” in response.
A week passed, and Sanju struggled to get back to her normal self. Her days dragged on, heavy with longing. She had only spoken to Aryan once, and her heart yearned desperately to see him again. Sitting in the garden, lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed Banu approaching.
“Sanju,” Banu said gently, “you’re losing weight, and that’s not healthy for the baby. It will affect the baby too. Try to understand—Aryan will come soon to meet you. And what will you tell him if he sees you in this condition? He’ll worry a lot. Not only are you suffering, but your baby is too. Do you want that?”
Sanju shook her head. “No, Banu. I’m trying, but I just… I can’t get back to normal. For so long I’ve been used to his pampering. I miss all of that. I miss him. A lot.”
“He knows you very well,” Banu said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “And he’ll definitely find a way to meet you. But you need to be strong enough to support him through this crucial time. He believes in you—that you’ll take care of yourself in his absence. And don’t forget, he’s left me and Deepa with you.”
“I’m sorry, Banu,” Sanju whispered. “I’ll be better.”
“That’s good. Now come and have some fruits,” Banu said with a soft smile, helping her up.
Meanwhile, Chandrasekar had arrived at the hospital to check on Maya’s condition. The doctor greeted him, already prepared to repeat what Naren had instructed.
“So my daughter will be fine after the operation?” Chandrasekar asked.
“Yes, sir,” the doctor replied. “But we need to wait another fifteen days for that.”
“Why so long?”
“Right now, she has to recuperate. Only then can we proceed.”
“Fine,” Chandrasekar said with a sigh. “Naren, just follow up with the doctor and keep me updated.”
“Okay, Dad. I think you should go home and get some rest now.”
“Hmm. I’ll be back tomorrow,” Chandrasekar said before leaving the room.
Once he was gone, the doctor turned to Naren. “Sir, are you sure about not informing your father about the post-operation effects?”
“Don’t worry,” Naren said calmly. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll tell you what has to be done.”
Elsewhere, Ranjith had made his way to Rajesh’s house in his absence, determined to uncover something useful. But to his frustration, everything seemed squeaky clean.
“Are you such a pious man, Rajesh?” he muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But I highly doubt that. There must be something to trap you.”
He opened drawer after drawer, rummaged through every corner of the bedroom, but found nothing incriminating. Just as he was about to give up, something unusual caught his eye—a corner of a file, peeking from beneath the bed.
Lifting the bed, Ranjith pulled out the file. As he flipped through its contents, a wide grin stretched across his face. Then, without warning, he burst into laughter—loud, manic laughter echoing through the room.
“I never knew you’d fall into my trap with such a simple secret,” he laughed. “I’ll make excellent use of this.”
Still grinning, he pulled out his mobile and dialed his guards. “Take Rajesh into custody as soon as possible,” he instructed.
He left the house, still smiling, his mind already plotting the next move.
