Chapter 101: chapter 101

MADHAV“Sir, these are the finalized snacks and refreshments that will be served to the guests,” the event manager says, handing over the list.I glance through it quickly. “The items seem fine, but did you taste them?”The manager looks at me, clearly unsure. “Is that necessary?”“Absolutely,” I say, holding his gaze. “I don’t want my guests to leave disappointed or on an empty stomach.”He rubs his temples. “Fine, I’ll taste them and remove any dishes that aren’t up to standard.”“Good. Now, what about the security details I asked for?”“They’ll be ready by the afternoon, sir.”“Give them to me once they’re finalized,” I say with a dismissive nod. He leaves, and the office falls silent again.I try to focus on the work in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting to Sruthi. I spin the paperweight on my desk, remembering how beautiful she looked this morning. The way her hair fell over her shoulders, the soft smile on her lips... It’s been seven years of loving her from a distance, and only now, after everything, she says she loves me too.But I’m still not sure I believe her.It’s not that I doubt her sincerity; it’s that I can’t seem to accept that after all those years, she’s finally looking at me the way I’ve always looked at her. The table vibrates, snapping me back to reality. I glance at my phone and frown at the name on the screen.“Hello,” I answer.“Madhav, things have taken an ugly turn,” Vikram’s voice is grave. “Vishnu tried to commit suicide last night.”I grip the phone tighter, my voice low. “What?”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“What the hell is going on?” I demand as I storm into the police officer’s office. The man before me is in his fifties, with a bald head and a paunch, looking just as perplexed as I feel.“That’s what we’re trying to figure out too,” the officer replies. He looks just as lost as I am. Vishnu—the same security guard who nearly killed Sruthi—had confessed to his crimes without hesitation. He’d accepted his prison sentence like a badge of honor, a twisted sort of pride in avenging his brother. For him to suddenly try and end his life makes no sense.I take a seat, my pulse still racing. “Tell me exactly what happened.”The officer sighs, glancing down at the report in front of him. “It started about a week ago. Vishnu began demanding to be released, out of nowhere. One moment he was normal—accepting his place in prison, calm. The next, he’d act like he had no idea why he was there. It was like he had two different personalities.”I narrow my eyes, trying to make sense of it.“Two days ago, he became more agitated. He started shouting, accusing everyone around him of treating him unfairly, demanding his release.”“And then?” I prompt.“Yesterday, he was unusually quiet. He ate his meals without a word, didn’t cause any trouble. We thought the worst of it was over. Then we found him in his cell, lying in a pool of his own blood. A gash on his right wrist.”I grit my teeth. Vishnu’s suicide attempt doesn’t sit right with me. There’s something off here. “What about the medical report?”The officer’s expression shifts slightly, almost excited. “This is where things get interesting. We found traces of drugs in his system. The doctors said it was something similar to Scopolamine”My gut clenches. “Scopolamine?” A chill runs through me as the pieces start to fall into place. My initial hunch was right. Raj—that damned manipulator—he’s involved. He always had a thing for mind-control drugs. His last research before his arrest had been based on them.“I need to meet Vishnu,” I say, already knowing the answer.The officer shakes his head. “You know the procedure, sir. You’ll need higher authority clearance.”I pull out my phone, my lips curling into a cold smile. “Will the defense minister’s signature suffice?”The officer’s eyes widen before he chuckles. “Of course it will. I keep forgetting you’re the defense minister’s brother-in-law.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥As I wait at the police station, I dial Vikram. His voice comes through, sharp and to the point. “Did you find anything?”“I should have finished him off months ago,” I mutter, pacing the small office. “If I had, we wouldn’t be in this mess now.”“Who?” “Raj. There are traces of a mind control drug in Vishnu's body and we both know who had been playing with that kind of drugs.”“For once, I agree with you,” Vikram says. “I should’ve had you kill Raj then instead of gathering evidence. I underestimated him. Now, we’re paying the price.”His voice turns serious again. “Are you going to meet Vishnu?”“Yes,” I answer, “if you sign off on those damned sheets I faxed you.”There’s a pause, and I can hear Vikram sigh on the other end of the line. “You think Raj is behind this, don’t you?”I don’t hesitate. “I know he is. Vishnu’s just a pawn. This has Raj’s fingerprints all over it.”Vikram is silent for a moment before he speaks again, his voice a bit lower. “We can’t be sure yet, Madhav. We need more evidence before we act.”I stop pacing, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’m not going to wait for more proof while that bastard is still out there, pulling strings. You know what he’s capable of.”“I do,” Vikram responds calmly, but I can hear the tension beneath his words. “But we can’t afford to make a mistake here. And what about Sruthi? Are we going to tell her about this?”The mention of her name sends a pang through my chest. I know where this conversation is headed. “She deserves to know the truth,” I say, my voice firm. “We can’t keep her in the dark, Vikram. She’s stronger than you think.”“She’s been through enough,” Vikram argues. “I don’t want to drag her back into this mess, not when we don’t even have all the answers yet.”“She’s my wife,” I remind him, my tone hardening. “And I love her. I don’t want to lie to her.”“I know you love her, Madhav,” Vikram says, his voice softening. “But she’s my sister. I can’t let her worry about something that might not even be true. Not until we know for sure.”I pause, the weight of his words sinking in. He’s right—Sruthi has been through more than anyone should. But keeping her in the dark feels wrong. She deserves the truth. But how can I balance that with wanting to protect her from further pain?“I don’t want to lie to her,” I repeat, my voice quieter now. “Not after everything. She deserves better.”Vikram sighs. “I’m not saying we lie. I’m saying we wait. Just a little longer. Let’s be sure before we put this on her shoulders.”I stand there, torn. Every instinct in me screams to protect Sruthi, to be honest with her. But Vikram’s right too. If we’re wrong, if this is just another one of Rajs games... it could break her.“I’ll think about it,” I finally say, my voice heavy.“You’re not alone in this, Madhav,” Vikram says, his tone soft but firm. “We both want what’s best for her.”The call ends, and I’m left standing in the quiet of the police station, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I look at my phone, Sruthi’s name flashing across my screen, and my heart tightens.She says she loves me, and I want to believe her. But how can I protect her from a world that won’t stop throwing danger our way?❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥