The slipper taps grew louder until the figure stepped out
of the shadows. The guardians bowed instantly, their arrogance replaced by
reverence. Karikalan and Maya braced themselves, expecting a stranger.
But when the woman's face was revealed, both of them froze.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
It was Pooja.
Maya gasped, her voice trembling:
"What…? Is she… the actress?"
Karikalan's thoughts raced, his mind struggling to
reconcile the image before him.
"I never imagined this twist. I've seen her before…
she's an actress. Now it's clear why they brought us here."
The guardians remained silent, watching the shock ripple
through the two captives. Pooja's expression was calm, almost unreadable, but
her presence carried an aura of authority that silenced the hall.
Pooja moved gracefully from the shadows, her presence
commanding the room. She walked with deliberate steps until she reached a grand
couch draped in velvet. As she sat, the guardians immediately bent their bodies
forward, bowing low like soldiers paying homage to a queen. The atmosphere
shifted — reverence filled the hall, heavy and overwhelming.
Karikalan's eyes narrowed, his voice low but sharp:
"Why are they respecting her like a queen? It's
overwhelming."
Maya's voice trembled, her fear palpable:
"I don't know what she is going to do now… I am afraid.
I can feel her presence. It's like a queen striding along the aisle for the
throne."
Karikalan turned to her, his tone cutting through her
anxiety:
"Stop telling nuisance things to me. Just focus on her
words. Then we will react — either through words or through fights."
The guardians remained bowed, silent and obedient, while
Pooja leaned back on the couch, her gaze fixed on the two who dared not bow.
The tension in the hall was suffocating, the air charged with tension.
Pooja leaned back on the velvet couch, her posture regal,
her presence commanding. The guardians bowed deeply, their reverence echoing
through the hall. Only Karikalan and Maya remained upright, their eyes fixed on
her.
Her voice carried both elegance and weight as she began:
"I think you two already know my name. But let me
introduce myself properly. My name is Pooja. I am one of the leading actresses
in Indian cinema. I have won many awards for my talent, and I have been in this
industry since I was seven years old."
Karikalan and Maya exchanged glances, stunned by the
revelation.
Pooja's tone softened, but her words cut deep:
"During those years, I struggled greatly. When I was
seven, at the very beginning of my career, tragedy struck. My family died in an
air crash. By fate, my younger brother and I survived only because we were not
on that plane. From then on, I carried the burden of raising him alone."
Her eyes grew distant, recalling the pain.
"Because of my family's status, directors and producers
gave me a chance to enter the cine field. They were impressed by my talent, and
I climbed step by step until I reached the peak. My brother… he is the only
blood I have left in this world, despite the detached feelings between us."
Maya's expression softened, her fear momentarily replaced
by empathy.
Pooja turned her gaze toward her, her voice steady:
"I respect your feelings, Maya. And I despise my
brother's behavior toward you. For that, I apologize."
The hall fell silent. Karikalan's jaw tightened, waiting
for her true intent.
Finally, Pooja leaned forward, her eyes sharp, her tone
shifting from confession to command:
"Now, the reason I brought you here is simple. I need a
favor. A task that only you can perform for me."
Karikalan's voice cut through the silence, sharp and
suspicious:
"What is that?"
Pooja's gaze shifted toward him, her tone firm but
dismissive:
"This matter is between me and Maya. I don't want you
interfering right now."
She turned her attention to Maya, her voice softening:
"Maya, come and sit on the couch."
Maya hesitated, but under the weight of Pooja's presence,
she obeyed and sat down. Her voice trembled as she spoke:
"I knew you were angry at me because of the restaurant
incident. I know very well that I was one of the people who disrespected your
brother. I apologize… please forgive me for what I did to him."
Pooja's expression softened, her words carrying both
authority and empathy:
"It's okay. I forgive you. And I will ensure that my
brother will not cross your line again."
But then, her tone shifted. She placed a document on the
table in front of Maya's couch, the sound of paper landing echoing in the tense
hall.
"But first… I would like you to sign this document."
Maya's eyes widened, her voice uncertain:
"What is this about?"
Pooja leaned forward, her gaze piercing, her tone calm yet
commanding:
"It's just an agreement between us."
Maya's suspicion grew, her voice filled with doubt:
"What do you mean?"
Pooja leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Maya, her voice
calm but heavy with authority:
"Let us talk about the agreement between us right now.
In this document, it is clearly stated that if the victim — you — violates the
agreement, you will be detained under the following conditions."
She began listing the clauses, each one striking like a
blade:
1.
"If the victim makes any
interrogatory remarks against my brother."
2.
"If the victim signs the
agreement but violates it, then my brother has every right to protect himself
under the fundamental rights of the Indian Constitution."
3.
"Any evidence you try to
upload on social media will be considered fake and is strictly prohibited."
4.
"If you violate the
agreement, you and your family members will be arrested."
The guardians stood silently, their eyes cold, as Pooja's
words echoed in the hall.
"These are the four main points in this agreement. Now,
Maya… I request you to sign the document and leave this house."
Maya's hands trembled, her face pale.
"Why should I sign this? This is not an agreement… this
is a trap you're trying to bind me into. I won't sign it!"
She rose from the couch, attempting to leave, but Pooja's
voice stopped her.
"Before you leave, you must watch this video."
The screen flickered to life. Maya's eyes widened in
horror. The video showed Veera sleeping, surrounded by Pooja's
guardians, each armed with knives, waiting for her command.
Maya broke down, tears streaming down her face.
"No… please… don't hurt him!"
Karikalan snapped, his voice thunderous with rage:
"What the hell are you doing, Pooja? Do you think this
is fair? These two are children — they haven't even crossed eighteen! And
you're threatening them without a conscience? Stop this!"
Pooja's gaze turned cold, her tone sharp:
"I already told you not to intervene in this matter.
Before you question me, ask yourself — who are you? Why are you still defending
them? Do you think these two would help you? Think about your own condition."
Her words cut deeper, venomous:
"She said she would do anything to protect him from you.
She asked me to take over you. You are nothing compared to the power I hold
now. You call yourself a fighter, but in reality, you're nothing but a scumbag.
I thought you would win against Elara, but in the end… no. You lost before the
fight even started. And I heard you're training one guy from the US — how is it
fair for you to teach someone when the master himself has no talent in the
ring?"
The hall fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down
on Karikalan, Maya, and everyone present.
Karikalan's voice rang out, firm and unwavering despite the
humiliation he had endured:
"That's none of your business. It is my duty to protect
these two, no matter what. Despite humiliation, I will stand by them."
He turned to Maya, his tone commanding but protective:
"I am warning you, Pooja. We will commit to your
agreement, but we will continue to fight against any threat to these two. Maya…
sign the agreement now."
Maya's hands trembled, her heart heavy with fear. She
looked at Karikalan, then at the document, knowing she had no choice. With
tears in her eyes, she signed the agreement. The sound of the pen scratching
across the paper echoed like a chain locking shut.
Karikalan rose, his voice sharp:
"Now, we are moving away from this place. Do not disturb
us again."
But as they moved toward the exit, the guardians stepped
forward, blocking their path. Their bodies formed a wall of steel and silence.
Karikalan's eyes blazed with fury:
"Why are you blocking our way? I am reiterating — leave
way for us!"
The guardians did not move. Instead, they tightened their
formation, surrounding Karikalan and Maya like predators circling prey. The air
grew tense, suffocating, as the two realized they were trapped once again.