VIKRAM 2.0

**Punishment or reward**

The room was dimly lit. Ritu was still in Vikram’s arms, and her heart was beating rapidly. She could feel Vikram’s breath close to her, and his intense eyes seemed to hold her captive.

In a soft voice, Vikram asked, **“So, you like listening to me?”**

Ritu gently tried to pull away from his embrace, but Vikram pulled her even closer.

Smiling slightly, Vikram said, **“Your eyes seem to want me more than ever.”**

Ritu’s face turned red with shyness. She quickly reached out and playfully grabbed Vikram’s ears.

**“You’ve become such a devil!”**

Vikram chuckled at her gesture and said, **“If I’m the devil, then you’re my angel—making this devil lose control even more.”**

Vikram smiled and gently removed her hand, but just then, Ritu hugged him again. Surprised by her sudden hug, Vikram held her tightly against his chest.

If anyone had seen them, they’d have fainted from sheer jealousy! After a while, they pulled away from each other and looked around awkwardly.

They had been married for **three years**, yet they still hesitated to embrace each other like this.

Breaking the silence, Vikram asked, **“Don’t you have to go to work today?”**

Ritu smiled lightly and replied, **“No, not today. I’m not going to the office.”**

Vikram asked, a bit surprised, **“Why? What’s special today?”**

Ritu, trying to hide her embarrassment, said, **“Nothing… I just want to spend time with you.”**

Vikram’s face lit up with joy, but then he suddenly remembered something. Hesitating a little, he said, **“I’m sorry, Ritu, but I have an important task today. I can’t skip it.”**

Ritu responded a bit annoyed, **“What’s so important that you can’t even spend time with me?”**

Vikram took a deep breath and said, **“I have to meet someone, Ritu.”**

Insisting, Ritu said, **“Then I’ll come with you!”**

Vikram laughed softly and said, **“But…”**

Before he could finish, Ritu cut him off, **“No buts! Wherever you go, I’m going too.”**

Vikram looked at her closely, then smiled and said, **“Alright, but don’t talk to anyone about what you’ll see there.”**

Ritu made a puzzled face but nodded.

**“Okay, don’t think too much about it now. I’m going to freshen up—just wait a little,”** Vikram said and walked toward the bathroom.

### **A New Feeling**

A while later, Vikram came out freshened up and looked at the clock—it was already **7:00 AM**.

He suddenly noticed Ritu staring at him. Smiling, Vikram asked, **“What is it, love?”**

Ritu quickly looked away and nervously said, **“Nothing… just like that.”**

But Vikram understood everything.

When he came out of the shower, his body was glistening with water droplets. His **strong build and six-pack abs** caught Ritu off guard, and for a few moments, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

She had never seen Vikram like this before, since he was always dressed by the time she woke up. But last night, Vikram hadn’t come home, and Ritu had trouble sleeping. That morning, she smiled while looking at their wedding picture.

Realizing this, Vikram smiled gently, then quickly got dressed and said, **“Come on, love, let’s go!”**

Ritu nodded and walked out with him.

Vikram noticed that Ritu wanted to hold his hand but kept pulling back shyly. Finally, smiling, Vikram took her hand himself.

Seeing this, Ritu felt happy and quietly got into the car.

### **An Unknown Destination**

Vikram took the driver’s seat and started the car.

A **romantic song** was playing inside the car—

**"Likhe jo khat tujhe... woh teri yaad mein

Hazaron rang ke... nazare ban gaye

Savera jab hua... to phool ban gaye

Jo raat aayi to... sitare ban gaye..."**

Lost in the melody, neither of them realized when they reached the hospital.

Vikram stopped the car in front of the hospital, and Ritu asked in surprise, **“Why are we at a hospital?”**

Vikram just nodded and got out of the car.

Thinking for a moment, Ritu asked, **“Last night you said you were meeting friends—are we here to meet them?”**

Vikram shook his head and replied, **“No, it’s not a friend... it’s someone else—someone of my own.”**

**“Who is it?”** Ritu asked curiously.

**“Come inside, you’ll find out,”** Vikram said with a mysterious smile.

Ritu made a confused face but nodded, and they walked into the hospital together.

### **Layers of Mystery Begin to Unfold**

As soon as they entered, a **55-year-old man** stood in front of them.

Vikram looked shocked for a moment. Then recognition flashed in his eyes, and in a serious tone, he said, **“It’s really you, isn’t it? The one I’ve been thinking about?”**

The 55-year-old man smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

Ritu looked at Vikram in surprise.

Seeing the nod, Vikram smiled too.

Ritu gently held Vikram’s hand and asked, **“Who is this man, Vikram?”**

The man spoke with a soft smile, **“I am the one Vikram lost years ago… but fate brought us back together.”**

Vikram lowered his head in agreement.

Ritu looked at Vikram with questioning eyes and softly asked, **“Really?”**

Is he a long-lost relative? A father, brother, or perhaps an old mentor?

And if he was so important, then why did Vikram never mention him to Ritu before?

She stared at Vikram in shock—**What was this secret?**

**Who was this man, and how did Vikram know him?**

Stay tuned to find out, only on **"Vikram 2.0"**!