The old bike moved steadily along the road toward Trivandrum.
The engine gave its familiar rough sound beneath them, vibrating through the frame with every turn. The night air was cooler now, brushing against Raaghav Nair's face as he sat behind Raama Varma.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Raaghav simply held the side of the bike and watched the darkness pass around them.
His body still felt weak.
His head was heavy.
And somewhere inside him, the memory of the previous night remained like something he could not properly understand.
Raama knew it too.
Every now and then, he glanced at the rear-view mirror.
Raaghav looked exhausted.
Finally, Raaghav broke the silence.
"Chettah..."
Raama looked at him through the mirror.
"Mm?"
Raaghav hesitated.
Then, quietly—
"Enikkoru promise tharanam."
Raama's expression changed slightly.
"Entha?"
"Ee kaaryam..." Raaghav swallowed. "Innale enikku sambhavichath... family-od parayaruthu."
Raama did not answer immediately.
The bike continued forward.
Raaghav lowered his voice.
"Please, Chettah."
Raama understood what he meant.
He had seen Raaghav unconscious near the forest.
He had seen his breathing become difficult.
He had watched him wake up confused and frightened.
But Raaghav did not want Ramanidharan or anyone else to know.
Raama sighed.
"Seri, Ponmon."
Raaghav looked up.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Raaghav's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Thank you, Chettah."
A few seconds passed.
Then Raaghav spoke again.
"Pinne... enne IIA-il drop cheyyamo?"
Raama immediately shook his head.
"Illa."
Raaghav frowned.
"Why?"
"Nee ippo college-il pokanda."
"Enikku okay aanu."
"Okay aano?"
Raama's voice became firmer.
"Nee innale unconscious aayi kidannathaanu, Ponmon."
Raaghav became quiet.
"Enikku class miss aakum."
"Class miss aayal onnum sambhavikkilla."
"Arangetram preparation..."
"Athum wait cheyyum."
Raaghav sighed.
"Chettah..."
"Venda."
Raama's answer was final.
Raaghav leaned back against the seat.
He knew there was no point arguing.
After some more time, the familiar roads of Trivandrum began appearing around them.
Eventually, the old bike turned toward Kalamandalam.
Raaghav noticed.
"Chettah... IIA alle paranjath?"
Raama did not answer.
He simply continued riding.
Soon, the bike stopped in front of Kalamandalam.
Raaghav looked at the building.
Then at Raama.
"Chettah..."
"Purath irangi."
Raaghav slowly got down.
Raama switched off the engine.
"I'll take you inside."
Raaghav immediately protested.
"Venda, njan thanne poykolam."
Raama gave him a look.
"Ponmon."
That single word was enough.
Raaghav stopped arguing.
The two of them walked inside together.
Raaghav's steps were slower than usual.
Raama stayed beside him, quietly watching him.
Neither of them noticed the person approaching from the other side.
Ramanidharan Nair.
The moment Ramanidharan saw Raaghav walking beside Raama Varma, his face changed.
His eyes immediately went to his younger brother.
Then to Raama.
Then back to Raaghav.
His anger rose instantly.
He walked toward them.
"Raaghav."
Raaghav stopped.
"Chettan..."
Before Raaghav could say anything else, Ramanidharan stepped toward Raama.
"Nee evide aayirunnu?"
Raama remained calm.
"Ramanidharan, listen—"
But Ramanidharan did not wait.
His hand struck Raama across the face.
The sound echoed through the quiet space.
Raaghav froze.
"Chettan!"
Raama stepped back.
For a moment, he simply stared at Ramanidharan.
Then his expression hardened.
"Enne thalliyo?"
Ramanidharan moved toward him again.
"Ente aniyane evide kondupoyi ennariyamo ninakku?"
Raama's anger finally broke through.
"I took him because he needed help!"
"Help?"
Ramanidharan pushed him.
"Nee avane evideya kondupoyath?"
Raama pushed him back.
"First calm down!"
"Enikku calm aavan parayanda!"
The argument became physical almost instantly.
Ramanidharan grabbed Raama's shoulder.
Raama pushed his hand away.
Ramanidharan shoved him again.
Raama reacted.
Within seconds, what had begun as anger became a fight.
"Chettan!"
Raaghav's voice trembled.
Neither of them listened.
"Raama!"
Another voice came from behind.
Kalamandalam Kaliyanandan Nair had seen them.
The old guru hurried toward them.
"Mathi!"
His voice carried authority.
But the two men were already caught in the moment.
Kaliyanandan stepped between them.
"Mathi! Ningal randuperum entha ee cheyyunnath?"
He tried to separate them.
Raaghav stood a few feet away, helplessly watching.
His breathing began to change.
The scene in front of him became increasingly difficult to process.
Ramanidharan was furious.
Raama was equally angry.
And between them stood his grandfather.
"Stop it!"
Kaliyanandan raised his hand to separate them.
But in the confusion, the strike that was meant for Raama landed on Kaliyanandan instead.
A sharp slap.
Everything stopped.
Silence.
Ramanidharan froze.
Raama froze.
Kaliyanandan slowly turned his face back.
Raaghav stared at his grandfather.
His eyes widened.
"Achaa..."
His voice was barely audible.
The shock of what he had just witnessed overwhelmed him.
His vision began to blur.
The voices around him became distant.
"Raaghav..."
Raama noticed him.
"Ponmon?"
Raaghav tried to remain standing.
But his knees weakened.
"Raaghav!"
Ramanidharan turned.
Raaghav's body suddenly gave way.
He collapsed to the ground.
"Ponmon!"
Raama rushed toward him.
Ramanidharan immediately dropped beside his younger brother.
The fight was forgotten.
The entire world seemed to stop around the unconscious Raaghav.
And for a moment, nobody spoke.