Vikram walked towards Tara, looked at her… and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. His eyes welled up with tears as he whispered,
"Tara… this is the toughest decision for me. But if this is what you want… I'm setting you free from this marriage and this contract."
And he opened the balcony door and stepped outside.
Tara opened her eyes slowly, touching her lips as a storm of questions swirled in her mind.
"Did Vikram sir… kiss me? And… did he just say he's setting me free from this marriage? Why… why does this hurt so much? Wasn't this what I wanted all along? Why does it feel so painful now…? Before, marriage felt suffocating. And now… the thought of separation feels even worse."
Lost in thoughts, she sat for a while before quietly heading downstairs. After a few moments, she returned with a cup of coffee.
Vikram sat on the balcony, shoulders low, eyes empty. Tara walked up to him silently. He looked at her, expecting her to speak — but she just placed a cup beside him and turned to leave.
"Tara… I need to talk," Vikram stopped her softly.
"I'll only listen," Tara replied curtly, clearly still upset.
Vikram drew a deep breath. "Your father's treatment will continue… just like before. The responsibility of Suhani and your family will remain mine. Whatever amount you need… just let me know. You're free to live your life however you want. I'm releasing you from this marriage and this contract… with no terms, no conditions."
Tara glared at him but didn't say a word. After a pause, she spoke coldly,
"Thank you, Vikram sir… for once again considering me unworthy of having a say in my own life. Just like when this contract was made — no one asked me then, and clearly, no one's asking me now either. I'm just… informed when it's convenient for you."
Vikram stared at her. "But… isn't this what you wanted?"
Tara scoffed, "I've got nothing to say. I was angry before… but now I'm furious. Do whatever you want."
Vikram frowned, "Do you even want freedom from this marriage or not?"
Tara, still burning with anger, snatched her coffee back, "Return my coffee. I don't even want to talk to you."
And she walked away.
Vikram sat there, baffled.
"So… she doesn't want this marriage to end? She's angry… but not happy either. Should I… feel relieved? Why does she confuse me this much?"
He sighed deeply.
"Whatever this is… she doesn't want this marriage broken."
---
Upstairs, Tara sat on the bed, arms crossed, fuming.
Vikram peeked inside hesitantly. "Tara…"
She immediately turned her face away from him.
"I'm… sorry," Vikram said softly.
Tara glared at him, "For which mistake? Because your list of mistakes is pretty long."
Vikram moved closer.
"Don't come near me!" Tara snapped. "I don't want to talk… or listen… to you."
"Please… just listen once—"
"No!" Tara cut him off and stormed out of the room.
---
Walking downstairs, Tara mumbled to herself,
"What kind of sorry was that? Who even apologizes like this after everything? I'm not forgiving Mr. Suryavanshi… and on top of it, he had to hurt me more by saying he's setting me free."
She kept arguing with her own thoughts.
"What's wrong with you, Tara? Do you really… want to stay in this marriage? I don't know… All I know is… hearing about ending this marriage hurts. And I'm even angrier at Vikram sir now. I don't know what I want anymore… Vikram sir… Oh God, Tara… you're falling for him. You're hopeless."
---
Meanwhile, Vikram noticed the coffee Tara had brought — untouched on the table. He picked up the cup, sipped, and smiled slightly.
"It's cold… But… at least she cares. And she doesn't want this marriage to end either."
---
Later, in the living hall…
Dadi spotted Tara sitting quietly and walked over.
"Tara beta… are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Dadi."
Tears welled in Dadi's eyes, "I'm so sorry… for what Prithvi did…"
Tara shook her head, "Why are you apologizing, Dadi? It's not your fault."
Just then, Dadaji arrived too.
Dadaji said gravely, "Prithvi may be at fault… but we're ashamed of his actions. How could he stoop so low…?"
"Please… don't burden yourselves with this," Tara said gently. "I know he's your grandson. But that doesn't mean you have to bear the blame for his mistakes. His actions… his punishment… they're his alone."
Dadaji softly patted her head.
"You're so mature… even at such a young age."
After speaking with them, Tara went into the kitchen, made herself some tea, and settled on the couch.
A staff member approached,
"Ma'am… you're up already? Are you alright?"
Tara smiled faintly, "I'm fine."
"We all were so worried, especially Dadaji and Dadiji. And Vikram sir… he completely panicked. But he didn't lose hope."
The staff left, but Tara sat there, stunned.
"Vikram sir… panicked?"
Lost in thoughts, she sipped her tea… and eventually dozed off on the couch.
---
Later, Vikram came downstairs, ready for office. He spotted Tara asleep on the couch.
He called a staff member,
"How long has she been sleeping here?"
The staff smiled, "I'm not sure, sir… but I saw her already asleep when I came in."
Vikram smiled softly, "Stop smiling. Cover her with a blanket. And when she wakes up, give her breakfast."
"Yes, sir. And your breakfast?"
"I've had my coffee."
---
Before leaving, Vikram spoke with Dadaji and Dadiji.
"Dadaji… Prithvi has a kidnapping charge now. And I won't withdraw the case."
Dadaji nodded gravely, "You shouldn't, Vikram. He deserves the punishment for what he did."
---
At the office, Vikram saw a swarm of media around the company gates.
He called his PR team,
"What's going on? Why is the media here?"
"Sir… the news about Prithvi sir got leaked."
Vikram exploded, "Wonderful! Why do I even pay you people? You can't do a single job right!"
"Sir… we're handling it. We're trying to remove everything from social media."
"Get the media out of here! I'm still in the car. Use security… I'm not answering anyone's questions."
"Yes, sir. Please don't get out of the car or respond… they'll try to provoke you for breaking news."
The guards pushed the media aside, and Vikram's car entered the premises. But the reporters still shouted questions from outside—
"Mr. Vikram Suryavanshi, is it true your stepbrother kidnapped your wife?"
"Is this a love triangle, Mr. Suryavanshi?"
Vikram's anger hit its limit, but the PR team calmed him, "Please sir… let's go inside. That's exactly what they want — for you to lash out."
---
Inside, Vikram worked relentlessly with the PR team.
"How did this leak happen?"
"Sir… it was bound to leak from the police station."
Vikram growled, "It's just morning and it's everywhere! I even spoke with the commissioner!"
"Sir, we're removing everything we can from portals and social media. If someone refuses… we'll connect them to you."
---
At the police station…
Sunanda lashed out at Prithvi,
"I can't believe you… How could you kidnap Tara?! Unbelievable!"
"Mom… I'm already in trouble. If you can do anything… please get me out of here."
Sunanda glared at him, "You know Vikram… why didn't you tell me before?
Prithvi I thought he'd never risk his company's image like this… but this time… he's crazy about Tara!"
" I underestimated his feelings for her…"
"I've spoken to a lawyer. He's trying for your bail…"
---
At Suryavanshi Mansion…
Tara finished breakfast and checked her phone.
Everywhere — news, articles, gossip… all about her and Prithvi. People throwing cheap comments.
"These shameless people… they can ruin anyone's name for their gain. And it's the company's image that's suffering the most. Vikram sir works so hard… and these media vultures… But I know… he'll handle it."
---
At Vikram's office…
"Sir… The Daily Sun refused to take the article down from their site. They even printed it in the newspaper."
"Call them."
---
Vikram called The Daily Sun's editor.
"I'm Vikram Suryavanshi. Get your chief editor on the line."
"Yes… this is the editor speaking."
"Take down the article from your site immediately. And tomorrow — I want a printed apology in your newspaper."
"Sorry, sir… that won't be possible."
Vikram's voice turned ice-cold, "On what basis did you print this? No research… no facts… So now, I'm filing a 100-crore defamation suit against you."
"Mr. Suryavanshi… you can't just silence the media like this—"
"I can. And I will. You've got thirty minutes. Tomorrow morning — I better see your apology in print."
He cut the call.
Within ten minutes, the owner called back,
"Mr. Suryavanshi… as per your instructions, we'll remove the article right away. And tomorrow's paper will carry the apology."
"That's the smart choice."
---
Vikram spent the entire day cleaning up the mess. By evening, 90% of the news was wiped off the internet.
---
That night… around 10 PM…
Vikram entered the mansion and saw Tara playing a game on her phone — completely ignoring him.
He freshened up… but when he came out, she was still glued to her phone.
"Tara… did you eat?"
She glanced at him… and made a hand gesture, showing she wasn't speaking to him. Vikram didn't get it.
So, she texted him:
"I'm not talking to you. Please don't talk to me."
Vikram sighed, "And how long will this silent treatment last?"
Her next message popped up:
"No idea. But for now… definitely not talking."
Tara put her phone away and went to her bed.
---
After a while…
Vikram whispered,
"Tara… don't talk if you don't want to. Just… sleep beside me. I can't sleep. Today… was a rough day. Please…"
Tara, in her head, argued with herself,
"I should help him. After all… when I couldn't sleep… he helped me. I'll just… sleep beside him. No talking. I'm still mad… yeah."
She kept debating with herself before finally slipping into bed beside him.
Vikram noticed…
"That far? That won't help…"
Tara huffed, "I'm still angry. I'm only here to help you in breathing exercise and sleep. That's it."
Vikram smiled, "Then come here… and help me properly."
He gently pulled her into a hug.
For Vikram, this hug felt different — there was no misunderstanding now. He finally realized… Tara didn't want this marriage to end.
He held her tightly… and kissed her softly near her ear.
Tara gasped, "Vikram sir! This was just supposed to be a hug. Why did you kiss near my ear?"
Vikram chuckled softly, "I didn't kiss you, Tara… My lips just… accidentally brushed against you."
Tara, in her mind…
"Whatever I say or think… I always find my peace… right here."