Vikram exhaled, eyes burning into hers.
"I married you… because I love you."
Tara's heart slammed in her chest.
Her saree pallu slipped from her fingers.
She stood frozen.
"Yes," Vikram whispered, stepping even closer.
"I love you, Tara."
They stood, inches apart, breath mingling.
Tara closed her eyes…
But Vikram gently bent, picked up her pallu, and draped it over her shoulder.
Without another word, he walked out of the room leaving Tara frozen .
Her mind felt numb… her heart racing so fast, it was almost painful.
Did that really happen?
Did Vikram Suryavanshi… just confess that he loves me? And even before this marriage?
She clutched her chest.
God, someone hand me glucose… I swear my blood pressure and sugar have both dropped.
She took a shaky breath.
Tara… sit down before you faint from this shock — or happiness — whatever this is…
She sat at the edge of the bed, trying to calm the storm inside her.
I've misunderstood him all this time. But honestly… who wouldn't? The man is nothing less than a mystery box.
She shook her head, scolding herself.
Relax, Tara. Calm down. You need to clear things with him too — after all, you threw so many accusations at him.
And yet… a soft smile tugged at her lips.
No… I'm not happy. I'm just… relieved. That this marriage happened because he loved me… not for any other reason.
Tears welled in her eyes.
If only he had spoken to me… if only he had told me about Prithvi — cleared the misunderstanding — this marriage would never have been a painful memory for me. I've never even touched my wedding lehenga after that day because it reminded me of everything I wanted to forget…
If only he had talked… it wouldn't have been so hard to fall in love with him. This marriage could have been… normal. Happy.
Tara let herself sit in silence, giving her heart a moment to breathe.
She stood up and walked to the mirror.
This saree… I look good in it. I'm not taking it off.
But a sliver of fear still lingered.
What will happen when Vikram sir comes back tonight? He left… angry. I don't know what to expect…
Her heart throbbed with a strange mixture of nervousness, sadness… and maybe hope.
---
It was 8 PM.
Vikram sir hadn't returned yet.
Why am I even waiting?
She shook her head.
Who am I kidding? I've been waiting for him every night…
Finally, sometime after 9:30 PM, the door opened.
Vikram walked in — his expression still tense.
Tara quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Vikram's eyes narrowed.
Does she really think I won't know she's faking it? She never sleeps this early.
"Tara… I know you're not asleep. Get up and go to your bed."
Tch… how did he know? Tara thought, keeping her eyes tightly shut.
Vikram sighed.
"Fine. I'll just sleep here her.
He changed,He moved to the other bed, lay down on and switched off the lights.
Tch… Tara exhaled softly.
He's still angry… I did say a bit too much earlier…
A moment passed.
Then, silently, she got up and lay down at the far edge of his bed.
Vikram heard the mattress shift.Then he turned on the light"
"Tara… why are you here?"
She stayed quiet.
Vikram turned slightly. "Come on… either sleep here without accusing me again, or go back to your bed. Don't do both."
Tara answered softly, "I'm choosing to sleep here."
Vikram blinked. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. Because I can't sleep without you anymore…"
Vikram's heart missed a beat. He said nothing.
---
A few moments passed.
Tara whispered, "I said too much today… I shouldn't have… I'm sorry."
Vikram turned to face her, stunned.
"Did you just… say sorry?"
She gave a faint smile. "When you make a mistake, you should say a genuine sorry. Something you've never managed to do."
Vikram chuckled dryly. "Yes… I was waiting for that sarcasm you love so much."
Tara turned toward him. "It wasn't sarcasm. I meant it. You can't justify forcing me into marriage with anything. You made a mistake. You hurt me. And a genuine sorry is the least you owe me. The kind of sorry I can feel… and you've never given me that."
Vikram sighed, disappointment in his own voice.
"I tried… I really did. But I don't even know what kind of sorry would feel genuine to you…"
Tara asked gently, "Why is it so hard for you? To say simple words like 'Sorry,' 'Thank you,' or even 'Please'?"
Vikram answered softly, "It's not hard… I've said sorry to you many times. You just never felt it."
"I have nothing more to say. Let's sleep."
---
After a pause, Vikram asked, "Why are you still wearing the saree?"
"Because… I look good in it."
A small smile played on Vikram's lips.
"You do. You really do."
For a moment, their mood lightened.
---
But Tara's voice grew serious again.
"I'm just thinking… if only you had told me everything before this marriage — about Prithvi, about the tender… or about your feelings — maybe I wouldn't have felt like this marriage was a nightmare. You found it easier to force me… than to talk to me."
Vikram didn't interrupt.
Tara continued, "When a relationship is built on force, what else can you expect? A healthy relationship needs humility… compromise. Ego doesn't work in a marriage."
Vikram stayed silent.
She went on, "You said I never saw your emotions. How could I? You only ever showed two things — anger or silence. How would anyone know you felt anything beyond that? When you forced this marriage… all I saw was your ego."
Vikram finally spoke.
"It wasn't ego… It was anger. Protection. And yes… feelings."
Tara shook her head.
"Wasn't ego? You found it hard to confess your feelings… but it was easy to blackmail me into marriage? That's ego, Mr.Suryavanshi You don't know how to bend… to let go of pride. You could have talked to me. Cleared the misunderstanding. But instead… you used my father's treatment to force me. That's proof enough of your arrogance."
Vikram exhaled deeply.
"I know. I'm guilty about it even now. I just… I did what I thought was right at the time. Seeing you with Prithvi… it made me angry. And it hurt like hell. I hated that you couldn't see who he really was… And yes… I used my power and money. But only to save you. That's the only way I knew. I've been taught that in business — so that's what I did in life too. But I swear… I never faked this marriage with you."
Tara's voice softened.
"Don't you think… if you'd just told me how you felt… this marriage wouldn't have been a painful memory for me?"
---
Vikram's eyes darkened with something deeper.
"I was ten when my mom left me. Since then… I've lived alone. As a kid, I had only my books. No friends. And when I grew up, I buried myself in business. This company… it was my mom's dream. Her hard work… her vision. So I worked like hell… because I couldn't let her dream die."
He swallowed hard.
"I never got close to anyone. I never felt anything for anyone. Any female I met… it was either business or social life. My personal life… was empty. Because the pain of losing her weighed on me so much… I didn't know how to connect with people."
"And then… you happened. The first girl who ever made me feel… human. Not a machine. I didn't even know it was possible to feel your heartbeat race for someone. I stayed in denial for six months. But it overtook me. And I couldn't lie to myself."
He paused, taking a shaky breath.
"I did what I knew best… I tried to control things. Tried to control you. Because that's all I'd ever learned. And yes… I can't even defend it. I hate it too. You can call it possessiveness… and you'd be right. I've only ever known business… I never learned how to handle feelings… or relationships."
---
Tara's heart clenched as she listened.
The man she always saw as powerful… was actually a lonely heart wrapped in layers of anger and silence.
His anger… was his shield.
His silence… his prison.
She reached out and softly said, "Let's sleep, I think we both need it."
Vikram asked quietly, "You have nothing to say? Nothing to ask?"
Tara shook her head gently. "I understood everything… finally."
And Then Tara hugged him.
It wasn't planned. It wasn't even romantic.
Just that kind of hug which silently says — "I'm here… you'll be okay."
Vikram didn't move at first. But when his arms finally wrapped around her, something shifted.
His hand brushed against her bare back — the thin silk of her saree's blouse barely a barrier.
For a second, neither spoke.
Tara felt it — the sharp awareness shooting down her spine.
The warmth of his palm… the quiet press of his fingers…
Her heart stuttered.
And she knew he felt it too.
Because his breath hitched, softer but heavy against her temple.
The room was suddenly too silent.
Too close.
Tara bit her lip, blinking fast —
Why does a simple hug start feeling like something else entirely?
Before it could get awkward, she gently pulled back.
"Uh… I'll… I'll just get some water," she mumbled, eyes darting anywhere but his.
Vikram let her go.
Just a knowing glance that said — "Whenever you're ready."
And somehow…
That unsettled her even more.