ROUND FOUR
Tara tried to steady her heartbeat. She had confidently taken a seat on the couch beside Vikram, trying to appear calm. But the way he was looking at her… her confidence was dangerously close to collapsing.
Staff: "Ma'am, would you like something? And for you, sir?"
Tara: "Yes, please. Tea with extra sugar."
(In her mind: I really need energy right now. My body is betraying me—my glucose levels are definitely against me.)
Vikram: (looking at Tara) "Coffee. With extra sugar."
Staff: "Sir? Extra sugar? But you never take sugar…"
Vikram: "Just do as I say. Don't question me."
Tara: (thinking: Yes, Mr. Suryavanshi, I know you're teasing me.)
Vikram: "You can say out loud what you're thinking."
Tara: "Extra sugar? Since when do you take extra sugar, Mr. Suryavanshi?"
Vikram (in full teasing mode, gently brushing her lips): "Now. These days… I really like sweet things."
Tara: (angrily, but in a low voice since they're still in the living room) "Why did you touch my lips?"
Vikram: "You touched mine first, remember?"
Tara: (feigning confusion) "When?"
Vikram: "Don't act like you don't know. And no, I wasn't asleep—just had my eyes closed."
Tara's inner world imploded.
(OMG, Vikram Sir remembers?! You just embarrassed yourself again, Tara…)
Vikram: "Why do you keep thinking instead of saying things? Talk to me." (teasing again)
Tara looked at him suspiciously.
(Can he read minds? Is he telepathic? Oh no! If he can read thoughts, he'll know everything. Run, Tara. Just run.)
And so, Tara did what she was best at — she ran. Straight out of the living room and into her bedroom.
Vikram: (frustrated) "I should enroll her in the next Olympics. She can outrun anyone. She always runs!"
Staff: "Sir, your coffee. And ma'am…?"
Vikram: "Olympics."
Staff: "Excuse me?"
Vikram: "Just leave both the coffee and Tea here. And leave."
---
Inside Tara's Room
Tara was pacing.
"Enough, Tara. What are you even scared of? You used to be fearless around him when everyone else was intimidated. Why do you feel this way now? What's changed?"
She looked down at her saree and muttered, "I swear I'll tear this off right now—"
Just then, the door opened.
Tara and Vikram locked eyes.
Tara: "Aaaaaaaah!" (screaming)
Vikram: "Why are you screaming?!"
Tara: (furious) "Look the other way first!"
Vikram: (nervously turning) "I am—I'm not looking!"
Tara: "You couldn't knock?!"
Vikram: "Excuse me? You want me to knock on my own room's door?"
Tara: "Yes! Because now there's a girl living here too!"
Vikram: "That girl is my wife."
Tara: "So what? That still means you knock!"
Vikram: "Why don't you change in the bathroom? Or lock the door?"
Tara: "Why should I be the only one adjusting? You should've knocked!"
Vikram: "Tara, what's your problem?! This is the third time this scene has happened. First you fought with me, then you laughed with me, now you're fighting again! What do you want?"
Tara: (yelling) "Right now, I want you out of this room. I need to change. And next time—knock!"
Vikram stood speechless. A man feared by entire boardrooms, owner of a multi-billion dollar company—was just thrown out of his own room… and he couldn't even argue.
He walked out and slammed the door shut behind him.
---
ROUND WINNER: WIFE
No matter how big the CEO… the real CEO of the room is the wife.
---
Outside, on the Corridor
Vikram muttered to himself:
"I can't believe this is my life… and the worst part is—I don't even want to do anything about it. Love is strange. It makes you do everything… but first, it crushes your ego and dignity."
Staff approached.
"Sir? Why are you standing outside the room?"
Vikram shot her a look.
"Sorry sir. I brought ma'am's tea and your coffee. You asked for extra sugar."
Vikram: "Take them back. I don't want them."
Staff: "And ma'am?"
Vikram: "She won't drink it either. Now go."
Vikram (thinking): "This girl just humiliated me in front of my own staff… and kicked me out of my room."
He took a deep breath and knocked gently on the door.
Vikram: "Tara… I need to get to office. I'm getting late. Tara?"
Tara opened the door.
Vikram: "Move. Don't look at me like that. I should be the one angry here."
Tara: "If you say one more word, I'll lock the door again and leave you on the doorstep."
Vikram: "Tara, I'm warning you. If you keep this up, it'll cost you—big time."
Tara: "Oh yeah? It'll cost me? What are you—"
Vikram: "Move already! I have to get to office. Why do you always start a fight in the morning?"
Tara stepped aside.
Vikram: "Thank you."
Tara (teasing): "Who shows up late to their own company?"
Vikram: "I'm a punctual man. And what I do, my employees follow. But you? What do you have to do with punctuality? You don't even have a timetable."
Tara: "Excuse me? I'm not punctual?!"
Vikram: "You don't wake up before 8 AM. You don't even have the 'P' in punctual."
Tara (angry): "You're just trying to provoke me now!"
Vikram: (calming down) "Okay, okay. I was wrong. I'm sorry. Just let me get ready in peace."
He walks into the bathroom.
Vikram (thinking): "Married life really is about saying sorry… a lot. I've never said this many 'sorry', 'please', or 'thank you' in my entire life—and she's made me say them all in one day."
---
Later… he steps out.
Tara is still sulking.
Vikram (thinking): "I'm not going to apologise again."
Five minutes later…
Vikram: "Tara, are you still angry? I already said sorry."
Tara: "I'm not angry. I'm just not in a good mood."
Vikram: "Why? What happened? Tell me, maybe I can fix it."
Tara (thinking):
"This man claims he's never been in a relationship before, but listen to that line! He definitely had girlfriends. Multiple."
Vikram: "Stop cursing me in your head."
Tara (thinking):
"Does he actually have telepathy?"
---
Vikram's Office Cabin
Vikram (thinking):
"Marriage is definitely tough. But mine? Feels like an elite level boss fight. My life's turning into a loop of apologising and explaining. I wish I knew how to make her feel safe—so she wouldn't run every time. But how?
A gift? What if she reacts weirdly?
Emotion? She might run again.
Negotiating million-dollar deals is easier than dealing with her.
sigh But she did look beautiful in that saree. And I think… she liked it too."
---
Evening – Suryavanshi Mansion
Tara sat lost in thought.
---
ROUND FIVE
Vikram entered the room.
Two staff members followed, placing large boxes on the table.
Tara: "What's in these boxes?"
Vikram: "Come check."
*Tara opened one… saree. Then another… more sarees. One after another—so many sarees.
Vikram: "You said this morning you liked sarees… so I got you a few. And bold blouses too—just the way you like them."
Tara :
"Mr. Suryavanshi, is this your new way of saying sorry?" (teasing)
Vikram (stepping closer):
"No, Mrs. Suryavanshi… it's my new way of saying I love you."
---
Tara's breath caught. The air between them shifted — quieter, charged.
---
ROUND WINNER: MR. SURYAVANSHI
After that…
Vikram moved closer — slowly, deliberately — until his hand found her waist. His touch was gentle, protective, not possessive. Tara didn't move. Her hands, awkwardly frozen mid-air, couldn't decide whether to push him away or pull him closer.
Her body, her heartbeat… everything felt like it was spiraling.
Vikram looked into her eyes — seeking, not taking.
And then, without warning, he leaned in.
His lips touched hers… softly. Not a peck. Not wild. A real kiss.
Unlike before, it wasn't a fleeting touch. His eyes fluttered shut as if he had finally tasted peace.
But just 20 seconds in — Tara's eyes widened.
She didn't push him. She pulled herself away, almost startled… breath shallow, heart racing faster than her thoughts. The sensations in her body were too unfamiliar, too overwhelming. She couldn't make sense of what she was feeling — or why she wasn't ready yet.
She stepped back, then turned and rushed out of the room.
Vikram stood frozen. His fingers curled into a loose fist by his side, not in anger — but in restraint. He exhaled slowly, looking down with a faint, bittersweet smile.
---
To Be Continued...