After then date, The sky is filled with stars and glowing with the moon ,wind carried the scent of silence between two people who had said too much, and yet— not enough.
Tara was standing on the edge of the bridge... the wind was playing with her hairs... and she was talking non-stop, as if all the things of her world were just for Vikram.
Vikram was just looking at her— calm, deep, and as if every beat of his heart was writing a new line.
🎶Only one song was playing in his mind…
Darling, just hold my hand, be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Oh, baby, I'm dancin' in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass while listenin' to our favourite song
When I saw you in that dress, lookin' so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight.
He slowly held Tara's hand.
Tara looked into his eyes... and said nothing.
Vikram pulled her towards him... slightly closer... but there was dignity, a feeling in every inch.
He gave her a soft kiss on her forehead... as if there was something that was speaking to her heart.
Then he touched his nose to Tara's nose...
Tara shivered a little... some fear, some curiosity in her eyes.
Both their heartbeats were getting faster.
Vikram looked into her eyes... then towards her lips.
For the first time there was that intensity on his face... which had love, restraint.
But he remembered his promise...
So he placed his index finger on Tara's lips...
And thought of kissing his own finger... just like he had done once before... an "almost kiss" in which there was only love, but there were limits too.
But this time... Tara removed his finger.
Vikram's breath hitched as Tara softly removed his finger from her lips. That one small act said everything.
A silent yes.
His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made Tara's heartbeat echo in her ears.
Without a word, he slowly placed his hand on her waist... and gently pulled her closer.
So close that the world faded.
Only their breath, their gaze, and their unspoken truth remained.
Tara's eyes fluttered shut.
And that was it.
Vikram closed the space between them and kissed her.
It wasn't soft like in movies. It wasn't fiery either. It was… real. Honest. Like something long held finally finding a place to rest.
Tara's lips were trembling against his. He felt her nervousness. He kissed her gently at first, almost testing, letting her settle into the feeling. Her hands clutched the fabric of his shirt near his chest — not pulling him closer, but not pushing him away either. Just holding on.
When she didn't break away, he deepened the kiss just a little — not in pressure, but in presence. His fingers tightened slightly around her waist, grounding her. Her body melted into his just a little, surrendering — not to him, but to the moment.
For a few seconds, there was no past, no teasing, no confusion. Just breath, heartbeat, and the feeling of finally, finally being close.
When they pulled apart — breathless, eyes still half-closed — Tara couldn't look at him. But she didn't move away either.
He just stood there, forehead resting lightly against hers again.
The kiss had just ended — but their breaths still danced between them, warm and trembling. Vikram's voice came low, husky, almost like a whisper carried by his heartbeat.
"I love you..."
His eyes never left hers, as if the words were written just for her, in the silence that followed.
Tara blinked once, her lips still slightly parted, her breath catching for a second. And then, with a soft inhale, she let the words slip out — tender, a little shaky, but so beautifully sure.
"I love you too..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, soaked in the sweetness of surprise and the softness of surrender. And in that moment, time seemed to pause — not because of what was said, but because of everything they finally dared to feel.
Ending of the Dating Era... and the Beginning of the Romance Era (With Tara Twist)
Tara and Vikram bedroom — dim lights, night lamp glowing.
The clock read 11:30 PM.
The air still buzzed with unsaid emotions... but the silence? Well, Tara had held its funeral 30 minutes ago.
She had completely lost it.
Tara was still giggling like a toddler who had just discovered chocolate. Vikram, however, looked like a man who had just lost a boardroom battle... to a five-year-old.
Vikram (rubbing his temple): "Enough. I seriously don't know if I came here to romance you or to watch a circus."
Tara finally sat up, hair a wild mess, cheeks flushed from laughter.
Tara (smirking): "You know... when you get frustrated, your nose twitches a little. Like a cartoon character."
Vikram (narrowing his eyes): "Cartoon? Tara, you were testing my patience before, and now you're attacking my masculinity?"
She bit her lower lip, trying to look apologetic but failing gloriously.
Tara: "What can I do? Even after the kiss, you looked so serious! Chill a little, Mr. Suryavanshi."
He got up slowly and walked toward her. Her laughter died halfway.
Vikram (voice low, intense): "Chill? You think I'm chilling right now? Do you even realize what you've done to me?"
Tara (playing innocent): "Me? What did I do?"
He leaned in, their faces inches apart.
Vikram: "You've turned me upside down. I used to think love was simple... but with you, nothing is ever simple."
Her breath caught.
Tara (softly): "So now what?"
He gently cupped her cheek, thumb brushing across her skin.
Vikram: "Now... I'm learning to live with your madness. And dying with every smile you give me."
She blinked. Giggles = gone. Room = warmer.
Then, Tara tried to defuse the tension.
Tara (nervously): "By the way, your after-kiss face looked like you lost your TV remote."
Vikram (deadpan): "Tara..."
Tara (pouting): "Okay, okay, sorry. I'm serious now."
Vikram: "Great. Now that you're serious... come here."
Tara: "Why?"
Vikram: "Let's try again. Maybe this time you won't laugh... or maybe I'll kiss you deeper. And if you do laugh, I'll just steal your breath instead."
Her heart skipped. Fast.
Tara (barely a whisper): "You've never threatened me like that before..."
Vikram (lips near hers): "You were never this important before."
And this time, when he kissed her—
No giggles. No jokes. Just a girl realizing that his lips weren't soft. They were home.
They lay down. Her head on his chest. His arm around her.
Only their breathing remained, perfectly in sync.
He kissed her hair gently and whispered, "Thank you, Tara."
She snuggled in closer, kitten-like, and whispered, "Good night."
Vikram (kissing her forehead): "Good night..."
---
Morning
Vikram had been staring at her from 20 minutes.
Thoughts in his head:
This feels unreal. I've never felt this kind of happiness before. And it's all because of this chaos queen lying next to me...
He smiled remembering last night—the chaotic restaurant, the emotional confession, and then... her post-kiss comedy special.
He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
Tara (half-asleep): "What are you doing?"
Vikram (smiling): "Kissing you."
Tara: "You've been on a kiss marathon since last night..."
Vikram (laughing): "Do you remember what you did last night?"
Tara: "Yeah... we went to a terrible restaurant. The food sucked."
Vikram (chuckling): "Terrible? You terrified the poor staff! They apologized to me!"
Tara: "They had to! Everything else was amazing, but the food? Disgrace. If you serve half food, take half the price."
Vikram: "They did take a full price. Four lakhs."
Tara (sitting up, shocked): "FOUR LAKHS?! For bad food?! Unbelievable! My local Chinese place would've done better."
Vikram: "It was a 5-star restaurant, full booking, everything curated... in case you forgot."
Tara: "Oh, and those two violin guys? Ugh. Hated it."
Vikram: "Did anything impress you?"
Tara (a little shy): "Yeah... a lot did."
Vikram (moving closer): "What made you blush just now, hmm?"
Tara: "Nope. Not answering anything."
She tried to walk away. He pulled her gently back.
Tara: "This is too much. Mr. Suryavanshi, can we pause the romance now?"
Vikram (bringing her closer): "Mrs. Suryavanshi, the romance hasn't even begun. That was just a kiss."
Tara (thinking): Why does my heart race every time he does this?
Tara: "Let me go... Don't you have office today?"
Vikram: "I do. But if you ask me to stay, I will."
Tara: "Absolutely not! Work is important. I'm also going to visit Mom and Suhani. I'll be back by evening."
Vikram: "I'll come with you."
Tara: "My mom won't like you just dropping me off."
Vikram: "I wasn't planning to just drop you. I want to spend time with both of them."
Tara (shocked): "You want to come inside? My house is a 2BHK, not some mansion."
Vikram: "Why do you think I can't stay in a small house? Auntie invited me, and I'm seriously considering going."
Tara: "It's not that easy. You don't understand. My house doesn't have your fancy needs."
Vikram: "Right now, I need only one thing. You. And you'll be with me."
Tara: "Mr. Suryavanshi, please hit pause on this romance."
Vikram: "Forget pause. It's play time now. Let's go stay at your place for a day and a night."
Tara (eyes wide): "A day and a night?!"
Vikram: "Don't scream."
Tara: "You won't survive."
Vikram: "You live there. If you can survive, so can I. Now get ready."
Tara: "And your office?!"
Vikram: "Didn't feel like going anyway."
Tara = shocked + nervous + speechless + smiling like an idiot.
This man was truly impossible. And maybe, just maybe... that's what made him hers.