Prithvi
"Some things never change. My brother will never stop being angry with me, and I guess he'll never stop losing his temper when I'm around."
Dadi tried to cover the situation, "No, no, Prithvi… Vikram actually treated Tara well yesterday. I saw it myself. Maybe he was just calling her today, that's why his voice was a little loud."
Prithvi: "Fine, Dadi."
Dadaji: "And how's your business going?"
Prithvi: "It's going well, Dadaji."
Dadaji (placing his hand on Prithvi's shoulder): "I heard your company won a big tender this year. Seems like you've finally overtaken Vikram."
Prithvi: "It's all because of your blessings."
Dadi: "Both of our Narayan's sons are brilliant—just like him. Vikram was already doing great in business, and now Prithvi is also shining."
---
Meanwhile... In bedroom
Tara entered the room nervously, gently closing the door behind her.
Vikram (angrily): "Lock the door, Tara! Now!"
Tara quickly locked it and stood frozen near the door.
Vikram stormed towards her and grabbed her cheeks tightly, forcing her to look at him.
Vikram (coldly, close to her face): "Don't forget, this is a contract marriage. You will do what I say, talk only to the people I allow, and especially—you will not talk to Prithvi."
Tara, with tears falling: "You're hurting me. Please let go of my face." (She pushed his hand away in pain.)
Vikram: "Listen to me carefully—if you disobey me even once, it won't take me a second to call the hospital and stop your father's treatment. And you know what will happen if that treatment stops."
Tara looked at him, her eyes brimming with continuous tears.
Vikram: "I know girls like you—you'll do anything for money."
Tara (angrily): "What do you mean by girls like me? I took this money to save my father's life!"
Vikram: "Don't act so innocent, Tara. I know exactly who you are."
Tara (furious): "Really? Then tell me—who am I?"
Vikram (ignoring her): "Move. I have to go to the office."
(He shoved her aside and left the room. As he walked past Prithvi in the living room, he glared at him in anger.)
Dadi: "Vikram, wait! At least have breakfast before you go!"
Prithvi: "This is why I don't come here often. Anyway, I'll leave now."
Tara collapsed on the floor in her room, crying to herself.
"Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?"
---
Later that Morning
At 11 a.m., Dadaji asked a house staff member: "Has Tara come down for breakfast?"
Staff: "No, sir, I haven't seen her."
Dadi: "Okay, please send her breakfast to her room."
The staff knocked on Tara's door. Tara, still sad but no longer crying, slowly opened it.
Staff: "Dadi sent breakfast for you."
Tara: "Please leave it on the table."
The staff left, and Tara didn't touch the food. She just sat quietly, lost in her sadness.
---
Afternoon
At 2 p.m., Dadi told the staff: "Please call Tara for lunch."
The staff knocked again.
Tara opened the door.
Staff: "Madam, Dadi is calling you for lunch."
Tara: "I have a stomach ache. But please don't tell Dadaji—it will only worry him. Just tell them I'll eat later, and if they ask again, tell them I already ate. Please help me just this much."
Staff: "Okay, ma'am."
(She did exactly as Tara asked.)
---
Evening
Vikram returned home around 8 p.m. He entered the room and noticed Tara sitting silently, still sad. His eyes landed on the untouched food. He changed his clothes and went downstairs.
Vikram (to the staff): "Did Tara eat anything?"
Staff: "I took her breakfast to her room. For lunch, she didn't come down because she said her stomach was hurting. She hasn't come downstairs since."
Vikram: "Okay. Bring a dinner plate to my room."
The staff agreed.
Back in the room, Vikram worked on his laptop. When the knock came, he opened the door, took the dinner plate, and walked straight to Tara.
Vikram: "Eat your food."
Tara: "I don't want to."
Vikram: "I won't let you starve. You want to escape your pain? It's not that easy."
Tara glared at him in frustration.
Vikram (placing the plate on the table): "Just eat. Now." (He walked over to the bed.)
After a while, he noticed Tara still hadn't touched the food.
Vikram: "Tara, I'm telling you for the last time—eat. Or tomorrow, I'll block the hospital payment for your father's treatment."
Furious, Tara grabbed the plate, took one bite, and slammed it back on the table.
Vikram: "Finish the whole plate. Or I'll call my manager right now."
Tara, crying, went to the couch and reluctantly continued eating.
Downstairs, Dadi asked: "Where's Tara?"
Vikram: "She's not feeling well. But she's eaten and is resting now. Please, you all go ahead with dinner." (He joined them.)
After dinner, Vikram returned to the room. Hearing the door open, Tara quickly pretended to be asleep. Vikram glanced at her, then turned off the light and went to bed.
---
The Next Morning: Sunday
Vikram stayed home today.
Tara came downstairs, ready for the day.
Staff: "Ma'am, shall I prepare your breakfast?"
Tara: "I'll go see Dadi first."
She knocked on Dadi's room.
Dadi: "Come in, Tara. How are you feeling now?"
Tara: "I'm fine now. Have you all had breakfast?"
Dadaji: "Not yet, let's eat together."
The three of them sat at the dining table.
Dadaji (to the staff): "Please call Vikram for breakfast too."
Soon, Vikram joined them.
Dadi (smiling): "Vikram, why don't you two go on a trip somewhere? A honeymoon maybe?"
Tara choked on her water.
Dadaji: "Careful, dear. Drink slowly."
Dadi (grinning): "So, when are you taking Tara on a honeymoon, Vikram?"
Vikram: "There's a lot of office work now, Dadi. Once I finish everything, I'll think about it."
Dadaji: "You're always busy. You should make time for Tara."
Vikram: "Tara herself said she has no problem with my work. Right, Tara?" (He smiled, but his eyes were sharp.)
Tara: "Yes, work is important. Traveling can wait." (In her mind: "As if I'd want to travel with this monster. If I could, I wouldn't even look at his face.")
Dadaji: "Fine, as you both wish."
After breakfast, Vikram went to his room while Tara stayed with Dadaji.
A little later, Suhani came running in.
Suhani: "Tara didi!" (She hugged her tightly.)
Tara: "Suhani! How did you come here?"
Suhani: "Prithvi bhaiya dropped me off."
Dadi: "Where is Prithvi?"
Suhani: "He said he had some work and left."
Dadi: "Okay. Tara, you two chat. I'll go rest. I'll send snacks for you."
The staff brought the snacks and left.
Suhani: "Didi, I miss you so much. When will you come home?"
Tara (changing the topic): "Your final exams are in two months, right? You'll be in Class 7 soon. Are you studying properly or just spending time on your mom's phone?"
Suhani (pouting): "Nobody helps me with studies now."
Tara: "You're grown up now, you can study on your own. But if you have any problems, call me anytime."
Suhani: "Yesterday, I went to the hospital with mom to see papa. He didn't say anything. I asked him so many questions, but he stayed silent. When will papa get better, didi?"
Tara (hugging her tightly): "Papa will get better soon. Everything will be fine."
They kept talking until evening.
Meanwhile, Vikram wondered why Tara hadn't come to the room yet. He went downstairs and saw Suhani there.
Suhani (greeting him): "Hello, Vikram sir."
Vikram just nodded and went to the kitchen for water.
Suhani: "Didi, I don't like Vikram sir at all. He's always angry. Prithvi bhaiya was best for you."
Tara quickly covered her mouth: "Don't say that, Suhani. Prithvi sir is just a friend."
Suhani: "But he's nice."
Vikram returned, and the two fell silent.
Tara: "I'll tell the driver to drop you home."
Suhani: "No, didi! Please, let me stay with you tonight."
Dadi overheard: "If she wants to stay, let her. It's fine."
Tara: "But Suhani has school tomorrow."
Suhani: "I promise, I'll leave early in the morning. Please, I want to sleep with you tonight."
Dadi: "Fine, you two sleep in the guestroom. Seeing you sisters together reminds me of my own sister."
Suhani: "You should go visit her then, Dadi!"
Dadi: "She's no longer in this world, dear."
Suhani: "Sorry, Dadi, I didn't know."
Dadi instructed the staff to call Dadaji and Vikram for dinner. Dadaji came, but Vikram said he was busy and would join later.
Everyone finished dinner, and Tara took Suhani to the guestroom where they chatted until they fell asleep.
Vikram later came down for dinner and looked for Tara but couldn't find her. He went back to his room and waited. It was 11 p.m., but Tara hadn't returned. He tried to convince himself: "Why am I worried? She can't leave without telling me. It's a contract marriage."
He checked the whole house but didn't see her. He called Tara.
Tara answered, stepping away from Suhani.
Vikram: "Where are you? You know—"
Tara (cutting him off): "Yes, yes, I know. This is a contract marriage. My life is under your control now. I'm not anywhere else. I'm in the guestroom with Suhani. She insisted on staying, and Dadi allowed it."
Vikram hung up silently.
The next morning, Tara woke up early and personally dropped Suhani home.