Tara left early in the morning to drop Suhani off at her house. Before leaving, she asked the staff to inform Dadi about it.
At her parents' home, she knocked on the door. Her mother opened it—and without a word, hugged her tightly. Tara, overwhelmed, hugged her back as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Suhani, standing beside them, pouted, won't I get a hug too?"
Tara smiled through her tears and pulled her into the hug.
Once inside, Suhani quickly got ready for school and Tara's driver dropped her off. Meanwhile, Tara and her mother sat down for a quiet talk.
Her mother gently asked, "Are you okay? You seem so quiet."
Tara offered a faint smile. "I'm fine, Maa… Just a little worried about Papa."
Her mother's eyes welled up. "I know, beta. You love your father deeply. One day, God will hear our prayers. He will get better."
Tara placed her hand over her mother's. "He will, Maa… He has to."
Her mother got up. "Let me make some tea. And tell me—what would you like to eat? I'll cook your favorite."
"Maa, everything you make is my favorite," Tara replied with a small laugh.
A little later, her mother brought tea and cookies. Tara held her cup, looking thoughtful.
Her mother asked again, "Everyone at that house treats you well, right?"
Tara nodded. "Yes, Maa, everyone's nice."
Her mother hesitated. "And… the boy you married?"
Tara gave a tight-lipped smile. "He behaves well too." Then quickly added, "Maa, have your tea before it gets cold."
After a while, her mother cooked her favorite—gobhi paratha with matar-aloo sabzi. Tara ate happily.
As she prepared to leave, her mother handed her a small packet with new clothes.
"Maa, why this? And money?"
"You're my daughter—I can't give you much, but this is just something small I got for you. Don't worry about the money. Your Dada ji didn't stop your father's salary. And the one who's paying for your father's treatment… people like him are angels."
Tara (in her head): "Angels? No Maa, he's the devil wearing a halo."
She hugged her mother and left.
---
Meanwhile at the Suryavanshi house, Vikram noticed Tara wasn't back yet. "Suhani should've gone back this morning," he murmured, then got ready and headed to the dining room.
"Where's Tara?" he asked the staff.
"She left with Suhani early in the morning, sir."
He nodded and left for the office.
---
On her way back, Tara sighed.
"Living with that monster is exhausting. He insults me at every turn. But I'm doing this for Papa."
When she entered the house, Dadi greeted her.
"Oh, you're back, Tara. I thought maybe you'd stay longer at home."
Tara (inwardly): "Even I wanted to stay, Dadi… but I didn't want to deal with that monster first thing in the morning."
"I'm going to my room, Dadi," she said aloud.
Back in her room, she stood by the window, gazing at the garden.
"The flowers are blooming again… It reminds me of the first day I arrived here. I was so happy just to see this garden… I even picked a yellow rose back then. Papa had told me not to, but I didn't listen. I was so carefree then—he was healthy, I had dreams… Now look at me."
She later went down to the garden, picked another yellow rose, held it gently, and whispered, "You remind me of better days… I'm keeping you."
---
That evening, she offered to cook dinner.
Dadi smiled. "Why not? Go ahead, the staff will help you."
Later, Dada ji, Dadi ji, and Tara had dinner together.
"Vikram might be late," Dada ji mentioned.
"Did he talk to you today?" he asked.
"No, Dada ji," she replied quietly.
Dadi ji nodded. "You know how he is… Ever since Narayan passed away, he's been holding everything together. He's poured his life into that company."
After dinner, Tara returned to her room and placed the yellow rose by the mirror.
---
At 11 PM, Vikram walked into the room. Tara was already asleep—or at least pretending to be. He changed and lay down.
Under the blanket, Tara kept her eyes shut tight.
---
The next morning…
Tara stirred from a disturbing dream.
"No… no! Monster! Let me go—please let me go!"
She jolted awake, staring straight at Vikram.
"Monster!!" she shouted instinctively.
Vikram frowned. "What did you just call me?"
She blinked. "Oh… it was a nightmare. The monster in my dream looked a lot like you…"
She ran into the bathroom, leaving a stunned Vikram behind.
He stood outside the door. "Tara! Did you really just call me a monster?!"
Her muffled voice came from inside. "What else should I call a monster, if not 'monster'?!"
She opened the door cautiously. Not seeing anyone, she sighed—then jumped when he grabbed her wrist.
"You really called me a monster?"
"Yes," she snapped. "You scared me. Now let go of my hand!"
She snatched it free and stormed off.
---
Later, as Vikram was getting ready, he noticed the yellow rose by the mirror. His expression shifted—softened—but he didn't say anything.
Downstairs, Tara was helping with breakfast.
Dadi ji said to Dada ji, "Tara reminds me of Sulekha—so cheerful, blending in with everyone."
Dada ji nodded. "Narayan wronged her… He regretted it till the end. In his final days, he only spoke about her."
Vikram entered the room. As staff tried to serve him bitter gourd, he refused.
Dadi ji turned to Tara. "Note that, Tara—he doesn't eat bitter gourd. That'll be helpful."
Tara (thinking): "He's bitterer than any gourd. I honestly thought he must eat it three times a day."
"Yes, Dadi," she said with a tight smile.
Vikram glanced at her.
(What expressions she keeps making… What goes on in that head of hers?)
As he left for the office, Dadi said, "Tara, see him off at the car."
She nodded but walked slowly. By the time she reached, he was already in the car. She turned back.
(Me? Saying bye to that monster? Never going to happen.)
---
Tara spent the day watching K-Dramas on her phone—one of her guilty pleasures. She laughed, cried, clutched her pillow, and finished an entire series in one day.
At night, while watching from the couch with her earbuds in, she squealed, "Aww! Kang Tae-moo is such a sweet CEO! I deserve a CEO like that too!"
Vikram, who had just entered the room, froze.
(Kang… Tae-moo? Who the hell is that? Another CEO?)
He watched her smiling and laughing at the screen.
Then he snapped. He threw a pillow at her. "Tara! Turn that off and sleep! Some of us have work in the morning!"
Tara pulled off her earbuds. "What the hell?!"
"Lower your voice. And stop watching whatever this nonsense is—go to sleep, or I swear I'll break that phone."
She mimicked him under her breath. "Break your phone, break your face…"
She crawled under the blanket and continued watching quietly.
Vikram shoved cotton into his ears and turned away.
---
The next morning, while getting ready, Vikram overheard her mumbling in her sleep, "Kang Tae-moo… You're the best boyfriend ever…"
(Who the hell IS this guy?! Why don't I know this CEO?!)
he saw a new yellow rose on the close to the mirror placed carefully where he'd seen the last one.
---
At the office, Vikram was distracted.
He asked his manager, "Who is Kang Tae-moo? What company is he the CEO of?"
The manager looked blank. "Sir… I'm not sure. I'll find out and update you."
As the manager left, Vikram sat back, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Tara… continued to dream of a CEO who wasn't a monster.