Tara sat on the couch, happily nibbling her chocolate.
"Wow, chocolate really is the second-best thing in the world. The first is obviously K-dramas," she muttered to herself, smiling.
Vikram looked up from his laptop. "Tara, who are you talking to?"
"Myself," she replied cheerfully.
"Then talk a bit quieter. I can hear you and I'm working."
Tara frowned. "You're always working, Mr. Suryavanshi. Who works on a Sunday? You seem like an alien to me."
Vikram raised an eyebrow. "Alien? You're the one acting strange. You don't do anything productive—just talk nonsense all day."
"Excuse me? You're the one ruining the taste of my chocolate," she snapped.
"I'm just asking you to talk softly so I can concentrate," Vikram said calmly. "You enjoy your chocolate."
Tara narrowed her eyes suspiciously. (Sweet words? Something's wrong. This man never talks nicely. He must be planning something...)
Tara suddenly screamed, "Nooo! That can't happen!"
Vikram looked up. "What? What can't happen?"
She snapped out of her thoughts. "Nothing. And don't think your plan will work this time."
"What plan?"
"You know which one."
Vikram sighed. "Tara, maybe you should rest. You haven't seemed well all morning."
"This! This is the plan! Why are you being so nice to me? What's behind this?"
"Are you crazy? Just because someone talks nicely doesn't mean they have a plan."
"It's different when it's you! You're never sweet."
"Because you're different from others. You're my wife."
Tara's heart skipped a beat. She stood up quickly. "Wife? Contract wife," she mumbled and left the room.
Vikram sat there, slightly hurt. (Contract marriage or not, she's still my wife.)
---
Outside the Room
Tara held her hand to her chest. (Relax Tara. He only said 'wife'. That's all. You're his wife... contract wife. Just relax.)
She went downstairs to the living hall.
"Ma'am, would you like something to eat?" a staff member asked.
"Just water," she replied. As she sipped the water, she got lost in thought again.
"Ma'am? Ma'am? Ma'am?"
"Huh? Oh, no. I'm not hungry. You may go."
Then she called out to another staff member. "Hey, if someone who never speaks nicely to you suddenly starts acting sweet, what does it mean?"
"Simple, ma'am. It means they've started to like you."
"Like me?" Tara murmured, confused.
The staff member left, and Tara tried to shake it off. (No way. Mr. Vikram Suryavanshi only likes himself. I'm just overthinking.)
---
Dada Ji Enters
"Tara, where are you lost in thought?"
"Nowhere, Dada Ji."
He smiled warmly, patting her head. "You look the best when you smile. Keep smiling."
(He used to make me lose my smile with his anger. Now he's confusing me with his sweetness. Pick a lane, Mr. Suryavanshi.)
"You should rest, dear. You seem a little troubled," Dada Ji said before walking off.
(First I feared his anger, now I fear he'll say something sweet that makes my heart race. Why is my heartbeat so fast today? Must be weakness. Time for a balanced diet.)
---
In the Kitchen
"Ma'am, would you like something to eat?"
"Yes. Something balanced. Something that will calm my heartbeat."
"Sorry?"
"I mean something healthy," Tara clarified.
Vikram, overhearing from behind, smiled.
"I'll prepare something healthy for you, ma'am," the staff said and left.
Vikram smirked. "So your heartbeat has been racing lately?"
Tara turned nervously. "Y-Yes. Probably weakness. That's all. And stay away from me!"
She darted away to the backyard.
(He's always around! He should just stay at the office. Why does his presence mess with my head?)
She tried to motivate herself. (Come on, Tara. Eat healthy. Get strong. You can face this monster, whether he's angry or sweet. Just remember, he only wants to trouble you.)
---
Dinner Time
Tara sat with boiled vegetables on her plate, barely able to eat.
"Why are you eating this, dear?" Dadi asked. "Eat normal dinner."
"I've decided to eat healthy from today."
"But you're just stirring it around, not eating," Dadi teased.
(This is harder than I thought. I'll just eat dinner tonight and start tomorrow.)
"Tara," Vikram said, noticing her struggle. "Just eat dinner today. Start the diet tomorrow."
She stared at him. (Can he read minds too?)
"Stop staring and eat," he said.
She obediently set the veggies aside and ate dinner.
After dinner, Dada Ji and Dadi went to their room. Vikram left as well.
Tara intentionally walked slowly, wishing the hallway would stretch endlessly so that morning would come and Vikram would leave for office. But sadly, the room arrived.
---
Inside the Room
Vikram noticed her dazed expression and decided to ease the tension.
"Don't you have friends?"
"Yes, why?"
"You should go out with them sometimes. Might help clear your head."
(That could be why my heartbeat is acting up. I need to go out more.)
She pulled the bed, thinking: (He gave me chocolates. Helped me. I should do something too. He got scared last night from that nightmare.)
"Vikram sir... you can sleep on my bed if you want. Since you get scared."
Vikram smirked. "Tara, are you inviting me to your bed?"
"No! Just helping."
"Alright. I'll accept the help. Haven't tried the new bed yet."
He joined her. Tara lay on the edge, facing away.
(Why did I say that? This bed isn't even that big...)
"You'll fall off if you sleep like that."
"I won't."
"You've fallen before, remember?"
"Not tonight."
Vikram turned serious. "Tara, you really love your father, don't you?"
She turned to face him. "Yes, very much. And he loves me a lot too."
"I hope he gets well soon."
"He will! Then we'll go out as a family and be happy again." She beamed while sharing.
Vikram watched her fondly.
"Why are you smiling?" she asked.
"Nothing. Just listening. Go on."
She talked about her family festivals, then asked, "What about your childhood? Festivals with Dada and Dadi?"
"I mostly stayed in my room studying."
"You were boring back then and still are! You make everyone miserable with work. You're the definition of boring."
He only smiled as she laughed.
"Close your eyes," he said suddenly.
"Why?"
"Just for a moment."
She obeyed. Vikram leaned closer, staring at her peaceful face. He moved in to kiss her.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Tara opened her eyes, startled to see him so close.
He answered the call—it was the company watchman.
"Sir, Prithvi is drunk and causing a scene at the gate."
"Where are the guards?"
"They're scared. He's your brother."
"I'm coming."
He hung up and stood to leave.
"Where are you going at this hour?" Tara asked.
"Something important. You rest."
And he left.
---
To be continued…