Tara stood in front of the mirror, fixing her earrings as she mumbled to herself.
Tara: "Are you sure you want to go?"
Vikram: "Yes. How many times are you going to ask?"
Tara: "You'll be leaving your one true love behind — your office."
Vikram came up from behind and hugged her, resting his chin on her shoulder.
Vikram: "You're my first and last love, Tara... I can leave anything for you."
Tara: "Mr. Suryavanshi, please… go back to being your usual self. This current version of you is giving me goosebumps every two minutes."
Vikram looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled.
Tara: "Let me go."
Vikram: "That's exactly what I don't want to do right now."
Tara: "Please?"
Vikram: "Please what? Please kiss me?" (He smirked.)
Tara (smiling shyly): "I shouldn't have given you permission in the first place."
Vikram: "Tara, we've been married for more than two months now and you still think you shouldn't have given permission? You're heartless."
Tara: "You're not understanding."
Vikram gently turned her around to face him.
Vikram: "Then make me understand."
Tara (after a pause): "I've never been in a relationship before. Every emotion is new to me. I feel nervous… and scared."
Vikram pulled her into a warm hug.
Vikram: "Don't be afraid. I will never hurt you. And if you ever want me to stop, I will. I promise. I just want you by my side."
Tara (softly): "Okay."
Vikram: "Then please… allow me to love you completely."
Tara (hugging him tightly): "Yes."
He kissed her hair gently.
Tara (pulling away slightly and looking at his shirt): "Another white shirt? You have more than a thousand of these!"
Vikram: "Imagine me wearing a red shirt to a board meeting. How ridiculous would I look?"
Tara (laughing): "Like a tomato."
Vikram (smiling): "Tomato?"
Tara: "Forget it! Let's go, it's already 11 AM."
Vikram: "You just called me 'Vikram' for the first time. Thank you."
Tara: "If you keep this up, I'll go back to calling you 'sir.'"
Vikram: "Just because I'm older doesn't mean you need to treat me like I'm ancient."
Tara: "It's not about your age. Dad always referred to you as 'Vikram sir,' so Suhani and I picked it up too."
(Vikram saw her sadness and cupped her cheek gently.)
Vikram: "Don't feel bad, Tara. Everything will be fine. Let's go to your house."
Tara (smiling faintly): "Hmm."
Vikram: "Sometimes, I feel ashamed that I used your dad's condition to blackmail you. I should've tried to win your heart the right way. I loved you, but my ego was louder than my feelings… and we both suffered because of it. I've learned one thing — in love, you must let go of your pride to truly receive love."
Tara: "You're not as bad as you think. If you hadn't helped that day, we would've lost Dad. And a month later, you offered that contract. I was only seeing one side of the coin, not the other. What happened shouldn't have, but since it did… I'm glad. Maybe I would've never understood your feelings otherwise."
Vikram: "Hearing this makes me want to kiss you right now. But after what happened last night, I'm afraid you'll roll away again. I'm not in the mood for a circus performance."
Tara (frowning): "I was happy, okay? That was my first kiss!"
Vikram: "No, it wasn't. We kissed before, remember?"
Tara: "You've started again."
Vikram: "You never really let me start, Tara."
Vikram (teasing): "You completely ruined my romantic mood last night. I came home thinking about one thing and you started another… I was helpless."
Tara (laughing): "Come on now…"
Vikram: "Next time, please don't do that again."
Tara: "I don't even know how I did it. Let's just go."
They walked downstairs.
---
Living room – Suryavanshi Mansion
Dadi and Dadaji were seated.
Dadi: "Vikram, I still can't believe you're going to live at Tara's house."
Tara: "Neither can I, Dadi."
Dadaji started laughing. Dadi and Tara joined in.
Vikram: "Are you all done laughing? Or shall I give you more time?"
Dadi (smiling): "No, no. You two go on."
Vikram and Tara left the mansion.
---
30 minutes later – Suryavanshi Mansion
Prithvi and Sunanda arrived.
Prithvi entered Dadaji and Dadi's room.
Dadi: "Why are you here?"
Dadaji: "Get out right now!"
Prithvi: "I will, but first… I need to talk."
Dadaji: "We have nothing to say to you."
Just then, Sunanda entered.
Dadaji: "Why is she here?!"
Sunanda: "After all these years, this is how you greet me, Papa ji?"
Dadi: "Sunanda, you know you're not welcome in this house."
Sunanda: "Vikram must be at the office, so I came. My son has a right."
Dadaji: "He already received what he deserves."
Sunanda: "That's not enough."
Prithvi: "I'm not here for forgiveness. I just want my full share of the property."
Dadi: "You already got your share, Prithvi."
Prithvi: "You gave me only 20%. Am I not Narayan Suryavanshi's son?"
Dadaji: "You are. And you were given your father's share. Vikram has more because he inherited his mother's property too — and he earned the rest."
Sunanda: "If you think you can take away my and my son's rights...."
Even I am better then Tara .
Dadi: "What rights, Sunanda? You destroyed this home. Don't compare yourself to Tara. She didn't steal someone's husband or happiness."
Sunanda fell silent, burning with anger.
Prithvi: "If Vikram won't share, then at least give us your own property. You're both old now… leave something for us."
Dadaji: "Even if we had to give it away, we'd give it to an orphanage before we gave it to you."
Sunanda: "You can't push us onto the streets. I am this house's daughter-in-law."
Dadi: "You lost that title the day you ruined this home and stole Vikram's childhood. Get out before I call security."
Prithvi and Sunanda left. Outside, Sunanda muttered, "This isn't over."
Inside, Dadi sat down, tears in her eyes.
Dadaji: "Don't cry over them."
Dadi: "I'm crying for Vikram. He just started smiling again…"
Dadaji: "He's strong. No one can break him now."
---
At Tara's home
At the door—
Tara: "Mom, seriously? You're doing an aarti like we're gods returning from exile."
Suhani laughed.
Tara's Mom: "Come in, both of you."
They entered. Tara's mom looked at Vikram and smiled.
Tara's Mom: "Don't mind her, Vikram ji She's a little crazy."
Vikram: "I know."
Tara's Mom: "What?"
Vikram: "Nothing.
(In Vikram's mind )I know exactly how crazy she is. I've suffered the most."
Everyone sat in the living room. The table was overflowing with food.
No one said a word.
Suhani: "Why is everyone so quiet? And how is Tara didi staying quiet for this long?"
Vikram, Tara's mom, and Suhani burst out laughing.
Tara: "Suhani, what did you just say?"
Suhani: "I'm sitting right here! Why are you yelling?"
Tara's Mom: "Suhani! Is that how you speak to your sister?"
Suhani: "I've always spoken like that."
Vikram: "I brought you something."
Suhani: "What?!"
He called the driver to bring the gifts.
She opened them quickly.
Suhani: "Wow! So many books and stationery!"
She hugged Vikram. "Thanks, sir — I mean, jiju."
Tara: (shocked) jiju?
Vikram: "You're welcome, Suhani. I know how much you love to study — I thought this would be the perfect gift."
He then handed a saree to Tara's mom.
Vikram: "I didn't know what to give you, but my mom used to wear sarees like this… I thought it might suit you."
Tara's Mom (emotional): "This is the most beautiful gift because you gave it."
Suhani: "And what about didi's gift?"
Vikram: "She throws all my gifts in the dustbin."
Tara's Mom: "Tara! What am I hearing?!"
Tara (thinking): You're in trouble, Mr. Suryavanshi...
Tara: "No, no! He's joking, Mom."
Tara's Mom: "Show him some respect — he's your husband!"
Vikram sat back, enjoying the show.
Tara: "Okay, okay. I'll give him respect…"
Tara's Mom: "A husband deserves respect, love, and care. That's what makes a marriage last."
Tara: "I'm going to my room."
Vikram caught her hand.
Vikram: "No, stay! I'm enjoying this too much."
Tara (thinking): You'll pay for this, Mr. Suryavanshi...
Tara's Mom:"Damad ji asking you to stay, so stay."
Tara: "Damad ji?!"
Tara's Mom: "Are you crazy, girl?!"
Suhani: "She's always been crazy." (laughing)
Vikram and Suhani laughed together.
Tara: "Wow, Suhani. You've changed teams now?"
Suhani: "Yes, I have."
Tara's jaw dropped.
Vikram & Suhani: "Close your mouth!"
Everyone laughed except Tara.
Tara (thinking): Even my own family is betraying me.
---
Later – Tara's room
Vikram and Tara were resting.
Vikram: "I was joking earlier. Why are you angry?"
Tara: "I'm not angry. Just upset that even Suhani switched sides."
Vikram pulled her close on the bed, both lying face-to-face.
Vikram: "Everyone is already on your team. I'm the new member. That's why I'm getting all the attention. You're the senior member — that's why we tease you."
Tara: "Hmm…"
Vikram: "Smile for me."
He rubbed her cheek gently.
Vikram: "My life has lacked both love and belonging. Except for Dadi and Dadaji, I had no one to call mine."
Tara: "Don't be sad. You either look best when you're angry or when you're smiling. Although, even angry-Vikram is kinda funny."
Vikram: "Funny, huh?"
He moved closer. Tara's heartbeat quickened.
Vikram: "Where did that laugh go now?"
Tara: "Back off…"
Vikram: "I'm already too close to go back."
He leaned in and kissed her.
They melted into the moment — until the gate creaked open.
They quickly pulled apart.
Suhani: "Why do you two look so startled? Come out for lunch!"
Tara and Vikram exchanged a look.
To be continued…
---