Tara's House – Evening
Tara's mom looked at Vikram, concerned.
"What did you feed him, Tara? He looks like he's been through war."
Tara shrugged, unfazed.
"It was just chill and garlic noodles. And he only ate three spoons."
Suhani, sitting beside Vikram, gave him a knowing look.
"I told you not to eat it. But of course, no one listens to me."
Vikram, groaning in pain:
"Suhani, you're right… I made a terrible mistake."
Tara, folding her arms:
"Mr. Suryavanshi, stop acting like a child."
Vikram, clutching his stomach:
"I'm not acting like a child. I have intense acid reflux. It feels like my heart is on fire."
Tara scoffed.
"Only three spoons, and I ate the entire plate."
Tara's mom:
"Go get him some mint water. That should help."
Suhani smirked.
"Never eat anything made according to didi's taste. This is what happens."
Vikram's face had turned red, his eyes watery, and his chest burned like a volcano had erupted inside.
Flashback – Chinese Corner Restaurant
Suhani:
"Are we really going there? To Chinese Corner?"
Tara:
"Yes."
Suhani:
"I don't want to go."
Vikram, smiling gently:
"Why not, Suhani? Come with us."
Tara:
"Yes, come on."
Suhani thought for a moment and then said firmly,
"Fine. But I'm only having ice cream. No one forces me to eat anything else."
Tara laughed.
"You'll miss out on delicious food."
Suhani gave a silent glance at Tara… then at Vikram.
Decision made.
The three got ready.
Tara looked at Vikram curiously.
"You're okay with crowded places?"
Vikram:
"What's the name and location again?"
Tara:
"Chinese Corner Restaurant. Just near 4th Street."
Vikram nodded.
"Alright."
Tara, teasing:
"And why do you have two guards outside our house?"
Vikram smiled.
"So that no one bothers you because of me."
Tara sighed dramatically.
"Wow. It's like I married a celebrity."
Vikram chuckled.
"Not a celebrity, just a recognizable face. Media can be a pain."
Suhani came out excited.
"I'm ready!"
She grabbed Vikram's hand.
Tara teased:
"I'm getting jealous now, Mr. Suryavanshi. You're Suhani's favorite."
Suhani smiled sweetly and held Tara's hand too.
"Now you're not jealous, right, didi?"
Tara grinned. Vikram smiled too — soft and warm.
The driver brought the car around.
Vikram opened the front door.
"Suhani, come sit with me in the front. I'll be your driver today."
Suhani asked cheekily,
"But what if Tara didi gets jealous?"
Vikram looked into the mirror and smirked.
"Let her."
Tara, sitting in the back, smiled quietly. Watching Vikram slowly become a part of her small family — it warmed her heart more than any spicy noodle ever could.
Suhani turned back.
"You're not feeling bad, right, didi?"
Tara laughed softly.
"Why would I? I'm getting a chauffeur ride in the back while Mr. Vikram Suryavanshi drives."
Vikram adjusted the mirror to catch her eyes — and she met his.
Silent. Intimate.
They reached the restaurant. Tara looked a bit confused.
Vikram:
"Why that look? Come on, let's go in."
Tara:
"This place is… too empty."
Vikram, smiling:
"Because you were coming. The restaurant cleared itself."
Tara rolled her eyes.
"You're too much."
Suhani pulled Vikram aside.
"Bend down."
Vikram lowered himself, amused.
Suhani whispered:
"Don't eat anything didi recommends. You'll regret it."
Tara called out:
"You two coming in or planning a secret escape?"
Inside, the restaurant manager greeted them.
"Welcome, Mr. Suryavanshi."
Vikram whispered sternly:
"Don't give us any special treatment. My wife shouldn't suspect anything. Keep everything normal."
Manager nodded quickly.
"Of course, sir."
They sat at the table.
Suhani:
"I'm only having ice cream."
Tara to Vikram:
"You'll try my favorite, right?"
Vikram nodded bravely.
"Yes."
Suhani gave him a silent don't-you-dare look. He ignored it.
Food arrived.
Three minutes later, Vikram began coughing hard. His eyes turned red, tears forming.
"Water… please… there's only chili in this!"
Tara blinked.
"What? It's normal for me."
Vikram, weakly:
"Sorry, I can't. Three spoons are my limit. More and I'll die."
Suhani shook her head and called for ice cream.
"I warned you."
Tara enjoyed her spicy noodles, unfazed.
Back to Present – Evening
Vikram, turning toward Suhani:
"I should've listened to you."
Suhani smirked.
"I told you already."
Tara:
"Both of you, quiet. You like tasteless food."
Vikram and Suhani, together:
"That's called healthy food."
Tara waved them off.
"I'm done listening to either of you."
She turned to leave.
Suhani:
"Are you feeling better now?"
Vikram:
"Yes… much better."
Suhani:
"If you had just listened, this wouldn't have happened."
Vikram:
"I'll be careful next time. Promise."
10:00 PM –
Tara walked into the different room.
"This bed is smaller than mine."
Vikram teased,
"Then come sleep close to me. We'll save space and maybe make some good memories."
Tara:
"Mr. Suryavanshi, stop teasing."
Vikram laughed,
"Small bed or big — you always end up sleeping on 50% of me anyway."
He lay down.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything. Your mom and Suhani are in the next room. And as long as Suhani's here, I won't even touch you."
Tara grinned.
"Suhani saved me tonight."
Vikram leaned in close to her ear.
"But for how long?"
She didn't answer.
Vikram:
"Lights off. Sleep now. Don't overthink."
Ten minutes passed…
Vikram:
"Tara… why are you moving so much?"
Tara:
"I'm not moving."
Vikram:
"Your anklets are."
Tara:
"They make sound. That's what they do."
Vikram:
"This room echoes. Please…"
He gently placed her leg still with his own.
"Don't move."
Tara:
"What are you doing?"
Vikram:
"Stopping your legs from dancing. I can't sleep."
Tara:
"But I wore these anklets even when you slept in our room."
Vikram:
"I managed somehow. Not now."
Tara sighed, turned off the light, and lay still.
A few minutes later, Vikram back-hugged her.
"Are you angry?"
Tara:
"No. You said you want to sleep."
Vikram kissed her neck.
"Still uncomfortable?"
Tara turned and rested her head on his chest.
"Not uncomfortable… just nervous. If I was uncomfortable, I would've run. I'm still here. Thank you…"
Vikram:
"For what?"
Tara:
"For accepting my family so beautifully."
Vikram:
"No, thank you… for giving me the chance to experience all this."
Tara:
"I just hope papa gets better soon."
Vikram kissed her hair.
"Me too…"
Tara:
"When did you fall in love with me?"
Vikram smiled.
"Sleep. I'm not telling."
Tara:
"Why?"
Vikram:
"Just because."
Tara:
"Please?"
Vikram:
"I noticed you two years ago. You came to the Mansion and picked a yellow rose from the garden — my mom's favorite color. You smelled it and sneezed. I smiled. You were loud with Dadi, irritating even. Then I noticed the rose-tucked into your braid.
just like my mom used to."
Tara:
"That was my first day there! I remember!"
Vikram:
"Yes. I was watching from the window with coffee in hand."
Tara (excited):
"Then what?"
Vikram:
"I don't talk about feelings easily, Tara."
Tara:
"Then why start if you won't finish!"
Vikram:
"You're so excited to hear about my suffering?"
Tara (confused):
"Suffering?"
Vikram:
"One-sided love is suffering. Especially when you know it's not mutual."
Tara:
"Your silence isn't easy to read."
Vikram (tapping her forehead):
"You couldn't even read my actions, idiot."
Tara:
"So tell me…"
Vikram:
"Six months passed.At first, I just noticed you. Then slowly… your smile started to affect me. You were chaotic but confident. And then one day, you fell on me — literally — and when I pushed you off and helped you up… I wanted to kiss you. That's when I knew . That night, I couldn't sleep. That's when I stopped denying it."
Tara:
"I had no idea…"
Vikram (pinching her cheek):
"Of course, you didn't."
Tara:
"Why didn't you say anything?"
Vikram:
"I was damaged. You were carefree. And you used to plan my wedding with Dadi."
Tara (laughing):
Vikram:
"And I kept watching in silence."
Vikram:
"When did you realize you loved me?"
Tara:
"After a month of marriage. When I started waiting for you to return from work."
Vikram:
"To fight with me?"
Tara grinned.
You were no less! But I cried a lot. If you had confessed earlier, I wouldn't have suffered. I was scared you'd leave me."
Vikram leaned in and kissed her softly.
"I'm sorry. I promise I'll never make you feel that way again."
5:00 AM –Morning
Vikram:
"Will my life ever be normal?"
Tara was lying on top of him.
And I am on the floor.
"Tara, wake up!"
Tara, barely awake:
"What… why?"
Vikram:
"Just look at where you're sleeping."
Tara blinked, then shot up.
"Why are you on the floor?"
Vikram:
"Because you kicked me off the bed in your sleep and then fell on me. My spine might not survive this."
Tara, horrified:
"Oh God. I'm so sorry!"
Vikram groaned.
"I need help getting up."
She helped him gently to the bed.
Tara:
"I'll get the spray. It'll help."
Vikram (thinking):
She feels guilty. I should enjoy this caring version for a while.
Vikram winced dramatically.
"Still hurts badly…"
Tara applied the spray gently on his back.
"Better?"
Vikram (pretending):
"No. Worse."
Tara:
"Rest. I'll get you coffee."
Vikram (to himself):
This is the life. Never letting it go.
Later That Morning
Tara's mom entered, concerned.
"Oh dear, you had such bad acidity yesterday and now this back pain… I feel awful."
Suhani:
" Sleeping with didi is always dangerous."
Tara:
"Suhani, shut up!"
Suhani:
"Why yell at me? Now jiju can't come to my PTM."
Vikram closed his eyes.
Right. I completely forgot about that.
Tara:
"I'll go"
Mom:
"No. You stay here and take care of Vikram ji. I'll go."
Vikram:
"I can go—"
Mom:
"No, beta. You need rest."
Suhani, sweetly:
"Next PTM, you come with me. Promise?"
Vikram smiled faintly.
"Promise."
To Be Continued.....