Vikram and Tara lay on their separate beds, both lost in the same emotion—tears silently falling from their eyes. And for the first time, the reason behind their tears was the same: love.
Vikram (in his mind): "How could I think she values money more than emotions? This is the same girl who smiled at a simple box of chocolates more than a diamond necklace. Maybe whatever happened with Prithvi wasn't for money. But why did she help him with the tender? Did I misunderstand what I saw? Or was she truly deceived by Prithvi's sweet words? What am I missing?"
Tara (in her mind): "Why am I crying so much? I already cried over that incident, and this is a contract marriage. So why now?"
Both tried to sleep, but rest only came for a short while.
In the morning, Vikram woke up and gazed at Tara. Vikram (thinking): "I know I hurt you. But Tara, do you even know that when you cry, it hurts me too?"
He got ready, skipped breakfast, took a cup of coffee, plucked a yellow rose from the garden, and returned to the room. Sitting beside her bed, he gently placed the rose near her face. One drop of his tear fell on her cheek. Without a word, he stood up and left for the office.
Tara opened her eyes. She hadn't been asleep, just lying quietly. Tara (touching her cheek): "Was that... his tear? But why would he cry? And this rose?"
She stood up, opened her cupboard, and placed the rose inside a box. Tara (in her mind): "Why am I keeping this rose like it was from my boyfriend? He's just a contracted husband. Why do I feel so broken? Is it because this is a contract marriage... or because it ever became one?"
Downstairs in the kitchen:
Staff: "Ma'am, coffee?" Tara: "No, I need tea today. And extra sugar, please. I need more sweetness. I'll be in the backyard."
She walked outside and sat in the backyard, deep in thought. Tara (in her mind): "I will miss even this backyard. I'm not leaving yet, but someday I will have to. Because this is just a contract. Yesterday I told Vikram sir to stay away from me, and now I can't stop thinking about him."
Staff: "Ma'am, your tea. Are you okay?" Tara: "Yes, I am."
Staff: "Even sir seemed upset. He didn't eat breakfast. Just coffee and left."
Tara (in her mind): "Why was he upset? Because I rejected the necklace?"
---
Suryavanshi Group, Vikram's Office
Vikram's mood was terrible. He was calling department heads one by one, questioning every detail of each report. The staff was panicking.
Employee whispering: "Even HR and the MD got scolded today. God save us."
There was a knock on the door.
Vikram: "Come in."
Manager (smiling): "Good morning, sir. I brought sweets."
Vikram: "I don't eat sweets."
Manager: "I know, sir. But I just became a father to a baby girl. I wanted to share the happiness."
Vikram (softening): "Congratulations."
Manager: "Thank you, sir. You'll have a lovely daughter soon too, I hope."
Vikram paused. The mention of a daughter brought Tara to his mind. Her words: "Stay away from me." His expression changed.
Manager: "Alright sir, I'll distribute the sweets to the team."
Vikram (in his mind): "He's lucky. He has happiness. Me? I'm a business tycoon outside, but a broken man within. All I've ever known is loneliness."
---
Suryavanshi Mansion
Tara sat in her room listening to sad songs. Tara (in her mind): "So this is it? A love story that ended before it even began. I used to think contract marriage would be hard. But now it's harder to stay in the same room with a man who makes my heartbeat go crazy. Yes, he's hot. But how can I think about him that way when I know someday I'll have to leave?"
Dadi entered the room.
Dadi: "Sad songs? What happened? You look upset. Vikram too seemed down. Did something happen between you two?"
Tara remained silent.
Dadi (smiling): "Every couple fights, dear. But after that, love only grows stronger. You'll see, Vikram will come even closer to you."
Tara (in her mind): Vikram sir and love? He only believes in contracts.
Dadi: "I know his anger worries you, but he has grown up all alone since his mother passed away. He hides his pain behind anger because he doesn't know how to express it."
Tara: "Dadi... how did his mother die? It affected him so much."
Dadi (eyes tearful): "Just know something happened in front of little Vikram's eyes that scarred him forever."
Tara (thinking): So that's why he cried out for his mother that night...
Dadi: "Take care of him, Tara. Even if he doesn't say it, he needs you."
After she left, Tara sat lost in thought. Tara (in her mind): "I get it now... he's been through something deep. But how can I tell Dadi that I'm not allowed to care for him? This is a contract marriage. I signed it. We are husband and wife only for the world. And me? I went and fell for the one man who may never understand love. If he finds out I love him, he might just draft another contract saying I can't."
---
7 PM, Bedroom
Vikram entered the room. Tara quickly sat up.
Vikram (noticing): "So now you sit when I enter? Before you didn't even care."
Tara turned her face away and lay back down.
Vikram changed and noticed she hadn't moved or said a word.
Vikram: "Tara? Are you okay?"
Tara (thinking): Yes, I fell in love with a man who only understands business. If he could, he'd make everyone sign a contract just to breathe.
Vikram: "Just because this is a contract marriage, you won't even talk to me now?"
Tara: "I will only answer. Nothing more."
Vikram: "You think you can survive saying so little?"
Tara: "Yes."
Vikram: "Great. What else is going to change now?"
Tara: "I'll stay away from you."
Vikram: "Aren't you already doing that?"
Tara: "More distance. Fewer conversations. And we will never sleep on the same bed."
Vikram: "Why?"
Tara: "Because you said I don't have the status to share your bed."
Vikram lost his cool. He walked up to her bed.
Vikram: "Yes, I said that. You remember everything I said. But do you remember telling me you feel suffocated around me? That you hate me?
I never show it, but that doesn't mean I don't feel hurt. I admit I hurt you... but did you ever wonder why? Have I always treated you like this? No. Something changed. Something you didn't even try to understand. I don't talk much... but can't you at least listen to my silence?"
He stormed out of the room.
Tara (thinking): What was that? I didn't get all of it... but he's hurting too.
---
That night, they had dinner quietly and went to bed separately. But sleep wouldn't come.
Tara (thinking): Even yesterday I couldn't sleep. I tried the breathing exercise Vikram sir taught me. But it didn't help. Maybe it only works when he hugs me... like last time. He made me feel safe. Maybe I should...
After hesitating for a while, she went over to his bed.
Vikram: "Why are you here? You wanted distance."
Tara: "I couldn't sleep. Tried the exercise you taught me. Three times. But it won't work... because it's not complete."
Vikram (smiling): "Come here."
He gently pulled her into a hug.
Vikram: "Relax. Don't think. Just breathe."
Moments later, both were sound asleep in each other's arms.
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