Tara was sitting on her bed in her room when Vikram entered. His gaze immediately found her.
Vikram: "Are you upset because I didn't agree to the fake marriage?"
Tara: "No, I'm angry because you made a fool out of me."
Vikram walked over and sat beside her.
Vikram: "I didn't fool you, Tara. A person is fooled only if the marriage was fake."
Tara: "Really? And what about all the lies you told?"
Vikram (changing the subject): "Your mood is already turning worse. Let's talk about something else."
Tara was clearly still upset.
Vikram hesitated a little.
Vikram: "I had something for you… but considering how you treat my gifts, I didn't give it earlier."
Tara (suddenly curious): "Where's the gift? And hey, I did eat the chocolates you gave me!"
Vikram: "Only the chocolates. You even fought with the flowers in the bouquet because they dried too quickly."
Tara: "Of course! Why did they wilt so fast? But I did keep all the sarees you gave me."
Vikram (smiling): "Thank you".
Vikram: "Okay, let me bring it."
He got up, walked to the cupboard, and pulled out a small box. He walked over and handed it to Tara. She opened the box — her expression changed in an instant.
Tara (in awe): "Wow... This is so beautiful. Anklets! I'm going to wear them right now."
As she admired them, Vikram gently took them from her hands.
Vikram: "Let me help you wear them."
Tara blinked, surprised, watching as Vikram knelt down and carefully slipped the anklets onto her feet.
Tara (thinking): "This feels like a scene from a Bollywood movie. Vikram sir, you've just raised the bar so high... who would've thought he could be this romantic?"
Vikram (looking up at her): "There. All done. They look lovely on you."
Tara (smiling): "They really are beautiful."
Vikram took her hand in his and looked into her eyes — still on his knees.
Vikram (softly): "I'm sorry… for everything that hurt you. I promise I'll never hurt you again. Please forgive me."
Tara (thinking): "How can I say no to such a romantic apology?"
Tara (teasing): "Well… I wasn't planning to forgive you, but the anklets are really nice, so I guess I'll let it go."
Vikram (smiling): "Thank you, Tara. Really, thank you."
Tara looked down at the anklets again.
Tara: "This design doesn't look new. Is it a vintage style?"
Vikram (voice low): "My mother used to wear anklets like these. I always loved how they looked on her feet. I found an old photo of her wearing them and had these custom-made for you."
Tara, sensing the emotion in his voice, stepped off the bed.
Tara: "They even sound beautiful. I'm going to wear them always."
She started testing them — walking fast, slow, even pretending to run — all to hear the different sounds they made. Vikram lay back, watching her with a soft smile, like she had just found her favorite toy.
Tara: "Vikram sir, you don't like noise, right? You prefer silence. Well, now that I'm wearing these, there won't be any more silence when I'm around."
Vikram (gazing at her): "Ever since you came into my life, Tara… there's been no silence."
Tara laid down beside him.
Tara: "Then that's good."
Vikram: "Wow… You're brave now. Just a little while ago, in this same bed, that… incident happened."
Tara (sitting up quickly): "Wait, what!?"
Vikram (laughing): "Relax. I was just teasing."
Tara, lying back down, kept admiring her feet from different angles.
Vikram: "You know, you're really unpredictable. No one knows what you'll do next."
Tara: "That's not true."
Vikram: "It is. I'm usually good at reading people — their moods, their body language, their reactions. It helps me in business. But I couldn't figure you out. And that curiosity pulled me in… before I even realized, I had developed feelings for you."
Tara (laughing): "I didn't even know I was so complicated that you had to analyze me."
Vikram: "You're not just complicated — you're powerful too."
Tara excitedly leaned close to his face.
Tara: "Seriously? I'm powerful?"
Vikram subtly shifted himself away, knowing she was unpredictable and not entirely aware of the effect she had.
Vikram: "Yes, very. I run one of the top 10 companies in India. People can't even get appointments with me. And yet, you make me apologize ten times a day — that's power."
Tara (laughing): "Mr. Suryavanshi, your suffering won't ever end."
Vikram (tapping her nose): "Mrs. Suryavanshi, I have no problem apologizing to you for life."
Tara: "Honestly, I never believed that you had feelings for me. I always told myself — you're surrounded by beautiful, successful women. I must be overthinking."
Vikram: "So you had doubts?"
Tara: "Yes, after marriage. When you hurt me and couldn't even see my pain, I felt like you were fighting something within."
Vikram: "Not bad, Tara. You've gotten smarter. That's true. I've already told you."
Tara: "Still… it was hard to believe."
Vikram (looking at her): "Because you were looking for logic. But love is illogical. If it was logical, I wouldn't have fallen in love with you."
Tara: "Wait… was that a compliment or an insult?"
Vikram (grinning): "Take it as a compliment. I don't want to add more apologies to my list."
—
Vikram: "Come, let's go down for lunch."
Tara: "I'm not going. Dada and Dadi will start again with honeymoon and baby talks."
Vikram: "Just avoid the questions."
Tara: "Who even talks about babies now?"
Vikram: "You don't like babies?"
Tara: "It's not that I don't like them. It's just… an uncomfortable question right now."
Vikram stood up.
Vikram: "Alright. Come down when you're ready. I'm heading down."
He stopped at the door.
Vikram (smirking): "Good to know you like babies. Because I do too. And someday… I want one."
He walked out. Tara stared after him, stunned.
Tara (thinking): "Oh my god. Did he just say that? My heartbeat might kill me one day!"
—
Tara's phone rang.
Tara: "Hi, Mom."
Mom: "Did you eat?"
Tara: "I'm about to. Why are you always worried about food? And where's Suhani?"
Mom: "She's here, asleep. And bring Vikram ji home sometime — he's never visited."
Tara (thinking): "Our home is so small compared to his. But Mom doesn't think about those things…"
Tara: "I'll come in a day or two. I miss you both — and I miss Dad every day."
Mom: "The house feels empty without you and your dad. Ask Suhani."
Tara: "I know, Mom."
Mom: "Are you happy, Tara?"
Tara: "You always ask that."
Mom: "And?"
Tara: "Yes, Mom. I'm happy. Things turned out much better than I expected."
Mom: "It's the first time I've actually heard that from your mouth. It feels real."
Just then, a knock at the door.
Tara: "Mom, I have to go. Someone's at the door."
She opened the door — a female staff member stood with a food tray.
Staff: "Your lunch, ma'am."
Tara took it and closed the door.
—
Evening
Vikram stood by the window, staring outside.
Tara was downstairs.
Vikram's phone rang.
Vikram: "Hello?"
Lawyer: "Sir, Prithvi got bail."
Vikram (furious): "How!? What's the point of hiring you all then? How did he get bail!?"
Lawyer (nervous): "We tried, sir, but it still happened."
Vikram: "I don't pay for attempts — I pay for results."
He hung up angrily and, in rage, picked up a glass vase and hurled it.
At that moment, Tara opened the door and walked in.
The vase shattered right by her feet.
Tara (screaming): Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
He turned immediately.
Vikram (alarmed): "Tara! Did it hit you!?"
The glass had cut her feet. He rushed to her and crouched down, panic in his voice.
Vikram: "Did I hurt you again?"
Tara: "It's just a small cut. But now your hands are hurt too."
While clearing the glass from around her, Vikram had accidentally cut his own hands.
Tara applied antiseptic to his hands.
Vikram (in guilt): "My anger… it's my worst trait. I hurt you again."
Tara: "And yourself. Please stop overthinking. Try to rest… calm yourself."
—
Night
They had dinner and lay on the bed, trying to sleep.
Tara: "Why did you get so angry?"
Vikram: "Because Prithvi got bail."
Tara: "Forgive him."
Vikram (shocked): "You want me to forgive him? For kidnapping you?"
Tara: "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the hate you hold toward him."
Vikram's eyes welled up.
Vikram: "You don't understand, Tara…"
Tara: "I don't want you in pain. Every time you see him, you lose control. It's hurting you more than anyone else. Forgive — for your own peace."
Vikram turned away, hiding the tears.
Tara came closer and hugged him from behind.
Tara: "Can I at least give you a friendship hug?"
Vikram turned around, eyes glistening with tears, and hugged her tightly.
Tara didn't know how to comfort him — she simply held him, letting the silence speak.
Not romantic — but deeply close. A shared understanding of each other's pain.
—
Morning
They were tangled in each other when Vikram woke. He gently moved Tara to lay her properly on the bed. But she woke up too.
Tara: "Are you okay?"
Vikram: "Yes."
Tara (playful): "Then go get ready for your first love."
Vikram: "First love?"
Tara: "Your company. Second love is work. Third love — your laptop."
Vikram: "You're jealous of my laptop?"
Tara: "Why would I be?"
Vikram: "Fine. I'm not going to office today. I'll stay with you."
He lay beside her.
Tara (rolling away): "No, you should go. That's better."
Vikram: "What do you want from me?"
Tara: "More sleep. Please let me sleep."
Vikram: "It's already 7 AM!"
Tara: "Ugh. Who wakes up this early?"
Vikram: "You really are lazy."
Tara: "Not lazy. Just in love with sleep."
Vikram: "You love everything… except me."
Tara (blurting out): "No! I love you too."
Vikram paused.
Vikram: "Wow. An actual confession."
Tara turned away, embarrassed.
Vikram: "Tara… I want to take this beyond friendship. Will you come to dinner with me tonight?"
Tara (looking at him): "Are you asking me on a date?"
Vikram (smiling): "Yes."
He leaned in, kissed her cheek, and got up to get ready for office.
---
End of Friendship Era.
They're still friends — but now, completely at ease with each other…
Let the Dating Era begin.