Farmhouse Cottage
Vikram gently tucked a yellow rose into Tara's hair.
Vikram: "It's done, Mrs. Suryavanshi."
Tara (smiling): "Thank you, Mr. Suryavanshi."
Both of them were smiling softly, the air light with tenderness.
Vikram: "Look, now even your clothes are here. So whenever you come, you won't face any problem."
Tara (raising her brow): "That's fine, Vikram… but how did you know my size?"
Vikram (leaning closer, teasing): "I'm quite good at measurements."
Tara (flustered): "You're shameless."
Vikram (mock-innocence): "Shameless? How? What did I even say?"
Tara (sighing): "Forget it. I can't win these conversations with you."
Vikram (smirking): "You could never win against me, Tara. In the past, I only let you win."
Tara (surprised): "Really?"
Vikram: "Of course. I'm a businessman. I deal with national and international clients every day. Communication is everything—so I trained for it."
Tara (teasing): "Oh, so did you train to say those romantic lines too?"
Vikram (laughing out loud): "No, that comes naturally to me."
Tara: "Hmm… I thought you took training for flirting too."
Vikram (playful pride): "I'm perfect at everything."
Tara: "Except cooking."
Vikram: "Looks like I'll have to join cooking classes now."
Tara: "Even K-drama heroes cook for their heroines."
Vikram (coming closer, backhugging her softly): "Then I'll learn to cook just for you."
Tara smiled but shook her head.
Tara: "Are you really not going to the office today?"
Vikram glanced at his watch. "It's already 10 a.m. Doesn't seem like it."
Tara (pretending seriousness): *"Tomorrow's headlines will read: 'Mr. Vikram Suryavanshi drops company stocks due to romance overdose.'"
Vikram (grinning): "Let them write whatever they want. I don't care. I just want to enjoy my married life."
They talked of when to return to the Suryavanshi Mansion, walked to the large window to watch the rain, and Tara, half-playful and half-curious, asked:
Tara: "Honestly… before me, did no girl ever attract you?"
Vikram leaned back, thoughtful.
Vikram: "There's a difference between attraction and helplessness. I liked things in girls—some were intelligent, some confident, some full of ideas. But I never felt… emotions. With you, it was different. With you, I suffered. I was helpless. I wanted you but circumstances forced me to wait. Remember that diamond necklace I gave you?"
Tara looked away guiltily.
Tara: "It must be somewhere in a box… I don't really know."
Vikram (hurt but soft): "I had it exclusively designed for you. You didn't even accept it properly. Do you know why I gave it to you that day? I wanted to confess my feelings."
He recalled those days—his doubts about Prithvi, his anger, his helplessness. Tara listened quietly, finally whispering:
Tara: "But Vikram… you kissed my neck that day, not confessed. How could I not push you away?"
Vikram (sincere, lowering his voice): "That scar was my fault. I just wanted to kiss it as an apology. But whenever I come close to you, I lose control."
They both smiled sadly at how much time had been wasted in misunderstandings. Vikram brushed her hair.
Vikram (intense whisper): "We lost so much time in fights. Let's not waste more. Let's… just love."
Tara (half-teasing, half-breathless): "Not now, Mr. Suryavanshi. You just fixed a rose in my hair. Don't ruin it."
Vikram (eyes flickering to her lips): "You're wearing red lipstick… do you know how dangerous that is for my self-control?"
Tara: "No, Vikram."
Vikram (pleading): "Just one kiss."
Tara (laughing): "I've heard this 'one kiss' line from you at least a hundred times. It's never just one."
Before Vikram could insist further, his phone rang. It was Dadi.
Dadi (on call): "When are you both coming home?"
Tara (quickly, before Vikram could speak): "We're just leaving the farmhouse, Dadi."
Vikram looked at her in shock.
Vikram: "Why did you say that?"
Tara (smirking): "To save myself from your love overdose."
Vikram's voice dropped low, carrying that quiet intensity of his.
"Okay, let's see, Tara. Who wins—your idea of escaping my love, or my love itself?"
Tara lifted her chin, playful defiance glinting in her eyes.
"The stronger one will win."
A faint smirk curved Vikram's lips.
"My love is very strong, Tara. I will be the one who wins."
Tara smiled softly and stepped ahead.
"We'll see. Now let's go…"
She started walking, but before she could get far, Vikram pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tight, pressed a small kiss against her cheek, and whispered with unwavering certainty,
"No one can stop me, Tara."
She tried to control her smile, but it slipped through anyway.
"You're impossible, Vikram…"
He chuckled, brushing his thumb over her hand as he intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Come on now."
Hand in hand, they stepped out of the cottage. For the first time in years, Vikram felt something different stirring within him. As they walked, his gaze drifted toward the yellow rose garden—the very place where he had once played as a child with his mother.
And for once, he wasn't sad remembering her.
He was smiling. He was happy—happy to recall those memories instead of being haunted by them.
Tara noticed the shift in him. She squeezed his hand gently.
Vikram looked at her, and her eyes silently asked, "What happened?"
He only gave her a soft smile and shook his head.
"Nothing."
But inside, he knew—it wasn't nothing.
It was everything.
---
At the Suryavanshi Mansion
In their room, Vikram clasped the diamond necklace around Tara's neck, resting his chin on her shoulder.
Vikram: "Finally, you've accepted it. Thank you."
Tara (smiling): "No, I should thank you."
Vikram (teasing): "Then say it."
Tara turned, kissed his forehead. "Thank you." Then kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
Vikram: "Not enough. I taught you the proper way."
Tara (mock innocent): "That's all you taught me. And it's already too much. Bye!"
Vikram pouted, but before he could sulk too much, Tara leaned forward and kissed his lips gently. He immediately deepened the kiss, holding her by the neck and waist, until Tara pulled back, breathless.
Tara: "That's enough. I'm going downstairs."
But before she could leave, voices rose from the hall below.
---
The Confrontation
They both froze at the sound of an argument. Vikram's grandfather was yelling, his grandmother pleading. A woman's sharp voice echoed back.
They rushed down—and Vikram's face turned crimson with rage the moment he saw her.
Vikram (snapping): "What are you doing here, Sunanda?"
Sunanda (smiling slyly): "Oh Vikram, my Beta, I just came to talk."
Vikram: "Don't call me that. Get out before I throw you out myself. If I had known you were entering this mansion, I would have banned you completely."
Sunanda (mock hurt): "Is this how you speak to your mother?"
Vikram (furious): "You are not my mother. You never were. You're only the second wife of the late Narayan Suryavanshi—nothing more!"
Dadi intervened quickly, urging Sunanda to leave, but Sunanda's eyes locked onto Tara.
Sunanda (sneering): "So this is her? The driver's daughter who bewitched The Great Vikram Suryavanshi into madness?"
She walked toward Tara. Vikram moved instantly, but Tara stopped him with her hand, standing firm.
Tara (calmly): "Leave now, or I'll call the guards. Don't make me do something I dislike."
Sunanda (mocking): "Ah, confident too. No wonder Vikram's money is flowing on you—look at this necklace!"
Before Tara could react, Sunanda yanked the diamond necklace from her neck.
Everyone gasped. Vikram roared in rage, almost losing control, but Tara desperately held him back, whispering, "NO Vikram. Please."
Dadi immediately ordered the staff to drag Sunanda out.
Sunanda (shouting as she was pulled away): "This necklace belongs to me, not to a driver's daughter! I'll be back—and next time, I'll claim my rights!"
---
Aftermath
Vikram stormed back to his room, shaking with fury. He raised his hand to smash the mirror, but Tara quickly stepped in front of him. He froze, fists trembling.
Tara hugged him tightly.
Tara: "Please, for me—control your anger."
Vikram broke down, tears running down his face.
Vikram (choking): "She ruined everything—my childhood, my mother's life. Because of her, I lost my mom. Because of her, my childhood was hell…"
Tara held him, soothing, her voice steady.
Tara: "Don't hurt yourself for someone who only wants to hurt you. Your mother's love was bigger than her hatred, and no one can take that away."
She made him sit on the bed, kneeling beside him, holding his hand.
Tara: "You've never been weak, Vikram—and you never will be. Stop letting her win by making you suffer. Please… stop."
Tara : I get water for you.
Vikram clutched her hand tightly.
Vikram (whispering): "I don't want water. Just stay with me."
She lay beside him, caressing his cheek as tears still glistened in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around him, whispering until his breathing steadied.
Inside, Tara thought silently:
"Now I understand why he once accused me of wanting only money and jewellery. After years of watching Sunanda's greed—like the way she snatched my necklace—it became his truth. But today I also saw the depth of his pain. Sunanda ruined so many lives, and now I finally understand why Prithvi is the way he is too."
Tara held him tighter. She knew Vikram's scars ran deep—but she would not let them define his future anymore.
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