After breakfast, Tara quietly returned to her room. She sat on the couch, her mind tangled with thoughts.
What's going to happen now? My life is no longer my own… and Vikram sir…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ringing of her phone.
"Hello, Mummy?" she answered quickly.
"Didi, it's me, Suhani," her little sister's voice chimed through.
Tara softened instantly. "Suhani? Why didn't you go to school today?"
"I was too tired," Suhani pouted over the phone, "and I miss you. The house feels empty without you. When will you come back?"
A lump formed in Tara's throat. She forced a smile through her voice. "Suhani, I'm married now. I can't be there all the time anymore… but you can come visit me whenever you feel like it, okay?"
"But didi… Vikram sir doesn't look like those cool CEO types from the Kdramas," Suhani whispered innocently.
Tara's heart sank a little, but she smiled, facing the truth. "That's because those CEO characters only exist in fictional stories, Suhani. Real life… is not a story."
Suhani's voice trembled. "But I really miss you, didi…"
"I miss you too…" Tara's eyes welled up, but she tried hard to hold back her tears. "Okay Suhani, I'll call you later, alright?" She ended the call, but the moment she put her phone down, she couldn't stop her tears from falling.
Meanwhile, Vikram had already reached his office. The media was waiting, as always. After all, he was the CEO of the multi-billion-dollar Suryavanshi Group.
One reporter asked boldly, "Sir, you're back in the office so soon! Shouldn't you be spending time with your new wife?"
Vikram gave a polite smile. "Work is important too. Besides, my wife is a very understanding woman."
Another female reporter teased, "Madam must be so lucky to get a workaholic husband!" The group chuckled.
Vikram adjusted his tie with practiced calm. "I'll answer more of your questions later."
As he turned to leave, another voice piped up, "Sir, when and where are you planning to go on your honeymoon?"
Vikram simply smiled without answering and signaled his security to hold the reporters back.
Later, Tara scrolled through her social media, watching the video clips of Vikram's media interaction.
"Seriously… he should've been an actor, not a businessman," she mumbled to herself.
Just then, Dadi Ji entered her room. "Tara."
Tara quickly stood up. "Yes, Dadi Ji? You should've called me, I would've come to you."
Dadi Ji waved her hand playfully. "I'm not that old yet! I brought something for you." She handed Tara a elegant box.
"What's this?" Tara asked, curious.
"Open it," Dadi smiled.
Tara gently unboxed it and gasped. "This necklace is so beautiful, Dadi Ji."
"It belonged to Vikram's mother. Now, it's yours."
Tara hesitated, overwhelmed. "I… I can't accept this. It's too precious. I can't handle such a big responsibility."
Dadi Ji chuckled warmly. "If you can take responsibility for this whole family, why are you afraid of a necklace? This is yours now. If Sulekha were here, she would've given it to you herself. But destiny chose this path instead."
Tara gently held Dadi Ji's hands. "Okay, I'll keep it."
"It will look perfect on you. Make sure you wear it soon," Dadi Ji said with a loving smile as she left the room.
Tara saw her to the door. When she returned, she left the box on the bed and continued with her day. As evening fell, she couldn't resist opening the box again.
Standing before the mirror, she tried on the necklace. It looked stunning against her skin.
"Tara… it suits you," she whispered to herself. "But you must be careful… this necklace doesn't really belong to you. This is just a contract marriage."
Suddenly, Vikram stormed into the room. His eyes immediately landed on Tara wearing the necklace. Fury flared within him.
"How dare you wear that necklace?" he snapped and marched towards her.
Before Tara could explain, Vikram yanked the necklace off her neck with such force that it scratched her skin, leaving a painful cut.
"Ouch!" Tara winced. "Dadi Ji gave it to me… that's why I wore it."
"This is exactly what you wanted, right?" Vikram's voice dripped with accusation. "Admit it—you want the gold, the expensive dresses, all the wealth."
Tara met his harsh gaze with teary eyes but steady words. "This dress… is bought with my father's hard-earned money. And the necklace? I didn't ask for it. Dadi Ji gave it to me out of love. And as for the money… you're talking about the money you spent on my father's treatment? I repay that debt every single day—with my tears. Isn't that the price you wanted from me?"
Vikram stood frozen, words caught in his throat.
After a long silence, he suddenly spoke with a fake calm. "Turn around. Let me help you wear it."
Tara blinked in surprise. "What?"
Vikram leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Dadi is at the door. Just turn around and let me put it on."
When Dadi entered, her face lit up. "Tara, the necklace looks perfect on you."
Vikram quickly added, "You could've asked someone to call me downstairs, Dadi Ji."
"I tried to stop you when you came up, but you were too quick. Anyway, come downstairs. Let's have tea. I just wanted to tell you… Sulekha's treasure has found its rightful place now."
The three of them sat in the living room, sipping tea. After a while, Tara quietly removed the necklace.
"Dadi Ji, I… I don't think this is the right time for me to wear this. I don't feel worthy of it yet."
Dadi's eyes noticed the cut on Tara's neck. "Tara, how did you get hurt?"
Vikram stared at her, tense and waiting for her to expose him.
Tara calmly smiled. "I scratched myself accidentally. See? My nails did this."
Dadi scolded gently. "You should've put something on it! It can get infected."
"I'll take care of it," Tara reassured, walking back to her room.
That night, Vikram noticed that Tara hadn't applied anything to the cut. He grabbed the first-aid box, pulled out an antiseptic cream, and tossed it toward her.
"Apply this," he ordered curtly and quickly switched off the lights, lying on his bed.
"In the dark? How will I see?" Tara's voice echoed.
"Stop yelling!" Vikram snapped and turned the light back on.
"I wasn't yelling. You were," she mumbled.
"Don't answer me back like that. You won't like me when I get angry."
Tara, under her breath, whispered, "As if anyone can be worse than you."
"What did you just say?"
She ignored him, opened her phone's front camera, and carefully applied the cream to her neck. Once done, she playfully tossed the tube back at him, just as he had done.
"Stay in your limits, Tara!" Vikram growled, sitting up.
She quickly switched off the lights. "Goodnight. And by the way, you don't need to keep repeating that you're dangerous. I already know."
She mimicked his tone and buried her face under the blanket, secretly smiling.
Vikram glared at her in the dark, exasperated, before finally lying back on his bed.
The next morning, Vikram's stepbrother, Prithvi, arrived.
"Dadi! How are you? And where's Dada Ji?" he hugged her warmly.
"I'm fine, beta. Dada Ji is in his room."
"I'll bring him here myself," Prithvi grinned.
Moments later, they all gathered in the living room.
"So, you finally came home after so long," Dada Ji said.
"I missed all of you," Prithvi smiled.
Dadi Ji teased, "Why didn't you come to the wedding?"
"You know how my brother reacts when he sees me…" Prithvi shrugged. "By the way, why did he suddenly marry Tara in such a rush?"
Dadi Ji laughed. "It's not just Tara now. She's your bhabhi."
Dada Ji added, "We always thought Vikram would never get married. He's already 35."
Prithvi smirked. "Exactly! Bhai is 35 and Tara is just 21. They don't even match."
Dadi Ji gently said, "Relationships aren't about age, Prithvi. They're about understanding. Tara is a very sensible girl."
Just then, Tara entered.
"Oh, Prithvi Sir! What a surprise visit!" she smiled.
Prithvi stood up, "How are you, Tara?"
Dadi Ji chimed in, "It's 'Bhabhi' now."
Prithvi playfully pinched Tara's cheek. "She'll always be Tara for me."
From a distance, Vikram witnessed this scene. His eyes narrowed.
"Tara!" he called out sharply.
Everyone turned to him.
Trying to sound calm, he added, "Come to the room. I need to discuss something."
Dadi Ji nodded. "Go, beta. He must have some work."
Tara followed him, her heart beating a little faster.