Vikram's POV

The room was still, but not calm. There was a tension hanging in the air-thick, unspoken, waiting to erupt at the slightest spark. Surya stood in front of me, his posture straight, his voice controlled... but the anger beneath it was impossible to miss.

"Bhau, aaj subah Rishabh airport mein dekha gaya tha... bole toh uthwale usse?"

"Nahi."

My answer came instantly. Short. Sharp. Final.

"Par bhau... kaka ne bola-"

"Jaane de usse."

I cut him off mid-sentence, my tone dropping lower, quieter... but far more dangerous. There was something in my voice that didn't need repetition, didn't need explanation.

"...aur ye baat baba ko pata nahi chalni chahiye."

Silence spread across the room like a slow poison. I could see it on Surya's face-the resistance, the disagreement, the question he wasn't daring to ask. He didn't like this. Maybe he thought letting Rishabh go was a mistake. Maybe he thought I was holding back when I shouldn't be.

But then-

I looked at him.

Just one look.

And that was enough.

His shoulders dropped slightly. His gaze lowered without another word. Whatever argument he had... died right there.

"Ji bhau..." he said quietly, before turning and walking out.

The door closed behind him with a soft click.

And just like that-

I was alone.

I walked toward the window slowly, my steps unhurried, controlled. The cold air brushed against my face, sharp and biting, carrying a chill that should have been enough to make anyone feel something. Anything.

But I felt nothing.

Not the cold.

Not the silence.

Not even the passing of time.

Because my mind... wasn't here.

It had already been taken over.

Occupied.

By someone else.

I pulled out a cigarette, lighting it without thinking. The flame flickered for a second before dying, leaving behind a thin trail of smoke that slowly began to fill the space around me. I took a drag. Then another.

But every single time...

In that smoke-

She appeared.

That one glimpse.

That one moment.

Her.

A face I hadn't even seen properly. And still... that one brief encounter had unsettled something deep inside me. Something that didn't get disturbed easily. Something that shouldn't have reacted at all.

And yet-

It had.

Like something buried deep within me... had suddenly woken up.

-

I was walking back to my room after meeting Baba. Nothing unusual. Nothing out of place. Just another routine moment in a day filled with routine decisions.

And then-

She came running out of nowhere.

Straight toward me.

Her face covered, her steps hurried, almost careless... like she was running from something, or toward something-without even knowing what.

"Pagal..." I muttered under my breath.

And then it happened. Exactly what was bound to happen.

Her saree tangled around her feet. Her balance slipped. Her body tilted forward.

She was about to fall-

But I didn't let her.

My hand moved before my mind could even process it. I caught her by the waist, pulling her back, holding her steady. A firm grip. Instinctive. Unplanned.

"Ahh... clumsy woman..." I muttered under my breath.

Her body froze in my hold for a brief second. And then-her voice.

"K-kya main girr gai...?"

That one line-

Did something.

Something unfamiliar.

I answered, "Nahi."

Simple. Direct.

But inside... nothing felt simple anymore.

Her voice... it was soft. Too soft. Like a faint melody that settles somewhere deep in your mind without permission. You hear it once... and then you don't forget it. You want to hear it again. And again.

Only that voice.

Only her.

My gaze dropped slightly. Her veil had slipped-just a little. Barely noticeable. But enough.

Enough to reveal her lips.

Pink. Soft. Slightly parted.

For a moment-my mind went blank.

If her lips looked like that... then how beautiful would her face be?

How dangerous?

I took another drag. The cigarette had already burned halfway, but I hadn't even realized. My thoughts were still stuck there... in that one moment, that one touch, that one voice.

And those lips.

I closed my eyes.

But she didn't disappear.

And maybe... she wasn't meant to.

-

Tara's POV

I stood outside the door, my fingers trembling slightly as I lifted my hand and knocked softly.

"Andar aao."

The voice from inside was cold. Straight. Unwelcoming.

My breath hitched slightly as I pushed the door open and stepped in carefully, each step slow, measured... as if I was entering a place where even breathing too loudly might be wrong. Dadi sat on the bed, her back straight, her eyes sharp and piercing-like she wasn't waiting for me, but judging me the moment I entered.

"Aa bahu, aa... kaha thi itni der? Mujhe toh laga ab mujhe hi tujhe bulane aana padega."

There was a smile in her words... but not in her tone. The sharpness underneath it cut deeper than open anger.

I lowered my gaze immediately. "Woh dadi... main aa hi rahi thi..."

My voice faltered, weak against the weight of her presence.

"Accha? Mujhe toh laga London se aa rahi hai tu... itna time laga rahi thi."

Each word pierced straight into my chest. I pressed my lips together tightly.

"Maaf kijiye, dadi..."

That was all I could say. That was all I was allowed to say.

"Haan haan, maafi toh aise maang rahi hai jaise bahut bada ehsaan kar rahi ho. Chal, ab zyada natak mat kar. Aa... mere pair daba. Aur dhang se daba... gusse mein mera pair tod mat dena."

My hand paused mid-air for a second. My heart skipped painfully.

"Dadi... aap aisa kyun bol rahi hain...?"

The question slipped out softly. Maybe I didn't understand. Or maybe I understood everything... and just didn't want to accept it.

"Arrey main toh sach hi keh rahi hoon. Tere jaise muh latkaye hue logon se kya umeed rakhein? Pata nahi andar kya chal raha hai."

That burning sensation returned to my throat. But I stayed silent. What could I say? What was left to say?

Quietly, I picked up the oil bottle from the table. My hands were still trembling. I moved to sit on the bed-

"Arey arey! Kalmuhi! Idhar kya baith rahi hai? Pura bistar ganda kar degi. Hatt waha se!"

I pulled my hand back instantly, as if burned. My heartbeat spiked.

"Woh kursi utha... waha corner mein padi hai... uspar baith. Yahan teri jagah nahi hai."

You don't belong here.

The words echoed deep inside me, settling somewhere they shouldn't have.

Silently, I picked up the chair. It was old, slightly broken, unsteady-just like the way I felt at that moment. I dragged it near the bed and sat down carefully.

I poured oil into my hands.

And started massaging her feet.

My hands moved mechanically.

But my mind... wasn't there.

With every press, the burning in my eyes increased. But I didn't let the tears fall. Not now. Not here. Not in front of her. In this house... even crying felt like something that needed permission.

"Arey naaspethi, ab maalish karna bhi sikhana hoga kya tujhe? Haan, bol?"

Her voice snapped again, sharp and impatient. My hands faltered slightly.

"Dadi... main-"

"Zubaan mat lada! Itni bhi sanskaar nahi hai kya?"

My throat went dry instantly.

"Arey hoga kaise... maa-baap ko khaa gayi toh sikhayega kaun?"

That sentence didn't just hurt.

It stabbed.

My fingers froze completely. My breath hitched painfully in my chest.

"Chal chal, ab nikal yahan se!" she dismissed me like I was nothing.

"Bachpan mein maa-baap ko khaa gayi... ab mere pote ko bhi. Arey tera toh pati hai na woh... daayan kahin ki!"

Something inside me shattered. Completely.

The last thread holding me together snapped.

My chest tightened. My vision blurred. Breathing felt difficult, like the air had suddenly become too heavy.

Without saying a word-

I stood up.

Almost stumbled.

And ran.

Out of that room.

Like staying there even for a second longer would suffocate me.

My steps were uneven, desperate, as if I was trying to escape something chasing me. Or maybe something already inside me.

"Maa ji tried to stop me-"

"Arey beta, ruk... kya hua?"

"Tara, kuch toh bol... ro kyun rahi hai?"

Her voice followed me, filled with concern. I could feel her gaze on me-her worry, her confusion.

For a moment... my steps almost slowed. My throat tightened. Words rose... but got stuck somewhere deep inside.

I wanted to say something. Anything.

But I couldn't.

Not a single word came out.

My lips trembled... but stayed shut.

I just shook my head faintly... and walked past her. Without answering. Without looking back. Because I knew-if I did... I would break right there.

I reached my room. Closed the door. Locked it.

And this time-

There was no holding back.

No control.

No strength left to pretend.

I slid down against the door, my body trembling uncontrollably. And finally... I broke. Completely.

The tears came rushing out-violent, unstoppable, as if they had been suffocating inside me for too long. My hands clutched my dupatta tightly, my breaths uneven, breaking with every sob.

All the words. All the insults. All the pain I had swallowed-came crashing down at once.

"Kyuuun..."

My voice barely existed.

"Main hi kyun..."

My chest ached. My heart felt like it was being crushed slowly... piece by piece. I pressed my hand against my mouth, trying to muffle my cries-

But they still escaped. Broken. Shattered. Hopeless.

For the first time since I entered this house... I didn't try to stay strong.

Because there was nothing left to hold together.

The room stayed silent. Cold. Unforgiving.

And on the floor... I sat there... slowly losing myself.

After a while, I forced myself to move. My body felt heavy, each step dragging as if even walking had become a burden. I moved toward the table, my fingers trembling as I reached out and picked up a photo frame.

My family.

My only family.

Everything inside me stilled for a moment. My legs almost gave in again. I held the frame tightly, like it was the only thing keeping me standing.

My vision blurred.

And the tears came again.

Softer this time... but deeper. More painful. They rolled down slowly, falling onto the glass, blurring the faces I had once held so close.

My thumb moved over the picture... as if I could feel them. As if they were still there.

"Dekha aapne...?"

My voice came out in a broken whisper.

"Aapki Tara... kitni strong ban gayi hai..."

A tear fell over my grandmother's face in the photo.

It felt strange... how quickly life could change. How easily everything could shift. And all we did was adjust. Keep swallowing. Keep breaking... silently.

Until yesterday, I lived in a small house. Small... but mine. There was warmth. Peace. A kind of happiness that didn't need permission. I used to laugh freely-without thinking, without this constant heaviness sitting on my chest.

Sometimes, I used to wish for a bigger life. A bigger house.

And now?

I was here.

In this haveli. Surrounded by power, status, respect-everything people admired. Everything people envied.

And yet...

It felt like I had been buried alive inside it.

The silence here screamed louder than noise. The space felt empty despite being full. And I... felt completely alone.

A broken laugh escaped my lips. Maybe anyone looking at me would think I was ungrateful. That something was wrong with me.

But the truth was...

Even I didn't understand it.

Yesterday, I was "poor."

Today, I was "privileged."

Yesterday, I was someone.

Today...

I was just someone's wife.

Nothing more.

I was 21. Just 21. And all I had done in these years was obey. Stay quiet. Adjust.

I never had parents. My grandparents raised me. They gave me everything they could. And yes... I was grateful.

But was it love?

Or just responsibility?

Because the moment I turned 21... everything changed.

One day, I mattered.

The next day... I became a burden.

Just like that.

"Kabhi poocha kisi ne mujhse... ki main kya chahti hoon?"

My voice trembled.

"Kabhi kisi ko laga ki main bhi... kuch mehsoos karti hoon?"

My hands curled into fists.

"Ya bas yeh soch liya... ki main chup rehti hoon toh mujhe dard hota hi nahi?"

My breathing quickened. Tears spilled faster.

"Main chup hoon iska matlab yeh nahi ki main toot nahi rahi..."

Every word felt heavier than the last.

"Har baar... jab kisi ne faisla liya... main andar se thodi aur mar gayi..."

My voice cracked completely.

"Par kisi ne dekha hi nahi... kisi ne poocha hi nahi..."

Memories flooded in. Decisions made for me. A life chosen without asking me once.

"Doctor banegi tu."

I said yes.

"Shahar ja."

I went.

Without questioning. Without stopping. Without choosing.

And then-

"Shaadi karni hai."

Bas.

My life decided. Just like that.

"Kya main itni bekaar hoon ki meri marzi ki koi keemat hi nahi?"

My voice rose again, trembling violently.

"Kya main bas ek bojh thi... jise hata dena zaroori tha?"

I clutched my head, the thoughts too loud, too suffocating.

"Aap logon ne mujhe diya nahi... dhakel diya hai..."

My voice dropped into a whisper.

"Aise ghar mein... jahan main kisi ki nahi hoon..."

My breathing broke apart completely.

"Na main wahan ki rahi... na yahan ki ho payi..."

A tear fell onto my trembling hands.

"Main hoon bhi... ya nahi?"

And then suddenly-

Everything burst.

"KYA GALTI THI MERI?!"

My body shook violently, my voice breaking into a scream.

"Itna bura kya kiya maine ki mujhe yeh sab mil raha hai?!"

I gasped between sobs.

"Main thak gayi hoon... samjhe aap? MAIN THAK GAYI HOON...!"

My voice shattered completely.

"Roz strong banne ka natak karke... roz chup rehkar... roz sab sehkar... MAIN THAK GAYI HOON!"

There was no control left. No restraint.

"Bas ek baar... ek baar koi keh deta... ki main galat nahi hoon..."

My voice softened, breaking into pieces.

"Bas ek baar koi pooch leta... Tara, tu theek hai?"

Silence answered me.

Heavy. Crushing.

My sobs echoed in the empty room.

Because no one asked.

No one saw.

No one cared.

And today-

For the first time-

I saw it.

I saw myself breaking.

And I couldn't stop it anymore.

______