A few days later

The atmosphere in the house had settled on the surface-but underneath, things were far from calm. Kailash sat in the hall, quietly reading the newspaper, occasionally taking slow sips of his tea, his posture relaxed yet thoughtful. The soft rustle of paper and the faint clink of the cup were the only sounds breaking the silence-until Vikram spoke.

"Baba... I think it's time we return to the city."

The words were calm, but firm enough to make Kailash pause mid-sip. The cup hovered slightly in his hand as his eyes slowly lifted from the newspaper and settled on Vikram. There was a brief silence, heavy with unspoken questions, before he responded.

"Vikram, you are the sarpanch of this village now. If you leave... who will take care of everything here?"

His tone wasn't loud, but it carried clear disapproval. The resistance was evident-not just in his words, but in the way his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze steady and probing.

Vikram didn't react immediately. He stood composed, his expression controlled, his voice even when he spoke again.

"Baba, I'm talking about going to the city-not running away from my responsibilities. We can manage the work here from the city as well."

His words were measured, logical... but there was a firmness beneath them that made it clear-this wasn't just a suggestion.

Kailash fell silent for a moment, his gaze shifting away from Vikram. Slowly, almost thoughtfully, he looked toward Durga. She sat quietly to the side, listening to the conversation without interruption, her face calm but attentive. Sensing their attention, Vikram's gaze also followed, settling on her.

For a brief second, both their eyes were on her-waiting.

Durga noticed. She hesitated, then her eyes instinctively moved toward Tara's room, lingering there for a moment, as if something weighed on her mind. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, but steady.

"I think Vikram is right."

Her words were simple, yet they shifted something in the room.

"We should also pay attention to Tara's condition. That girl has come from the city... how long can she keep adjusting here like this?"

There was concern in her tone now, genuine and quiet.

"And on top of that, the mindset of people here..." she paused briefly, choosing her words carefully, "...is quite narrow. It would be better if we return to the city."

Silence followed her statement. Kailash didn't respond immediately. He remained still for a few seconds, absorbing everything that had just been said, his expression unreadable.

Then, with a slow exhale, he finally spoke.

"Well... since you both have already made up your minds..."

There was a hint of resignation in his voice now.

"...then fine. We'll leave for the city tomorrow."

The decision was made-simple in words, but carrying consequences none of them had fully spoken out loud yet.

__________

"Side hato... side hato... raasta do! Bhau aa rahe hain... raasta khali rakho!"

The voices cut through the already charged air, pushing through the crowd like a warning more than a request. People didn't just move-they shifted. Instinctively. Some out of respect. Most out of fear. The noise that had filled the ground moments ago began to break, turning uneven... restless.

And then-

A black SUV rolled in.

Not fast. Not slow.

Controlled.

The engine stopped. The door opened.

Vikram stepped out.

White shirt-sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal tension in his forearms.

Black watch-minimal, precise.

No chains. No rings. No unnecessary display.

He didn't need it.

His presence alone was enough to command the space.

He started walking forward.

No rush. No hesitation.

Each step grounded, deliberate-like he wasn't entering the scene... he was taking control of it.

The crowd parted on its own. No one said anything. No one dared to stand in his way. It was almost unsettling-the way a path just... formed for him.

Eyes followed him.

Some filled with respect.

Some with fear.

Some with something they didn't even understand.

He reached the stage.

Stopped.

Just for a second.

And looked.

Not casually. Not carelessly.

He scanned the entire ground-every face, every movement, every flicker of discomfort.

He didn't ask.

He read.

The noise, which had been rising just seconds ago, began to fall on its own. No announcement. No order. Just his silence-and it was enough.

He picked up the mic.

"Kya problem hai?"

No buildup. No speech. No fake authority.

Just one question.

Flat. Direct.

And yet-it carried weight.

A man stepped forward from the crowd, nervous, wiping sweat from his forehead, his voice slightly shaky.

"Bhau... woh paani ka issue hai... teen din se supply band hai... aur upar se Patil ke log bol rahe hain ki hum apni line alag karein-"

"Patil ke log kaun?"

Vikram cut him off mid-sentence.

His voice didn't rise.

But it dropped.

And that made it worse.

Heavier. Sharper.

More dangerous.

A few men from the back stepped forward, trying to maintain confidence, trying not to show the hesitation creeping into their expressions.

"Hum... aur yeh zameen humari side-"

"Chup."

One word.

That's all it took.

The man froze. Mid-breath. Mid-sentence.

The air shifted.

It got heavier.

Tighter.

Vikram stepped down from the stage.

Slowly.

Without breaking eye contact.

He walked straight toward them.

No guards in front. No hesitation.

Just him.

He stopped right in front of them.

Too close.

Uncomfortably close.

Close enough for them to feel the pressure of his presence, for their breathing to turn uneven.

"Gaav ka paani... gaav ka hota hai."

His voice was low. Calm.

But every word landed like it was carved in stone.

"Kisi ke baap ka private property nahi hota."

One of the men tried again, gathering whatever little courage he had left.

"Par bhau... kanoon-"

Vikram leaned in slightly.

Just enough.

His eyes locked into the man's.

Cold. Steady. Unblinking.

"Yaha kanoon main hoon. Aur yaha ka kanoon kya hona chahiye,kaisa hona chahiye,kab hona chahiye...ye main decide karta hoon"

Silence.

Not normal silence.

Dead silence.

Somewhere far, a child cried. A metal plate fell.

But here-nothing moved.

Nothing dared to.

Vikram straightened back up.

"Teen ghante."

He spoke again, like passing an order-not a suggestion.

"Teen ghante mein paani har ghar tak pahuchna chahiye."

His gaze shifted to Surya.

Sharp. Clear.

"Kaam ho jaana chahiye."

"Ji bhau."

Immediate. No delay. No doubt.

Then Vikram looked back at those men.

This time... colder.

"Agli baar..."

A pause.

Just enough to let the tension build.

"...mujhe problem solve karne ke liye bulana. Problem banne ke liye nahi."

No anger.

No shouting.

And that made it worse.

He turned.

Walked back toward the SUV.

Same pace. Same control.

Behind him-

The crowd erupted again.

"Bhau! Bhau! Bhau!"

But this time...

It wasn't just respect.

There was fear in it.

Submission.

And a clear understanding-

This wasn't a leader chosen by votes.

This was a man who took control.

This was not a normal sarpanch.

This... was Vikram Chauhan

__________

Tara's Pov:

I was walking through the corridor, aimlessly, my steps slow and absent-minded. Breathing peacefully had already become something rare for me here... almost unfamiliar. But still... being alone like this, even for a moment, felt easier. At least here, no one was watching, no one was judging. I could breathe... even if just a little.

When Maa told me this morning that we were leaving for the city tomorrow, I was... shocked. Completely caught off guard.

"Achaanak?" I had asked, unable to hide it. "Why?"

She didn't explain much. Just one sentence-calm, but final.

"Ab yahan rehne ka koi matlab nahi hai."

And that was it.

One month. It had already been one whole month here. It wasn't something small. I had spent years in the city... built a life there... but still-a village is a village. You don't even realize when it starts feeling like your own. How quickly you begin to belong.

I hadn't wanted to leave back then... and maybe I still didn't.

But maybe Maa was right.

Maybe there really was nothing left for me here.

Lost in those thoughts, my gaze drifted toward the garden. And something inside me softened. Out of everything that had happened in this one month... this place had been my quiet escape. My only space of peace. A place where the noise inside me would... slow down.

I wished-just for a second-that I could take this garden with me.

But reality doesn't work like that.

Without even realizing, my steps began moving on their own, pulling me closer... until I stopped in front of a small plant. A white rose. The one I had planted just a few days ago.

I slowly sat down beside it, my eyes fixed on it like it was something fragile... something mine.

My fingers gently brushed over the petals. Soft. Alive.

I had always loved planting... watching something grow with your own hands. But now... it all felt like it would be left behind again. Back to the city. Back to closed walls.

"Tara bitiya..."

The voice came from behind, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I turned slightly. It was Kaka.

"Ji, Kaka..."

He looked at me for a moment, then at the plant, then back at me.

"Tujhe dukh ho raha hai na... sab chhoot jaayega?"

I let out a faint breath, my fingers still resting on the rose.

"Dukh... shayad chhota shabd hai, Kaka. Jo main mehsoos kar rahi hoon..." I paused, struggling to find words, then forced a small smile, "...aisa kuch nahi hai."

Even I didn't believe that.

Kaka just chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Pareshan mat ho, bitiya. Tere jaane ke baad main inka dhyaan rakhunga. Aur tu bhi kabhi-kabhi aa jaya kar."

I didn't reply. What could I even say? I just gave a small nod, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes, and stood up, walking back inside.

My steps were slow as I headed toward my room, but before I could reach, Maa appeared in front of me.

"Achha hua tu mil gayi," she said, a little hurried. "Yeh zara paani ka jug Vikram ko de aa."

The moment I heard his name-

Something shifted.

A strange shiver ran down my spine. My grip tightened slightly.

"M-main..." I stammered, my voice barely forming.

"Haan beta, tu"

"Umm..."Before I could say anything, she placed the jug in my hands.

"Jaldi ja, beta... warna phir woh gussa ho jayega."

And just like that-she left.

Leaving me standing there. Confused. Frozen. Holding the jug tightly with both hands.

"Maa... yeh toh bata deti... woh hai kahan..." I whispered under my breath.

Of course. I'd have to find it myself.

Taking a quiet breath, I started walking again, this time with a different kind of uneasiness building inside me.

I was still looking around, trying to figure out where his room could be, when I spotted a servant passing by.

"Rukiye... aap mujhe unka room bata sakte hain?" I asked quickly, almost rushing my words.

He stopped... but instead of answering, he looked at me with confusion.

"Batayiye na... mujhe der ho rahi hai," I added, a little impatient now.

"Ji madam... aap kiski baat kar rahi hain?"

I blinked.

Right. I hadn't even said the name.

"Woh... unka..."

"Ji, kiski madam?"

How was I supposed to say it?

"Woh... main sarpanch ji ki baat kar rahi hoon..." I said softly.

"Ohh... Vikram ji?" he nodded. "Third floor, madam. Pura third floor."

"Pura?" I repeated, a little surprised.

"Ji... pura unka hi hai."

That earned an automatic expression from me-something between shock and disbelief.

"And madam..." he added after a second, lowering his voice slightly, "...waise sahib ko pasand nahi hai ki har koi unke floor par aaye."

My expression changed instantly.

Questions. Too many questions.

What did that even mean?

"Madam, mujhe jaana hoga... warna dadi gussa ho jayengi. Aap sambhal kar jaiyega," he said quickly before walking away.

I stood there for a moment, staring after him.

What kind of incomplete warning was that?

Why did no one ever finish their sentences here?

And sambhal kar jaiyega... seriously?

I looked down at the jug in my hands. Then toward the stairs.

A strange uneasiness settled in my chest.

He's that dangerous?

And I'm going... there? Without permission?

It felt like I was stepping into a place I shouldn't be.

Like entering a lion's territory.

Still... I started walking.

Slowly. Carefully.

Each step heavier than the last.

After a while... I reached the third floor.

And stopped.

Right in front of it.

________

I faltered before taking the next step, my body refusing to cooperate as if every nerve inside me had suddenly awakened at once. It felt like my own legs were betraying me-heavy, unwilling, trembling under an invisible pressure I couldn't explain. I had never stepped onto this floor before. All this time, I had only seen it from a distance... from below... from outside. It had always stood there like something untouchable, distant, almost forbidden. And even from afar, it had never looked anything less than grand. But today... today I was about to enter it. And just the thought of that was enough to send my heartbeat spiraling out of control, thudding loudly against my chest as if it wanted to escape.

Taking a slow, hesitant breath, I stepped inside.

The moment my foot crossed that threshold, something shifted.

The air felt different. Heavier. Colder.

I moved forward slowly, my steps soft, almost cautious, as if the floor itself might react to my presence. With each step, my surroundings unfolded-and for a moment, I forgot why I had even come here. Forgot who I had come to meet.

This wasn't just a floor.

It was an entire world of its own.

Wide, open spaces stretched around me, adorned with dark polished wood, deep-toned walls, and dim, golden lighting that didn't brighten the place-but deepened its shadows. Expensive artifacts stood silently in corners, not for show... but like they belonged there, naturally, as if wealth wasn't displayed here-it simply existed. Large glass panels let in light, but even that felt filtered... controlled. Everything about this place was rich... but not warm.

There was no comfort here.

No softness.

No feeling of home.

Instead, there was control. Silence. Power.

It felt like stepping into someone's mind... someone who didn't leave room for chaos-only dominance.

I found myself walking further in, almost unconsciously, my eyes wandering, absorbing every detail. The richness of it all was overwhelming, seeping into every corner, every surface. It was beautiful... but in a way that made you uneasy. Like something too perfect to touch.

I didn't realize when I stopped thinking.

Or when I got lost.

Because suddenly-

I heard it.

Footsteps.

Behind me.

My heart jolted violently. My entire body stilled in an instant, as if even the slightest movement would shatter something fragile around me. My breath hitched, shallow, uneven. I didn't turn. I couldn't.

It felt like as long as I stood still like this... I was safe.

Invisible.

Untouched.

But deep down... I knew I was wrong.

Because this place?

This wasn't somewhere you could ever be safe without permission.

I forced myself to breathe. Slowly. Carefully. Trying to gather whatever courage I had left.

And then-

I turned.

And there he was.

Standing right in front of me.

Vikram.

Arms crossed over his chest.

Head tilted slightly to one side.

Lips curved into the faintest smirk.

Eyes-fixed on me.

Watching. Observing.

There was something unsettling about the way he looked at me-not aggressively, not angrily... but with a quiet awareness that made me feel completely exposed.

My fingers tightened instinctively around the jug in my hand.

And then-

He stepped forward.

Just one step.

But it was enough.

I froze. Completely.

Like my body had forgotten how to move. Like something invisible had wrapped around me, holding me in place.

Black magic, my mind whispered.

And somehow... it didn't even feel like an exaggeration.

I mentally shook myself, trying to regain control-but standing in front of him, I could feel that control slipping, little by little.

The strange part?

There was no anger on his face.

No irritation at my presence.

No visible reaction at all.

And that... scared me more.

Because expressionless meant unreadable.

And unreadable meant dangerous.

"Umm... I'm sorry... I know your rule... everyone is not allowed here... I just came to give you water..."

My voice came out softer than I intended, slightly trembling despite my efforts to steady it.

He didn't respond immediately.

Just looked at me.

Then-

"Hm... rule is for everyone... but you don't come under everyone."

For a second, I forgot to breathe.

His words lingered.

Unsettling. Confusing.

Why?

Before I could stop myself, the question slipped out-

"How can I be an exception...?"

The moment the words left my lips, something changed.

Not dramatically. Not visibly.

But I felt it.

His gaze sharpened.

And then-he moved closer.

Another step.

My body reacted instantly, my feet moving back on their own. One step. Then another. But it didn't matter.

Because behind me-

There was a table.

My back hit it suddenly, throwing me off balance. I stumbled-

But before I could fall-

He caught me.

And just like that-

Everything changed.

We were close.

Too close.

Closer than we should have been.

Closer than I was prepared for.

My back pressed against the table, his presence towering over me, surrounding me completely. That's when I realized just how tall he was-I barely reached his shoulder. The difference, the proximity... it made my pulse race even faster.

He leaned slightly closer. Not forcefully. Not aggressively.

Intentionally.

His voice dropped-low, almost a whisper.

Close enough that it felt like it was meant only for me.

"You're not an exception..."

A pause.

Then softer. Deeper.

"...sei mia. E le mie regole non valgono per ciò che mi appartiene già."

(AN: In italian language,It means ,"You are mine. And my rules do not apply to what already belongs to me".)

___________