3

"koi lafzon ke liye baitha raha, kisi ne aankhein padh li."

Tara pov

I was still half-asleep, waiting for my brother to come in and scold me like he always did to wake me up. That's when I realized I am not in my home. Slowly, I opened my eyes, rubbed them, and looked around the room. It felt so quiet, too quiet. My gaze fell on the table nearby, and that's when I noticed a letter.

I quickly got up and grabbed it. As I unfolded the paper, it is from daksh ji. He had written that he left for the office early because of some important work. At the same time, he asked me to get ready and told me that he had already picked out clothes for me.

I turned towards the corner of the room, and there they were the clothes he had chosen. As I walked over and held them, I couldn't help but smile. They were just my style, perfectly suited to my taste. How did he know? Even after everything that happened between us, he still cared for me. This little gesture warmed my heart.

While I stood there holding the clothes, my thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. I froze for a moment, unsure who it could be. A soft voice called from the other side. "Ma'am, sab log neeche aapka intezaar kar rahe hain."

(Ma'am, everyone is waiting for you downstairs)

It was the maid.

I quickly responded, "Okay, I'll be there soon."

Once she left, I set the clothes aside and got ready. My hands trembled slightly as I fixed my hair and adjusted the outfit. Meeting Daksh ji's family felt overwhelming. How was I going to face them? Would they accept me after everything?

Just as the panic began to take over, my eyes caught sight of something else, a second letter, left neatly on the dresser. It was from him again. I picked it up, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness.

The words written on the paper seemed to echo his calm and reassuring voice:

"Don't be afraid of my family. You'll be okay. Don't overthink."

I stared at the letter, stunned. How did he know exactly what I was feeling? How could he understand my thoughts before I even expressed them? It was as though he could read my mind, and that brought me some comfort.

Taking a deep breath, I folded the letter and placed it back on the dresser. For the first time in a long while, I felt a small flicker of hope. Daksh ji truly cared, and even though the thought of facing his family scared me, his words gave me the hope.

With a final glance in the mirror, I whispered to myself, "You can do this." Then, I turned and walked toward the door, ready to meet whatever lay ahead.

I walked down the stairs, and the sound of chatter and the clinking of dishes reached my ears. As I entered the dining room, I saw Daksh ji's family gathered at the breakfast table. His mother was serving food, his father was quietly eating, and his sister was glued to her phone, barely paying attention to anything else.

I hesitated for a moment at the doorway before his mother looked up, spotted me, and smiled warmly. "Come, Tara, sit down," she said, gesturing to the empty seat next to her.

Nervously, I approached and took the seat. She began serving me food without waiting for me to ask, and I whispered a polite thank you. Picking up my fork, I started eating slowly, hoping the tension in my chest would ease.

Partway through breakfast, her voice broke the silence. "Daksh told me everything that happened there," she said calmly.

My hands froze, and I looked up at her, my heart thudding in my chest.

She met my gaze with an even expression. "Whatever happened has happened. My son got married, and this is what I wanted all along."

I didn't know what to say. Her words didn't carry any anger or bitterness, and it almost felt... accepting? I managed a small, uncertain smile.

His dad turned towards me. "Listen beta whatever happened, happened you are family now. Feel free here." I smiled and nodded.

His mom's next words surprised me even more. "You look beautiful, Tara, you are suitable for our daksh" she said with a genuine warmth that caught me completely off guard.

Beautiful? Were they really accepting me? Even after all the drama and stunts Daksh ji and I had pulled? I blinked, unsure how to respond, so I just smiled again, hoping it conveyed gratitude.

But before I could feel too relieved, his sister chimed."But, Mom, what about Priya? She's still mad about Daksh bhaiya. How are we going to explain this to her?"

Priya? The name made me pause. Someone loved Daksh ji? But he told me he'd never had a girlfriend before. Who was this Priya, then?

I didn't have much time to dwell on the thought because soon enough, we finished breakfast. I had a pleasant conversation with his mother, who seemed genuinely interested.

Just then someone walked in. Before I could see who it was, Daksh ji's father stood abruptly, muttering something under his breath before hurrying away from the table. His sister followed, throwing a quick "Mom, Priya is here, please handle her" over her shoulder before disappearing into another room.

Priya? My curiosity spiked as I turned my head toward the entrance. That's when I saw her a tall, well-dressed girl, storming into the room with tears streaming down her face. She practically threw herself at Daksh ji's mother, sobbing dramatically as she hugged her.

"Aunty, how could Daksh marry someone else? I love him!" she cried.

I don't know what came over me, but the situation made it hard to keep a straight face. I bit my lip, trying desperately not to laugh.

His mother, however, remained composed. She patted Priya on the back and said in a soothing voice, "It's okay, Priya. Don't worry, you'll find someone good too."

The girl finally let go of his mother and turned her gaze toward me. Her tear-streaked face shifted into something curious, as she walked toward me.

"You're very lucky to marry Daksh," she said bluntly, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. "He has a great body, and every girl is mad about him."

I blinked at her words, unsure whether to feel flattered or awkward. Before I could respond, she tossed her hair dramatically and walked off toward his sister's room without another word.

■

After sometime, the house felt quieter. Everyone seemed to go back to their own routines, but I couldn't shake the heaviness in my chest. Despite how welcoming Daksh ji's family had been, a deep sense of longing settled over me.

I missed my family I could feel tears in my eyes.

Excusing myself, I quickly went to my room and closed the door behind me. As soon as I sat on the bed, the emotions I had been holding back came rushing out. I hugged my knees to my chest, letting the tears fall freely.

After a few minutes, I sat up and took a deep breath. Daksh ji's words from his letter echoed in my mind: "Don't overthink. You'll be okay."

Even though I felt lost, I reminded myself of one thing: I wasn't completely alone in this. Daksh ji cared, and that thought gave me a little hope.

■

Daksh pov

I sat in my office, surrounded by people but my thoughts were stuck on Tara. No matter how hard I tried to focus on the meeting, my mind kept drifting back to her.

I couldn't take it anymore. I excused myself and left the office early. Staying away from her, even for a few hours, felt suffocating. Yet, being near her made my heart race in ways I couldn't explain.

Last night, I stood at her door for hours, just watching her sleep. I don't know why I did it, but there was something about the look on her face that kept me rooted there. She looked so innocent, so delicate, and I couldn't bring myself to walk away.

Is something happening to me? Is my heart trying to tell me something I'm not ready to accept?

I had told my family everything that happened, from the chaos at the wedding to the decisions I made. At first, they were shocked, stunned but eventually, they understood. They didn't question me or my actions.

I couldn't stop wondering how she felt about all of this. Was she okay with our marriage? Or was she already thinking about leaving, about divorce?

The idea of her wanting to end things hurt more than I expected. But I knew I couldn't force her to stay if that's not what she wanted. If she decided to leave, I'd accept her decision.

Still, a part of me hoped she'd stay. Maybe we could figure things out together, even if the way we ended up married wasn't ideal.

I decided I wouldn't wait any longer. As soon as this meeting was over, I'd go home and talk to her. I needed to know how she felt and what she wanted.

Whatever she decided, I would respect it. But deep down, I hoped she'd give this marriage and me a chance.

On my way home, I drove past a flower shop. Without thinking much, I stopped the car and got out. I wanted to bring her flowers, but as I stood there looking at the different options, I froze. What kind of flowers would she like? I had no idea.

After a moment, I decided, Forget it. I'll just take all of them. This way, I could figure out her favorite for next time. Feeling satisfied with my solution, I bought a colorful assortment of flowers and headed home.

As I walked into the house, I saw Priya sitting in the living room. The moment she spotted me with the flowers, she rushed toward me, her hand reaching out to grab them.

"Wait," I said firmly, pulling them away. "These are for my wife."

She froze for a moment, her expression turning from shock to frustration. She immediately started scolding me for marrying Tara, her words sharp and cutting. I didn't say much. I just stood there, nodding occasionally but mostly ignoring her as I scanned the room, looking for Tara.

Finally, when she wouldn't stop, I interrupted her. "Priya, enough," I said. Without waiting for a response, I walked away, leaving her standing there.

It was only when I reached the stairs that it hit me. Wait, did I just call Tara my wife?

I stopped for a moment, gripping the flowers tightly as the realization sank in. My chest felt tight, and my thoughts raced. What is happening to me?

I shook my head and continued walking, muttering to myself, "I am so cooked right now."

The flowers in my hand suddenly felt heavier, almost like they carried all the emotions I was trying to suppress. What if she doesn't like them? What if she doesn't want to talk to me at all?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. The room was quiet, and for a moment, I thought she wasn't there. But then I spotted her sitting by the window, her back turned to me. Her shoulders looked tense, and I could tell something was weighing on her mind.

"Tara," I said softly, stepping into the room. She turned her head slightly, her eyes red and puffy. She'd been crying.

My heart sank. I placed the flowers on the table and walked closer to her. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She wiped her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself. "I'm fine," she replied.

I knelt beside her, looking up at her. "Tara, I know this isn't easy for you. None of this is how it was supposed to happen. But I need to know... are you okay with this marriage? Do you..." I hesitated, swallowing hard. "Do you want to leave?"

She looked at me, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Because your happiness matters," I said. "If you don't want to stay, I won't stop you. But if you're willing to give this a chance, I promise to do everything I can to make it work."

For a moment, she didn't say anything. The silence was unbearable, but I didn't push her. Finally, she looked down at me, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Daksh ji, I don't know how I feel right now. But... I don't think I want to leave."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Thank you," I said softly, unable to hide the relief in my voice.

She glanced at the flowers on the table and raised an eyebrow. "Are those for me?"

I chuckled, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah. I didn't know which ones you'd like, so I bought all of them. Next time, I'll get your favorite."

Her smile grew, and for the first time, I saw a glimpse of the tension leaving her. "Thank you, Daksh ji. They're beautiful."

I looked at her, my heart aching as I saw the tears in her eyes again. I couldn't stand seeing her like this. "Why are you crying?" I asked softly, hoping she would open up.

She wiped her tears quickly and, in a shaky voice, replied, "I'm missing my family".

I don't know what came over me, but before I could think, I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. I could feel her stiffen for a moment, surprised by my sudden move, but I held her gently, brushing my hand through her hair.

I was about to kiss the top of her head, a but just before I did, I stopped myself. What am I doing? Why am I feeling like this?

It was like I couldn't breathe when she was around. Everything in me seemed to freeze and race at the same time. She was driving me crazy, and I didn't understand why.

She pulled back slightly, looking at me with wide eyes, clearly taken aback by the hug. I quickly covered my expression with a smile, trying to play it cool. But inside, I was a mess. I couldn't figure out what was happening to me.

"I'm sorry, Tara," I said, trying to lighten the moment. "I didn't mean..."

She shook her head slowly, her eyes softening.

I nodded, trying to make sense of it all. What is happening to me when I'm around her?

But for now, all I could do was smile and hope that things would make sense soon.

I stood there, frozen for a moment, as Tara's words sank in.

"This happened because of you, because you can't control your mouth" she said.

And I couldn't argue with that. She's right. I hadn't controlled my damn mouth that day, and now here we were awkward, confused, and tangled in emotions I didn't know how to handle.

Before I could gather my thoughts, she spoke again, her voice a little frustrated. "Hey Madhav, please mujhe iss ajeeb admi se bachao!"

Ajeeb me? The words hit me like a surprise punch. I was supposed to be the calm, collected one, yet here I was, making things even more complicated. "I am not ajeeb admi!" I protested, stepping closer to her. "And who is this Madhav you're talking about? I can't see him."

She pouted at me in anger, before turning and walking out of the room without saying another word.

I stood there, staring at the spot where she had just been. "Yeh madhav koun he?".

Did she really just call me ajeeb? I tried to process it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I was probably confusing her.

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh at myself. I was making things way harder than they needed to be. What am I doing? I muttered under my breath, feeling like a complete idiot.

I followed behind her, trying to apologize. I was practically running after her like a puppy. "Hum aapse naraz he" she said while climbing down stairs.

(I am upset with you)

"Okay, I'm sorry, yaar," I replied, still walking behind her.

She stopped right in front of my mother. "Beta, it's late, what are you two doing here?" my mother asked.

"Maa, we were just..." I started to explain.

"Go and sleep now it's getting late already." My mom said looking at us.

"Both of you should go to one room now, and Daksh, you shouldn't sleep alone in another room. You both sleep in your room," my mom continued.

Tara bit her lip and glanced at me.

■

She sat on the bed, and I placed pillows between us, both of us looking at each other and smiling.

Just a few minutes ago, she had scolded me, but now, here she was, smiling at me. God, I can't help but feel something for her.

Wait, did I just say that I like her? I shook my head in disbelief, letting out a deep sigh as I tried to process my thoughts.

"By the way, listen up. There's a party tomorrow. You should definitely come," I said.

She nodded her head. "Ji".

"Okay, good night, sweetheart," I said.

Wait, did I just call her "sweetheart"?

She turned to me with a surprised look and asked, "Kya kaha aap ne?"

(What did you say?)

I quickly nodded my head, laying back on the pillow, feeling embarrassed. "Oh god, what's happening to me?" I mumbled to myself.

To be continued

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