Chapter 13

One by one, the staff came to the door, their knocks polite but insistent. Each of them, concerned and well-meaning, asked if I wanted dinner.

"Ma'am, the food is ready. Would you like me to bring it to your room?" one asked.

"No, I'm fine," I replied curtly, turning away.

The knocks didn't stop. Another maid came shortly after, followed by the cook, their voices tinged with worry. My answers remained the same, but my irritation grew.

Finally, the last knock came. It wasn't the staff this time—it was Veeranshu.

"Tara," he said softly, stepping into the room. "You haven't eaten. Come have dinner."

I didn't look at him. "I told the staff, and I'll tell you the same—I'm not hungry."

He paused, his voice calm but firm. "You shouldn't skip meals."

"I said I'm fine," I snapped, my tone sharper than I intended. "Just leave me alone."

For a moment, he didn't move. Then, without another word, he turned and left.

The sound of the door closing behind him sent a pang of regret through me. I had been rude, unfairly taking my anger out on him when he had only been concerned. But my pride kept me rooted in place, too stubborn to apologize.

Hours passed, and the quiet of the house grew heavier. My stomach began to growl, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since lunch. Frustrated with myself, I slipped out of bed and made my way to the kitchen.

The lights were dim, and the mansion felt almost eerie in its silence. I rummaged through the pantry until I found what I was looking for—a packet of Maggi noodles.

I hadn't planned on making anything fancy. Maggi was quick, easy, and comforting. As the water boiled, I added the noodles and seasoning, stirring slowly. The familiar aroma filled the kitchen, bringing a small smile to my face.

But that peace was short-lived.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped, nearly dropping the spoon. Spinning around, I found Veeranshu standing in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the dim light. His expression was unreadable, but his presence sent a wave of embarrassment through me.

"You scared me," I said, placing a hand over my chest.

He glanced at the pot on the stove. "I didn't know we had Maggi in this house."

I hesitated before answering. "I... I bought it myself. I thought I might want something simple to eat now and then."

He nodded, stepping closer. His intent wasn't clear, and his gaze shifted between me and the noodles.

Feeling awkward under his watchful eyes, I blurted out, "Would you like some?"

I fully expected him to decline, but to my surprise, he said, "Sure."

I stared at him for a moment before grabbing a second plate. But he shook his head. "One plate is fine."

His words caught me off guard, but I didn't argue. I poured the steaming noodles onto the plate and set it on the counter.

We sat side by side, eating from the same plate in comfortable silence. It was a strange, unexpected moment of connection—a shared experience that felt oddly intimate despite its simplicity.

As we ate, I finally worked up the courage to speak. "I'm sorry for earlier. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It wasn't fair."

He looked at me, his expression softening. "There's no need to apologize, Tara. You've been through a lot."

I nodded, the warmth in his voice easing some of the guilt I had been carrying.

As the meal came to an end, Veeranshu leaned back slightly, his tone turning serious. "There's something I need to tell you."

I straightened, suddenly nervous. "What is it?"

"I know about the car that was following you today," he said.

My heart skipped a beat. "How?"

"I've assigned a bodyguard to you," he admitted. "He follows you discreetly to ensure your safety."

I stared at him, stunned.

"the bodyguard noticed that car too," he continued. "and we searched and found out It was Sameer's. My team intercepted him, and he's in custody now. You don't need to worry about him anymore."

His words hit me like a wave. I had thought I had lost Sameer on my own, but it had been Veeranshu's intervention that had kept me safe.

"Thank you," I said softly, my voice trembling with relief.

He nodded. "You don't have to face this alone, Tara. I'll make sure you're protected."

''I am sorry I have been  a jerk to you instead of facing everything I choose to hide behind my work letting you suffer everything alone , knowing that you left everything your home , your people'' he continued guilt clearly visible in his eyes , but I was slightly happy atleast he knows how to admit his mistake ''it is not your fault , this situation is very new to both of us if I left my home , then you had to make space in your home for me basically a stranger , and it might require sometime to understand all of it'' as soon as i said this his jaw ticked a bit , did I said something wrong ''Tara that doesn't explain my mistake and listen to me very carefully this home is yours you don't need to hesitate to do anything here , my actions weren't the best but don't ever doubt that this home and the things here aren't yours'' his voice came a little low and dangerous , I nodded my head at his request feeling warm that he acknowledged me

As I looked at him, a detail caught my eye. Three empty coffee mugs sat on the counter nearby, their presence a silent testament to his long hours and relentless work ethic.

"You drink too much coffee," I said, my tone half-chiding, half-concerned.

He raised an eyebrow. "It helps me stay awake."

"It's not good for you," I said, shaking my head. "Wait here."

Before he could argue, I rummaged through the pantry and found the ingredients I needed. A few minutes later, I handed him a steaming cup of turmeric milk.

"What's this?" he asked, eyeing the drink warily.

"Turmeric milk," I replied. "It's good for you, and it'll help you sleep."

He took the cup, his expression unreadable, and took a cautious sip. "It's... not bad."

I smiled, feeling a small sense of accomplishment.

As we sat together in the quiet kitchen, the weight of the day seemed to lift. It wasn't a grand moment, but it felt significant—a step toward understanding each other, a step toward something more.

setting the cup aside he looked at me ''thankyou Tara''

''for the milk '' I asked , he nodded his head in a no a tiny smile playing at the corner of his lips

''no for caring and for waiting every night for dinner'' and with that he went to his study

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn't alone.

A/N PLEASE VOTE GUYS AND COMMENT