chapter 13

Pari descended the stairs to the living room. A faint frown tugged at her lips. Vikrant hadn't woken her up, and when sleep finally loosened its grip on her, she found the bed empty. He was gone.The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting long, golden streaks across the lavish space. Her gaze lingered on the untouched cup of coffee resting on the center table, a silent reminder of his absence.Well, she had slept late last night, lost in the tangle of her own thoughts, and naturally, morning had crept in unnoticed. It wasn't her fault, was it?Where was Vikrant? Not only him, no servant except Kamla and Mahavir were present. Strange.She roamed her eyes around and spotted Akansha on the couch. She lifted her foot and walked there. Akansha seemed lost in thought, her fingers lightly tracing the hem of her dupatta. Pari bent down, touching her feet to seek her blessings."Is something wrong, Maa?" she asked gently, her voice a quiet thread of concern.Akansha let out a soft sigh. She gave a small nod before patting the space beside her, silently asking Pari to sit. Pari obeyed, her heart now a flutter of unease. Moments later, Kamla appeared with a cup of tea, her movements practiced and graceful despite her age. She handed the cup to Pari with a polite smile.Pari accepted it, though the familiar wave of discomfort returned- the feeling of being served by Kamla, a woman clearly older than her, someone who belonged to the generation one instinctively respected. A woman in her middle age, yet still moving about with quiet efficiency." What happened?"Pari asked again and Akansha looked at her before parting her mouth to say." Vikrant.. he fired all the servants."Pari blinked, stunned. All the servants? Before she could respond, Akansha continued, recounting the incident from barely an hour ago.Vikrant was heading toward the kitchen, his footsteps steady, his jaw set in its usual hard line when the hushed whispers caught his ear."God knows why Vikrant sir married her," one maid muttered, her voice a mix of jealousy and disbelief. "I'm sure she bewitched him. Just because someone looks innocent doesn't mean they're a good person. That lady is clearly after his money."Another maid scoffed softly."Absolutely. There's no way she deserves to be the daughter-in-law of the Agnihotris."A muscle in Vikrant's jaw ticked. His lips pressed into a thin line, but his eyes burned with quiet fury. He didn't storm into the kitchen or raise his voice. Instead he turned on his heel and strode to the living room."Kamla tai?"His voice echoed through the silent room. Kamla, the most senior and trusted servant of the household, hurried in, wiping her hands on the edge of her saree."Yes, Vikrant baba?" she replied, her loyalty evident in her tone.Vikrant lowered himself onto the couch, one leg crossing over the other, his arm draping casually along the backrest- a picture of controlled power. His gaze, however, was anything but relaxed."Is there something I'm missing in my own house?" he asked, his voice calm.Kamla's brows drew together in confusion. "Hmmm?"He tilted his head slightly, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his lips."How about you tell me, Kamla tai... who can I trust with my wife in this house?"Kamla blinked and in that moment, she understood. She took a deep breath." They.. all the servants have started to consider bahurani bad and a greedy woman. I tried making them understand but they just won't listen to me. They-"She sealed her mouth when Vikrant raised his palm and gestured to her to close the topic now." Do one work, tai. Call all the servants right here."Pari blinked and waited for Akansha to continue." And then?" She asked.Akansha shrugged her shoulders, " what else? He gathered them all... and fired them. Right there. Gave them their salaries and told them to leave."A stunned silence settled between them, broken only by the distant clink of cups in the kitchen. Pari chewed the corner of her lower lip and stared at her tea.He didn't have to go this far. A warning would have been enough. A stern word, a quiet threat, anything but this. But Vikrant... he wasn't the kind of man who handed out second chances. Perhaps, in his world, there was only one rule: one mistake and you're out.The weight of it pressed against her chest, heavier than she expected.Akansha studied Pari for a moment, the silence between them thick with unspoken words."He did what he thought was right," Akansha finally said, her voice soft, almost as though she was trying to convince herself as much as Pari. "He won't tolerate anyone disrespecting you."Pari let out a quiet sigh. "But Maa... firing them all? It feels..." She searched for the right word. Extreme? Unfair? Ruthless?Akansha put her hand on her thigh and smiled reassuringly, " he did right, Pari. Nobody has the right to disrespect you."Pari gave a small and unsure nod but the words of those maids rang in her mind. So, she was right. They really thought ill of her.A greedy woman. A gold-digger. Someone who didn't deserve to be the Agnihotri family's daughter-in-law.The weight of their judgment pressed against her chest, and no matter how much she tried to brush it off, the sting remained.Akansha rose from her seat and went to freshen up. She watched Akansha until she disappeared from her sight. Pari sat there, the untouched cup of tea growing colder in her hands. The grand living room suddenly felt too vast, too empty. Every corner seemed to echo with the harsh words from earlier.Her mind spiraled, picking apart every interaction she'd had with the servants. Had she ever come across as arrogant? Had she unknowingly given them a reason to doubt her intentions?Or... was it simply because of who she was. Pari, the girl Vikrant Agnihotri had chosen to marry?Her heart ached at the thought.Vikrant had acted swiftly, decisively. But the problem wasn't solved. Firing the maids didn't erase what they thought of her. It didn't silence the rumors that had taken root.Would she ever be accepted in his world?...In the night,Pari's frown deepened as her fingers lightly grazed the row of medicine bottles neatly lined up on Akansha's bedside table. Different colors and different names."This much medicine, Maa?" she asked softly, her voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?"" Yes.. just a disease.""What disease?" she pressed, searching Akansha's face for a crack in that calm exterior.Akansha opened her mouth, then paused. A flicker of hesitation crossed her features, but it was gone as quickly as it came."Nothing for you to worry about," Akansha said lightly.But Pari wasn't convinced. Her mind raced with questions like what disease? For how long? Is it serious?Before she could push further, the distant sound of a car pulling into the driveway echoed through the house. The soft growl of the engine silenced the room.Vikrant was home." Go, Vikrant is home."Pari nodded hesitantly and saved this conversation for later. She turned off the lights of Akansha's room and left her room.Pari's steps slowed as she reached the living room, her eyes instantly finding Vikrant. He stood near the entrance, his jacket casually slung over his shoulder, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows. His phone was pressed to his ear, his jaw tight, voice low yet sharp."No, I swear I will kill you if you don't check their backgrounds properly."The weight of his words hung in the air, cold and unforgiving.Then, he saw her.His gaze softened as his eyes drank her in. A silent pause stretched between them, and for a moment, Pari wasn't sure if the thunder in her chest was from his words or the way he was looking at her right now. He gave a quiet hum to the person on the line, his focus no longer on the conversation. Without breaking eye contact with Pari, he disconnected the call.Pari's fingers instinctively adjusted the pallu of her saree over her shoulder, even though it was perfectly in place. She felt awkward to initiate a conversation so Vikrant spared her the struggle." Khana kamre me le aana, please."( Bring dinner in the room, please.)She blinked, tilting her head slightly as she nodded."Okay."And just like that, he turned and ascended the stairs, disappearing down the hallway.Pari stood there for a moment, staring at the empty staircase, her heart still beating to the rhythm of his lingering presence.Pari stepped into the kitchen, the silence of the house following her like a shadow. Her movements were slow, almost absent-minded, as she reached for a plate. Scooping a portion of rice, dal, and a few side dishes, she carefully arranged the food not too much, not too little. Just the way Vikrant preferred.She made her way upstairs and like she expected, he wasn't in the bedroom. The water running sound screamed his presence in the bathroom. She put the plate of food on the bed and sat near it, waiting for him.The sound of water running in the bathroom ceased, and a moment later, the door creaked open.Vikrant stepped out, his usual sharp suit replaced by a plain black t-shirt and loose joggers.He didn't say a word as he approached the bed, his gaze flickering briefly to Pari before landing on the plate. Without a comment, he sat down and began to eat in silence. Pari watched him, her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't speak.But her mind was anything but quiet.Her thoughts raced ahead of her, looping around the same unanswered questions.She sighed mentally and thought to break her silence but as she parted her mouth, he gestured her for a glass of water. She closed her mouth and obeyed.She poured water in a glass from the jar and handed it to him.It was better to keep silent when he's eating. Moreover, he doesn't like talking while eating.Eventually he ate his food and picked up the glass of water and poured a small stream over his fingers, letting the water cascade into the plate. His thumb brushed over his fingertips, washing away any trace of food, the sound of water splashing against the plate the only thing breaking the silence. He cleaned his mouth as well and then, without a word, his fingers lightly touched the empty plate - a quiet acknowledgment of the food he had just eaten.Pari's gaze softened as she watched him. It was a simple gesture, yet deeply rooted in tradition.Vikrant's gaze flickered around the room, searching for a towel or tissue, anything to wipe his wet hands and mouth. But there was nothing within reach.Pari noticed his subtle frustration and quickly shifted, her voice soft but ready to help."I'll bring a towel-"Before she could finish, Vikrant cut her off."It's okay."She blinked, confused by his sudden dismissal, until she felt a slight tug at her side.Vikrant grabbed the end of her pallu, the soft fabric resting comfortably on the mattress beside him. Without hesitation, he brought it to his hands, gently wiping away the water from his fingers, the slight dampness darkening the delicate cloth.Pari sat frozen, her wide eyes fixed on him. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Vikrant lifted the same pallu to his face, dabbing the corner of his mouth with it.She felt.. strangely good and didn't know why she was blushing. She picked up the dirty plate and left the room with a main motive to hide her pink cheeks. She returned in the next 5-7 minutes.Vikrant was still sitting on the bed with head resting back on the headpost. His closed eyes opened as soon as he heard anklets sound. He watched her quietly as she picked her clothes from almirah and disappeared in the bathroom.When she came out, she was in a light pink kurti with the same colour salwar. She sat on the stool in front of the mirror and grabbed a comb to brush her hair.She made a loose braid of her hair before going to the bed, only after turning off the lights. As she sat on the bed and put the duvet on her legs, Vikrant spoke-" Won't you ask?".She looked at him with thinned brows." What?"He shifted his eyes away from her and stared up at the ceiling." Whatever you wanted. I believe you do."Yes.She chewed the inside of her lower lip and tucked the loose strands of her hair behind the ear." Uhm."He turned his gaze again to her and she asked her first question." Why did..you fire all the servants?"His brows furrowed in a slight amusement." Maa didn't tell you?"Pari nodded, " she did. But don't you think that step was not needed-"" It absolutely did," he cut her off in the middle and she sealed her mouth." I have not even given myself permission to disrespect you. The rule applies to everyone."Oh, he always shut her mouth with his small sentences. She cleared her throat," What will they do? I mean, they depended on you."" They can go to hell, if they want," he irked.She frowned. He sounded strangely irritated." What happened?"She asked in a genuine concern. His eyes fluttered as a soft breath escaped his mouth." Are you okay? Is your head aching?"Her words forced him to look back at her. The genuine worry in her eyes. Oh, his heart skipped a beat." Should i-"" I am fine," he did not let her speak properly again and interrupted her in between." But, you do not look fine. Did something happen at work? You looked troubled earlier as well. You can tell me."Okay, so Pari Vikrant Agnihotri cannot shut her mouth for a good moment if she once starts speaking. That's what he has discovered about her in the past few days." Ahn? What solution will you give?"She blinked, " meaning?"And a smile crafted on his lips as he uttered in a gentle voice, " nothing. Sleep."But she can't sleep when he looks deep in trouble. Gathering enough courage, she shifted closer to him and patted on her lap.He knitted his eyebrows, " what?"" You can put your head here," she said in a low voice full of shyness.A beat of silence.His gaze flickered from her lap to her face. And then, with a quiet exhale, as if surrendering to the comfort she offered, he lowered his head onto her lap.The weight of him settled against her legs, and she went stiff for a moment, unsure of what to do. His hair, slightly tousled, brushed against the thin fabric of her clothes, and she could feel the rise and fall of his chest with every breath he took.Tentatively, her fingers hovered above his head, the soft strands of his hair an invitation and a challenge. Finally, she lowered her hand, gently threading her fingers through his hair, her touch clumsy at first, awkward yet tender.He removed his gaze from the ceiling to her eyes. Time seemed to slow. She found a rhythm- soft, gentle strokes through his hair, each touch a silent promise that she was there, that he wasn't alone in his silence.How can someone be so breathtaking? He wondered.His breathing grew slower, steadier, each rise and fall of his chest a soft rhythm against her lap. The gentle strokes of her fingers through his hair worked like a lullaby, and before she realized it, his eyelashes fluttered closed. His face, once etched with tension, softened. The hard lines of his jaw relaxed, and the furrow between his brows smoothed.Sleep had found him.She didn't move, afraid that the slightest shift would break the fragile peace that had settled over him. The weight of his head on her lap felt both heavy and comforting. Minutes passed. Maybe hours.She wasn't sure how long she stayed like that, watching him, memorizing the curve of his lips, the way his hand rested loosely over his stomach, the quiet vulnerability in his sleep. But soon, her legs started to ache from holding him, a soft numbness spreading through her thighs.Carefully and as delicately as she could, she slipped her hand beneath his head, trying to guide it off her lap and onto the pillow beside her.The moment his head left her lap, he stirred. His brows twitched, a low sound escaping his throat. His lashes fluttered, and before she could retreat, his eyes blinked open."Oh... you woke up?" she whispered, her voice soft as if afraid to shatter the quietness between them.He didn't answer right away. His gaze, half-lidded and lazy, traveled from her face to the space between them. She was almost lying down now, her arm still cradling his head, her body curved awkwardly as she tried to ease him onto the pillow.A slow blink. Then another.And before she could process it, he shifted.In one fluid motion, he slid closer, his arm snaking around her waist. The sudden warmth of his touch sent a jolt through her body, but before she could react, he buried his face against her chest, right above the rise of her breast.Her breath caught."Wha- what are you doing?" she stuttered, her hand instinctively freezing midair.He didn't answer.His arm tightened ever so slightly around her waist, pulling her even closer. His head rested against the soft curve of her chest, his face tucked into the crook of her neck. The tip of his nose brushed against her skin, sending a wave of heat rippling through her.His voice, thick with sleep, finally broke the silence." Just... stay," he murmured, barely above a whisper. "Feels better like this."Her heart pounded so loudly.She was stiff at first, unsure of what to do, where to place her hands, how to breathe without disturbing him. But then, his grip around her softened, his thumb gently brushing against the small of her back in a mindless, sleepy rhythm.And she melted.Slowly, carefully, she let her hand move, her fingers once again finding his hair, resuming the soft, steady strokes she had started earlier. His body relaxed even more against hers.Minutes passed, and the only sound was the quiet harmony of their heartbeats, the rise and fall of their chests pressed so close together.Both eventually drifted into deep slumber.⋆༺✷༻⋆Read more in scrollstack as early access.