30-07-2025, 06:23 PM
CHAPTER 18
Sonarika was woken up in her short nap by the announcement of the pilot that they will be landing shortly. She looked out the window of the airplane to see the green surface of Jabalpur coming into view. Her heart was slowly racing , her mind going through a series of flashbacks and turmoil. This is the very place the chaos in her mind began. She has never found complete peace in her mind ever since , the place that ruined her. And yet , returning here brought a strange thrill in her. As the plane landed on the runway and made its taxi to the gate , she was feeling something building in her. As if her pulses were in rapid movement or her blood pressure rising and falling in short bursts as she walked out of the plane to the arrival deck with her luggage. As expected , a driver holding her name tag waas standing in the deck to escort her to a deluxe Mercedes Benz E-Class.
Sonarika noticed the BajajCorp logo on it and guessed this was probably Vikram's personal car. As the car was cruising away from the airport to the Jabalpur city view , Sonarika was able to enjoy the scenic view unlike last time where she arrived in the evening. She could not help but reminisce that night as it was embedded into her mind and body with this place. It took nearly an hour but they eventually arrived at the outskirts of Jabalpur where the mighty GOLDEN WORLD hotel stood. Sonarika was impressed with its stature now as when it was inaugurated , it was only a single building standing luxury hotel. Now the place had grown to a multiple structured grand exotic hotel.
The moment Sonarika stepped into the opulent lobby of The Golden Dream, her breath caught. The soft golden lights, the scent of lilies and sandalwood, the same reception desk, all flooded her mind with memories of that fateful night. It was here—beneath this very chandelier—that she had met Vikram as more than a client, more than a name. A tension began building in her chest, not of fear, but anticipation. She clutched her clutch tighter, steadying herself as the concierge smiled and guided her toward her suite. There was no sign of Vikram, and that somehow made her more restless.
Vikram had kept his word. His PA had arranged everything, right from airport pickup to her suite's welcome platter. Not once did she see him, though she felt him in every corner. The room bore his signature: minimalistic, elegant, and layered with hidden warmth—just like him. The room was smaller than the massive suite Vikram has on the top floor. While lying on the bed she looked at the ceiling and her mind tried to recreate the bigger ceiling of that suite in her room. She felt the fabric and texture of the bed trying to imagine lying on the same bed where they tangled in sheets and fire that night, she was already loosing her control , Vikram was in her mind and soul at this moment, her heart beating louder than the soft hum of the AC. As she was taking bath in the spacious bathroom of her hotel room , her mind again painted Vikram's imagery, pulling her into memories of whispered moans, urgent kisses, and the rough silk of Vikram’s touch.
Once she was out of the shower. She looked at her mangalsutra. That was the moment the guilt in her wavered. Images of Hemant and Karan tormented her , a part of her simply wanted to leave and return home and be done with this. But more than that guilt , she was overwhelmed by the bond she has formed with Vikram , and the environment where she was fuelled her connection with Vikram. With a painful nudge , Sonarika placed her mangalsutra into her bag as if transforming herself into a different woman. And she had to because Rachika is unaware about her marriage status. In a way , it was as if she was putting her identity as a wife and mother away for some time. Here she wasn't that woman anymore. She felt familiar to her teenage times at this moment here , as if she had no burden in her shoulders , no responsibilities to follow , a freedom that was liberating.
By evening , she dressed up and met some of the old friends she's made during their Manali trip , Sonarika wore a green saree. It didn't help hiding her milfy curves but she didn't care anymore , instead she was proud of how she has maintained her body despite going through motherhood. What followed was talk about old times , catching up on the gaps since the last meeting. Gossips and giggles covered their conversation after which one of the woman enquired.
"Where is Vikram BTW?"
"He is with his sister Anjana , she too is attending the marriage"
Sonarika thought he ignored coming to the hotel for her , turns out he is doing it to spend time with his sister. That is until a commotion was heard in the entrance area of the hotel. Vikram had arrived with his sister Anjana. Sonarika could see the striking resemblence between them , Anjana had some of the same features of Vikram like his eyes and everything but she was fairer. She presented herself much better , showing her stature as a big businesswoman.
Vikram looked at his best yet again wearing a satin white shirt and black slacks to compliment it. He led his sister to meet and greet the guests arrived for the marriage. Eventually they came towards Sonarika.
"Anjana...this is Soni....I mean Sonarika....this is Sonarika" Vikram said embarassed with his words.
"Awww....nice to meet you Soni I mean Sonarika"
Anjana teased Vikram as she shook Sonarika's hand. Vikram felt embarassed as he moved away from both of them. Anjana giggled at her brother's situation. She soon interacted with Sonarika.
"I always enjoy seeing him blush" Anjana explained.
"Vikram and blushing?"
"Oh , he does when he is with someone he deeply cares"
"You mean me?"
"Who else could it be?"
"I think you've mistaken"
"You know he never admits what he did with you as a mistake"
Sonarika was stunned by the revelation that Anjana is aware of Vikram's affair. She had to take a couple of seconds to comprehend that revelation.
"You mean , you know about us?"
"Yeah , Vikram told me , months ago"
"He told you everything?"
"Yes indeed , and I can understand your situation"
"Situation?"
"I get it , my brother , he can be a little 'overwhelming'. But his heart is in the right place , if he says he doesn't mean any harm , he genuinely means it. Why do you think he is ignoring you right now"
"Ignoring?"
"Precisely , Vikram was stopping me from visiting the hotel , he wouldn't tell me but I learned that you were here and he was keeping the promise he gave you to stay away"
Sonarika was lost in words from Anjana's revelation. Anjana was called up by her friend and she walked away as Sonarika moved to the lobby area to see Vikram standing in the distance. Vikram was there at the entrance, graciously greeting guests, every inch the charismatic hotelier and business magnate. Their eyes met—briefly—and what passed between them was not nostalgia. It was heat, suppressed and flickering behind restraint.
She watched as Vikram stayed in the periphery, chatting with other guests, ensuring everything ran smoothly. He did not approach her once. The restraint should have comforted her. Instead, it gnawed at something inside her. The awareness of his proximity was a constant throb beneath her skin.
A grand dinner was held at the main hall , Sonarika got the chance to stay close to Anjana. As they finished dinner , they got the chance to talk when they were in the private patio together.
"I wanna thank you Sonarika" Anjana said.
"Thank me for what?"
"For finally fixing my brother"
"Fixing?"
"Yeah, you know. Ever since Sarika , I had lost all hope. He was like a robot when he lost her , he was a cripple , a statue. My biggest regret in life was that he wasn't in his best happy form when my marriage happened. He was happy , but he was grieving. All of that changed when you came into his life"
Sonarika felt tremendous guilt. Anjana believes Sonarika fixed him and that there is a notion of her being with Vikram in the future. Sonarika could not accept that , her life was getting complicated than it was used to.
"But Anjana....me and Vicky....its not..."
"I understand. What you both have is....complicated. Crazy part is he understands that too , but regardless , I am just saying I can see a sister-in-law in you. And you don't have to take my words seriously. I am just saying for the sake of it. But I am confident you will make a wise decision"
"How can I.....I mean...after what you just said"
"Relax Sonarika , I am just saying. You don't have to take my words seriously. What you both have , I get it , its complicated. But these kind of things happen in our circle"
"Are you saying you're willing to accept me despite of my marriage?"
"No , absolutely not. Our country is not that developed to turn marriage into something like that Sonarika. I am just saying that your past doesn't matter to me. What I see is Vikram is at his best and most human when he is around you. And if you see a future with him , I will be there to welcome you with open arms"
That conversation led Sonarika into shambles. She never comprehended a thought like that , she knew she had influenced Vikram to be a better person. But here , his sister is basically willing to accept her as part of family considering she leaves her current life behind. That disrupted her mind for the night. She could not find sleep so she wandered in the garden at the backyard of the hotel at night. The night was very chilly than usual and it was definitely cooler in temperature than in Mumbai. Her mind was in constant ruckus , comprehending her life choices. At one moment , she cursed herself of ever getting close to Vikram , while another moment , she wished she was never married and Hemant was never in her life so her decisions regarding Vikram would've been clear.
But that only created another loophole in her , understanding how both the men are connected in life. Because without Hemant , Vikram would've never happened. She remembers the reason she lost her control near Vikram even though was because of his charm , but some was also because of Hemant's weakness. Vikram blitzed into her life when Hemant was at his lowest , the memories of Matheran felt like an omen. And then Vikram walked in and swept her off the feet and then things took the turn for the worse when Hemant started to fix himself up. That is where her turmoil began. Her bridge between two men forged in the chaos.
And now after hearing Anjana acknowledging her as a sister-in-law. It only made her situation worse , her inner turmoil only boiled her heart. As she was suffocating in that tension , she saw someone approaching her. It was Vikram.
"Hey , couldn't get any sleep?" Vikram asked concerned.
"No , not exactly"
"I understand your situation"
"Actually I don't think you do"
"What?"
"You revealed about us to your sister?"
"I didn't. She just got suspicious from my change and enquired behind my back to find my recent outings"
"And so she learned about me?"
"No , she couldn't find you. Only got aware of a mysterious lady in my life"
"Then how did she know about me?"
"Well , I told her. Her questioning got really frustrating. And I had to put a stop"
"Fabulous job Mr.Millionaire. Now she is ready to accept me as her sister-in-law"
"WHAT? She said that?"
"Obviously she said that"
"Now I see why you can't get sleep"
"I am relieved"
"You don't have to take this seriously Soni. Anjana , she is that kind of woman. She was just teasing you , not serious about it"
"I don't know. Her words , its haunting me"
"Then don't consider it your reality. She was taunting you the same way she taunts me. I understand you Soni , and I can assure you. I will respect your space , I'll relocate Anjana from this hotel from tomorrow"
"Don't need to do that"
"No , its necessary. Right now , my only concern is your stay here goes soothing. I've done enough damage to your life , this time I will try to fix it"
"Vicky"
"No more words Soni. Go to your room , sleep well. Rachika will have lots of fun things for you to do tomorrow at the Haldi ceremony. That will take the attention away from us"
Saying that Vikram left. Sonarika once again felt deeply connected to him realizing how he was doing everything in his power to make her comfortable. To make her feel her stay here is as normal as any other. But this hotel gave her all the wrong scenarios to think considering how she felt weak here. As she eventually reached her hotel bed and slept , she had a tough time to bring in the sleep. But once it did , she was in a dream.
In that dream , Vikram was kissing her passionately. She was loving every second of it. But as her eyes came into focus on where she was. She felt the unease rise as she wasn't in the hotel room anymore. She was at her home back in Mumbai.
"What the hell"
"Relax Soni , its us for now"
"We're in home"
"Don't worry , Hemant has taken Karan for an outing. We have an hour to kill"
Those sentences awoken Sonarika from her sleep. She was sweating as she walked to the nearby table to drink some water. She had a hard time getting some sleep for the night.
The next day , the haldi ceremony was a blur of marigold and laughter. The courtyard bloomed with marigold canopies. Rachika, the bride, sits on a cushioned platform, surrounded by women singing folk songs.
Guests smear turmeric on her cheeks and arms, laughter everywhere. Her groom Jayesh is beside her being attacked with turmeric by his friends.
Sonarika wore a yellow saree to match the Haldi theme with jasmine in her braid, she watched the celebration from the side. Eventually she was pulled into the swarm of women singing folk songs , she applied her portion of turmeric on Rachika as they shared warm compliments and embraces.
Vikram arrived at the venue, dressed casually in a white kurta-pajama. He greets other guests but avoids Sonarika's gaze. Sonarika was intrigued by his dress choice. She hated that dressing style on Hemant. Maybe it was because she has seen Hemant in that outfit for over a decade. A simple white kurta and its matching pyjama. She hated that dress , but for some reason , it looked different on him.
She then thought about something and then walked up to Rachika and the other women and talked something in secret. All of them giggled and then worked together to execute their plan. As Vikram was standing alongside groom Jayesh and some other male guests. The women went to the upper section of where they were standing and toppled a large bowl worth of turmeric water into all of them. Vikram's entire costume changed color from white to yellow. The girls laughed as the men faltered to recover from their messy clothes and wet bodies.
The ceremony took effect in full swing and Vikram started to enquire who was behind this prank. As Vikram was applying haldi on Rachika , she revealed Sonarika's name behind their prank and this made Vikram grin.
He eventually got a chance to talk to her as she was walking with some of the females. Vikram grabbed her and led her to a secluded spot.
"So this was your idea" Vikram said acting jokingly angry.
"Definitely"
"Why did you do this?"
"Its a haldi ceremony. And besides , you wore a costume I abhore in my life"
"What a kurta?"
"This white kurta pyjama haunted my married life for almost a decade. I don't like my boyfriend to haunt me with this"
At that moment , it felt like everything stopped. Sonarika too was stunned at herself for the choice of words she used. Vikram looked at her with a deep stare.
"What did you call me? I am your boyfriend?"
"It was just a slip of tongue"
"Was it though? Or did you just feel safe enough to confess"
"I should go"
Before Sonarika could leave , Vikram grabbed her and rubbed his body on hers. rubbing his essence of turmeric into her. As they got close , their pulses quickened. Vikram realized they were dangerously close but he couldn't move away. Both could feel each other's breaths. But eventually Vikram separated , leaving Sonarika as she stared back at him with baited breaths. He didn't say a thing and walked away.
And from that moment , Sonarika's pulse were on high level. Everything single moment they've spent with each other flashed through her mind like a slide show. He was truly intoxicating for her.
As Sonarika sat in the backseat of the cab taking her from the haldi ceremony back to the hotel, she couldn’t stop her fingers from trembling. Her yellow saree, still damp with turmeric, clung to her skin—marked now not only by the golden hue but by the electric memory of Vikram’s touch. It hadn’t just been a prank gone wrong. It had been a trapdoor opening beneath her carefully structured world. When he had pulled her aside, his eyes aflame with mischief and confrontation, she had expected banter, maybe mild scolding. What she hadn’t expected was her own lips betraying her—calling him her boyfriend like she used to. The word had slid out like a sigh long held in, and when he heard it, something shifted. When his body pressed into hers, when the turmeric on his kurta smeared into the pleats of her saree, it wasn’t just color that spread between them—it was the fire of something unfinished.
And now, alone with her thoughts, Sonarika could no longer resist the flood of memories that tore through her. She remembered the first time they confessed their relation together—back in Vikram’s place in Galaxy Apartments. The sterile silence of the space had been shattered by their heat. He had pinned her against the glass window, the city lights twinkling beneath them like stars blessing their sin. Every kiss had been a war cry, every touch a rebellion against the lives they were supposed to live. There had been no hesitance then, only mouths finding skin, fingers grasping hair, and a desperate need to lose themselves in each other’s rhythm. It had been dangerous. It had been wrong. And it had been so achingly right.
Then came Bali. A trip that was supposed to be their secret paradise which abruptly stopped thanks to Vikram's stupidity. She remembered the way the sun poured over Vikram’s bare chest as he walked out of the pool, droplets glistening on his skin. They had made love in that spacious room, surrounded by candlelight and the chirping of cicadas, her body melting under his like wax under a flame , forgeting her real life and living the moment with him. Under the moonlight, he had carried her into the pool, their clothes half-clinging, half-forgotten. That night, he whispered he could leave everything for her and confessed his love. She couldn't answered him then , even cannot now.
Her mind jumped next to that wonderful pond in the forest the next day on that Bali trip. They’d found a hidden glade where a natural spring bubbled into a still pond. The water had been cold, but their kisses had burned. She remembered being lifted into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist as they kissed in the shallows, surrounded by nothing but rustling trees and the heady rush of stolen time. That pond had witnessed a sacred, silent pact—one hidden from her own real life by returning to her world of responsibilities and nurture for her husband and her family.
And then there was the night off the Mumbai coast—on board the 'Voyage Of Love' that changed her perspective of Vikram. The city had disappeared behind them, and all that remained was moonlight, music, and madness. She could still feel the wine on his lips, the way the wind had tangled her hair as she kissed him on the deck. The night she herself lost all her control. They hadn’t made it to the bedroom; their passion had erupted right there on the cushioned bench, she was willing to let it all go , but it was him who saved her from going further. That uncontrolled kiss had lingered the longest, stayed with her even as she tried to rebuild her life. He was becoming an addictive drug.
Now, in the silence of the car, as the hotel neared, Sonarika felt her composure unravel. The heat of turmeric was nothing compared to the heat rising from within. Every memory she tried to lock away had returned, insistent, burning. Vikram hadn’t just stirred an old wound today—he had reopened a door she’d once nailed shut. And as much as she told herself she was walking away again, something deep inside her was melting. Wanting. Longing. Rekindling.
That night , Vikram didn't come to the hotel , neither did Anjana. When she enquired with one of her friends among the guests , she learned Vikram had arranged a stay for his sister and himself in the city. She appreciated the commitment he had of not doing the same dance with Sonarika. But even Sonarika knew their resistence was dwindling as that familiar chasm of deep pleasure that bonded them to each other was slowly opening up again.
The next day , the sangeet ceremony of Rachika and Jayesh was in full bloom at the grand lawn of their wedding venue, its canopy strung with fairy lights and jasmine garlands, the stage alive with thumping beats and bursts of laughter. Guests swirled in colorful lehengas and kurtas, their spirits elevated with wine, dance, and anticipation. Amidst all this, Sonarika made her entrance, her silver lehenga glimmering under the chandeliers. Her look was radiant and poised—every pleat in place, her kohl-rimmed eyes betraying a hint of anxiety. She hadn’t expected to feel this warm rush again, not after yesterday's emotionally stirring encounter with Vikram.
Vikram, already by the bar when she walked in, turned instinctively, as if the air had shifted. His silver-embroidered sherwani matched hers by strange coincidence—or maybe fate was playing a slow trick. For a moment, the music, the laughter, the clinking of glasses—all faded. All he could see was her. He took a sip of his drink, masking his smile, and braced himself for the wave of feelings rising again, threatening to sweep away months of careful restraint. They hadn’t spoken properly since yesterday’s electric moment—just brief, loaded glances. But now, under the spell of celebration, something inside him was ready to erupt.
As the DJ switched the mood, the opening beats of “Dhindhoora Baje Re” pulsed through the speakers. The crowd roared in delight, and almost instinctively, a group of friends dragged Vikram onto the dance floor. Known for his charismatic moves, he didn’t resist. His body flowed effortlessly to the music, his expressions teasing, bold, playful. And midway through, his eyes caught Sonarika’s—hesitant, smiling faintly, battling caution. He extended his hand towards her with a grin that was half a dare and half a plea. The crowd cheered louder.
Sonarika’s feet hesitated, but the pull was undeniable. She placed her glass down and walked towards him, each step in rhythm with the beat and her quickening heart. As their bodies found the music together, the old rhythm returned like muscle memory. She couldn’t help but remember that time in Mumbai—when they'd set the stage on fire during the TANISHQ Founder’s Day. That chemistry, that madness, that comfort. Her silver dupatta twirled in sync with his spins; their eyes never strayed from each other. The crowd clapped and whistled, but to them, it felt like they were dancing in a bubble no one else could penetrate.
Then, just as the final chorus rang out and Vikram spun her one last time, his gaze fell on the delicate pendant resting at the hollow of her throat—two small birds in flight. His breath caught. He had gifted that to her on her birthday, something he had kept in his posession since their Bali trip, when everything between them still felt like a secret universe. Sonarika saw him looking. Her fingers brushed the pendant instinctively. Their movements slowed, the noise around them melting into silence. In that moment, their past wasn’t just a memory—it was alive, throbbing between them, urgent and unsaid.
As the music faded and the applause erupted, they stood still in the center of the stage, eyes locked. Her chest rose and fell with emotion. His eyes softened with the weight of unspoken longing. Around them, life moved on—waiters carried trays, relatives hugged, cameras clicked—but in that fragile slice of time, it was just Sonarika and Vikram, holding onto a memory that refused to die, and maybe, just maybe, waiting to be reborn.
The sangeet ceremony had left Sonarika emotionally stirred and physically spent, yet the exhaustion could not quiet the whirlwind inside her. Dbangd in a soft robe, she sat by the window of her room, gazing out at the moonlit courtyard of the Golden Dream Hotel. Thoughts of Vikram consumed her—his intoxicating closeness during the haldi, the possessive tenderness in his touch, the way his eyes lingered on her during their dance today. The glances, the silences, the subtle graze of fingertips—they weren’t accidents. Something was rekindling, dangerously and beautifully. And in the solitude of the night, her heart could no longer lie to her mind.
The ping of her phone startled her. She reached for it, her heart already suspecting the sender. It was Vikram.
'Can't sleep'
She stares. Then replies.
'Neither can I'
Soon Vikram responds
'Atrium garden. Ten minutes'
The message was brief, but its weight pressed heavily against her chest. She stared at the screen for a few seconds before standing up as if her body moved of its own accord. Throwing a shawl over her shoulders, she slipped quietly out of her room. Her breath quickened with every step down the silent hallway, the polished marble floors cool under her feet. The soft hum of the night surrounded the atrium, but her focus was singular—him.
Vikram was already there, standing beneath the large umbrella-shaped tree at the heart of the garden, its branches glowing under fairy lights that still twinkled from the evening’s festivities. He turned as he heard her approach, his expression raw, vulnerable.
"I shouldn’t be here" Sonarika breaks the silence between them.
"I won’t touch you unless you ask me to" Vikram whispered, taking a cautious step forward.
"And yet you did in the haldi"
"I did , turns out it takes all my might and power to keep my word to you"
"Looks like neither of us can find our peace can we?"
"Might be , but I can surely say. You cost me my peace of mind" Vikram confesses.
She looked at him, speechless, her lips parted but silent. Her heart thudded in her chest, the weight of unspoken memories pulsing in her veins. She couldn’t think—but she could feel.
"I thought we made peace with our ending" Sonarika claimed.
"I made peace with your decision. Not with losing you" Vikram stated.
Her defenses were faltering. The chasm was visible in her mind now.
"We were reckless" Sonarika confessed her mind.
"No , we were alive!" Vikram said in a low tone.
"I’m not that woman anymore" Sonarika said in a hush tone.
"I can still see her. Right now" Vikram said looking at her.
Without another word, Sonarika closed the distance between them. Her hands reached up to cup his face, trembling yet determined, and she pulled him into her. Their lips met with an urgency that shattered every restraint. It was not a kiss—it was a resurrection. Months of buried desire, longing, confusion, and heartbreak all surged forward in that singular moment. Vikram responded with the same ferocity, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, hands rediscovering familiar curves. The world melted away. There was only this—this kiss, this midnight madness.
As if the universe itself conspired with their hearts, a gentle rain began to fall, cool drops dotting their skin, intensifying the heat between them. But they didn’t pull away. The kiss deepened, grew hungrier, wetter, more desperate—as if trying to reclaim every moment lost between them. Sonarika’s fingers tangled into Vikram’s hair as he kissed down her jawline, then back to her lips, the storm inside them far greater than the one in the skies. The garden, now slick with rain and perfumed with the scent of wet earth and roses, bore witness to a relation reawakened, raw and unafraid. Their reunion was not whispered—it was thunderous in silence.
(CHAPTER TO BE CONTD)
Sonarika noticed the BajajCorp logo on it and guessed this was probably Vikram's personal car. As the car was cruising away from the airport to the Jabalpur city view , Sonarika was able to enjoy the scenic view unlike last time where she arrived in the evening. She could not help but reminisce that night as it was embedded into her mind and body with this place. It took nearly an hour but they eventually arrived at the outskirts of Jabalpur where the mighty GOLDEN WORLD hotel stood. Sonarika was impressed with its stature now as when it was inaugurated , it was only a single building standing luxury hotel. Now the place had grown to a multiple structured grand exotic hotel.
The moment Sonarika stepped into the opulent lobby of The Golden Dream, her breath caught. The soft golden lights, the scent of lilies and sandalwood, the same reception desk, all flooded her mind with memories of that fateful night. It was here—beneath this very chandelier—that she had met Vikram as more than a client, more than a name. A tension began building in her chest, not of fear, but anticipation. She clutched her clutch tighter, steadying herself as the concierge smiled and guided her toward her suite. There was no sign of Vikram, and that somehow made her more restless.
Vikram had kept his word. His PA had arranged everything, right from airport pickup to her suite's welcome platter. Not once did she see him, though she felt him in every corner. The room bore his signature: minimalistic, elegant, and layered with hidden warmth—just like him. The room was smaller than the massive suite Vikram has on the top floor. While lying on the bed she looked at the ceiling and her mind tried to recreate the bigger ceiling of that suite in her room. She felt the fabric and texture of the bed trying to imagine lying on the same bed where they tangled in sheets and fire that night, she was already loosing her control , Vikram was in her mind and soul at this moment, her heart beating louder than the soft hum of the AC. As she was taking bath in the spacious bathroom of her hotel room , her mind again painted Vikram's imagery, pulling her into memories of whispered moans, urgent kisses, and the rough silk of Vikram’s touch.
Once she was out of the shower. She looked at her mangalsutra. That was the moment the guilt in her wavered. Images of Hemant and Karan tormented her , a part of her simply wanted to leave and return home and be done with this. But more than that guilt , she was overwhelmed by the bond she has formed with Vikram , and the environment where she was fuelled her connection with Vikram. With a painful nudge , Sonarika placed her mangalsutra into her bag as if transforming herself into a different woman. And she had to because Rachika is unaware about her marriage status. In a way , it was as if she was putting her identity as a wife and mother away for some time. Here she wasn't that woman anymore. She felt familiar to her teenage times at this moment here , as if she had no burden in her shoulders , no responsibilities to follow , a freedom that was liberating.
By evening , she dressed up and met some of the old friends she's made during their Manali trip , Sonarika wore a green saree. It didn't help hiding her milfy curves but she didn't care anymore , instead she was proud of how she has maintained her body despite going through motherhood. What followed was talk about old times , catching up on the gaps since the last meeting. Gossips and giggles covered their conversation after which one of the woman enquired.
"Where is Vikram BTW?"
"He is with his sister Anjana , she too is attending the marriage"
Sonarika thought he ignored coming to the hotel for her , turns out he is doing it to spend time with his sister. That is until a commotion was heard in the entrance area of the hotel. Vikram had arrived with his sister Anjana. Sonarika could see the striking resemblence between them , Anjana had some of the same features of Vikram like his eyes and everything but she was fairer. She presented herself much better , showing her stature as a big businesswoman.
Vikram looked at his best yet again wearing a satin white shirt and black slacks to compliment it. He led his sister to meet and greet the guests arrived for the marriage. Eventually they came towards Sonarika.
"Anjana...this is Soni....I mean Sonarika....this is Sonarika" Vikram said embarassed with his words.
"Awww....nice to meet you Soni I mean Sonarika"
Anjana teased Vikram as she shook Sonarika's hand. Vikram felt embarassed as he moved away from both of them. Anjana giggled at her brother's situation. She soon interacted with Sonarika.
"I always enjoy seeing him blush" Anjana explained.
"Vikram and blushing?"
"Oh , he does when he is with someone he deeply cares"
"You mean me?"
"Who else could it be?"
"I think you've mistaken"
"You know he never admits what he did with you as a mistake"
Sonarika was stunned by the revelation that Anjana is aware of Vikram's affair. She had to take a couple of seconds to comprehend that revelation.
"You mean , you know about us?"
"Yeah , Vikram told me , months ago"
"He told you everything?"
"Yes indeed , and I can understand your situation"
"Situation?"
"I get it , my brother , he can be a little 'overwhelming'. But his heart is in the right place , if he says he doesn't mean any harm , he genuinely means it. Why do you think he is ignoring you right now"
"Ignoring?"
"Precisely , Vikram was stopping me from visiting the hotel , he wouldn't tell me but I learned that you were here and he was keeping the promise he gave you to stay away"
Sonarika was lost in words from Anjana's revelation. Anjana was called up by her friend and she walked away as Sonarika moved to the lobby area to see Vikram standing in the distance. Vikram was there at the entrance, graciously greeting guests, every inch the charismatic hotelier and business magnate. Their eyes met—briefly—and what passed between them was not nostalgia. It was heat, suppressed and flickering behind restraint.
She watched as Vikram stayed in the periphery, chatting with other guests, ensuring everything ran smoothly. He did not approach her once. The restraint should have comforted her. Instead, it gnawed at something inside her. The awareness of his proximity was a constant throb beneath her skin.
A grand dinner was held at the main hall , Sonarika got the chance to stay close to Anjana. As they finished dinner , they got the chance to talk when they were in the private patio together.
"I wanna thank you Sonarika" Anjana said.
"Thank me for what?"
"For finally fixing my brother"
"Fixing?"
"Yeah, you know. Ever since Sarika , I had lost all hope. He was like a robot when he lost her , he was a cripple , a statue. My biggest regret in life was that he wasn't in his best happy form when my marriage happened. He was happy , but he was grieving. All of that changed when you came into his life"
Sonarika felt tremendous guilt. Anjana believes Sonarika fixed him and that there is a notion of her being with Vikram in the future. Sonarika could not accept that , her life was getting complicated than it was used to.
"But Anjana....me and Vicky....its not..."
"I understand. What you both have is....complicated. Crazy part is he understands that too , but regardless , I am just saying I can see a sister-in-law in you. And you don't have to take my words seriously. I am just saying for the sake of it. But I am confident you will make a wise decision"
"How can I.....I mean...after what you just said"
"Relax Sonarika , I am just saying. You don't have to take my words seriously. What you both have , I get it , its complicated. But these kind of things happen in our circle"
"Are you saying you're willing to accept me despite of my marriage?"
"No , absolutely not. Our country is not that developed to turn marriage into something like that Sonarika. I am just saying that your past doesn't matter to me. What I see is Vikram is at his best and most human when he is around you. And if you see a future with him , I will be there to welcome you with open arms"
That conversation led Sonarika into shambles. She never comprehended a thought like that , she knew she had influenced Vikram to be a better person. But here , his sister is basically willing to accept her as part of family considering she leaves her current life behind. That disrupted her mind for the night. She could not find sleep so she wandered in the garden at the backyard of the hotel at night. The night was very chilly than usual and it was definitely cooler in temperature than in Mumbai. Her mind was in constant ruckus , comprehending her life choices. At one moment , she cursed herself of ever getting close to Vikram , while another moment , she wished she was never married and Hemant was never in her life so her decisions regarding Vikram would've been clear.
But that only created another loophole in her , understanding how both the men are connected in life. Because without Hemant , Vikram would've never happened. She remembers the reason she lost her control near Vikram even though was because of his charm , but some was also because of Hemant's weakness. Vikram blitzed into her life when Hemant was at his lowest , the memories of Matheran felt like an omen. And then Vikram walked in and swept her off the feet and then things took the turn for the worse when Hemant started to fix himself up. That is where her turmoil began. Her bridge between two men forged in the chaos.
And now after hearing Anjana acknowledging her as a sister-in-law. It only made her situation worse , her inner turmoil only boiled her heart. As she was suffocating in that tension , she saw someone approaching her. It was Vikram.
"Hey , couldn't get any sleep?" Vikram asked concerned.
"No , not exactly"
"I understand your situation"
"Actually I don't think you do"
"What?"
"You revealed about us to your sister?"
"I didn't. She just got suspicious from my change and enquired behind my back to find my recent outings"
"And so she learned about me?"
"No , she couldn't find you. Only got aware of a mysterious lady in my life"
"Then how did she know about me?"
"Well , I told her. Her questioning got really frustrating. And I had to put a stop"
"Fabulous job Mr.Millionaire. Now she is ready to accept me as her sister-in-law"
"WHAT? She said that?"
"Obviously she said that"
"Now I see why you can't get sleep"
"I am relieved"
"You don't have to take this seriously Soni. Anjana , she is that kind of woman. She was just teasing you , not serious about it"
"I don't know. Her words , its haunting me"
"Then don't consider it your reality. She was taunting you the same way she taunts me. I understand you Soni , and I can assure you. I will respect your space , I'll relocate Anjana from this hotel from tomorrow"
"Don't need to do that"
"No , its necessary. Right now , my only concern is your stay here goes soothing. I've done enough damage to your life , this time I will try to fix it"
"Vicky"
"No more words Soni. Go to your room , sleep well. Rachika will have lots of fun things for you to do tomorrow at the Haldi ceremony. That will take the attention away from us"
Saying that Vikram left. Sonarika once again felt deeply connected to him realizing how he was doing everything in his power to make her comfortable. To make her feel her stay here is as normal as any other. But this hotel gave her all the wrong scenarios to think considering how she felt weak here. As she eventually reached her hotel bed and slept , she had a tough time to bring in the sleep. But once it did , she was in a dream.
In that dream , Vikram was kissing her passionately. She was loving every second of it. But as her eyes came into focus on where she was. She felt the unease rise as she wasn't in the hotel room anymore. She was at her home back in Mumbai.
"What the hell"
"Relax Soni , its us for now"
"We're in home"
"Don't worry , Hemant has taken Karan for an outing. We have an hour to kill"
Those sentences awoken Sonarika from her sleep. She was sweating as she walked to the nearby table to drink some water. She had a hard time getting some sleep for the night.
The next day , the haldi ceremony was a blur of marigold and laughter. The courtyard bloomed with marigold canopies. Rachika, the bride, sits on a cushioned platform, surrounded by women singing folk songs.
Guests smear turmeric on her cheeks and arms, laughter everywhere. Her groom Jayesh is beside her being attacked with turmeric by his friends.
Sonarika wore a yellow saree to match the Haldi theme with jasmine in her braid, she watched the celebration from the side. Eventually she was pulled into the swarm of women singing folk songs , she applied her portion of turmeric on Rachika as they shared warm compliments and embraces.
Vikram arrived at the venue, dressed casually in a white kurta-pajama. He greets other guests but avoids Sonarika's gaze. Sonarika was intrigued by his dress choice. She hated that dressing style on Hemant. Maybe it was because she has seen Hemant in that outfit for over a decade. A simple white kurta and its matching pyjama. She hated that dress , but for some reason , it looked different on him.
She then thought about something and then walked up to Rachika and the other women and talked something in secret. All of them giggled and then worked together to execute their plan. As Vikram was standing alongside groom Jayesh and some other male guests. The women went to the upper section of where they were standing and toppled a large bowl worth of turmeric water into all of them. Vikram's entire costume changed color from white to yellow. The girls laughed as the men faltered to recover from their messy clothes and wet bodies.
The ceremony took effect in full swing and Vikram started to enquire who was behind this prank. As Vikram was applying haldi on Rachika , she revealed Sonarika's name behind their prank and this made Vikram grin.
He eventually got a chance to talk to her as she was walking with some of the females. Vikram grabbed her and led her to a secluded spot.
"So this was your idea" Vikram said acting jokingly angry.
"Definitely"
"Why did you do this?"
"Its a haldi ceremony. And besides , you wore a costume I abhore in my life"
"What a kurta?"
"This white kurta pyjama haunted my married life for almost a decade. I don't like my boyfriend to haunt me with this"
At that moment , it felt like everything stopped. Sonarika too was stunned at herself for the choice of words she used. Vikram looked at her with a deep stare.
"What did you call me? I am your boyfriend?"
"It was just a slip of tongue"
"Was it though? Or did you just feel safe enough to confess"
"I should go"
Before Sonarika could leave , Vikram grabbed her and rubbed his body on hers. rubbing his essence of turmeric into her. As they got close , their pulses quickened. Vikram realized they were dangerously close but he couldn't move away. Both could feel each other's breaths. But eventually Vikram separated , leaving Sonarika as she stared back at him with baited breaths. He didn't say a thing and walked away.
And from that moment , Sonarika's pulse were on high level. Everything single moment they've spent with each other flashed through her mind like a slide show. He was truly intoxicating for her.
As Sonarika sat in the backseat of the cab taking her from the haldi ceremony back to the hotel, she couldn’t stop her fingers from trembling. Her yellow saree, still damp with turmeric, clung to her skin—marked now not only by the golden hue but by the electric memory of Vikram’s touch. It hadn’t just been a prank gone wrong. It had been a trapdoor opening beneath her carefully structured world. When he had pulled her aside, his eyes aflame with mischief and confrontation, she had expected banter, maybe mild scolding. What she hadn’t expected was her own lips betraying her—calling him her boyfriend like she used to. The word had slid out like a sigh long held in, and when he heard it, something shifted. When his body pressed into hers, when the turmeric on his kurta smeared into the pleats of her saree, it wasn’t just color that spread between them—it was the fire of something unfinished.
And now, alone with her thoughts, Sonarika could no longer resist the flood of memories that tore through her. She remembered the first time they confessed their relation together—back in Vikram’s place in Galaxy Apartments. The sterile silence of the space had been shattered by their heat. He had pinned her against the glass window, the city lights twinkling beneath them like stars blessing their sin. Every kiss had been a war cry, every touch a rebellion against the lives they were supposed to live. There had been no hesitance then, only mouths finding skin, fingers grasping hair, and a desperate need to lose themselves in each other’s rhythm. It had been dangerous. It had been wrong. And it had been so achingly right.
Then came Bali. A trip that was supposed to be their secret paradise which abruptly stopped thanks to Vikram's stupidity. She remembered the way the sun poured over Vikram’s bare chest as he walked out of the pool, droplets glistening on his skin. They had made love in that spacious room, surrounded by candlelight and the chirping of cicadas, her body melting under his like wax under a flame , forgeting her real life and living the moment with him. Under the moonlight, he had carried her into the pool, their clothes half-clinging, half-forgotten. That night, he whispered he could leave everything for her and confessed his love. She couldn't answered him then , even cannot now.
Her mind jumped next to that wonderful pond in the forest the next day on that Bali trip. They’d found a hidden glade where a natural spring bubbled into a still pond. The water had been cold, but their kisses had burned. She remembered being lifted into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist as they kissed in the shallows, surrounded by nothing but rustling trees and the heady rush of stolen time. That pond had witnessed a sacred, silent pact—one hidden from her own real life by returning to her world of responsibilities and nurture for her husband and her family.
And then there was the night off the Mumbai coast—on board the 'Voyage Of Love' that changed her perspective of Vikram. The city had disappeared behind them, and all that remained was moonlight, music, and madness. She could still feel the wine on his lips, the way the wind had tangled her hair as she kissed him on the deck. The night she herself lost all her control. They hadn’t made it to the bedroom; their passion had erupted right there on the cushioned bench, she was willing to let it all go , but it was him who saved her from going further. That uncontrolled kiss had lingered the longest, stayed with her even as she tried to rebuild her life. He was becoming an addictive drug.
Now, in the silence of the car, as the hotel neared, Sonarika felt her composure unravel. The heat of turmeric was nothing compared to the heat rising from within. Every memory she tried to lock away had returned, insistent, burning. Vikram hadn’t just stirred an old wound today—he had reopened a door she’d once nailed shut. And as much as she told herself she was walking away again, something deep inside her was melting. Wanting. Longing. Rekindling.
That night , Vikram didn't come to the hotel , neither did Anjana. When she enquired with one of her friends among the guests , she learned Vikram had arranged a stay for his sister and himself in the city. She appreciated the commitment he had of not doing the same dance with Sonarika. But even Sonarika knew their resistence was dwindling as that familiar chasm of deep pleasure that bonded them to each other was slowly opening up again.
The next day , the sangeet ceremony of Rachika and Jayesh was in full bloom at the grand lawn of their wedding venue, its canopy strung with fairy lights and jasmine garlands, the stage alive with thumping beats and bursts of laughter. Guests swirled in colorful lehengas and kurtas, their spirits elevated with wine, dance, and anticipation. Amidst all this, Sonarika made her entrance, her silver lehenga glimmering under the chandeliers. Her look was radiant and poised—every pleat in place, her kohl-rimmed eyes betraying a hint of anxiety. She hadn’t expected to feel this warm rush again, not after yesterday's emotionally stirring encounter with Vikram.
Vikram, already by the bar when she walked in, turned instinctively, as if the air had shifted. His silver-embroidered sherwani matched hers by strange coincidence—or maybe fate was playing a slow trick. For a moment, the music, the laughter, the clinking of glasses—all faded. All he could see was her. He took a sip of his drink, masking his smile, and braced himself for the wave of feelings rising again, threatening to sweep away months of careful restraint. They hadn’t spoken properly since yesterday’s electric moment—just brief, loaded glances. But now, under the spell of celebration, something inside him was ready to erupt.
As the DJ switched the mood, the opening beats of “Dhindhoora Baje Re” pulsed through the speakers. The crowd roared in delight, and almost instinctively, a group of friends dragged Vikram onto the dance floor. Known for his charismatic moves, he didn’t resist. His body flowed effortlessly to the music, his expressions teasing, bold, playful. And midway through, his eyes caught Sonarika’s—hesitant, smiling faintly, battling caution. He extended his hand towards her with a grin that was half a dare and half a plea. The crowd cheered louder.
Sonarika’s feet hesitated, but the pull was undeniable. She placed her glass down and walked towards him, each step in rhythm with the beat and her quickening heart. As their bodies found the music together, the old rhythm returned like muscle memory. She couldn’t help but remember that time in Mumbai—when they'd set the stage on fire during the TANISHQ Founder’s Day. That chemistry, that madness, that comfort. Her silver dupatta twirled in sync with his spins; their eyes never strayed from each other. The crowd clapped and whistled, but to them, it felt like they were dancing in a bubble no one else could penetrate.
Then, just as the final chorus rang out and Vikram spun her one last time, his gaze fell on the delicate pendant resting at the hollow of her throat—two small birds in flight. His breath caught. He had gifted that to her on her birthday, something he had kept in his posession since their Bali trip, when everything between them still felt like a secret universe. Sonarika saw him looking. Her fingers brushed the pendant instinctively. Their movements slowed, the noise around them melting into silence. In that moment, their past wasn’t just a memory—it was alive, throbbing between them, urgent and unsaid.
As the music faded and the applause erupted, they stood still in the center of the stage, eyes locked. Her chest rose and fell with emotion. His eyes softened with the weight of unspoken longing. Around them, life moved on—waiters carried trays, relatives hugged, cameras clicked—but in that fragile slice of time, it was just Sonarika and Vikram, holding onto a memory that refused to die, and maybe, just maybe, waiting to be reborn.
The sangeet ceremony had left Sonarika emotionally stirred and physically spent, yet the exhaustion could not quiet the whirlwind inside her. Dbangd in a soft robe, she sat by the window of her room, gazing out at the moonlit courtyard of the Golden Dream Hotel. Thoughts of Vikram consumed her—his intoxicating closeness during the haldi, the possessive tenderness in his touch, the way his eyes lingered on her during their dance today. The glances, the silences, the subtle graze of fingertips—they weren’t accidents. Something was rekindling, dangerously and beautifully. And in the solitude of the night, her heart could no longer lie to her mind.
The ping of her phone startled her. She reached for it, her heart already suspecting the sender. It was Vikram.
'Can't sleep'
She stares. Then replies.
'Neither can I'
Soon Vikram responds
'Atrium garden. Ten minutes'
The message was brief, but its weight pressed heavily against her chest. She stared at the screen for a few seconds before standing up as if her body moved of its own accord. Throwing a shawl over her shoulders, she slipped quietly out of her room. Her breath quickened with every step down the silent hallway, the polished marble floors cool under her feet. The soft hum of the night surrounded the atrium, but her focus was singular—him.
Vikram was already there, standing beneath the large umbrella-shaped tree at the heart of the garden, its branches glowing under fairy lights that still twinkled from the evening’s festivities. He turned as he heard her approach, his expression raw, vulnerable.
"I shouldn’t be here" Sonarika breaks the silence between them.
"I won’t touch you unless you ask me to" Vikram whispered, taking a cautious step forward.
"And yet you did in the haldi"
"I did , turns out it takes all my might and power to keep my word to you"
"Looks like neither of us can find our peace can we?"
"Might be , but I can surely say. You cost me my peace of mind" Vikram confesses.
She looked at him, speechless, her lips parted but silent. Her heart thudded in her chest, the weight of unspoken memories pulsing in her veins. She couldn’t think—but she could feel.
"I thought we made peace with our ending" Sonarika claimed.
"I made peace with your decision. Not with losing you" Vikram stated.
Her defenses were faltering. The chasm was visible in her mind now.
"We were reckless" Sonarika confessed her mind.
"No , we were alive!" Vikram said in a low tone.
"I’m not that woman anymore" Sonarika said in a hush tone.
"I can still see her. Right now" Vikram said looking at her.
Without another word, Sonarika closed the distance between them. Her hands reached up to cup his face, trembling yet determined, and she pulled him into her. Their lips met with an urgency that shattered every restraint. It was not a kiss—it was a resurrection. Months of buried desire, longing, confusion, and heartbreak all surged forward in that singular moment. Vikram responded with the same ferocity, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, hands rediscovering familiar curves. The world melted away. There was only this—this kiss, this midnight madness.
As if the universe itself conspired with their hearts, a gentle rain began to fall, cool drops dotting their skin, intensifying the heat between them. But they didn’t pull away. The kiss deepened, grew hungrier, wetter, more desperate—as if trying to reclaim every moment lost between them. Sonarika’s fingers tangled into Vikram’s hair as he kissed down her jawline, then back to her lips, the storm inside them far greater than the one in the skies. The garden, now slick with rain and perfumed with the scent of wet earth and roses, bore witness to a relation reawakened, raw and unafraid. Their reunion was not whispered—it was thunderous in silence.
(CHAPTER TO BE CONTD)
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