30-07-2025, 07:03 PM
(CHAPTER CONTD)
The morning sun cast a golden hue across the marble patio, warming Sonarika’s bare shoulders as a gentle breeze whispered through the trees below. She stood there in a flowing pink gown that glowed under the morning light, its soft fabric fluttering around her ankles. Before her stretched the lush green outskirts of Jabalpur, a painter’s dream of serenity and bloom. The memory of the previous night still lingered sweetly on her skin—the scent of roses, the touch of silk sheets, the fire of Vikram’s lips.
Lost in the view, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, feeling the sun kiss her face. Then she felt him—Vikram—slip his arms around her waist, his warmth pressing gently against her back. He kissed her cheek with reverence, like she was a goddess he had just rediscovered. She sighed, resting her hands over his. The moment shimmered, suspended in time like a photograph bathed in gold.
"I love you" he whispered, the words brushing against her skin like velvet.
Sonarika turned slowly, her eyes searching his. Something in her chest tightened and then melted. She didn’t speak. She only kissed him—deeply, with the hunger of all the lonely years and all the longing that had built since Manali. Their embrace was fire and silk, past and future collapsing into one perfect second.
But then, the wind grew cold. The colors dulled. The patio faded like wet paint running down glass. She blinked—and in the next instant, she was standing barefoot in a dim, cold hallway. The marble was gone, replaced by grey floor tiles. The scent of roses vanished, replaced by incense and despair. Her pink gown was now a plain white salwaar kameez. No jewellery adorned her; she was stripped, bare, exposed.
People were gathered, murmuring, some sobbing softly. Neighbours, distant relatives, family friends—all dressed in the color of mourning. Sonarika’s breath caught in her throat. She recognized the hallway—it was her apartment building in Mumbai. Her feet moved of their own accord, drawn forward into the home she once filled with laughter, now consumed by stillness.
Inside, Meghna held her hand and looked at her with pitying eyes. Disha sat beside her, trying to suppress her sobs. The atmosphere inside was suffocating. Mouni and Kunal stood quietly near the hallway, along with Sagar, all dbangd in ghostly white, their faces carved with sorrow. The house felt like a mausoleum, time frozen in a single moment of grief.
She walked into the living room, her heart pounding like a war drum. Anjali was there—her eyes red, her voice hoarse as she cried openly. The sound was a jagged blade against Sonarika’s ears. But what shattered her soul was what she saw near the balcony: her son Karan, sitting on the floor, unmoving. His face pale, his eyes vacant. The boy who once made her laugh with his silly impressions now looked like a hollow vessel.
And then she saw him. In the center of the room, shrouded in white sheets, his form eerily still. A divine lamp burned above his head. Cotton in his nose. Hemant. Her Hemant. Gone. The breath in her lungs vanished as if snatched by a cruel hand. She screamed—a raw, unfiltered cry of agony that ripped through the dream and tore her from its grasp.
Sonarika bolted upright, drenched in sweat, her chest heaving. Her eyes darted around in panic until she recognized the opulent suite, the soft rustling of curtains, and the bed scattered with flower petals. Vikram lay beside her, fast asleep, his features calm, untouched by the storm inside her. Her own body was tangled in garlands and remnants of passion. She was not home. She was in his world.
Trembling, she pulled what she could from her discarded saree—her blouse and petticoat—and covered herself. Her hands fumbled for the jug of water near the window. She gulped greedily, as if the water could wash away the nightmare, could cleanse her of the vision of Hemant's still face. But nothing could drown that image—it clung to her like guilt.
She sank into a chair in the corner of the room, burying her face in her hands, muffling the sobs that broke free from her. As she looked at Vikram, peacefully dreaming, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. He had awakened something fierce and alive in her—but tonight, her conscience had clawed its way back to the surface.
Her thoughts drifted back to her life with Hemant. How he’d brought her breakfast in bed on weekends, how he danced awkwardly with Karan in the living room just to make them laugh. Their lazy Sunday brunches, the trips to the beach, the monsoon evenings on the balcony—all of it, vivid as sunlight on still water.
And then—Vikram. The charming client at her Tanishq office. The one who asked about antique gold patterns and ended up asking about her favorite books. The man with poetry in his voice and electricity in his eyes. Their business meetings turned party calls, party calls turned long trips, and one day in Manali—beneath that tree on that rainy day—turned into a kiss that changed everything.
That kiss led to a wildfire. The inauguration night of the Golden Dream marked the beginning of an affair too powerful to contain. Their encounters became more frequent, more reckless. His flat at Galaxy Apartments was their hidden world. But eventually, she had pulled away. She had chosen Hemant—out of guilt, out of anger, out of love.
But now, she was back in the flames. This hotel—the very birthplace of their sins—had seen their rebirth. Only this time, it felt different. Vikram wasn’t just a forbidden thrill anymore. He was becoming an addiction, a mirror to her true self. With him, she felt bold, alive—yet simultaneously, deeply ashamed.
Her conscience struck hard now. Hemant, who never once questioned her late meetings. Hemant, who stood up for her when she doubted herself. Hemant, who pieced together a shattered Sonarika from that painful breakup with Rocky , who moulded and motivated her to rise up and become better. Hemant, who loved her without conditions, without suspicion. And she? She had turned his trust into ashes. The nightmare was not just a dream—it was a warning, a glimpse of what her choices could lead to.
As Vikram still lay asleep, Sonarika made a quiet vow. She was going to do something sane. Hemant , his pure heart , he doesn't deserve a mess like her. She was no longer worthy to be his love. She accepted her sin and now she was willing to burn herself. But she doesn't want Hemant to burn with it. She must end this before everything goes out of her hand.
As the morning sunlight emanated into the suite. Vikram slowly got up , he was exhausted , he felt his energy was drained as he plucked out flower petals that have sticked into his body. A smile crossed his face as he remembered the things he did last night. He moved his hand to the amazing woman probably beside him to caress her but was shocked to find that part of the bed empty. Vikram panicked and startled and got up to see Sonarika not being present in the bedroom.
He thought she must be in distress if she was thinking about him and her mistakes again. Vikram put on his boxers and pants and went out of the bedroom. When he reached the main hall of the suite , he saw Sonarika sitting in the couch. She was dressed up wearing a blue salwaar kameez. Gone was that shining and smiling Sonarika. She sat there contemplating about something. Vikram also noticed the bird pendant was gone. She has worn back her mangalsutra and also had vermillion on her forehead. She was no longer the woman he slept with last night , she was sitting there as a wife.
"I just wanna say thank you Vicky. This week , the time spent here , you've shown me something I missed.And more than that , you brought clarity to my mind. To finally see sanity in my vision"
"It wasn’t just sex" Vikram finally said.
She froze. He turned to her, face unmasked.
"This week. The things we did yesterday night , the whole day , last night, whatever we had—it wasn’t just that"
"I know" she whispered.
"I respected your choice to end it" he said, voice rough.
"But don’t think I ever stopped wanting you" Vikram said with a sigh.
She looked up at him, a hundred emotions coiling in her chest.
"You think I did? I separated us because you disrespected him. But now in these few days , I feel like I am sinking lower and lower , loosing myself and my sanity"
"We kissed. We made love. We remembered. That’s not drowning" Vikram clarified
"You think this is love?" Sonarika questioned
"It never stopped being for me" Vikram poured his heart out
She turns to him, fierce and soft all at once.
"I have a husband. A child. A life that I fought to keep" Sonarika said reminding him her reality.
"And yet you came to me. Without a fight" Vikram responded pointing out her decisions.
"Because I’m weak around you" Sonarika finally admitted.
"No. Because you’re honest around me" Vikram claimed.
"You confuse me" She blinks away a tear.
"No. I bring you back to yourself. You just don’t like what you see"
His words struck a chord in her heart strings. She remembered Hemant's face. She understood that she was doing the worst kind of betrayal to him , and it wasn't his fault.
"You know this morning. I remembered something. One time I had this terrible period problem. I didn't take the precaution I should've and I ended up messing my dress. I took an early leave and when I returned home , Hemant was there too. I was nervous whether Hemant will freak out on my situation. But then the opposite happened , when he learned that I had bleeding , he provided his help in anything I need. Once I was done cleaning and my pain started to shoot. Hemant arrived with a warm water bag. He simply knew when I was in pain and provided the necessary help without me asking it. Many days and nights like that and I always believed I did something good in my past life to get a man like him in this one"
Vikram knew where this was going. He knew the guilt in her was rising at the moment as she continued.
"I couldn't sleep last night Vicky. Because I saw something so haunting , that it wasn't just a nightmare , it was like the universe showing me the future if I continue my life like this. I cannot keep doing this to Hemant. His pure unconditional love towards me is simply not right anymore. I don't deserve it , I am no longer worthy of his love"
Vikram was now nervous as he didn't expect Sonarika to go this tense. He knew what she was going to say , and he feared it not because of him. But what that will do to her. With baited breaths Vikram stood as finally Sonarika revealed it.
"I am going to tell him Vicky. I am going to tell Hemant the truth!"
The air in the room was tight with how the situation developed. Vikram knew the consequences for an action like that will be much much drastic.
"You don’t owe him this. You don’t have to burn everything down"
Vikram tried to act like hypocrite , trying to tame Sonarika in not taking such a drastic step.
"No. I do. I have to tell him. Every detail. Not just about my infidelity — about me. About who I’ve become"
"Soni , think for a second. This will destroy everything. Hemant… Karan. Your family. Your sister. You’re not just breaking your heart — you’ll break theirs too"
"I know. And I hate it. But Vicky… I can’t look at Hemant’s face every day and keep lying. I’m not just cheating on him — I’m turning him into a fool. I cannot repay him for fixing my past trauma by betraying his trust , I am not going to do that. I am willing to pay for my sins , suffer the consequences. But I can't keep betraying my family after everything. I know they will hate me , Anju will no longer see me as an inspiration. Karan will be too innocent and young to understand anything and Hemant? I am honestly very terrified of his reaction. How he will react when he learns that I've been betraying him for his pure love. But honestly I have to do this , not just for me , for him"
Vikram was silent listening to her explaining her pain. He knew this is where it would end up , but he wasn't expecting Sonarika to jump the gun this soon , and in a way it makes sense.
"But why Soni? why now?"
Tears fell from her eyes as her lips quivered. She looked at him overwhelmed with emotions as she confessed.
"Because I love him Vicky. I always did. Sure I might be conflicted in my thoughts , but my love for him never faded. And even now I am doing this only because I love him , but I cannot be worthy to his love after all the things I've done to him. I need some sanity , some sort of closure for my actions. And I don't care if that ruins me , wrecks me to pieces. I want Hemant to see the truth of what I really am. And I don't want Hemant to burn with me in my ruin. I cannot live like this Vicky. I simply can't. Not anymore"
Vikram listened to each of her words. The emotions it carried as she confessed her true feelings , even though it hurt him knowing that despite the closeness they share , she is more involved in fixing her mistakes rather than create new ones made him aspire her. She knew she will be a ruin , but she was willing to go that route just so she can be honest with the man she married showed that despite all the flaws , she had some morality in her. Vikram went near her and consoled her.
"Alright Soni , you do what you want to do. Just remember, when you need me, I'll be there"
Sonarika caressed his face acknowledging his concern.
"I know Vicky. But I have to do this alone. I have to face him , show him the real me. And I have to face the consequences of my choices alone. Thank you for these wonderful days"
Sonarika embraced him , comforting them , thanking him for everything. But deep down , she was also sad that all of this was coming to an end for now.
Vikram helped Sonarika place her small suitcase in the boot of the car. The air between them was quiet, heavy not with regret, but with the kind of ache only lovers torn apart too soon could understand. The vibrant memories of the last few days clung to them like the humidity of the monsoon—passionate wet embraces in his bed, stolen hours between silk sheets, and that unforgettable bold and reckless passion at Madan Mahal, where centuries of silence had echoed their moans of forbidden bliss. Now, standing outside his hotel—the very place where they had rekindled everything—they stared at each other with the knowledge that this was both an ending and something dangerously close to a beginning.
Vikram didn’t say much during the drive. His fingers occasionally brushed hers over the gear shift, each touch sparking a pang of memory, of need, of something he dared not name. Sonarika sat with her body facing forward, but her eyes often drifted toward him, her lips still swollen from the night before, her soul carrying the weight of moments she never expected to live again. She had come for Rachika’s wedding and ended up unearthing the pieces of herself she thought were long buried—pieces that only Vikram could reach. With every mile that passed, the silence between them grew more loaded, as if the car was carrying not just her luggage, but their unspoken truths. Along with it , both of them unbeknownst to each other , shared the fear of the destructive future that awaits them after knowing what Sonarika is going to do.
At the terminal drop-off, Vikram parked and stepped out, walking around to open her door. She stepped out, slowly, as if her legs resented the motion. Their eyes met and lingered, each trying to memorize the other’s face, trying to etch it deep into the recesses where longing hides.
"Thank you" she whispered, her voice cracking
"Thank you Vicky for giving me something I never thought I’d feel again. For making me feel like I was yours—even if just for a few days"
Vikram stepped closer, cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing a tear she hadn’t noticed had fallen.
"You were mine, Soni" he said gently.
"And in some ways… you always will be. These few days weren’t just passion. I saw you—really saw you. Not as someone’s wife, not as a mother, not as a guest in my hotel. But as you. And I’m not going to pretend this didn’t mean something"
Their lips met one last time—not rushed, not desperate, but reverent. A kiss of closure, perhaps, or maybe a promise waiting in disguise. She pulled away slowly, reluctantly, and turned toward the departure gate. Vikram watched as she disappeared into the crowd, his heart thrumming not with despair, but with something gentler, more dangerous—hope.
As Sonarika boarded her flight to Mumbai, her fingers trembled slightly, not from guilt, but from the fragile weight of knowing she had opened a door within herself she could never close again. As the plane took off and reached a cruising altitude. She looked through the window seeing the scenic view of Jabalpur. But as she looked ahead she saw in the distance , rain clouds with lightning sparking , shining like razors. It was like a terrible omen as she realized the plane was going to pass through it.
As Sonarika felt a twinge in her heart , she knew she will be doing something that will change her life forever. She just hopes the catastrophie that follows won't shatter everything. But she knew in her heart.
The Age Of Darkness Has Just Begun!
Lost in the view, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, feeling the sun kiss her face. Then she felt him—Vikram—slip his arms around her waist, his warmth pressing gently against her back. He kissed her cheek with reverence, like she was a goddess he had just rediscovered. She sighed, resting her hands over his. The moment shimmered, suspended in time like a photograph bathed in gold.
"I love you" he whispered, the words brushing against her skin like velvet.
Sonarika turned slowly, her eyes searching his. Something in her chest tightened and then melted. She didn’t speak. She only kissed him—deeply, with the hunger of all the lonely years and all the longing that had built since Manali. Their embrace was fire and silk, past and future collapsing into one perfect second.
But then, the wind grew cold. The colors dulled. The patio faded like wet paint running down glass. She blinked—and in the next instant, she was standing barefoot in a dim, cold hallway. The marble was gone, replaced by grey floor tiles. The scent of roses vanished, replaced by incense and despair. Her pink gown was now a plain white salwaar kameez. No jewellery adorned her; she was stripped, bare, exposed.
People were gathered, murmuring, some sobbing softly. Neighbours, distant relatives, family friends—all dressed in the color of mourning. Sonarika’s breath caught in her throat. She recognized the hallway—it was her apartment building in Mumbai. Her feet moved of their own accord, drawn forward into the home she once filled with laughter, now consumed by stillness.
Inside, Meghna held her hand and looked at her with pitying eyes. Disha sat beside her, trying to suppress her sobs. The atmosphere inside was suffocating. Mouni and Kunal stood quietly near the hallway, along with Sagar, all dbangd in ghostly white, their faces carved with sorrow. The house felt like a mausoleum, time frozen in a single moment of grief.
She walked into the living room, her heart pounding like a war drum. Anjali was there—her eyes red, her voice hoarse as she cried openly. The sound was a jagged blade against Sonarika’s ears. But what shattered her soul was what she saw near the balcony: her son Karan, sitting on the floor, unmoving. His face pale, his eyes vacant. The boy who once made her laugh with his silly impressions now looked like a hollow vessel.
And then she saw him. In the center of the room, shrouded in white sheets, his form eerily still. A divine lamp burned above his head. Cotton in his nose. Hemant. Her Hemant. Gone. The breath in her lungs vanished as if snatched by a cruel hand. She screamed—a raw, unfiltered cry of agony that ripped through the dream and tore her from its grasp.
Sonarika bolted upright, drenched in sweat, her chest heaving. Her eyes darted around in panic until she recognized the opulent suite, the soft rustling of curtains, and the bed scattered with flower petals. Vikram lay beside her, fast asleep, his features calm, untouched by the storm inside her. Her own body was tangled in garlands and remnants of passion. She was not home. She was in his world.
Trembling, she pulled what she could from her discarded saree—her blouse and petticoat—and covered herself. Her hands fumbled for the jug of water near the window. She gulped greedily, as if the water could wash away the nightmare, could cleanse her of the vision of Hemant's still face. But nothing could drown that image—it clung to her like guilt.
She sank into a chair in the corner of the room, burying her face in her hands, muffling the sobs that broke free from her. As she looked at Vikram, peacefully dreaming, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. He had awakened something fierce and alive in her—but tonight, her conscience had clawed its way back to the surface.
Her thoughts drifted back to her life with Hemant. How he’d brought her breakfast in bed on weekends, how he danced awkwardly with Karan in the living room just to make them laugh. Their lazy Sunday brunches, the trips to the beach, the monsoon evenings on the balcony—all of it, vivid as sunlight on still water.
And then—Vikram. The charming client at her Tanishq office. The one who asked about antique gold patterns and ended up asking about her favorite books. The man with poetry in his voice and electricity in his eyes. Their business meetings turned party calls, party calls turned long trips, and one day in Manali—beneath that tree on that rainy day—turned into a kiss that changed everything.
That kiss led to a wildfire. The inauguration night of the Golden Dream marked the beginning of an affair too powerful to contain. Their encounters became more frequent, more reckless. His flat at Galaxy Apartments was their hidden world. But eventually, she had pulled away. She had chosen Hemant—out of guilt, out of anger, out of love.
But now, she was back in the flames. This hotel—the very birthplace of their sins—had seen their rebirth. Only this time, it felt different. Vikram wasn’t just a forbidden thrill anymore. He was becoming an addiction, a mirror to her true self. With him, she felt bold, alive—yet simultaneously, deeply ashamed.
Her conscience struck hard now. Hemant, who never once questioned her late meetings. Hemant, who stood up for her when she doubted herself. Hemant, who pieced together a shattered Sonarika from that painful breakup with Rocky , who moulded and motivated her to rise up and become better. Hemant, who loved her without conditions, without suspicion. And she? She had turned his trust into ashes. The nightmare was not just a dream—it was a warning, a glimpse of what her choices could lead to.
As Vikram still lay asleep, Sonarika made a quiet vow. She was going to do something sane. Hemant , his pure heart , he doesn't deserve a mess like her. She was no longer worthy to be his love. She accepted her sin and now she was willing to burn herself. But she doesn't want Hemant to burn with it. She must end this before everything goes out of her hand.
As the morning sunlight emanated into the suite. Vikram slowly got up , he was exhausted , he felt his energy was drained as he plucked out flower petals that have sticked into his body. A smile crossed his face as he remembered the things he did last night. He moved his hand to the amazing woman probably beside him to caress her but was shocked to find that part of the bed empty. Vikram panicked and startled and got up to see Sonarika not being present in the bedroom.
He thought she must be in distress if she was thinking about him and her mistakes again. Vikram put on his boxers and pants and went out of the bedroom. When he reached the main hall of the suite , he saw Sonarika sitting in the couch. She was dressed up wearing a blue salwaar kameez. Gone was that shining and smiling Sonarika. She sat there contemplating about something. Vikram also noticed the bird pendant was gone. She has worn back her mangalsutra and also had vermillion on her forehead. She was no longer the woman he slept with last night , she was sitting there as a wife.
"I just wanna say thank you Vicky. This week , the time spent here , you've shown me something I missed.And more than that , you brought clarity to my mind. To finally see sanity in my vision"
"It wasn’t just sex" Vikram finally said.
She froze. He turned to her, face unmasked.
"This week. The things we did yesterday night , the whole day , last night, whatever we had—it wasn’t just that"
"I know" she whispered.
"I respected your choice to end it" he said, voice rough.
"But don’t think I ever stopped wanting you" Vikram said with a sigh.
She looked up at him, a hundred emotions coiling in her chest.
"You think I did? I separated us because you disrespected him. But now in these few days , I feel like I am sinking lower and lower , loosing myself and my sanity"
"We kissed. We made love. We remembered. That’s not drowning" Vikram clarified
"You think this is love?" Sonarika questioned
"It never stopped being for me" Vikram poured his heart out
She turns to him, fierce and soft all at once.
"I have a husband. A child. A life that I fought to keep" Sonarika said reminding him her reality.
"And yet you came to me. Without a fight" Vikram responded pointing out her decisions.
"Because I’m weak around you" Sonarika finally admitted.
"No. Because you’re honest around me" Vikram claimed.
"You confuse me" She blinks away a tear.
"No. I bring you back to yourself. You just don’t like what you see"
His words struck a chord in her heart strings. She remembered Hemant's face. She understood that she was doing the worst kind of betrayal to him , and it wasn't his fault.
"You know this morning. I remembered something. One time I had this terrible period problem. I didn't take the precaution I should've and I ended up messing my dress. I took an early leave and when I returned home , Hemant was there too. I was nervous whether Hemant will freak out on my situation. But then the opposite happened , when he learned that I had bleeding , he provided his help in anything I need. Once I was done cleaning and my pain started to shoot. Hemant arrived with a warm water bag. He simply knew when I was in pain and provided the necessary help without me asking it. Many days and nights like that and I always believed I did something good in my past life to get a man like him in this one"
Vikram knew where this was going. He knew the guilt in her was rising at the moment as she continued.
"I couldn't sleep last night Vicky. Because I saw something so haunting , that it wasn't just a nightmare , it was like the universe showing me the future if I continue my life like this. I cannot keep doing this to Hemant. His pure unconditional love towards me is simply not right anymore. I don't deserve it , I am no longer worthy of his love"
Vikram was now nervous as he didn't expect Sonarika to go this tense. He knew what she was going to say , and he feared it not because of him. But what that will do to her. With baited breaths Vikram stood as finally Sonarika revealed it.
"I am going to tell him Vicky. I am going to tell Hemant the truth!"
The air in the room was tight with how the situation developed. Vikram knew the consequences for an action like that will be much much drastic.
"You don’t owe him this. You don’t have to burn everything down"
Vikram tried to act like hypocrite , trying to tame Sonarika in not taking such a drastic step.
"No. I do. I have to tell him. Every detail. Not just about my infidelity — about me. About who I’ve become"
"Soni , think for a second. This will destroy everything. Hemant… Karan. Your family. Your sister. You’re not just breaking your heart — you’ll break theirs too"
"I know. And I hate it. But Vicky… I can’t look at Hemant’s face every day and keep lying. I’m not just cheating on him — I’m turning him into a fool. I cannot repay him for fixing my past trauma by betraying his trust , I am not going to do that. I am willing to pay for my sins , suffer the consequences. But I can't keep betraying my family after everything. I know they will hate me , Anju will no longer see me as an inspiration. Karan will be too innocent and young to understand anything and Hemant? I am honestly very terrified of his reaction. How he will react when he learns that I've been betraying him for his pure love. But honestly I have to do this , not just for me , for him"
Vikram was silent listening to her explaining her pain. He knew this is where it would end up , but he wasn't expecting Sonarika to jump the gun this soon , and in a way it makes sense.
"But why Soni? why now?"
Tears fell from her eyes as her lips quivered. She looked at him overwhelmed with emotions as she confessed.
"Because I love him Vicky. I always did. Sure I might be conflicted in my thoughts , but my love for him never faded. And even now I am doing this only because I love him , but I cannot be worthy to his love after all the things I've done to him. I need some sanity , some sort of closure for my actions. And I don't care if that ruins me , wrecks me to pieces. I want Hemant to see the truth of what I really am. And I don't want Hemant to burn with me in my ruin. I cannot live like this Vicky. I simply can't. Not anymore"
Vikram listened to each of her words. The emotions it carried as she confessed her true feelings , even though it hurt him knowing that despite the closeness they share , she is more involved in fixing her mistakes rather than create new ones made him aspire her. She knew she will be a ruin , but she was willing to go that route just so she can be honest with the man she married showed that despite all the flaws , she had some morality in her. Vikram went near her and consoled her.
"Alright Soni , you do what you want to do. Just remember, when you need me, I'll be there"
Sonarika caressed his face acknowledging his concern.
"I know Vicky. But I have to do this alone. I have to face him , show him the real me. And I have to face the consequences of my choices alone. Thank you for these wonderful days"
Sonarika embraced him , comforting them , thanking him for everything. But deep down , she was also sad that all of this was coming to an end for now.
Vikram helped Sonarika place her small suitcase in the boot of the car. The air between them was quiet, heavy not with regret, but with the kind of ache only lovers torn apart too soon could understand. The vibrant memories of the last few days clung to them like the humidity of the monsoon—passionate wet embraces in his bed, stolen hours between silk sheets, and that unforgettable bold and reckless passion at Madan Mahal, where centuries of silence had echoed their moans of forbidden bliss. Now, standing outside his hotel—the very place where they had rekindled everything—they stared at each other with the knowledge that this was both an ending and something dangerously close to a beginning.
Vikram didn’t say much during the drive. His fingers occasionally brushed hers over the gear shift, each touch sparking a pang of memory, of need, of something he dared not name. Sonarika sat with her body facing forward, but her eyes often drifted toward him, her lips still swollen from the night before, her soul carrying the weight of moments she never expected to live again. She had come for Rachika’s wedding and ended up unearthing the pieces of herself she thought were long buried—pieces that only Vikram could reach. With every mile that passed, the silence between them grew more loaded, as if the car was carrying not just her luggage, but their unspoken truths. Along with it , both of them unbeknownst to each other , shared the fear of the destructive future that awaits them after knowing what Sonarika is going to do.
At the terminal drop-off, Vikram parked and stepped out, walking around to open her door. She stepped out, slowly, as if her legs resented the motion. Their eyes met and lingered, each trying to memorize the other’s face, trying to etch it deep into the recesses where longing hides.
"Thank you" she whispered, her voice cracking
"Thank you Vicky for giving me something I never thought I’d feel again. For making me feel like I was yours—even if just for a few days"
Vikram stepped closer, cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing a tear she hadn’t noticed had fallen.
"You were mine, Soni" he said gently.
"And in some ways… you always will be. These few days weren’t just passion. I saw you—really saw you. Not as someone’s wife, not as a mother, not as a guest in my hotel. But as you. And I’m not going to pretend this didn’t mean something"
Their lips met one last time—not rushed, not desperate, but reverent. A kiss of closure, perhaps, or maybe a promise waiting in disguise. She pulled away slowly, reluctantly, and turned toward the departure gate. Vikram watched as she disappeared into the crowd, his heart thrumming not with despair, but with something gentler, more dangerous—hope.
As Sonarika boarded her flight to Mumbai, her fingers trembled slightly, not from guilt, but from the fragile weight of knowing she had opened a door within herself she could never close again. As the plane took off and reached a cruising altitude. She looked through the window seeing the scenic view of Jabalpur. But as she looked ahead she saw in the distance , rain clouds with lightning sparking , shining like razors. It was like a terrible omen as she realized the plane was going to pass through it.
As Sonarika felt a twinge in her heart , she knew she will be doing something that will change her life forever. She just hopes the catastrophie that follows won't shatter everything. But she knew in her heart.
The Age Of Darkness Has Just Begun!
END OF CHAPTER 18
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)