24-08-2025, 12:37 AM
(CHAPTER CONTD)
SAME TIME SOMEWHERE IN MUMBAI
Tamanna’s insistence was impossible to refuse.
"Just one evening, Hemant. Come with me. It’s a friend’s sangeet, not a courtroom trial"
She teased, tugging his arm with mock drama. Hemant relented, half-smiling, grateful for her persistent warmth. The open-roof auditorium sparkled under a sky freckled with stars. Strings of golden fairy lights dbangd across the venue, reflecting off sequined sarees and glittering sherwanis. Laughter and dhol beats mingled in the air. For a long time, Hemant hadn’t been in the middle of such joy.
Tamanna walked beside him, radiant in her silver lehenga. The embroidery shimmered with every graceful step she took. Heads turned when she passed, but she seemed oblivious, chatting away, ensuring Hemant didn’t feel like an outsider among strangers. The sangeet had reached its lively peak—dancers swaying, relatives cheering, and the bride and groom glowing in the attention of their families. Hemant found himself surprisingly at ease, his lips curving into a smile more than once.
"You’re smiling" Tamanna observed, poking his side.
"That’s already an achievement. Now I want more"
"What more?" Hemant asked, raising a brow.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I want you to sing. You sang at the alumni meet, remember? Everyone still talks about it"
Hemant chuckled, shaking his head.
"Tammu, this is a wedding function, not my college nostalgia trip"
“Exactly! What better stage than this?” she pressed.
"Come on, Hemant. One song. For me"
Something in her playful insistence disarmed him. Against his usual reserve, he agreed. The orchestra set their instruments, and the emcee announced a surprise performance. When Hemant took the microphone, the chatter hushed. He paused, then with quiet confidence began:
Dhoom dhadakka ho gaya toh
Hosh saara kho gaya toh
Aaj keh de baat dil ki baawre
(If there’s a huge celebration
If You lose Your consciousness
Just tell me what’s there in Your heart, O crazy one!)
The familiar rhythm pulsed through the venue, and the orchestra rose with him. Hemant chose the hit song number Dhoom Dhadakka from Namaste England movie , a song that can catch the vibe of a sangeet ceremony. Within seconds, the air was electric. Guests clapped to the beat, dancers twirled with more energy, and laughter erupted across the hall. Hemant’s voice, seasoned yet unpretentious, carried the song with grace.
The bride and groom joined in the fun, clapping and swaying, their families egging them on. Cheers grew louder as the sangeet transformed into a mini concert, all led by Hemant’s unexpected performance. Tamanna leapt into the dance floor, her silver lehenga shimmering like liquid moonlight. She danced freely, joyfully, her movements syncopating perfectly with Hemant’s voice. Her laughter, her radiance, it was magnetic.
For the first time in years, Hemant wasn’t haunted. He simply lived in the moment. His voice soared, the beat thumped, and happiness rippled across the crowd like wildfire. As he sang, though, his eyes found Tamanna often—her graceful twirls, her glowing face, the curve of her form accentuated by the lehenga. She looked breathtaking. Desire stirred within him, raw and undeniable.
It wasn’t love, he realized—not anymore. Love had been shattered within him, twisted into something unrecognizable. But attraction? That still lived. And Tamanna, in that moment, embodied it. The song ended in a storm of applause. Guests rose to their feet, clapping and cheering. The bride and groom clapped their hands together, showering Hemant with appreciation. He bowed slightly, smiling in genuine gratitude. Tamanna rushed up to him, still flushed from dancing, her breath short.
"See? I told you! You were brilliant" she said, her eyes wide with admiration.
Hemant looked at her, really looked at her. For the first time since his marriage, he allowed himself to accept a truth: he was drawn to her, deeply, powerfully. Yet as quickly as the realization came, so too did his restraint. This was desire, yes, but not destiny. His heart, once capable of devotion, was scarred beyond repair. Love was something he no longer trusted, no longer believed in. Tamanna deserved more than a broken man carrying shadows of betrayal. She deserved someone who could take her hand fully, without hesitation, without walls. And Hemant knew he could not be that man—at least not now.
As the music resumed, Hemant exhaled, the taste of applause still lingering in the air. He let go—not for himself, but for her. Watching Tamanna glow under the fairy lights, he whispered silently in his heart:
"She deserves better. She deserves a man who can give her the love I can’t"
And so Hemant smiled, burying his turmoil under charm and composure, as the sangeet carried on around him.
NEXT DAY NEAR DHRISTI STUDIOS
The next evening, Hemant arrived at the familiar Café Veranda tucked into a quiet corner near Tamanna’s Dhristi Studios. It was their usual spot, a place that had become their sanctuary—away from noise, away from eyes, a space that felt almost suspended from reality. Tamanna was already there, seated by the window, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of cappuccino. She looked up when he entered, and her smile lit up her face—warm, unassuming, the kind of smile Hemant had always secretly loved.
"You’re late" she teased softly as he took the seat across from her.
"I was beginning to think the applause last night had gone to your head"
Hemant chuckled, shaking his head.
"No, nothing like that. I just… needed a little time before facing you again"
Tamanna tilted her head, curious.
"Facing me? Why? Did I do something to scare you?"
He exhaled slowly, his eyes momentarily dropping to the table.
"No. It’s me. I need to be honest, Tamanna. Last night… you looked gorgeous. More than gorgeous, really. And for the first time in years, I felt something. Desire"
She didn’t interrupt, watching him with calm patience. Hemant’s voice dropped lower.
"But that’s the problem. I’m too broken, Tammu. Betrayal does something to a man. Love—it’s gone from me. I don’t trust it anymore. And when I looked at you, wanting you, I felt like… like a pervert. Like I’m disrespecting the bond we have"
Tamanna’s lips curved into that soft, knowing smile again. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm.
"And yet, even when you confess this, the first thing you say is that you’re worried about me. That, Hemant, doesn’t make you a pervert. It makes you a good man"
Hemant’s chest tightened at her words.
"You’re too kind"
"Not kind" she corrected gently.
"Just honest. Look—what you feel, what you’re struggling with—I’m not bothered by it. If anything, it makes me see you clearer. You’re human, Hemant. And despite everything you’ve gone through, you still think about others before yourself. That is rare"
He studied her face, her calmness, her unshaken composure.
"So you’re not angry?"
Tamanna laughed lightly, shaking her head.
"No. Not angry. Maybe a little flattered, if I’m honest. Because the truth is… there’s some real compatibility between us. I can feel it in moments like these"
Her tone softened, confessional.
"I’ve never fully moved on either. You know that, right? Dev… he was my everything. Losing him changed me. Even now, sometimes, the loneliness still claws in the evenings. Maybe that’s why I understand you better than anyone else could. You’re a single parent, just like me. And maybe that makes our struggles strangely relatable"
Hemant nodded slowly, a sense of relief washing through him. For the first time, someone wasn’t judging, wasn’t measuring him against impossible expectations.
Tamanna’s eyes searched his.
"Back in college, I used to think of you as my dream man. Maybe it was silly then. But even now… Hemant, you’re still desirable. More than you realize. The fact that you came closer than friends usually do—it doesn’t scare me. It… excites me. It makes me wonder what more there could be"
Hemant swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You really mean that?"
"I do" Tamanna replied softly.
"But we don’t need to define anything right now. Let’s just… focus on what we have. Our companionship. Let it grow naturally, see where it takes us. No expectations. No chains"
Her words, so steady and unhurried, struck something in him. Hemant leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.
"You have no idea how much peace that gives me. To know you understand"
Tamanna reached across the table, her fingers brushing against his hand in a gesture of reassurance.
"I’ve always understood you, Hemant. More than you think. And maybe, just maybe, this time in life is giving us another chance—to write something new, even if it’s not called love"
Hemant looked at her, and for the first time, he didn’t feel guilt. He didn’t feel like a broken man chasing shadows. He felt… seen. Truly seen. And with Tamanna’s hand lightly resting over his, he allowed himself to breathe in that moment of solace. When they stepped out of the café, the city was alive with its usual hum. The lamps lining the streets cast a golden glow on the pavements, and a faint drizzle had left the air cool and crisp. Hemant inhaled deeply; the air smelled of rain-soaked earth and brewing tea from nearby stalls.
Tamanna walked beside him, her dupatta lightly brushing against his arm in the breeze. Neither of them spoke for a while. The silence wasn’t heavy—it was comfortable, the kind of silence that speaks louder than words. After a few minutes, Tamanna broke it gently.
"You know, I missed this. Just walking with someone, not needing to pretend I’m okay all the time"
Hemant glanced at her, the softness in her profile illuminated by the streetlight.
"I get that. Pretending… it drains you. With you, Tamanna, I don’t feel like I have to pretend"
She turned her head to look at him, her smile faint but tender.
"That’s exactly what I meant"
They crossed the road slowly, the faint honk of a taxi echoing behind them. Tamanna adjusted her dupatta, and without thinking, Hemant steadied her by the elbow. The touch was brief, instinctive, but it lingered in both their minds. Tamanna noticed the hesitation in his eyes afterward.
"Don’t be so cautious with me, Hemant" she said lightly.
"I won’t break"
Hemant smiled ruefully.
"It’s not you I worry about. It’s me. I’m still figuring out what parts of me are broken, and what’s left intact"
She stopped for a moment under a large peepal tree, the leaves rustling in the breeze. Looking at him with quiet strength, she said,
"You don’t have to figure it all out tonight. Just… let yourself be. With me"
Something about the way she said it soothed him. They resumed walking, their steps falling into an easy rhythm. At times, their arms brushed, and neither pulled away.
"You know" Tamanna said thoughtfully.
"Last night when you sang… I saw the Hemant from college. The man who could make an entire auditorium fall silent, then cheer wildly a moment later. You were alive in that moment. I loved seeing that"
Hemant chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"That was another lifetime. That Hemant was reckless, full of dreams. He didn’t know how heavy betrayal feels"
Tamanna tilted her head, her voice gentle but firm.
"Maybe. But last night proved he’s not entirely gone. He’s still there, waiting for you to let him out again. And maybe this time, he doesn’t need to be reckless—just real"
Her words lodged deep in him, stirring something he hadn’t felt in years. They kept walking, passing by the glow of small bookshops and chai stalls. The world around seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them in their cocoon of conversation. Eventually, they reached Tamanna’s car parked at the edge of the lane. She turned to him, hesitating as if weighing whether to say more. Then she smiled, the same smile that had calmed his storm in the café.
"Thank you for tonight, Hemant. You don’t realize it, but you gave me peace too"
Hemant nodded, his voice low.
"You’ve given me more than peace, Tammu. You’ve given me something I thought I’d never have again… a moment where I didn’t feel broken"
For a heartbeat, their eyes locked, a quiet intimacy shimmering between them. Tamanna didn’t lean in, nor did he. Instead, she simply placed her hand on his arm and gave it a small squeeze—an unspoken promise of companionship.
"Goodnight, Hemant" she whispered, before slipping into her car.
As her car drove off, Hemant stood there under the streetlamp, his heart oddly lighter. For the first time in months, he realized he wasn’t carrying his grief alone anymore. And maybe—just maybe—Tamanna was the beginning of something he didn’t yet dare name.
That is when his phone rang. It was Raquel.
"Raquel what is it"
"Bhaijaan , I've found them. Ricky's killers"
There was a sudden switch in Hemant's demeanor. What was moments ago a relieved and cheerful face of hope now darkened to a brutal and cold entity.
"Where are they?" Hemant asked in a low and growly tone.
"They're planning at hit at London!"
(CHAPTER TO BE CONTD)
Tamanna’s insistence was impossible to refuse.
"Just one evening, Hemant. Come with me. It’s a friend’s sangeet, not a courtroom trial"
She teased, tugging his arm with mock drama. Hemant relented, half-smiling, grateful for her persistent warmth. The open-roof auditorium sparkled under a sky freckled with stars. Strings of golden fairy lights dbangd across the venue, reflecting off sequined sarees and glittering sherwanis. Laughter and dhol beats mingled in the air. For a long time, Hemant hadn’t been in the middle of such joy.
Tamanna walked beside him, radiant in her silver lehenga. The embroidery shimmered with every graceful step she took. Heads turned when she passed, but she seemed oblivious, chatting away, ensuring Hemant didn’t feel like an outsider among strangers. The sangeet had reached its lively peak—dancers swaying, relatives cheering, and the bride and groom glowing in the attention of their families. Hemant found himself surprisingly at ease, his lips curving into a smile more than once.
"You’re smiling" Tamanna observed, poking his side.
"That’s already an achievement. Now I want more"
"What more?" Hemant asked, raising a brow.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I want you to sing. You sang at the alumni meet, remember? Everyone still talks about it"
Hemant chuckled, shaking his head.
"Tammu, this is a wedding function, not my college nostalgia trip"
“Exactly! What better stage than this?” she pressed.
"Come on, Hemant. One song. For me"
Something in her playful insistence disarmed him. Against his usual reserve, he agreed. The orchestra set their instruments, and the emcee announced a surprise performance. When Hemant took the microphone, the chatter hushed. He paused, then with quiet confidence began:
Dhoom dhadakka ho gaya toh
Hosh saara kho gaya toh
Aaj keh de baat dil ki baawre
(If there’s a huge celebration
If You lose Your consciousness
Just tell me what’s there in Your heart, O crazy one!)
The familiar rhythm pulsed through the venue, and the orchestra rose with him. Hemant chose the hit song number Dhoom Dhadakka from Namaste England movie , a song that can catch the vibe of a sangeet ceremony. Within seconds, the air was electric. Guests clapped to the beat, dancers twirled with more energy, and laughter erupted across the hall. Hemant’s voice, seasoned yet unpretentious, carried the song with grace.
The bride and groom joined in the fun, clapping and swaying, their families egging them on. Cheers grew louder as the sangeet transformed into a mini concert, all led by Hemant’s unexpected performance. Tamanna leapt into the dance floor, her silver lehenga shimmering like liquid moonlight. She danced freely, joyfully, her movements syncopating perfectly with Hemant’s voice. Her laughter, her radiance, it was magnetic.
For the first time in years, Hemant wasn’t haunted. He simply lived in the moment. His voice soared, the beat thumped, and happiness rippled across the crowd like wildfire. As he sang, though, his eyes found Tamanna often—her graceful twirls, her glowing face, the curve of her form accentuated by the lehenga. She looked breathtaking. Desire stirred within him, raw and undeniable.
It wasn’t love, he realized—not anymore. Love had been shattered within him, twisted into something unrecognizable. But attraction? That still lived. And Tamanna, in that moment, embodied it. The song ended in a storm of applause. Guests rose to their feet, clapping and cheering. The bride and groom clapped their hands together, showering Hemant with appreciation. He bowed slightly, smiling in genuine gratitude. Tamanna rushed up to him, still flushed from dancing, her breath short.
"See? I told you! You were brilliant" she said, her eyes wide with admiration.
Hemant looked at her, really looked at her. For the first time since his marriage, he allowed himself to accept a truth: he was drawn to her, deeply, powerfully. Yet as quickly as the realization came, so too did his restraint. This was desire, yes, but not destiny. His heart, once capable of devotion, was scarred beyond repair. Love was something he no longer trusted, no longer believed in. Tamanna deserved more than a broken man carrying shadows of betrayal. She deserved someone who could take her hand fully, without hesitation, without walls. And Hemant knew he could not be that man—at least not now.
As the music resumed, Hemant exhaled, the taste of applause still lingering in the air. He let go—not for himself, but for her. Watching Tamanna glow under the fairy lights, he whispered silently in his heart:
"She deserves better. She deserves a man who can give her the love I can’t"
And so Hemant smiled, burying his turmoil under charm and composure, as the sangeet carried on around him.
NEXT DAY NEAR DHRISTI STUDIOS
The next evening, Hemant arrived at the familiar Café Veranda tucked into a quiet corner near Tamanna’s Dhristi Studios. It was their usual spot, a place that had become their sanctuary—away from noise, away from eyes, a space that felt almost suspended from reality. Tamanna was already there, seated by the window, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of cappuccino. She looked up when he entered, and her smile lit up her face—warm, unassuming, the kind of smile Hemant had always secretly loved.
"You’re late" she teased softly as he took the seat across from her.
"I was beginning to think the applause last night had gone to your head"
Hemant chuckled, shaking his head.
"No, nothing like that. I just… needed a little time before facing you again"
Tamanna tilted her head, curious.
"Facing me? Why? Did I do something to scare you?"
He exhaled slowly, his eyes momentarily dropping to the table.
"No. It’s me. I need to be honest, Tamanna. Last night… you looked gorgeous. More than gorgeous, really. And for the first time in years, I felt something. Desire"
She didn’t interrupt, watching him with calm patience. Hemant’s voice dropped lower.
"But that’s the problem. I’m too broken, Tammu. Betrayal does something to a man. Love—it’s gone from me. I don’t trust it anymore. And when I looked at you, wanting you, I felt like… like a pervert. Like I’m disrespecting the bond we have"
Tamanna’s lips curved into that soft, knowing smile again. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm.
"And yet, even when you confess this, the first thing you say is that you’re worried about me. That, Hemant, doesn’t make you a pervert. It makes you a good man"
Hemant’s chest tightened at her words.
"You’re too kind"
"Not kind" she corrected gently.
"Just honest. Look—what you feel, what you’re struggling with—I’m not bothered by it. If anything, it makes me see you clearer. You’re human, Hemant. And despite everything you’ve gone through, you still think about others before yourself. That is rare"
He studied her face, her calmness, her unshaken composure.
"So you’re not angry?"
Tamanna laughed lightly, shaking her head.
"No. Not angry. Maybe a little flattered, if I’m honest. Because the truth is… there’s some real compatibility between us. I can feel it in moments like these"
Her tone softened, confessional.
"I’ve never fully moved on either. You know that, right? Dev… he was my everything. Losing him changed me. Even now, sometimes, the loneliness still claws in the evenings. Maybe that’s why I understand you better than anyone else could. You’re a single parent, just like me. And maybe that makes our struggles strangely relatable"
Hemant nodded slowly, a sense of relief washing through him. For the first time, someone wasn’t judging, wasn’t measuring him against impossible expectations.
Tamanna’s eyes searched his.
"Back in college, I used to think of you as my dream man. Maybe it was silly then. But even now… Hemant, you’re still desirable. More than you realize. The fact that you came closer than friends usually do—it doesn’t scare me. It… excites me. It makes me wonder what more there could be"
Hemant swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You really mean that?"
"I do" Tamanna replied softly.
"But we don’t need to define anything right now. Let’s just… focus on what we have. Our companionship. Let it grow naturally, see where it takes us. No expectations. No chains"
Her words, so steady and unhurried, struck something in him. Hemant leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.
"You have no idea how much peace that gives me. To know you understand"
Tamanna reached across the table, her fingers brushing against his hand in a gesture of reassurance.
"I’ve always understood you, Hemant. More than you think. And maybe, just maybe, this time in life is giving us another chance—to write something new, even if it’s not called love"
Hemant looked at her, and for the first time, he didn’t feel guilt. He didn’t feel like a broken man chasing shadows. He felt… seen. Truly seen. And with Tamanna’s hand lightly resting over his, he allowed himself to breathe in that moment of solace. When they stepped out of the café, the city was alive with its usual hum. The lamps lining the streets cast a golden glow on the pavements, and a faint drizzle had left the air cool and crisp. Hemant inhaled deeply; the air smelled of rain-soaked earth and brewing tea from nearby stalls.
Tamanna walked beside him, her dupatta lightly brushing against his arm in the breeze. Neither of them spoke for a while. The silence wasn’t heavy—it was comfortable, the kind of silence that speaks louder than words. After a few minutes, Tamanna broke it gently.
"You know, I missed this. Just walking with someone, not needing to pretend I’m okay all the time"
Hemant glanced at her, the softness in her profile illuminated by the streetlight.
"I get that. Pretending… it drains you. With you, Tamanna, I don’t feel like I have to pretend"
She turned her head to look at him, her smile faint but tender.
"That’s exactly what I meant"
They crossed the road slowly, the faint honk of a taxi echoing behind them. Tamanna adjusted her dupatta, and without thinking, Hemant steadied her by the elbow. The touch was brief, instinctive, but it lingered in both their minds. Tamanna noticed the hesitation in his eyes afterward.
"Don’t be so cautious with me, Hemant" she said lightly.
"I won’t break"
Hemant smiled ruefully.
"It’s not you I worry about. It’s me. I’m still figuring out what parts of me are broken, and what’s left intact"
She stopped for a moment under a large peepal tree, the leaves rustling in the breeze. Looking at him with quiet strength, she said,
"You don’t have to figure it all out tonight. Just… let yourself be. With me"
Something about the way she said it soothed him. They resumed walking, their steps falling into an easy rhythm. At times, their arms brushed, and neither pulled away.
"You know" Tamanna said thoughtfully.
"Last night when you sang… I saw the Hemant from college. The man who could make an entire auditorium fall silent, then cheer wildly a moment later. You were alive in that moment. I loved seeing that"
Hemant chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"That was another lifetime. That Hemant was reckless, full of dreams. He didn’t know how heavy betrayal feels"
Tamanna tilted her head, her voice gentle but firm.
"Maybe. But last night proved he’s not entirely gone. He’s still there, waiting for you to let him out again. And maybe this time, he doesn’t need to be reckless—just real"
Her words lodged deep in him, stirring something he hadn’t felt in years. They kept walking, passing by the glow of small bookshops and chai stalls. The world around seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them in their cocoon of conversation. Eventually, they reached Tamanna’s car parked at the edge of the lane. She turned to him, hesitating as if weighing whether to say more. Then she smiled, the same smile that had calmed his storm in the café.
"Thank you for tonight, Hemant. You don’t realize it, but you gave me peace too"
Hemant nodded, his voice low.
"You’ve given me more than peace, Tammu. You’ve given me something I thought I’d never have again… a moment where I didn’t feel broken"
For a heartbeat, their eyes locked, a quiet intimacy shimmering between them. Tamanna didn’t lean in, nor did he. Instead, she simply placed her hand on his arm and gave it a small squeeze—an unspoken promise of companionship.
"Goodnight, Hemant" she whispered, before slipping into her car.
As her car drove off, Hemant stood there under the streetlamp, his heart oddly lighter. For the first time in months, he realized he wasn’t carrying his grief alone anymore. And maybe—just maybe—Tamanna was the beginning of something he didn’t yet dare name.
That is when his phone rang. It was Raquel.
"Raquel what is it"
"Bhaijaan , I've found them. Ricky's killers"
There was a sudden switch in Hemant's demeanor. What was moments ago a relieved and cheerful face of hope now darkened to a brutal and cold entity.
"Where are they?" Hemant asked in a low and growly tone.
"They're planning at hit at London!"
(CHAPTER TO BE CONTD)
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