08-10-2025, 12:09 PM
(CHAPTER CONTD)
Hours later, the plane descended into Dabolim Airport, the morning sun spilling across the Goan coastline. The sight of the lush green fields and palm groves below stirred something nostalgic in her — something bittersweet.
At the arrival gate, a man in a neat uniform held a placard reading 'SONARIKA KUMAR – VATIKA BOTANICAL R&D CENTER', the VATIKA emblem shining beneath her name.
"Welcome, ma’am" The driver said politely.
"Mrs. Naik has arranged your pickup. It’s about an hour’s drive north, near Vagator"
The vehicle glided through the Goan countryside — narrow roads flanked by endless greenery and sunlight filtering through canopies of banyan and palm. The air smelled of wet earth and salt. As the journey went on, her mind wandered — to her first trip here years ago, as a newlywed. She remembered the freedom, the laughter, and the raw energy between her and Hemant. How they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, lost in the intoxication of love. Their first outdoor passion, their whispered promises.
She remembers that day , when they became a bit adventurous. When they ended up in that lush green space which was abandoned and had the view of the Goan Horizon. They have put up a picnic sheet and was laying there enjoying the sun. But then one then led to another , and then their clothes were abandoned. And Sonarika was riding her man's dick right there in the open.
Her grip grew ever tighter with each powerful thrust, as Hemant drove his hips with relentless force. He continued to hammer away at her neatly trimmed young pussy, the place that was yet to concieve Karan, but in that moment and time it belonged to them and their expressive love, as Hemant slightly shifted his angle, driving deeper, harder, pushing Sonarika further.
"AHHH! MY Hemant!!!" she gasped.
Sonarika continued to ride Hemant, for everything she was worth, each time her body rose, he slammed her back down on his cock, as it pumped in and out of her. The soothing sound of the sea and the birds chirping was also overlapped with the wet sounds of their fucking. His cock, was slick and glistening, as he rammed his shaft into her love mound.
Her breath hitched, and she pressed her forehead to his, eyes squeezed shut.
"Harder Hubby!!!!" she demanded, her voice a low growl.
"I don't want to be able to walk tomorrow!!!!!"
Hemant complied, and changed positions. He planted her to a nearby try pumping her into the tree making it feel the tremors of their sex. His hips moved faster, each thrust more powerful than the last. The tree behind her shook with the force of their movements, her body pinned between it and him. In a way really showing what she always wanted in life now enveloping her. Her nails raked down his back, leaving stinging trails that only spurred Hemant on. She bit his lip, hard, drawing a wince from him. He retaliated by grabbing a handful of her hair, tugging her head back to expose her neck. Hemant kissed and bit the soft skin there, her moans growing louder, more insistent. Hemant set her down, spun her around, and bent her over one of its extended stem. She let out a surprised yelp, but pushed back against him, eager, willing.
Her hands reached out in front of her, grasping at the tree and its rough texture for leverage. He didn't give her a moment to adjust. Hemant gripped her hips, as he pulled her back onto him. The tree branches shook with each hard thrust, rusty leaves and dried fruits scattering to the ground. Sonarika's breath came in ragged gasps, her body arching to meet Hemant's.
"You like this Sona?" Hemant growled into her ear, his voice barely recognizable.
"Like getting fucked like this?"
"Yes" Sonarika hissed, her head dropping low, hair spilling over her face.
"Just like that."
Hemant could see Sonarika’s face in some moments, her eyes wild, lips parted in a silent scream. He reached up, grabbing a handful of her hair again, tugging her head back until she was looking up at him, his other hand grasping her hip with bruising force.
"Don't stop" she begged, her voice a raw whisper.
"Please, don't stop"
Hemant didn't. He couldn't. Not even if he wanted to. He has found happiness after a long time. Her body was hot and tight around him, her hips slamming back against him with a force that matched his own thrusts.
Her moans grew louder, more desperate. Sonarika was tightening around him, her body trembling with anticipation. She was close, so close. Suddenly, Sonarika's body tensed, her back arching sharply as she let out a loud, desperate cry. Her inner muscles clamped down on her husband like a vice, pulsing and fluttering as she came hard, her orgasm crashing through her like a tidal wave.
But Hemant didn't stop. He couldn't. Not yet. He rode her through it. Something that clung to Sonarika until today. Sonarika could feel his own release coming, his body tensing with each thrust.
"You want me to cum in you, Sona?" Hemant murmured.
"You want to feel me let go inside you?"
She nodded vigorously.
"YES!! MY HEMANT!!! MAKE ME YOURS!!! MAKE ME YOUR WIFE!!!"
Hemant buried himself deep inside her and let go, his cock pulsing as he spilled into her, filling her completely.
"YESS HONEY!!! I FEEL YOU!!!! I AM YOURS!!! FOREVER YOURS!!!!"
That is when Sonarika woke up from her trance as she noticed her ride was still going through the views of Goa. She smiled faintly through the ache. Back then, she had mistaken passion for permanence. Now she saw the truth — that Hemant had given her more than moments of heat; he had once given her balance, an anchor she had foolishly broken.
After nearly an hour, the car turned into a long private road lined with thick hedges and tall fences. Ahead stood a large gate, guarded by a modern security outpost and a watchtower. The emblem of VATIKA gleamed on the iron gates — a leaf spiraling around a golden sun.
The driver presented his credentials. The gates opened with a mechanical hum.
As the car drove deeper inside, Sonarika’s breath caught. Acres upon acres of lush green stretched as far as she could see — fields of exotic vegetation, rows of medicinal herbs, massive irrigation lines glistening in the light. And beyond all that — a white dome, colossal and gleaming like a pearl against the horizon, with VATIKA emblazoned across it in towering green letters.
"This… this looks like a science fiction magnificience!" she whispered.
The car stopped before the dome’s main entrance — a futuristic complex of glass and metal, with scanning gates and biometric checkposts. Scientists and staff in green uniforms moved briskly about. Sonarika stepped out, adjusting her beige suit, clutching her file tightly. For a moment, the sheer magnitude of the place dwarfed her confidence.
Then Mrs. Naik appeared at the entrance — poised, calm, her expression unreadable.
"Welcome to Vatika" she said.
"I hope you had a comfortable flight"
"Yes, ma’am" Sonarika replied, her voice steadier than she felt.
As they began the tour, moving through the corridors filled with hydroponic chambers, automated irrigation systems, and sealed biomes, Sonarika’s mind began to whirl. The environment was alien to her corporate world — high-tech, clinical, immense. Her confidence began to fray.
Sreelekha noticed the change instantly.
"You seem quiet" she said without slowing her pace.
"I… I’m fine" Sonarika managed. But her hands trembled. Her breath grew shallow.
"Take a moment" Sreelekha said curtly, signaling toward a hallway.
"There’s a washroom there"
Inside, Sonarika leaned against the marble sink, staring at her reflection. Her face looked pale, fragile, scared.
"Damn it, Sonarika" she hissed.
"Get it together"
Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered.
"You’re not weak… you’re not weak…"
That’s when a memory surfaced — Vikram’s voice, smooth and seductive, echoing in her mind:
"I’ll make you my queen, Sonarika. The queen of BajajCorp. My empire will bow to you"
For a moment, the old thrill of that promise shimmered… then died.
Another voice replaced it — Hemant’s, warm, grounded, and real:
"You’re already a queen in our home. But don’t be the kind that just sits on a throne looking pretty. Be the one who rules with me — who builds, protects, and leads"
The words hit her like light cutting through fog. Her trembling stopped. Her heartbeat steadied. She looked at her reflection again — the same woman, but no longer broken.
"A queen who rules" she murmured.
She straightened her shoulders, fixed her suit, wiped her tears, and walked out.When she rejoined Mrs. Naik, the older woman noticed the difference instantly. Sonarika’s eyes were sharp now, her posture firm, her voice calm as she began asking questions — about the irrigation ratios, the carbon-neutral energy sources, the hybrid species they were testing.
Sreelekha listened, hiding a faint smile. The timid girl from Mumbai had vanished; this woman stood like she belonged here. By the end of the tour, they stood before a vast window overlooking the domed greenhouse, the sunlight filtering through its glass panels like divine light.
"So" Sreelekha said, glancing sideways at her.
"Still overwhelmed?"
"No" Sonarika said, a soft smile forming.
"Just realizing how big my responsibilities will be"
Sreelekha chuckled — a low, approving sound.
"Good. Then maybe you’re the kind of manager I’ve been looking for"
The following morning in Goa rose in a mist of gold and sea breeze. Sonarika stood by the glass window of her guest suite inside the VATIKA complex, watching the early workers tend to the open plantations beyond the dome. Rows of green stretched endlessly — pepper vines, medicinal shrubs, orchids, and rare hybrids shimmering with dew. It was nothing like the sterile offices she’d known. This place breathed.
After breakfast, a young assistant named Shaan guided her to the central dome.
"Mrs. Naik asked you to shadow a few of the heads today, ma’am" he said cheerfully.
"You’ll see how the cycle of operations runs here"
And so began her long day — a journey that would change the rhythm of her life. In the Genetic Propagation Wing, she observed women in white coats tending to seedlings under calibrated UV lights. In another section, she saw enormous tanks where plants were grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. One of the researchers explained.
"We’re developing algae-based oxygen recyclers for long-term sustainable environments. Every batch here supports forty-five rural labs across India"
Sonarika listened intently, taking notes, asking about cost structures, workforce coordination, and export logistics. Despite the heavy technical jargon, her management instincts sharpened with each passing hour. By afternoon, she was discussing cycle timetables and distribution logistics with the operations head, making quick mental calculations, adjusting timeframes, and even spotting potential efficiency flaws. Her old corporate mind — long buried under guilt and chaos — had reawakened. When Sreelekha Naik eventually joined her near one of the hydroponic aisles, she found Sonarika still deep in discussion with a group of scientists.
"Impressive" Naik said with a faint smile.
"You’re learning faster than I expected"
"I’m only learning what’s worth learning"
Sonarika replied, tucking her notepad under her arm.
"And this place… it’s extraordinary. It feels alive"
Naik gestured toward the massive greenhouse.
"That’s because everything here has a purpose — a reason for its existence. No one just survives at VATIKA. They grow"
By late afternoon, after nearly seven hours of walking, observing, and note-taking, Sonarika was led to a large corridor on the dome’s eastern side. It ended at a glass-paneled cabin overlooking the entire research dome — spacious, minimalist, with wooden floors and a panoramic view of the plantations below.
Sreelekha opened the door, motioning her in.
"This will be your cabin" she said.
Sonarika stepped inside, quietly taking in the vastness of the room. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. A solid oak desk stood before the window, sleek and bare. On the wall hung a quote carved in brass:
'A gardener does not create life — she nurtures it until it finds its own light'
Sreelekha moved closer, her expression steady and serious.
"This seat will not give you much comfort. At VATIKA, comfort is scarce — responsibility is not"
She said, tapping the backrest of the leather chair. Sonarika smiled faintly, her voice calm and certain.
"That’s fine, Mrs. Naik. I’ve spent too long sitting comfortably, waiting for something to change. Maybe it’s time I earn my discomfort"
Sreelekha studied her for a long moment — the woman’s poise, the quiet strength in her eyes, the absence of arrogance but the presence of conviction. Then she nodded approvingly.
"You have something most people lose after their first failure" she said.
"You still have drive. Purpose. And you’ve rediscovered it here. That’s rare"
Sonarika lowered her gaze slightly, humbled.
"I just want to be useful again" she said softly.
"To feel that I can build something good… something real"
Naik smiled.
"Then you already understand what VATIKA stands for"
They sat together by the window as the sun began to descend, painting the vast dome in amber and rose gold.
"I’ve arranged something for you" Naik continued.
"There’s an old cottage house about half a kilometer from the main complex. We’re renovating it for staff quarters. It’s surrounded by a private garden and a small pond. It’ll be yours once the work is complete"
Sonarika’s eyes widened.
"Mine?"
"Yes. Consider it your home. You’ll need peace after the kind of work we do here"
Sonarika felt her throat tighten — not with grief this time, but gratitude.
"Thank you, Mrs. Naik" she said quietly.
"You have no idea how much this means to me"
Naik rose, extending her hand.
"I do. Because I’ve been where you are. Broken, uncertain, but unwilling to stop. I built VATIKA from that same restlessness. So trust me when I say this — you’re the perfect choice for this place"
Sonarika stood, her eyes glistening with restrained emotion as she shook Naik’s hand.
"I won’t let you down" she said.
"I’ll make sure VATIKA grows beyond what even you imagined"
Sreelekha’s smile turned into a look of quiet pride.
"I like that answer. You can join after the summer vacations — as Operations Manager of VATIKA. By then, your cottage will be ready. Take this time to settle your commitments in Mumbai. The next time you return, it should be for good"
That evening, as the sun sank into the horizon and the plantations glowed under the fading light, a car waited at the dome’s entrance. Sreelekha personally walked Sonarika to it, her manner now warmer, almost maternal.
"You’ve done well today" she said.
"I don’t say that often. Remember, Sonarika — a true gardener doesn’t fear the size of her field. She fears wasting its potential"
Sonarika smiled as she stepped into the car.
"Then I’ll make sure every inch blooms"
The vehicle rolled away slowly, down the long private road lined with whispering leaves. She looked out at the vast green fields, the shimmering dome in the distance, and felt something awaken in her chest — something she hadn’t felt in years.
Not love.
Not passion.
But peace.
As the car disappeared down the Goan highway toward the airport, Sonarika whispered under her breath,
"This is my redemption.....not for anyone.....but myself"
(TO BE CONTD)
At the arrival gate, a man in a neat uniform held a placard reading 'SONARIKA KUMAR – VATIKA BOTANICAL R&D CENTER', the VATIKA emblem shining beneath her name.
"Welcome, ma’am" The driver said politely.
"Mrs. Naik has arranged your pickup. It’s about an hour’s drive north, near Vagator"
The vehicle glided through the Goan countryside — narrow roads flanked by endless greenery and sunlight filtering through canopies of banyan and palm. The air smelled of wet earth and salt. As the journey went on, her mind wandered — to her first trip here years ago, as a newlywed. She remembered the freedom, the laughter, and the raw energy between her and Hemant. How they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, lost in the intoxication of love. Their first outdoor passion, their whispered promises.
She remembers that day , when they became a bit adventurous. When they ended up in that lush green space which was abandoned and had the view of the Goan Horizon. They have put up a picnic sheet and was laying there enjoying the sun. But then one then led to another , and then their clothes were abandoned. And Sonarika was riding her man's dick right there in the open.
Her grip grew ever tighter with each powerful thrust, as Hemant drove his hips with relentless force. He continued to hammer away at her neatly trimmed young pussy, the place that was yet to concieve Karan, but in that moment and time it belonged to them and their expressive love, as Hemant slightly shifted his angle, driving deeper, harder, pushing Sonarika further.
"AHHH! MY Hemant!!!" she gasped.
Sonarika continued to ride Hemant, for everything she was worth, each time her body rose, he slammed her back down on his cock, as it pumped in and out of her. The soothing sound of the sea and the birds chirping was also overlapped with the wet sounds of their fucking. His cock, was slick and glistening, as he rammed his shaft into her love mound.
Her breath hitched, and she pressed her forehead to his, eyes squeezed shut.
"Harder Hubby!!!!" she demanded, her voice a low growl.
"I don't want to be able to walk tomorrow!!!!!"
Hemant complied, and changed positions. He planted her to a nearby try pumping her into the tree making it feel the tremors of their sex. His hips moved faster, each thrust more powerful than the last. The tree behind her shook with the force of their movements, her body pinned between it and him. In a way really showing what she always wanted in life now enveloping her. Her nails raked down his back, leaving stinging trails that only spurred Hemant on. She bit his lip, hard, drawing a wince from him. He retaliated by grabbing a handful of her hair, tugging her head back to expose her neck. Hemant kissed and bit the soft skin there, her moans growing louder, more insistent. Hemant set her down, spun her around, and bent her over one of its extended stem. She let out a surprised yelp, but pushed back against him, eager, willing.
Her hands reached out in front of her, grasping at the tree and its rough texture for leverage. He didn't give her a moment to adjust. Hemant gripped her hips, as he pulled her back onto him. The tree branches shook with each hard thrust, rusty leaves and dried fruits scattering to the ground. Sonarika's breath came in ragged gasps, her body arching to meet Hemant's.
"You like this Sona?" Hemant growled into her ear, his voice barely recognizable.
"Like getting fucked like this?"
"Yes" Sonarika hissed, her head dropping low, hair spilling over her face.
"Just like that."
Hemant could see Sonarika’s face in some moments, her eyes wild, lips parted in a silent scream. He reached up, grabbing a handful of her hair again, tugging her head back until she was looking up at him, his other hand grasping her hip with bruising force.
"Don't stop" she begged, her voice a raw whisper.
"Please, don't stop"
Hemant didn't. He couldn't. Not even if he wanted to. He has found happiness after a long time. Her body was hot and tight around him, her hips slamming back against him with a force that matched his own thrusts.
Her moans grew louder, more desperate. Sonarika was tightening around him, her body trembling with anticipation. She was close, so close. Suddenly, Sonarika's body tensed, her back arching sharply as she let out a loud, desperate cry. Her inner muscles clamped down on her husband like a vice, pulsing and fluttering as she came hard, her orgasm crashing through her like a tidal wave.
But Hemant didn't stop. He couldn't. Not yet. He rode her through it. Something that clung to Sonarika until today. Sonarika could feel his own release coming, his body tensing with each thrust.
"You want me to cum in you, Sona?" Hemant murmured.
"You want to feel me let go inside you?"
She nodded vigorously.
"YES!! MY HEMANT!!! MAKE ME YOURS!!! MAKE ME YOUR WIFE!!!"
Hemant buried himself deep inside her and let go, his cock pulsing as he spilled into her, filling her completely.
"YESS HONEY!!! I FEEL YOU!!!! I AM YOURS!!! FOREVER YOURS!!!!"
That is when Sonarika woke up from her trance as she noticed her ride was still going through the views of Goa. She smiled faintly through the ache. Back then, she had mistaken passion for permanence. Now she saw the truth — that Hemant had given her more than moments of heat; he had once given her balance, an anchor she had foolishly broken.
After nearly an hour, the car turned into a long private road lined with thick hedges and tall fences. Ahead stood a large gate, guarded by a modern security outpost and a watchtower. The emblem of VATIKA gleamed on the iron gates — a leaf spiraling around a golden sun.
The driver presented his credentials. The gates opened with a mechanical hum.
As the car drove deeper inside, Sonarika’s breath caught. Acres upon acres of lush green stretched as far as she could see — fields of exotic vegetation, rows of medicinal herbs, massive irrigation lines glistening in the light. And beyond all that — a white dome, colossal and gleaming like a pearl against the horizon, with VATIKA emblazoned across it in towering green letters.
"This… this looks like a science fiction magnificience!" she whispered.
The car stopped before the dome’s main entrance — a futuristic complex of glass and metal, with scanning gates and biometric checkposts. Scientists and staff in green uniforms moved briskly about. Sonarika stepped out, adjusting her beige suit, clutching her file tightly. For a moment, the sheer magnitude of the place dwarfed her confidence.
Then Mrs. Naik appeared at the entrance — poised, calm, her expression unreadable.
"Welcome to Vatika" she said.
"I hope you had a comfortable flight"
"Yes, ma’am" Sonarika replied, her voice steadier than she felt.
As they began the tour, moving through the corridors filled with hydroponic chambers, automated irrigation systems, and sealed biomes, Sonarika’s mind began to whirl. The environment was alien to her corporate world — high-tech, clinical, immense. Her confidence began to fray.
Sreelekha noticed the change instantly.
"You seem quiet" she said without slowing her pace.
"I… I’m fine" Sonarika managed. But her hands trembled. Her breath grew shallow.
"Take a moment" Sreelekha said curtly, signaling toward a hallway.
"There’s a washroom there"
Inside, Sonarika leaned against the marble sink, staring at her reflection. Her face looked pale, fragile, scared.
"Damn it, Sonarika" she hissed.
"Get it together"
Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered.
"You’re not weak… you’re not weak…"
That’s when a memory surfaced — Vikram’s voice, smooth and seductive, echoing in her mind:
"I’ll make you my queen, Sonarika. The queen of BajajCorp. My empire will bow to you"
For a moment, the old thrill of that promise shimmered… then died.
Another voice replaced it — Hemant’s, warm, grounded, and real:
"You’re already a queen in our home. But don’t be the kind that just sits on a throne looking pretty. Be the one who rules with me — who builds, protects, and leads"
The words hit her like light cutting through fog. Her trembling stopped. Her heartbeat steadied. She looked at her reflection again — the same woman, but no longer broken.
"A queen who rules" she murmured.
She straightened her shoulders, fixed her suit, wiped her tears, and walked out.When she rejoined Mrs. Naik, the older woman noticed the difference instantly. Sonarika’s eyes were sharp now, her posture firm, her voice calm as she began asking questions — about the irrigation ratios, the carbon-neutral energy sources, the hybrid species they were testing.
Sreelekha listened, hiding a faint smile. The timid girl from Mumbai had vanished; this woman stood like she belonged here. By the end of the tour, they stood before a vast window overlooking the domed greenhouse, the sunlight filtering through its glass panels like divine light.
"So" Sreelekha said, glancing sideways at her.
"Still overwhelmed?"
"No" Sonarika said, a soft smile forming.
"Just realizing how big my responsibilities will be"
Sreelekha chuckled — a low, approving sound.
"Good. Then maybe you’re the kind of manager I’ve been looking for"
The following morning in Goa rose in a mist of gold and sea breeze. Sonarika stood by the glass window of her guest suite inside the VATIKA complex, watching the early workers tend to the open plantations beyond the dome. Rows of green stretched endlessly — pepper vines, medicinal shrubs, orchids, and rare hybrids shimmering with dew. It was nothing like the sterile offices she’d known. This place breathed.
After breakfast, a young assistant named Shaan guided her to the central dome.
"Mrs. Naik asked you to shadow a few of the heads today, ma’am" he said cheerfully.
"You’ll see how the cycle of operations runs here"
And so began her long day — a journey that would change the rhythm of her life. In the Genetic Propagation Wing, she observed women in white coats tending to seedlings under calibrated UV lights. In another section, she saw enormous tanks where plants were grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. One of the researchers explained.
"We’re developing algae-based oxygen recyclers for long-term sustainable environments. Every batch here supports forty-five rural labs across India"
Sonarika listened intently, taking notes, asking about cost structures, workforce coordination, and export logistics. Despite the heavy technical jargon, her management instincts sharpened with each passing hour. By afternoon, she was discussing cycle timetables and distribution logistics with the operations head, making quick mental calculations, adjusting timeframes, and even spotting potential efficiency flaws. Her old corporate mind — long buried under guilt and chaos — had reawakened. When Sreelekha Naik eventually joined her near one of the hydroponic aisles, she found Sonarika still deep in discussion with a group of scientists.
"Impressive" Naik said with a faint smile.
"You’re learning faster than I expected"
"I’m only learning what’s worth learning"
Sonarika replied, tucking her notepad under her arm.
"And this place… it’s extraordinary. It feels alive"
Naik gestured toward the massive greenhouse.
"That’s because everything here has a purpose — a reason for its existence. No one just survives at VATIKA. They grow"
By late afternoon, after nearly seven hours of walking, observing, and note-taking, Sonarika was led to a large corridor on the dome’s eastern side. It ended at a glass-paneled cabin overlooking the entire research dome — spacious, minimalist, with wooden floors and a panoramic view of the plantations below.
Sreelekha opened the door, motioning her in.
"This will be your cabin" she said.
Sonarika stepped inside, quietly taking in the vastness of the room. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. A solid oak desk stood before the window, sleek and bare. On the wall hung a quote carved in brass:
'A gardener does not create life — she nurtures it until it finds its own light'
Sreelekha moved closer, her expression steady and serious.
"This seat will not give you much comfort. At VATIKA, comfort is scarce — responsibility is not"
She said, tapping the backrest of the leather chair. Sonarika smiled faintly, her voice calm and certain.
"That’s fine, Mrs. Naik. I’ve spent too long sitting comfortably, waiting for something to change. Maybe it’s time I earn my discomfort"
Sreelekha studied her for a long moment — the woman’s poise, the quiet strength in her eyes, the absence of arrogance but the presence of conviction. Then she nodded approvingly.
"You have something most people lose after their first failure" she said.
"You still have drive. Purpose. And you’ve rediscovered it here. That’s rare"
Sonarika lowered her gaze slightly, humbled.
"I just want to be useful again" she said softly.
"To feel that I can build something good… something real"
Naik smiled.
"Then you already understand what VATIKA stands for"
They sat together by the window as the sun began to descend, painting the vast dome in amber and rose gold.
"I’ve arranged something for you" Naik continued.
"There’s an old cottage house about half a kilometer from the main complex. We’re renovating it for staff quarters. It’s surrounded by a private garden and a small pond. It’ll be yours once the work is complete"
Sonarika’s eyes widened.
"Mine?"
"Yes. Consider it your home. You’ll need peace after the kind of work we do here"
Sonarika felt her throat tighten — not with grief this time, but gratitude.
"Thank you, Mrs. Naik" she said quietly.
"You have no idea how much this means to me"
Naik rose, extending her hand.
"I do. Because I’ve been where you are. Broken, uncertain, but unwilling to stop. I built VATIKA from that same restlessness. So trust me when I say this — you’re the perfect choice for this place"
Sonarika stood, her eyes glistening with restrained emotion as she shook Naik’s hand.
"I won’t let you down" she said.
"I’ll make sure VATIKA grows beyond what even you imagined"
Sreelekha’s smile turned into a look of quiet pride.
"I like that answer. You can join after the summer vacations — as Operations Manager of VATIKA. By then, your cottage will be ready. Take this time to settle your commitments in Mumbai. The next time you return, it should be for good"
That evening, as the sun sank into the horizon and the plantations glowed under the fading light, a car waited at the dome’s entrance. Sreelekha personally walked Sonarika to it, her manner now warmer, almost maternal.
"You’ve done well today" she said.
"I don’t say that often. Remember, Sonarika — a true gardener doesn’t fear the size of her field. She fears wasting its potential"
Sonarika smiled as she stepped into the car.
"Then I’ll make sure every inch blooms"
The vehicle rolled away slowly, down the long private road lined with whispering leaves. She looked out at the vast green fields, the shimmering dome in the distance, and felt something awaken in her chest — something she hadn’t felt in years.
Not love.
Not passion.
But peace.
As the car disappeared down the Goan highway toward the airport, Sonarika whispered under her breath,
"This is my redemption.....not for anyone.....but myself"
(TO BE CONTD)
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