25-07-2026, 10:42 PM
Chapter 4 - What If & Experiment
By the time they got home the city had gone quiet.
Tara dropped her bag near the sofa and went straight to the kitchen for water. Jeeva locked the door, switched off the main lights, and followed her. They drank from the same bottle without speaking, the way they always did when both were tired.
In the bedroom they changed slowly. Tara pulled on one of his old t-shirts. Jeeva stayed in just his shorts. The anniversary morning felt like it had happened days ago instead of hours.
They lay on the bed facing each other, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside the window.
For a long time neither of them brought up Arjun.
Tara spoke first.
“She looked so small standing there. I’ve known Meera for years.
I never thought I’d see her like that.”
Jeeva stared at the ceiling. “He’s going to wake up tomorrow and feel worse. The things he said in front of everyone… she won’t forget that.”
They talked about the sand on the shoes, the matching clothes, the movie plan. They went back and forth, sometimes defending Meera, sometimes understanding Arjun’s fear. The conversation drifted the way late-night talks do.
Tara rolled onto her back.
“It’s strange. Fifteen years. And it can still fall apart because of one third person.”
Jeeva turned his head on the pillow to look at her.
“You think one person is enough?”
“Sometimes one person is more than enough.”
Silence settled again. Somewhere outside a scooter passed and faded.
Tara’s voice came softer.
“Have you ever wondered… what would happen if someone came between us?”
Jeeva gave a small, surprised laugh. “Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know. Tonight just put it in my head.”
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
“No one is coming between us.”
“I’m not saying someone will. I’m saying what if.”
She turned onto her side so they were face to face.
“What if some woman at your office started liking you? Really liking you.
Not the usual friendly way. What if she made it obvious?”
Jeeva raised an eyebrow, a small smile pulling at his mouth.
“Are you going to get tempted by any man you see?”
Tara laughed under her breath. “I’m serious.”
“So am I,” he said, still smiling. “You’re asking me, so I’m asking you.”
She poked his chest.
“I’d keep my distance.”
“That’s the correct answer,” he said, copying her tone from earlier. Both of them smiled.
The playfulness stayed for a moment, then thinned.
Tara traced a small circle on the bedsheet between them.
“We’ve been together for seven years. No fights. No jealousy. Nothing. Sometimes I wonder if that’s normal… or if we’re not close enough to get angry? Disappointment? Sometimes too perfect is also alarmingly told that something is not so natural..”
Jeeva stayed quiet. But he began after a minute and said, You are overthinking, it's better, if we treasure what we have with us.
Tara smiled..
Then after a pause she began
“Earlier today,” “when we were still in bed, I even said I wanted you to fight with me a little. Like other couples. For fun. But after seeing Arjun and Meera tonight… It doesn't look fun at all. It looks scary.”
He nodded slowly.
Tara then continued… “Arjun said the moment you allow opposite-gender friendship, you start losing. Do you believe that?”
“No,” Jeeva said. “But I understand why he said it tonight.”
Another stretch of silence. The kind that isn’t uncomfortable, just heavy with things neither of them had ever said out loud.
Tara spoke again, almost thoughtfully.
“That radio line… in the car. Did you feel like it was talking to us?”
Jeeva looked at her for a long second.
“Yeah. I did.”
She waited.
He exhaled through his nose, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile that didn’t fully reach his eyes.
“Maybe we need to really test it.”
Tara’s eyes widened a little, then she laughed — soft, nervous, disbelieving.
Tara: “You’re the one saying it?”
Jeeva: Because you keep bringing this topic, cant i see your intent.
“You’re the one who started with ‘what if’.”
Tara: “I was joking.”
“So am I.” He paused. “Kind of.”
They both laughed, the sound quiet in the dark room. The laughter lasted only a few seconds before it faded into something quieter.
Tara shifted closer until her forehead rested against his.
“No rules. No boundaries. Just… see what happens if someone comes between.”
Jeeva didn’t answer immediately. He only pulled her fully into his arms. She settled against his chest, one leg dbangd over his, the way she always slept.
Tara, i dont know what is running through your mind.. Let me tell you, No.. i cannot share anyone with you.
Tara smiled, just a date, friendship, lets see. How friendship goes.
Jeeva pinched her ass and said I'm not sure if you are playing or serious.
Outside, the city stayed silent.
Inside the room, they closed their eyes.
But neither of them fell asleep quickly.
Jeeva lay still, feeling the weight of her body against him, and for the first time wondered what it would look like if another woman really tried to pull him away — and whether he would let her.
Tara kept her eyes closed, listening to his heartbeat.
Jeeva let a word pass through her years. Is this a game
Tara: An experiment
Jeeva: It looks dangerous.
Tara: I just want to see how strong your love is.
Jeeva: Isn't that strong already?
Tara: That’s only you have to tell, maybe prove it.
Jeeva could not ignore the words, he knows Tara best, the word carries seriousness.
Jeeva: Are you sure?
Tara: 200%
Jeeva: How? We….
Tara: Lets sleep now, i will think something and come up tomorrow. Good night
Jeeva kissed her cheek
Whats that?
Jeeva asked looking at the gift wrapper at corner
Tara said its a gift i bought yesterday near beach.
Jeeva: You went to beach?
Tara: Yea, why?
Jeeva: When?
Tara: Morning during break hours at my office?
Jeeva: Could not see any sand mark on your slippers
Tara: Why your little brain want to match with Arjun’s story
She laughs
Jeeva too laughed, he hugged her.. And told
Im sorry
Tara looked at his eyes..
Jeeva continued, i would in no way cheaply compare you with Arjun.
Tara kissed his cheek now, and said I'm tired. Let's sleep.
Both began to hug tighter and closed their eyes tight with all heaviness around.
By the time they got home the city had gone quiet.
Tara dropped her bag near the sofa and went straight to the kitchen for water. Jeeva locked the door, switched off the main lights, and followed her. They drank from the same bottle without speaking, the way they always did when both were tired.
In the bedroom they changed slowly. Tara pulled on one of his old t-shirts. Jeeva stayed in just his shorts. The anniversary morning felt like it had happened days ago instead of hours.
They lay on the bed facing each other, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside the window.
For a long time neither of them brought up Arjun.
Tara spoke first.
“She looked so small standing there. I’ve known Meera for years.
I never thought I’d see her like that.”
Jeeva stared at the ceiling. “He’s going to wake up tomorrow and feel worse. The things he said in front of everyone… she won’t forget that.”
They talked about the sand on the shoes, the matching clothes, the movie plan. They went back and forth, sometimes defending Meera, sometimes understanding Arjun’s fear. The conversation drifted the way late-night talks do.
Tara rolled onto her back.
“It’s strange. Fifteen years. And it can still fall apart because of one third person.”
Jeeva turned his head on the pillow to look at her.
“You think one person is enough?”
“Sometimes one person is more than enough.”
Silence settled again. Somewhere outside a scooter passed and faded.
Tara’s voice came softer.
“Have you ever wondered… what would happen if someone came between us?”
Jeeva gave a small, surprised laugh. “Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know. Tonight just put it in my head.”
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
“No one is coming between us.”
“I’m not saying someone will. I’m saying what if.”
She turned onto her side so they were face to face.
“What if some woman at your office started liking you? Really liking you.
Not the usual friendly way. What if she made it obvious?”
Jeeva raised an eyebrow, a small smile pulling at his mouth.
“Are you going to get tempted by any man you see?”
Tara laughed under her breath. “I’m serious.”
“So am I,” he said, still smiling. “You’re asking me, so I’m asking you.”
She poked his chest.
“I’d keep my distance.”
“That’s the correct answer,” he said, copying her tone from earlier. Both of them smiled.
The playfulness stayed for a moment, then thinned.
Tara traced a small circle on the bedsheet between them.
“We’ve been together for seven years. No fights. No jealousy. Nothing. Sometimes I wonder if that’s normal… or if we’re not close enough to get angry? Disappointment? Sometimes too perfect is also alarmingly told that something is not so natural..”
Jeeva stayed quiet. But he began after a minute and said, You are overthinking, it's better, if we treasure what we have with us.
Tara smiled..
Then after a pause she began
“Earlier today,” “when we were still in bed, I even said I wanted you to fight with me a little. Like other couples. For fun. But after seeing Arjun and Meera tonight… It doesn't look fun at all. It looks scary.”
He nodded slowly.
Tara then continued… “Arjun said the moment you allow opposite-gender friendship, you start losing. Do you believe that?”
“No,” Jeeva said. “But I understand why he said it tonight.”
Another stretch of silence. The kind that isn’t uncomfortable, just heavy with things neither of them had ever said out loud.
Tara spoke again, almost thoughtfully.
“That radio line… in the car. Did you feel like it was talking to us?”
Jeeva looked at her for a long second.
“Yeah. I did.”
She waited.
He exhaled through his nose, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile that didn’t fully reach his eyes.
“Maybe we need to really test it.”
Tara’s eyes widened a little, then she laughed — soft, nervous, disbelieving.
Tara: “You’re the one saying it?”
Jeeva: Because you keep bringing this topic, cant i see your intent.
“You’re the one who started with ‘what if’.”
Tara: “I was joking.”
“So am I.” He paused. “Kind of.”
They both laughed, the sound quiet in the dark room. The laughter lasted only a few seconds before it faded into something quieter.
Tara shifted closer until her forehead rested against his.
“No rules. No boundaries. Just… see what happens if someone comes between.”
Jeeva didn’t answer immediately. He only pulled her fully into his arms. She settled against his chest, one leg dbangd over his, the way she always slept.
Tara, i dont know what is running through your mind.. Let me tell you, No.. i cannot share anyone with you.
Tara smiled, just a date, friendship, lets see. How friendship goes.
Jeeva pinched her ass and said I'm not sure if you are playing or serious.
Outside, the city stayed silent.
Inside the room, they closed their eyes.
But neither of them fell asleep quickly.
Jeeva lay still, feeling the weight of her body against him, and for the first time wondered what it would look like if another woman really tried to pull him away — and whether he would let her.
Tara kept her eyes closed, listening to his heartbeat.
Jeeva let a word pass through her years. Is this a game
Tara: An experiment
Jeeva: It looks dangerous.
Tara: I just want to see how strong your love is.
Jeeva: Isn't that strong already?
Tara: That’s only you have to tell, maybe prove it.
Jeeva could not ignore the words, he knows Tara best, the word carries seriousness.
Jeeva: Are you sure?
Tara: 200%
Jeeva: How? We….
Tara: Lets sleep now, i will think something and come up tomorrow. Good night
Jeeva kissed her cheek
Whats that?
Jeeva asked looking at the gift wrapper at corner
Tara said its a gift i bought yesterday near beach.
Jeeva: You went to beach?
Tara: Yea, why?
Jeeva: When?
Tara: Morning during break hours at my office?
Jeeva: Could not see any sand mark on your slippers
Tara: Why your little brain want to match with Arjun’s story
She laughs
Jeeva too laughed, he hugged her.. And told
Im sorry
Tara looked at his eyes..
Jeeva continued, i would in no way cheaply compare you with Arjun.
Tara kissed his cheek now, and said I'm tired. Let's sleep.
Both began to hug tighter and closed their eyes tight with all heaviness around.
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