5 hours ago
Chapter 10 - The Recordings
They came home later than usual again.
Both had managed to record the conversations during the day. The apartment felt unusually quiet when they sat on the bed and placed the two phones between them.
Jeeva went first.
He played Ramya’s recording.
Her voice was soft, almost careful.
“Separated? Jeeva… I didn’t know. Of course I’ll help. Just tell me where and when. Don’t worry, I’ll come with you. You shouldn’t face that relative alone.”
No hesitation. No extra questions. Just quiet willingness.
Tara looked at him.
“See? Whoever tries to fill the empty place when someone is lonely becomes the obvious choice.”
Next recording — Divya.
She sounded uncertain.
“I… I don’t know if I should get involved in something like this. What if your wife finds out? Maybe you should ask someone else…”
Clear hesitation. Rejected.
Last one — Priya.
“I’ll come with you… but how much money is in that will? Is it a big amount? And how long do I have to pretend? I need to plan my leave…”
She agreed, but the questions about money and details made her sound calculating.
When the last recording ended, Tara closed the notebook.
“Ramya is the natural choice for you.”
Jeeva didn’t argue. He only nodded once.
Now it was Tara’s turn.
She played the first recording — Karthik.
His voice was light, already smiling.
“Financier? Alone? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ll pick you up in my car. After the meeting we can go somewhere… beach is nice in the evening, or we can catch a movie. You’ll need to relax after dealing with money people, right?”
Too eager. Already planning extra time.
Second recording — Vivek.
“Don’t go to any financier. Tell me how much you need. I can arrange it. No need to involve outsiders.”
Direct offer of money. Different kind of danger.
Then she played Sam Arya’s recording.
His voice was calm, low, almost flat.
“What time do you need to meet him?
Send me the location.
I’ll come.”
No extra questions. No suggestions. No excitement.
Just a quiet, almost ordered acceptance.
When the recording ended, the room stayed silent for a few seconds.
Tara looked straight at Jeeva.
“I choose Ramya for you.”
Jeeva’s face showed nothing.
He took longer with his decision.
He stared at the phone, then at the notebook, then finally spoke.
“I choose the second one. Karthik.”
Tara’s reply was immediate.
“I don’t want him.”
“Why? You want Sam. That’s what you actually want. You’re just hiding it because you’re scared I’ll react.”
No you, yourself now mentioned, Karthik is second, means Sam is first right.
Jeeva could not react.
Tara further said, “Looks like you don’t trust me,” she said quietly.
There is nothing between him and me so far, i don't have any wish now,
May be i can have in future depends on his approach, and that's the test.
“Tara, I do trust you,” Jeeva answered.
“But I feel he is dangerous.
What if he comes straight at you when you’re alone and… fucks you mindless?”
Tara held his gaze.
“I have controlled many situations before. I will do the same with him. If anything like that happens, I will call you or text you.
Won’t you come to save me?
Im arguing because you changed the natural choice of yours for what i described about him.
okay lets leave that,
So have you decided to choose him or not?”
Jeeva shook his head. He cannot openly agree he is biased towards Sam.
However as he is already caught with his reactions, he decided to tell and give a second chance.
“No. I’m not choosing him right now.
You missed one important thing — background check.
I will enquire about Sam Arya and about Karthik. Whoever feels safer after that, I will go with.”
Tara looked at him for a long moment, then nodded once.
“Alright.
We wait one more day.”
She put both phones away and switched off the light.
They lay down on the same bed, bodies close, but the space between their thoughts had grown wider than any physical distance.
Tomorrow the background checks would decide which two names would officially enter their marriage.
They came home later than usual again.
Both had managed to record the conversations during the day. The apartment felt unusually quiet when they sat on the bed and placed the two phones between them.
Jeeva went first.
He played Ramya’s recording.
Her voice was soft, almost careful.
“Separated? Jeeva… I didn’t know. Of course I’ll help. Just tell me where and when. Don’t worry, I’ll come with you. You shouldn’t face that relative alone.”
No hesitation. No extra questions. Just quiet willingness.
Tara looked at him.
“See? Whoever tries to fill the empty place when someone is lonely becomes the obvious choice.”
Next recording — Divya.
She sounded uncertain.
“I… I don’t know if I should get involved in something like this. What if your wife finds out? Maybe you should ask someone else…”
Clear hesitation. Rejected.
Last one — Priya.
“I’ll come with you… but how much money is in that will? Is it a big amount? And how long do I have to pretend? I need to plan my leave…”
She agreed, but the questions about money and details made her sound calculating.
When the last recording ended, Tara closed the notebook.
“Ramya is the natural choice for you.”
Jeeva didn’t argue. He only nodded once.
Now it was Tara’s turn.
She played the first recording — Karthik.
His voice was light, already smiling.
“Financier? Alone? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ll pick you up in my car. After the meeting we can go somewhere… beach is nice in the evening, or we can catch a movie. You’ll need to relax after dealing with money people, right?”
Too eager. Already planning extra time.
Second recording — Vivek.
“Don’t go to any financier. Tell me how much you need. I can arrange it. No need to involve outsiders.”
Direct offer of money. Different kind of danger.
Then she played Sam Arya’s recording.
His voice was calm, low, almost flat.
“What time do you need to meet him?
Send me the location.
I’ll come.”
No extra questions. No suggestions. No excitement.
Just a quiet, almost ordered acceptance.
When the recording ended, the room stayed silent for a few seconds.
Tara looked straight at Jeeva.
“I choose Ramya for you.”
Jeeva’s face showed nothing.
He took longer with his decision.
He stared at the phone, then at the notebook, then finally spoke.
“I choose the second one. Karthik.”
Tara’s reply was immediate.
“I don’t want him.”
“Why? You want Sam. That’s what you actually want. You’re just hiding it because you’re scared I’ll react.”
No you, yourself now mentioned, Karthik is second, means Sam is first right.
Jeeva could not react.
Tara further said, “Looks like you don’t trust me,” she said quietly.
There is nothing between him and me so far, i don't have any wish now,
May be i can have in future depends on his approach, and that's the test.
“Tara, I do trust you,” Jeeva answered.
“But I feel he is dangerous.
What if he comes straight at you when you’re alone and… fucks you mindless?”
Tara held his gaze.
“I have controlled many situations before. I will do the same with him. If anything like that happens, I will call you or text you.
Won’t you come to save me?
Im arguing because you changed the natural choice of yours for what i described about him.
okay lets leave that,
So have you decided to choose him or not?”
Jeeva shook his head. He cannot openly agree he is biased towards Sam.
However as he is already caught with his reactions, he decided to tell and give a second chance.
“No. I’m not choosing him right now.
You missed one important thing — background check.
I will enquire about Sam Arya and about Karthik. Whoever feels safer after that, I will go with.”
Tara looked at him for a long moment, then nodded once.
“Alright.
We wait one more day.”
She put both phones away and switched off the light.
They lay down on the same bed, bodies close, but the space between their thoughts had grown wider than any physical distance.
Tomorrow the background checks would decide which two names would officially enter their marriage.
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