Chapter 19

As the day unfolded, Tara’s question, "Are you mine?" echoed persistently in Vikram’s mind. Sitting in his office, he could still feel the weight of her words lingering around him, haunting and tempting, making him wonder about the answer he had yet to give her.

A soft knock at his office door interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Aditya, his best friend, accompanied by a familiar face—Mr. Sinha, one of Vikram’s oldest business partners. Vikram’s expression shifted, a genuine smile breaking through his usual seriousness as Mr. Sinha stepped in.

“Mr. Singhania!” Mr. Sinha greeted warmly, extending his hand. Vikram stood to shake it, and they exchanged the easy warmth of old friends. Mr. Sinha’s voice held a touch of excitement. "I came to personally invite you to my anniversary celebration. Forty years with my beloved, and I want to celebrate with all the people who mean the most to us."

Vikram nodded, smiling. "Congratulations, Mr. Sinha. Forty years is truly something remarkable."

Mr. Sinha’s eyes sparkled with affection. "Yes, indeed. And Vikram, you must come with your entire family. And please, bring your wife—I’ve heard such wonderful things about her. My wife and I would love to meet her.”

“Of course,” Vikram replied, his smile steady though his thoughts took an unexpected turn. My wife, he mused. Bringing Tara along, introducing her to people like Mr. and Mrs. Sinha, who had known him for years… it felt strange, yet there was an odd satisfaction in the idea. Perhaps a sense of pride.

Mr. Sinha had been an important figure in Vikram’s life, having worked with his father, Veer Singhania, before Vikram took over the reins of Sapphire Suites. Mr. and Mrs. Sinha were known for their warmth, and Vikram trusted them deeply. They were the type of people who radiated genuine love, the sort of connection he’d once longed for but had convinced himself he no longer needed.

After Mr. Sinha left, Vikram stayed in his office for a while, reflecting on the idea of attending the celebration as a family. He imagined Tara beside him, perhaps even laughing and mingling with Mr. Sinha’s family. Just the thought made him feel strangely at ease.

When Vikram returned home in the evening with Aditya, he shared the news of the upcoming party. “Mr. Sinha’s anniversary is in three days,” he said to his family as they gathered in the living room.

A warm excitement spread through the room. “It will be lovely to see them,” Swara said, her gaze softening. “They’re wonderful people.”

“Yes,” Veer added with a nod. “It’s been a while since we attended a gathering with the whole family. I think it’ll be good for us all.” His eyes flicked to Vikram, a hint of approval there.

Vikram glanced at Tara, who stood quietly by his side, observing. Her smile was soft, gentle, and as their eyes met, that question of hers resurfaced in his mind, "Are you mine?" He still hadn’t responded. But as he looked at her now, he felt his resolve weaken. Maybe, one day, he would give her the answer she deserved.

Noticing the lingering look Vikram gave her, Tara grinned and gently reminded him, “You must be tired, but we can do a little exercise, at least, right?”

Her encouragement lit a spark in him. “Yes,” he replied, surprising himself. “We can.”

After Vikram changed, they headed outside into the garden together, walking side by side. Their family watched them from the living room, exchanging soft smiles. Veer looked at Swara and remarked, “I’m seeing some changes in him.”

Swara nodded, her face touched with warmth. “Yes… he’s growing closer to her. She’s having a good influence on him.” They shared a knowing smile, and Avni couldn’t resist joining in.

“Oh, and I’m going to invite Gautam!” she announced with a smile that lit up her face. She looked over at Aditya and, with a playful glint in her eyes, teased, “Why don’t you ask Nisha to be your date, Aditya?”

Aditya’s cheeks turned a faint pink as he protested, “No way! That girl is nothing but aafat (trouble).” But the embarrassment in his voice was obvious.

The family burst into laughter, finding Aditya’s flustered expression endearing. In truth, they all knew Nisha meant a little more to him than just being “trouble.”

When Vikram and Tara returned from their exercise, dinner was waiting for them. They all enjoyed a warm meal, the family laughter and conversation filling the room. Midway through dinner, Aditya leaned over to Tara and whispered, “Hey, can we talk for a minute?”

Tara nodded, excusing herself, and followed Aditya to the garden. Vikram noticed her absence immediately, a slight emptiness tugging at him as she walked away. His father saw the look on his face and gave him a knowing smile, steering the conversation back to work. “So, how’s Sapphire Suites?” Veer asked. “Do you need any help?”

“No, everything’s running smoothly,” Vikram replied, shifting his attention back to his father, though a part of him was still focused on Tara.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Tara and Aditya settled onto a stone bench under the stars. She looked at him with a hint of mischief. “So, what’s this urgent talk about?”

Aditya hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I was, uh… I was thinking… if maybe… do you think Nisha would be okay if I asked her to be my date?”

Tara’s lips twitched as she tried to hide a smirk. “Ohhh, so you’ve been eyeing my best friend, bhaiya?”

Aditya’s face went crimson, and he stammered, “No, no! I just need a partner for the party. That’s all.”

She shook her head, grinning. “Then why don’t you ask her?”

He sighed, looking defeated. “Because if she doesn’t want to, I’ll probably never hear the end of it! Knowing her, she’d come out of the phone and beat me for even asking.”

Tara laughed, thoroughly amused. “Alright, I’ll help you out.” She took out her phone, dialed Nisha’s number, and waited.

After a few rings, Nisha picked up. “Hey, Tara!” she chirped.

“Hey, Nisha! How are you?” Tara began with a casual tone, easing into the topic. “We’re going to a family friend’s anniversary party soon. And everyone’s going in pairs.”

Nisha sounded puzzled. “Okay… so?”

“Well…” Tara glanced at Aditya, whose expression was now a mix of nervousness and hope. “Would you… would you like to come as Aditya bhaiya’s date?”

There was a pause, a beat longer than Tara expected. Even she felt her heart pick up, waiting for Nisha’s response.

Finally, Nisha replied, her voice laced with sarcastic humor. “Well, I suppose I could do him the favor… after all, I am such a great person.”

Tara laughed, catching Aditya’s relieved expression. “Perfect! He’ll pick you up. Or, better yet, why don’t you come here and get ready with me?”

“That sounds much better,” Nisha agreed, warmth in her tone. “Love you, Tara. Goodnight.”

“Love you too,” Tara replied, smiling. As she ended the call, she looked up at Aditya, who was practically glowing with excitement and relief.

“Well?” Tara teased.

“Well…” Aditya echoed, unable to stop grinning. They both laughed, sharing in the joy of the moment as they walked back into the house.

Inside, Vikram noticed their return and, seeing Tara’s radiant smile, felt a gentle wave of happiness wash over him. Just the sight of her like this, laughing and carefree, had a strange power over him. It was as if her happiness somehow reached him, soothing something deep within.

In the meantime, Avni was huddled by the corner, her phone pressed to her ear, talking softly to Gautam. “Yes, you’ll come, right? It won’t be the same without you,” she whispered.

On the other end, Gautam’s voice was gentle. “Of course, Avni. I’ll be there with you.”

She smiled, her cheeks glowing softly as she listened to him. “Thank you. I can’t wait.”

The evening concluded in an air of quiet excitement and anticipation. Vikram found himself looking forward to the party in a way he hadn’t expected. The idea of taking Tara with him, of seeing her interact with his world, felt meaningful, even intimate.

As he watched her from across the room, he realized that she’d become an inseparable part of his life. And somewhere within him, he felt his answer to her question—Are you mine?—growing clearer.