Chapter 18

I've always been a man of action, not words. I didn't grow up with grand displays of affection or heartfelt conversations. After losing my parents, love had become an abstract concept—a luxury I couldn't afford.

But Tara... she was different. She wasn't demanding or dramatic. She didn't seek attention or lavish gestures. She simply cared in her quiet, consistent way.

I wasn't blind to the effort she made to make this house feel like a home, to connect with me in ways I hadn't expected. And for reasons I couldn't fully explain, I wanted to do the same for her.

But how?

I didn't know how to express affection in the way she did, so I turned to the one place where I always found answers: the internet.

My Google Searches

Sitting in my office, I typed in query after query, hoping for inspiration.

"How to make your wife happy?" "Best gifts for a wife who doesn't like flashy things." "How to show affection without words?" "Is cooking romantic?" "What are simple romantic gestures?"

Most of the results felt too theatrical—rose petals on the bed, surprise vacations, candlelit dinners. None of it felt like Tara.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Tara wasn't the kind of person who wanted to be overwhelmed. She valued simplicity, sincerity.

That's when it hit me. Jewelry. Timeless, thoughtful, and something she could keep forever.

Later that evening, after finishing my last meeting, I left the office and headed to the city's most exclusive jewelry store.

It wasn't just any store; it was one I had ties to. The diamonds they sold came from mines I owned. Here, I wasn't just a customer—I was a VIP.

As I entered, the staff greeted me warmly, ushering me into a private section where I could browse in peace.

I began selecting pieces with Tara in mind, though I didn't know her preferences. I chose what I thought might suit her gentle, understated elegance.

1. A diamond necklace with a cascading design, as brilliant as sunlight on water.

2. A pair of emerald earrings, framed with tiny diamonds, simple yet striking.

3. A ruby bracelet with a bold yet intricate design, symbolic of her strength.

4. A delicate gold anklet with small bells, quiet but meaningful.

5. A sapphire ring set in a floral pattern, reminiscent of her serene presence.

As the staff carefully packed the pieces, a commotion near the entrance caught my attention.

I turned and immediately recognized Siya and Rohan. They were arguing with the store staff, trying to gain access to the VIP section.

I shook my head silently, observing from afar. Rohan may have been wealthy enough to land in the society pages , newspaper or news channel, but I am wealthy enough to control them and own them . Money could buy a lot, but power was something entirely different and me well I had both money and power.

I returned my attention to the jewelry, ready to make the payment, when I caught Siya's gaze. Her eyes darted to the packages on the counter, and she smirked, walking toward me with her usual air of entitlement.

"Veer," she said, her voice sharp yet sweet. "All of this must be for me. My birthday is next week, after all."

I looked at her, my voice calm but firm. "It's Mr. Mehra for you and come out for you lala land These aren't for you. They're for my wife who actually deserves them."

The smile on her face faltered, her confidence cracking and her face flushed with embarrassment. I didn't wait for a response, turning back to finalize the purchase.

That night, after dinner, I carried the boxes into the living room, where Tara was sitting with a book. She looked up, her brow furrowing as she saw me holding the neatly wrapped packages.

"What's all this?" she asked, setting the book aside.

"Gifts," I said simply, placing them on the table in front of her.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the pile. "For me?"

"Who else?" I replied, taking a seat beside her.

She hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the first box. "Veer, this is... too much. You didn't have to do all this."

"I did," I said, leaning back. "I didn't know what else to do."

She looked at me, confused. "What do you mean?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I'm not good at this, Tara. I don't know how to show affection the way you do—through words or gestures. So, I thought... maybe this would make you happy , I might sound absurd but this is the only way I have ever know the way of money ."

''you do veer , you show affection but just don't realise it , affection isn't just through physical action , it's also comes in a quiet way the way in which you make your partner fell at ease , make them seen and heard and you do that'' her words are a balm to my emotional scars , then she asked me ''ohh you know my favourite saree''

I nodded ''yes the one you like which is a deep pink silk saree with zari work on it , the one with which you like to apply your nude pink lipstick which was out of stock a few days ago , you told me''

listening to this she gave me her full blown smile the one which takes my heart for a really hard spinning round ''see veer it's such a normal thing my favourite saree but you know every detail related to it , and this is what I want , I want you and only you'' okay now I am blushing for sure , thanks to my brown skin and dim light it won't be visible after all I have a reputation to maintain

She carefully unwrapped the first box, revealing the diamond necklace. Her eyes widened, and she traced the stones with her fingers. "It's beautiful," she whispered.

She opened the rest of the boxes one by one, her amazement growing with each piece. But when she finished, she turned to me with a mix of gratitude and hesitation.

"Veer," she said softly, "these are incredible, but you don't have to give me so much to show you care."

I looked at her, searching for the right words. "Tara, I don't know how to be the kind of husband you deserve. I don't know how to... open up, or show how much I appreciate you. I've spent so many years shutting people out that this is the only way I know how to express myself."

She reached for my hand, her touch grounding me. "And I understand that, Veer. I see the way you care—through the little things you do, even if you don't say it. You don't have to give me expensive gifts to prove anything."

I shook my head. "It's not about proving anything. It's about you. I want you to feel special because you are. Even if I don't know how to say it, I want you to know it."

She smiled, her expression soft. "You know what makes me feel the most special?"

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

"Time with you," she said. "More than any gift, the moments we spend together are the most precious to me."

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.

"Tara," I said quietly, "you make this house feel like a home. I've never had that before. And the truth is... I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what?" she asked, her voice steady.

"That you'll see the parts of me I've tried to hide. The parts that aren't kind or loving. The parts that are... broken."

She held my gaze, her expression unwavering. "Veer, everyone has broken parts. But it's how we piece them together that matters. You care in your own silent way, and that's enough for me."

Her words were like a balm to a wound I hadn't realized was still open.

Before I could stop myself, I pulled her into a hug. She didn't hesitate, wrapping her arms around me with a warmth that made the room feel lighter.

"You are not alone veer I am here with you always," she whispered. "We're in this together. Always."

For the first time in years, I felt like I didn't have to keep my walls up. With Tara, I could let them down, one piece at a time.

And for the first time, I believed that maybe, just maybe, this marriage could be more than an arrangement.

It could be the start of something real.