Chapter 9

Lakshmi lay on her bed, her mind swirling with thoughts of Vikram. She couldn't quite understand the emotions he stirred in her. Her heart raced whenever she thought about his behavior in recent days. She was terrified of what those feelings might mean. What if she was falling in love with him? Even if it was love, she was determined to never confess it to him. She believed that people could admire the stars, but they should never try to possess them—if they did, the stars would burn them. Just like that, a maid like her could only admire someone like Vikram from a distance, never daring to wish for more.

With a deep sigh, she turned toward her parents' photo on the bedside table and whispered, "What should I do, Ma, Pa?" She pulled the photograph close to her chest, her fingers gently pressing against the glass, before closing her eyes and drifting into a restless sleep.

One day, Vikram was playing cricket with his brother Vinay in the garden. Vikram's gaze often drifted toward Lakshmi, but she was so engrossed in her work in the kitchen that she didn't notice.

When Lakshmi stepped out with a tray of coffee for Vikram and hot chocolate for Vinay, Vinay hit the ball with the bat, which had been bowled by Vikram. The ball struck Vikram squarely in the face.

Vikram groaned in pain, clutching his right eye. "Ahh!"

Lakshmi dropped the tray in shock and rushed toward Vikram. She gently cupped his face in her hands, inspecting his swollen, red eye. Vinay, terrified, ran toward his brother, repeatedly apologizing, unsure of what to do.

Vikram, noticing Lakshmi's touch, looked up at her, studying her every reaction carefully. Lakshmi, still worried about his injury, quickly left his face and rushed into the kitchen to grab some ice. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

She returned a moment later, holding the ice wrapped in the pallu of her half saree, and placed it gently on his face. Vikram, who had been observing her closely, smiled at the sight of her tears. He felt a surge of happiness, realizing that she cared for him. A thought crossed his mind: Simple care wouldn't make someone cry for another. It must be something more than that. His heart swelled with joy.

After a few seconds, Lakshmi became aware of her surroundings. She glanced at Vinay, who stood there looking guilty and worried. Slowly, she stepped back from Vikram, a sense of regret filling her for acting impulsively and letting her emotions take control. Without saying anything, she turned and hurried back to the kitchen, not looking back.

Vikram smiled at her retreating figure, his heart lighter than before. He then playfully grabbed Vinay by the neck and dragged him back into the house. Vinay, now confused and nervous, stood there, not sure what to make of his brother's sudden shift in mood.

It was dinner time, and after preparing the meal, Latha left for her home, leaving Lakshmi in charge of serving the food, as usual. Vikram's family ate dinner on time and retired to their rooms, but Vikram was still not down. Lakshmi grew worried, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios—what if he was in pain or had fainted because of his injury? She paced back and forth in the kitchen, torn between checking on him and staying where she was.

After several minutes of internal struggle, she finally decided to take his dinner to his room. She filled a plate with food and walked toward his door. Gently, she knocked.

Vikram opened the door, and his face lit up with a smile upon seeing her. "Come in," he said.

Lakshmi stepped inside cautiously, her eyes immediately drawn to his face. "How's your eye now?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

Vikram, not accustomed to being cared for so openly, found himself emotionally overwhelmed. He blinked back tears, his voice unsteady as he replied, "It's better now."

Lakshmi's heart tightened as she saw the pain in his eyes. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him further, but she hesitated. Instead, she asked, "Why didn't you come down for dinner?"

Vikram's expression shifted, his tone bitter. "I didn't want their fake concern," he muttered, looking away.

Lakshmi's heart ached at his words, and she nodded quietly. "Hmm, okay," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "You eat, and I'll bring some ice for your eye when I come to collect the plates." She began to turn, but Vikram stopped her.

"Wait," he said, his voice more serious now. "I want to ask you something."

She turned back, her frown deepening. "What is it?"

Vikram moved a step closer to her, his gaze unwavering. "Why did you cry for me?" he asked, his voice quiet but intense, his eyes searching hers for an answer.

Lakshmi froze, caught off guard by his question. She quickly looked away, a wave of embarrassment washing over her. "I... no, I didn't," she stammered, her voice trembling slightly.

Vikram's gaze softened for a moment, but he wasn't going to let it go. He reached out and gently cupped her chin, turning her face back toward him. "No," he insisted. "I saw you. You cried for me. Do you love me? Tell me the truth."

The sudden intensity of his words sent a jolt of fear through Lakshmi. Her heart raced, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip tightened just enough to hold her in place. Panic fluttered in her chest, and with a defeated sigh, she stopped struggling, shivering slightly under his touch.

"Please, let me go and eat," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's getting cold."

Vikram's eyes darkened with determination. "No," he said firmly. "I won't eat until you answer me."

Lakshmi's breath caught in her throat as the tension in the room thickened. She begged again, her voice breaking, "Please."

But Vikram's resolve didn't falter. "No, just answer me, or I won't let you go."

Fear and frustration welled up inside her. She felt her resolve slipping away as tears began to sting her eyes. "Stop it," she sobbed. "Why does it matter so much?"

Vikram looked at her with an intensity that almost made her want to look away. "Your drama won't work on me now. I know you have feelings for me. I can see it in the way you look at me, the way you care for me, the way you smile when I talk to you, the way you look into my eyes..." He paused, his voice softening with vulnerability. "Everything says that you love me. Just confess it. Please."

Lakshmi stood frozen, the shock of his words sinking in. She hadn't realized how obvious her feelings were to him. She felt exposed, her emotions laid bare. She looked into his eyes, the depth of his gaze making her heart race with both fear and longing. For the first time, she truly saw how much he had been paying attention to her, how much he had noticed the small things she thought she was hiding.

Her thoughts were a whirlwind—confusion, fear, hope—all tangled together. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. There was nothing left to say. Her silence, the tears in her eyes, and the way she stood there, vulnerable in front of him, spoke more than she could ever express.

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Hey guys!!!

Sorry for the late update! So, what do you think—will Lakshmi confess her love to Vikram? What are your thoughts?

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Bi Bi!!!