Chapter 13

That night, Vikram went to Lakshmi's room. She hesitated to let him in, unwilling to risk the pain of building up hopes that might be shattered. She knew that, no matter what, his father would never accept her. Vikram entered the room and sat on the bed, sensing her inner turmoil as he watched her. Lakshmi remained silent, her usual smile absent. The sight of her like this made his heart ache.

He reached out and gently pulled her toward him. She didn't resist, but instead, sat next to him, leaning her back against the wall as he rested his own back there. They sat in silence for several minutes, but their emotions spoke louder than words could express.

Finally, Vikram broke the silence. "Lakshmi, do you trust me?" he asked, his voice soft but earnest, as he looked into her eyes.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She did trust him, more than anything, and she knew how deeply he loved her. But the doubt lingered. What if she trusted him, only to have his father's power tear them apart? His father was a powerful man, and if he decided Vikram should marry someone else, no amount of trust would change that.

Lakshmi looked at him, her thoughts swirling.

"Answer me," Vikram said again, his voice tinged with urgency.

She nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. Vikram gently cupped her face in his hands, lifting her gaze back to meet his.

"Then listen to me carefully," he said, his voice steady but intense. "Will you?"

A confused frown creased Lakshmi's forehead. "What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Vikram took a deep breath before speaking again. "I know what you're thinking, Lakshmi. And I understand. But I can't let you suffer like this. So let's get married."

Lakshmi's world seemed to tilt, her heartbeat quickening. "What?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"Yes, you heard me right. Let's get married." Vikram's eyes darkened with resolve. "Lakshmi, you don't know what my father is capable of. If he wants something, he'll make it happen at any cost."

The fear in Lakshmi's eyes grew as she listened. Vikram's voice softened as he continued. "So here's the plan: First, let's have a simple, registered marriage. Just the two of us. We'll keep it a secret for now. You know I've been working on setting up my business, right? I'm just waiting for the loan to be approved. Once the funds come through and the business is up and running, we'll leave. We'll go away, just the two of us. No one will be able to touch us. If we're legally married, his power won't matter."

He paused, studying her face. "So, what do you say?" he asked, his voice full of hope and determination.

Lakshmi stared at him in shock, still unable to process what he was saying. "What are you talking about? Do you think marriage is a joke? Do you even understand how sacred it is? How can we just get married like that—without anyone? Without any family?"

Vikram's expression hardened. "Lakshmi, stop. All this time, did you really think my father would accept you and happily marry us off? No. That will never happen. I know him better than anyone."

"I don't want you to go against your family because of me," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vikram's eyes softened, but his tone remained firm. "Lakshmi, you're acting like I have a great relationship with my family. Even if it were someone else, even if it were you, I'd never marry a girl chosen by my father," he said, trying to make her see the reality of the situation. "Listen, if you truly love me and trust me, you need to hear me out. I'm doing this for our future. Please," he added, his voice full of desperation.

Lakshmi looked at him, confusion clouding her thoughts. She didn't know what to think, what to do.

"Lakshmi, what do you say?" Vikram asked, his gaze intense, waiting for her response.

After a long, tense silence, Lakshmi slowly nodded. A flicker of relief crossed Vikram's face as he smiled and gently kissed her forehead.

He stayed with her for a few more minutes, talking softly, before eventually returning to his room. He lay on the bed, deep in thought, wondering what needed to be done next.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Lakshmi wrestled with her own emotions. Was she making the right choice? She picked up a photo of her parents, tears welling up in her eyes as she gazed at it.

Her heart ached as she whispered, "I hope I'm doing the right thing." She clutched the photo tightly to her chest, her tears slowly giving way to exhaustion.

Eventually, sleep overtook her, the photo still held close, as she drifted into a restless slumber, her heart heavy with uncertainty.

A few days passed, and it was the holiday season for Vinay and Vinitha, so the entire family decided to go on a vacation. Even Vikram's father joined them, leaving the house empty. Vikram seized this opportunity. He ordered all the staff to take leave and return after the family's return, leaving only the live-in staff—Lakshmi, Raghu, and the watchman—behind. With everything set in motion, Vikram made arrangements for his registered marriage.

He informed Adharv about his plan. Initially surprised, Adharv listened carefully and, after hearing the full story, agreed that it was the right decision. He promised his full support and helped Vikram with all the necessary formalities.

Once everything was in place, Vikram went to find Lakshmi, who was cooking breakfast in the kitchen. He walked toward her slowly and, before she could react, hugged her from behind. Lakshmi, caught off guard by the sudden embrace, spun around, startled. When she saw it was Vikram, she tried to push him away, but he held her tightly.

"What are you doing? Let me go! Someone might walk in," she said, her voice anxious.

"It's just you and me in this entire mansion. No one will walk in," he replied, his tone playful but firm. "Come on, we have to go now."

"What? Now? What if someone sees us?" she asked, her worry clear.

"Stop worrying about that someone all the time. Are you in love with me, or are you in love with what other people think?" he asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

Lakshmi looked down, stung by his words. Vikram softened and gently spoke again, "Lakshmi, come on. Don't ask questions. Just trust me and come with me."

She hesitated for a moment before nodding and walking to her room to change.

Vikram left the house first on his bike. A short while later, Lakshmi told the watchman she was going to the market and quietly left the house. After walking a bit, she got on the bike where Vikram was waiting for her. He took her to a beauty parlor and instructed the stylist to give her a makeover.

Lakshmi was still confused about what was happening, but she trusted Vikram and followed his lead. While the stylist worked, Vikram waited outside, his mind racing with thoughts of what they were about to do.

After a while, the stylist brought out a red Kanjivaram saree that Vikram had purchased, and Lakshmi realized what he was planning. Her heart began to race. She never expected things to happen this quickly—this soon—but it was happening.

As the stylist helped drape the saree and finish the makeup, Vikram was called inside. When he saw Lakshmi, his heart skipped a beat. She looked breathtakingly beautiful. Though the saree wasn't extravagant, it had been bought with his love, and to him, it was priceless. She looked divine, and he couldn't help but be reminded of his mother, who had looked just as stunning in a similar saree in her wedding photo.Lakshmi stood nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. Vikram moved toward her, his emotions overwhelming him, and kissed her forehead.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked up at him, her voice trembling. "Are we doing the right thing?"

Vikram nodded gently, resting his forehead against hers. For a brief moment, they stood like that, sharing an unspoken connection. Then, pulling away, he paid the bill, his heart filled with resolve, and led her out of the parlor.

They were on their way to the register office.

When they arrived at the register office, Adharv was already waiting with his girlfriend. As soon as Vikram and Lakshmi walked in, Adharv couldn't help but be struck by how beautiful she looked. It was no wonder Vikram had fallen head over heels for her, he thought. He introduced himself with a warm smile.

"Hi, Lakshmi, I'm Adharv, your soon-to-be husband's best friend, and this is my girlfriend, Keerthi," he said, gesturing to the woman beside him.

Lakshmi, feeling nervous in the presence of the two strangers, smiled and nodded at both of them, her hands twisting together in anxiety.

They all entered the office and were told to wait for a while, as the registrar hadn't arrived yet. Vikram and Adharv began chatting, but Lakshmi could hardly focus. Her mind was consumed with the overwhelming nerves of what was about to happen. Meanwhile, Keerthi, Adharv's girlfriend, noticed Lakshmi's discomfort and approached her, attempting to lighten the mood with small talk.

But Lakshmi barely responded, only offering a quiet hum or a brief nod in reply. Her thoughts were elsewhere, clouded by doubt and uncertainty. She had never imagined this moment would come so quickly, and now that it had, she wasn't sure if she was ready.

After some time, the peon called them inside. Lakshmi felt her stomach drop—this was it. The moment that would change everything. She could barely breathe as she nervously followed Vikram into the registrar's office, her hands trembling.

They stood together in front of the registrar, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. This was the moment when everything would become official. Vikram signed first, then turned to her with a soft smile and handed her the pen.

But her heart raced as doubt and insecurity crept into her mind. Was this the right decision? What if his father found out about their marriage? What if his family never accepted her—an orphan and a maid? Would she always be looked down upon? What if, after the initial excitement faded, Vikram grew tired of her and left her?

She felt alone in this moment, with no one to stand up for her, no one to turn to if things went wrong. Her mind reeled with the questions, Was it true love? Her heart ached with confusion, but despite her fears, her love for him was real. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Vikram's, feeling the weight of her insecurities. He smiled softly, his hand reaching for hers. He squeezed it gently, offering a silent reassurance.

With that, Lakshmi took a deep breath, steadying herself, and signed the papers.

As they finished, Adharv and Keerthi clapped, congratulating the couple. The others signed as witnesses, and at that moment, they were officially husband and wife. But as they walked out of the office, Lakshmi couldn't shake the feeling that, to the outside world, she would always just be the maid in his house.

Adharv took photos of the newlyweds, capturing the moment with a wide grin, and soon after, they all headed to a nearby restaurant to eat. As they sat down and enjoyed their meal, Adharv and Keerthi playfully teased the couple, but Lakshmi's mind was far from the light-hearted conversation. She couldn't focus on the jokes and banter; her thoughts were consumed by everything that had happened and everything that was still uncertain.

After they finished eating, Adharv and Keerthi bid the couple goodbye, leaving them to themselves. Vikram turned to Lakshmi, noticing how nervous she still looked.

"Lakshmi, do you want to change?" he asked gently.

Lakshmi nodded, her anxiety palpable. Vikram guided her to the restaurant washroom, waiting outside while she changed into her old clothes. After a few minutes, she came out, feeling somewhat more at ease in her familiar attire.

They left the restaurant together, but as they approached the street corner near their home, Vikram stopped. He dropped Lakshmi off there, as casually as if nothing extraordinary had happened. He then rode into the mansion on his bike, disappearing behind the gates.

Lakshmi walked the rest of the way home, her mind still heavy with thoughts. She entered the kitchen, starting her usual work, but her heart felt a little heavier with each passing moment, as if the weight of the day's events hadn't fully settled.

Vikram lay on his bed, his thoughts consumed by Lakshmi. Finally, she was his—legally. No one could take her away from him now, not even if she wanted to. A small smile tugged at his lips as he reflected on their first day as husband and wife. Yet, despite the legal bond between them, his heart still longed for more. He didn't just want her to be his wife on paper—he wanted to make her his in every way.

But he knew he had to wait. There was nothing he could do now, and his desire for her burned hotter with each passing day. It was like a wildfire growing inside him, uncontrollable and all-consuming. Now that she was his wife, he didn't know how long he could keep his emotions in check. But at the same time, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. The conflict between his heart and body was tormenting him. What could he do? His body wasn't listening to his heart.

As he was lost in his thoughts, his phone rang, jolting him back to reality. He frowned at the unfamiliar number but answered the call. The moment he heard the voice on the other end, his face lit up. The news was good. Everything was falling into place. If all went well, soon they would have their own place, just the two of them.

With that thought, a sense of excitement surged through him. He immediately got out of bed and began searching for Lakshmi, eager to share the news with her.

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Hey guys!!!

I'm honestly feeling quite frustrated seeing the lack of comments. I spend hours writing each chapter, pouring my effort into it, but it seems like no one is willing to spare a few seconds to share their thoughts.

It's making me wonder why I should continue putting in so much effort to entertain you when you're enjoying my hard work for free.

Do you think I'm earning anything from this? I'm writing because I love it, but I also need some motivation to keep going.

So please, take a moment to comment and let me know your thoughts. It really helps me stay motivated.

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