Chapter 3

"Come in," he said, his voice soft but firm.

Lakshmi stood frozen at the doorway, confused. She didn't know why he had called her in. Her feet seemed glued to the spot. She stood there, unsure, until he turned back to look at her. He frowned, and his voice took on a sharper edge. "Why are you standing there? I said come in."

Hesitant, she moved inside, standing awkwardly near the doorframe. She placed the flask on the table, but her voice faltered as she tried to speak. "Ann—" she started but trailed off when she noticed his piercing gaze. She continued, her tone lower now, "Do you need anything?"

The way he was looking at her made Lakshmi feel uneasy, though she couldn't explain why. She fidgeted with the edge of her half-sari, trying to calm herself.

He looked at her closely, his arms folded across his chest. "What is your age?"

She blinked, caught off guard by the question. She wasn't sure why he wanted to know. "I turned 18 this month," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Vikram's expression softened slightly, as if a weight had been lifted. He smiled faintly. "Good," he said, "I was just checking. You're not underage."

Lakshmi nodded, unsure where this conversation was heading. Vikram's gaze turned more serious. "I already know your name. That's why I asked your age. But I'm curious—why did you discontinue your studies? And where are your parents?"

Her heart tightened. She lowered her gaze, her fingers trembling as they twisted the fabric of her saree. She swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

"The school in our village only goes up to 10th grade," she began, her voice cracking. "If you want to study further, you have to travel to the next village. My parents couldn't afford the bus fare or the other expenses, so I... I had to stop."

She paused, taking a deep breath. She could feel her chest tightening as the painful memories surfaced.

"And then..." Her voice broke again. "My parents... they couldn't bear the pressure of the debts. They took their lives. They fed me poisoned food, too, but I survived." She wiped a tear from her cheek, looking down. "After that, my aunt Savitri brought me here to work."

Vikram felt a pang in his chest as her story unfolded. He knew the pain of losing loved ones, but hearing it from someone so young, especially a girl, made his heart ache for her. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he held back, unsure of how to offer solace.

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "Don't worry," he said, his voice quieter now. "I don't have a mother either. You know?"

She looked up at him, brows furrowed in confusion. 'Then who is Rekha madam?'

Vikram understood her unspoken question. "Rekha is my stepmother," he explained.

Lakshmi nodded, her expression softening slightly. Vikram smiled faintly. "Don't worry. If you ever need anything, just ask. Okay?"

She frowned, still uncertain about his behavior. This was the first time they had met, yet he seemed so concerned for her. She wondered why. Was it just his nature to care about others? She hesitated before asking, "Shall I leave now?"

Vikram didn't want her to go. He wasn't ready for her to leave—not yet. He wanted to talk to her more, to see her relax and open up. But he knew she had work to do, so he nodded reluctantly. "Go ahead," he murmured, but his gaze lingered on her, reluctant to see her walk away.

As Lakshmi turned to leave, Vikram's heart ached, a strange feeling settling in his chest. Just then, his phone rang. It was Adharv.

"Hello? What are you doing at home? latching eggs? Come on, let's go out," Adharv said, his voice light.

Vikram didn't respond immediately. "I'm not in the mood," he replied, his voice almost distant.

Adharv was surprised. Vikram was the one who usually dragged him out on Sundays, always eager to leave the house. This sudden shift in behavior made him curious. "What happened? Are you okay? You never turn down a chance to go out," he asked.

Vikram sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's nothing... I just met someone today. Lakshmi. She... she's had a rough life. Her story just... it feels heavy. I don't know. I just feel weird."

Adharv chuckled softly. "Oh, I see. So my friend's fallen for her, huh?"

Vikram's voice became defensive. "Stop it. I've only just met her. It's not love, don't jump to conclusions."

"Okay, okay," Adharv teased, "Take your time. But don't scare her off with your brooding attitude."

Vikram rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile. After a few more exchanges, they ended the call.

It was evening when Lakshmi continued her work in the kitchen. Latha was happy to have such a capable helper. She tried to make small talk to ease her, noticing how nervous and stiff Lakshmi seemed. After they finished their work, Latha gave Lakshmi a few instructions and then left for her house. Lakshmi's aunt also came to bid her goodbye, telling her to go to her room after finishing all the work in the kitchen, lock her door properly, and sleep.

After everyone had finished dinner, Lakshmi completed her kitchen duties and headed to her quarters. The quarters were shared with the driver and the watchman, and she was the only female staff member living there. She entered her room, locked the door, and went into the bathroom to take a bath. It was already 10 PM.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she took out a family photo from her bag and held it close to her chest. She was scared to sleep alone, but she had no other choice. She realized that from now on, her life would be a lonely one. She hated God for letting her live without her parents. She laid on the bed, hugging the photo to her chest. Afraid to turn off the lights, she fell asleep with them on, too tired to stay awake.

Vikram stood on the balcony of his room, a cigarette in hand, observing the staff quarters. He noticed that the lights were still on in Lakshmi's room and wondered what she was doing at this hour. As he stared in the direction of her room, he saw the driver, Raghu, come out of his own room for a smoke. Raghu leaned against the wall near Lakshmi's room, lighting a cigarette and standing there, enjoying the moment.

Vikram's face flushed red as he saw Raghu leaning on the wall near Lakshmi's room, smoking. He sat on the couch in the balcony, watching him intently. Although Raghu had no ill intentions and didn't even know about the new staff member—whether it was a man or woman—he just assumed that someone had joined based on the lights in the room. Raghu, a young man who worked as a live-in driver, had a family in the village and sent his entire salary back home to support them. He had a sister who was studying in college.

Vikram's irritation grew as he observed Raghu lingering by Lakshmi's room. After a few minutes, Raghu returned to his room, and Vikram, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Lakshmi, retreated into his own room.

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Hey guys!!!

I know this chapter might not be perfect, but things will get more interesting as the story goes on.

What do you think of Lakshmi? How do you feel about her situation?

And Vikram? What do you think of his actions towards her?

Your feedback means a lot and helps me improve the story.

So please comment.

Enjoy reading!!!

Bi Bi!!!