Chapter 4

The next morning, Lakshmi woke up early, as was her habit. She entered the bathroom, taking her clothes from her bag to change after her bath. While bathing, she washed the clothes she had worn the previous day, then stepped out to dry them. Afterward, she entered her room and sat on the bed, gazing at the photograph of her parents. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cursed her fate. She placed the photo carefully on the table beside the bed. It was still early for her work, so she lingered on the bed, lost in thought, recalling the events of the previous day.

Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Vikram—the intensity of his gaze, the sharpness with which he had scolded her when she called him "brother," the genuine concern he had shown for her, and the way he had smiled when he learned her age. It all left her conflicted. What if he has bad intentions? she wondered. She had heard countless stories in her village about rich people exploiting their maids, and the thought sent a shiver down her spine. What if Vikram was no different? She had no one to stand up for her—no one to protect her from whatever he might want. Fear gripped her heart. I have to keep my distance from him, she resolved.

By the time she had sorted through her thoughts, the clock showed 6 a.m. It was time for her duties. She stood, glanced at her parents' photograph once more, and left her room, locking the door behind her.

As she approached the house, she saw Latha arriving for her shift. Lakshmi greeted her, and the two entered together. Latha immediately got to work, moving efficiently in the kitchen while instructing Lakshmi on her tasks. First, Latha made two cups of coffee and directed Lakshmi to deliver them to Rekha and Vikram's father, showing her the way to their room. Then, Latha handed her another cup of coffee. "Give this to Vikram," she instructed.

The mention of Vikram's name made Lakshmi's stomach tighten. She didn't want to go near him, but she couldn't refuse. She took the tray from Latha, trying to steady her racing heart, reminding herself not to linger even for a second after handing him the cup.

With each step she took toward his room, a sense of unease settled over her. She didn't understand why, but his presence made her feel exposed—his gaze made her feel as though he could see through her. She wanted to avoid him, but as a maid, she had no choice. She had to do whatever they asked. That's why they pay her.

When she reached his door, she knocked softly. He opened it, dressed in jogging clothes. As soon as his eyes landed on her, his face broke into a warm smile. Lakshmi didn't dare look up. She held the tray out to him without a word. He gestured toward the table beside the bed. "Come in and place it here," he said.

Reluctantly, she stepped inside and placed the coffee on the table. As she did, Vikram's gaze never wavered. His eyes followed the movement of her long braid, then to her slender waist. His heart rate quickened. He had never felt this way about anyone before—no physical or emotional attraction had ever stirred him like this. But something about her presence made him feel like he was losing control.

Lakshmi, uncomfortable under his intense gaze, turned to leave. She hurried out of the room, as if escaping from something she couldn't understand. Vikram stood there, hand pressed against his chest, his heart racing. A smile tugged at his lips as he thought, Maybe Adharv was right. I think I'm falling for her.

After completing his jogging and morning routine, Vikram came downstairs for breakfast, his eyes instinctively searching for Lakshmi. But she was busy in the kitchen, helping Latha. It was the usual hectic time when the kids were getting ready for school, Vikram was preparing to head to his office, and his father and stepmother were also preparing for their day. The kitchen was bustling as Latha cooked everyone's favorite dishes.

Vikram sat down at the dining table. Noticing him, Latha sent Lakshmi to serve his meal. As a fitness enthusiast, Vikram followed a strict diet plan, eating only the foods prescribed by his dietician. Latha had his entire food chart and prepared his meals accordingly.

Lakshmi stepped forward nervously, serving his food before quickly retreating back to the kitchen. Vikram, however, kept his gaze on her, his eyes following her every movement.

Just then, Vikram's father, stepmother, and siblings entered the dining area for breakfast. Vinay and Vinitha greeted him with enthusiasm, "Good morning, brother!" Vikram returned their greeting with a smile, but his mood darkened at the sight of his father and stepmother. He ignored them, his focus shifting back to Lakshmi as she moved around the room.

He couldn't help but stare at her, his attention fixed entirely on her. None of this went unnoticed by Rekha. As she took her seat at the table, she caught sight of Vikram's gaze. While pretending to engage in conversation, she observed him closely, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed his unwavering focus on Lakshmi.

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During the lunch break at his office, Vikram and Adharv sat across from each other.

"So, how's your love going?" Adharv asked with a teasing grin.

Vikram smiled shyly, glancing down. "Hmm, it's just me looking at her like a lovesick puppy."

Adharv raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you've confirmed it's love, then?"

Vikram sighed, his mind drifting. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. My heart beats faster just at the thought of her. I can't concentrate on anything—she's always on my mind."

Adharv chuckled. "Well, it sounds like you're in love. All the symptoms are there."

Vikram nodded, still lost in thought. "I know... But I don't know what to do about it."

Adharv leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me about her. Where did you meet?"

Vikram told him everything about the previous day, including Lakshmi's story. After listening carefully, Adharv blinked in disbelief. "Wait... she's a maid at your mansion? You know how your father is, right? Do you really think he'd approve of this?"

"I don't care what my father thinks," Vikram said firmly, determination in his eyes. "I love her, and I will marry only her. End of story."

Adharv shook his head, laughing. "Oh, so you already thought about the wedding? She doesn't even know you're in love with her, Vikram. She has to accept you first!"

"She will," Vikram said with conviction, a certainty in his voice that left no room for doubt.

Adharv raised an eyebrow. "That's good, but be careful. Don't scare her away."

Vikram didn't respond, simply continuing with his lunch. But his mind was elsewhere.

After work, Vikram drove home, making a stop at the supermarket. It was a habit of his to buy chocolates and small gifts for his siblings, but today, something inside urged him to get something for Lakshmi too. He hesitated for a moment—would she even accept a gift from him, especially after just one day? But he pushed the thought aside and bought a large Dairy Milk Silk for her, along with some chocolates for his brother and sister.

The entire drive home, his mind was consumed with thoughts of how to give it to her without making things awkward.

When he arrived, his eyes immediately scanned the house for her. It was 7 p.m. He made his way to the kitchen, where Lakshmi was cutting vegetables while Latha worked by the stove. He stood quietly, watching her movements for a few seconds. There was something about her that fascinated him—her patience, her calm demeanor.

Latha noticed him standing in the doorway. "Dear, do you need anything?"

Vikram cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady. "Yes, Auntie. Could you send me a cup of coffee to my room?"

"Sure, I'll send it right away," Latha replied, moving to make the coffee.

All the while, Lakshmi never lifted her head to look at him. Vikram felt a pang in his chest, his heart aching at her ignorance. He turned and left the kitchen, his mood sour.

A few minutes later, Lakshmi knocked on Vikram's door, holding a cup of coffee in her hands. Vikram had just finished freshening up and opened the door. He motioned for her to come in, and she entered hesitantly, placing the cup on the table before turning to leave.

"Wait," Vikram called, stopping her. She froze, nervous, wondering why he had stopped her, and slowly turned to face him.

He opened his bag, took out the chocolate, and extended it toward her. "This is for you," he said.

Lakshmi looked at the chocolate, then back at him. "What? No, I don't want it," she said, starting to move toward the door again. But Vikram grabbed her wrist gently, stopping her.

"It's okay, take it," he said. "Don't you like chocolates?"

"No, I don't want it. Please let me go, I have to work in the kitchen," she pleaded, trying to pull her hand away from his grip. But Vikram's expression darkened, and he grew frustrated.

"Take it, or I'll tell my father to fire you," he threatened, though his tone wasn't serious. It was just a way to make her accept the chocolate.

Lakshmi's eyes widened in shock. "Please, don't do that," she begged, her voice trembling. "I have nowhere to go." Tears began to form in her eyes.

Seeing her cry, Vikram's anger faded, replaced by an unexpected sense of guilt. His grip softened, and he gently took her hand, placing the chocolate in her palm. "Don't cry," he said softly. "I won't do anything like that. I promise. Now, go on."

As his words settled in, Lakshmi felt a sense of relief wash over her. The thought of being sent away from the house had terrified her, but hearing Vikram's reassurance calmed her fears. She quickly turned and left his room, her steps light and swift, like a deer escaping from the lion's den.

After work, as Lakshmi was about to enter her room, Raghu, who had been sitting in the garden smoking a cigarette, noticed her. He walked towards her, intending to introduce himself.

"Hello," Raghu greeted her.

Lakshmi turned to see who was speaking, and Raghu continued, "I'm Raghu, the driver."

"I'm Lakshmi. I joined only yesterday as a helper in the kitchen," she replied.

"Okay, it's already late. You should get inside and rest. We can talk some other time. Goodnight," he said.

Lakshmi nodded in acknowledgment and then moved into her room, locking the door behind her. After freshening up, she lay on her bed, hugging her parents' photo, lost in thought. She wondered why Vikram was acting this way toward her. Was he feeling pity for her because he, too, had lost his mother? Or did he have some darker intentions, just like the stories she'd heard about the wealthy? If that was the case, how would she protect herself from him? The thought filled her with dread. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at her parents' photo, softly crying, "Why did you leave me alone?" Sleep seemed impossible with the anxiety swirling in her mind.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, Vikram lay in bed, unable to sleep. His thoughts kept returning to Lakshmi. Every time he closed his eyes, her face appeared before him. He sighed, feeling helpless, realizing just how much he yearned for her presence. It was strange how deeply he craved her, as if she brought him a sense of peace he couldn't find elsewhere. Her presence reminded him of his mother in a way he couldn't explain.

Unable to rest, he got up from the bed and stepped out onto the balcony. He lit a cigarette, his gaze instinctively drifting toward her room. The lights were still on. He wondered what she was doing at this hour. He desperately wanted to know, but how could he find out?

For a moment, he debated the thought, then impulsively decided to peek into her room through the window. His conscience tugged at him, reminding him that it was wrong to invade someone's privacy, especially a woman's. But he quickly shrugged off the feeling, justifying it with the thought, Yes, it's wrong to peek into someone else's room, but she's mine. I can look at her.

He stood there for a moment longer and moved out of his room, his mind racing with conflicting thought

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