Chapter 5

Vikram stepped out of his house, his footsteps soft against the ground as he walked across the garden toward the staff quarters. He never imagined that he would be doing something like this for a girl. It surprised him, even more, to realize that this side of him existed—that he could care so deeply. He paused for a moment, looking around to ensure no one was watching, before continuing on toward Lakshmi's room.

His heart raced slightly as he reached her door. He glanced over his shoulder once more, just to be sure no one was around, before slipping behind her room. The house was quiet, the air cool with the night breeze.

There was a small ventilator high on the wall—too high for him to reach comfortably. He looked around, scanning the area, and his eyes landed on a large log nearby. It would have to do. His muscles tensed as he carefully lifted it, making sure to make no noise. He placed it under the ventilator, stepping back to inspect his work. A small, satisfied smile spread across his face.

Climbing onto the log, he positioned himself carefully, his hands gripping the edge of the wall as he peered inside her room.

There she was. Lakshmi was sleeping soundly, her face soft in the quiet of the room. Her parents' photograph was tightly held against her chest, her arms wrapped around it like a lifeline. But even in sleep, her face betrayed the pain she was carrying. Dried tears traced her cheeks, and a slight frown pulled at the corners of her lips. Seeing her like this, vulnerable and sad, ached in a way he couldn't explain.

For a moment, he simply stood there, watching her, torn. He wanted to reach out, to pull her into his arms and wipe away her tears, to make her feel safe. But he knew he couldn't—not yet. Not until she no longer looked at him like he was some sort of monster. He couldn't bear the thought of her running from him, the way she had before, with fear in her eyes.

His heart tightened at the memory of her fearful reaction. Vikram sighed as he noticed the chocolate he had given her was on the table beside her bed, unopened.

Then his gaze drifted from her face to the rest of her body, and he felt a sudden jolt of awareness. The half-saree she wore lay in disarray around her, as if she had taken no care in how she had draped it. His breath caught in his chest as he struggled to maintain his composure.

He shouldn't be looking at her like this, especially when she was vulnerable and asleep. But he couldn't help himself. His eyes roamed over her, taking in the soft curves of her body, the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.

Vikram's heart pounded in his chest, and he felt his control slipping. He knew he had to get out of there. But his feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to tear himself away from the sight of her.

Just as he was about to lose all sense of reason, Vikram forced himself to take a step back, to break the spell that had held him captive. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and slowly climbed down from the log, his eyes never leaving Lakshmi's sleeping form.

Vikram stood there for a moment, trying to calm his racing heart, before finally turning and making his way back to his room. He entered quietly, lying on his bed, his mind swirling with thoughts of her. Now he understood why she kept the lights on all night—perhaps she was too scared to sleep without them. His thoughts were consumed with her innocent face, and, with a sigh, he closed his eyes and slowly drifted into sleep.

Vikram, who had once hated being at home, now found himself looking for reasons to stay. Lately, he had been coming home early, spending time in the garden just to steal glances of Lakshmi as she worked in the kitchen. Lakshmi, on the other hand, had started to notice his actions. She knew he was trying to do something, and she did her best to avoid being around him.

The days passed, each one like the last—Vikram attempting to talk to her, only for her to run away from him as though she had seen a monster. His patience was wearing thin, the effort he was putting into reaching her was becoming overwhelming. He felt like he was nearing a breaking point.

Seeing Vikram's downcast mood, Adharv finally asked, "What's going on? You've been looking so low lately. Is there something wrong? Oh wait, I remember now—you're in love, right? It's probably natural for you to feel this way."

Vikram glared at him. "Stop it, Adhi. Does my pain seem funny to you?"

Adharv's teasing smile faded into a more serious expression. "Okay, what's really going on?"

Vikram sighed, frustration evident in his voice. "I don't know how to make her feel comfortable around me. Every time I try to talk to her, she runs away, or if I try to stop her, she starts crying. How am I supposed to express my feelings if she keeps pushing me away?"

Adharv nodded, his expression softening. "Look, Viki, think about her side of things for a moment. She's just 18, and this is the first time she's ever been in the city. She's also just lost her parents. Do you really think she's in the right frame of mind to fall in love right now? And do you think she'll fall in love with you just because you bought her some chocolates and flowers? She's from a village, man, and she's probably dealing with a lot of insecurities. She might even be scared. She could be thinking you have bad intentions—maybe she thinks you're after her for something else. After all, why would the son of a billionaire want anything to do with a maid like her?"

"What? Hell no!" Vikram's voice was filled with disbelief. "I love her. Madly."

He paused, then added, "Of course, love and attraction go hand in hand, but right now, I just want to make her feel comfortable. I don't have any ulterior motives."

Adharv looked at him with understanding. "I know you, Viki. But you have to understand, she's carrying her own fears and insecurities. So, take it slow. Don't do anything impulsive. Show her how you really feel and make sure you're not scaring her. Don't act like a pervert."

Vikram met Adharv's gaze. "You know me, right?"

"Yeah, I know you very well. That's exactly why I'm saying all this," Adharv replied.

Vikram thought about his friend's words carefully. Slowly, a sense of clarity began to settle over him. He realized he couldn't let this cat-and-mouse game continue forever. He needed to express his feelings to her—otherwise, they would both be stuck in this endless cycle.

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Hey guys!!!

What do you think about Adharv and Lakshmi's characters? I'd really love to hear your thoughts! I've been getting fewer comments lately, and without knowing what you think about the story so far, it's tough to move forward with the plot. Your feedback means a lot, so feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments.

Enjoy reading!!!

Bi Bi!!!