chapter 48
Vipul stepped away from her without another word.He didn’t even look back.Just walked straight to the car like she didn’t exist.
Tara stayed frozen for a moment, still processing what had just happened. Her cheeks were burning. Her heart was beating way too fast for someone who had just been scolded.
Why am I nervous…? He didn’t even do anything…
She shook her head quickly.
“Pagal ho gayi ho kya Tara,” she muttered to herself.
Meanwhile, Vipul stopped near the punctured tyre and exhaled sharply, clearly done with her nonsense.
Without wasting time, he removed his blazer and tossed it inside the car.
Then he rolled up his sleeves higher and folded his shirt properly.
His forearms flexed as he worked. Veins visible. Muscles tightening with every movement.
He crouched down and started changing the tyre with practiced ease, movements sharp and efficient like he had done this a hundred times before.
The late afternoon sunlight hit his face, highlighting his sharp jawline and serious expression. A few strands of hair fell over his forehead as he focused.
Tara just… stood there.Watching.
Yeh banda itna serious kyun rehta hai…
He tightened a bolt, jaw clenched, sweat lightly forming near his temple.
…but why does he look so…
Her brain supplied the word before she could stop it.
Hot.
She immediately smacked her own forehead.
“Sharam kar Tara! Yeh wahi aadmi hai jo tujhe road pe chhod dega,” she whispered.
Still…Her eyes didn’t move away.
Something about him fixing the tyre quietly, not blaming her, not shouting anymore…
just doing the work…
It felt weirdly attractive.
Vipul tightened the last bolt and stood up, dusting his hands off. His movements were sharp, controlled, like everything about him had discipline carved into it.
He grabbed his blazer, shook off the dust, and wore it again like nothing had happened.
Meanwhile…
Tara was still standing there.
Staring shamelessly staring.Her chin resting on her palm like she was watching some slow-motion movie scene.
Why does he look so good doing normal things? Even changing a tyre looks like action film entry… uff Tara control…
“Miss. Tara.”No response.
She was still lost.
“Miss. Tara,” he repeated, louder.
Still nothing.His eye twitched.
Finally he spoke in that cold, sharp tone
“If you’re done staring at me like a hungry wolf, then come and sit. Or do you expect me to carry you?”
Her brain rebooted.
“Huh??! Yes— yes— coming!”
She straightened instantly, embarrassed.
“I wasn’t staring!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“Then why were you looking at me like I’m butter chicken?
”
Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me?!”
He raised an eyebrow.
She huffed and walked past him. “Mr. Cold… khud ko kya samajhte ho…” she muttered under her breath.
“I can hear you,” he said flatly.
“Good. Sunna hi tha.”
He almost smiled.But controlled it.
She quickly got inside the car, still grumbling to herself, trying to hide her red cheeks.
Vipul walked to the driver’s seat,Yeh ladki mujhe pagal kar degi…And Tara?
She secretly glanced at him again.
…but thoda sa aur dekhne mein kya problem hai…
Then immediately looked away before he caught her.
Vipul started the car without another word.
The engine hummed softly as the vehicle pulled onto the road. Evening had already started fading into night, the sky turning orange… then purple… then slowly dark. Streetlights flickered on one by one.
Tara looked outside the window and frowned.
“Aaj toh late ho gaya…” she muttered.
Vipul didn’t even look at her.
“All thanks to someone’s stupid idea,” he said dryly, eyes still on the road.
She turned to him instantly. “You—!!”
He raised an eyebrow.
She crossed her arms angrily. “Waste of talking with you. Just drive fast!”
He scoffed. “After all this, you’re ordering me? Seriously?”
She glared.He continued calmly, “Sit quietly, woman. I won’t eat you.”
She gasped dramatically. “Hawww, attitude dekho! Kaun kha raha hai aapko? Main toh bas bol rahi thi.”
“Exactly. Bas bolti rehti ho.”
“Excuse me?!”
“Since morning. Non-stop. Puncture. Drama. Lying. Staring. Talking. Headache.”
Her mouth fell open. “I am not a headache!”
He glanced at her sideways. “Migraine.”
“VIPUUULLL—”
“Don’t shout. I’m driving.”
She huffed and turned toward the window like an angry child.Silence filled the car.
For exactly… ten seconds.
Then--
“Waise…” she muttered.
He sighed.
“Ab kya?”
“Tum itne serious kyun rehte ho?”
“No reason.”
“Girlfriend ne cheat kiya?”
“No.”
“Childhood trauma?”
“No.”
“Secret mafia life?”
He shot her a look.
She grinned. “Worth asking.”
He shook his head.
“Tumhara dimag thik hai?”
“Bilkul nahi.”
“Clearly.”
She smiled proudly like it was a compliment,Vipul tried really hard not to smile.Really hard,But the corner of his lips still twitched.
After some time, the car finally entered the mansion gates.
The huge iron gates opened slowly, lights glowing warmly around the driveway.
Vipul drove inside and parked the car smoothly.
Before Tara could even say anything, he was already out, opening the backseat and grabbing a few files and folders. His expression was back to that strict, professional mode.
“Tum kaha jaa rahe ho?” Tara asked, adjusting her bag while stepping out.
He didn’t even look at her.
“Tumhari tarah main free nahi hoon,” he said flatly. “Because of you, I couldn’t give this file to boss in the evening. Now shut up and come.”
And just like that—He walked ahead.
Tara stood there, mouth open.
“Arggggg! Can’t he talk politely? Thoda insaaniyat naam ki cheez hoti hai!” she muttered angrily, stomping behind him.
“Hitler kahin ka…”
“I can still hear you,” he said without turning. She gasped. “Aapko sab kaise sunai deta hai?!”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
She made faces behind his back.
Both walked inside the mansion, still silently arguing like kids.
When they entered the mansion hall, both of them slowed their steps at the same time. Ishni was standing right in the middle, arms crossed, tapping her foot lightly against the floor. Her calm face looked more dangerous than actual anger.
“What is this?” she asked, staring at both of them. “Have you seen the time? Why are you so late?”
Before Vipul could even open his mouth, Tara rushed forward and clung to Ishni’s arm like an innocent child.
“Didi… actually he drives sooo slow,” she said sweetly, blinking her eyes dramatically.
“Like turtle speed. Main toh bore ho gayi thi.”
Vipul turned toward her so fast his neck almost snapped.
“What? Seriously?!”
Ishni looked at him.
“Vipul?”
He pointed straight at Tara.
“Ma’am, she punctured my tyre.”
“WHAT?!” Ishni’s eyes widened.
Tara gasped loudly as if someone had accused her of murder. “Jhooth! Bilkul jhooth! Main aisa kyun karungi?”
“Because you’re a walking disaster!” Vipul snapped. “I literally caught her beside the tyre with a pen!”
“Proof hai?” she shot back instantly.
“You had rubber marks on your face!”
She glared at him. “Character assassination mat karo!” Vipul stared at her in disbelief. “Unbelievable…”
Ishni’s gaze shifted between the two like she was watching a daily soap fight. One blaming, one acting innocent. Both equally dramatic.
“Tara…” she said slowly.
Tara immediately hid half behind Ishni.
“Didi dekho na, yeh mujhe bully karta hai…”
“Bully?” Vipul almost laughed.
“Ma’am, I changed the tyre for thirty minutes while madam was just standing there staring at me like—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
“Like what?” Tara narrowed her eyes.
“…Nothing.”
“Bolo.”
“Nothing.”
She smirked knowingly and crossed her arms.
Vipul looked away, irritated.
Ishni finally sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Bas. Dono kindergarten ke bacche lag rahe ho. Ek tyre ke liye itna drama?”
Both immediately went silent like scolded kids.
“Tara, tum theek ho?”
“Yes didi,” she nodded softly.
For a moment the hall became quiet. Then Ishni looked at both of them again and a small teasing smile appeared on her face.
“Waise…” she said casually, “tum dono saath mein kaafi cute lagte ho.”
“NO!” they both shouted together.
They stopped, looked at each other, then instantly glared.
Slow, steady footsteps echoed from the staircase, cutting through the noise of their argument.
All three of them turned their heads at once.
Rudra was coming downstairs.
His face was calm but cold, eyes sharp, expression unreadable. Dressed in a black shirt with folded sleeves, he carried that natural authority around himthe kind that made everyone straighten up without even realizing it. The playful chaos in the hall instantly died down.
He looked at Tara… then at Vipul… then finally at Ishni.
“What happened?” he asked quietly.
Ishni sighed like an exhausted mother dealing with two kids and rubbed her forehead. “Kuch nahi… bas aapke faasle ka natak dekh rahi hoon.”
Rudra raised an eyebrow slightly. “Faasle?”
She pointed at Tara and Vipul. “Yeh dono. Subah se Tom and Jerry bane hue hain. Ek tyre ke liye world war chal raha hai.”
Tara pouted. Vipul looked offended.
Before the argument could restart, Vipul stepped forward professionally and handed the file to Rudra. “Boss, the file.”
Rudra took it calmly, flipping it open as if none of this chaos mattered to him. Work mode instantly on.
“Ma’am, I’ll leave,” Vipul said respectfully.
Ishni nodded. “Go safely.”
Tara didn’t look at him directly, pretending to fix her hair, but her eyes still followed him from the corner.
Strange.
Why did it feel a little… empty when he said he was leaving?
She immediately shook the thought away. Pagal ho gayi ho kya.
Just then Rudra’s voice came again, softer this time.
“Jaan… come here.”
The cold tone disappeared completely when he spoke to her.
Ishni’s entire expression changed. Her tiredness melted into a small smile. Without thinking twice, she walked toward him.
Tara watched them quietly. The way Rudra looked at Ishni… the way she went to him without hesitation… it felt safe. Like home.
Vipul adjusted his tie and started walking toward the main door, his steps calm and professional as always. His face had returned to that usual serious, unreadable expression like nothing in the world could disturb him.
Tara watched him leave for a second.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
But obviously… she said it.
“Oi… Mr. Serious!”
Vipul stopped mid-step.
Slowly… very slowly… he turned his head toward her, already irritated.
She gave him a bright, shameless smile.
“Kal zaldiiii aana, okay? I don’t want to be late for my college.”
The audacity,His eyes narrowed.As if silently sayingExcuse me? Who do you think you are?
He didn’t reply,Didn’t even blink,Just glared at her with that cold, deadly stare.
Then turned around and continued walking without a single word.
Total attitude.
Tara stood there for a second… then suddenly chuckled.
“Ajeeb hai…” she muttered to herself, hugging her bag. “But… accha bhi hai.”
She didn’t even realize she was smiling like an idiot.Shaking her head, she turned and walked toward her room, still replaying his annoyed face in her mind.
The next morning, Tara stood near the mansion gate with her bag hanging from one shoulder, tapping her foot impatiently on the ground.
The air was still fresh, the sun barely up, guards changing shifts, birds chirping softly but madam here was already annoyed.
“Kaha hai yeh insaan…” she muttered, checking the time on her phone for the fifth time. “Kal itna attitude dikha raha tha, aaj khud late hai.”
She crossed her arms and pouted.
But just then.The sound of a car engine entered the driveway, Her head snapped up instantly. The familiar black car rolled inside the gate.
And without realizing it… her face lit up.
A wide, stupidly happy smile spread across her lips.He came.
She quickly fixed her hair, adjusted her bag and walked toward the car like she totally wasn’t waiting for him for the last ten minutes.
Vipul stepped out, calm and sharp as always, sunglasses on, sleeves folded, looking like he walked straight out of some action movie.
Tara looked at him for a second… then grinned.“Good morning, Mr. Khadus.”
He paused mid-step.Slowly lowered his sunglasses.Turned his head toward her.
“What did you just call me?” he asked, voice flat but dangerous.
She smiled innocently. “Khadus.”
His stare hardened. “Repeat that.”
She leaned closer and whispered dramatically, “Khaaa-dus.”
His jaw clenched.
“Get in the car,” he said coldly.
“Aree good morning toh bol do pehle,” she complained.
“Get. In.”
“Attitude dekho…” she muttered, opening the door.
After she sat inside the car, she crossed her arms and looked straight ahead, pretending she wasn’t affected by him at all.
But from the corner of her eye, she kept stealing glances at Vipul.Same serious face, focused eyes on the road. “don’t-talk-to-me” aura.
“Khadus kahin ka…” she thought to herself, making a small face. “Thoda sa smile karne se kya chala jaata hai?”
Vipul, meanwhile, drove silently, completely unaware of the war going on inside her head. Or maybe… he was aware and just choosing to ignore it.
The ride was unusually quiet today. No fighting. No teasing.
And weirdly…It felt boring.
After some time, the car stopped outside her college. Students were already walking in groups, laughing, chatting loudly.
She quickly grabbed her bag and opened the door.
“Byee,” she said casually and started walking away without even looking back.
Vipul just watched her go.
Her messy hair bouncing… bag slipping from her shoulder… walking like the world belonged to her.
For a second, he didn’t start the car.
Just… stared.
Then he sighed softly and turned the key to drive back.
But something caught his eye.
A phone.Lying on the passenger seat.
He frowned.
“This girl…” he muttered under his breath. “Why is she so careless?”
He picked it up.
Yep. Definitely hers. Pink cover. Cartoon sticker. Total Tara vibe.
He closed his eyes for a second.
“Unbelievable.”
He parked the car again, grabbed the phone, stepped out, and started walking inside the campus.
Students around him slowed down to stare.
Tall. Sharp suit. Serious face. Dangerous aura.
He didn’t look like a visitor. He looked like someone’s strict CEO coming to suspend half the college.
All he could think was--
If I leave this with security, madam will lose it in five minutes.So with an annoyed expression and her phone in hand…
Vipul walked into the campus. Muttering to himself, “Boss ne mujhe driver nahi… babysitter bana diya hai…”
He had been walking around the campus for almost half an hour now.
Half. An. Hour.
His patience was officially dead.
“Kaha gayi yeh ladki…” he muttered under his breath, scanning every corner of the ground like some frustrated bodyguard on duty.
Groups of students kept staring at him as he passed. Some girls whispered, some boys moved aside automatically. His serious face and sharp suit made him look completely out of place.
He checked the phone in his hand again.
Her wallpaper..Her stupid cartoon cover.
Definitely Tara’s. “Careless,” he sighed. “Bilkul bachchi hai.”
Just then, from a little distance, he finally spotted her. She was standing under a tree with her friends, laughing loudly, hands moving dramatically while talking. Completely lost in her own world.
Like she hadn’t even realized her phone was missing. Vipul stared at her for a moment. I’ve been searching like an idiot… aur madam yahan gossip kar rahi hai.
He started walking toward her, irritation building with every step.
But then his eyes automatically scanned her properly.
Without wasting another second, he strode toward her with long, sharp steps.
Before Tara could even notice, he was already standing right beside her.
She turned, surprised. “Vipul? What are you—”
But before she could finish, he suddenly removed his blazer and wrapped it firmly around her waist.
She froze.
“Whatt the hell, Vipul?!” she hissed, trying to push his hands away. “Are you crazy? Yeh kya nonsense hai?!”
“Come with me,” he said calmly, voice low and controlled.
Calm. Too calm.
He tried to hold her wrist to lead her away, but she jerked her hand back. “No! Have you lost it? Sab dekh rahe hain!”
Without understanding anything, she immediately started untying the blazer. “Take this back—”
“Don’t.”
His voice turned sharp. She blinked.
“I will!” she argued stubbornly.
Before she could remove it completely, he suddenly grabbed her waist, pulled her close, and in one swift motion.Threw her over his shoulder.
Like she weighed nothing.
“VIPUUULLL?!!” Her world flipped upside down.Students gasped around them.
“Put me down! Are you mad?!” she hit his back lightly. “This is kidnapping! Chhodo mujhe!”
He ignored every word and kept walking, steady and unbothered, like carrying a screaming girl on his shoulder was completely normal.
“Vipul! People are watching! Mera image—”
“Chup,” he said coldly.
She froze.
His grip tightened slightlynot hurting, just protective.
“Yeh aadmi pagal hai…” she muttered softly, still hanging over his shoulder.
But she didn’t fight as much anymore.