CHAPTER IX THE DREAMSCAPE OF MARBLE
The house had finally begun to exhale.
Not peace — that would have been too kind, too simple after the avalanche they had all survived. This was something quieter, more fragile. The kind of calm that settles in only when everyone is too exhausted to keep fighting. A temporary truce between hearts that had been stretched to their limits.
Night crept in slowly, reluctant, as if it too understood that some wounds needed time before they could be touched by darkness.
The corridors were hushed, marble swallowing sound like it always did.
No phones rang — Devika had already hidden Vedika's away.
No staff moved through the halls. Only the low hum of the air conditioner and the faint, stubborn trace of antiseptic on Ishaani's skin remained.
She lay half-reclined against the headboard, blanket bunched carelessly at her waist. Her hair was a wild mess she hadn't bothered fixing. Her body still felt tender and unfamiliar, but she was home. Breathing. Safe.
Devika sat rigidly in the chair beside the bed, spine straight, eyes flicking to Ishaani's face every few seconds like she needed constant proof her little sister was really there.
Vedika sat closer than usual, perched on the edge of the mattress, one forearm resting near Ishaani's knee, thumb tapping a restless rhythm against the blanket.
Tara leaned against the bedpost from her position on the bed, next to Ishaani, her arms loosely crossed. On the surface, she looked perfectly composed, but her hazel eyes kept returning to Ishaani with a quiet intensity that made the air feel warmer.
Amaya, naturally, couldn't stand the silence for long.
"So," she said brightly, "can we talk about how Ishi single-handedly destroyed my very active and extremely rewarding sex-life?"
Devika looked away from Ishaani just to glare at Amaya and sighed. "Amaya."
"What? I'm serious!" Amaya shifted in her chair and winced.
"I had to tell three different women 'sorry, my baby sister got kidnapped, rain check on the sex.
' My reputation is in shambles." Her voice dragged out in a helpless whine followed by a ridiculous attempt of jutting her bottom lip out in a pout.
Ishaani groaned, covering her face with her good hand. "Maya di, please. Why are you like this?"
"Because humor is my coping mechanism baby," Amaya declared cheerfully. "Also my hoes miss me."
Devika pinched the bridge of her nose. "Language."
Vedika huffed. "She's been like this since birth."
The banter flowed for a while — light, messy, familiar. But slowly the mood shifted again.
Vedika's voice softened. "You really scared us, Ishu."
Devika leaned forward. "Do you know what it feels like to imagine burying your youngest sister?"
The words landed heavily and Ishaani's throat tightened.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Vedika's hand pressed gently against the blanket. "Just... don't hide things from us. We're your sisters. We can take it."
Devika nodded. "We're not spectators in your life. We're your blood."
The silence that followed was thick with emotion. Ishaani's gaze drifted, almost helplessly, toward Tara.
Tara was already watching her.
A slow, knowing smile curved her lips — the kind that made Ishaani's stomach flip.
Her eyes sparkled with something playful and dangerous at the same time.
Under the blanket, Tara's fingers found Ishaani's forearm again.
This time the touch was feather-light, teasing.
The nails of her fingers traced slow, lazy circles on sensitive skin, occasionally drifting higher, then retreating.
Ishaani's breath caught. Is this why she wanted to sit next to me?
Tara's smile deepened, amused and intimate.
She tilted her head slightly, as if they were sharing a private joke no one else could hear.
Ishaani preferred to ignore her pain when the situation asked for it.
It pained her a great deal to have her neck craned in a certain direction but she chose to still comply to her impulses simply because she wanted to look at God's best gift to herself.
Amaya squinted. "Okay... why does it suddenly feel like something is happening in this room?"
Ishaani froze yet she immediately looked at Amaya to clear out any probability that she was even looking at Tara. "Nothing's happening."
"Uh-huh," Amaya grinned, leaning forward. "You've got that guilty, dreamy look again. Spill it, babylove. What girl are you dreaming of?"
Devika's eyebrows rose. "Girl? Ishu thinks of girls now?" Vedika smiled and shook her head, "She should.....anyone would be lucky to have Ishi." Her hand simultaneously went into Ishaani's hair to caress it lovingly.
Ishaani turned bright red. "Hypothetically... what if said girl was, let's just say, older?"
Amaya let out a delighted laugh. "Mommy issues are thriving tonight!
" Devika squinted a fraction as she shared a look with Vedika, "how old are we talking about?
" Ishaani opened her mouth to respond but shut it really fast as if the thought made her blood curdle.
Though, the bravery that she bore made her utter out, "Not much. ..maybe 30 something."
"Holy fuck. A whole decade older, Ishi. You got some issues we don't know about?." Amaya said in an incredulous tone.
"N-No, No-t that I believe it."
Tara chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, but her fingers never stopped their teasing exploration beneath the blanket.
She traced a deliberate line from Ishaani's wrist up to her inner elbow, then back down, slower this time.
Her hazel eyes stayed locked on Ishaani's flushed face, clearly enjoying every second of her struggle to stay composed.
"Amaya, don't tease her too much," Tara said lightly, voice smooth and perfectly innocent for the room. "She's still recovering." Then, quieter, only for Ishaani to hear: "Though she does look very cute when she's trying not to react..."
Ishaani bit her lip hard. Heat rushed through her body. Tara's fingers circled again, teasingly light, then pressed just enough to make her shiver.
"You're evil," Ishaani mouthed silently.
Tara's eyes sparkled with mischief. She mouthed back, "uhmm, You like it."
Vedika narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing the undercurrent but unable to place it. "Age would play a significant role .... but, Whoever this hypothetical person is," she said protectively, "they better treat you right."
Tara's smile turned a touch wicked. Her fingers slid higher under the blanket, brushing just beneath Ishaani's sleeve. "I'm sure she knows exactly how to handle her," Tara said casually, as if commenting on the weather. "Probably would be very... attentive."
Ishaani's face burned hotter. She pressed her thighs together under the blanket, pulse racing. Every teasing touch, every loaded glance from Tara made her feel dizzy in the best and most dangerous way.
The conversation drifted again — hospital food complaints, Amaya's dramatic retelling of events, Devika's quiet threats of house arrest, Vedika's concerns about Aurobindo Sen's remaining connections.
Through it all, Tara stayed right there.
Teasing.
Watchful.
Her fingers continued their secret dance beneath the blanket — light strokes, playful circles, occasional gentle scratches that made Ishaani's breath hitch.
Every time Ishaani glanced at her, Tara would give her that knowing, slightly wicked little smile that promised they would continue this game properly once they were alone.
Ishaani didn't mind the wait.
She was already addicted to the way Tara could unravel her with nothing but hidden touches and teasing glances.
And Tara knew it.
___________________
The goodbyes were soft, drawn-out things laced with exhaustion and lingering fear.
Devika was the first to stand. She leaned over Ishaani, pressing a long kiss to her forehead, her palm lingering on her cheek as if memorizing the warmth. "Sleep," she ordered gently. "And if you need anything — anything at all — you call me. No matter the hour."
Vedika followed, brushing Ishaani's messy hair back with careful fingers.
"I'm right down the hall," she whispered.
"Don't hesitate." Her voice cracked just slightly at the end, the weight of the past few days still clinging to her like smoke.
She knew her little sister had a habit of never voicing out her wants even when it was absolutely necessary.
Amaya gave her a careful side-hug, mindful of both their injuries, and dropped a dramatic kiss on her cheek. "Love you, troublemaker. Try not to get kidnapped again before breakfast."
Devika swatted the back of Amaya's head and hurled her out the room. Average Devika-Amaya interaction.
Then the room emptied.
The door clicked shut behind them, and the heavy silence of the house wrapped around Ishaani once more.
She let out a long, shaky breath and reached for the remote.
Legally Blonde had been playing on low volume the entire time — a comforting, ridiculous distraction she kept returning to whenever her mind tried to wander back to cold concrete floors and Rajveer's calm voice.
On the big screen mounted on the wall across Ishaani's bed, played Legally Blonde. Elle Woods was mid-speech about bending and snapping when another soft knock came.
Ishaani's heart jumped.
"Come in."
Tara slipped inside, phone in hand, wearing an oversized soft grey t-shirt and black shorts that looked far too elegant to be sleepwear. Her hair was down, falling in loose waves around her shoulders. She looked impossibly beautiful and strangely vulnerable at the same time.
"I can't sleep alone tonight," Tara said quietly, almost shyly, though her eyes held that familiar teasing glint. "The guest room feels too empty. And too far from you."
Ishaani smiled — slow, warm, and tired. Without a word, she raised her good arm in invitation, fingers curling in a 'come here' motion.
Tara's face softened. She was about to slide onto the bed when Ishaani's voice stopped her.
"The door."
Tara paused, then let out a low, amused chuckle. "Right. Can't have your sisters walking in on us." She turned, locked the door with a quiet click, and finally crossed the room.
She slipped under the blanket carefully, mindful of Ishaani's bruises, and curled into her side. Tara's head settled on Ishaani's shoulder, one arm draping gently across her waist, careful not to press on any sore spots. She smelled like expensive body wash and home.
Ishaani resumed the movie, but her attention had shifted entirely to the woman pressed against her.
Anything in the world would turn to mush for Ishaani when Tara Kapoor molded like damp clay around Ishaani.
The way Tara was slithered around Ishaani's battered body, keeping in mind all the injured bits adorning her Ishaani's body, yet at the same time, she had her head inclined on Ishaani's steadily rising chest from where she was smiling a little at the girl.
Ishaani, ever the sap wanted to make sure that Tara was comfortable so she had circled her arm around the woman's full torso.
"You know," Tara murmured after a few minutes, voice soft against Ishaani's neck, "this movie came out before you were born. I remember dragging Vedika to watch it on opening day. She complained the entire time about how unrealistic it was, but secretly loved every second."
Ishaani smiled, turning her head slightly to brush her lips against Tara's forehead. "You and Vedika di watching Legally Blonde together feels illegal. Did she wear her 'I'm judging everything' face the whole time?"
"Constantly," Tara laughed quietly. "She kept whispering legal inaccuracies in my ear. I threatened to throw my ice cream at her just to shut her up."
Ishaani let the silence stretch comfortably for a moment, enjoying the rare openness. Tara wasn't someone who shared pieces of herself easily. These little memories felt like gifts.
"What was your first girlfriend like?" Ishaani asked softly, curiosity winning over hesitation.
She had been wanting to ask that question for a while now and in that soft ambience of warm yellows, and soft blankets with Tara's guard down, her courage took the steering and made Ishaani drive head first.
Tara stiffened for half a second, then relaxed again with a dramatic sigh.
"Oh god. Gracie. Cambridge, second year. She was... enthusiastic. Very enthusiastic." Tara's voice dropped into a teasing lilt. "Terrible in bed though. All teeth and no rhythm. I genuinely thought I was going to lose a nipple at one point. I faked it so hard I should've won an Oscar."
Ishaani giggled at first, but then went quiet, a small thread of self-consciousness creeping in. She suddenly became hyper-aware of her own inexperience compared to Tara's polished, worldly confidence.
Tara noticed immediately. There was a certain stagger in Ishaani's heart beat which made Tara aware of the change in emotion in the girl.
She shifted, propping herself up on one elbow so she could look directly at Ishaani. Her hazel eyes were warm, gentle, but carried that signature teasing spark.
"Hey," Tara said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Ishaani's face. "Don't do that. Don't compare yourself to her for even a second."
She leaned closer, lips brushing Ishaani's ear as she whispered, "You're snow on the beach, Ishi. Rare. Beautiful. The kind of thing people write poems about. She was trash on the pavement after a rainy day. Not even worth remembering."
Ishaani let out a watery giggle, the insecurity melting under Tara's words and that devastating smile.
Tara's gaze dropped to Ishaani's lips and just like that the air between them thickened.
Then just like pieces of puzzle falling into place, Tara's lips connected with hers.
It started soft — a gentle press of lips, almost reverent. But Ishaani's hand slid up Tara's thigh instinctively, fingers squeezing the firm muscle there, and Tara's breath hitched. Her own hand moved, palm cupping Ishaani's breast through the thin t-shirt, thumb brushing over the peak.
It surely acted as timber in the fire, for the intensity only superposed constructively making Tara latch onto Ishaani even further than possible.
Tara made a low sound in her throat and shifted, carefully maneuvering them until Ishaani was lying comfortably on her back and Tara was conveniently looming over Ishaani's body in all her elegance resonating with one of a panther's.
Tara hovered over her, one knee gently nudging Ishaani's legs apart just enough to settle between them without putting weight on her injuries.
The kiss turned stormier — hungry, consuming.
Tara's tongue traced Ishaani's lower lip before slipping inside, tasting, claiming.
Ishaani whimpered softly into her mouth, one hand tangling in Tara's hair, the other gripping her waist. Every brush of Tara's body against hers sent sparks racing across her skin.
Tara's hand continued its slow exploration — squeezing, caressing, teasing the curve of Ishaani's neck while her mouth moved with devastating skill.
They broke apart for air, foreheads pressed together, breathing ragged.
"You have no idea what you do to me," Tara whispered, voice husky. She kissed the corner of Ishaani's mouth, then her jaw, then lower, lips brushing over the fading bruise on her neck with aching tenderness. "Every time I look at you... I want to keep you right here. Safe. Mine."
Ishaani shivered, arching slightly into the touch. "Keep me," she breathed. "I wouldn't like anything more."
Tara smiled against her skin — that teasing, slightly wicked smile that made Ishaani's heart race. "That was the only correct answer."
The praise sent a fresh wave of heat through Ishaani. Tara captured her lips again, slower this time, savoring. Her hand slipped under Ishaani's shirt, palm warm against bare skin, tracing gentle patterns that made Ishaani's toes curl.
They stayed like that for a long time — kissing, touching, whispering soft things between heated breaths. Tara was careful, always mindful of every bruise and ache, but the hunger between them was undeniable. The movie played on in the background, completely forgotten.
At one point Tara pulled back just enough to look at her, eyes dark with want but full of something deeper.
"I meant what I said earlier," she murmured, brushing her thumb across Ishaani's swollen lower lip. "You're snow on the beach, Ishi. And I'm never letting anyone dull that shine again."
Ishaani pulled her back down into another kiss, this one slower, sweeter, filled with all the reverence she felt for the woman above her.
Outside, the house slept.
Inside this room, wrapped in each other's warmth, two hearts finally found a moment of real peace — tangled limbs, shared breaths, and the quiet promise of more to come.
__________
Morning light slipped through the gaps in the heavy curtains, soft and golden, like the world was giving them a gentle nudge instead of ripping the blanket away.
Ishaani woke up slowly, warmer than she had been in days.
There was a solid weight beside her, an arm draped possessively across her waist, and soft breathing against her neck.
Tara.
Ishaani smiled before she even opened her eyes.
This was the first time she had woken up next to Tara.
Really next to her. Not stolen kisses in the garden or quick stolen moments in the car, but properly tangled together in bed.
Tara's leg was hooked over hers, face buried in the crook of her neck, hair spilling across the pillow like dark silk.
She looked peaceful. Almost soft.
Ishaani's heart did a ridiculous little flip. She turned her head and pressed a tiny kiss to Tara's temple.
Tara stirred, making a low, sleepy hum that sent butterflies straight through Ishaani's stomach. "Mmm... too early," she mumbled, nuzzling closer. Her arm tightened around Ishaani's waist. "Stay."
Ishaani chuckled softly. "You're cuddly in the morning. Who knew Tara Kapoor was a cuddler?"
"Only for you," Tara murmured, voice husky with sleep. She finally lifted her head, hazel eyes still heavy-lidded, and gave Ishaani the softest smile she had ever seen on her face. "Good morning, Bambi."
Ishaani's eyes opened too wider than usual, and she heard herself say, "Bro, why Bambi?"
Tara squinted her eyes, and raised an eyebrow after the certain endearment from her partner, "First of all, 'bro'? We're literally dating you idiot. Second.... you're bambi because you're adorable and clumsy and I like you doe eyes. Got a better nickname....bro?"
Ishaani just laughed out in a heartfelt way and pulled Tara inn by the waist to fill the non-existent space between them.
She leaned in and kissed Ishaani — slow, warm, and sweet. The kind of kiss that made everything else disappear for a moment. Ishaani melted into it, fingers threading through Tara's shirt as her hand slithered along the smooth skin till she reached the delectable curve of her woman.
Knock knock knock.
"Ishu? You awake, baby?" Devika's voice rang clear through the door. "We brought breakfast. Vedika made you coffee....the way you like it."
Ishaani and Tara froze mid-kiss.
"Fuck," Tara whispered against Ishaani's lips.
"Shit— shit— shit—" Ishaani panicked, eyes wide.
Tara moved like lightning. She rolled off the bed with graceful urgency, smoothing her hair and tugging her t-shirt down. Ishaani yanked the blanket up to her chin and tried to look innocent.
"Door!" Ishaani hissed.
Tara nodded sharply and moved toward the door, but it was too late to create distance. She quickly grabbed her phone from the nightstand and leaned casually against the door frame like she had just walked in.
Devika knocked again. "Ishaani?"
Tara took a deep breath, composed her face into something close to normal, and unlocked the door. She opened it just a crack at first, then wider, smiling smoothly.
"Good morning," she said, perfectly polite. "She's awake but still a little sleepy."
Devika, Vedika, and Amaya stood in the hallway holding trays loaded with food, coffee, and concern.
Amaya's eyes immediately narrowed. "Why was the door locked?"
Tara didn't miss a beat. "Nightmare. She woke up around three and couldn't settle. I came to check on her and stayed until she fell asleep again. I must have dozed off in the chair."
She gestured vaguely toward the armchair in the corner — which looked far too neat to have been slept in.
Vedika stared at the bed. Then at Tara's slightly rumpled hair. Then at Ishaani, who was trying (and failing) to look casual.
Devika raised one elegant eyebrow. "And you slept... in the chair?"
"Of course," Tara said, the picture of innocence. "Where else would I sleep?"
Amaya grinned like a shark. "Who knew Tara Kapoor had it in herself to care about things other than fame and money. Ishi, was she really there to check on you?"
Ishaani made a strangled sound from the bed. "Yes, she did. She even got me a chocolate to help me sleep better. It's not like she caused me any discomfort....she's really nice. Nice. yeah."
Tara pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly fighting a laugh.
Vedika crossed her arms. "You're a terrible liar, Ishu."
"I'm not lying!" Ishaani protested, voice going higher. "She is. I swear on... on Elle Woods!"
Amaya burst out laughing. "Elle Woods? That's your holy witness?"
Devika sighed, long and tired, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Fine. We won't interrogate you while you're still healing." She gave Tara a long, measuring look. "For now."
They finally entered the room and arranged the breakfast trays on the bed. Tara stayed close to Ishaani the entire time, occasionally brushing her fingers against Ishaani's under the blanket when no one was looking — light, teasing touches that made Ishaani nearly choke on her coffee.
Amaya kept shooting them suspicious glances but eventually got distracted by narrating her dramatic version of events again.
When the sisters finally started clearing the trays to leave, Tara leaned down close to Ishaani's ear while pretending to adjust her pillow.
"Close call, Bambi," she whispered, voice low and amused. "You almost got us caught."
Ishaani turned bright red. "You're the one who kept kissing me."
Tara smirked. "Uhmm....And I'll do it again tonight."
As the door finally closed behind the sisters, Ishaani let out a huge breath and collapsed back against the pillows.
Tara climbed back onto the bed immediately, crawling over her with a playful grin. "Now... where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?"
Ishaani laughed, pulling Tara down into another kiss — this one much bolder than the morning's first.