Chapter 43-No More Words
Vikram did something Vinaya did not expect.
He stopped trying to convince her.
No speeches.
No declarations.
No dramatic gifts.
He simply stayed.
Not constantly.
That would have suffocated her.
He returned to his duties.
He attended council.
Inspected military posts.
Settled disputes.
And every day, in some small way, he made room for her.
If he said he would meet her at sunset, he arrived at sunset.
If she wanted solitude, he gave it.
If she disagreed with him, he listened.
When she woke frightened one night, he sat on the floor beside the bed until she asked him to come closer.
He never once complained.
Weeks passed.
Vinaya began noticing the consistency against her will.
One morning, she found a document outside her study.
No flowers.
No romantic message.
Just a note.
You were right about the river tariffs.
The council changed them.
—V
Vinaya smiled.
She caught herself and stopped.
Ridiculous man.
When Vikram left for a three-day inspection of the northern fortifications, Vinaya expected relief.
Instead, dinner felt strange.
Too quiet.
On the second day, Balram caught her looking toward the entrance.
"Waiting for someone?"
"No."
"Interesting."
"What?"
"I didn't mention Vikram."
Vinaya glared.
Balram grinned and stole a sweet from her plate.
She slapped his hand.
"Go away."
"Gladly."
He did not.
On the third evening, rain delayed the royal party.
Vinaya read the same page six times.
Parvati eventually lowered her embroidery.
"You could simply admit you miss him."
"I could also throw that embroidery into the fire."
Parvati smiled.
Vinaya looked toward the door again.
Nothing.
Later, she went to bed annoyed with herself.
Near midnight, horses entered the courtyard.
Vinaya sat upright.
Her heart leapt.
She was halfway out of bed before she stopped.
Silence.
Then footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Familiar.
Measured.
Vikram.
Vinaya stared at the door.
A moment later, there was a gentle knock.
She did not answer immediately.
Because she had just discovered something far more frightening than Vikram saying he loved her.
She had been waiting for him to come home.