ᴅɪʟ ᴋɪ ɴᴀʏɪ ᴅʜᴀᴅᴋᴀɴ

c h a p t e r 29

It was already nightfall by the time Vikram and Parwati returned to the palace. The sprawling corridors were dimly lit, their footsteps echoing off the polished marble floors as they made their way to the dining hall. When they arrived, they found it empty—the long table set but untouched, the chandeliers casting a warm, golden light over the vacant room. It seemed that everyone else, including Vaibhav and Vikram's grandfather, had already retired for the night. The only sounds were the faint crackling of the fire in the hearth and the soft clinking of their cutlery as they began their meal.

They ate in silence, but it was a companionable silence, one that reminded Parwati of the night they had shared a meal alone at the campsite, beneath a canopy of stars. That night had been a turning point for her, a moment when she realized that silence with Vikram didn't have to be awkward or strained. Tonight, the quiet between them felt similarly comfortable.

Despite feeling a little drained after recounting her story earlier, even though she had withheld the darkest parts, Parwati now felt lighter. The burden she had carried alone for so long seemed to have lessened, as if the simple act of sharing had lifted some of the weight from her chest.

She glanced over at Vikram, hoping to see a similar sense of calm on his face. But instead, she found him frowning down at his plate, his brow furrowed in thought. The tension in his features was unmistakable—something was clearly troubling him. He had been unusually quiet since their time at the lake, and Parwati couldn't help but wonder if something she had said had caused this change in him.

"Vi-Vikram?" she ventured hesitantly, still getting used to addressing him by his name. When he didn't respond, she repeated, a little louder "Vikram?"

He blinked, as if pulled from deep contemplation, and looked up at her. "Yes?"

"Are you... are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.

"I'm fine" Vikram replied quickly, sitting up straighter in his chair as if to reinforce his words. But the forced smile he gave her was more of a grimace, doing little to hide the tension still etched on his face. "Just tired."

Parwati studied him for a moment, not entirely convinced, but she chose not to press the issue. She nodded slightly, acknowledging his words even though she wasn't sure she believed them.

With a small sigh, she returned her attention to her meal, though her appetite had faded. She couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them, that the openness they had begun to share was now overshadowed by whatever was troubling Vikram.

~✦✼✦✼✦~

Inside the guest chamber, Vikram swiftly shrugged off his kurta, his actions quick and almost mechanical. He made no effort to wait for Parwati, instead laying down on his side of the bed without hesitation. Covering his eyes with one arm, he seemed intent on shutting out the world, sinking into the pillows, determined to fall asleep immediately.

Parwati, on the other hand, moved with quiet deliberation. She carefully removed her jewelry, placing each piece gently on the dressing table. The soft clink of metal against wood was the only sound in the otherwise silent room. Once finished, she walked over to the bed and sat down on her side, leaning back against the headboard.

She stole a glance at Vikram, his form still and tense as he lay there, his arm draped over his eyes. Her gaze lingered on the strong, muscular lines of his arm, recalling how those same arms had cradled her when she woke up in the tent, holding her close in the quiet of the morning. She remembered how they had comforted her the night before, wrapping her in warmth and safety when she needed it most. Now, as she looked at him, she found herself longing for that closeness again, yearning for the security of being held in his embrace.