In the Wake of Us

Chapter 5: Here I go.

It's here guys! 

Virat's POV

These family dinners were getting out of hand—insufferable, to say the least.

The dining room, vast as a house in Mumbai, was adorned with three grand chandeliers casting a golden-yellow radiance over the mahogany table, polished to perfection. Wine glasses gleamed, and everything around him screamed wealth. Virat was cushioned in luxury, and he knew it. But he also knew how close he'd come to losing it all.

"You can't say no to everyone, Virat. These are the most beautiful, well-mannered girls I've handpicked for you," his mother, Dhriti, said, her voice soft, but there was an undercurrent of desperation.

She was the picture of elegance, as always. Her doe-like eyes, full lips, and delicate features had once made her the most desired woman among royalty. But years of emotional turmoil had etched invisible lines on her soul. Dhriti was beautiful, yes, but she wore her beauty like armor—covering the deep, unseen cracks within. She had lived a life without the love she deserved, and now, she desperately wished her son wouldn't suffer the same fate.

Her gaze flickered across the table, where her husband sat silent. Adhiraj's once-regal posture had given way to the slump of a man defeated by his choices. He rarely spoke now, but Dhriti had long stopped expecting him to. What stung more was his presence—his silent regret that lingered in the air, never quite leaving the room, never quite addressed.

"You make it sound like shopping, Mom," Abhimanyu, her younger son, interjected, breaking the tension. His laughter was light, a carefree snicker. More like her golden child.

Virat smirked at his brother. To him, Abhi was the only one with the right to be a brat. Everyone else? He loathed them with all his might. He may have been born a prince, but he had never truly lived like one. Life had happened too fast, and he had been too close to losing everything—the status, the money, the life of privilege. A little boy who never really had the chance to be a boy.

"Sorry, Mom," Virat said, "I'm swamped with work. The next quarter is packed with tenders and deals—I don't have time to window shop for brides."

Dhriti's smile faltered, just for a moment. She had spent her entire life in a loveless marriage, always the dutiful queen, but the void in her heart had never been filled. She had never known love as it should be. She had loved her sons fiercely, more than her own life. And now, seeing Virat grow into this hardened man—it hurt in ways she couldn't describe. Her greatest fear was that Virat would end up like his father, unable to find love, unable to give it. She couldn't bear the thought of him being alone.

"Virat, I just want you to find someone... not just anyone," she began, her voice tinged with longing.

This time, it was Adhiraj who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His son had become a man without him. He could see it now, in the way Virat handled the family business, in his sharp, emotionless gaze. It was the same gaze Adhiraj had when he was forced into a marriage that wasn't his choice. And yet, as he looked at Virat, a small part of him regretted being absent for most of his son's life. But what could he do now? The damage had been done.

"Let him be, Dhriti," Adhiraj said gruffly, his voice cracking from years of alcohol abuse. He wanted to say more—something about how proud he was of his son, how sorry he was for everything. But the words stayed locked inside, suffocated by his shame.

Virat didn't even glance in his father's direction. The cold distance between them was too vast, the years too late for any reconciliation. His father's voice had long since ceased to matter.

"I'll be in LA over the weekend," Virat continued, pushing aside the conversation. "I need to finalize the design for our new office there."

His words fell into the silence of the room. Three pairs of eyes could only communicate through brief, wordless glances. The Khannas had learned long ago that mouths were rarely put to good use when it came to family matters.

As Dhriti watched Virat rise from the table, her heart ached with the same familiar pain. She had always wanted more for him, for her children. She had dreamed that they would find the love she never could. But now, watching Virat walk away, she feared it might be too late for him.

They all knew what Virat had become. And Virat knew it too. He owned his worth, but it came at a cost that no one else could fully understand.

Tara's POV

"Bruno! Bruno! Come on, baby, let go!" Tara pleaded, her laughter mixing with frustration as she tried to pull away from the dog's grip. Bruno, was firmly clamped onto her leg, his big eyes staring up at her with a mix of confusion and sadness. "I know, sweetheart, I know," she said softly, her voice faltering for a moment. "But if you act like this, how will I ever leave?"

Her brother, Mayur, stood nearby, watching the scene unfold with a knowing smile. He had always marveled at how close Tara and Bruno were—like two halves of the same soul. They had been through everything together: every move, every heartbreak, every lonely night. Bruno had always been there, his head resting on her lap, as if to say, "I'm here."

"You go, Tara," Mayur finally intervened, gently prying Bruno away from her. The dog let out a small whimper, still not fully letting go, but enough for her to slip away.

"Yeah, sure you will," Tara said with a playful smirk, ruffling Bruno's fur one last time. "Don't break his heart too much, alright? You know how he feels about me leaving."

"Heartless," Mayur muttered, shaking his head. But the small grin on his face said it all. He pulled his sister into a hug, holding on a little tighter than usual. "Okay, sis, you take care. Rock that trip and don't forget to call me when you land."

Tara took a deep breath, the reality of her impending departure sinking in. "I will, don't worry." She stepped back, eyes glancing over at Bruno once more. "And you... take care of him, okay? Keep me posted about his meals, and make sure he doesn't get too moody. Oh, and don't forget to take care of yourself too, alright? Tell Mom and Dad I said goodbye—they're probably sleeping-let them. And hey," she added with a wink, "be nice to Bruno."

Mayur laughed, leaning against the doorway as Tara hopped into the Uber. "We'll be fine. You just focus on having an amazing time in LA."

As the car pulled away, Tara's heart felt heavy. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass window, watching the familiar streets blur into the background. This trip was supposed to be an adventure, her first real step into something new.

"This is what you've been waiting for. Time to take a step forward."

As the car approached the airport, Tara glanced at her phone, scrolling through the messages from her friends. Words of encouragement, excitement, and a few jokes about her finally leaving her small bubble. She smiled to herself. This was her chance to see the world, to break out of the mundane routine she had been trapped in. But as much as she craved this adventure, a part of her still longed for the comfort of home.

She clutched her backpack a little tighter, feeling the familiar weight of it against her chest. "Alright, LA," she murmured. "Let's see what you've got."

I know I know, when will they meet?- Tonight as in the next Chapter! 

Let me know how you feel about this chapter and rest assured, the next one will be bomb! 

see you later my lovlies!  

and ha, vote and comment, it motivates me continue!