The early morning sun bathed the city in a soft, golden glow, but neither Ram nor Tripura felt the warmth. For them, the dawn brought only restless thoughts and unresolved tension.
Ram stood on the balcony of his hotel room, overlooking the city. The cool breeze tousled his hair, but it did little to calm the storm inside him.
He hadn’t slept. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Tripura standing beside Palash, exchanging rings, played in a maddening loop in his mind.
Vikram came beside him “Bhai, you need to talk to her,” his voice came through, firm yet empathetic.
“There’s nothing to say,” Ram replied, his tone cold.
Vikram sighed “You’re lying to yourself. Go see her, clear this mess. You can’t keep punishing yourself like this.”
Ram’s grip on the railings tightened. “She’s made her choice.”
“And you think she’s happy about it?” Vikram shot back. “You saw her last night. She’s as lost as you are.”
Ram didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “I’ll think about it,” he finally said.
---
In her hotel room, Tripura sat by the window, sipping tea that had long gone cold. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind — the announcement, the forced smiles, Ram’s piercing gaze that seemed to demand answers she couldn’t give.
A knock on the door broke her reverie. It was Palash, looking unusually serious.
“Morning, Princess,” he greeted, handing her a bag.
“What’s this?” she asked, frowning.
“Breakfast,” he said, sitting on the couch. “Figured you’d need some company after last night.”
Tripura smiled faintly but didn’t touch the food. “Palash, about yesterday...I’m sorry. I should’ve —”
“Stop,” he interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. “You don’t have to apologize. I know you didn’t want that announcement any more than I did.”
She looked down, her fingers playing with the edge of her robe. “I feel trapped, Palash. Like no matter what I do, I can’t escape this...this chaos.”
Palash moved to sit beside her, placing a reassuring hand on hers. “You’re not alone in this, Tipsy. We’ll figure it out together. But maybe...maybe it’s time you stop running from him.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide. “What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” Palash said, his gaze steady. “You can’t ignore what’s between you and Ram forever. It’s eating you alive.”
Tripura opened her mouth to protest but found no words. Instead, she looked away, her heart pounding.
Palash took her hand in his, giving it a light squeeze and said, "Tipsy, let's meet Ram together and figure this out! Okay?".
YOU ARE READING
Layers of Us
General FictionIn a world where tradition dictates the heart, Tripura Nagrajan finds herself trapped in an arranged marriage she never wanted. A compassionate soul with a passion for animals and a thriving career as a psychologist, actress, and business tycoon, T...
