Layers of Us

Chapter 63: Not giving up!

All four of them settled into the plush lounge, the air thick with an unspoken tension. Ram chose a seat directly opposite Tripura, while she deliberately sat beside Aditya. Palash, as always, took the diagonal seat, trying to balance the energy in the room.

Ram’s gaze was unwavering, piercing through Tripura’s calm facade. She could feel it, like an invisible weight pressing against her. But she couldn’t afford to slip — not now. She had to maintain her act, to ensure that Ram believed the lie she had so carefully crafted. She couldn’t let him suspect that she remembered everything and that it had all been part of a plan.

Sensing the tension, Palash cleared his throat and broke the silence. “Ram yaar, you’ve gained so much weight! What’s going on, man?”

Ram leaned back in his seat, shrugging casually. “Arey, it’s nothing yaar. I just haven’t had the motivation to do much for myself lately.”

His words hit Tripura like a dagger, the ache spreading through her chest. She fought to keep her expression neutral, forcing herself to focus on the conversation as though she were just another stranger in the room.

Ram continued, his tone light but with a hint of something deeper. “And on top of that, one of my movie roles demanded I gain weight. So, I thought, why not? Right, Tripura?” He suddenly directed the question toward her. His voice held a warmth that threatened to unravel her composure. “In our profession, we keep experimenting, don’t we?”

Tripura nodded, her tone calm and professional. “Absolutely right, sir. Our profession demands a lot from us. Adaptability is key.”

“Ram,” he corrected gently, smiling. “Call me Ram, not sir. ‘Sir’ makes me feel like an old man, and I’m not that old!” He chuckled, trying to keep the mood light.

Tripura forced a polite laugh, her mask firmly in place. “Haha, yes. But it’s a matter of respect, sir. I’ve seen your work, and you were commendable in Shakti. That level of performance commands respect for a senior artist.” She offered a small, restrained smile.

Ram nodded, his smile dimming slightly. “Okay, whatever suits you. But I can call you Tripura, right? Or should I start calling you ‘ma’am’?” He laughed, trying to tease her.

Tripura returned his smile, keeping her tone measured. “You can call me Tripura, sir. I wouldn’t mind.”

Ram exhaled, accepting the distance she was carefully maintaining. “Fair enough,” he replied with a faint smile, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of disappointment.

The conversation shifted as the food arrived, and the aroma filled the room. Everyone turned their attention to the dishes in front of them. Tripura, relieved for the distraction, focused on her plate, savoring each bite in silence.

Ram, on the other hand, found himself unable to focus entirely on his food. Every now and then, his gaze drifted toward Tripura, catching glimpses of her delicate movements and her composed demeanor.

He tried to distract himself by engaging Palash in discussions about the project, but his attention kept straying to her.

Tripura felt his gaze but kept her focus firmly on her meal, as if she were oblivious to his lingering attention. For her, this was a battle — a battle to keep her emotions at bay, to convince herself that this was the right choice, even as her heart ached for the man sitting across from her.

-----------

After finishing their dinner, Palash stood up, stretching slightly. “Ram, we’ll see you tomorrow at the site then,” he said casually.