Layers of Us

Chapter 67: Messed Up!

The next day, Ram arrived on set earlier than usual, only to notice Tripura was already there, standing by the monitor, preparing for her scene.

From afar, he observed her. There was something different about her today — her eyes sparkled with an unguarded happiness, and her laughter sounded light and genuine. He smiled faintly to himself, a warm pride filling his chest. “She’s smiling again,” he thought.

Ram shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts, and walked towards his vanity to get ready.

When he returned, Tripura was seated with a small group of people, chatting animatedly. He hesitated for a moment before approaching her. She sensed his presence even before he spoke, tilting her head towards him with a gentle smile.

"Hello, sir," she greeted, her tone warm.

"Hello, Tripura," Ram replied, a smile spreading across his face. “How are you doing now?”

Her smile widened. "Much better, sir. Thank you," she said softly, her gratitude genuine.

He nodded and stepped back, leaving the group, though his heart felt lighter. Seeing her so at ease with him after so long gave him hope. “This is working. Step by step, she’s coming back,” he thought.

But before he could dwell on that thought for too long, the sound of a car engine pulled his attention. A sleek white BMW pulled up near the set, and from it stepped Ranveer, holding a bouquet of roses.

Ram froze, his smile fading as his eyes followed the scene. Right behind Ranveer, a flurry of reporters with cameras came rushing in.

“What’s he doing here?” Ram muttered under his breath, his gaze narrowing.
Ranveer walked past Ram without a glance, heading straight for Tripura. She looked up in surprise, visibly caught off guard by his sudden appearance. Ram watched closely, his heart sinking as Ranveer grabbed Tripura’s hand and gently pulled her to her feet.

“Ranveer?” Tripura asked, her tone laced with confusion. “What’s all this?”

Ranveer simply smiled at her, saying nothing as he led her a few steps away, closer to the buzzing crowd of reporters. Cameras flashed incessantly, and the crew gathered, murmuring among themselves.

Tripura tried to pull her hand back, still bewildered. "Ranveer, what’s going on?"

But Ranveer didn’t answer. Instead, he knelt down in front of her, pulling out a bouquet of vibrant red roses and handing them to her with a smile. Tripura took the bouquet hesitantly, her expression still confused, darting between Ranveer and the crowd.

And then, Ranveer reached into his pocket, pulling out a velvet box. He opened it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring, and the crowd gasped.

“Tripura,” Ranveer began, his voice warm and steady. “I never thought there would come a day when I’d love someone more than myself. But here I am, kneeling in front of the woman who means the world to me.”

Tripura’s breath hitched. Her eyes widened, her mind racing. She hadn’t seen Ranveer in weeks — why was this happening now?

Ranveer continued, his voice brimming with emotion. “I can’t stay away from you anymore, not even for a moment. You’ve become my everything, Tripura. And today, I want the world to know just how much I love you.”

He reached for her left hand, holding it gently. “So, Ms. Tripura Nagrajan, will you do me the honor of being my forever? Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”