Layers of Us

Chapter 71: Searching Comfort

Now, standing there watching him gulp down the lemon juice, Tripura couldn't help but sigh. "You're such a mess, Mr. Kapoor," she mumbled under her breath, her arms crossing instinctively.

Ram, though still groggy and battling the pounding headache, caught her words. He looked up at her, his eyes laced with guilt and a faint hint of embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Tripura..." he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Tripura narrowed her eyes, the sternness in her gaze undeniable. "You better be. Next time, try not to self-destruct, okay?" Her tone was sharp, but the underlying worry was hard to miss.

Ram chuckled softly despite the throbbing pain in his head. "Noted, Tipsy," he replied with a faint smile, though deep inside, the hollow ache that had driven him to the bar lingered, gnawing at his chest.

There was a moment of heavy silence before Ram hesitated and finally asked, "Ahm... did you... bring me back?" His eyes searched hers, trying to piece together the blank spots in his memory.

Tripura sighed again and simply nodded. "Yes."

His brows furrowed in confusion. "But... how did you even know where I was?"

Tripura, having anticipated this question, kept her expression neutral. "Someone from the pub called," she said smoothly. "They said you were drunk and causing a scene. And well, since we're celebrities, things like that could damage our image-not to mention the movie we're working on. I had to step in before it got out of hand."

Ram nodded, accepting her explanation, though a small part of him felt something was off. But his pounding headache didn't let him dwell on it for long.

Tripura, on the other hand, kept a calm façade, hiding the emotional storm that last night had stirred within her. "Rest up, Mr. Kapoor. And next time-less drama, please," she muttered before walking away, leaving Ram to sit there, the hollow emptiness from last night lingering heavier than ever.

Ram sat there on the bed, the now empty glass still in his hands, his mind swirling with scattered thoughts. The bitter taste of lemon lingered on his tongue, but it did little to wash away the bitterness in his heart.

"She came for me... but only because of the damn image thing," he thought, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. But deep down, he couldn't deny the warmth that bloomed at the fact that she had still come.

Meanwhile, Tripura stood in the kitchen, her hands resting on the counter as she stared blankly at the wall. Her mind kept replaying the events of last night-his drunken confessions, the kisses, the tenderness she hadn't felt in years. It felt like a cruel joke, a fleeting moment that wasn't truly hers.

She pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to shove the emotions aside. "It was nothing. He won't even remember it. It didn't mean anything," she told herself, though her heart stung at the thought.

Back in the room, Ram rubbed his temples and then called out, "Tipsy?"

Tripura took a second before responding, masking her emotions. "Haan, Mr. Kapoor?"

"Thanks... for last night. And for, you know, getting me back safely."

She walked back into the room, her face neutral, though her heart raced. "I didn't do it for you, Mr. Kapoor. I did it for our reputations," she replied curtly, though her voice wavered just slightly.

Ram smiled weakly, seeing right through her. "You always say that."

An awkward silence filled the room, heavy and unspoken.