"No, Vairagya... that's impossible... Didi doesn't even have a male friend, let alone a boyfriend... you must be mistaken," Rajveer said firmly.
"I saw her myself, Raaz... she was with him... do you know how much it hurt to see her with someone else? I felt like burning everything down... even myself... Tell me, Raaz, what's lacking in me? I'll change myself for her. Doesn't she like my face? Do I get angry too much? Or is it because I tease her? Please, Raaz, tell her I won't tease her... I won't even get angry. I'll do whatever she says, but please... she shouldn't leave me... The Vairagya Rajvansh who never bows before anyone is ready to kneel before his love... just ask her not to leave me..." he kept saying until he started fainting.
"Vairagya, did you see that guy...? Vairagya... please tell me..." but Vairagya had already lost consciousness, his head resting on Rajveer's shoulder. Rajveer panicked and quickly supported him.
Rajveer couldn't take Vairagya home in this state, so he laid him down in the office cabin and immediately called Sarangi.
"Yes, Raaz..." Sarangi answered. Her voice sounded a little gloomy.
"Where are you, Didi?" Rajveer asked.
"At home, in Shikha's room..." she replied.
"Come outside, I'm coming to pick you up..." Rajveer said.
"But Raaz..." she tried to speak, but he hung up before she could finish.
"Shikha, Raaz is coming to pick me up. I'm going with him," Sarangi informed.
Shikha saw an opportunity. If Sarangi wasn't home, she could get closer to Vairagya easily."Yeah, alright..." she said.
Soon, Rajveer arrived and Sarangi was already waiting.
"Where are we going, Raaz?" Sarangi asked.
"You'll find out soon..." Rajveer replied.
Soon they stood outside a lavish office building.
"Where are we?" Sarangi asked in surprise.
"Your husband's office," Rajveer replied.
"This is his office?" Sarangi asked, looking up at the tall building, in disbelief that Vairagya was such a big businessman.
"Yes, it's all his... now let's go in," Rajveer said and gestured her to follow.
"But why me, Raaz?" Sarangi asked, confused.
"Because your husband needs you..." Rajveer said.
"What happened to him, Raaz...? Is he alright?" Sarangi asked, worried.
"Just see for yourself..." he said, pressing the lift button.
The cabin door opened and Sarangi entered. Vairagya was lying on the sofa, his eyes closed, his face clearly showing exhaustion.
"What happened to him?" Sarangi asked Rajveer, alarmed.
"He drank alcohol..." Rajveer whispered.
"What?" Sarangi gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Yes, and I can't take him home or he'll be banned for life. Your mother-in-law absolutely hates drinkers," Rajveer explained.
"So what now, Raaz...?" Sarangi asked worriedly.
"He has a private room here. I'll put him there and tell home that you two are on a date..." Rajveer said, thinking out loud.
"Raaz..." Sarangi didn't feel good about lying.
"And what else should I say, Didi? That your husband came home drunk and collapsed? What kind of respect would that leave for my jiju..." Rajveer said helplessly.
"But why did he even drink...?" Sarangi asked sadly.
Rajveer recalled Vairagya's emotional confession and smiled."You can twist his ears tomorrow and ask him yourself..."
Saying this, he walked over to Vairagya and helped him up. Vairagya stumbled, and Sarangi instinctively supported him."Careful, Raaz..." she said.
Rajveer laid him on the bed and told Sarangi,"He has clothes here, but I'll still send some from home... if you need anything or if there's any problem, just call me..."
Sarangi nodded, and Rajveer left, locking the cabin securely from outside.
Sarangi sat at the bedside and gently caressed his head. After a while, Vairagya opened his eyes and said,"You're here, my love..."
"Love...? Who are you talking about?" Sarangi asked in shock.
"My love? Who else could it be...?" Vairagya said tenderly, his eyes heavy with sleep and alcohol.
Sarangi thought perhaps Vairagya had a girlfriend whom he called "love." Her eyes welled up with tears.
"Why are you crying, my love...? Did I do something wrong...? Did I hurt you...?" Vairagya asked, concerned.
He gently brushed his thumb over her lips, and a strange shiver ran through her body. A strange emotion overtook her.
She stared at him with wide eyes, her heart beating faster.
"I lose myself whenever I see you, my love... I love you... I love you a lot... I love you, my jaan..." he whispered and leaned in to capture her lips in a kiss.
Sarangi's eyes widened even more. She couldn't understand what was happening. She tried to push him away, but he held her hands above her head, his grip strong.
She was about to lose herself in the kiss when she remembered—Vairagya probably thought she was someone else, someone he loved. That thought made her struggle.
"Stay still for a moment, my love..." he said, pulling away only to kiss her again.
Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
Seeing her cry, Vairagya stopped."What happened, my love...? Did I hurt you...? Is it painful...?"
"Why don't you go kiss your 'love' instead...?" Sarangi said angrily.
"I am kissing her," Vairagya smiled mischievously, his eyes gleaming.
"I'm not your love..." Sarangi said, annoyed.
"Yes, you are... you always will be..." Vairagya said lovingly and leaned in again.
"Mr. Rajvansh, you're drunk..." Sarangi said sternly.
"Drunk on your love..." Vairagya said, gazing at her with affection.
"Please just sleep..." Sarangi requested, not wanting to engage with him in his drunken state.
"Then you put me to sleep..." he said like a stubborn child.
"You're not a child who needs lullabies..." Sarangi said in irritation.
"Then I won't sleep... I'll keep bothering you like this..." he said with a naughty smile.
Sarangi glared at him. He was acting like a spoiled kid who wouldn't listen.
"If I put you to sleep, will you sleep then?" Sarangi tried one last time.
"No doubt about that, my love..." Vairagya teased.
"Don't call me that..." she scolded again.
"I'll keep calling you that... my love, my sweetheart, my baby... what will you do?" he winked.
Sarangi glared again, but he ignored it.
"Alright, go to sleep now..." she said, sitting by his pillow.
"Not like that..." he pouted.
"Then how?" she asked.
"By holding my love in my arms..." he said and pulled her into his embrace.
Sarangi's head rested on his chest, her hands on his stomach. In that moment, countless emotions flooded her. A strange comfort settled over her. She could clearly hear his heartbeat.
Wrapped in Vairagya's arms, Sarangi felt her breath pause. His heartbeat echoed in her ears like music. A peaceful stillness enveloped her restless heart. His warm breath tickled her hair and his scent intoxicated her.
Her hands, once still on his stomach, slowly moved to his waist. A strange pull made her hug him tighter. She felt the warmth of his chest on her forehead, and her eyelids began to grow heavy.
Vairagya's grip tightened, as if he never wanted to let her go. His lips gently kissed her hair.
Even in his drunken state, every touch was full of love and possessiveness.
Sarangi's anger and irritation started to melt. At that moment, Shikha's words, Ajit's behavior, Vairagya's coldness—all felt like distant echoes. In that moment, in his intoxicated embrace, Vairagya was just her husband, and his arms felt like a safe home.
She closed her eyes and unknowingly buried her face deeper into his chest. After days of turmoil, she felt a little peace. Vairagya's drunken murmurs sounded like honey in her ears, and slowly, she too slipped into the arms of sleep. In that room, at that time, there were only two beating hearts and a deep comfort that words could never fully describe.