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Jhankar was trying on some dresses. Since Vikrant had brought her here suddenly, she didn’t have anything with her — not even clothes. Even Vikrant hadn’t brought anything for himself. Everything had been unexpected. After selecting a few trousers and T-shirts for Vikrant, Jhankar started walking toward the changing rooms, when Vikrant quickly said,.

“I’ll stand outside the changing room. The bodyguards aren’t allowed in this area.”

“Why do you always make everything so complicated?” Jhankar replied. “Look, take this promise from me —I’m not going to run away. We came here to spend some good time together, so push away any small fears you have and quickly go change. Come back and show me how you look.”

Vikrant glanced at her for a moment, then scanned the shop. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. His habit of staying overly cautious with everything came from being responsible for his family’s wealth and safety. He knew that his constant alertness sometimes bothered Jhankar too, but he couldn’t help it — it had become part of him.

Just as he started walking toward the changing rooms next to Jhankar, the attendant said politely,

“Sir, this is the ladies’ changing room. You’ll need to go to the opposite side.”

Jhankar heard this and smiled, teasing Vikrant playfully. He smiled back and walked away. She quickly changed and stepped out, and by then Vikrant had also finished changing. The moment they saw each other, both smiled. Jhankar straightened his collar and said,

“This color really suits you. I don’t know why you always wear such dull shades. You should wear dark colors sometimes — they look great on you.”

“If you think it looks good, then it must be true,” Vikrant replied warmly.

Jhankar smiled and gazed at him. In Vikrant’s eyes, she could see nothing but love for her — a feeling she was now able to recognize and cherish deeply. She gently pushed him back toward the changing room and said,

“Now quickly go wear this one. Then we’ll go out for a walk. For lunch, we’ll have your favorite — Continental. But let’s be tonight you’re eating my favorite — traditional Indian food. And I’ll see just how much you can eat!”

As Vikrant walked toward the changing room, he looked back at her. Jhankar kept smiling softly. Everything around them had suddenly become so beautiful that both of them simply wanted to lose themselves in this beauty.

Soon, they were sitting in a restaurant, enjoying lunch and the scenic surroundings. Jhankar’s full attention was on Vikrant as he explained the details of everything around them. She was genuinely interested in what fascinated him. Jhankar wanted to understand everything about Vikrant, and he too didn’t want to leave anything unknown about her. He was committed tothis relationship and wanted to live each moment fully and wholeheartedly.

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“I used to be really mischievous, even in college — especially with my brother. I bother him every minute, playing pranks and disturbing him. I had a lot of friends in college, and there was a different kind of fun in being naughty with them. Once, we saw an old man having lunch with a girl who looked half his age. At first, we thought she might be his daughter, but later we found out they were in a relationship. Can you believe it? All of us just kept turning around and staring at them without saying a word. The two of them kept glancing nervously in our direction, completely confused about why we were staring. It became so awkward for them that they could barely eat. The man struggled to even pick up his glass of water, and eventually, they left.”

Upon hearing her story, Vikrant burst into laughter, playfully tugged her nose, and said,

“You really are mischievous. And causing mischief with friends is the best kind.”

“I’ve never seen you spend time with any friends. Why don’t you hang out with them?” she asked.

“There were a lot of reasons. In the beginning, I couldn't trust anyone. Later, I got so used to being alone that anyone who tried to enter my space felt like an intruder. I did my entire college outside the country because Dad thought that staying here would keep me constantly disturbed for various reasons. Therefore, after completing 10th grade, I moved to London with Maa. Sharda Maa was always everything to me. Whether it was a small complaint or a request to hang out, she was the one I’d turn to. She even acted like my friend, taking me out when Iwanted to go. I never really made a friend who made me feel good enough to keep around.”

Jhankar looked at Vikrant, realizing there was still so much she didn’t know about him. She wanted to learn all of it. Smiling gently, she wrapped her arms around him as they lay down, resting his head on her chest, gently massaging his hair with her fingers.

“You had the world’s best friend — someone who could be your friend one moment, your mother the next, and even scold you like a father. Now I understand why you love her so much.”

Vikrant smiled, resting his head where he could hear her heartbeat. That rhythm gave him peace. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he kissed her lightly on her cleavage and said,

“After Sharda Maa, you’re the only one who has made a place for herself in my life. Honestly, you’re an inseparable part of me now.”

Hearing this, Jhankar smiled and closed her eyes. Vikrant then said,

“Your brother lives in Zurich, Switzerland… It’s such a beautiful place. We could go there for a vacation too.”

Jhankar suddenly held his face, lifting it from her chest, and looked into his eyes. Vikrant moved closer, smiling.

“I’m not joking. I’m serious — we can go there,” he said.

Jhankar could clearly calculate the risks. She knew Vikrant could do anything — he feared no one. But she also knew that if she went to meet her brother, Viren Chandel—who had been desperately looking for his daughter and her brother for months—would surely get activated. And if that happened, Vikrantmight be in danger too. She wanted to meet her brother, but not at the cost of putting Vikrant at risk. So she quickly replied:

“My brother is enjoying his time there with his wife. And instead of enjoying yourself here with your wife, you’re making weird travel plans. You’re such a strange creature.”