Chapter 16

Recap: Vikram made her favourite food and fed her.

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Vikram fed Sana the mushroom pasta and blueberry pie. A warm feeling spread through her as she watched him, touched by his gesture. After feeding her, he noticed the exhaustion on her face and softly said, “Rest for a while.”

Without waiting for a response, he lifted her in his arms, carrying her in a bridal style to their room. Gently, he placed her on the bed, sat beside her, and ran his fingers through her hair.

“I’m sorry, Sana, for not taking care of you all this time,” he murmured.

Sana sat up and leaned against his chest, wrapping her arms around him. He held her close, his hand caressing her hair. A deep silence settled between them, until Vikram felt the dampness spreading on his shirt. Lifting her head, he saw tears streaming down her face, and his own eyes burned with emotion.

“Sana, what happened? Did I hurt you again?” he asked urgently.

She shook her head. “No, Vikram. You did nothing. I just… I often dreamt of being with you like this. When I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to hug you and shout to the world how much I love you.”

Vikram cupped her face, pressing his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, Sana. I know how much I hurt you. Punish me if you want. I can’t escape this guilt.”

Sana placed her hands over his. “Vikram, let’s forget the bitter past. It only haunts us and spoils our happiness. We’ll move forward together, okay? No more tears.”

He exhaled shakily. “Yes, Sana. We’ll be happy together.”

Listening to the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat, Sana slowly drifted into sleep. Vikram laid her down carefully, tucking the duvet around her. He sat beside her for a long time, watching her peaceful face as memories of the past flashed through his mind. His jaw clenched. He knew the game wasn’t over yet. The person who had helped Priyanka was still out there. Maybe that was why he had let Priyanka escape—he needed to draw out the one pulling the strings. Until then, he had to ensure Sana’s safety.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ringing of Sana’s phone. The screen flashed: “Unknown Calling.” His eyes darkened as he answered.

“Hello, Mr. Vikram. How are you?” a smooth, mocking voice greeted him.

Vikram’s grip on the phone tightened. “Who are you?”

“I’m your well-wisher, dear Vikram.”

“Damn it, I’ll kill you, bastard.”

A chuckle. “Do you know me? You can’t, unless I decide to reveal myself. So, how would you kill me?”

“I will find you soon, you—”

“How is your beloved wife, Sana? Such a beauty she is.”

Vikram’s blood ran cold. “Don’t you dare say her name, you bastard. The moment I get hold of you, I’ll tear you apart.”

“Relax, Vikram. Don’t you want to know why I called?”

“I don’t have time for your nonsense. Fuck off.”

“Why so impatient? Don’t you think I can still ruin your life?”

“You—”

“Fine, let me give you a clue. Take care of Sana.”

The line went dead. Vikram hurled the phone against the wall in frustration.

“Sana has already suffered enough because of me. I won’t let her suffer anymore. I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I won’t lose her. She is my life. And I will not hesitate to kill anyone who dares to harm her.”

Grabbing his own phone, he called his PA.

“Follow her and watch her closely. Track every detail of that bitch. I want the best bodyguards stationed at my mansion.”

“I will arrange it immediately, sir,” the PA responded.

“Tighten security at home and office. No staff or maids leave the mansion without my permission. I want background checks on every worker. By morning, I want everything in place. Also, ensure all CCTV cameras are connected to my phone.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Get me the latest model of the best mobile phone. Now.”

“On it, sir.”

Five hours passed. Sana was still asleep. Vikram busied himself in the kitchen, preparing a light meal and a smoothie. Then, he went to wake her up.

“Sana… Sana… baby…”

She groaned. “Let me sleep, please…”

“Sana, wake up. You can sleep after dinner.”

Realizing it was Vikram, she sat up. “Did I sleep too long?”

“No, Sana. Now, relax. Let’s have dinner.”

She looked at him curiously. “Why are you doing all the work?”

“Because I want to. It makes me happy. Maybe some other day, you can cook for me.”

She laughed. “Oh my god, Vicky! I’ve never entered the kitchen in my life.”

His brows lifted. “Vicky?”

She bit her lip. “Don’t you like it?”

He smiled. “I never said that. Actually, it feels good. Call me that from now on. And… what did you just say? You’ve never stepped into a kitchen?”

“I swear, Vicky! Never!”

He chuckled. “That’s okay. You don’t need to. We have chefs who can cook anything you want. And I can cook whenever you wish. So, don’t worry.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Vicky, can I tell you something?” she asked softly.

“Madam, you don’t need my permission. Go ahead.”

“When you kiss my forehead, I feel safe. I feel the warmth I used to feel from my mother.”

His heart clenched. “Good. Then, I’ll kiss you very often.” He kissed her forehead again. “Now, let’s eat.”

When they reached the dining table, Sana noticed a gift box. Raising an eyebrow, she looked at him.

“That’s for you. Open it,” he urged.

Inside was the latest model of a top-brand mobile, one that hadn’t even hit the market yet.

“Vicky! Thank you so much. I love it!”

“Anything for my love. No need to thank me. I’ll learn your likes and dislikes and cook accordingly. So, bear with me.”

After dinner, they returned to their room. As they changed into their nightwear, Vikram noticed her swollen feet.

“Sana, what happened? Why are your feet swollen? Let me call the doctor.”

She smiled. “Oh god, Vicky, it’s normal in pregnancy.”

“But how do you fix it?”

“I massage them with oil. It helps.”

She retrieved the oil and began rubbing her feet, wincing slightly. Vikram’s expression darkened.

“I know I’ve messed up these past months, Sana. But I want to take care of you now. Please, let me.”

She hesitated before handing him the bottle. “Okay, Vicky.”

He placed her foot on his lap, warming the oil in his palms before massaging gently.

She sighed in relief. “This feels like heaven.”

She reached out for him. Overwhelmed, he moved into her embrace, his eyes misty. She held him close, kissing his forehead.

“I don’t need anything but your love,” he whispered. “If I had the power to freeze time, I would do it now.”

After months of pain and struggle, they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms, at peace.

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A/N:

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