The venue was already glowing when they reached. Soft golden lights draped across the entrance, fairy lights twinkling everywhere. The noise or chitter chatters and men laughing loudly.
There was light music too, syncing with the clinking of glasses. As Vikram parked the car and stepped out first, he walked around to her side and opened the door for her, instinctively extending his hand.
Thabal placed her palm in his, stepping out carefully. She brushed any fold on her saree and together they walked in, hand in hand.
They entered together. Inside, the hall was spacious and elegant, with round tables draped in cream cloth, floral centerpieces, and a long buffet lined along one side. Officers stood in small groups, laughing and clinking drinks against each other's glasses.
While their wives chatted with each other, they wore sarees which were beautifully shimmering under the lights.
Thabal instinctively clutched his hand tighter. Vikram pulled her closer and slowly rubbed the pad of his thumb over her hand in a relaxing manner. Silently assuring her that he is there for her.
They approached two men talking. Vikram straightened his posture and stood in front of him. The man turned, his expression shifting the moment he noticed Vikram. He was older, composed, dressed in a blue blazer. And black pants.
"Happy anniversary sir" he respectfully wished. The senior smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Just came now Sharma?" He asked.
"Yes sir" Vikram answered. The senior's gaze shifted to Thabal, curious but polite.
"And who is this lady with you?" He asked with a raised brow. Vikram turned slightly towards her.
"My girlfriend sir, Thabal" as he said it, Thabal felt her heart bloomed. She felt her heart full all of a sudden. The senior looked a bit amused at first.
"Ahh. Northeastern isn't it?" The senior asked which Thabal politely nodded.
"Happy anniversary sir" she smiled at him politely. Bowing her head slightly in respect. The senior paused and then smiled.
"Thank you" he replied. He looked around and finally settled his gaze upon somehow.
"Shekhar. Go and call your madam over here" he commanded to one of his juniors. The junior muttered a yes and went away.
"Toh Miss Thabal. You look young. Parai hogayi ya still continuing?" The senior asked her with a curious glance.
"Chal rahi hai sir" she responded politely.
"Aage ka plans hai aapka?" He asked and then added.
"Sorry if I am being too nosey. It's your choice. Aapko nahi bolna toh bhi it's okay, it's not disrespectful" he assured. Thabal smiled and shook her head.
"No sir, it's completely fine. I am doing my MBBS. First year pe hoon" she informed. He widened his eyes at it in amusement.
"Wow. That's really great. Doctor huh Sharma? Great choice" he smirked playfully, patting Vikram's shoulder. Vikram looked at Thabal, as expected she was red by now. A small invisible smirk played on his lips.
"Thank you sir" he replied, still gazing at her.
"Honestly I was shocked jab tumne kaha she is your girlfriend. I was more shocked when i saw a lady beside you. You have been so cold and unreachable. Lekin she has wrapped you around her finger, matlab kuch toh kiya hoga. It's impossible to charm you without any magic" the senior laughed. Thabal felt embarrassed and shy listening to all those.
Whereas Vikram internally smiled. Indeed she has done something to charm him. But not magic. She just smiled, and now he is a goner.
" Ji aapne bulaya?" A woman in her late thirties approached them, smiling warmly.
"Saru, yeh Thabal hai. Vikram ki girlfriend. Take this little girl with you. Make her comfortable" the senior smiled at her and gestured towards Thabal.
"Ohh! Vikram ki girlfriend? Yeh kab huwa? Mujhe laga jaise aapne uske baare mein bola pura bhramachari hi reh lega" she laughed softly. Vikram smiled slightly at himself. He didn't expect himself to stand with his girlfriend either. Never.
"Happy anniversary ma'am" he wished respectfully, his face a bit softer, a complete contrast from his usual stoic face. Sarita smiled and thanked him.
"Maintain this expression from now on Vikram. It suits you better" she smiled. He nodded in a yes.
"Come Thabal. I will introduce you to the other ladies" she smiled at Thabal warmly. Vikram looked at and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Go enjoy yourself. Kuch problem ho toh bolna. I am here" he assured. Thabal smiled and nodded in a yes. She went with Sarita, following behind her.
"Mera naam Sarita hai. Jyada formal hone ki jarurat nahi hai. You can call me saru didi" Sarita assured her with a smile. Thabal nodded with a small smile.
"Jii" she muttered. Sarita took her to a group. 5 to 6 women sitting around a big table. Most of them were in their 30s or 40s. Only one or two among them were in their 20s.
As Sarita stopped beside the table, the women looked up almost together, their conversations pausing mid-sentence. Their curious gazes shifted to Thabal, subtle but sharp, assessing her from head to toe. Thabal felt the weight of it instantly and straightened her posture instinctively, fingers tightening slightly around the edge of her pallu.
"Ladies, yeh Thabal hai. Vikram ki girlfriend" Sarita spoke cheerfully, breaking the brief silence. And once she said it, everyone stared at Thabal with wide eyes.
"Woh naye Sp? Sharma wala?" A woman in pink asked in disbelief. Sarita chuckled at it.
"Haan haan. Vikram Sharma. Tumhara husband ka senior hai Nandu. Pehechana nahi?" Sarita asked. Nandu immediately shook her head.
"Aare no. Pehechana but couldn't believe it. Mere husband toh kehte hai woh SP sahab se sab darke bhagte hai. So him being in a relationship sounds so unbelievable" she voiced out. Thabal smiled at it.
Facing everyone, she joined her hand and bowed her head a little.
"Namaste" she greeted softly.
"Arre baitho baitho, aise khade rehne ki kya zarurat hai" another woman said warmly, patting the empty chair beside her.
"Thank you" Thabal replied, settling down carefully. Sarita sat beside her, a reassuring presence.
"So, bura mat manna. But aap ho kaha ki? Like you are so beautiful. I can't help but think" a woman in a pastel blue saree leaned forward, with interest sparkling in her eyes.
Thabal smiled shyly at it.
"Imphal se hoon. And thank you for the compliment" she answered politely.
"Ohhhh, achaa. Student ho?" The woman asked again. Thabal nodded at it.
"Haan. MBBS, first year pe hoon" The reactions were immediate.
"Wow! That's so nice" someone exclaimed.
"Haan na. Husband police, wife doctor. Kya jodi hogi" a woman grinned, excited at the thought. Thabal blushed hard listening to them.
"We aren't married" she mumbled slowly in her defense.
"Yet! Kabhi toh karoge na shadi, time aane pe? You both will be the power couple yaar" the young woman in her 20s exclaimed in excitement.
"Yeh sab choro. Yeh batao. How's Imphal?" Thabal felt herself relaxed a little with time. She answered their curious questions and joined their talk smoothly. Without any force or interruption.
They asked about her hometown, the food, the culture, some of them genuinely curious, others simply filling the air with conversation. Laughter rippled around the table. Thabal laughed softly too, cheeks warm, feeling strangely included despite the age gap. She glanced briefly across the hall, and found Vikram.
He was standing with a group of officers, listening more than speaking, posture relaxed yet alert. But his eyes, his eyes were on her. The moment their gazes met, something subtle shifted in his expression. The tension eased, the hardness softened. He gave her a look, a soft one. As if asking him if she was okay.
She nodded slowly, with a small. His lips curved into the faintest smile on its own. One of the women noticed their silent interraction.
"I was thinking. Thabal right? Yeh Sharma sir aur tumhara age gap thoda jyada nahi hogaya? I mean it creates a lot of problems you know. Manage karna muskil hota hai" she commented casually, cutting through the warm environment.
The table fell quiet for a beat. Thabal's fingers curled slowly against her lap. She shifted her gaze, meeting the woman's eyes calmly. She passed her a smile, almost a mocking one.
"Understanding matters. Understanding and respect ho. Toh sab kuch sahi rehta hai. Handling Vikram is my duty. And sach kahu toh he doesn't need any handling. Woh koi chiz nahi hai. He is a disciplined officer. He knows what he is doing" she said, voice steady and sharp. The softer tone made it worse as it sounded more insulting.
There was a pause. Then Sarita smiled. The others looked at her with an amused smile too.
"Bilkul sahi kaha. Aur waise bhi, yeh dono ek dusre ko samajhte hai. Toh aur kya chahiye. Log toh hote hai hi hai bolne ke liye" Sarita said firmly, supporting her words. The woman didn't say anything, she clenched her jaw and looked away.
The conversation flowed with or without her. They chatter among themselves. Sarita in between asked a waiter to bring their food. Minutes later, plates were filled, chairs pulled out. The conversation continued while they dined.
Vikram sat on a chair, in between his seniors and juniors. His eyes were solely on her. The way she was softly laughing. The way she ate politely and in a neat manner. So unlike her. He wanted to laugh at it.
The senior from before noticed his gaze but didn't say anything. He smiled to himself. Young love. He thought internally.
"Vikram, you haven't had any drinks since you have sat. Have some" he suggested, making him pull his gaze from her. Vikram turned to him and shook his head politely.
"I am fine sir. I will skip today" he declined. The officer furrowed his brows at it.
"Aare it's a matter of celebration Vikram. Ase moke pe ek do pi leni chahiye. You are still young, enjoy your life" he encouraged. But Vikram still shook his head.
"Woh hai sir aaj. If it was me alone, it wouldn't have been a problem. I don't want to drink today" he stated the reason finally, in a low and calm voice. The officer nodded at it. Getting his point.
"Soft drink toh le hi sakta haina?" Without waiting for his reply the senior called a waiter and ordered him a soft drink.
Vikram sighed and looked around. That was when he noticed. A man standing near the drinks counter. Mid thirties. He was a staff. His gaze lingered too long. That too on his fucking girl. Once might have been accidental. Twice, coincidence. But the third time, it made his jaw tighten.
He excused himself calmly from the conversation he was in and walked over, posture relaxed but presence unmistakable. He stopped beside the man, not facing him directly at first.
"Party achhi hai, hai na?" Vikram said casually. The man was startled. Vikram was a famous persona. Every senior officer was on his side. Him talking so casually stunned him, yet made him nervous too.
"Ji, sir. Bohot badhiya" he answered hesitantly. Vikram turned then. Looked straight at him. His gaze was so cold that it made him flinched in fear.
"Nazar thodi sambhal ke. Jisko itna ghur ke dekh raha hai. Woh meri hai. Ainda agar meine uski taraf ek aankh bhi dekha toh ussi aankh ko nikal fhekunga mein" he said quietly and calmly. Too calm. As if he didn't just talk about plucking eyeballs.
The man's face drained of color. Oh he was so doomed. Which black cat did he meet on his way to be on the bad list of Vikram Sharma?
"S-sir. I am sorry. Mujhe nahi pata tha-" Vikram cut him off with a look.
"Ek shabdh aur bola toh bolne layak nahi rahega. Dhyan rahe tum kisko dekh rahe ho" That was all.
He didn't wait for a response. He turned back, walking away with the same calm steps. Behind him, the man stood frozen for a moment before quickly shifting his position, eyes firmly on the floor this time.
Vikram walked to Thabal's side, she had already done eating, by now few women along with her stood up. Laughing and smiling, talking softly to each other. As he approached her she looked at him and smiled. And just her single smile calmed his whole being down.
He finally breathed calmly down. Not harsh like before. His features which were stiff a moment ago, immediately relaxed on their own.
"Kya huwa?" she asked softly, sensing something.
"Kuch nahi. Bas dekhne aaya tha sab theek hai ya nahi" he replied, immediately gentler. She smiled, reassured, and nodded. He placed a light hand at her lower back, a silent gesture of presence, of protection and claim.
"Mera bhi khana hogaya. Aapka hogaya ho toh chale?" She asked him to which he nodded.
Thabal went towards Sarita and the other women and bid good bye with laughter, smiles and hugs. She came back to Vikram and gestured for them to go. He held her hands and moved towards the entrance, where his car was parked.
"Aacha laga?" Was all he asked. Thabal smiled in glee and nodded.
"Haan. Kaafi aacha tha. Jitna expect kiya tha usse toh kafi jyada. Saru didi is so sweet. I really love her. Aur pata hai aapko, ek aurat thi. Pata nahi kon thi. She had such a negative aura around her. And muh khola bhi toh sab ulta sidha. Toh meine bhi usko uske hi language pe wapas boldiya" she grinned. Vikram looked at her and smiled.
"Achaa? I am so proud of you" he leaned to her and said, making her giggle.
"I know right. Girlfriend kiski hoon?" She stated proudly. And that. That single sentence did something inside Vikram's heart.
As they reached the car, he opened the door for her and settled her in. Going towards his side, he took his seat and turned on the light.
The moment the light on, his eyes fall open her. Her open hair, beautiful milky skin. Rosy lips and that constant cute smile. His restraint vanished.
Without any warning he pulled her gently onto his lap, one arm around her waist, the other cupping her face.
"Ahh" Thabal shrieked slightly at the sudden move. She clutched on his shoulder tightly in instinct.
"Kya huwa aapko-" he didn't let her speak, instead pressed his lips against hers. It was so sudden that, it left her stunned. Her eyes were wide open. She felt him suck on her lips greedily, as if he had been hungry for it since ages. The kiss was deep and heavy. There was no more pulling back.
She let out a soft moan against his lips, that made him kiss her more furiously. Slowly Thabal moved her lips against his. Matching his move. Her hands clutched his collar, pulling him closer until there wasn't a single inch of space left between them.
It was a dizzying mix of pressure and heat. Thabal opened her mouth slightly, trying to take a breath, but Vikram took it as his chance and entered his tongue inside her mouth. As their tongues met, a jolt of electricity seemed to run through them. They were breathless, gasping for air between kisses, but they couldn't stay apart for more than a second.
Vikram didn't know what was happening to him. He felt a surge of possessiveness and jealousy fueling inside him. The more he kissed her, the more he wanted to claim her as his. He wanted to mark her so badly.
His grip on her waist tightened, his fingers digging in just enough to make her gasp. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, her body arching into his. The car was filled with the sound of them kissing. It was erotic and too intense.
Vikram sensed her being out of breath, with a last suck he left her lips and moved his lips to her jaw, then down to the sensitive skin of her neck. She tilted her head to the side, her eyes fluttering shut as she felt the heat of his breath against her skin. Her chest heaved up and down quickly, trying to catch breath.
His lips lingered on her skin. He started with a slow, wet lick right along the side of her throat. It was soft and warm, making her skin tingle. She let out a small breath and tilted her head to the side to give him more room.
"Mmm" she moaned softly at the feeling. Then, he began to suck on the soft skin. It was a firm, steady pull that felt heavy and good. She could feel her heart beating faster.
He didn't stop there. He used his teeth to give a tiny, gentle nip, then went back to sucking on the same spot. His tongue swirled over the spot, as if trying to soothe any pain.
He hungrily sucked on her skin, giving sloppy kisses all over her throat. Her scent, it was driving him crazy. Thabal couldn't help herself. She let out small gasps in between. Moaning softly whenever it felt too overwhelming.
Suddenly she realised a feeling. Something was poking her bum. And it didn't take her too much time to realised what it was. She was sitting on his fucking boner. A deep blush immediately coated her cheeks.
He finally pulled away from the spot and peppered kisses over her jaw and face. Thabal couldn't help but giggle at the ticklish feeling.
"Ummm! Vikram. Hogaya" she tried pushing him away, laughing softly in between. But Vikram was betwitched by her laugh. He continued showering her with his kisses.
"Kya hogaya hai aapko aaj" she stopped him and cupped his jaw, making him look at her. She slowly and tenderly caressed his stubble jaw.
"Itna ajib behave kyu kar rahe ho. Jaise kuch chhoot jayega. Mein yahi hoon na. I am not going anywhere" she spoke to him, softly and gently, pressing a gentle kiss on his nose.
Vikram closed his eyes for a second. He sighed and rested his head on her shoulder. Nuzzling his head in her neck, planting a small kiss.
He remained quiet for a few seconds. He breathed slowly, as if trying to calm himself. His pants felt tighter. And her sitting on his hard one made it more difficult for him.
"I don't like people looking at you. Bure tarike se toh bilkul nahi. I fucking hate it" he muttered eventually, his voice low and rough. Thabal was stunned listening to him.
She placed her hand on his head. Raking her hand on his hairs in a comforting manner.
"Kya huwa Vikram. Aap kis chiz ki baat kar rahe hai?" She asked confused of his half said sentence. Vikram sighed before speaking.
"Tha koi. He was staring at you. And i fucking hated it. Maan kiya udhar hi jaan lelu uski" he sucked in a breathe, jaw clenched in anger. Trying to control his growing temper.
"Aap kyu itne violent ho rahe hai. Muh se thoda bolne se bhi hota hai. Jyada mat sochiye aap. Mein toh aapki hi hoon na" she smiled. Vikram turned to her, looking at her intently. As their eyes locked against each other. Thabal let out a laugh.
"You are so cute" she giggled, palming her forehead. Vikram looked at her confused of her sudden behaviour.
"Kya cute" he muttered in confusion. Thabal still laughing, inched near him and wiped his lips gently with the pad of her thumb.
"Mera lipstick aapko bhi lag gaya. Pura chamak raha tha aapka lips, red red" she chuckled softly while wiping the corners of his lips.
Vikram said nothing, he let her do whatever she wanted. He stared at her simply, watching how her lips twitched in a smile. How her eyes shrink in when she laugh heartily. Oh! How bad he had gone for her.
_________🌸________
Hope you enjoyed it
Stay safe sweeties🦫🍓✨
Write a comment ...