Vedh & Tara's Trip —
Tara thought this was the perfect time to irritate him — just enough that he'd get annoyed, maybe even confused — and slowly stop whatever feelings he was building toward her.
Or at least, that was the plan.
They took a bike ride to Gokarna. The wind rushed past them, cool and salty, tangling in their hair. Tara loved bike rides — the freedom, the speed, the silence between words.
Vedh adjusted the mirror slightly — not for traffic — but just enough to catch her reflection. She was smiling to herself, eyes half-closed, enjoying the air. Without realizing it, he smiled too.
They didn't talk much on the way.
It was getting late, and Tara started feeling tired. Slowly, without thinking too much, she wrapped her arm loosely around his waist and rested her cheek against his back.
Vedh's grip tightened on the handle for a second.
His heartbeat went boom… boom… boom…
He suddenly slowed the bike and pulled over to the side.
The sudden stop made Tara lean closer. She held him tighter.
"Why did you stop?" she asked softly.
Vedh cleared his throat. "Nothing. Just… checking the road."
His heart, however, was saying goodbye to its normal rhythm.
They started again.
A few minutes later, Vedh said, "We're almost near Gokarna."
Tara leaned a little closer and replied, "Don't go too fast. I don't want this ride to end yet."
After a while, she got bored and decided to listen to music. She had earphones — but no pocket in her pants. So she slipped her phone into Vedh's hoodie pocket and zipped it halfway so it wouldn't fall, leaving just enough space for the earphone wire.
She closed her eyes and hummed along with the song, feeling the wind and rhythm together.
Vedh didn't know she had put on earphones. He swallowed, eyes fixed on the road ahead. His fingers tightened around the handlebar as if steadying himself. In a low voice, he said, "I planned a date. Just us. Sunset, beach — everything."
After a long pause.
Tara replied, "nah to the ahh to the no, no, no."
Vedh's smile faded just a little. "What was that supposed to mean?"
She laughed, still vibing to the music. She started dramatically singing that "my name is no" song at the top of her lungs like she was headlining a concert. Vedh laughed. "Madam ji, did you hear anything I just said?"
She shook her head — still lost in the song — and said, "You're talking about food, right? Yeah, anything is fine for me. We can eat whatever you want."
Vedh let out a long sigh and face-palmed.
He slowed the bike and pulled it to the side of the road, stopping completely. Then he turned around and stared straight at Tara.
She pulled one earphone out, raising an eyebrow. "What? I'm just listening to music."
Vedh laughed. "Listening? You turned this highway into your personal concert stage."
She held the earphone near her ear. "The beat's good — let me live."
Vedh exhaled. "Oh God, this girl…"
"I heard that," she said proudly. "Now let me go back to my music."
He gently removed one of her earphones. "You really didn't hear anything I said, did you?"
"Yes, I did," she replied proudly. "You asked about food, right?"
Vedh closed his eyes for a second before answering. "No. That's not what I asked."
She tried to put the earphone back in, but Vedh held it away. She freed her arm and slipped it back into her ear anyway.
"Alright then," he said. "Since you can't hear me, I'll just go eat."
"Eat?" Tara instantly became alert, her eyes lighting up. She pulled off both earphones and quickly fixed her hair. "Yes, let's go. Now you're talking properly."
Vedh laughed. "Oh, so now you can hear me? Food gets your full attention, but I don't?"
"Correct," she said with a straight face — then burst into laughter.
Vedh shook his head. "What's your answer to my first question, anyway? Just say yes."
Tara blinked. "What was your question?" she asked — then quickly continued before he could respond, "Actually… never mind. It's probably something boring."
She tilted her head, studying him. "Whatever your so-called question was… my answer is yes."
Vedh tried to control the ridiculous grin spreading across his face. She had said yes. She didn't even know to what — but she had said yes.
Tara narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you smiling like that? What happened?"
Before he could answer, her stomach growled.
Not a small sound.A full announcement.
Vedh lost it. "Nothing," he said between laughs. "But I think your stomach needs an answer now."
Tara smacked his arm, glaring at him. "Shut up. I'm not that hungry."
Her stomach growled again — louder, longer.
Vedh turned away, covering his mouth, shoulders shaking.
Tara folded her arms. "Okay, fine. Maybe I'm slightly hungry. Very slightly. Barely."
Vedh nodded seriously, still hiding his smile. "Of course. Barely. It was just a warning growl."
Tara pouted. "You keep making your lame jokes — I'm leaving," she said sarcastically, turning away.
Vedh laughed and quickly followed her. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry."
And just like that, they ended up having a great meal together — the day closing on laughter and full stomachs.
Next morning—
They both got ready.
Vedh handed Tara her coffee. "Good morning, madam."
Tara took the cup like a queen receiving tribute. Feeling like a don, she nodded. "Yeah yeah, good morning."
She took a dramatic sip and declared, "Let's go shopping today."
"No," Vedh replied immediately. "Let's go on an outing."
"Shopping," Tara said firmly.
"No shopping," Vedh said.
"Shopping."
"No shopping."
"Shopping shopping shopping," she chanted, crossing her arms dramatically.
Vedh stared at her. "Are you five years old?"
"Maybe," she said like she owned the world.
He sighed, already defeated. "Fine. Let's go."
Tara smiled like she'd just won a national award. "Ladies win, after all."
Vedh sighed and mimicked her in an overly dramatic feminine tone, "Ladies win, after all."
Tara heard him.
Slowly, very slowly, she turned toward him.
"What," she asked sweetly, "were you saying?"
Vedh immediately straightened up. "Huh? Nothing. I think we should leave now."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Repeat it."
"I said," he cleared his throat, grabbing the keys quickly, "we should leave now."
She stepped closer. "Vedh."
"Yes?"
"I have very good hearing."
He gave her an innocent smile. "That's wonderful."
She stared at him for a second longer before shaking her head. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood."
"Terrified," he muttered.
"I heard that." Tara said.
Vedh smirked. "Oh, I know about your hearing skills. I learned that yesterday itself."
Tara blinked. "What?"
"The way you heard my question… and conveniently agreed to it. Very impressive."
For a second, she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
But she quickly recovered, flipping her hair with confidence. "Yeah. I know."
Vedh raised an eyebrow. "You don't even know what I'm talking about, do you?"
She crossed her arms. "I always know."
"Sure," he said dryly. "That's why you just pretended like you knew everything."
She gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? I always know everything."
"Oh really?" he folded his arms. "Then tell me what I was talking about."
She opened her mouth.
Paused.
Closed it again.
"That's not the point," she said confidently.
He smiled in victory. "Exactly."
She turned away with exaggerated dignity. "I refuse to entertain baseless accusations."
"And yet," he said, walking beside her, "you're still defending yourself."
She shot him a look. "I'm choosing peace."
"You?" he laughed softly. "That's new."
Tara didn't reply.
She just smiled.
A very calm.
Very dangerous smile.
Vedh didn't notice.
He would.
Soon.
An hour later—
Vedh was standing outside the fifth store, holding four shopping bags in one hand and three in the other.
"Tara," he called out weakly, "how many more?"
"Just one last store!" she replied cheerfully.
"That's what you said three stores ago."
She stepped out of the trial room holding two dresses. "Blue or pink?"
"I don't care," he said, adjusting the bags. "I've lost all emotions."
She ignored him. "Focus. Blue or pink?"
He stared at her for a second.
"…Blue."
She nodded seriously. "Good choice."
She handed him the pink one.
"For what?" he asked.
"I'm buying both."
He blinked slowly. "Of course you are."
Ten minutes later, two more bags were added to his collection.
Vedh looked like a man who had seen war.
"Tara," he said dramatically, "I can't feel my fingers."
"Build strength," she replied casually. "Character development."
"This is revenge, isn't it?" Vedh said, raising an eyebrow.
She finally turned toward him, smiling sweetly. "Revenge? Me? Never."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You mocked 'ladies win,' remember?"
Silence.
"I regret everything," he muttered.
She leaned closer and whispered, "Good."
And then walked ahead like a victorious queen.
Vedh followed her.
Because despite everything…
He always did.
Finally, Tara stopped and turned around. She took a few bags from his hands.
"What? Tired already?" she smirked. "I was thinking we could shop tomorrow too."
Vedh froze.
"Tomorrow?"
The bags dropped.
He fell dramatically to the floor. "Oh my dear madam, forgive me!" he cried, grabbing at the air near her feet. "It was my mistake! Ladies win forever!"
People stared.
Tara burst out laughing. "Vedh! Get up!"
"You planned this torture," he accused from the floor.
"Maybe," she said sweetly.
She pulled him up by the arm. "Okay, okay. Enough. Dinner's on me today. I troubled you a little."
"A little?" he repeated weakly.
She smiled in pride.
He picked up the bags again.
And followed her.