-• coward •-

16 years ago

Scarlett watched the scene unfold in front of her with a fond smile.

The night was dewy, damp and cold. Windows were fogged up and from the glimpse of her tiny little garden outside, the greenery appeared lustrous and beaded with moisture. But the inside of her two storey house felt warm like spring. It must be the first time she found life in those bare four walls.

"Hush, sleep my pup,"

Scarlett tore her eyes off the night outside, the sight in her living room far more endearing than any other. She watched as the man rocked their daughter back and forth in his arms, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, his eyes shining with warmth and love. The smile on his face mirrored hers, just as wide, but on a completely different spectrum of emotions. He was happy, over the moon too, she felt melancholic seeing the same.

"You should go back now," as she said that, the smile on his face dropped and he stopped.

Ignoring the young brunette, he looked back at the puckered lips of their daughter and planted a little peck. The bundle of his overwhelming love responded with a slight stir, her long lashes fluttering before she cozied up back in her father's strong arms, falling asleep in his care.

"Vikram," Scarlett called out desperately, stepping down a stair into the living room.

Vikram stepped back, clutching the piece of his heart protectively in his arms, his eyes glossed over with a sheen layer of tears.

"Vikram, leave," Scarlett stated with a hard tone.

He shook his head.

"Vikram, you promised me!" She reminded harshly.

His eyes pinned hers with a fierce glare. "How can you be so heartless?"

"Heartless?" She scoffed.

"Yes, heartless." He spat out. "She is my daughter too, Scarlett. Don't do this to me. Don't do this to us." He gripped the little bundle to his chest, his eyes narrowed at the corners in plead, brows scrunched together.

Scarlett sighed. "There was never us, Vikram."

"That's because you never let it happen!"

She looked away. "Your mother-"

"She is dead!" Vikram asserted. "She is dead, my love. Let go of her. We can be together-"

"What about your wife?" The young woman looked straight into his eyes.

"She never mattered."

"But for her, you're her whole world." Scarlett emphasized.

"That's not my problem. I never asked for this, Scar! I wanted us. From the moment I met you eighteen years ago, to now, I've always ever wanted you. I've ever only loved you, Scar."

Scarlett let out a troubled breath. "Think about your kids."

Vikram clenched his jaw.

"Can you live without them?"

He answered in silence.

"Can you?" She repeated, smiling when he didn't answer. "See you can't. Despite having no choice whether to conceive them or not, they're your kids. And I know you love them."

"And what about this one," he cradled the baby close, nuzzling his face in her warmth. Hot tears poured out of his eyes, rolling down his cheeks and into the comfort of his peacefully sleeping daughter. "What about her?" He asked in a broken voice, his shoulders vibrating under the softness of the thick woolen coat draped over his broad and muscular frame. "What about my Tara," he sobbed, hugging his daughter protectively, borderline possessively.

Scarlett strode over and tore off their daughter from his arms. Vikram flinched, watching in shock as the woman stormed back upstairs, without even a glance back at him.

A loud wail broke through the slumbering silence, waking the night with innocent cries.

Vikram's heart lurched forward hearing his daughter. He rushed upstairs, heading to their daughter's room and could only steal a glimpse of her shrieking in the crib before Scarlett blocked his way inside the room, slamming the door close after she stepped out in the hallway. He glared down at her, wondering how could he ever love such a heartless woman. But he does. He still does. Will always do. Until the last breath he takes, maybe even after death.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because you're a coward." She answered. "Go, Vikram. Your job here is done."

"Job!?" He snapped.

She didn't waver. "Yes, job. I wanted something of you with me until the end. That's the only reason why I approached you again despite knowing there will never be us. So thank you."

"Scarlett-"

"You promised me, Vikram!" She slammed her hands into his chest, shoving him back. He stumbled, clenching his hands into fist to hold back his anger. "And I trusted you. Despite the way you broke my heart eighteen years ago! I trusted you, Vikram! Don't give me a reason to never trust you again. Don't break this promise like you broke that one. Don't make me hate you!"

He looked at her with wide eyes, unable to believe the words coming from her mouth. "You knew I had no choice-"

"Don't make excuses," she held up her hand to his face. "It's just makes you more pathetic."

"Pathetic," he murmured, looking down at his feet in defeat. "It's been years since I heard that word." He sniffled.

She bit her lower lip guiltily, but it soon washed away with resentment for the man standing in front of her. He brought it on himself. He made them both suffer.

"If you didn't want me back in your life, why did you come to me?" He stared into her eyes in grief.

"You know why." She stated bluntly. "I clearly told you my intentions."

"A baby?" He scoffed out a smile of pity for himself. "You could have had it with anyone else." His voice deepened with rage.

She swallowed. "It was my dream."

He inhaled a deep breath, futile to stop his tears. "Your dream was to have a family with me, Scarlett. Not discard me after you get what you wanted."

She met his eyes. "Back then, as an orphan who barely received any love, I failed to see you weren't capable of holding the weight of my dreams. I regret falling in love with a coward, but I don't regret being in love with you."

The hard look on his face softened.

"You need to leave for all of us to be happy. You need to go and never return. Taranya and I'll manage on our own. In fact, without your family's involvement, we'll flourish happily." She explained. "Go Vikram, you've your family. Keep them happy. Don't fail them like you failed us."

He lowered his head, slumping on the wall behind.

"It's what your mother said, Vikram, a royal like you can never be a match for a commoner like me." She muttered softly. "Monarchy might have ended, but money still plays part in deciding one's status. And as per the world, I'm the lowest of lowest, while you reside on the top. We can never be together, Vikram. And I don't want my daughter to be called a bastard child. Please, for all of us, leave."

Vikram stood straight on his feet, meeting her eyes that seemed glazed with determination. "Are you confident you can do this without me?"

"Yes."

He smiled mirthlessly. "You seem to have started something new without knowing the consequences." He looked around the crippling house, "while you can barely keep this roof on your head, you're willing to nurture a child." His gaze returned to hers. "Fine," he nodded, shoving his hands in his pocket. "Let's see how far you can go without me."

Her eyes flickered, breathing shallowed.

"You know what's the hardest part of starting anew?" He tilted his head to the side. "Surviving it."

She stepped back just as he took a step forward. "Because your past keeps pulling you back." She gasped when her back met the wall. He leaned in, his breath kissing her skin. "Trust me, I'm the victim of it. You'll never be able to get rid of the possibilities of us. Money will always shackle you one step back from the rest of us. You'll watch me from afar as I smile and laugh with my family, while you'll be struggling here to make the ends meet." He gritted out each word like it was a stab to her chest. "But you know something? I'll always have my kid's back. And the moment I notice you failing my daughter as a parent, will be the day I return to take her with me, and will never allow you to see her again. Not even a fucking glimpse. That's what you'll pay for seperating me from her. And that'll be the moment I'll finally stop loving you." He threw her a detested look before turning around and striding downstairs.

Scarlett flinched when she heard the main door slam shut.

Vikram stepped out in a pouring rain, harsh reality slapping him in the face. He was not going back to see his daughter again. He could never see her again. For the first time, he wished the heavens above to make his words come true. He prayed she struggles so much that she wouldn't have a choice but to turn to him with their daughter.

He might have been a coward as a lover, but he was selfish as a father. His little star will one day return to him, he'll make that sure.

Vikram shoved away the hand that held up the umbrella for him and stormed in the direction of his car. The hasty guard followed him in jiffy, struggling to protect his boss from the harsh rains.

The sky roared so fierce Vikram shuddered a breath of fear. Not for him, but his daughter. He looked up at the two storey house, at the only illuminating window of the first floor.

Scarlett and he had decorated the baby's room together, with utmost attention and importance. Now his daughter must lay in her crib compacted by the blue walls, crying and reaching out for her father desperately. His heart tugged painfully. The little star seems to have found the weakest link of his heart, for it hurts everytime he thinks of her. He had never worried for any of his kids so much. Not even the recently born twins. But they receive so much attention and care, even the tiniest frown on their faces are immediately taken care of by the doctors. His little star, however, has no one to rely on but her nurse mother who makes little to nothing per month.

Why is she subjected to so much unfairness?

While her brothers will get to live in absolute luxury, she will struggle in day- care, alone and unheard, so her mother can earn to pay their bills.

While her brothers will get to enjoy foreign trips and vacations, she'll be forced to watch her spendings.

While her brothers will never have to lift a finger to work, she'll be taking up part-time jobs to pay for her tution.

How long will he watch from the distance before his patience finally snaps and he intervenes back in their lives?

"Sir, please get in the car." His guard whispered.

Vikram peeled his eyes off the window, clutching the door handle tighter before forcing it open and sitting inside. The four engines whirred to life, glaring at the empty streets with powerful headlights, before the wheels screeched on the grey asphalt, speeding away from the rundown neighbourhood and back into the bustling night life of London.

It's been a month of stay in England now. He had come here only for two weeks. After hearing Scarlett will go into labor soon, he couldn't withstand his desperation longer, not even when his wife tried to hold him back with the mention of their new born twins.

Vikram smiled.

The twins are just two months apart from their little sister. He wondered how the boys will react to this news. That they have a sister.

Vikram's smile fell.

Yuvraaj would hate him.

Vivaan would resent him, but would wish to see their new sister.

Agastya and Yuvaan are still too young to understand the situation, but they would love her nonetheless.

"We're here, sir," the driver announced.

Vikram stepped out of the car and climbed the stairs to the front doors of the glass building. The doorman bowed to him, holding the doors open. Vikram entered without a glance at his surrounding, heading straight for the elevator. The metal box ascended, taking him to the top floor where his penthouse resided.

He hadn't expected to meet the person he saw upon entering the luxurious but lonely house. The clench of his stomach made him realise how much he hates the sight of her.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded roughly. "Shouldn't you be in India?"

Dark red lips smiled at him. "I missed you."

Vikram stiffened when the slim pair of arms wrapped around his waist. He clenched his jaw as his hand gripped the slender wrists before he threw them off his body. The woman stumbled back, expressionless, not really affected by his abhorrence towards her.

"What happened? Did she reject you again?"

"Nandini," he spoke in a warning. "Get out of my house."

She pursed her lips innocently. "It's raining outside. Do you really want me to leave? It'll be all over the newspapers tomorrow."

He felt the tightness in his chest grow. "You're so thick skinned."

She smiled, humming in approval of his words. "That's one of the reasons why your mother chose me to be your wife. She said and I quote, my son is too sensitive and weak willed. He needs someone like you by his side."

Vikram let out an exhausted breath. "Leave."

"Is it a girl or boy?"

He stared at the city outside the glass walls, not providing her any reasons to stay longer.

"Boy?" She asked.

He stayed quiet.

"Girl?" She continued, noticing the flicker of emotions that crossed his brown eyes. "Girl it is." She nodded.

He looked down at her in contempt.

"Bring her here. I'll care for her like my own daughter."

"Shut up."

Nandini sighed. "What do you love about her?"

Vikram stepped aside to leave. Nandini leaned forward and grabbed his wrist, flinching in fear when he swatted her hand off violently. "Don't touch me!" He snapped.

She swallowed, visibly shaken up. "Do you ever show this side of yours to her?"

His eyes narrowed in slits.

"I bet she'll hate it." She murmured.

"I'm sure you'd like that," he stated condescendingly, stepping closer to look down at her. "But too bad, you're the only one to bring out these emotions within me."

"Because you hate me?" She whispered.

"Glad that you know." He heaved.

She smiled. "People say there's a very thin line seperating love and hate. One day you'll love me. I'm sure of that."

Vikram chuckled in disbelief. "You're delusional."

Her smile faltered.

"I hate you, Nandini. The mere sight of you makes me grimace. You're worthless to me, so much that I wouldn't bat an eye if you die right now."

She struggled to keep a straight face.

Having noticed that, he smirked. "That's what you get for entering this loveless marriage. I warned you, didn't I?" He cupped her chin. "I told you to say no to this alliance because I didn't have that freedom. But you're pathetic." He gritted out.

"So are you," she whispered shakily. His face contorted, and his grip on her chin loosened. She brushed off his hand. "So are you, Vikram. We're nothing different. You love someone you can't have, I do the same. But guess what?" She smiled mirthlessly. "You're tied to me. The person I love is tied to me, legally, morally, in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of our kids. Now who's more pathetic?"

Vikram wrapped his hand around her throat, pushing her back until she slammed into the wall. Nandini gasped for air, scratching at his arm to be let free. He removed his hand and she dropped to the ground, swallowing harsh gulps of oxygen through her mouth.

"Die." He spat out. "Go and fucking die!" He screamed, kicking the sofa chair back. Nandini flinched, cowering into the wall. "Set me free, for god's sake! Die! Die! Die!"

"I'll blame you."

He froze, chest heaving harshly, tears rolling down his eyes.

"Leave," he turned to look down at her.

She shook her head.

Vikram crumbled, his cries turning into heartwrenching sobs. "You ruined me. You ruined my Scarlett. I hate you." He sat down, pulling his knees closer. "I hate you for doing this to me."

Nandini scooted closer, reaching out to him hesitantly.

"Don't." He warned, raising his head to look at her. "Don't touch me. I feel disgusted."

She sighed helplessly.

"Get out."

"Vikram-"

"Aren't you tired of living like this?" He asked her rhetorically. "We're living a nightmare, Nandini. And I'm tired. I want to wake up. I want to go back to the time I was happy. With my Scarlett. I'll never love you, Nandini. How hard it is for you to understand that? Why are you living on a futile hope that your feelings will be someday reciprocated?"

"It helps me survive." She answered.

"Well, then I regret to inform you, there's no use clinging to the empty hope. Now that mother is dead, you'll be treated worse." He stated, a promise in his tone. "You crushed my chance at having a happy life, Nandini, I'll crush you from now onwards."

She frowned at him.

"You foster on your title as my wife, don't you?"

Her frown deepened.

He leaned in. "You'll be ridiculed for the same when I bring different women to bed every night. I'll cut off all the ties connected to help you. Your future, your career, your happiness, it'll be shredded to pieces.I lived a trapped life until today, now it's your turn."

"Vikram,"

"You'll be pitied, not respected. I'll make sure of that." He promised. "Don't wait for me. I'll be gone for the night." He smirked and got up to leave the house.

"Vikram!" Nandini shouted.

Vikram slammed the door close and strode to the elevator, pressing for the terrace. The doors opened revealing a clear sky and lights reflecting in the tiny puddles. He stepped out in the cold air, inhaling a mouthful of air and exhaling a wisp of smoke.

He walked to the edge and looked down from the top. Everyone appeared so tiny, insignificant, yet the same crowd makes him lost and suffocated when he is standing among them.

The flip phone in his pocket began to ring. Vikram fished it out, frowning at his friend's old number. He has to have been in some kind of trouble for him to be calling from the rarely used number.

"Vikram!" The man on the other side whispered.

"What? What is it? Are you okay, Virat?" Vikram stood straight in alarm.

"I'm on the third floor."

Vikram froze in shock.

"Hello? Vikram? Hello, Vikram are you there?"

"What the fuck are you doing!?" Vikram hissed. "Leave the floor immediately, Virat! Do you wish to die!?"

"I can't just stand back and watch!" Virat hissed through the phone. "There has to be something they are hiding. And don't tell me to go back, Vikram. It took me years to get here, I'm not leaving until I find out what monstrosity they do here. I'm sure it's related with the orphanages we sponsor."

"Virat-"

"You're a doctor, Vikram. Don't you feel uncomfortable with what's going on in the place you work? Isn't it your duty to save people!?"

"Virat, shut up and leave that place this instant!" Vikram growled.

"No!" Virat stated. "I just called to inform you I'm here. So if something happens to me, you'll know it's not an accident or suicide. And take care of my boy for me. Bye." He said jokingly before hanging up.

But Vikram's heart didn't find any rest. He clutched the phone tightly in his hand, looking up at the sky, the restless brewing within him grew stronger.

The sound of glass shattering brought his attention back to the present, followed by a loud thud before piercing screams infused the cold air. Vikram was busy narrowing his eyes to get the clear view of the crowd quickly gathering on the ground when the elevator reopened with a ding, revealing his most trusted guard. Vikram glanced over his shoulder before looking back down. "What happened there?"

"Your wife."

Vikram looked at him in shock. "What?"

The man in black nodded.

Vikram reacted almost immediately. Both them men rushed back to the elevator. He leaned in to press for the ground floor but halted abruptly.

"I'll blame you."

He pressed for the penthouse floor instead. The guard frowned but kept his silence.

The two walked out once the elevator reopened. Vikram used his card key and swiped the door open. "Did you fix the CCTV, Jay?"

"Not yet." Jay shook his head.

Vikram nodded and removed his shoes. Jay followed the action. The two entered the house. "Don't touch anything with your bare hand and don't misplace things. And look for a letter or something. Her phone and laptop too."

Vikram fixed the carpet and sofa chair before searching the house for any sort of confession she left behind.

"Sir!" Jay reappeared with a letter and a diary. "It was in her bag."

Vikram opened the folded letter.

And then he quickly crumpled it.

"We need to get rid of it." Jay stated.

Vikram hummed, shoving the letter into his pocket. "Let's go, we can't afford to waste time here." He said and the two rushed out immediately.

They reached the front of the building, in time to notice the ambulance leaving.

"I'll bring the car," Vikram nodded in response.

When the car arrived, they drove to the hospital. Vikram hoped she was dead. After reading what's been written in the letter, she was well prepared to pin the blame on him. With his mother gone, he can't afford to scar his reputation. Not when he has seven kids that depend on him. Thankfully she was dumb enough to leave a handwritten letter in this digital era as her confession.

They reached the hospital and Vikram felt his stomach drop at the sight of the cops crowding the hallway. Before they could interrogate him, the doctor exited the surgery room. Everyone looked at the man expectantly.

The doctor removed his surgical mask, sighing heavily. "I'm sorry. She had lost too much blood." He said sounding regretful.

Vikram had never felt so much relieved before.

Condolences were offered and comfort was provided. Vikram sat through the interrogation, cooking his own story of her spiralling in post pregnancy depression after their twins. The cops bought it, allowing him to go back home to grieve the death of his wife.

"You should have died quietly," Vikram murmured under his breath as he ripped the pages of the diary, offering them to the fire in the hearth. "Now I'll have to explain the situation to kids. Yuvraaj will probably blame me." He sighed, tearing off the last page and tossing them in the fiery flames along with the letter. The fire consumed everything greedily.

His flip phone began to vibrate and the reminder of what hell his friend had thrown himself inside came back with full force. He quickly fished it out and answered the call.

"Learn to mind your own business."

Vikram frowned. "Hello?"

"I'm going to reveal everything."

"Virat? Hello?" Vikram called out, unable to comprehend the voices. He regretted installing the voice changing application when they were kids for the fun of it because now he is unable to differentiate between the voices. The second person has to be his friend. He definitely sounded determined to reveal something.

"For a bastard son, you've got some courage."

"How can you call yourself human!?"

Vikram heard indistinct noises. Like winds, honks, chatters. It was impossible to tell what the place was.

"Pledge to keep your silence and I shall let you live."

"I'd rather die!"

Silence.

"Vira-"

"Then die,"

A piercing scream and then void of noise. Vikram stumbled back clumsily, falling on the couch with a hard swallow. He dialled the number again, pressing the flip screen to his ear.

"The number you've called is currently switched off. Please-"

Vikram dropped his hand before raising the same to toss the phone in the hearth. He hesitated.

"If something happens to me, you'll know it's not an accident or suicide. And take care of my boy for me."

Vikram exhaled a deep breath, fishing out his other phone to call for help. If he is still alive, which Vikram hoped he is, he might be saved.

He pulled up the key pad and was about to enter an emergency number when the flip phone vibrated with a text message. Vikram opened it with trembling fingers.

U N K N O W N : Think of your kids before making any decision.

Vikram tossed the phone in the hearth, not even hesitating his decision.

Coward.

Fine, if that's what helps him to protect his kids. He would stay mute if it means keeping everything he holds dear safe.

Vikram inhaled a deep breath, exhaling as his eyes fell close. The night was tough on him.

Two deaths. Two secrets. One witness.

It was indeed tough on him.

And here we go!

The Royal series have officially begin!

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