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Kritika strutted confidently toward Akshat, her presence commanding attention. The moment she appeared, Akshat’s reaction was calm and neutral, his gaze steady, while beside him, Preeti, Krishiv, and Vedant exchanged furious glances. Anika and Nandini stood off to the side, confused by the sudden tension in the air.

With a smirk playing on her lips, Kritika cast a casual glance at Anika and Nandini. “Ohh, new members in the family, I see,” she said with a mocking tone, her eyes lingering on them with thinly veiled judgment.

Preeti stepped forward, her expression sharp as she shot back, “Yes, the best ones,” her voice dripping with a mocking smile to match Kritika's.

Kritika’s smirk widened as she absorbed the subtle jab. Instead of replying, she turned her attention back to Akshat. "It’s been so long, Akshat," she began, her voice sweet but insincere. " Mr Malhotra ne tumhe bhi invite kiya? Actually he invited me and Abhimanyu to stay with them until the wedding but you know, Abhimanyu and I just got back from Switzerland—he insisted on spoiling me with a lavish vacation. You know how he is, can't help but shower me with love and, of course, his money." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, expecting some sort of reaction.

But Akshat remained unbothered, simply nodding. "Good for you," he replied calmly, his tone polite but distant, as if discussing a mundane topic. His lack of reaction seemed to ignite something in Kritika, but she pushed on, determined to get under his skin.

"You know, he’s such a romantic," she continued, her voice a little louder now. "He bought me a new car as soon as we returned. A Jaguar—nothing but the best for me." She laughed, watching for any hint of jealousy or anger from Akshat. "You must remember how much I love luxurious things. And Abhimanyu—he understands me so well. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a man." Her eyes flickered with challenge as she waited for Akshat to respond.

But still, Akshat stayed neutral, not a flicker of emotion crossing his face. “Ohh” he said simply, his tone as flat as ever.

Kritika’s patience wore thin. She took a step closer, her voice more urgent now. "You don’t have to pretend, Akshat. I know you still hate me for leaving, for choosing Abhimanyu over you. But honestly, I can’t help it if you couldn't handle someone like me."

Akshat’s calm demeanor didn’t waver. He looked her directly in the eyes, his voice measured and calm. "Kritika, hate is a strong word," he began. "I don’t hate you. To hate someone, you have to spend time thinking about them, and frankly, I don’t even think about you."

Her eyes widened in disbelief at his words, her carefully constructed confidence cracking. “What?” she hissed, her voice rising. “You’re saying you don’t care? After everything?”

Akshat sighed, as if he were mildly bored by the conversation. "Years ago, it would’ve affected me. But not anymore. You don’t hold that kind of power over me, Kritika. Not now, not ever." His words were calm, but their meaning was cutting, and they landed with precision.

Kritika’s face flushed with anger, her earlier smirk now replaced with a look of fury. She wasn’t used to being dismissed like this, especially not by Akshat. “You’re lying,” she spat, her voice shrill now. “You can’t just not care.”

Akshat shook his head slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Chal jaa na, usne keh diya na ki nahi fark padta!" Preeti snapped at her. Her voice rang with mockery, and she stood there with her arms crossed, watching Kritika’s reaction.

Kritika turned around and glared at her. “You’re still like before,” she said coldly, narrowing her eyes in frustration.

Without missing a beat, Preeti shot back, “Chal chal, jaa ke toilet saaf kar." The words came out with effortless ease, and the rest of the group burst into laughter. Krishiv and Vedant laughed freely, while Akshat and Vikram struggled to keep their composure, barely holding back their grins.

Bulbul, who had been observing the entire scene with curiosity, suddenly chimed in. Her innocent voice cut through the tension as she looked at Kritika with wide eyes. "Aunty, aap khoon pee kar aaye ho kya?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Kritika turned to her, completely thrown off by the comment. “What??” she asked, confused and irritated at the same time.

“Aapke muh pe itna red red kya hai? Aap drakula ho kya?” Bulbul asked again, her head tilting to the side, studying Kritika’s flustered expression. The entire group burst into another round of uncontrollable laughter, this time even Akshat couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Krishiv, added with a grin, "Beta, drakula sirf khoon peete hain, ye toh logon ke sukoon peeti hai." His words sent another wave of laughter through the group, the kind that felt liberating and joyful.

Bulbul wasn’t finished though, her mind working in overdrive. "Toh kya ye dayan hai?" she asked Krishiv, her voice full of innocence, as if she had stumbled upon an important revelation.

Preeti, amused by the entire situation, waved a hand dramatically and said, "Dayan 7 ghar chhor ke vaar karti hai, Bulbul. Uski bezzati mat karo. Kahin kisi dayan ko bura lag gaya toh!" Her voice was playful but dripping with humor, and even Bulbul giggled at the thought.

Kritika, now seething with anger and humiliation, shot a furious look at all of them. "You guys are unbelievable!" she spat, unable to deal with the mockery any longer. With that, she spun on her heel and marched away, her footsteps heavy with anger.

As the group watched her leave, Akshat let out a chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Aap log na..." he muttered, his tone light but filled with amusement.

Preeti, still grinning, walked up to him and gave him a concerned look despite the laughter in her eyes. "Tu thik hai na?" she asked softly, her tone shifting to one of genuine care.

Akshat smiled at her, his eyes reassuring. "Haan, mujhe kya hoga," he said with a shrug. His smile was genuine, and for a moment, everyone felt the lightness return as the shadows of the past faded away, leaving only laughter and warmth behind.

As kritika walked away, Akshat's thoughts spiralled—he hadn’t told Amrit about Kritika, about his past, about his first marriage. A wave of guilt struck him. She deserved to know, especially now that their lives were becoming more entwined.

Without wasting a moment, he excused himself from the group and hurried down the corridor where Amrit had gone earlier.

Amrit, just returning from the washroom, was walking back toward the group, unaware of the storm brewing behind her. Akshat’s footsteps quickened as he caught up to her.

"Amrit," he called softly, his voice laced with tension. She turned, slightly surprised to see him.

"What happened?" she asked, noticing the serious expression on his face. Her eyes scanned his features, looking for clues.

Akshat took a deep breath, his hands clenched into fists by his side. "There’s something important I need to tell you," he began, his voice steady but strained.

Amrit, sensing the weight of his words, became nervous. "Abhi ? Ghar vale yahin pe hain na aapke? Everyone will suspect something," she whispered, her eyes darting back toward the room where the others were gathered.

Ignoring her hesitation, Akshat stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as he reached for her wrist, holding it gently but firmly.

"I know this isn’t the right place, but this can’t wait," he said in a low voice, his gaze locking with hers. "When we get home tonight, I need you to wait for me. There’s something you have the right to know. Something I should have told you a long time ago."

She nodded slowly, trying to keep her composure. "Okay… I’ll wait," she whispered, her voice almost trembling. She had no idea what he wanted to say, but the look in his eyes told her it was something big.

Akshat exhaled, his grip on her wrist loosening as he stepped back and nodded.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the corridor, her thoughts swirling with anticipation and unease.

Kritika stood a few paces away, observing Akshat and Amrit's interaction from the shadows of the corridor. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Akshat's intense expression, the way he held Amrit’s wrist, how close they stood. Though nothing was explicitly clear, something about the moment ignited suspicion in her mind. Could they be…? She frowned, considering the possibility. Was Akshat hiding something from her?

As soon as Akshat walked away and Amrit began heading back to the group, Kritika decided she wouldn’t waste time. She was going to find out who this woman was and what her relationship with Akshat really entailed. A smirk crept onto her face as she casually made her way over to Amrit, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

Amrit, still a bit shaken from her interaction with Akshat, didn’t notice Kritika approaching until she was almost beside her.

“Hi there. I am Kritika.” Kritika’s voice was smooth, almost too friendly. Amrit looked up, momentarily startled but quickly composed herself.

“Hello,” Amrit replied politely, though she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling she got from the woman’s demeanour.

“I couldn’t help but notice that Akshat was talking to you ” Kritika began, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “You two seem close.”

Amrit’s guard went up immediately. She forced a small smile, trying to keep the conversation light. “Wo..he is my professor so college related baat thi. But it’s nothing like that.”

Kritika let out a small laugh, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “He’s... a special person, you know? We were very close once. So close that...” she paused, pretending to search for the right words, “...it felt like we were the only ones in each other's lives. I don’t know if you know that about him.”

Amrit’s eyes narrowed, but she kept her expression neutral “Ohh.” She said.

Kritika's voice softened, her tone almost nostalgic. “We used to spend so much time together. He was always there for me, through everything. We had something... really deep, you know? It’s hard to explain, but it’s not something that just disappears.”

Amrit remained silent, feeling the weight of Kritika's words, but she wasn’t going to let herself be swayed.

Kritika continued, her eyes turning misty as she played the role of the heartbroken woman perfectly. “I don’t blame anyone for what happened between us. Life moves on, right? But sometimes I wonder... if things would’ve been different if... someone hadn’t come between us.” She glanced briefly at Amrit, her meaning clear even though she didn’t say it outright.

Kritika sighed dramatically. “I used to think... maybe one day, things would go back to the way they were. But now...” She trailed off, letting the silence hang in the air, as if she were too heartbroken to finish the sentence.

“Excuse me!” Amrit agreed, standing up, signaling that the conversation was over. “Mujhe ghar jana hai”

Kritika watched as Amrit walked away with a smirk.

Nandini walked around the room, scanning the faces of her friends and family. A frown creased her forehead as she realized Amrit was nowhere to be found.

"Vidya, have you seen Amrit anywhere?" Nandini asked, approaching her younger sister.

Vidya shook her head. "Pata nahi, di. I was just looking for her too. She was here a while ago, but now I can't find her."

A worried expression crossed Nandini's face. "Strange... Let me call her and check." She quickly pulled out her phone and dialled Amrit’s number, pacing slightly as the phone rang.

The moment Amrit picked up, Nandini didn’t waste time. "Amrit? Where are you? We’ve been looking for you."

There was a brief pause on the other end before Amrit responded, her voice sounding unusually soft and tired. "I… I’m sorry, Nandini Didi. I wasn’t feeling well, so I just decided to head back. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

Nandini stared at her phone for a moment, then looked up at everyone gathered in the room. "Amrit said she wasn’t feeling well and decided to head back home."

Krishiv frowned slightly. "She didn’t say anything before leaving?"

Nandini shook her head. "Nahi, maybe she’s just really tired."

Akshat, who had been standing silently to the side, felt his heart rate quicken. A growing sense of unease settled in his chest. Something must have happened, he thought, his mind already racing back to their last interaction in the corridor. He replayed the moment, the look on Amrit’s face, the way she seemed off.

He cleared his throat and stepped forward, trying to keep his voice calm despite the urgency he felt. "I… I have some important work to handle. I’ll be back later.”

*****************************************

Amrit paced back and forth in the small bedroom of the apartment, her thoughts spiraling in every direction. Her heart felt heavy as she considered all the possibilities. Should I ask him? she wondered. The memory of Kritika's words echoed in her mind, her insinuations that there was something more between her and Akshat. Amrit’s mind raced, joining the dots slowly—Had there been someone else before me? Were they together? Was I the reason they couldn’t be now?

Her hands trembled as she held her head, trying to stop herself from spiraling further. "But by what right do I even ask him?" she whispered to herself, her voice shaking. "He only married me to save me from humiliation... and it’s barely been a month. What right do I have to demand answers?"

A soft click from the door broke her trance. Akshat entered the apartment, his steps quick as he made his way to the bedroom. He paused when he saw her pacing in the room, her body tense.

“Kya hua?” he asked, his brows furrowing with concern as he took in her anxious expression.

Amrit stopped and looked at him, caught off guard by his sudden appearance. “Kuch nahi,” she replied, her voice unconvincing, but she tried to hide her unease.

He studied her face carefully. “Are you okay? Nandini was telling me that you weren’t feeling well. Should we go to the doctor?” he asked, stepping closer with genuine worry in his eyes.

She shook her head quickly, trying to brush off the concern. “Nahi, bas... I was tired,” she said, her voice faltering slightly as she turned her gaze away from him.

Akshat sighed softly, still sensing something was off. “Okay...” He hesitated, his mind already on what he needed to tell her. “I want to talk to you. Baitho,” he said, gesturing to the bed.

Amrit’s heart skipped a beat. She could sense that this was about something important—maybe the very thing she had been dreading. But she couldn’t face it right now. I don’t want to hear it. Not like this.

“I don’t want to talk... I mean,” she glanced around, trying to find an excuse, “mujhe neend aa rahi hai.”

Akshat frowned but remained calm. He could see her deflection, but he knew he had to have this conversation. “Please, Amrit. Just a few minutes. I’ll change. Tab tak please wait for me,” he said, his voice gentle but firm as he headed towards the washroom.

When Akshat returned from the washroom, freshly changed, he stopped in his tracks. Amrit was lying on the bed, her back turned towards him, wrapped tightly in the blanket, as if she had fallen asleep in the brief moment he was gone.

"Itni jaldi so gayi?" he muttered to himself. Usually, Amrit stayed up late reading or finishing some work. This was unusual.

He moved closer and sat on the edge of the bed, gently placing a hand on her forehead. "Fever toh nahi hai..." he murmured, checking if she was unwell. Her skin felt normal, no sign of a temperature. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But then his gaze dropped to her feet, and he noticed she was still wearing her sandals. Akshat shook his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Carefully, he knelt down and unfastened the straps of her sandals, slipping them off her feet with gentle hands. He paused for a moment, looking at her peaceful, if somewhat troubled, expression. He pulled the blanket up properly, covering her feet and making sure she was comfortable.

Before standing up, his hand lingered for a moment, gently brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. He let his fingers trail softly over her head, his touch soothing, almost instinctive.

Akshat stood up and looked at her for a moment longer before turning away. He walked over to the couch on the other side of the room, his heart heavy with unspoken words.

The early morning sun filtered through the curtains as Akshat stirred from his sleep. He was still on the couch, his back stiff from the uncomfortable position. Rubbing his eyes, he heard his phone vibrate beside him. Groaning, he grabbed it, blinking as he tried to focus on the screen. A call from his assistant at the college flashed, and he picked it up groggily.

“Hello?” Akshat's voice was heavy with sleep.

“Sir, we have an urgent meeting with the board in half an hour,” the assistant said, sounding anxious. “They want to discuss the new syllabus implementation and the accreditation inspection scheduled for next week. They’ve called for your presence, as you need to finalize some of the key points.”

Akshat immediately sat up, now fully awake. The accreditation meeting... He had been preparing for this for weeks. As the director of the college and a senior professor, he was responsible for ensuring the smooth transition of the new academic program that was being introduced.

“Half an hour? Got it. I’ll be there,” Akshat responded quickly, already getting to his feet.

The urgency of the situation propelled him into motion. He hurried to the bathroom, quickly freshening up and splashing water on his face to shake off the last remnants of sleep.

After getting dressed, Akshat glanced at the time. He still had a few minutes before he needed to leave. His gaze shifted to Amrit, who was still fast asleep in bed. She looked so small and fragile beneath the blanket, but then he noticed that the blanket had fallen onto the floor, leaving her exposed to the cold.

He knelt beside her, carefully pulling the blanket back over her, making sure it was tucked in properly. As he did so, he noticed that she was slightly shivering.

“Amrit,” he whispered softly, but she didn’t stir. She was deep in sleep, her face peaceful.

Akshat walked over to the air conditioner and adjusted the temperature, turning it up a bit so it wasn’t as cold in the room. He glanced at her one last time before heading to the kitchen.

I should at least make sure she has something to eat when she wakes up, he thought.

Akshat moved swiftly, preparing a quick but hearty breakfast. After plating everything neatly, he placed the breakfast on the dining table, leaving a small note beside it: Eat well.

Grabbing his bag, he typed out a quick message to her:

“Urgent meeting thi isliye jana pada. I’ve prepared breakfast for you. Take care. We’ll talk when I’m back.”

Amrit woke up the next morning to the sound of her phone buzzing softly on the nightstand. She rubbed her eyes and picked it up, reading Akshat’s message: "Urgent meeting thi isliye jana pada. I have prepared breakfast."

She stared at the screen, but her mind was elsewhere, lost in the storm of thoughts that had plagued her since the previous night. She absentmindedly ate the breakfast he had prepared, but it tasted bland, not because of the food, but because her mind was stuck—stuck on all the doubts and insecurities that had settled into her heart.

Akshat and Kritika... could there still be something between them? She couldn’t stop replaying every detail of her conversation with Kritika. The way she spoke, how she insinuated her closeness with Akshat, yet never directly said anything.

After getting ready for college, she left the apartment, pushing away the swirling thoughts to focus on her day.

When she returned to the apartment that evening, Akshat had also just gotten back. As she changed into something more comfortable, he watched her closely, his concern deepening.

"Amrit, tum pakka thik ho na? College mein bhi khoyi hui thi. Sab thik hai na?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.

She gave him a small, tight smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Haan... bas I was missing mumma," she lied, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. She didn’t want to burden him with her inner turmoil, especially not when she wasn’t sure if her suspicions were even valid.

After a few moments of silence, Akshat spoke again. "Kal mai jo batane vala tha wo..." he began, but she quickly interrupted him.

"I need to study," she said, her tone sharper than she intended. She couldn’t deal with it right now. She didn’t want to hear whatever it was he wanted to say—not when her heart was so tangled in doubt.

Akshat sighed, clearly frustrated but not wanting to push her. He knew something was off, but he also knew she wasn’t ready to talk about it. "Thik hai," he said quietly, stepping back to give her space.

That night, Amrit avoided him again, retreating to the bedroom early under the pretense of studying. She stayed there, flipping through her books but barely absorbing anything.

Akshat peeked into the room later, hoping to talk, but when he saw her engrossed in her books, he hesitated. He didn’t want to disturb her if she was focused on her studies. But her distant behaviour was starting to worry him even more.

The next day was no different. Amrit barely spoke to him in the morning, quickly leaving for college without their usual banter. Akshat watched her leave, confused and unsettled.

When he returned home that evening, the distance between them felt even more pronounced. Amrit stayed in her room, barely interacting with him, and when they did speak, it was only brief, surface-level conversations.

"Amrit," he called from the living room later that night, hoping to break through the wall she had built around herself. "Kuch baat karni hai, please aao."

"Baad mein, Akshat. I’m really busy," she replied from the bedroom, her voice muffled by the door.

Akshat sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. What is happening? he wondered. He had never felt this disconnected from her before, and the more she avoided him, the more helpless he felt.

By the end of the night, Akshat sat on the couch, staring blankly at his phone, waiting for her to come out of the bedroom. But the door remained closed, and so did the distance between them.

*****************************************

Next morning, Nandini stood on the side of the road, scanning her phone, trying to book a cab. The morning rush was making it difficult, and she sighed in frustration. Just as she was about to give up and try another app, she heard the screech of a car coming toward her at high speed. Her heart raced, and she instinctively took a few steps back.

“Arrey pagal hai kya!” she yelled, frowning at the reckless driver.

The window of the car rolled down slowly, revealing Vedant, who sat there with a smirk playing on his lips.

“Sorry ma’am, I thought road vehicle chalane ke liye hoti hai,” he said sarcastically, his tone dripping with mock politeness.

Nandini rolled her eyes, instantly recognizing that he was up to his usual annoying antics. “Udhar se bhi jaa sakte the! Par aapko mera shikar karna hai na!” she shot back, folding her arms. The sharpness in her voice was unmistakable, but Vedant could see the small smile she was hiding.

He fought the urge to laugh. Perfect, he thought. Since that day, Nandini had been avoiding him, barely giving him more than a few words at a time, and he was determined to break the ice—if teasing her was the only way to get her attention, so be it.

“Chalo, I’ll drop you,” he offered casually, as though it were no big deal.

“No thanks,” Nandini replied immediately, her voice firm as she turned her attention back to her phone.

“Nandini…” Vedant leaned a little out of the window, his voice softer but still playful. “Maa ne bola tha drop karne ke liye. Unhone ghar se hi dekh liya tha tumhe bina scooty ke nikalte huye.” His lie was smooth, but convincing enough, and he watched as Nandini’s shoulders slumped in mild frustration.

“Fine,” she muttered, opening the passenger door and getting in.

Vedant suppressed his grin, keeping his expression neutral as she settled into the seat next to him.

Vedant pulled up in front of Nandini’s office and parked the car. He stepped out, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door for her. As Nandini got out, her attention was immediately drawn to two men standing near the entrance—Rajat and an older man who looked strikingly similar to him.

Vedant’s gaze followed hers. “Who are they?” he asked, his tone a little sharper than usual.

Nandini’s eyes widened in surprise and excitement as realization dawned. “That’s my boss! Vaibhav Rathore, Rajat’s father!” she said with enthusiasm. “I’ve never seen him in person before—he was in the US for so long and just returned today!” Her voice was filled with awe.

Vedant’s brow furrowed slightly. Rajat, he thought, the name already setting off a spark of irritation inside him.

As they approached, Rajat noticed them and waved. He smiled warmly at Nandini but barely acknowledged Vedant’s presence.

“Nandini!” Rajat greeted, walking over with a bright smile. “Chalo papa se milvata hun.” He said dragging her with him.

Vedant’s jaw tightened as he stood a few steps behind them, feeling completely sidelined. His eyes narrowed as he watched Nandini talk to Rajat with such ease and excitement. The way her face lit up as she spoke to Rajat made something in his chest tighten. Why does she never smile like that when she talks to me? he thought, his jealousy simmering under the surface.

The casual, friendly touch felt far too familiar for Vedant’s liking, and the ease with which Nandini accepted it gnawed at him. As Rajat led her away, Vedant’s glare followed them. His chest tightened, and he could feel the anger bubbling up inside him.

Without saying another word, Vedant turned on his heel and walked back to the car. He yanked the door open and slammed it shut behind him, gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. Rajat, Rajat, Rajat, his mind fumed, the name echoing in his thoughts.

Nandini and Rajat reached Vaibhav Rathore, who was waiting near the entrance of the building. Vaibhav was a distinguished man with an air of experience, his salt-and-pepper hair complementing his sharp yet kind eyes. He smiled warmly at Nandini, his gaze curious yet welcoming.

Nandini, feeling a bit nervous under his watchful eye, quickly tried to gather herself. "G… good morning, Mr. Rathore... I mean, sir," she stammered, her voice slightly shaky.

Vaibhav chuckled, his smile widening. "Chokra was jealous," he said, amused, his voice holding a teasing edge.

"Ji?" Nandini asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"That man with you," Vaibhav clarified. "Your boyfriend. He was jealous."

Nandini’s eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly shook her head. "Arrey no no, he’s not my boyfriend, sir. Aapko misunderstanding hui hai," she said, her voice rushing as she tried to explain.

Vaibhav raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Beta, ye baal hamne dhoop mein safed thodi kiye hain," he said, his tone filled with gentle amusement. "Itna experience toh humein bhi hai. Apni Mrs. Rathore ke liye ham bhi aise jalte the kabhi."

Rajat, standing beside them, groaned dramatically. "Papa, aap bhi na!" he exclaimed. Turning to Nandini, he added with a grin, "I told you na? Wherever he goes, he turns into a love guru and starts telling his love story."

Vaibhav gave his son a mock glare. "Haan, par kuch seekha tune apne baap se!" he retorted. "Kab se keh rahe hain, ghumo firo, koi bahu lao! Nalayak!" His voice was filled with affection despite the teasing words, and Nandini couldn’t help but chuckle at their banter.

As the laughter settled, Vaibhav turned his attention back to Nandini, his expression softening again. "I’m sure he likes you, chokri," he said seriously, his eyes searching hers.

Nandini blinked, startled by the comment. "I... I don’t think..." she started, unsure how to respond, her mind suddenly flashing to Vedant’s unusual behavior earlier.

Vaibhav waved his hand dismissively. "Dekhte jao," he said, his tone suggesting that time would reveal the truth. "Accha, I have to leave now. Iski maa jaan le legi late hua toh," he added with a laugh, gesturing toward Rajat.

"Ji, sir," Nandini responded with a respectful nod, feeling a little more at ease now.

Before walking away, Vaibhav turned to Rajat. "Rajat, ghar laana kabhi apni dost ko," he said with a knowing smile, his tone warm and inviting.

"Haan, papa," Rajat replied, shaking his head fondly as his father left.

*****************************************

Amrit sat on the edge of the Marine Drive promenade, her gaze fixed on the waves crashing against the rocks. The sound of the sea was calming, but her mind was anything but calm. She was lost in a whirl of thoughts, struggling with whether or not she should confront Akshat about everything that had been troubling her.

She picked up a small pebble, muttering to herself. “Talk to him,” she said softly, then tossed the pebble into the sea. Another pebble in her hand. “Don’t talk to him,” she muttered again, throwing the second one with more force.

She continued this pattern, lost in her internal conflict, when suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts from behind.

"Decide fast, chokri, warna kisi ka sar zarur phoot jayega," the voice said, a teasing warmth in its tone.

Startled, Amrit turned around and found herself looking at an older man, his salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes giving away a sense of wisdom and experience. It was Vaibhav Rathore, though she didn’t recognize him.

"Excuse me?" she said, her brows furrowing slightly in confusion.

Vaibhav smiled, gesturing toward the pebbles in her hand. "Woh jo pathar fenki ja rahi ho, agar galti se kisi ke sar pe laga toh problem ho jayegi. Isliye keh raha hoon, decide quickly."

Amrit blinked, then looked down at the pebbles in her hand. She hadn’t even realized she was throwing them so absentmindedly. "Oh… I wasn’t paying attention," she said softly, dropping the remaining stones and brushing her hands off awkwardly.

Vaibhav chuckled and sat down on the edge of the promenade a few feet away from her, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. "Mind if I sit?" he asked casually, though he was already settled, clearly in no rush to move.

Amrit shook her head, though she still wasn’t sure why this man had decided to sit near her. He didn’t seem dangerous, just...chatty.

"You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind," Vaibhav said after a few moments of comfortable silence, his voice casual, as though he were simply making an observation.

Amrit hesitated, not sure if she wanted to open up to a complete stranger. “Bas.. apni zindagi ke baare me kuch" she said vaguely, not looking at him.

Vaibhav nodded knowingly. "Zindagi ke baare me! That’s always tricky, isn’t it? Sometimes, you don’t know if you should step forward or stay put."

Amrit glanced at him, curious about how easily he seemed to understand. "Haan" she said, still keeping her tone neutral.

He leaned back slightly, his arms resting on the edge behind him, eyes scanning the horizon. "You know, when I was younger, I used to overthink everything. Small things would feel like huge decisions. Should I take this job? Should I marry this girl? Should I buy that house? And every time, I’d find myself stuck in the middle, throwing metaphorical stones into the ocean."

Amrit gave a small, hesitant smile, feeling like he was talking about her without knowing it.

"Eventually," he continued, "I learned that sometimes the answers we’re looking for don’t come until we just act. Even if it feels like we might make the wrong decision, we won’t know until we move forward. But staying still? That just makes us feel worse."

Amrit looked down at her hands, still unsure. "But what if... what if you act and it’s the wrong choice? What if it hurts someone else?" she asked quietly, her words suddenly loaded with more meaning than she intended to reveal.

Vaibhav tilted his head, considering her words. "Ah, that’s the tricky part, isn’t it? We don’t always have control over how others feel or react. But if you spend too much time worrying about that, you’ll lose sight of what you need for yourself. Sometimes... not making a choice can hurt just as much.”

Amrit bit her lip, feeling the weight of his words. She was still holding back, not quite ready to expose her dilemma. So she asked, using a different example. "What if... hypothetically... someone was caught between two people? One who might love them, and one who they're tied to out of responsibility? How would they know which choice is right?"

Vaibhav studied her for a moment before answering. "Hypothetically speaking... I’d say the heart knows better than we give it credit for. Responsibility is important, but if you choose it at the expense of happiness, then both people in that situation end up unhappy. You can’t build a life just out of obligation.”

Amrit’s heart clenched at his words. She had been thinking about Akshat, the weight of their marriage pressing down on her. Was she just an obligation to him? And what about his past? Was there someone else he truly loved?

Finally, she let out a shaky breath and opened up. "What if... I married someone, but I think they were in love with someone else before me? And now, I’m just... in the way?" she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vaibhav didn’t react with surprise. Instead, he looked at her with a gentle understanding. "Tumhare pati ne kaha ye sab?” He asked softly.

Amrit shook her head, feeling vulnerable but somehow lighter having said it out loud.

Vaibhav sighed and looked back at the sea. "If that’s the case, then the only way to know for sure is to talk to him. If you keep guessing, keep assuming... you’ll only drive yourself crazy. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen," he said with a soft chuckle. "And you deserve to know the truth. Whether it’s painful or not."

“But by what right should I ask him? He married me just because of circumstances aur abhi ek month bhi nahi huye.” She asked, looking at him.

Vaibhav looked at Amrit thoughtfully, letting her words sink in.

Vaibhav leaned forward, his expression sincere as he asked, “Did he ever make you feel like you came between him and his love?”

She hesitated for a moment, her voice soft but certain. “Never. He treats me so well. Mai toh unse baat bhi nahi kar rahi, still he’s being so kind and understanding.”

Vaibhav’s brows furrowed slightly in confusion. “So, why these doubts then, ladki?”

She looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “Because I’ve seen it. The sadness behind his smile... the pain in his eyes. Maybe it’s because of her,” she murmured, her voice laced with concern.

"You know, once upon a time, I had a garden," he started, his eyes staring far into the distance as though recalling a memory. "I was never really a gardener, but I loved that garden. Every day, I’d go outside, water the plants, pull out weeds, take care of the flowers. But one day, I noticed that one of the flowers had started wilting. No matter how much I watered it, how much sunlight it got, the leaves kept drooping, and the colour kept fading. I got frustrated, thinking maybe I wasn’t doing enough."

Amrit looked at him curiously, wondering where he was going with this.

"I kept worrying about that one flower while all the others around it were thriving. I thought, ‘Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I didn’t tend to it enough, or maybe there’s something wrong with the soil.' But do you know what I found out later?" he asked, glancing at her.

Amrit shook her head, intrigued.

"I found out that the wilting had nothing to do with me or the soil. It was just the way that flower was. It was still growing, still living, but it had its own way of surviving. It didn’t need more water, more sunlight , it just needed time. I had been blaming myself all along, thinking I wasn’t doing enough. But sometimes, the sadness we see isn’t about us or what we give. It’s about something else entirely. Something that person or, in my case, the flower, carries with them."

Amrit blinked, his words sinking in slowly. "But... what if that sadness is because of something else? What if it’s because of someone else?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vaibhav smiled kindly, shaking his head. "You see, not everything is as it appears. A tree doesn’t lose its leaves because it’s unloved—it sheds them because that’s its nature, a cycle it must go through. A river doesn’t stop flowing because it doesn’t have affection—it just changes its course when it encounters obstacles. People, too, carry their own burdens, sometimes unrelated to what we assume. The sadness in his eyes... it could be about something you don’t even know yet. Something unrelated to love."

Amrit’s eyes softened, and she looked away, feeling a small glimmer of hope but still unsure.

"But," Vaibhav continued, "if you don’t communicate with him, if you let your mind keep building these assumptions, you’ll find yourself drowning in doubts. You’ll distance yourself, not because he pushed you away, but because your own thoughts did." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

Amrit listened intently, her heart heavy but her mind slowly clearing up. Vaibhav’s examples were simple yet profound, making her realize that she had been holding herself back.

"But how do I ask him? What if he doesn’t want to talk about it?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Vaibhav chuckled softly. "Chokri, talking doesn’t mean demanding answers. It means opening up, being vulnerable, and letting the other person know how you feel. It’s not about accusing him or digging into his past. It’s about sharing what’s on your heart. And trust me, when you speak from the heart, people listen, even if they don’t have all the answers right away."

Amrit looked down at her hands, fidgeting slightly. She knew he was right. She had to talk to Akshat, not to interrogate him but to share her fears, her doubts, and her feelings.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Vaibhav smiled warmly and stood up. "No need to thank me, chokri. Just don’t keep throwing stones into the sea, hoping for answers. Sometimes, you’ve got to dive in and find them yourself.”

Amrit couldn't help but smile at the older man as they continued their conversation. “You must have the most healthy relationship with your wife." Her smile was genuine, a mixture of admiration and curiosity.

Vaibhav chuckled softly, a fond expression crossing his face as he thought about his wife. "Haan, credit goes to hamari Rani sa," he said, his tone softening with affection. "I was also like you when I first met her—surrounded by insecurities, self-doubt, always second-guessing myself. But she..." he paused, his eyes twinkling as if recalling a cherished memory, "she taught me so many things in life. You can say this is my new version, made by her."

“Agar mujhe aapko iske baad batana hua toh?" Her voice was light, playful, but there was a deeper layer of sincerity underneath.

He looked at her, understanding her question instantly. "Har shaam aate hain ham evening walk pe," he said with a soft smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Amrit couldn’t help but grin back at him. The idea of running into him again filled her with comfort. "Kal milte hain," she said, her voice carrying a quiet confidence that hadn’t been there before.

He smiled at her, the kindness in his eyes unmistakable. "All the best," he said, reaching out and gently patting her head as though she were his own daughter.

As he walked away, Amrit felt a warmth settle in her chest, a strange but welcome feeling of hope.

*****************************************

The night had settled in, and the house was quiet as Amrit sat on the edge of the bed, nervously waiting for Akshat to come home. Her mind had been spinning ever since her conversation with Kritika. The insinuations, the manipulations—they had left her feeling vulnerable and guilty, even though she knew better. She needed to talk to Akshat, to clear the air, to confess the turmoil inside her heart.

Finally, she heard the door creak open, and the familiar sound of Akshat’s footsteps echoed through the hallway. She looked up, relief flooding her when she saw him walking into the living room. But the look on his face made her pause. He narrowed his eyes, not angry, but clearly distant as he settled onto the couch, tired from the day.

Amrit hesitated for a moment, then stood up and walked over to him, her heart pounding. She forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re back... I’ve been waiting for you.”

Akshat leaned back, his arms crossed as he looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Ohh, toh madam ko time mil gaya baat karne ka?” His tone was sarcastic, but there was a hint of frustration beneath it.

Her heart sank, and she immediately felt the weight of his words. She looked down, unable to meet his gaze. “I... I’m really sorry, Akshat. Mujhe kuch samajh mein nahi aa raha tha... I was just... confused.”

Akshat didn’t respond immediately, just watched her quietly as she fidgeted. The silence hung heavy in the room, and Amrit could feel herself getting more anxious.

She took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. “There’s something I need to tell you. Today at the function... I met this woman. Kritika.” She paused, glancing up to see if there was any reaction on Akshat’s face, but he remained calm, his expression unreadable.

“She... she said some things. About you. About your past. And I—I didn’t know how to handle it. Mujhe toh aapke baare me kuch bhi nahi pata Akshat.” Amrit’s voice wavered as she began to speak faster, words tumbling out without control. “She made it sound like there was still something between you two, like I had come between you. She didn’t say it outright, but it felt like she was blaming me, and I started thinking... what if she’s right?”

Akshat’s eyes remained on her, but he didn’t interrupt. He could see how flustered she was, how the words were pouring out in a rush, but he wasn’t going to react just yet.

“And then... I started wondering... what if I did come between you? What if... what if you would have been happier with her? Maybe I shouldn’t have—” She paused, catching her breath, her words jumbled together. “Maybe I shouldn’t have married you. I could leave, Akshat. I could go and give you space. You—” She took a breath, her voice breaking slightly. “You deserve someone who makes you happy, and if it’s her... I—I wouldn’t want to stand in the way.”

“And she... she started talking about how you were so close to her, how you two had everything.” Her voice rose slightly, the emotion catching in her throat. “I didn’t know what to say... I thought... what if she’s right? What if I—”

Akshat stepped closer to Amrit, his gaze softening as he cupped her cheek with his hand.

“Shhh! Kitna sochti ho tum?” he said softly, his voice a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.

“Take a deep breath!” he urged gently, his thumb brushing her skin as he spoke.

“I also wanted to talk about this matter,” he continued, his tone shifting slightly as he prepared to dive deeper into the conversation. “This is a long story, toh tum balcony me jao. I will bring tea for us, then we will talk, ok? Let me change"

“Alright,” she replied, a soft smile creeping onto her lips despite the lingering worries in her mind.

The moonlight bathed the balcony in a soft, serene glow as Amrit sat on the couch, wrapped in her thoughts. She watched Akshat walk toward her with two steaming cups of tea. He looked at her with a gentle smile, and for a moment, it felt like the world had slowed down. Sitting beside her, he handed her the cup.

"Thank you," she said softly, her fingers wrapping around the warm cup.

Akshat settled beside her, his gaze lifting toward the moon. The silence stretched between them, comforting yet filled with unspoken words. He knew it was time to tell her everything—his past, the shadows that had shaped him.

“When I was 7 years old, my parents got divorced…” he began, his voice low but steady, as if pulling from a deep well of emotion.

Amrit, taken aback, interrupted, “Kya? Divorced? But aapki maa ne toh sindoor lagaya tha uss din…” Her voice trailed off, confused by the contradiction.

Akshat sighed softly, a sad smile forming on his lips as he looked at her. “She’s not my mother… woh meri chachi hain. Chacha aur chachi ne hamesha humara dhyaan rakha. After Chacha married Chachi, they didn’t even plan to have their own kids. Unhone apni puri zindagi hum dono—Vihaan aur mujhe—banane mein laga di.”

Amrit blinked, taken by surprise. "Oh," she whispered, her hand tightening on the cup. She hadn't expected that.

Akshat’s eyes softened as he continued, “Jo main aaj hoon… it’s all because of them. They nurtured us, gave us everything they could. But… growing up watching my real parents constantly fight—khaas kar un dinon mein jab relationships were supposed to be sacred—it broke something in me.”

He took a deep breath, his gaze dropping to the tea in his hands, lost in the memory. "I stopped believing in relationships. I thought love was just another battlefield where people tore each other apart. I didn’t want to end up like my parents, trapped in a cycle of endless fights. But then… Vishakha Maa, my chachi, she insisted I give it a try. She wanted me to meet Kritika."

Amrit stayed quiet, sensing the weight behind his words.

"Vishakha Maa said… try kar lo. She thought Kritika might be the one to change my mind. So I gave myself a chance—a chance to believe in love, to believe that not all relationships are doomed. But even that didn’t work out." His voice grew quieter, more thoughtful. “Kritika always seemed to find happiness in materialistic things—badi gaadiyan, jewelry, lavish vacations. And I’m not blaming her; sabke khushi ke tareeke alag hote hain. But I tried. I tried my best to keep the relationship afloat, to save it from becoming like my parents’. But every time, we fought.”

Akshat paused, the bitterness of old wounds evident in his voice. “Kritika would compare me to my younger brother. Main ek professor hoon, and Vihaan earns more than me. Usse lagta tha main kuch kam kar raha hoon… jaise main un expectations pe khara nahi utar paaya.”

Amrit listened intently, feeling the depth of his pain and disappointment. But he wasn’t done yet.

“There was also… the intimacy part,” he admitted, his voice now tinged with vulnerability. “I needed time. Time to get close, to connect, emotionally. But… maybe Kritika had her own needs that I wasn’t fulfilling. One day, I came home early. And I saw her. With someone else. Intimate with another man.”

Amrit’s heart clenched at his words. The rawness in his voice spoke of the betrayal he’d carried for so long.

“She told me… that I’m a loser. That I couldn’t fulfill her needs.”

He exhaled, as if the memory still hurt, but with time, the wound had scarred over. “But now, looking back… I don’t hate her. I understand her. Maybe it wasn't her fault, maybe she had needs I couldn’t meet. And that’s okay. Sab apne apne tareeke se pyaar dhoondhte hain. Some people look for comfort in love, others in wealth… and some in physical connection. Hum sab alag hote hain.”

“How can you say it wasn’t her fault?” she almost shouted, her frustration evident. “Cheating is cheating! There’s no justification for it. If she wasn’t happy with the relationship, she could have walked away. Ended it. But instead, she chose to betray you, and you’re sitting here telling me you understand her?”

Akshat stayed silent, watching her as she unleashed her anger.

Amrit shook her head, her emotions boiling over. “You’re sitting here saying she had her ‘needs’ and that you weren’t enough for her? Fine, maybe you weren’t what she wanted, but that doesn’t give her the right to do what she did. What about your needs? Your emotions? Your trust? Two week, It was only two weeks after you gave the relationship a chance, and she was already with someone else. And yet, you’re here, trying to justify her actions?”

She stood up, pacing in the balcony, her hands clenched into fists. “If the roles were reversed… if you were in her place… aur aap kisi aur aurat ke paas gaye hote to fulfill your so-called needs, do you think she would have been this understanding? No! She would’ve called you names, humiliated you, and made you feel like the worst person alive! But you… you’re sitting here trying to be all noble, saying you understand her?”

Her voice cracked slightly, but she continued, her anger fueling her words. “ You should be furious with her! How can you be so calm? So indifferent? You should hate her.”

He sighed softly, looking away for a moment before turning back to her. “Amrit, I could hate her. I did, for a while. But do you know what I realized? Hate does more damage to the person holding onto it than to the one it’s directed at. When you hate someone, you give them power over you. You let them live in your mind, your heart, rent-free. And they continue to hurt you, even when they’re not around. I didn’t want to carry that burden anymore. I didn’t want to let her have that control over me.”

Amrit clenched her fists, still not fully understanding how he could let go so easily. “But how can you forgive her for breaking your trust like that? For betraying you?”

Akshat reached out, placing his hand gently over hers. “Forgiveness doesn’t mean I condone what she did. It just means I refuse to let it define me anymore. Anger and hatred would only keep me stuck in the past. I want to move forward, Amrit. And that’s why I’m asking you to calm down too. Don’t let her get to you. She’s not worth it.”

Amrit took a deep breath, trying to let his words sink in. She wasn’t used to being so calm about something that felt so unjust. After a moment, she hesitated, then looked at him, the question she’d been dreading bubbling up.

“Did you… did you love her?” she asked softly, almost afraid of his answer.

He looked at her, his gaze gentle but firm. “I was trying. I was trying to give myself a chance to love again, to trust someone. But then all of that happened, and whatever feelings I was developing just… faded away. I couldn’t hold onto something that was never real.”

Amrit stared at him, her mind swirling with thoughts. She couldn’t help but think about the man sitting beside her now. A man whose trust in love had been shattered by someone he tried to care for. Yet here he was, standing by her side, fixing her, helping her heal from her own brokenness, even though he himself was still healing. The irony wasn’t lost on her, and it made her heart ache for him.

She swallowed hard, her voice quieter now as she asked, “But if your trust in relationships is so broken, why are you still here with me? Why didn’t you leave? You could have walked away, just like kritika did, but you stayed.”

"Because I know exactly how it feels to be abandoned Amrit. To feel like the world has turned its back on you, to be left standing alone while everyone else moves on without you. The kind of loneliness that digs into your bones, the kind that makes you question your worth, your very existence."

Amrit looked at him, her heart sinking as she realised how much pain he had endured, and was still carrying inside him.

"When you’ve been left like that," he continued, his voice cracking slightly, "it’s not just the absence of love that hurts. It’s the way people start treating you differently. Like you’re somehow less. Like you’re damaged or broken, and they can’t bear to be around you. I’ve felt that, Amrit. Every judgment from people who think they understand… but they don’t."

"I would never, never do that to someone else," Akshat said, his voice stronger now. "I can’t stand the thought of someone else going through that kind of abandonment. I know what it does to a person, how it shapes them, how it makes them doubt everything about themselves. And I will not let anyone feel like they’re turning into another Akshat. I can’t watch someone go through that pain. Not again."

His eyes met hers, and there was a deep sense of conviction in them, a fire that wouldn’t burn out. Amrit couldn’t find the words to respond. She didn’t need to—Akshat wasn’t done.

"That’s why I’m still here with you. It’s why I’m trying," he said, his voice softening now. "I’m not going to lie to you, Amrit… it’s hard for me. Trusting again, opening myself up to the possibility of being hurt again—it terrifies me. I’m trying to give us a chance. I really am. But I need time to rebuild that trust in relationships, in everything that love is supposed to be. It’s like walking on glass. One wrong step, and it shatters beneath you."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, the frustration clear in his eyes. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t trust you. I do. You’re not the problem. It’s me, my past, the scars I carry. But I’m working on it… for us."

Amrit’s chest tightened as his words hit her. She could feel the depth of his struggle, how much he was trying despite the weight of his fears. And then, guilt washed over her—guilt for avoiding him when he had been nothing but patient with her. She lowered her gaze, her voice trembling slightly as she finally spoke.

"I… I’m so sorry, " she whispered. "I didn’t mean to avoid you, to push you away. I just… I didn’t know how to deal with everything. I was scared. I thought I might hurt you, or that I was doing something wrong."

Akshat leaned closer, cupping her face gently in his hands, his touch warm and comforting. "Shhh, it’s okay," he said softly.

“Aap movies dekhte hain?” she asked, her voice carrying a teasing note as she tried to shift the mood to something lighter.

Akshat raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the sudden question. “Nahi… I mean, kabhi kabhi Krishiv aur Vedant ke saath when they force me,” he admitted, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Amrit’s eyes widened in mock disbelief. “Aap serious ho? Ham sath sath hain bhi nahi dekhi?” she asked, as if it were a grave sin.

“Nahi,” he replied, shaking his head lightly.

“Unbelievable!” she exclaimed dramatically, throwing her hands up in the air. Then, her face lit up with excitement. “Will you watch it with me?” she asked, her grin widening.

Akshat glanced at her, his eyes softening as he saw the playful energy radiating from her. He couldn’t help but smile back. “Dinner karke dekhen?” he suggested, his tone casual but warm.

Amrit’s grin only grew, and she nodded eagerly. “Haan, but yahin dekhenge… balcony mein,” she said, glancing up at the sky. “Weather is so good na.”

After dinner, they both settled on the couch, Akshat opened his laptop and placed it on his lap while Amrit leaned back against the headrest, her posture completely relaxed. The gentle evening breeze drifted in from the open balcony door, and the sound of crickets filled the quiet night.

“Aap bhi comfortably let jao,” she suggested, noticing how stiffly Akshat was sitting.

He gave her a small, awkward smile, shaking his head. “It’s ok… aise thik hai,” he said, his tone polite but clearly uneasy about getting too comfortable.

She didn’t push further, and the movie began.

Barely a few minutes into Hum Saath Saath Hain, Amrit couldn’t help herself. She started whispering the dialogues along with the characters, matching every line with enthusiasm. Akshat, who had been silently trying to follow the story, clenched his jaw in frustration.

He finally paused the movie and turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly in irritation.

“Kya hua?” Amrit asked, blinking innocently as if she had no idea why he stopped.

“Nahi, tum bolo na. Movie dekhne ki zaroorat hi kya hai?” he said with a sarcastic smile, folding his arms across his chest.

Realizing what she’d done, she immediately sat up straight. “Accha, sorry sorry! I won’t repeat the dialogues anymore,” she promised, trying to stifle her grin.

Akshat raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “You said this 10th time already,” he pointed out dryly, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Amrit gave him an exaggerated pout, looking at him with wide, apologetic eyes. “Accha, sorry pakka! Ab nahi bolungi,” she insisted, leaning forward as if to seal the promise.

Akshat just shook his head in disbelief. “No thanks... I can’t watch a movie with running commentary,” he said, although a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips despite his irritation.

Seeing her deflated expression, he sighed, deciding not to drag it out any further. He restarted the movie, keeping one eye on her as she made an exaggerated effort to stay quiet.

The soft glow of the laptop screen dimmed as Amrit switched off the movie, her gaze shifting towards Akshat. He had drifted off, his head resting against the couch’s headrest, eyes peacefully closed.

Carefully, she placed the laptop on the table beside her and stood up, quietly observing him for a moment. His legs were still awkwardly hanging over the edge of the couch, his shoes still on. With a small, hesitant smile, she knelt down and gently removed his slippers, placing them neatly to the side. Then, with delicate movements, she adjusted his legs and made him lie more comfortably on the couch, tucking a cushion under his head.

Her heart raced as she hovered near him, watching his chest rise and fall in the steady rhythm of sleep.

Taking a deep breath, she hesitated but eventually lay down beside him. She kept a respectful distance, propping herself on one elbow, her eyes carefully studying his features.

She bit her lip, her pulse quickening as she mulled over her next move. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out, hesitating just inches from his face. Gathering the courage, she finally leaned forward, pressing a soft, featherlight kiss to his cheek. The warmth of his skin under her lips sent a rush of emotions through her, but she pulled back quickly, her breath catching in her throat.

Amrit froze for a moment, afraid that her impulsive gesture might wake him, but as she glanced down at his face, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. He was still sleeping, his expression undisturbed, peaceful. She felt her face flush as a soft blush crept across her cheeks.

A shy smile tugged at her lips as she carefully settled back down beside him. This time, she allowed herself to reach out and gently hold his hand, her fingers curling around his, feeling the warmth of his palm.

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