Aayat's POV

I walked into Rhea's house, cigarette between my fingers.

She looked up from the clothes spread across the table.

I glanced at her.

"You didn't design anything for Tej?"

Rhea gave me a long look.

Then she shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

She leaned back, completely unfazed.

"The way you've killed him, Aayat..."

She gestured toward the clothes.

"I can't design anything on this."

I raised an eyebrow.

"That's never stopped you before."

"Before, there was something to work with."

She picked up one of the garments and examined it thoughtfully.

"This?"

She tossed it back onto the table.

"Not for him."

I stared at her.

Rhea shrugged.

"You gave me nothing to design around."

A slow silence settled between us.

Then she smirked.

"Honestly, this is the first time you've managed to leave even a fashion designer speechless."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're impossible."

"And you're terrifying."

She smiled.

"That's why we're friends."

Rhea's smirk faded slightly.

She lit another cigarette and watched me through the smoke.

"How did you kill him, Aayat?"

I stayed silent.

She leaned forward.

"No vague answers this time. Tell me what you actually did."

I looked at her.

"I didn't give him a chance to run."

Rhea's expression sharpened.

"And then?"

"I broke every bone I could without killing him first."

Her eyebrows lifted.

"I took him somewhere no one could hear him."

Rhea's eyes narrowed.

"And?"

"First... I tied him up. Not with rope. With steel cables."

My voice didn't waver.

Rhea listened silently, no judgment in her eyes now. Just focus. The way a designer might study a complex fabric pattern before deciding how to stitch it.

"Then I started breaking his fingers one by one... slowly... until he screamed."

No flinch.

No guilt flash.

Just memory playing like footage behind those calm eyes of hers.

"He begged," I  continued flatly,"but not for mercy, for me to stop."

I smirked slightly at that part...as if remembering how pathetic Tej sounded when fear finally ate through his arrogance...

Then

"I moved on to elbows next... then knees..."

Each bone shattered deliberately...methodically...

Not fast enough for instant death,

but slow enough that pain burned longer than any fire ever could.

And Rhea?

Still listening...

Still analyzing every word...

Because this wasn't just murder ...

it was an execution

"After his limbs were broken... I moved to his jaw."

I said it like it was nothing.

Rhea's eyes narrowed slightly. Even she felt a chill at that detail...jaw breaking meant no more words. No more insults. No last screams of defiance...

Just silence forced by pain.

"I used pliers, to pull out three teeth first." I continued calmly.

Then came the final part...

the actual cause of death:

his ribs,

crushed inward from blunt force trauma...

With something heavy.

Something strong enough to crack bone beneath skin without tearing through completely...

And Rhea finally understood why there were no marks fit for design on his body:

There wasn't elegance here...

There wasn't style...

Just raw vengeance carved through flesh by rage itself.

Silence fell again between us, thick and heavy like blood-soaked cloth left hanging overnight

Rhea stood up slowly, walking over to Tej's body again. She studied his face, his swollen jaw, the dark bruises around his eyes, the unnatural angle of one arm where a bone had snapped.

No knife wounds.

No gunshot.

Not even signs of poisoning or strangulation.

Just... destruction from within outward... like someone had taken every ounce of pain they'd ever felt and poured it into this man until he couldn't survive another second.

She turned back to me with something rare in her expression:

Respect.

"You didn't kill him... you erased him."

Her voice was soft now...no sarcasm left in it at all.

I said nothing for once.

Just nodded slightly,

as if acknowledging that yes...

Tej Kapoor wasn't just dead...

he was gone.

Wiped out so completely that not even vengeance could be celebrated properly...

Because there were no marks worth designing upon.

I stared at Rhea.

"Should I tell Mihir about Tej?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Why wouldn't you?"

I looked down at my cigarette.

"Because he doesn't need to know everything."

Rhea scoffed.

"He's your husband."

"Contract husband."

"Still."

I shook my head.

"The contract ends in three months, Rhea."

She watched me carefully.

"And?"

"After that, we're done."

The words sounded strangely empty when I said them aloud.

Rhea noticed.

"You really believe that?"

I frowned.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because of the way he..."

She stopped herself.

"The way he what?"

"Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Rhea."

She smiled innocently.

"Forget it."

I looked away.

"Mihir already knows what I do. He knows I've dealt with criminals before. He knows I'm not exactly..."

I paused.

"...normal."

Rhea nodded.

"So tell him about Tej."

I hesitated.

"Why?"

"Because it was personal."

That word stayed with me.

Personal.

I stared at the floor.

"I don't know if he'll understand."

"He might."

"And if he doesn't?"

Rhea shrugged.

"Then he'll tell you."

I sighed.

"Maybe I shouldn't involve him."

Rhea gave me a long look.

"You're not worried about involving him."

I looked at her.

"You're worried that after three months, you won't have the right to tell him anything anymore."

I went silent.

Because somehow, that was exactly what I couldn't explain.

Rhea watched me for a few seconds.

Then, suddenly, she asked,

"Do you love him?"

I looked at her.

The question caught me completely off guard.

"What?"

"Mihir."

I gave a small, almost amused scoff.

"No."

Rhea raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"No."

I looked down at my cigarette, turning it slowly between my fingers.

"I'm just attached to him."

"Attached?"

"Yes."

I said it more firmly this time.

"We've lived together. We've been through things together. He's become a part of my routine."

I paused.

"That doesn't mean I love him."

Rhea studied my face.

"And you're sure?"

I frowned.

"Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Because you say his name differently."

I rolled my eyes.

"Rhea."

She smiled.

"Fine. You're attached."

"Exactly."

I leaned back against the chair.

"Three months is still three months."

The words came out quieter than I intended.

Rhea's smile faded.

I stared somewhere beyond her.

"I'm not going to confuse attachment with something it isn't."

"Maybe."

I looked at her.

"Maybe?"

She shrugged.

"Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're hiding something."

"I'm hiding absolutely nothing."

I sighed and looked away again.

I didn't love Mihir.

I couldn't.

He was my husband because of a contract.

And when that contract ended, our lives would go back to being separate.

Whatever this strange attachment was...

I'd deal with it then.

For a moment, I said nothing.

Then an old memory suddenly came back to me.

Our first kiss.

I immediately looked away.

I remembered how angry I had been that day. Angry and sad at the situation, at myself...at everything I couldn't put into words.

I hadn't known what to say.

So, in a moment of frustration, I had simply kissed him.

And afterward, I had spent days pretending it hadn't meant anything.

My face felt warm just thinking about it.

Rhea noticed.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Why are you suddenly red?"

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

She leaned forward.

"Aayat."

I sighed.

"What?"

"What did you just remember?"

"Nothing."

Rhea stared at me.

I stared back.

She waited.

I finally muttered,

"I kissed Mihir once."

Silence.

Rhea blinked.

"Excuse me?"

I immediately regretted telling her.

"It wasn't a big deal."

Rhea's mouth slowly fell open.

"You kissed Mihir?"

"Yes."

"You?"

"Yes."

"Mihir?"

"Obviously Mihir, Rhea."

She put a hand over her mouth, trying...and failing...to hide her grin.

"When?"

"A while ago."

"And you're telling me this now?"

"Because it wasn't important."

Rhea stared at me like I'd just confessed to something unbelievable.

"You kissed your contract husband and decided that was not important?"

I rubbed my forehead.

"I was sad!"

"That makes it worse."

"How?"

"Because apparently your solution to being sad is kissing people."

"I didn't plan it!"

Rhea burst out laughing.

I glared at her.

"Stop making it a big deal."

"Oh, I'm absolutely making it a big deal."

I groaned.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you."

Rhea grinned.

"And you said you're just attached to him?"

I went quiet.

She noticed immediately.

Her smile became unbearably smug.

I pointed at her.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"Maybe."

I looked away, refusing to give her the satisfaction.

But the memory was still there.

And somehow, despite everything I'd told myself...

I couldn't completely explain why that moment still made my heart feel strange.

I took a slow breath and pushed the memory aside.

Enough.

Whatever that kiss had been, it was in the past.

Tej was more important.

I reached for my phone.

Rhea watched me.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to tell Mihir."

Her eyebrows rose.

"Personally?"

I shook my head.

"Not yet."

I called one of my employees.

The moment he answered, my voice turned calm.

"Listen carefully."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Inform Mihir that Tej Kapoor is dead."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"And tell him I was responsible."

Rhea's eyes flicked toward me.

I continued.

"Don't give him details. Just tell him what happened."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And make sure he gets the message directly."

"Understood."

I ended the call.

Rhea stared at me.

"You actually did it."

I put my phone down.

"Yes."

"You could've told him yourself."

"I know."

"Then why didn't you?"

I looked toward the window.

"Because I don't know what I would say if I had to look him in the eyes."

Rhea became quiet.

I swallowed.

"This way, he gets the truth without me having to explain everything."

"And if he wants an explanation?"

I sighed.

"Then I'll give him one."

I paused.

"But at least this time, the choice will be his."

Rhea nodded slowly.

I leaned back.

Tej was dead.

Mihir would know.

And now there was nothing left to hide.

I glanced toward the hallway.

"Where's Nishant?"

Rhea looked at me.

"He's sleeping."

I nodded.

"Still?"

"Yes."

She smiled faintly.

"He was exhausted. Fell asleep almost immediately."

I let out a small breath.

"Good."

Rhea studied me.

"You're worried about him too?"

"He's your son."

"And?"

I looked at her.

"And I care about him."

Rhea's expression softened.

"I know."

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

Then I glanced toward the hallway again.

"Don't wake him."

"I wasn't planning to."

"Good."

Rhea smirked.

"Look at you. Acting like his aunt already."

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't start."

She laughed quietly.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"Maybe."

I shook my head, but a small smile escaped me.

"Let him sleep."

I glanced at the time.

"I should go."

Rhea raised an eyebrow.

"Already?"

"I've got things to handle."

She nodded, then followed me toward the door.

I stopped for a moment and looked back at her.

"Take care of Nishant."

Rhea smiled.

"I always do."

I gave her a small nod.

"Goodnight, Rhea."

"Goodnight, Aayat."

I opened the door.

"Tell Nishant I said bye when he wakes up."

"I will."

I stepped outside, then glanced back one last time.

Rhea was still standing in the doorway, watching me with that knowing look.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Don't."

She smiled innocently.

"I didn't say anything."

I shook my head.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I walked away, leaving her at the door.

By the time I reached home, the house was unusually quiet.

I stepped inside and handed my things to one of the staff members.

"Has Mihir come back?"

"Yes, ma'am. He's upstairs."

I paused.

Of course he was.

I walked toward our room, trying not to think about why my steps had suddenly become slower.

I opened the door.

Mihir was there.

He stood near the window, sleeves rolled up, his phone in one hand.

The moment he looked at me, his expression changed slightly.

"You're back."

"Hmm."

I closed the door behind me.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then his eyes settled on me.

"You're late."

"I had somewhere to be."

"With Rhea?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

He didn't ask anything else.

That somehow made me more uncomfortable.

I walked past him and placed my phone on the table.

"Mihir."

"Hm?"

"Did someone tell you about Tej?"

His expression became unreadable.

"Yes."

I looked at him.

"You know?"

"I know."

There was no anger in his voice.

No surprise.

Just that calm, controlled tone of his.

I swallowed.

"I was going to tell you myself."

"I figured."

I frowned.

"How?"

A faint smile touched his face.

"Because you came home looking like you were carrying a conversation you didn't want to have."

I looked away.

"You notice too much."

"I notice you."

The words made me pause.

I looked at him.

He seemed completely serious.

For some reason, my heart skipped.

I immediately dismissed it.

Habit.

Nothing more.

I walked toward the wardrobe.

"Tej was personal," I said quietly.

"I know."

"And I handled it."

"I know that too."

I turned toward him.

"You're not angry?"

"No."

"Not even surprised?"

Mihir shook his head.

"I know who you are, Aayat."

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.

I looked away before he could notice.

There it was again.

That strange feeling.

I refused to name it.

Attachment.

That was all.

It had to be.

I busied myself with taking off my jewelry, pretending his words hadn't affected me.

Mihir watched me through the mirror.

"You're quiet."

"I'm tired."

"That's not what I asked."

I met his eyes through the reflection.

"I said I'm tired."

He didn't argue.

Instead, he walked toward the table and picked up a glass of water.

"Drink."

"I'm fine."

"Aayat."

I sighed and took the glass from him.

"Happy?"

"A little."

I took a sip.

He stood there for another moment.

Then he asked quietly,

"Why didn't you tell me yourself?"

My fingers tightened around the glass.

"I didn't know how."

"About Tej?"

"About everything."

His expression softened.

I immediately looked away.

"I didn't want to make it your problem."

"It already was."

I looked back at him.

"Mihir..."

"I was involved with Tej too."

"I know."

"Then you know you didn't have to carry this alone."

I stared at him.

For a second, I didn't know what to say.

He stepped a little closer.

"You don't have to explain anything tonight."

I frowned.

"Then why are you making me talk?"

"I'm not."

He took the glass gently from my hand and placed it on the table.

"I'm just telling you that when you're ready, I'll listen."

Something in my chest tightened again.

I hated that.

Why did he have to make everything so difficult?

Why couldn't he simply be the cold, distant contract husband I had expected him to be?

It would have been easier.

Three months.

I reminded myself again.

Three months, and this would all be over.

So whatever this feeling was...

I couldn't let it become something else.

I looked at him.

"Goodnight, Mihir."

He studied me for a moment.

"Goodnight, Aayat."

I turned toward the bed.

But before I could take another step, he spoke.

"Aayat?"

I stopped.

"Hm?"

"I'm glad you're home."

My heart gave one stupid, traitorous beat.

I ignored it.

"Goodnight, Mihir."

This time, I didn't turn around.

Because I knew if I looked at him again, I might start wondering whether three months would really be enough.

Morning came too quickly.

I stood in front of the mirror, fixing my earrings while my mind was still somewhere between last night and the three months I kept reminding myself about.

I pushed the thought away.

Not today.

I finished getting ready and walked toward Papa's room.

I knocked once before entering.

Papa was sitting near the window, quietly reading.

He looked up.

"Aayat?"

I walked in and closed the door behind me.

"Papa, we need to talk."

He smiled faintly.

"That sounds serious."

"It is."

I sat across from him.

"You need to start singing again."

His smile disappeared.

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

"Aayat..."

"No, Papa."

My voice was firm.

"You should start singing again."

He looked toward the window.

"I haven't performed in twenty-one years."

"Exactly."

I leaned forward.

"People need to know."

"Know what?"

I held his gaze.

"That Devang Kapoor is back."

Silence.

"The man people once loved," I continued. "The voice they remember. The person whose songs meant something to them."

Papa's expression tightened.

"Aayat, the world has moved on."

"Then let the world hear you again."

He looked at me quietly.

"You think it's that simple?"

"No."

I shook my head.

"I think it will be difficult. I think people will ask questions. They'll talk about where you've been and why you disappeared."

I paused.

"But they'll also listen."

Papa lowered his eyes.

"I don't know if I can go back to that life."

"You don't have to go back."

I softened slightly.

"You just have to step onto a stage once."

He looked at me.

"Once?"

"Start there."

A faint smile appeared on my face.

"Then let everyone decide whether they've forgotten Devang Kapoor."

Papa was silent for a long moment.

Then he looked at me with something almost like pride.

"You've become very stubborn."

"I learned from you."

He laughed quietly.

And for the first time that morning, the room felt a little lighter.

I stood.

"Think about it."

"Aayat."

I turned.

He smiled.

"I will."

I nodded.

"Good."

Because after twenty-one years of silence, I wanted the world to hear my father's voice again.

Not the missing man.

Not the mystery.

Not the name buried beneath two decades of questions.

Devang Kapoor.

The man everyone once loved.

He was back.

And this time, I wanted the whole world to know.

I was almost at the door when Papa spoke again.

"Aayat."

I turned.

"Hmm?"

"What if people don't welcome me back?"

I looked at him for a moment.

"Then let them talk."

He smiled faintly.

"You really don't care what people think?"

"About this?"

I shook my head.

"No."

I stepped back toward him.

"People remember what they want to remember. Some will question you. Some will doubt you. Some will only remember the songs."

I paused.

"But none of that changes who you are."

Papa looked down at his hands.

"I've spent twenty-one years trying not to be Devang Kapoor."

"And now?"

He looked up.

I smiled.

"Now it's time to stop running from him."

He was quiet.

Then he nodded.

"I'll sing."

I smiled.

"Good."

"But I have one condition."

I raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You're coming to the first performance."

I laughed softly.

"Of course."

"And Zyran?"

"He'll come too."

Papa smiled.

"And Mihir?"

I froze for half a second.

"Mihir?"

"Yes."

I looked away.

"He can come if he wants."

Papa noticed the hesitation but said nothing.

I reached for the door.

"First, we need to make sure you're actually ready."

He chuckled.

"You're already planning everything, aren't you?"

"Someone has to."

I stepped into the hallway.

For the first time in twenty-one years, Papa was going to sing again.

And somehow, I had a feeling the day he stepped onto that stage wouldn't just change his life.

It would change all of ours.

I stepped out of Papa's room, adjusting the strap of my bag.

"I'm going to the office," I called back.

"Alright," Papa replied.

I smiled and headed toward my room.

I needed to grab a few files before leaving.

When I entered, Mihir was already there, standing near the table with a file in his hand.

I walked toward my desk.

Then my saree shifted again.

I sighed.

"This fabric is impossible."

I fixed the pleats and secured them properly before reaching for my files.

When I looked up, I caught Mihir looking at me.

He immediately looked down at the file.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Were you staring?"

"No."

"That was very fast."

"I was reading."

"You were reading while looking at me?"

He paused.

"I wasn't looking at you."

I smiled.

"Of course."

I picked up my bag and deliberately gave him a suspicious look.

"You know, Mihir, if you wanted to compliment my saree, you could've just said so."

His lips twitched.

"I wasn't complimenting anything."

"Then what were you doing?"

"Trying to understand how you manage to turn getting ready into a full argument."

I gasped.

"Excuse me?"

He finally looked at me properly.

And for one brief second, his expression softened.

Aayat didn't notice what was hidden behind it.

She only saw the familiar teasing calmness.

She smiled.

"You were staring."

"I was not."

"You were."

"Go to the office."

I laughed.

"Fine."

I walked toward the door, then glanced back.

"Try not to stare while I'm gone."

Mihir shook his head.

"Unbelievable."

I grinned and left.

I entered my office, still holding my bag.

The moment I stepped into my cabin, I stopped.

Someone was sitting in my chair.

Shruti.

Tej's wife.

My expression hardened instantly.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Shruti slowly looked up at me.

Her eyes were filled with anger.

"You killed my husband."

I shut the door behind me.

"And you came here to ask me why I'm here?"

Her voice shook.

"You think this is a joke?"

"No."

I walked toward my desk.

"I think you're trespassing."

She stood.

"You killed Tej."

I stared at her.

"Do you have proof?"

She hesitated.

I tilted my head.

"Go on."

"You were the last person he was involved with."

"That isn't proof."

"You threatened him."

"Still not proof."

"You hated him."

I gave a cold smile.

"Congratulations. You've discovered a motive."

I stepped closer.

"But motive isn't evidence."

Shruti stared at me.

"You're my daughter."

The words made me stop.

For a second, something unreadable crossed my face.

Then it disappeared.

"Don't use that word to manipulate me."

"I am not manipulating you."

"Then tell me what proof you have."

She went silent.

I folded my arms.

"You walked into my office, accused me of killing your husband, and expected me to explain myself."

My voice became colder.

"So I'll ask you again."

I looked directly into her eyes.

"What proof do you have that I killed Tej?"

I stared at her.

Then I laughed once.

Not because anything was funny.

Because she had actually come here expecting me to feel guilty.

"Yes."

Shruti froze.

"Yes, I killed Tej."

Her face changed.

I stepped closer.

"I killed him for everything he did."

My voice was steady.

"And for everything you did."

Her eyes widened.

"You..."

"You accused my father of harming his own son."

My voice hardened.

"You made accusations that destroyed his life."

I took another step.

"You sent my father to prison for twenty-one years over something he never did."

Shruti's expression faltered.

"And while he was sitting behind bars for an accusation he didn't deserve..."

I swallowed.

"You abandoned me."

She stared at me.

"I was seven years old."

The room went silent.

"You left your daughter."

My voice dropped.

"You left me to grow up without you."

I looked directly into her eyes.

"And when I finally started building something of my own, you burned my first company to the ground."

Shruti's lips parted.

I didn't let her speak.

"So don't stand in front of me and ask why I killed Tej."

My eyes hardened.

"You want to know why?"

I pointed toward the door.

"Look at everything your family took from mine."

My voice trembled for the first time.

"My father."

"My childhood."

"My first chance to build something."

"Twenty-one years."

I took a breath.

"And then you walk into my office and call Tej your husband as though that one word is supposed to erase everything he did."

Shruti looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"He was still my husband."

"I know."

I nodded slowly.

"And I was still his victim."

Silence.

"So now you know why."

I stepped back.

"You asked what proof I have."

My expression went cold again.

"You don't need proof to understand my reason."

"You only needed to remember what you did."

I didn't move when Shruti said it.

"I'll kill you, Aayat. You killed my husband, and I'll make you pay for it."

For a moment, I simply stared at her.

Not because I was afraid.

Because hearing those words from her felt strangely familiar.

She had always known how to make destruction sound like justice.

My fingers tightened around the edge of my desk.

"You came into my office to threaten me?"

Her eyes were full of grief and anger.

"You took Tej from me."

I almost laughed.

Almost.

Instead, I looked at her and said quietly, "No. Tej made his own choices."

"You killed him."

"Yes."

The word left my mouth without hesitation.

"I killed Tej."

Shruti's expression hardened.

"And now I'll kill you."

I held her gaze.

"If you think threatening me will bring him back, you're wasting your breath."

"You're my daughter."

That word again.

"don't stand here and tell me you're going to kill me because I killed Tej."

Shruti stared at me.

"You've become cruel."

I looked at her for a long moment.

"Maybe."

Then I stepped away from my desk.

"But I didn't become this way because of Tej."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You did this."

"No."

I shook my head.

"You helped create the person standing in front of you."

Silence filled the room.

Then Shruti turned toward the door.

"This isn't over."

I watched her leave.

My jaw remained clenched until the door finally closed.

Only then did I let out the breath I'd been holding.

She wanted revenge.

Fine.

But there was one thing she still didn't understand.

I had already lost the people she could have used against me.

My childhood.

My father.

My first company.

Twenty-one years of my life.

There wasn't much left for her to take.

And somehow, that thought scared me more than her threat ever could.

Six hours had passed since Shruti walked out of my office.

Six hours since she had threatened to kill me.

I had pushed the confrontation into the back of my mind and returned to work.

Because work was easier.

Numbers made sense.

Contracts had clauses.

Deadlines could be calculated.

People couldn't.

I was sitting in my cabin, reviewing the final documents for my most important IT project, when my laptop chimed.

A new email.

I opened it casually.

Then I stopped breathing for a second.

The sender was one of my biggest Australian investors.

I read the message once.

Then again.

They were withdrawing from the project.

My eyes moved down the screen.

They were no longer willing to continue their partnership with my company.

No further funding.

No collaboration.

Effective immediately.

My fingers went still on the keyboard.

"No..."

This project wasn't just another business deal.

It was the project I'd spent months building.

The one I'd personally negotiated.

The one I'd fought to protect.

The one I'd believed could change the future of my company.

And now one of its most important investors was walking away.

I leaned back slowly in my chair.

My mind immediately began running through every possibility.

A financial issue?

A legal concern?

A competing company?

Something in the contract?

Then another thought surfaced.

Shruti.

My expression hardened.

No.

I refused to jump to conclusions.

I opened the attached notice.

The wording was formal.

Professional.

Almost emotionless.

But the decision was unmistakable.

They were done.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Six hours ago, Shruti had threatened to destroy me.

Now one of my most important projects was suddenly collapsing.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

But I had learned a long time ago not to trust coincidences.

I picked up my phone.

"Get me their representative."

My voice was calm.

Too calm.

I wasn't going to panic.

I wasn't going to beg.

And I certainly wasn't going to let someone take away the project I'd worked so hard to build.

If someone had decided to come after my company—

they had made one very serious mistake.

They had given me a reason to fight.

I tried everything.

Calls.

Emails.

Messages.

Nothing.

Australia wasn't answering.

Every call went unanswered.

Every message sat unread.

I checked the time again.

Then again.

Hours of staring at the same documents had turned the words on my screen into a blur.

"Come on..."

I rubbed my forehead and tried calling once more.

Nothing.

I dropped my phone onto the desk.

"Unbelievable."

I was exhausted.

Not the kind of tired that sleep could fix in one night.

It was the kind that settled behind my eyes and made every thought feel heavy.

First Shruti.

Then Tej.

Now this.

My most important project was slipping out of my hands, and I didn't even know why.

That was the part driving me insane.

If someone wanted to fight me, fine.

At least give me something to fight.

A reason.

A demand.

A problem I could solve.

But silence?

Silence gave me nothing.

I pushed my chair back and stood.

For a moment, I just stayed there, staring through the glass walls of my office.

The entire floor was nearly empty.

Everyone had gone home.

I hadn't even noticed.

I looked at my phone again.

Still nothing from Australia.

I closed my eyes.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

I wasn't sure whether I was talking to them, to Shruti, or to the universe itself.

I walked to the window and rested my forehead lightly against the cool glass.

For the first time that day, I admitted the truth to myself.

I was scared.

Not of Shruti's threat.

Not even of losing money.

I was scared of losing the one thing I'd spent so long building.

My company wasn't just a company.

It was proof that I had survived.

Proof that I could build something without anyone's help.

And now it felt like someone was slowly pulling the foundation out from underneath me.

My phone remained silent.

I let out a tired breath.

"Just give me one answer."

Nothing.

I closed my eyes again.

I was frustrated.

I was exhausted.

And for the first time in a very long time...

I didn't know what my next move was.

Two weeks.

Fourteen days.

And nothing was back on track.

The Australian investor still hadn't returned.

The project was stalled.

Meetings had been postponed.

Two other partners had started asking uncomfortable questions.

And every morning, I walked into my office pretending I had everything under control.

I didn't.

But nobody needed to know that.

Especially Mihir.

He was already drowning in preparations for the upcoming elections. Meetings, rallies, party workers, security briefings, endless calls.

He barely had time to sleep.

I wasn't going to add my problems to his list.

And Papa...

Papa wasn't doing well either.

His health had been unpredictable lately, and I couldn't bring myself to put another burden on him.

So I kept everything to myself.

Every rejected proposal.

Every unanswered email.

Every investor who suddenly wanted to "reconsider" their position.

I handled it.

Or at least, I tried to.

Tonight, I was sitting alone in my office long after everyone had left.

The city lights blurred beyond the window.

My laptop was still open.

Another email.

Another delay.

I stared at it for several seconds before closing the screen.

I was tired.

So tired that even anger had started feeling exhausting.

I picked up my phone.

Mihir's name was at the top of my recent calls.

My thumb hovered over it.

For one second, I considered calling him.

Just telling him everything.

The project.

Australia.

The investors.

The fear that something bigger was happening.

Then I remembered his schedule.

The elections.

The pressure.

The cameras.

The people depending on him.

I locked my phone.

"No."

He didn't need this.

I could handle it.

I had handled worse.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

I gathered my things and stood.

My legs felt heavy as I walked toward the door.

Tomorrow I'd try again.

Another meeting.

Another call.

Another solution.

I had to find one.

Because I couldn't let this project fall apart.

And I couldn't let Mihir see how badly everything had already started to crack.

Not now.

Not when he had enough to carry.

I turned off the lights and stepped into the empty hallway.

For the first time, I wondered how long I could keep pretending that I was fine.

I didn't have an answer.

So I went home anyway.

I was halfway through dinner when Naina walked into the room.

She stopped near the dining table and looked at me.

"Bhabhi?"

I glanced up. "Hmm?"

She came closer.

"You've been very quiet lately."

I gave her a small smile. "I'm just tired."

Naina pulled out the chair beside me and sat down.

"No."

I looked at her.

She studied my face for a moment.

"You've been saying you're tired for two weeks."

I looked back at my plate.

"It's nothing."

"Bhabhi."

Her voice was softer this time.

"Look at me."

I slowly looked up.

Naina was watching me carefully.

"You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"Pretending everything is fine."

I sighed.

"Naina, I'm okay."

She shook her head.

"You haven't been okay."

I didn't answer.

She waited.

That was what made Naina difficult.

She didn't push immediately.

She simply sat there until silence became harder to maintain than the truth.

Finally, she asked, "Is something wrong at work?"

My fingers tightened around the spoon.

She noticed.

Of course she noticed.

"Bhabhi..."

I lowered my eyes.

"It's complicated."

"Then explain the complicated version."

I almost smiled.

Almost.

Instead, I put the spoon down.

"My biggest project is in trouble."

Naina's expression changed.

"What happened?"

"One of my Australian investors pulled out two weeks ago."

She stared at me.

"And they aren't responding anymore."

"Since two weeks?"

I nodded.

"I've tried everything. Calls, emails, meetings. Nothing."

"Does Mihir know?"

I immediately shook my head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because he's busy with the elections."

I paused.

"And Papa isn't well."

Naina became quiet.

"So you've been dealing with all of this alone?"

"I thought I could fix it."

"And?"

I looked down.

"I haven't."

Naina gently placed her hand over mine.

"You should have told me."

"I didn't want everyone worrying."

"You're part of everyone too, Bhabhi."

I looked at her.

She smiled faintly.

"You don't always have to be the strongest person in the room."

For two weeks, I'd been telling myself I could handle it.

For two weeks, I'd refused to admit how exhausted I was.

And now, sitting beside Naina, I finally let myself breathe.

"I'm scared," I admitted quietly.

Naina squeezed my hand.

"I know."

My eyes stung, but I blinked it away.

"I don't know what's happening."

"Then we'll figure it out."

I looked at her.

"We?"

She smiled.

"Yes. We."

For the first time in two weeks, I didn't feel like I was carrying the entire weight alone.

Naina's expression suddenly changed.

"Bhabhi... what's the name of the Australian investor?"

I hesitated.

"Why?"

"Just tell me."

I looked at her.

Then I answered quietly.

"Adrian Laurent."

Naina froze.

Completely.

For several seconds, she didn't say a word.

Then her face hardened.

"That bastard."

I frowned.

"Naina?"

She looked at me with genuine disbelief.

"Bhabhi, you don't know how bad he is."

I stared at her.

"Do you know him?"

"Yes."

The answer came immediately.

I straightened in my chair.

"How?"

Naina glanced around the room before lowering her voice.

"When I was married to Dev, we went to a party. He was there."

She shook her head.

"He looked completely normal. Polite. Well-dressed. Quiet. The kind of man nobody would look at twice."

I watched her carefully.

"But he isn't normal."

"What do you mean?"

Naina's expression turned serious.

"He has a powerful name in the underworld."

I went still.

The words seemed to hang between us.

"Underworld?"

Naina nodded.

"People there know him. Not because he makes noise or shows off."

She paused.

"Because they don't need him to."

I stared at the table.

My investor.

The man whose company had suddenly withdrawn from my most important project.

The man who had stopped answering every call.

And Naina knew him.

"You're sure?"

"I'd recognize him anywhere."

She looked at me.

"Bhabhi, if Adrian Laurent is involved, this isn't just some business disagreement."

My mind immediately went back to the last two weeks.

The sudden withdrawal.

The silence.

The unanswered calls.

And Shruti's threat.

I slowly picked up my phone.

For the first time, the situation didn't feel like a business problem anymore.

It felt deliberate.

And I had a very bad feeling that I was only beginning to understand why.

I stared at Naina.

"What should we do now?"

She didn't hesitate.

"I'll handle Adrian."

I frowned.

"How?"

Naina leaned back in her chair, her expression suddenly calm.

"I have my ways."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"It doesn't need to."

I studied her face.

"Naina, he's not some ordinary investor."

"I know."

"You just told me he has connections in the underworld."

"I know exactly who he is."

"Then how are you planning to handle him?"

Naina gave me a small, knowing smile.

"I know Adrian."

I went quiet.

She continued, "And he knows me."

My eyebrows lifted.

"He knows you?"

"Yes."

There was something in her voice that made me realize this wasn't a casual acquaintance.

"How well?"

Naina looked away for a moment.

"Well enough that he won't ignore me."

I didn't like the sound of that.

"Naina, I don't want you getting involved in something dangerous because of me."

She looked back at me.

"You're my bhabhi."

Her voice was firm.

"And you've been carrying this alone for two weeks. I'm not going to sit here and watch you do it anymore."

I remained silent.

Naina stood and picked up her phone.

"I'll talk to him."

"And if he refuses?"

She smiled faintly.

"He won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because," she said, slipping her phone into her hand, "Adrian and I have met before."

She paused at the doorway.

"And sometimes knowing someone's past is enough to make them listen."

I watched her leave.

For the first time in two weeks, I felt like there might actually be a way forward.

But something about Naina's confidence bothered me.

She knew Adrian far better than she had told me.

And I had a feeling there was a story behind that meeting at the party that I hadn't heard yet.

Naina stopped at the doorway.

I could tell from her expression that she was thinking about something.

"Naina?"

She turned around.

"There's something you should know."

I waited.

"Adrian doesn't scare easily."

"I know."

"But he respects people who don't."

I frowned. "And you think you can make him listen?"

"I don't think."

She gave me a small smile.

"I know."

I stood from the table.

"Naina, please be careful."

Her expression softened.

"I will."

She walked back toward me and lowered her voice.

"But don't contact Adrian yourself tonight."

"Why?"

"Because if he really is behind what's happening with your project, he'll already know we're trying to figure him out."

I went quiet.

That possibility hadn't occurred to me.

Naina continued, "Let me speak to him first."

I nodded reluctantly.

"Fine."

She turned to leave again.

"Naina."

She looked back.

"Thank you."

She smiled.

"You're family, Bhabhi. You don't thank family for standing beside you."

After she left, I remained at the table.

My mind wouldn't slow down.

Adrian Laurent.

The Australian investor I'd spent months trusting.

The man who had suddenly withdrawn from my most important project.

And now I knew he had another identity entirely.

I picked up my phone.

Mihir's name was still there.

My thumb hovered over it.

I could tell him.

I should tell him.

But I remembered the exhaustion in his face the last time I'd seen him after an election meeting.

I locked the phone again.

Not tonight.

I would deal with Adrian first.

Then I'd figure out everything else

Twenty-nine hours had passed.

Twenty-nine hours since Naina had spoken to Adrian.

I was in my office, surrounded by contracts and financial reports, when my phone suddenly rang.

The name on the screen made me stop.

Adrian Laurent.

I stared at it for a moment before answering.

"Hello?"

His voice came through, calm and perfectly composed.

"Aayat. I believe we should discuss our partnership."

My eyes narrowed.

"After ignoring every call I've made for two weeks?"

A brief silence.

"I apologize for the inconvenience."

I almost laughed.

"Inconvenience?"

"I've reconsidered my position."

I sat back in my chair.

"And?"

"I want to renew our contracts."

I didn't speak.

My most important project.

The funding.

The partnership I'd thought was gone.

Suddenly, he wanted to renew everything.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I believe the project is worth continuing."

"That wasn't what you said twenty-nine hours ago."

"No."

His tone remained strangely calm.

"But circumstances change."

I leaned back.

"What circumstances?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Then he said, "Let's simply say I've had a conversation that changed my perspective."

Naina.

My mind immediately went to her.

"What did Naina say to you?"

A faint chuckle came through the phone.

"Your sister-in-law is very persuasive."

I closed my eyes for a second.

So she really had handled it.

"Are you renewing the contracts without conditions?"

"Yes."

"All of them?"

"All of them."

I looked at the documents spread across my desk.

For two weeks, I'd been trying to save this project.

And now the door had suddenly opened again.

But something didn't feel right.

"Adrian."

"Yes?"

"I don't believe you changed your mind because of business."

There was a pause.

Then his voice became quieter.

"Perhaps you shouldn't."

The call ended.

I slowly lowered my phone.

The project was back.

But instead of feeling relieved, I felt uneasy.

Because Adrian hadn't sounded like a businessman making a decision.

He had sounded like a man making a move.

And I had no idea what Naina had said to him to make that move happen.

I found Naina in the living room that evening.

She was sitting comfortably, scrolling through her phone as if she hadn't just solved the biggest problem I'd been fighting for two weeks.

I walked straight toward her.

"How did you convince Adrian?"

She looked up.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Bhabhi, I'm an architect."

I frowned.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Naina put her phone down.

"I know what to break..."

She paused.

"And what to build."

I stared at her.

"Naina."

She laughed.

"You really don't need to know all the details."

"I absolutely do."

She leaned back casually.

"Let's just say Adrian understood that walking away from your project wasn't going to end well for him."

I crossed my arms.

"You threatened him?"

"No."

She smiled.

"I reminded him of reality."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're hiding something."

"Maybe."

Then Naina added casually,

"Besides, the underworld boss going down on his knees was just normal."

I froze.

My mouth actually fell open.

"He was on his knees?"

Naina burst out laughing.

"Bhabhi! Your face!"

"You're telling me Adrian Laurent...the man you just described as an underworld boss...was literally on his knees?"

"Yes."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"What did you say to him?"

Naina picked up her phone again.

"Nothing dramatic."

She smiled.

"I just reminded him who he was dealing with."

I shook my head slowly.

"Naina..."

She looked at me innocently.

"What?"

"You're terrifying."

She grinned.

"I learned from the best."

I stared at her.

For the first time in two weeks, I laughed.

And somehow, that felt almost as valuable as getting my project back.

I entered the room, still thinking about everything that had happened downstairs.

I had barely closed the door when I heard Mihir's voice.

"You couldn't tell me?"

I stopped.

He was standing near the window, his expression hard.

"Tell you what?"

"Don't do that, Aayat."

His voice was sharp.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

I stared at him.

He took a step toward me.

"Two weeks. You kept this from me for two weeks."

I immediately understood.

"Naina told you."

"Yes."

He sounded furious.

"Your project was falling apart, your investor disappeared, and you were running around trying to fix everything yourself."

"I was handling it."

"Were you?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Because from where I'm standing, you were struggling and decided nobody needed to know."

I went quiet.

He continued, his frustration growing.

"You should have told me."

"You were busy."

"I was busy, not unavailable."

"The elections..."

"I could have made time."

I looked at him.

And suddenly, one question kept repeating in my mind.

Why does he care this much?

I wanted to ask.

The words were right there.

Mihir, why are you so angry?

Why does this matter to you so much?

But I couldn't say them.

Something stopped me.

Maybe I was afraid of the answer.

Maybe I was afraid that whatever he said would make me question everything I'd been telling myself for months.

So instead, I quietly said,

"I didn't want to burden you."

His expression changed.

"Burden me?"

I nodded.

He looked at me for several seconds.

Then his voice became quieter.

"You really think that's what you are to me?"

My heart skipped.

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

And Mihir just stared at me, as though he was waiting for me to understand something I wasn't ready to see.

Mihir didn't stop.

Once the anger had finally broken through, the words seemed to come faster than he could control.

"You keep doing this, Aayat. You decide everything on your own. You decide what I should know, what I shouldn't know, what I can handle, what will supposedly 'bother' me."

I stayed silent.

"You think I don't notice?"

He shook his head.

"You come home exhausted. You barely eat. You're awake half the night. You pretend you're fine every morning and then disappear into that office again."

I looked down.

"I noticed."

His voice cracked slightly with frustration.

"I noticed every single day."

I didn't know what to say.

He continued before I could answer.

"And then I find out that you've been dealing with a collapsing project for two weeks."

"I was trying to fix it."

"I know!"

His voice rose again.

"That is exactly the problem. You were trying to fix everything alone."

He paced across the room.

"You could have called me. One phone call, Aayat. One."

I watched him silently.

"But no. You thought Mihir is busy. Mihir has elections. Mihir has meetings. Mihir has enough problems."

He stopped and looked at me.

"Who told you that you were one of my problems?"

I froze.

He seemed to realize what he'd said, but he was too angry to stop.

"You're my wife."

The words hit me unexpectedly.

He continued,

"Contract or not, you are still my wife. And if something is happening to you, I should know."

I swallowed.

He looked away, running a hand through his hair.

"I've spent two weeks thinking everything was normal."

His voice lowered.

"And you were sitting in that office trying to save the most important project you've ever worked on."

I stared at him.

He was still angry.

But underneath that anger, I could see something else.

Fear.

Concern.

Something I couldn't name.

And that only made the question in my head louder.

Why?

Why did my problems matter to him this much?

I wanted to ask.

I couldn't.

So I just stood there and listened.

Mihir finally looked back at me.

"I'm not angry because your project had problems."

He paused.

"I'm angry because you didn't let me stand beside you while you were dealing with them."

I lowered my eyes.

For once, I had nothing to argue with.

Mihir kept talking.

"You should have told me, Aayat. Two weeks, you were dealing with all of this for two weeks and you didn't think once that maybe you could call me? You were barely sleeping, you weren't eating properly, you were staying late at the office..."

"I wasn't scared."

"I know you weren't scared."

"Then stop talking like I was."

"I'm not saying you were scared."

"You are."

"I'm saying you didn't have to handle everything alone."

"I can handle things myself."

"I know."

"Then..."

"I know," he repeated, a little more firmly. "That's not the point."

I stared at him.

He looked irritated.

No.

Not irritated.

Worried.

And somehow that was even more annoying.

"You're blabbering again," I muttered.

"I'm trying to explain..."

I lifted my hand and placed one finger gently over his lips.

He stopped.

Completely.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Enough."

His eyes narrowed at me.

I kept my finger there.

"Let me breathe."

His eyebrows lifted.

"You're the one who needs to breathe," he said after I moved my hand away.

"I've been breathing perfectly well. You've been talking for ten minutes."

"I have not been talking for ten minutes."

"Close enough."

He shook his head.

I turned away, trying not to smile.

Then the thought I'd been avoiding came back.

I looked at him again.

"Why are you saying all this, Mihir?"

He went quiet.

I folded my arms.

"We have only two months left."

His expression changed slightly.

"The seven-month contract ends in two months."

"I know."

"So why does it matter?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Then he said, calmly, "Because until those two months are over, you're still my wife. And if something is wrong, I expect you to tell me."

I stared at him.

That sounded like Mihir.

Practical.

Controlled.

Safe.

Nothing more.

"Right," I said quietly.

He nodded.

"And I don't care how capable you are. You don't have to prove it every second."

I rolled my eyes.

"There you go again."

"What?"

"Blabbering."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"You're impossible."

"And you're exhausting."

"Good. At least we're consistent."

I laughed despite myself.

Then I looked away.

Two months.

That was all.

Two more months of this.

Then the contract would end, and everything would go back to how it was supposed to be.

At least, that was the plan.

So why did hearing Mihir talk about those two months suddenly make the countdown feel different?

"Mihir"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

1. What do you think will happen when those TWO MONTHS are finally over?

2. What do you think will be the biggest turning point before the seven months are over?

3. What was your favorite moment in this chapter?

4. Do you think Mihir realizes how obvious his concern for Aayat is

5. Does Mihir even realize how much he talks when he's worried?

Tell me how was the chapter?

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