The next morning, Shashi woke up with a small smile gracing her lips. Taking a deep breath, she sat up and instinctively looked towards the balcony.

There stood Aakash, dressed only in his black vest and workout trousers. Fresh from the gym, he quietly sipped his morning coffee while admiring the sunrise.

Her mind drifted back to the previous night.

She had slept in his arms...

She herself had asked for his comfort.

The memory painted her cheeks a soft shade of pink, but the warmth was soon replaced by a familiar ache in her chest.

He doesn't belong to me.

He's only doing all this because I'm his responsibility now.

With a sigh, she rubbed her face, gathered her messy hair into a loose ponytail, and reached for the glass of water placed beside the bed.

Just then, her eyes landed on a sticky note resting on the bedside table.

"It's okay to ask for help and comfort whenever you're not fine. It's my duty to be there for you... and I'll do it forever."

His neat handwriting was unmistakable.

A soft smile spread across her face.

She carefully folded the note and placed it back exactly where she had found it before heading to the washroom.

About fifteen minutes later, she stepped out after getting ready.

She wore a royal blue Anarkali that complemented her beautifully, making her look nothing less than regal. Around her neck rested the chain she never forgot to wear. A few delicate bangles adorned her wrists, matching jhumkas swayed against her ears, and silver anklets chimed softly with every step she took.

The gentle chan-chan echoed through the room.

Just then, Aakash walked into the closet.

Fresh out of the shower, he wore only a pair of blue jeans. His damp hair glistened as droplets of water trickled down his toned torso.

He casually rubbed his hair with a towel while searching through his wardrobe for a shirt.

Shashi's eyes unconsciously travelled over his broad shoulders, sculpted chest, and defined muscles.

As he turned around, he noticed her openly staring.

A mischievous smirk tugged at his lips.

He took one step closer.

She didn't move.

Another step.

Still nothing.

Chuckling softly, he snapped his fingers in front of her face.

She blinked rapidly.

"Huh?"

"Huh?" he repeated, mimicking her innocent expression.

"M-main bahar jaa rahi hoon."

(I... I'm going outside.)

She hurriedly turned to leave, but before she could take another step, he gently caught her wrist and pulled her towards him.

She gasped.

Her eyes widened.

Her breathing became uneven.

"Aapko kuch kehna nahi hai?"

(Don't you have anything to say?)

His voice carried a teasing warmth.

"Kya... kya kahun main aapse?"

(W-What... what should I even say to you?)

"Umm... kuch bhi."

(Anything.)

"Aakash..."

His name left her lips in a warning tone.

"Kya Aakash?"

(What, Aakash?)

He copied her tone perfectly.

"Yeh—"

(This—)

"Yeh kya, biwi ji?"

(This what, Mrs. Wife?)

He chuckled.

"Aap pagal ho kya? Haath chhodiye mera."

(Are you crazy? Leave my hand.)

"Nahi chhodunga. Kya kar lengi aap?"

(I won't. What will you do?)

"Thappad maar dungi aapko."

(I'll slap you.)

"Maar lijiye. Mujhe koi aitraaz nahi."

(Go ahead. I don't mind.)

"Aapne kapde nahi pehne hain, Aakash!"

(You're not even properly dressed, Aakash!)

She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment.

He leaned slightly closer.

"Apni biwi ke saamne hi toh bina shirt ke khada hoon... kya aitraaz hai aapko?"

(I'm standing shirtless only in front of my wife... what's the problem?)

His deep voice sent shivers down her spine.

He smiled before speaking again.

"Ek baat bataiye."

(Tell me something.)

"Kya?"

(What?)

"Aap ab theek hain?"

(Are you feeling better now?)

This time there was no teasing.

Only concern.

"Ji."

(Yes.)

"Pakka?"

(Are you sure?)

"Kaha na... haan."

(I already said yes.)

Before either of them could say anything else—

Knock. Knock.

"Haath chhodiye mera!"

(Leave my hand!)

she whispered urgently.

He laughed softly before letting go.

Shashi practically ran out of the closet while Aakash followed behind at a much calmer pace.

She opened the bedroom door.

Standing outside was an elderly woman draped gracefully in a traditional saree. Her posture reflected strength, dignity, and authority.

"Tum... Chiku ki biwi ho?"

(So... you're Chiku's wife?)

"Chiku?"

(Chiku?)

Shashi blinked in confusion.

"Maaf kijiye... main Aakash ki biwi hoon."

(I'm sorry... I'm Aakash's wife.)

"Wahi toh mera Chiku hai!"

(That's my Chiku!)

the woman laughed.

Still confused, Shashi stepped aside.

The elderly woman walked inside the room and immediately spotted Aakash.

"Kapde pehenne ka riwaaz hai ya nahi?"

(Do you believe in wearing proper clothes or not?)

"Dadi Saa!"

Aakash grinned before wrapping his grandmother in a tight hug.

"Mera baccha."

(My child.)

She lovingly stroked his still-wet hair.

"Aap kab aayi?"

(When did you arrive?)

"Abhi subah-subah."

(Early this morning.)

"Itna miss kiya maine aapko."

(I missed you so much.)

He hugged her once again.

"Ruk... apni bahu se toh milne de mujhe."

(Wait... let me meet my daughter-in-law first.)

She playfully smacked his back.

Watching the adorable interaction, Shashi smiled before bending down to touch her feet.

But Dadi Saa gently stopped her.

"Humaare gharane ki betiyaan pair nahi chhooti, beta."

(The daughters of our family don't touch anyone's feet, dear.)

Instead, she opened her arms.

"Aa ja... gale lag."

(Come... give me a hug.)

Shashi smiled brightly and embraced her.

"Bahu toh kaafi sundar laaya hai tu."

(You've brought home a very beautiful daughter-in-law.)

She lovingly kissed Shashi's forehead.

Shashi shyly looked towards Aakash.

"Sundar toh beshak hai."

(She is beautiful, without a doubt.)

he admitted without hesitation.

His eyes were full of admiration.

Unable to bear his gaze, Shashi lowered hers.

Aakash finally went back to the closet and returned wearing a crisp white shirt.

"Beta, tune isse sindoor nahi lagaya kya?"

(Son, haven't you applied vermilion to her hairline today?)

Dadi Saa asked.

Aakash opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak—

Shashi replied.

"Yeh abhi-abhi naha kar aaye hain na. Roz lagate hain... aaj inke kapde dhoondhte-dhoondhte hum dono hi bhool gaye."

(He has just come after taking a shower. He applies it every day, but today we both forgot while looking for his clothes.)

"I'll bring it."

Aakash quickly walked inside and returned with the vermilion box gifted to Shashi by Aparna.

Taking a small pinch, he gently filled her hairline with sindoor.

Then, without hesitation, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Dadi Saa smiled warmly.

She lovingly took away their nazar (warding off the evil eye).

Aakash then used the remaining vermilion to place a small tilak on his own forehead.

"Apna tilak hi laga leta."

(You could've used your own tilak.)

"Koi baat nahi."

(It's alright.)

"Baaki sab bhi aa gaye?"

(Has everyone else arrived too?)

"Nahi. Woh do din baad aayenge."

(No. They'll arrive after two days.)

"Neeche chalein?"

(Shall we go downstairs?)

Shashi asked.

"Haan. Aapko bhookh lagi hogi na? Humne raat ko bhi khana nahi khaya tha."

(Yes. You must be hungry. We didn't even have dinner last night.)

Dadi Saa looked surprised.

"Kyun?"

(Why?)

"Aaiye... aapko poori kahaani sunata hoon."

(Come... I'll tell you the whole story.)

He led his grandmother downstairs.

Shashi remained behind for a moment.

Her fingers gently brushed over the fresh sindoor in her hairline.

The bright crimson colour stained her fingertips.

A genuine smile appeared on her lips before she followed them downstairs.

The entire mansion felt alive.

Laughter echoed through every corner.

Everyone sat together, talking, teasing, and loving one another exactly the way she had always imagined a family should.

For the first time...

She finally felt like she belonged.

"Shashi, beta, jaldi nashta karne baith."

(Shashi dear, come sit and have breakfast quickly.)

Aparna called out.

"K... kya hua? Aap daant kyun rahi hain?"

(W-What happened? Why are you scolding me?)

Shashi asked nervously.

"Raat ko khana kyun nahi khaya tum dono ne?"

(Why didn't you both have dinner last night?)

"Woh... hum late aaye the aur mujhe bhookh bhi nahi thi."

(We came home late... and I wasn't hungry.)

"So what? Laksha already told me that if you skip even one meal, your health gets affected. You're all grown up now. Can't you take care of yourself?"

Shashi lowered her head.

"I'm sorry... Mumma."

"Mumma, Dadi... Cupcake ko daantiye mat!"

(Mumma, Grandma... don't scold Cupcake!)

Aarav ran in wearing his football uniform.

"Aaya bada apni Cupcake ki tarafdaari karne wala!"

(Look who's come to defend his Cupcake!)

Aparna rolled her eyes.

"Mumma yaar... daanto mat na unko."

(Mumma... please don't scold her.)

Aakash said as he walked beside Shashi and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Zimmedaari meri thi na... toh mujhe daantiye."

(It was my responsibility, so scold me instead.)

Without wasting a second, Aparna caught his ear and twisted it.

"Oww!"

"Ek bacchi ka dhyaan bhi nahi rakh sakta?"

(You can't even take care of one girl?)

"Sorry!"

"Mumma... mujhe daantiye na, inka kaan chhodiye. Inhe dard ho raha hai."

(Mumma, scold me instead. Please leave his ear, he's getting hurt.)

Aparna finally let go.

Shashi instinctively rubbed Aakash's ear to soothe the pain.

Dadi Saa laughed.

"Aaja Aparna... yeh dono toh pyaar mein pagal hain. Inhe daantne se kuch nahi hoga."

(Come, Aparna. These two are crazy in love. Scolding them won't change anything.)

The entire family burst into laughter.

Together, they settled around the dining table.

Breakfast was served lavishly that morning.

After all...

Everything had been specially prepared for the Rani Saa of Jaipur.

After breakfast, Shashi was the first one to get up from the dining table. Smiling politely, she carried her plate to the sink before quietly walking towards the living room.

From the dining table, Aakash watched her.

A smile unknowingly appeared on his lips.

She picked up her bag from the couch and reached for her scooter keys.

"Suniye..." (Listen...)

She turned around.

"Ji?" (Yes?)

"Bas paanch minute wait kar lijiye, please." (Just wait for five minutes, please.)

There was something almost childlike in the way he looked at her.

She wanted to refuse.

She really did.

But with the entire family watching them, she simply nodded.

"Theek hai." (Alright.)

Aakash finished the remaining bites of his breakfast in record time.

Before leaving, he bent down to touch Dadi Saa's feet and lovingly kissed her forehead.

"Khayal rakhna." (Take care.) Dadi Saa smiled.

"Hamesha." (Always.) he grinned.

He walked towards Shashi.

Without asking, he gently lifted the bag from her shoulder.

She looked at him in surprise.

"Aakash..."

He didn't answer.

Instead, he quietly took the scooter keys from her hand and placed them back on the console table.

"Saath chalein?" (Shall we go together?)

She looked at him for a brief moment before nodding.

Together, they walked towards the basement.

The drive began in complete silence.

The only sounds inside the car were the soft chan... chan... of her bangles whenever she adjusted her dupatta and the delicate chiming of her jhumkas as the car moved over uneven roads.

Aakash kept his eyes on the road.

But every now and then...

His heart drifted towards the woman quietly sitting beside him.

Her hospital was in the opposite direction from Rajput Healthcare.

Yet...

He never minded taking the longer route if it meant spending a few extra minutes with her.

"Aakash..."

She broke the silence while absent-mindedly looking at the bangles circling her wrist.

"Ji?" (Yes?)

"Aap apni Dadi ji ko 'Dadi Saa' bulate ho na?" (You call your grandmother 'Dadi Saa,' right?)

"Haan." (Yes.)

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Waise toh dadi log thodi strict aur khadoos hoti hain..." (Grandmothers are usually strict and grumpy...)

"Phir aapki Dadi Saa itni cool kaise hain?" (Then how is your grandmother so cool?)

Aakash laughed.

"First of all..."

He glanced at her with mock seriousness.

"'Humari' Dadi Saa." ('Our' Dadi Saa.)

She looked away, trying to hide her smile.

"And secondly, she's always been like that. She has never believed in ruling the house with fear. She teases everyone, argues a little, pulls everyone's leg..."

He smiled fondly.

"But yes..."

"If someone breaks the principles of our Raj gharana..."

His tone changed dramatically.

"Then even I get scared."

She giggled.

"What principles?" (What rules?)

"Our family doesn't really have complicated rules."

He slowed the car while taking a turn.

"Just values."

"It doesn't matter if every son lives in a different city or a different house..."

"The family should never fall apart."

"And if it ever does..."

"It's our responsibility to bring everyone back together."

He paused.

"The second rule..."

He smiled.

"Dadi Saa is extremely strict about this one."

"The men of our family are supposed to bow before the women of the house."

"We touch their hearts..."

"Not the other way around."

"We never let the women touch our feet."

Shashi quietly looked at him.

Something inside her softened.

He wasn't boasting.

He wasn't trying to impress her.

He was simply telling her how he had been raised.

"And there's one more."

"No matter where everyone lives..."

"At least one festival every year has to be celebrated together."

"In our family..."

"We have never celebrated Diwali separately."

"Whether it's at the Rajmahal..."

"Or at our mansion..."

"Everyone comes home."

Shashi smiled unknowingly.

"This is... really beautiful."

Her voice carried genuine admiration.

He smiled.

"Families are supposed to be like this."

A bitter smile touched her lips.

"Not really."

For a fleeting second...

Aakash looked at her.

He noticed the sadness hidden behind those two words.

But before he could ask...

She smiled as though nothing had happened.

He understood.

She wasn't ready.

So he didn't force the conversation.

A minute later...

"Mrs. Rajput."

"Hmm?"

She turned towards him.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

Then spoke without looking at her.

"You're looking beautiful today."

His voice was quieter than usual.

"Especially..."

"This bindi."

For a moment...

Time stood still.

Shashi instinctively raised her fingers to her forehead.

The tiny red bindi.

Such a small thing.

Yet...

No one had ever noticed it before.

People complimented her clothes.

Her jewellery.

Her face.

But never the little details she loved the most.

Today...

Someone had.

Without realising it...

Her fingertips lingered over the bindi.

A faint blush slowly coloured her cheeks.

She lowered her eyes, hiding the smile threatening to bloom on her lips.

Aakash noticed.

His own lips curved into a quiet smile.

He had no idea why she looked so happy.

He was simply glad...

That she did.

A few minutes later, the car came to a halt outside her hospital.

Before she could open the door, Aakash had already stepped out and walked around to her side.

He opened the door for her.

Then picked up her bag before handing it to her personal assistant waiting near the entrance.

"Take care."

He smiled.

She looked at him for a brief second.

"You too."

Their eyes met for the smallest moment.

Neither of them realised...

Moments like these were slowly becoming the safest part of each other's day.

With one last smile, Aakash returned to his car and drove towards Rajput Healthcare, while Shashi walked inside the hospital, unconsciously touching the little red bindi that had somehow become her favourite part of the morning.

Evening

By evening, the Rajput mansion had settled into the kind of peacefulness that made it feel less like a royal residence and more like a home. Aarav sat on the carpet beside Dadi Saa, his drawing workbook spread open between them as he carefully filled the pages with colour. Every now and then, Dadi Saa would lean closer to inspect his work, offering him an unnecessary suggestion only to be immediately corrected by the little boy.

Aparna sat nearby with the television playing in the background, half-listening to the evening news while occasionally glancing at Aarav. Sarthak and Akriti had just returned after a long, tiring day and were sitting together on the sofa, their hands intertwined as they quietly sipped their evening tea.

Nobody was talking much, but there was something comforting about the silence. The occasional laughter from Aarav, the clinking of teacups, the sound of the television in the background—it was the familiar chaos of a family that had spent enough time together to be comfortable without constantly filling the silence.

That peace lasted until Aparna suddenly straightened.

"Sarthak!" she whispered loudly, her eyes fixed on the television.

Sarthak immediately looked towards her. "Kya hua, Maa?" (What happened, Mum?)

A clip was playing on the screen.

It was only a few seconds long, but it was enough to make the entire room go still.

Aakash was walking beside Shashi outside what appeared to be a hospital. He was carrying her bag in one hand while holding hers with the other. He said something to her, and she simply nodded, her blue Anarkali making her instantly recognisable.

The footage was ordinary.

The news surrounding it was anything but.

The screen flashed with a bold headline.

DR. AAKASH SINGH RAJPUT MARRIED?

The reporter's voice became unnecessarily dramatic.

"Famous influencer, doctor and heir to the prestigious Rajput royal family, Dr. Aakash Singh Rajput, has reportedly tied the knot. Yes, you heard that right—Dr. Aakash Singh Rajput is married."

A photograph of Aakash appeared on the screen, followed by the clip of him and Shashi.

"Dr. Rajput, who is also the younger brother of one of the country's most successful businessmen, has always been a familiar face in the media. However, this marriage appears to have been kept completely private."

The footage paused on Shashi.

The reporter continued, "The woman accompanying him in this blue Anarkali appears to be his wife. We have noticed vermilion in her hairline, further suggesting that the two are indeed married. But the real mystery is the identity of this woman."

Aparna's expression tightened.

"The girl looks familiar, but our sources have so far been unable to identify her. It is believed that she may herself belong to an influential family. So who exactly is she? And why did the Rajput family hide this marriage from the world?"

The reporter leaned into the drama.

"Is this simply a marriage of convenience, or is there something more to this secret relationship? To know the truth, stay tuned to your very own live news, XYZ."

The television continued playing, but nobody in the room was paying attention anymore.

Akriti slowly lowered her cup onto the table and looked at Sarthak. He had already placed his own cup down.

"Maa..." he said, his voice carrying more concern than anger.

Akriti shook her head. "This is very wrong. They've hidden her identity, and now the media is going to start digging into everything about her. No one even knows who Shashi is. If she finds out about this..." She paused, her expression softening. "It'll hurt her."

Aparna looked helplessly at them. "But what do we do now?"

"I'll call every media house I know," Sarthak said, already getting up from the sofa. "I'll tell them to stop this drama before it gets any bigger."

He began making calls one after another.

At that very moment, Aparna's phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen.

Shashi calling.

Her heart sank.

She answered immediately. "Beta, listen—"

"Mumma..." Shashi's voice came through the phone, trembling so badly that Aparna could hear her uneven breathing. "There is media outside the hospital. I'm scared. I've never been in a situation like this before. Please, Mumma... please take me out of here."

Aparna's expression changed instantly.

"Don't worry, bacche. You'll be fine. No one is going to question you. We're here for you, okay? Just stay inside your cabin. I'll call Aakash."

She ended the call and immediately dialled Aakash.

The call didn't connect.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

Finally, she called Zain.

"Zain, where is Aakash?"

"Ma'am, sir is in a meeting with the department heads."

"Get him out of it."

Her voice left no room for argument.

A few minutes later, Aakash's phone rang. He stepped out of the meeting room, frowning at the interruption.

"Maa, kya hua?" (Maa, what happened?)

"Just get Shashi out of the hospital. She's scared, Aakash."

His expression changed immediately. "Scared? Why?"

"Look at the news. Go as soon as possible. She's panicking a lot."

Aakash didn't ask another question. He ended the call and glanced at his phone just as the same news story appeared across his screen.

His jaw tightened.

For a second, he stared at the headline in disbelief.

Then his eyes moved to the photograph of Shashi.

Fear.

That was the only thing he could see now.

She was scared.

And he wasn't there.

He grabbed his keys and left Rajput Healthcare without wasting another minute.

The drive to Oberoi Hospital was fast and tense. He took a different route to avoid the crowd gathered outside the main entrance and called ahead to ensure that the back gate was opened for him. The moment he entered the hospital, he headed straight towards Shashi's cabin, barely slowing down.

When he pushed the door open, it swung harder than he intended.

Shashi flinched.

Her tear-filled eyes immediately found him.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then something inside her gave way.

She walked towards him, stopping only a step away as though some last fragment of restraint was still holding her back. But the moment she looked into his eyes, that restraint disappeared. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest, desperately trying to steady her breathing.

Aakash was taken aback.

He had expected her to be frightened.

He had expected her to cry.

He hadn't expected her to come to him.

His arms slowly came around her, one hand settling against her back while the other gently rested over her head. He rubbed her back in slow, soothing movements, giving her the time she needed to breathe.

"I know," he murmured. "I know you're panicking."

She tightened her arms around him.

"I know I'm fucking panicking," she whispered, her voice breaking, "but I know you can handle this."

Aakash went still.

The words reached somewhere deeper than he expected.

She trusted him.

In all the uncertainty between them, in all the distance she still maintained, she had trusted him enough to believe that he could protect her when she couldn't protect herself.

His hand moved gently over her hair.

"It's fine," he whispered. "I'm always there for you. Now let's get out of here, hmm?"

He carefully pulled her back by her shoulders and cupped her cheeks. Her skin was damp with tears, and her eyelashes were still wet.

"You will never be judged for being scared, Mrs. Rajput. At least not by me..." His gaze held hers. "Your husband."

She looked at him silently before giving a small nod.

Aakash reached for the dupatta lying over the back of her chair and gently placed it around her shoulders. Shashi immediately pulled it over her head, almost instinctively, as though the fabric could shield her from everything happening outside.

He didn't question it.

He simply held out his hand.

She looked at it for a second before placing hers in his.

Together, they walked towards the back entrance.

Once inside the car, Shashi sat quietly beside him. Her hands remained clasped in her lap, her fingers constantly fidgeting with the edge of her dupatta while her eyes stayed fixed downward.

Aakash glanced at her once before returning his attention to the road.

"Did you eat?"

She slowly looked at him and shook her head.

The tiny movement made her jhumkas sway against her cheeks.

"So..." he said gently, "shall we eat somewhere nearby?"

He began turning towards a luxurious restaurant.

"No."

The answer was immediate.

There was a quiet authority in her voice that made him glance at her again.

He didn't argue. He simply turned the car back towards the mansion.

For a few moments, they drove in silence.

Then Aakash tried to lighten the atmosphere.

"I might sound crazy right now, but can I call you something else?" He gave her a small smile. "Mrs. Rajput seriously sounds like we're sitting in a corporate office."

She looked at him.

"What do you want to call me?"

His eyes briefly moved towards her before returning to the road.

"Ira?"

Her breath caught.

The name felt strangely intimate coming from him.

She turned towards him, her wide, kohl-lined eyes filled with surprise.

"Why? Is it not good?" he asked, genuinely unaware of what had just crossed her mind.

She looked away.

Ira.

Wasn't that his girlfriend's name?

Her fingers tightened around the dupatta.

Isn't that what he used to call her?

A strange ache settled in her chest.

I hope this name doesn't belong to his ex or something.

She swallowed.

Because if it does, that makes me nothing but a replacement.

The thought irritated her more than it should have.

She looked towards the window, trying to push the feeling away.

"Can I open the windows?" she asked softly.

Aakash glanced at her, then smiled.

"Since when did the queen start asking for permission?"

Without waiting for an answer, he switched off the AC and pressed the button.

The windows slowly rolled down.

Cool evening air rushed into the car, lifting a few strands of Shashi's hair and making the edge of her dupatta flutter gently.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

The panic hadn't disappeared.

The questions hadn't disappeared.

Neither had the fear of tomorrow.

But Aakash was beside her.

And somehow...

That made the world feel a little less frightening.

As soon as the car rolled through the secure gates of the mansion, Shashi stepped out and stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath. The moment the gates closed behind them, she felt some of the tension in her shoulders loosen. She removed the dupatta from her head and draped it modestly over one shoulder before walking towards the entrance.

The moment she crossed the threshold, everyone's attention shifted towards her. Aparna was the first to move. She hurried towards Shashi and pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her as though she could somehow protect her from everything that had happened outside those gates. She kissed Shashi's forehead and gently patted her cheek.

"You're a brave child," she whispered.

Shashi looked at her for a few seconds, her eyes still carrying the remnants of fear she had tried so hard to hide. She simply nodded. She didn't trust her voice enough to speak.

Then she looked around at everyone standing there and asked quietly, "Can I spend the rest of the day in my room?"

There was something in her voice that made the request sound less like a question and more like a plea for somewhere she could finally breathe. Everyone nodded without hesitation. Shashi gave them a small, grateful smile before turning towards the stairs. Aakash followed her silently, watching the way her shoulders remained slightly tense even though she was finally home.

When he entered their room a few minutes later, he realised she was in the bathroom. The sound of the shower echoed softly through the room. He walked towards her cupboard, took out a comfortable night suit and placed it neatly on the bed. After a moment, he added a tray beside it with a few chocolates and a cup of coffee. He stared at it for a second, wondering whether she would actually touch any of it, before quietly leaving the room.

Downstairs, the moment Aakash entered the living room, everyone turned towards him. Sarthak was the first to ask, "How is she?"

Aakash took a seat beside Akriti and lowered his voice. "Pretending to be okay," he whispered.

The words immediately changed the atmosphere. The family had been worried before, but hearing the truth from Aakash made their hearts sink. They had all seen Shashi walk into the house quietly, composed enough to fool anyone who didn't know her. But Aakash had seen what she looked like when the doors were closed and there was no one left to impress.

"We should inform Laksha about this and take the right decision," Akriti said, placing a comforting hand on Aakash's shoulder.

He nodded with a tired sigh. "Call her. Do whatever you can, but don't forget to ask her what's wrong with Ira."

Everyone looked at him with confusion at the name, but Aakash didn't notice. His gaze remained fixed on the floor as he ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't think she's okay," he murmured. "Something is triggering her, and it's getting worse because she thinks handling everything herself makes her strong. She keeps convincing herself that she doesn't need anyone."

Sarthak's expression darkened as he looked down at his hands. "Even I think the same. I've never seen her genuinely happy. She's either pretending to be okay or laughing because someone made a joke. I don't remember the last time I saw her simply happy without trying to be."

Aparna looked at both of them before speaking softly. "I'll call Laksha tonight. Aakash, you take care of her. Just be there for her. Don't ever make her feel alone."

"Never, Maa," he murmured, nodding.

He swallowed hard before continuing. "The way she cried today was..." He paused, struggling to put the feeling into words. "It was something that had been buried years ago, but it still haunts her, Maa. I don't know what happened to her, but whatever it was, she hasn't escaped it."

Akriti rubbed his back gently. "Don't worry. She'll be fine."

Aakash nodded, but the reassurance didn't completely settle the uneasiness in his chest. He had spent enough time around Shashi now to recognise the difference between her being quiet and her being lost inside her own thoughts. Today had been the latter.

The night passed quietly. Everyone had dinner, but Shashi barely touched anything. She only drank a cup of milk before returning upstairs. Aakash wanted to stop her and insist that she eat something, but she looked too exhausted even to argue. He knew pushing her tonight would only make things worse, so he let her go.

Later, when the mansion had fallen completely silent, Shashi was asleep in their room. Aakash sat beside her, his back resting against the headboard as his fingers moved gently through her hair. Her breathing had finally become peaceful, although the exhaustion remained visible on her face. At some point during the night, her hand had found his and held onto it even in sleep.

He looked down at their intertwined fingers and smiled faintly. She might not realise it yet, but somewhere between all the fear and confusion, she had started reaching for him when she needed comfort. He didn't need anything more tonight.

Meanwhile, in another room of the mansion, Aparna sat with her phone in her hand and called Laksha. The call was answered after a few rings.

"Ma'am, you called at this hour?"

"Laksha, I've sent you a few videos from the news channels. Before you see them, I want to ask you something," Aparna said, her voice serious.

"Yes, go ahead."

"What's wrong with Shashi?"

There was a pause.

"What do you mean?" Laksha asked.

"She's anything but fine, Laksha. Is there a past haunting her?"

Laksha exhaled slowly. "I don't know, Ma'am. And even if there is something, it's not a big deal."

Aparna's expression hardened. "You're her sister, Laksha. She only has you in her life now. At least don't make her feel lonely like this."

"I can't just be there babysitting her while leaving this empire behind, Mrs. Rajput," Laksha replied, her voice carrying irritation rather than concern.

"You cannot just say it like that," Aparna breathed.

"Ma'am, she's twenty-four, not four. She doesn't need someone constantly consoling her over every emotional breakdown. And I'm her elder sister. I know what's right for her. Whatever the matter is, it has never reached an extent where it affects her mental health."

Aparna went completely silent.

For a moment, she didn't know what hurt more—the words themselves or how casually Laksha had said them.

"Good night, Ms. Oberoi," she finally said before ending the call.

She placed her phone on the bedside table and stared ahead, her mind returning to the sight of Shashi standing at the mansion entrance earlier that evening. She had looked composed. She had spoken normally. She had even smiled.

But Aparna had seen the fear hidden behind all of it.

Perhaps that was the problem.

Shashi had become so good at pretending she was fine that everyone around her had started believing it.

Everyone except Aakash.

And perhaps, now, Aparna too.

____________________________________________________________________

𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆

Please don't put Laksha in the villain's category just yet. She simply doesn't know what Shashi is truly going through, and sometimes, ignorance can make people say the wrong things without realising the damage they are causing.

Though... if you want to hate her right now, that's completely your choice. 👀

Stay tuned for the next update because things are about to get a lot more interesting.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to leave your reviews, share the book with your book besties, and tell me what you think about Shashi and Aakash. Your comments genuinely mean a lot to me.

And of course, don't forget to follow me on Instagram for fun updates, little hints, and some very interesting spoilers. 👀