Both Shashi and Aakash were fast asleep when a knock against the bedroom door broke through the silence. Aakash's eyes opened immediately, his sleep disappearing almost instantly as he tried to understand what had woken him. He glanced toward the woman sleeping beside him. Shashi hadn't moved much during the night. One hand rested protectively over her stomach while the other remained between her thighs, her face still carrying the exhaustion of everything she had endured. Aakash carefully pulled the quilt higher over her, making sure she was properly covered before getting out of bed. His expression was already annoyed at whoever had decided that knocking at this hour was a good idea.

He walked toward the door and opened it.

The irritation vanished from his face.

Laksha stood there, her hand raised as though she was about to knock again.

For someone who had apparently travelled overnight from Japan, she looked surprisingly composed, though the concern in her eyes was unmistakable.

Before Aakash could say anything, she asked, "Shashi kaha hai?" (Where is Shashi?)

"Kuch ghante pehle hi soyi hai." (She only fell asleep a few hours ago.) Aakash lowered his voice immediately. "Please abhi mat uthaiye unhe. Bohot thaki hui hain... aur bukhaar bhi bohot tez hai." (Please don't wake her right now. She's extremely tired... and she has a very high fever.)

He stepped aside, allowing Laksha to see into the room.

She entered quietly.

Aakash followed her, walking toward the bed. He knelt beside Shashi and looked at her sleeping face for a few seconds before leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Laksha watched the sight silently, and despite everything she had come here to ask, a small, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips.

Aakash carefully moved a strand of hair away from Shashi's face.

Then he whispered, so softly that only Laksha could hear him, "Mujhe aapse kaafi saare sawaal hain, Ms. Oberoi..." (I have quite a few questions for you, Ms. Oberoi.) His gaze remained on his wife. "Par main sabke jawaab sach chahta hoon." (But I want honest answers to all of them.) His thumb gently brushed over Shashi's cheek. "Apni biwi ko takleef mein nahi dekh sakta hoon... mujhe dugni takleef hoti hai." (I can't bear seeing my wife in pain... it hurts me twice as much.)

Laksha's expression softened.

She gave a small nod and quietly stepped away from the bed.

Aakash waited until she had left the room before closing and locking the door behind her. He didn't want anyone disturbing Shashi again. Once he was certain she was asleep, he reached for his phone and called Shashi's bodyguard, asking him to arrange some dark chocolates and ice cream for Shashi. A few minutes later, Abhishek arrived with the order, and Aakash took the packets from him before placing them carefully on the table.

He knew she might not eat them immediately.

But he also knew that when she eventually woke up, she might want something sweet.

And he wanted it ready.

By ten in the morning, sunlight had begun slipping through the curtains.

Aakash was sitting nearby when he noticed movement beneath the sheets. Shashi shifted restlessly, her hand moving from her stomach toward her lower back. A faint hiss escaped her as she pressed her palm against the aching area.

"Ira..."

He immediately came beside her.

Her eyelashes fluttered several times before her eyes finally opened. She looked at him through a haze of exhaustion, her face pale and her lips dry.

"Aap fresh ho jaiye," Aakash said gently. "Main nashta lekar aata hoon." (Freshen up. I'll bring breakfast.)

Shashi stared at him for a few seconds before whispering, "Mujhmein uthne ki bhi taakat nahi hai, Aakash." (I don't even have the strength to get up, Aakash.)

Before she could understand what he intended to do, Aakash slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

She gasped.

And then she noticed the blood staining both her clothes and his.

"Aakash..." Her face flushed with embarrassment. "It's dirty blood. Stop..."

"It doesn't matter to me." His voice remained completely calm. He adjusted his hold on her. "Main ek maid ko bula deta hoon. Aap bas kapde change karke fresh ho jaiye." (I'll send a maid to help you. You just change your clothes and freshen up.) He glanced at her feverish face. "Poora shower lene ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aapko abhi bhi bukhaar hai." (You don't need to take a complete shower. You still have a fever.)

He carried her into the bathroom.

The embarrassment in Shashi's eyes deepened.

Tears gathered almost immediately as Aakash gently settled her on the basin counter. He was about to step away when she suddenly wrapped both arms around him and buried her face against his chest.

Aakash froze.

"Jaan... roiye mat, please." (My love... please don't cry.) He gently rubbed her back.

Shashi trembled against him.

"I'll feel disgusted if a maid helps me, Aakash..." she sobbed.

Aakash looked down at her.

"But how will you do everything by yourself?"

"I can't..." Her voice broke. "My body is really weak."

He hesitated.

The thought of crossing a boundary made him uncomfortable, but leaving her helpless was even worse.

"If..." His voice faltered. "If you allow me... I-I can help."

Shashi slowly pulled back from his embrace and looked directly into his eyes.

Aakash immediately panicked.

"Me... mera matlab..." He looked away, suddenly flustered. "Aankhein band karke karwa dunga, Ira. Aapki kasam." (I'll do it with my eyes closed, I swear on you.)

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then she nodded.

"I trust you."

Something changed in Aakash's expression.

He nodded quietly.

"Okay."

He picked up her toothbrush and handed it to her.

"Aap pehle brush kar lijiye."

While she brushed her teeth, Aakash stepped away and returned with everything she needed. He brought a fresh packet of sanitary pads, a pair of clean panties and the rest of her clothes. He carefully prepared the pad for her without making the situation any more uncomfortable than it already was, fixing it securely onto the underwear and setting it aside for her.

When he returned with the clothes, Shashi looked at him with wide eyes.

"Wh... what are you doing?"

He held up the clean underwear.

"This sticks here, right?"

She nodded, still embarrassed.

Aakash quietly finished arranging everything she would need. He had also chosen a comfortable, soft bra without wires or complicated hooks, knowing her body was already sore from the cramps. Instead of bringing one of her regular outfits, he chose one of his oversized T-shirts and a pair of comfortable shorts for her.

He placed them within her reach.

"Come. Remove your clothes and change into your undergarments. Phir towel wrap kar lijiye." (Then wrap a towel around yourself.) He looked away immediately. "I'll clean the rest."

He gave her enough space to change.

A few moments later, she called him.

Aakash entered without looking directly at her.

His eyes remained lowered toward the floor as he took a clean towel, dipped it into warm water and wrung it out carefully.

"Is it too warm?" he asked, looking only at her face.

Shashi shook her head.

He began gently wiping her arms, moving slowly and carefully so he wouldn't hurt her. He cleaned her shoulders and then her back, never allowing his gaze to wander. His movements remained respectful and deliberate as he helped her freshen up. He then gently wiped her legs before setting the used towel aside.

For her face, he took a fresh towel.

He wiped her cheeks and forehead with soft movements before applying a little moisturizer to her dry skin. His fingers moved carefully across her face, and when he gently pulled her cheeks between his fingers, she let out a tiny chuckle.

It was the first hint of a smile he had seen from her since the previous night.

Aakash smiled.

"Feeling fresh?"

She nodded.

He kissed her forehead.

"Good."

He handed her the remaining clothes and stepped outside the bathroom, waiting patiently until she called him again.

When he returned, Shashi was sitting on the small stool.

She held out a hairbrush.

Aakash looked at it and then at her.

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

"You want me to?"

She nodded.

He took the brush and stood behind her.

Slowly, carefully, he began combing through her hair. He made sure not to pull at any knots, pausing whenever the brush caught slightly so he wouldn't hurt her already-sensitive scalp. After several attempts, he finally managed to gather her hair into a braid.

It wasn't perfect.

In fact, it looked very much like the braid of a beginner who had tried his absolute best.

But Aakash looked at it with quiet satisfaction.

He leaned down and kissed her crown.

"Chaliye... breakfast room mein hai." (Come on... breakfast is in the room.)

Shashi nodded and stood up.

Before she could take even two steps, Aakash picked her up again.

She stared at him in surprise.

"Aakash..."

"You're not walking when you barely have the strength to stand."

He carried her back into the bedroom.

The moment they entered, Shashi noticed the breakfast waiting on the table.

Fresh, hot and steaming.

Aakash carefully lowered her into the chair before taking the seat beside her. He pulled the plate toward himself and began serving her a proper meal, making sure she had enough to eat.

He had already asked his mother to prepare hot, soft upma for her, something light enough for her stomach but filling enough to give her some strength. Beside it was a cup of herbal tea prepared by Akriti, meant to help soothe her cramps and make her feel a little more comfortable.

Shashi looked at the food.

For the first time that morning, her expression softened completely.

She began eating quietly.

She didn't say much.

She didn't need to.

Aakash simply sat beside her, watching to make sure she ate enough, occasionally pushing the plate a little closer whenever she slowed down.

And as Shashi ate the warm breakfast, surrounded by the quiet care of the man who had refused to leave her side all night, something inside her finally began to loosen.

The pain hadn't disappeared.

The fever hadn't completely broken.

The grief was still there.

But for the first time in a long while, being cared for didn't feel like a burden.

It felt like home.

The family had barely settled into the comfortable silence of breakfast when a knock sounded against the bedroom door. Aakash looked toward it, slightly surprised, and called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and almost the entire family appeared together.

Aarav immediately wriggled out of his father's embrace the moment he spotted Shashi. His little feet hurried across the room, and before anyone could stop him, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

"Cupcake!"

A genuine smile appeared on Shashi's face.

She opened her arms and pulled him into her lap, hugging him tightly before pressing a kiss to his cheek. Aarav settled against her as though he had been waiting all morning to do exactly that.

"Abhi tabiyat theek hai, beta?" (Are you feeling better now, sweetheart?) Sarthak asked as he took a seat.

Shashi nodded.

"And what about your cramps?"

Her eyes widened.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Periods had always been a taboo subject in the house where she had grown up. It had been something women whispered about behind closed doors, something she had learned to hide rather than discuss. Yet here was Sarthak, a man twelve years older than her, asking about her pain without a trace of awkwardness or embarrassment in his voice.

It caught her completely off guard.

She blinked several times before finally nodding.

"They're better."

The family settled around the room wherever there was space. Some took the chairs while others stood near the sofa, creating the warm, chaotic atmosphere Shashi had slowly begun to associate with this family.

Then her eyes fell on someone standing near the doorway.

Laksha.

Shashi's expression immediately softened.

"Diduu..." she whispered.

Laksha didn't wait another second.

She walked straight toward her and wrapped her arms around Shashi, holding her tightly.

"Tu theek hai?" (Are you okay?)

Shashi nodded against her shoulder.

Laksha pulled back just enough to look at her properly. Her hands came up to cup Shashi's face, her thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks.

"I'm sorry."

Shashi frowned.

"Why?"

Laksha's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Because I never held you in my arms and told you that I'm proud of you, my baby." Her voice trembled. "Never let yourself feel that you're not enough, baby. You're so hardworking. You've managed your writing career and medical studies while dealing with your own exhausted mind and everything you've been through... all by yourself."

Shashi's lips parted.

Laksha continued before she could say anything.

"I am sorry I could never be there for you. I'm sorry, baccha."

She rubbed Shashi's back gently.

That one sentence shattered something inside Shashi.

Her eyes filled instantly, and before she could stop herself, she buried her face against Laksha's chest and broke down.

Laksha held her tighter.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered again, pressing a kiss to the crown of Shashi's head. "I'm so sorry."

Another kiss.

Then another.

She kept whispering apologies into her hair while Shashi cried in her arms, her fingers clutching the fabric of Laksha's clothes as though she was afraid that if she loosened her hold even slightly, her sister would disappear again.

Laksha stroked her hair.

"I'm never leaving you alone ever again." Her voice was gentle but certain. "You can call me anytime, baccha. Any time. I'll be there for you."

Shashi nodded through her tears.

After a while, she finally pulled back and wiped her cheeks. A tiny laugh escaped her despite the tears still clinging to her lashes.

"Now tell me the real reason for your arrival."

The room immediately became lighter.

Laksha smiled.

"I had to make things clear."

Shashi raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"So..." Laksha deliberately paused. "I want to arrange a huge reception party for both of you."

Shashi's eyes widened slightly.

"Where we'll officially reveal that you're my sister..." Laksha looked toward Aakash, "...and Aakash's wife."

A few smiles appeared around the room.

Shashi nodded slowly.

Aakash, however, narrowed his eyes.

"Is that your real and valid reason?"

Laksha looked at him innocently.

"Yes."

Aakash stared at her for a second.

"Woah..."

The single word made a few people laugh.

While everyone continued discussing the reception, Shashi quietly shifted toward Sarthak. He immediately noticed the slight discomfort in her expression and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently closer.

"It’s hurting?" he whispered.

"My back," she murmured.

Sarthak nodded.

"Akriti?"

Akriti immediately understood.

"Heating pad?"

Shashi nodded.

Akriti handed it to him, and Sarthak carefully placed it against Shashi's lower back, adjusting it until she seemed comfortable. He then picked up the cup of herbal tea and passed it to her.

"Here."

Shashi accepted it with a small smile.

Sarthak watched her take a sip before leaning back.

"I have something too."

Aparna looked toward him.

"What is it, Sarthak?"

A mischievous smirk appeared on his face.

"Don't you think these two should go on a honeymoon?"

Shashi immediately choked on her tea.

She began coughing violently, her eyes watering as Aakash quickly reached toward her.

"Easy, Ira!"

Aakash couldn't hide his amusement.

The moment she finally caught her breath, she glared at him.

He pressed his lips together, trying desperately not to laugh, his eyes narrowing with amusement.

Everyone else was smiling.

"Actually..." Akriti nodded thoughtfully. "I agree."

Shashi looked at her in disbelief.

"Bhai... not now." She immediately began searching for an excuse. "Actually, I've only started working in Pune this year and now I need to focus more."

Laksha burst out laughing.

"You always suck at lying, Shashi."

Shashi groaned and buried her face in her palms.

Sarthak laughed softly and rubbed her back.

"It'll be good for both of you." His voice softened. "Think of it as a vacation, hmm?"

Shashi slowly lowered her hands and looked at him.

There was something so genuinely hopeful in his expression that she couldn't bring herself to argue.

After a moment, she nodded.

"Okay."

Aakash smiled quietly.

Laksha looked toward him.

"Come, Aakash. You wanted to talk, right?"

Aakash's expression immediately turned serious.

He nodded and stood.

"Yeah."

He glanced once toward Shashi, making sure she was comfortable before following Laksha out of the room.

And as the door closed behind them, the smile on Laksha's face disappeared.

Whatever she had come to India to discuss with him clearly went far beyond a reception party.

Laksha and Aakash sat across from each other in the study, the quiet room carrying a tension that neither of them seemed willing to break first. Aakash looked unusually calm, seated comfortably in his chair with a cup of black coffee between his fingers, taking slow sips as though they were discussing something ordinary. Laksha, on the other hand, had been staring at him for the last few seconds with narrowed eyes, already suspicious of whatever he was about to say. Aakash finally placed his cup down on the table and looked directly at her. "I've decided we'll take her to therapy sessions from tomorrow," he said calmly, as though the decision had already been made.

Laksha's eyebrows immediately pulled together. "It was just a panic attack. Why are you exaggerating so much?" Aakash's expression changed at once. "Exaggerating?" he repeated, his voice carrying disbelief. "I saw her, Laksha. I saw the way she kneeled before her mother's grave and begged her to love her. She was crying so hard she could barely breathe. Her chest was hurting, her voice was gone from screaming, and she eventually collapsed there. And you're telling me I'm exaggerating it?" His jaw clenched as everything he had been holding inside finally began spilling out. "I wish you had done something a long time ago. At least her mental health wouldn't have been ruined to this extent." Laksha stared at him, her own frustration rising. "You're forgetting you're talking to the mafia," she reminded him coldly. Aakash didn't even flinch. "Yes, I am," he replied. "And it doesn't matter to me. I am her husband first, Laksha, and she is my first priority. How could you be so careless with her?"

"What the hell do you know about my life?" Laksha shot back, her teeth clenched so tightly that her jaw ached. She leaned forward, her eyes burning with anger. "Do you even know how difficult it is to earn money? You inherited everything, Aakash." A bitter smile crossed her face. "I had to leave my house and pay for her fees and expenses when I had barely started earning because she refused to take her parents' money. What do you think? I was enjoying ignoring her?" Her voice cracked, the anger beginning to reveal the guilt beneath it. "She's my first child. I love her. I couldn't give her my time because I was busy trying to give her something more precious. I had to make sure she could survive without depending on anyone. And what do you think? That I never cared for her? I always made sure she was safe, even when I wasn't around her. I didn't meet her for six fucking years, Aakash. That wasn't my choice. It was important to teach her how to live alone. I knew it was difficult for her, but she had to learn."

Aakash remained silent for a moment, watching the woman in front of him. Then his voice came quietly, almost painfully. "She wanted love..." He paused, his gaze lowering for a second. "Not lessons." Laksha's hands immediately curled into fists. "You have a great fortune I haven't punched you till now," she muttered, her expression murderous enough to make the threat sound entirely believable. Aakash didn't react to it. Instead, he leaned back slightly and looked at her with an unusual seriousness. "Can you please tell her that she matters to you? For once." Laksha's expression faltered, but Aakash continued before she could answer. "Last night she said she wanted to die." His voice dropped, all the anger disappearing and leaving behind something much more vulnerable. "Do you know how difficult it was for me to even imagine a second without her in this fucking world? My heart ached like anything. All I wanted was to find the people who hurt her and end them." He swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around the edge of the table. "I just want her to heal. And it's her choice. If she denies therapy, I won't take her. But if she even nods..." His gaze hardened with determination. "Then she's taking the first step toward healing."

Laksha stared at him for several seconds, and then, unexpectedly, a small smirk appeared on her lips. "I made the right choice." Aakash raised one eyebrow, clearly confused by the sudden change in her expression. Laksha held his sharp gaze before adding quietly, "I'm glad I married her to you. You're the one for her." Aakash simply stared at her for a moment before shaking his head in amusement. He stood from his chair and brushed his shirt, the previous tension still lingering between them. "Your parents broke her," he said quietly. Laksha's smile vanished. She nodded once. "And they never realised it."

Aakash looked at her for another moment before sitting back down. "Can you please tell me what exactly happened?" Laksha hesitated, but eventually nodded. Her eyes drifted toward the window as she gathered the courage to speak about a childhood neither of them had ever truly escaped. "When she was eight and I was ten, we found out our mother was cheating on our father. It wasn't exactly cheating... there was a misunderstanding involved, but the proof made it look like it was. Shashi always stood by Mumma. She was always ready to fight Dad for her. But one night, Dad was beating Mumma, and Shashi called the police." Laksha's voice became quieter. "She was eight, Aakash. Eight years old. And that was the day she became the villain in our house."

Aakash's expression hardened.

"She doesn't regret it," Laksha continued. "And she shouldn't. Because at the age of eight, she stood against something that was wrong. She did what she thought was right. But Dad never loved her again after that. He simply paid for her expenses until she turned eighteen. That was all she received from him." She swallowed, her fingers twisting together. "She thought Mumma would always be on her side. She believed at least her mother would understand her. But she soon realised she wasn't. Shashi hates being blamed for things she hasn't done, and Mumma blamed her. She was so angry, so hurt, because she felt betrayed by the woman she loved the most."

Laksha rubbed her palms together, her eyes becoming distant as she remembered everything. "After that, home never felt like home to her. It became a cage. She cried at night and smiled during the day. She learned how to hide everything so well that sometimes even I couldn't tell what was happening inside her head. She was betrayed multiple times, not just once, and every betrayal slowly developed this hatred inside her. I couldn't do much. I stayed beside her until I left the house, but even then..." She stopped for a moment before continuing. "Four years ago, we lost our parents in an accident. I didn't inform her immediately because she had her semester examinations. When she finally found out a week later, she just let one tear fall from her eyes."

Aakash's eyes remained fixed on her.

"Not a sob," Laksha whispered. "Not a breakdown. Nothing. She didn't beg God. She didn't cry for days. She simply said she didn't want to go to their graves. And she never did." Her voice broke slightly. "Until last night."

Silence settled over the study.

Laksha rubbed her face, trying to compose herself, but the exhaustion of years seemed to finally catch up with her. "It took away our childhood," she whispered. "I really wanted all of us together. I wanted things to be different. I wanted to protect her, but I just couldn't do everything. Even I have a life of my own..." She laughed bitterly, wiping beneath her eyes. "And if that makes me selfish, then I fucking am selfish."

Aakash watched her quietly.

He didn't tell her she was wrong.

He didn't tell her she was right either.

After everything she had confessed, there was nothing simple enough to say.

He finally stood and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he stopped and looked back at her.

"Take care of yourself," he said quietly.

Laksha didn't answer.

The door closed behind him, leaving her alone in the study with the memories of two little girls who had once wanted nothing more than a home that felt safe.

_______________________________________________________________-___

Author's Note 🤍

Thank you so much for reading. 🥺❤️ If you're enjoying the story, please don't forget to leave a comment and vote. I genuinely want to grow on this platform, and your support means more to me than you probably realise. I don't have many things I'm good at, so writing is something I truly want to hold on to. Please support me and keep encouraging me to continue. 🥹🤍

And... shall I tell you a secret?

HER REFUGE — the story of Elian and Shagun — is actually based on my life.

Of course, I don't have an Elian. 😭 But I am Shagun.

She is the rawest version of me—the parts of myself I've experienced, felt, hidden and carried quietly. Some things in her story may be fictionalised, but the emotions behind them are very real.

And here's another thing I haven't openly said before...

Shashi from Love Beyond the Contract carries my trauma.

Yes.

Some of the things you've read through Shashi's story happened to me too. The pain, the experiences, the emotions, the things that broke her and the things she's still trying to survive...

They aren't completely fictional.

Some of it is still happening.

Maybe that's why writing Shashi feels different to me. I'm not simply writing her pain. In some ways, I'm putting my own pain into words and giving it a character who can finally say the things I couldn't.

So if you ever feel deeply connected to Shashi, maybe that's why.

And if you choose to stay with her journey, thank you. Truly. 🤍

Please vote, comment, and tell me what you think. Your words might be a small comment to you, but to me, they can be the motivation to write another chapter.

Thank you for reading. 🤍