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“I know he’s hiding here,” I declare, determination fuelling my courage.

The air is thick with tension, and as I walk in, every man in Vishnu’s team looks at me in stunned silence. They know why I’m here. They’ve been expecting this.

“Vishnu!” I call out, my voice echoing in the quiet space. “Vishnu, I know you are here! Come out.”

“Simran, stop—” Abhay begins, stepping in behind me, but I cut him off with a sharp look.

“Who are you to stop me?” My voice rises, barely holding back the anger that’s been bubbling under the surface for days now. “This is between me and him. And I don’t want anyone coming between us.”

Abhay opens his mouth to argue, but I don’t give him a chance.

“I’m repeating this for the last time,” I say, my voice trembling with fury. “I want to talk to Vishnu. Stop playing gatekeeper. Just let me see him.”

Abhay’s expression remains impassive as he replies. “EvenI’mrepeating myself. Until Vishnu himself wants to talk to you, all your attempts to reach him are futile.”

His words hit me like a slap. My attempts—futile? Is that what this is to them—a game where they get to decide when I can talk to the father of my child? I take a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.

Fine. Arguing with Abhay isn’t going to work. I know Vishnu is here. He has to be. I turn away from Abhay and face the silent room once more. All of Vishnu’s men stare at me, their expressions unreadable. But I don’t care.

“Vishnu!” I call out, my voice loud and firm. “I know you can hear me. Stop hiding and talk to me. I’m not leaving until you do.”

Silence.

My eyes scan the room, searching for any sign of movement, any indication that Vishnu might emerge. But there’s nothing.

Determined, I walk across the room and open the first door, only to find an empty office. Frustrated, I slam the door shut.

“Hiding from me isn’t going to help either of us,” I continue, desperation creeping into my voice. “Come and talk it out with me. You’re angry and hurt that I kept Veer hidden from you, then vent it out on me. Talk to me. Just stop this stupid game of hide and seek!”

I swing open the second door—again nothing. The frustration is mounting, pushing me to the edge.

My hands are trembling as I grab the back of the nearest chair, gripping it tightly to steady myself. The room is so quiet, the silence almost deafening. I look around at the men—his men—all of them staring back at me with those blank, emotionless faces. No one dares to say a word.

The realisation strikes me like a sudden jolt: Vishnu’s not going to come out. He’s too stubborn, too hurt, and too damn proud. My presence alone isn’t enough to draw him out.

Fine.

I let go of the chair, my shoulders slumping in defeat. I give one last look at the silent room and march out, the anger still simmering in my veins. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. But for now, I need to regroup and figure out a way to reach him before it’s too late.

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

The third day feels unbearable, suffocating, as if I’m trapped in a nightmare I can’t wake up from. Sitting in my boutique, I pretend to work, but all I can think about is Vishnu—hiding from me, zoning me out completely.

How long can this go on? How long will he stay away, leaving me in this constant state of dread, not knowing what’s next for me... for Veer... for us? It feels like I’m living on the edge of a cliff, poised to fall but never quite tipping over.

I can’t stop replaying the look in his eyes when the truth about Veer came out. His face bore a look of utter devastation, as though I had killed something inside him that day. Maybe I did. Maybe I broke something between us that can never be repaired. This realisation makes it hard for me to breathe.

The last two days have been pure hell. I haven’t even been able to focus on being a mother to Veer. Every time I hold him, my mind drifts back to Vishnu—wondering where he is and what he’s thinking. Does he hate me? Of course, he must hate me. How could he not? I betrayed him in the worst possible way. Will he ever be able to forgive me?

I don’t even know what I would say if he suddenly appeared in front of me. Am I ready to tell my side of the story? Am I strong enough to withstand the full force of his anger, his hurt, his disappointment? I want to confront him, to get over this maddening silence, but this mental torture he’s subjecting me to is unbearable.

I can’t keep living like this. I can’t stand this constant ache, this uncertainty about what’s going to happen next. Will he come back? Or will he disappear forever, leaving me to carry the burden of this deceit alone?

I need to know.

The suffocation becomes too much. I need space, a breath of air, anything to escape this pressure cooker of emotions. I make my way to the washroom, acutely aware of Abhay’s watchful gaze on me. Damn. Even this small act of privacy now feels invaded. I bet this are Vishnu’s orders, no doubt.

In the washroom, I splash cold water on my face, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, the water droplets trickling down my chin. Who is this woman looking back at me? A liar? A coward? Or is it just someone desperately trying to make things right?