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Down the stairs. Across the silent hallway. Ignoring Lakshmi Aunty’s faint humming from the kitchen. She barely registered anything around her. She didn’t even stop to inform anyone.

Fortunately, Grandpa was out, visiting his friends for their evening chess game. She flung the French doors open and sprinted across the garden pathway that connected the two villas.

Her fists banged urgently on Shaurya’s front door. Meera opened it, startled by the relentless knocking.

“Nandini? What—?”

But Nandini didn’t answer. She brushed past her and ran straight to the gym.

Inside, Shaurya drew back, ready to land another brutal punch, when Nandini suddenly threw herself between him and the bag. Terrified, she grabbed his arm with both hands and pulled him back.

“Stop it!” she cried, breathless, her eyes wide and teary as they fell on his bloodied hands. “What the hell are you doing to yourself?”

For a moment, he just stared at her, too stunned to react. Meera rushed in behind her, worry etched across her face. “Nandini, what’s going on?”

“Get me the first aid kit!” Nandini shouted, not taking her eyes off Shaurya.

Meera, taking in the scene, quickly nodded and dashed out.

Shaurya jerked his arm free, anger lacing his words. “Why are you here? Go back to your Rohit.”

She glared at him, grabbed his wrist again, and dragged him towards the couch. “Shut up and sit down,” she snapped, practically shoving him into the seat before sitting beside him.

Meera returned with the first aid kit, and Nandini grabbed the kit from her hands. “Thank you,” she said.

Meera hesitated, unsure, but then slipped out, understanding they needed this moment alone.

Shaurya’s eyes didn’t leave Nandini as she began cleaning his wounds, her fingers shaking slightly. He watched her work in silence for a few moments, torn between pain and frustration. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, he pulled back slightly.

“How could you take him to your room, Nandini? Only I have the right to be there. That room is mine. Ours. That room… that bed… it’s not for anyone else to see. How could you do that?”

She looked up, fire flashing in her eyes as she grabbed his hand again with trembling fingers.

“I didn’t,” she snapped. “Icouldn’t. I stopped at the stairs. And before you call him‘mine’again, let me tell you something—” she paused, her breath hitching. “I told him I can’t marry him.”

Shaurya stilled. The rage in him evaporated in an instant, replaced by stunned silence. “You… what?”

“I said no,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

His face softened, a flicker of hope blooming through him. He reached up slowly to touch her cheek, but she flinched and swatted his hand away.

“That doesn’t mean I’m forgiving you,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks now. “It doesn’t mean I’m marryingyou. I hate you, Shaurya. I hate you more for hurting me… and now for hurtingyourselflike this.”

He said nothing. Just looked at her.

She couldn’t even bring herself to wipe her tears. He did it for her, gently brushing them away with his free hand. And then, in the next breath, he pulled her to him.

She collapsed into his embrace without resistance, burying her face in his chest. Her fingers clutched at his vest, gripping the fabric tightly, knowing that even the thought of letting him go might break her all over again.

CHAPTER 20

Shaurya’s Villa – Few minutes later

Nandini tightened the last loop of the bandage over Shaurya’s knuckles, careful not to press too hard on the bruised skin beneath. He hadn’t flinched once through the entire process. Not when she dabbed the antiseptic, and not even when she wiped the blood. But his silence… it was louder than any cry of pain. It pressed into the room like a storm waiting to break.

For a long time, the only sound between them was the soft ticking of the wall clock and the low hum of the air conditioner.

Then, finally, his voice broke the stillness.