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Shaurya didn’t push. “Lakshmi told me what happened with your grandfather last night. I knew he wouldn’t accept this easily. I was prepared for resistance. But Nandini… we’re going to fix this. I promise.”

She tried to speak, but her throat felt raw. When she spoke, it was a broken whisper between tears. “How?”

There was a pause. She heard movement on the other end.

“I’m switching to video,” he said. “I need to see you.”

“No,” she murmured quickly, her voice shaking. “I can’t. I don’t want you to see me like this. All broken and shattered.”

“Broken or not,” he said gently, “I have every right to see the woman I love. To stand with her when she’s falling apart. To be her strength when she has none left.”

Her sobs deepened at his words. Then, after a long, reluctant breath, she accepted the video call request with trembling fingers.

The screen lit up, and there he was… Shaurya. He was dressed in a simple maroon T-shirt, his hair slightly tousled, anda hint of stubble on his jaw. It was unusual to see him like this. Normally, by this time in the morning, he was already in a suit, suave and ready to begin his workday from home. But not today. He had cancelled everything. Today, he was only hers.

His eyes softened the moment he saw her.

Nandini sat curled up on her bed, wrapped in a blanket like armour, as though trying to shield herself against the world. Her face was pale, her cheeks stained with the remnants of dried tears. Dark circles bloomed under her eyes, and her usual glow was nowhere to be found. Her hair was a tangled mess, her posture small and fragile.

Shaurya’s heart sank. “God, Nandini…”

She didn’t try to fix herself, didn’t try to look away. If anything, she seemed numb to her own appearance. She just watched him with glassy eyes, her lips quivering as she held the phone.

“I’m going to talk to him,” Shaurya said, more determined now, watching the pain on her face deepen. “Your grandfather. He’s heard your side. Now he needs to hear mine.”

“No, Shaurya,” she said, wiping her eyes. “You don’t know him the way I do. He’s not going to change his mind. He’s... he’s too stubborn.”

“Then you should know me by now,” he replied with a faint, defiant smile. “I’m the antidote to his stubbornness.”

She let out a tearful laugh, bitter and soft. “He’s forbidden me from seeing you.”

Shaurya let out a frustrated sigh. “Then I’ll find a way. I’m not staying away from you, Nandini. Not when I know what we have is real. Until he accepts our love, I’ll keep showing up, one way or another. We will not give up on our love just because he is standing in the way.”

She shook her head slowly. “You make it sound so easy.”

“I don’t know if it’s easy,” he said. “But I do know one thing. I’m not losing you. I’ve already lost too much in my life. Not this time. I’ll fight for you, Nandini. Whatever it takes.”

His words settled into her like a balm, soothing the tightness in her chest just a bit. She drew a deep breath.

“You just focus on your work,” he added, reassuring her. “Leave the rest to me. I’ll fix this.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

He frowned.

“If you’re going to say I love you in that weak, teary little voice,” he teased, “I swear I’ll come over right now and kiss the hell out of you… just to give you the strength to say it louder.”

A real smile curved her lips for the first time in hours. “I love you, Shaurya,” she said again, this time clearer, stronger.

“That’s more like it,” he said, grinning. “But I might still show up… just for that kiss.” He gave a playful wink.

“No way,” she laughed softly. “Daadu is home.”

“I can sneak past him,” he offered. “He won’t even know I was there.”

She shook her head, her voice calm now. “No more secrets. No more hiding. If you’re going to come here and kiss me, I want it to be in front of Daadu, with his knowledge and his acceptance.”

Shaurya paused, then smiled.