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“Wait, what are you doing?” she cried out, trying to pull back.

He didn’t stop walking.

“What needs to be done,” he said firmly.

He led her across the room, his hand still wrapped gently around hers. Just as they reached the doorway, he paused and turned to look at her fully, his grip loosening.

“I need you to stay out of this, just for a moment,” he said softly. “Because he’s not thinking straight, Nandini. He’s acting out of fear. And I won’t let that fear ruin something beautiful between us.”

Her lips parted, but no words came.

“He needs to hear the truth,” Shaurya said quietly. “And it can’t happen with you caught in the middle, trying to protect us both. You’ve done enough of that already.”

He reached out, and his thumb brushed a stray tear that had slipped from her cheek. “Let me fight for us,” he whispered.

And before she could say anything, he gently guided her out of the room.

“Stay here.”

Then, without waiting for a response, he shut the door from inside and turned the lock.

The sound of the lock snapping into place made Nandini gasp. She stared at the closed door, frozen for a second, and then panic took over.

“Shaurya!” she shouted, banging her fists against the wood. “Open the door! What are you doing?”

The commotion drew Varun, Lakshmi, and Meera towards Grandpa’s room. They all froze when they saw Nandini frantically pounding on the locked door, her voice choked with fear.

Inside, Grandpa’s voice roared. “Have you lost your mind? Open this door right now!”

But Shaurya stood still, facing him head-on.

“The door will open,” he said calmly, “only after you hear me out. Every word I have to say.”

Shaurya stood facing Grandpa, who looked like a volcano ready to erupt. His fists were clenched, his eyes stormy, his pride wounded. Nandini’s frantic knocking continued behind the closed door, but neither man moved.

“You’ve crossed every damn line,” Grandpa growled. “How dare you lock me in my own room?”

“Easy, I don’t want your blood pressure shooting up again.”

“Stop acting like you care. I told you I don’t want to hear a single word from you!” he shouted, his chest rising with anger. “You and Nandini betrayed me. I thought you were coming to Raichand Villa to look after an old man with a fractured ankle.If I’d known you were here for my granddaughter, then I would never have opened the doors of this house or my heart for you.”

His voice cracked, but he didn’t stop. “You deserved to remain the neighbour I once resented. The man I argued with over that mango tree. You always thought that I fought hard for that tree. Then imagine to what extent I’ll go to protect my granddaughter from someone like you.”

“Neither of us betrayed you,” Shaurya replied. “And I came here with nothing but good intentions. I truly wanted to help you. What happened between Nandini and me… it wasn’t planned. It just… happened.”

“You brainwashed her,” Grandpa accused vehemently.

Shaurya took a step closer, his eyes blazing. “Brainwashed?” he scoffed. “She’s twenty-five, Grandpa. She’s smart as hell, has built her own startup from the ground up, and negotiates deals with investors twice her age. Do you really thinkanyonecan brainwash or manipulate her?”

Grandpa went quiet, but the fury in his eyes hadn’t dimmed.

“You know your granddaughter better than anyone. She’s lived with you most of her life. You’ve raised her and seen her grow into this amazing, strong, capable woman she is today. You know she doesn’t get swayed easily. You know she makes her own decisions. So do tell me, how can you believe I brainwashed her, when you know exactly the kind of woman she is?”

“And why would I even manipulate or brainwash her?” Shaurya continued. “Do you think I was looking for this? You think I was ready to fall in love again? Ready to let someone in and dream about a future after everything I went through?”

He paused, exhaling sharply before he spoke again.

“I wasn’t ready. Not even close. I was scared…terrifiedof opening up again, of making promises I might not be able to keep. Just the thought of stepping into a new relationship and all that it demanded... it scared the hell out of me. Because I’dalready failed once. And I didn’t know if I could survive failing again.”