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It was from Rhea.

He stared at the screen, confusion clouding his features as he read the message.

‘Congratulations on your wedding, Shaurya. I’m truly happy for you. Can we talk? Please. You won’t hear from me again after this, I promise.’

Shaurya blinked.

Why had Rhea messaged him? Why now?

He glanced back at Nandini, who was still speaking softly to the mango tree. He stepped away quietly, giving her that moment and space.

The anger or hurt he’d once felt at the thought of speaking to his ex-wife had faded long back and was replaced by something calmer. Something akin to acceptance.

He dialled her number.

“Thank you for calling,” Rhea said softly.

“What did you want to talk about?” Shaurya asked.

“I saw your wedding pictures on social media. Someone had tagged you both. You look really happy.” She paused for a moment to steady her breath. “Nandini is… incredible, Shaurya. She’s smart and fierce. Stronger than I ever was. She stood up for you in a way I never did. She knows how to fight for her love, unlike me.”

Shaurya said nothing. Just listened.

“I see things now,” she said quietly. “All of it. The mistakes I made… the things I never owned. My betrayal, my pride, myselfishness. You never deserved any of it, Shaurya. If Nandini hadn’t shown me the mirror and made me confront myself the other day, when she came to see me for contract signing, I might never have realised any of this. She made me see the truth. You truly deserved better than me.”

He exhaled, the tension blooming in his chest even as peace followed it.

“I’m so, so sorry,” she said finally. “I know it’s too late. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world. We both do. And we’ve found it in our respective partners. I’m happy for us.”

His reply was slow, kind, and final. “It’s over, Rhea. We were never meant to be. We both deserve someone who loves us back. Let’s close this chapter now. No anger, no regrets. I wish you peace.”

He let out a deep breath, the weight of old grief lifting from his chest. After a brief pause, she spoke again.

“You are right. This hatred ends here, and I wish you all the best in your life,” she said. “Goodbye, Shaurya.”

He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Goodbye Rhea,” he whispered, then ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

Although Nandini was still standing under the mango tree, talking to her Daadi, her senses were attuned to Shaurya. She didn’t need to overhear his conversation to know who had been on the other end of the call. The change in his posture told her everything. She knew it was Rhea.

Just as Shaurya’s call ended, Nandini’s own phone buzzed with a message. She glanced down at the screen.

‘Hi, Nandini. Congratulations. I just wanted to say that I’m happy for you. Truly. Shaurya found the right partner this time. You both deserve this love. Take care of him. And thank you for showing me what I did not realise or perhaps was tooproud to realise in the past. I wish you both a beautiful and happy married life – Rhea.’

A soft smile curved Nandini’s lips. This was closure. The kind she never expected to receive, yet secretly hoped for before stepping into her new life with Shaurya.

She looked up to find Shaurya already walking towards her, his stride relaxed and lighter, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“So? Done talking to Daadi, or is there more gossip left for the night?” he asked.

She giggled, her eyes twinkling. “We’re done for now. And the rest... later. I’m sure Daadi will want a full report on how our night went.”

Without missing a beat, Shaurya bent down and scooped her into his arms.

“Well, sweetheart,” he murmured with a smirk, “for that to happen, we need tostartthe night first. And trust me, my patience is barely hanging by a thread.”

Shaurya carried Nandini in his arms and stepped across the threshold of his villa. Their lips met in a slow, melting kiss as he walked through the softly lit hallway, with Nandini’s arms wrapped around him, every touch unhurried, every breath quieter than a heartbeat.

When they stepped further into the living room, he finally set her down. Nandini halted in her tracks, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Fairy lights hung from the ceiling, their soft glow dancing across the polished wooden floor. Scented candles flickered like tiny suns, their fragrance wafting across the room. And in the centre of it all stood the dining table—the very place where they’d shared their New Year’s kiss. It was now transformed into a romantic tableau.