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Nandini’s eyes widened in horror.

Oh no.

She sat up straighter, her heart pounding as she watched the tree sway. Her stomach tightened as the leaves rustled ominously.

No. No. No. Please, please, just this once, behave!

She watched in growing dread as the wind toyed with the branches, teasing, nudging and threatening. She could practically see the inevitable happening before it did. To her absolute horror, one single leaf detached from its branch, twirling downward, spinning in the air in slow motion—heading straight for Shaurya’s pool.

NO!

Without thinking, she lunged forward, arms outstretched, her fingers desperate to catch the traitorous leaf before it could land into enemy territory. Her fingers almost grazed the edge of it. But then, the world tilted. Uh-oh.

Her balance faltered. A gasp tore from her lips as she lost her footing, and before she knew it, she was hanging precariously from the edge of her balcony, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the railing for dear life.

“HELP!” she shrieked, kicking her legs helplessly. “Somebody help.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs, panic clawing at her chest as she kicked her legs in the air, struggling for support that didn’t exist.

Meanwhile, in Villa 11…

Shaurya was sprawled out on his sun-kissed patio, a little away from the pool, dressed casually in a half-sleeved black T-shirt and grey joggers, glancing through his emails.

For once, the morning had been uneventful. No Raichands causing trouble. And then, he heard it.

A scream.

Not just any scream…her scream.

His heart dropped as his head snapped up toward Villa 10, his sharp gaze scanning for the source of the chaos.

And then he saw her.

Dangling from the damn balcony railing like some reckless stuntwoman.

“What the f—”

Laptop forgotten, Shaurya was on his feet in an instant. Without a second thought, he sprinted toward the tree-lined border of their properties.

“NANDINI!” he cursed under his breath, positioning himself directly below her.

Her head whipped towards him, her eyes wide with fear and something else—relief, maybe.

The height between the railing and the ground wasn’t too bad—maybe 10 to 15 feet—but it was high enough to seriously hurt herself if she landed the wrong way.

“Nandini, jump!” he ordered, standing right beneath her.

Nandini’s panic turned into instant outrage.

“What? NO!” she shrieked, still gripping the railing tightly.

Shaurya clenched his jaw. Was she seriously arguing right now?

“Nandini, for God’s sake, just let go! I’ll catch you.”

“Not happening!” she shot back, scowling at him from above. “I won’t take your help.”

Seriously?