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Behind the playful jibes and stubbornness, Nandini Raichand was pure steel. And that strength made something inside Shaurya melt.

“She’ll make it,” he said quietly. “She’s too strong not to.”

Grandpa looked at him, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “You really think so?”

Shaurya didn’t hesitate. “I do. And if she ever needs anything—support, advice, connections—I’ll make sure she gets it.”

Grandpa nodded, visibly touched but said nothing. He looked back at the tree again.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because if there’s anyone who deserves to build her empire, it’s her.”

Shaurya looked back at the balcony. Nandini was still on the call, her voice slightly calmer now, but her shoulders were still tense.

He made a silent promise to himself right there. Whether or not she asked for help, he would always have her back.

He would protect what he loved.

Just like Grandpa said.

CHAPTER 16

Shaurya’s Villa – Two Weeks Later

Two weeks later, Nandini stood outside Shaurya’s villa, holding a small basket lined with a floral cloth. Inside were freshly baked vanilla muffins with choco chips, still warm from the oven. She rang the bell, adjusting the cardigan over her yellow sundress—a soft, breezy piece that danced with the slight morning wind. The door opened with a click, and Meera, Shaurya’s housekeeper, smiled warmly.

“Good morning, beta!”

“Hi, Meera Aunty. I brought these muffins for you both,” Nandini said with a small smile. “They’re still hot. Daadu insisted I deliver them before they became cold.”

“How thoughtful,” Meera replied, stepping aside to let her in. “Come in, come in.”

Nandini stepped into the familiar living room, her eyes instinctively drifting towards the staircase. It had been two weeks ever since their second kiss right here, and yet she hadn’t had a chance to come over again.

But Shaurya? He’d shown up at Raichand Villa without fail, every single day. And in that time, something had shifted. Not just between him and Grandpa, whose bond had grown deeper with each passing day, but between him and her too. Whatever had sparked that night hadn’t faded; it had only deepened,growing slowly and steadily in glances, in unspoken words, and in the quiet ways he wove himself into her world without ever needing permission.

“How’s Mr. Raichand doing now?” Meera asked kindly.

“Much better,” Nandini replied. “Tomorrow, his cast comes off. He’s been counting down the hours. Honestly, if it weren’t for Shaurya, I don’t know if he would’ve recovered this quickly. He’s been so strict about his diet, the massages, the exercises. It’s worked wonders.”

“That it has,” Meera agreed, just as the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Shaurya descended the stairs dressed in a tailored beige suit that fit him like a second skin and a crisp white shirt beneath, immaculately buttoned. His dark hair was perfectly styled, a hint of stubble lining his jaw. He looked powerful and sinfully attractive.

“It’s not just me,” he said. “Webothcontributed to his recovery.”

Nandini opened her mouth to respond, but words escaped her. He looked far too good for her brain to function. Shaurya, on the other hand, wasn’t even pretending to be subtle. His gaze travelled down the length of her, pausing just a moment too long at the hem of her sundress, his eyes darkening with an unreadable expression.

Meera, ever the perceptive one, sensed the current in the air and made a tactful exit. “I’ll just check on the laundry,” she said, disappearing down the hall.

The moment she left, Nandini stood a little frozen, suddenly unsure whether it was the dress or his gaze that made her knees wobble. Before she could say a word, Shaurya closed the distance between them. His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, his palm settling against her cheek. He leaned in closer and kissed her—a soft, swift smooch. It was somethingachingly tender, but enough to make her eyes flutter shut and leave her breathless.

“You in that sundress,” he murmured, “looking like sunshine... is pure torture.”

She gasped softly, pulling away slightly and glancing around. “You can’t just kiss me like that. What if Meera Aunty sees?”

“Even if she did, she wouldn’t tell a soul. I trust her.”

Still flushed, she held out the box of muffins to him. “Here. Vanilla muffins with choco chips. Fresh from the oven.”