AUTHOR'S POV

"Should I drop you home, Mrs. Singhania?"

Rudra stepped out in front of her, forcing Saanvi to stop. Her heels clicked to a halt, eyes narrowing at the sight of him blocking her way.

He gave a slow, smug smile.

Saanvi exhaled sharply.

"Relax, I'm not kidnapping you,"

"Believe me, you never could."

Her hand pressed firmly against his chest, ready to push him away.

But his hand caught hers, gently, yet deliberately.

She froze. Her eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you doing?" she snapped.

He didn’t speak right away. His gaze dropped, lingering for a second too long like he wasn’t seeing her hand, but feeling something else entirely.

She paused, eyes narrowing as something beneath her palm caught her attention. His chest, his heartbeat was pounding hard, like it was trying to break through his ribs.

Her brows lifted, confused. "Why is your heart always racing? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with a normal heart rate." Her mind flashed back every hospital visit, every close moment, every time she’d been near him. It was always the same.

His grip softened, thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "A steady heart was never meant for moments like this... not when it's you this close. As long as you're near breathing, touching, existing in my orbit, my pulse will always betray me. I promise... My heartbeat will never fall silent, not when it’s you who sets its rhythm."

She held his gaze for a few seconds. “One day, I’ll see your quiet heart and I’ll be the reason why.”

He tilted his head, a slow smile curling at the corner of his lips. “Alright,” he said, “we’ll see.”

She yanked her hand back without another word, stormed past him, unlocked her car, and slid in.

“It’s late. Let me drive you home,” he called, leaning toward the half open window. “Please.”

She met his gaze, held it for a beat then raised her middle finger and drove off without a word.

Rudra stayed still, watching her tail lights disappear. He shook his head with a smile, pulled his car keys from his pocket, and slid into the driver’s seat following her at a careful distance.

When she finally pulled into her driveway and the gate opened to let her in, Rudra parked outside for a moment, watching the house silently through his windshield. He watched her car vanish inside, the house looming quiet and dark beyond the gates.

Then he turned the key and drove off, his headlights fading into the dark.

✦✦✦✦

Saanvi opened the door to the house and froze. It was all dark no lights, no sound. Her fist clenched as she swallowed nervously.

“Maa… Papa?” she called out softly.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, but suddenly the lights flicked on.

“Surprise!”

She flinched at the sound and blinked at the sudden brightness. In front of her stood Adrika and Abhiraj, smiling beside a decorated table with a cake. Balloons and streamers hung all around the living room.

Adrika’s smile faltered slightly as she stepped toward her.

“Saanvi beta, are you okay?” she asked gently.

Saanvi nodded and smiled. “Yeah… just didn’t expect this.”

“Okay, now you both come on. Let’s cut the cake!” Abhiraj said enthusiastically.

Saanvi chuckled. “Cake? For what?”

Adrika took her hand and led her to the couch, making her sit beside Abhiraj.

“To celebrate the award you received at the hospital,” Adrika beamed as she lit the candle.

Saanvi giggled. “But that was two days ago.”

Abhiraj scoffed. “You stupid nurse, you didn’t have time. That’s why we’re celebrating late.”

Saanvi glared. “At least stop calling me ‘stupid nurse’ now. I literally received an award.”

Abhiraj smirked. “Never.”

“Okay, you two enough,” Adrika interrupted, smiling as she handed Saanvi the knife. “Come on, cut the cake.”

Saanvi smiled, blew out the candle, and began cutting the cake as Adrika and Abhiraj clapped.

She picked up a slice and fed it to Adrika, who returned the gesture, then turned to Abhiraj and did the same. He fed her a piece too.

As Saanvi reached for another slice, her mouth already watering, Abhiraj quickly grabbed her wrist.

“You’re not getting more cake.”

She scrunched her nose. “Why not?”

“Because you literally ate an entire cake two days ago. It’s not good for your health, so stop,” Abhiraj said as he moved the cake out of her reach.

Saanvi looked at it longingly, her eyes wide and pleading. “Maa…”

Adrika pressed her lips together, torn. “Sorry, beta. I can’t help this time. He’s actually right.”

Saanvi sighed in defeat.

Abhiraj returned and saw the two women chatting when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered the call.

“Let them in,” Abhiraj said and cut the call.

Adrika looked at him, a visible tension settling in her expression. Her fingers fidgeted slightly, and her eyes searched his face. Abhiraj blinked at her, understanding exactly what that look meant.

“What happened?” Saanvi asked, her brows drawing together as she looked between them.

Adrika hesitated. “Uh… Saanvi, actually—there’s someone who wants to meet you.” Her voice came out low, uncertain, and her heartbeat felt like it echoed in her ears.

Saanvi tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with concern. “Why are you tensed, Maa? And who wants to meet me?”

Abhiraj didn’t answer her immediately. He reached out and gently held her hand, pulling her up from the couch with a kind of firmness that made her even more confused. Adrika stood up beside them, her lips pressed into a tight line, like she was forcing herself to stay calm.

The doorbell rang.

Saanvi turned to look back as the house help walked over to open the door.

“Saanvi.” Her name came softly from behind. She turned back to face Abhiraj, who now looked more serious than she had seen him all evening.

“We’re with you, okay?” he said, cupping her cheeks with both hands, his thumbs lightly brushing her skin.

She stared at him, confused, searching his face for some clue, but he wasn’t saying more.

Adrika’s eyes were already fixed on the door behind Saanvi. Abhiraj looked past her too. A silence stretched between them.

Saanvi turned around.

Her eyes landed on the people standing near the door. Anubhav. Pranay. Vikram.

Her body went rigid. The shine in her eyes dulled as if someone had snatched it out. She blinked, hard, and looked back at Abhiraj.

“Why are they here?”

Adrika tried stepping in. “Saanvi beta, please—”

“No Maa, please.” Her voice cracked as she snapped, eyes already welling. “Don’t.”

They stood a little distance away. All three of them. Watching her.

Anubhav took a hesitant step forward. “Saanvi beta, just listen—”

“Oh for the sake of Mumma, stop calling me beta!” Her voice rose suddenly. She turned to him, “You don’t get to use that word anymore.”

Anubhav flinched, visibly shaken.

“Why are you all here?” Her voice broke again. “Can’t you just let me live in peace? For once?” Her chest rose and fell with every breath. “Oh of course, why would you?” She scoffed bitterly, eyes locked on Anubhav. “You got your satisfaction seeing me cry, didn’t you, Mr. Malhotra?”

“No,” Anubhav whispered, shaking his head. “Saanvi, don’t say that—”

“Oh please,” she cut him off before he could even try. “Now don’t stand here and act like a victim. Do you even know how I’ve felt all these years?” She took a shaky step closer, tears finally slipping free. “Did you ever ask how I was doing in New York? No. Just a few formality calls here and there. Like I was some stranger you felt obligated to check on. Not your daughter.”

She sniffled, trying to breathe but the words kept tumbling out, louder with every second. “Did you ever come to see me? Not once. Did you ever ask how I’m surviving there? Alone. Afraid. On my own. You never did. You never even tried. Not once.”

Her voice cracked as her body shook, and she stepped right up to him.

“How could you?” she whispered, broken. “How could you just... abandon me like that?”

Anubhav’s eyes welled up as he looked away. A single tear slipped down his cheek.

“You used to love me so much…” she whispered again, the sound barely leaving her throat. “Then what changed? What did I do?” Her lips quivered. “What was my fault? That you suddenly stopped being my father?”

She stood there in front of him, her face stained with tears, breathing uneven, chest tight like her heart couldn’t take any more.

“I needed you…” her voice cracked one last time, barely audible. “After Mumma… I needed you. I don’t know what happened that day, what made you suddenly do this… what changed overnight? What turned you cold towards your own daughter the daughter you once held like your world?” Her throat tightened as she met his gaze. “I used to be your princess.”

Anubhav’s lips quivered. His eyes welled with tears as he looked at her. “You’re still my princess, Saanvi.”

She let out a dry, bitter chuckle, “No, Dad… I’m not your princess anymore. I became a warrior. And you… you made me become one.”

Adrika’s tears spilled quietly, her body instinctively stepping forward, but Abhiraj gently caught her hand and gave a slight shake of his head. He knew this was Saanvi’s moment.

Anubhav looked down, his chest shaking with sobs he couldn’t contain. He had no words just grief that he had buried for years now crawling back and suffocating him.

“You see these people here?” She turned slightly and pointed behind her. “They became my parents. They gave me the love and safety I begged you for. They picked me up when you left me to drown in silence.”

She turned and pointed at Abhiraj. “This man right here… he’s the father I searched for in you. He stood by me, scolded me, protected me… everything I wished you had done, but you didn’t. You chose distance. You chose silence.”

Anubhav could barely look up now, but her words didn’t stop. If anything, they cut deeper.

She looked at him. And her heart twisted seeing her father standing there, barely holding himself together, but she didn’t let herself soften.

“Dad,” she said calmly. He raised his head at the sound of that word, maybe hoping this was his chance to explain, to reach her. But what followed shattered that hope.

“Only if Mumma would have been here…” her voice cracked, but not from weakness it was a crack from holding back too much for too long, “I wouldn’t have had to go through any of this.” She stared at him, straight into his soul, her eyes cold, unforgiving. “I used to wonder why it had to be her. Why she had to be the one to leave. Why not you? Why didn’t you die instead? Because whether you live or not it doesn’t matter to me. Your presence doesn’t bring comfort. It doesn’t mean anything. You could be standing right in front of me or be buried six feet under… it would feel the same.”

He flinched, his mouth parted to speak, but the words never made it out.

“I would’ve rather grown up as an orphan than grow up with a father like you,” she said with such cruel honesty that even Adrika looked away, tears quietly rolling down her cheek. “You were supposed to protect me… but you abandoned me. You were supposed to fight for us… but you turned your back.”

Her voice hardened further, every word a direct strike. “You failed as a father. But that wasn’t enough, right? You failed as a husband too. You let her fade away. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Anubhav stood frozen. Her words didn’t just break him they shattered every wall he had built to shield himself. His legs gave out slightly as he stumbled back holding his chest, struggling to stay upright.

“Saanvi, enough!” Vikram’s voice thundered across the room as he held onto Anubhav’s shoulder, steadying him.

“Do you even know what happened that day—” Vikram stepped forward, but Anubhav’s hand shot out and gripped his wrist.

“No,” Anubhav whispered. “Don’t.”

But Saanvi was already glaring at Vikram. “Shut up! I don’t care about your explanations. I don’t care what any of you went through,” she snapped. “Can’t believe you’re the same man who used to hold me after Mumma died… who stayed up till I slept because I wouldn’t stop crying at night. You changed too.”

Vikram’s chest tightened. He closed his eyes for a second, “And for that… I’m sorry,” he said quietly, barely above a whisper.

Saanvi looked at him, stunned not by the apology, but by how little it meant.

“Your sorry?” she repeated, her voice cracking with disbelief. “You think a sorry can undo all of it, bhai?”

Vikram looked at her, but didn’t speak. He couldn’t.

She stepped closer, her hands trembling as she grabbed his shirt, fisting the fabric at his chest like she was holding on to the last threads of their bond. “Why did you have to change, bhai? You used to protect me. You were my first best friend, remember? You promised to always be there.”

Her voice broke as her forehead leaned against his chest, her sob muffled by the fabric. “Then why didn’t you stop him from sending me away?” Her fists tightened. “Why did you let him do that to me? Why did you stand behind him when you knew I was breaking?”

Vikram’s lips parted, but he couldn’t form the words. A cry rose in his throat and he bit it back, placing a trembling hand on her head.

“I’m sorry,” he managed again, voice barely stable. “I’m so sorry.”

She lifted her head and looked up at him. Her eyes were red, her face streaked with tears. “I started hating you, bhai,” she said softly, almost like a confession.

Vikram’s eyes filled. A tear slipped down before he could stop it.

“When we were kids, I used to yell ‘I hate you’ when you ate my chocolate or teased me. But I never meant it back then.”

She pulled back slowly, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, her expression hardening.

“This time… I do.”

And just like that, she stepped away from him.

"Even you started hating me.” Saanvi’s gaze locked onto Pranay. He stood still, silent.

“You used to love me too… you never treated me any less than Navya. I was just as much your daughter,” she said, her tone heavy with disbelief. “You were always there. You were always happy when I came running to you.” Her head tilted slightly as if trying to make sense of him. “But then… you changed too.”

Pranay’s eyes dropped for a second.

She tilted her head slightly, blinking as a fresh wave of pain surged through her chest. “I thought… when I’d come back to India, you’d be the happiest person to see me. You always were. Your arms were the safest place, remember? But you weren’t. You were the first one who asked me to go back.”

Her gaze shifted away, then returned to him with disbelief. “You forced me to go back to New York. You didn’t even ask how I was doing. You didn’t care. You just wanted me gone. You tried to stop me from going to Varanasi too… you said everything you could just to keep me from it. Is this how much you hate me?”

“Saanvi…” Pranay finally said, voice soft, hesitant. “I don’t hate you, beta.”

“Yes, you do!” she screamed suddenly, her voice cracking through the air. “You all do! You never wanted me here. You all made me feel like a burden, like my presence was something to fix or get rid of. You tried manipulating me into going back!” She gasped for air rubbing her chest.

“The world always made me believe I was hard to love… and I survived that. I convinced myself it was just the world being cruel. But when my own family...you all, proved it right… it shattered the last bit of hope I had left.”

Her shoulders trembled as tears slipped down, but her voice only turned colder.

“And let’s not forget the ultimate betrayal.” She turned to Anubhav. Her eyes burned into him. “My own father...You made a deal with me like I was a damn asset. You married me off to Rudra like I was a bargaining chip for your crumbling company.”

Her finger pointed at him, shaking with fury. “You gave away your daughter like she was nothing!”

Abhiraj, who had been silently witnessing everything, frowned in confusion as Saanvi’s words sank in.

Anubhav stood quiet. Like stone. He didn’t defend himself. Didn’t deny it.

Pranay and Vikram turned to him, their silence louder than anything Saanvi could scream.

“Dad,” Vikram said quietly, walking up to Anubhav. “Let’s go.”

Anubhav’s eyes stayed on Saanvi.

“Dad, please.” Vikram repeated. His voice cracked this time. “Let’s go.”

With slow steps, the three of them turned and walked out. The sound of the door closing echoed through the room like a dull thud against her chest.

Saanvi didn’t say a word. Her eyes were still fixed on the door even after it closed behind them. Her lashes clung to tears she refused to let fall again.

She slowly turned around, her throat burning, her chest hollow. Her gaze found Abhiraj and Adrika.

"You could’ve just told me if you wanted me to leave."

Adrika stepped closer without a second thought and pulled her into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around her.

“Never. Never say that.” She whispered against her hair, her hand gently sliding over her head.

But Saanvi didn’t respond. She pulled away from the hug, eyes still downcast. “I want to be alone.” Before either of them could say anything, she turned and rushed upstairs.

Abhiraj watched her until she disappeared from sight.

“I told you this was a bad idea.” Adrika turned to him.

Abhiraj exhaled deeply, “I know. But it was needed.”

“Needed?” Adrika snapped, disbelief in her eyes. “She needed that kind of pain? That kind of crying?”

“Letting it out, yes. It was needed.” He looked up at the staircase again as if still seeing her there. “Adrika… for eighteen years she kept everything bottled inside. Eighteen years of silence, of swallowing every damn question she wanted to scream at them. I’ve seen it. You’ve seen it. She flinches at their names, stops herself every time she’s about to say something. She’s lived in the shadow of their absence.”

His voice dropped, more to himself now. “And I don’t care about those Malhotras, not one bit. But I care about Saanvi. And today, she finally asked what she always wanted to. She didn’t hold back. She spilled it all. And maybe it shattered her, but she got closure. At least now the silence won’t eat her alive.”

Adrika crossed her arms, not convinced. “But we could’ve told her. Prepared her.”

He turned to her. “Do you really think she would’ve gone through with it if we did? If you sat her down and said ‘Saanvi, your family’s downstairs, go and confront them’? She would’ve shut off instantly. You know her. She would’ve built another wall, walked away like always.”

Adrika looked away, eyes blinking back the weight in them.

“She needed the anger. The suddenness. That raw hurt. It pushed her over the edge she’s been dancing around for years,” Abhiraj said quietly. “And maybe it wasn’t clean or gentle or easy but she needed to burn everything down to finally breathe again.”

“Okay, but she’s hurt and upset.” Adrika said softly, rubbing her arm, watching the staircase like Saanvi might come back down.

“I know.” Abhiraj ran a hand over his face, rubbing his temples as he exhaled heavily.

Saanvi locked the door behind her and walked straight into the bathroom. Her hands trembled slightly as she wiped the tears off her face. She leaned against the sink, staring at herself in the mirror eyes red, cheeks blotched, breath still shaky. She splashed cold water and stood still as it dripped down her chin. Then she dried her face, walked out, and changed into her night clothes in silence.

She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her temples.

Her phone buzzed.

She frowned and picked it up, her eyebrows pulling closer when she saw a message from an unknown number.

Hey Mrs. Singhania.

Her expression soured.

Who are you? How did you get my number?

The typing dots appeared instantly.

Who else can text you at this hour other than your husband, pearl?

She scoffed out loud, glaring at the screen.

Saanvi: I blocked you.

Rudra: I know. That’s why I got a new number.

Saanvi: You fucker. You’re getting blocked again.

Rudra: Wait! It’s important.

She raised an eyebrow.

Saanvi: What?

Rudra: I saw a pick-up line and thought of trying it on you.

She rolled her eyes.

Rudra: Are you my phone battery?

Saanvi: What??

Rudra: Because I panic when you’re low and I stare at you all day.

"...Is that supposed to impress me?" she muttered,

She stared at the screen in dead silence, then scrunched her nose in complete disbelief.

Saanvi: It would be better if you just shut your mouth.

Rudra: Kindly. With your lips.🥰

Saanvi: With duct tape, fucker.🖕🏻

She dropped the phone beside her, face twisted in a mix of exhaustion and secondhand embarrassment. She let out another scoff, tugging a pillow under her arms.

“Is that even a pick-up line?” she muttered under her breath.

She closed her eyes for a second.

Almost an hour later, a knock interrupted the silence.

Saanvi placed the file on the desk, stretched her arms, and opened the door only to find Abhiraj standing there with that suspiciously innocent face.

She raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Uh... let’s go.” He didn’t wait for an answer and grabbed her wrist.

“Where are you taking me, OG? I’m never trusting you again. You’re worse than those ‘click this link for a surprise’ people!” she protested as he dragged her down the hallway.

Abhiraj ignored her dramatic commentary and pulled her up to the terrace.

As he pushed open the door, Saanvi’s mouth parted in surprise. Soft fairy lights glowed overhead, a cozy tent stood in the middle, pillows scattered around, a little table held food, cake, and her favorite snacks. Adrika was at the projector, setting things.

“Whoa...” she whispered, eyes trailing the lights.

Abhiraj gently nudged her forward.

Adrika came over and took Saanvi’s hands in hers. “We’re sorry, beta. Truly. Please forgive us,” she said softly, her eyes filled with warmth.

Saanvi let out a sigh and gave a small nod.

“Now!” Abhiraj clapped his hands. “Movie time!”

Saanvi looked at both of them. “You guys did all this for me?”

Abhiraj blinked. “Who else do you see standing here? You think this is Uber Tent Experience Deluxe or what? Use your brain—OW!” He winced as Adrika elbowed him mid-sentence.

Adrika smiled sweetly, like nothing happened. “Of course we did this for you, beta. Do you like it?”

“I love it.” Saanvi chuckled, finally relaxing.

They all settled into the fluffy cushions.

Adrika placed a slice of cake in front of her.

Saanvi’s eyes widened. “Wait, cake?!”

“You can eat it,” Abhiraj said sternly, “but only one slice.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Saanvi said with a grin, happily taking a bite.

Adrika rubbed her back gently. “Are you feeling okay now? Just... forget whatever happened.”

Saanvi froze mid-bite. Unfortunately, forgetting wasn’t the problem.

Because the memory that popped into her head was not her family.

It was someone's heinous pick-up line.

Her mind, as if on cue, brought back that ridiculous pickup line. “Are you my phone battery...”

She internally gagged. Her face twisted in secondhand embarrassment as she visibly cringed.

“Saanvi?” Adrika asked.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, shoving more cake in her mouth to suppress the memory.

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