Kothari Mansion – Vihaan's Room
Gauri paused at the doorway, her hand hovering uncertainly on the frame. Inside, Vihaan stood before the mirror, buttoning his shirt with his usual precision. She tilted her head slightly, meaning only to slip away quietly, but his eyes caught her reflection at once.
He turned sharply, his tone stern. "Were you… peeking at me while I was getting dressed?"
Gauri straightened immediately, her chin lifting with defiance. "Of course not. I already saw everything—I don't need to see more."
Vihaan froze, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean? Aren't you ashamed to even say that?"
"Why would I be ashamed?" Gauri shot back, crossing her arms. "It was accidental."
Vihaan's jaw tightened. "We shouldn't speak about what happened earlier."
"Sure," Gauri replied coolly, tilting her head. "I won't speak about it… though it was huge."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What is huge?"
Gauri's breath caught in her throat. "I… I mean…" Her eyes, against her will, flickered downward—straight to his zip.
Vihaan snapped his fingers sharply. "Focus, Gauri. On my face."
She swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "I mean—whatever happened was huge. That's all." Lie. She had not been talking about the incident at all.
"Anyway, forget that," she added quickly, straightening herself. "Take off your shirt."
"What?" Vihaan's expression turned dark with disbelief.
"Yes," she said firmly, stepping closer. "Take it off."
"Have you lost your mind?" His brows shot up in both anger and confusion.
"I want to verify something," she pressed, her tone suddenly serious.
"Unbelievable." He shook his head, brushing past her. "You're mad."
But Gauri darted in front of him, blocking his path. Her eyes were blazing now. "Don't run from this, Vihaan. Tell me—how did your injuries vanish? I saw them. The claw marks, the arrows—your body was torn apart last night. So how… how is there not a single scar on you today?"
For a moment, Vihaan's eyes flickered with something—anger, fear, or perhaps pain. Then his voice turned cold, distant. "Don't fake your concern, Gauri. We both know you don't care about me. Only my money."
The words struck like a blade. Gauri flinched, her lips parting but no reply came. She blinked rapidly, fighting the sting in her eyes. Without a word, she walked to the bed, yanked a pillow and blanket into her arms, and turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Vihaan demanded.
"To sleep in the hall."
"Why?" His voice softened, almost despite himself.
She paused only for a moment, her back to him. "Don't bother showing concern for me, Vihaan. You've already made it clear what you think of me."
Her footsteps echoed as she left the room, the door shutting firmly behind her.
Vihaan stood frozen, his hands curling into fists. His chest ached in a way no wound ever had, but his lips stayed sealed.
Kothari Mansion – Ground Floor Hall
The mansion had fallen silent. Moonlight poured in through the tall windows, spilling across the marble floor. On one of the couches, Gauri lay curled up with only a thin blanket pulled to her shoulders. Her face was turned to the side, tear streaks still glistening faintly against her skin even in sleep.
Upstairs, Vihaan stood at the railing, his eyes fixed on her. His jaw was set, but his chest felt unbearably heavy. Every rise and fall of her breath tugged at him in ways he refused to admit.
"You were mean to bhabhi again, weren't you?"
Vihaan turned slightly. Yug had appeared beside him, leaning casually against the railing, but his sharp eyes had already noticed the scene below.
"I had no choice," Vihaan said flatly, though his gaze did not waver from Gauri's sleeping form.
"No choice?" Yug arched a brow. "Or no courage to tell her the truth?"
Vihaan's eyes narrowed. "She was asking about my wounds. If she knew the truth—that they've already healed… she would start questioning things she has no business knowing."
"So you hurt her instead?" Yug asked quietly, his playful tone gone. "Do you even realize how broken she looked when she left?"
Vihaan's throat tightened, but he forced his voice to stay cold. "It was the only way to divert her attention."
Yug studied his brother for a long moment, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You keep saying you don't care about her, but every time she cries, you look like the one bleeding inside."
Vihaan didn't answer. His eyes lingered on the couch below, where Gauri shifted slightly in her sleep, clutching the pillow tighter.
Yug shook his head. "One day, brother, your silence will cost you more than your secrets."
He walked away, leaving Vihaan alone with the echo of his words.
Vihaan gripped the railing harder, his knuckles turning white. Down below, Gauri stirred again, whispering something faint in her sleep. He caught only one word.
His name.
Vihaan's heart clenched, but he forced himself to turn away.
Kothari Mansion – Ground Floor Hall
The blanket slipped halfway off Gauri's shoulders as she stirred, blinking when she felt a hand lightly tap her arm. She opened her eyes to find Vihaan standing over her, his tall frame casting a shadow in the dimly lit hall.
"Get up," his voice was steady, low. "Come to the room."
Gauri shifted away, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. "No," she said, her tone clipped. "Don't show me concern now. Tomorrow you'll only find a new way to taunt me for it."
Vihaan's jaw tightened, but instead of snapping, his voice came out calm, almost too calm. "Fine then. Stay here. But when you get scared in the middle of the night, don't come running back to the room."
"I'm not a coward," Gauri shot back, sitting upright on the couch. Her chin tilted defiantly. "I'm Gauri. Fear may touch me, but it cannot bind me." Her voice softened into poetic rhythm.
"Bravery is the fire in my breath,
the strength in my heart,
the storm in my spirit.
If darkness dares to test me,
I will burn brighter than its night."
For a moment, silence filled the hall.
Vihaan tilted his head back, his lips curving into the faintest smirk as his eyes caught the glow of the chandelier above. "Alright then, sherni," he said with quiet amusement. "Sweet dreams."
Without another word, he turned and climbed the stairs, leaving Gauri staring after him, her heart pounding though she refused to admit why.