Meanwhile;

Aryan lay on the cold marble floor, holding Anjali's photograph to his chest like it was the only warmth left in his world.

His sobs were silent now—but his eyes screamed enough.

The door opened slowly.

Aahan and Arushi stood there—frozen, breath caught, eyes shining with heartbreak.

Aryan lifted his face.

Their silence told him everything.

No lies needed anymore.

No acting left to perform.

Aahan crouched beside him, voice heavy.

"Kab se, bhai?"

Aryan chuckled bitterly through tears.

"Jis din kismat ne hume dubara milaya tha."

Aahan nodded slowly, guilt breaking his voice.

"Bataya kyu nahi?"

Aryan exhaled painfully, shoulders shaking.

"Kaise batata?"

He wiped nothing. Let tears fall.

"Meri biwi mujhe bhool chuki hai."

"Aur main uske zakhmo par aur bojh(burden) nahi banna chahta tha."

Aahan's voice cracked, breaking like glass.

"Sorry bhai... maine bahut koshish ki.. bhabhi ko sab yaad dilane ki mujhe laga agar aap dono sath rahoge toh lekin-."

Aryan placed a trembling hand on his brother's shoulder and patted him lightly.

"Tune mere liye bahut kuch kiya hai..."

He shook his head.

"Aur rahi baat Anjali ki..."

His voice drowned, but he forced it up again:

"Uske dil mein main nahi hoon ab."

"Isme uski koi galti nahi."

"Sab meri galti hai agar-."

He was about to continue—but Aahan suddenly hugged him tightly, stopping him from finishing the sentence he feared to hear out loud.

Aryan broke down completely in his brother's arms, whispering helplessly against his shoulder:

"Kyu maangta raha use wapas maine bhagwan se..."

"Jab aayi toh laga khushiyan laut aayi lekin ab..."

"ab pata chala ki vapas aayi toh mujhse aur door jane ke liye."

Aahan cried silently, holding his brother tighter, unable to disagree, unable to agree—only able to feel his pain.

But Arushi?

Her tears dried faster than expected.

She clenched her fist, turned, and stormed out of the room without saying a word.

Author's Pov:

Next Morning;

Reeva was wiping down the counter of the little mountain-style café she worked at.

The bell above the door chimed—someone had entered.

She turned to greet automatically, the practiced smile already on her lips.

But it faltered when she saw Arushi walking toward her, posture stiff, eyes tired but burning.

Reeva: "Hii, Arushi!"

Arushi didn't smile back. She stepped forward, voice low, tone dangerous.

Arushi: "Where is Jhanvi?"

The air around her felt impatient, like she already knew the answer wouldn't be simple.

Reeva blinked, thrown off by her tone.

Reeva: "Woh toh ghar pe hai. Usne kaha tha ki uski tabiyat theek nahi hai."

Arushi nodded once—short, calculated. She turned to leave immediately.

But Reeva grabbed her arm lightly, stopping her.

Reeva: "Kya baat hai? Itni urgency kyu?"

Arushi turned slowly, her gaze slicing into Reeva's curiosity.

She stepped closer again, heels clicking once on the café tiles.

Arushi: "Jhanvi ka boyfriend hai?"

The question landed like a stone dropped in still water.

Reeva almost choked on air.

Reeva: "Nahi, uska koi boyfriend nahi hai."

A pause.

Then Arushi laughed—but it wasn't humorous. It was cold, mocking, edged.

Arushi: "Toh aise hi... kisi ko bhi kiss kar legi?"

Reeva froze. The cloth in her hand dropped to the counter.

Reeva: "Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho? Kiss? Kaunsi kiss?"

Arushi didn't answer. She just stared, eyes narrowed like she was enjoying Reeva's shock slowly forming.

"Dekho tum jhanvi ki absence maine ye basless cheezen nhi kah sakti"

 reeva said as arushi looked at her and rolled her eyes and said

 "Koi basless baat nhi hai sach hai jo dekha hai vahi bata rahi hoon"

reeva was confused and shocked she knew jhanvi didn't have any boyfriend but why would arushi will lie to her .

"Khair yaha maine ye batane nhi aayi hoon..apni dost se kahna mujhe use baat karni "

arushi said and turn to leave when reeva said

 "Koi urgent baat hai toh mujhe bata do maine jhanvi ko bata dungi aur agr nhi baatani toh maine jhanvi ka yaahan bula leti hoon."

"JHANVI...JAHNVI...JAHNVI..are nhi hai voh jhanvi"Arushi said loudly

People in the cafe turned toward them, startled. Reeva immediately dragged Arushi into the kitchen and shut the door behind them muting the café chatter.

Reeva: "Ye kya bol rahi ho? Hosh mein bhi ho?"

Arushi yanked her hand back, shrugging off Reeva's hold.

Arushi: "Hosh? Bohot hosh mein hoon. Aur jo keh rahi hoon... sach keh rahi hoon."

Reeva stared at her, pulse quickening, confusion swirling.

Reeva: "Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha. Saaf saaf bolo."

Arushi slowly smirked, pulled out her phone, and whispered:

Arushi: "Main samjhati hoon."

She turned the screen toward Reeva.

Reeva's breath hitched.

Her eyes widened. Lips parted in shock.

Reeva: "Ye... ye toh bilkul Jhanvi ki tarah lag rahi hai."

Arushi: "Kyuki ye jhanvi hi hai."

Reeva's stomach dropped.

Reeva: "Kya matlab matlab voh aur aryan-"

Arushi looked at her, voice rising again, painful but firm:

"Husband wife hai..."

Reeva froze again.

Reeva: "huh...huh k-kaise?"

Arushi stepped closer, eyes locked, truth loaded like a bullet:

"Jhanvi..jhanvi nhi hai.. voh aryan ki biwi,aahan ki bhabhi aur meri bestfriend..Anjali hai."

Silence crashed between them.

Reeva was so shcoked knowing all this but she whispered:

"Anjali...? Lekin voh—"

Arushi leaned in, voice calm:

"Mari nhi hai..."

"ye-ye k-kaise."

Reeva's breath trembled.

Arushi: "Tum anjali ko kitne saal se janti ho?"

reeva looked confused and devasted with the truth as she said 

"Maine use y-yahi k-kuch 2 saal se janti hoon"

arushi smiled knowingly whereas reeva gasped.

Reeva: "Ye kaise ho sakta hai..aur agar ye sab sach hai toh?"

She held the counter for support.

Reeva: "... toh uski family? Uske parents?"

Arushi: "Uske asli maa-baap Bisht nahi."

"Bisht's ne apparanetly anjali ki jaan bachai."

Reeva shook her head, overwhelmed.

Reeva: "toh-toh kya bisht family ko pata hai ye sab?"

Arushi nodded, eyes softening only for a second, but voice still heavy.

"Ab tum mujhe batao..jh-anjali ka koi boyfriend hai?."

reeva shook ehr head violently and said "Nhi -bilkul nhi balki voh aryan se pyaar karti hai"

when she said arushi's eyes filled with tears as she said 

"yadash na hone ke bawajood bhi voh usi se pyaar karti hai.."

Reeva's eyes filled with tears again.

That's when suddenly she remembered something and asked Arushi:

"Ek minute, jab Jha– mera matlab, Anjali, Mr. & Mrs. Bisht ki apni beti nahi hai aur unhe sach pata hai ki Anjali kaun hai, toh phir bhi voh uski shadi kyu kara rahe hai?"

Arushi's eyes snapped toward her, shocked.

"K-kya?"

Reeva nodded quickly.

"Haan. Jhanvi ne mujhe bataya, aur Mrs. Bisht ka bhi mujhe call aaya tha ki main Jhanvi ko is shadi ke liye samjhau... lekin Jhanvi ne shadi karne se mana kar diya."

Arushi froze. After a few minutes, she asked in a shaky whisper:

"W-with w-wh-whom?"

Reeva's expression hardened.

"DEV SINGHANIA."

The moment Arushi heard the name, she paused. She already knew him — the biggest rival of the Taneja empire.

Arushi rubbed her temples, pacing once, then muttered:

"Mujhe us Mrs. Bisht se baat karni hogi... who tf she thinks she is."

Reeva thought for a moment and said calmly:

"Main madad kar sakti hoon. Main baat karungi Mrs. Bisht se."

Arushi looked at her and nodded silently.

Then Reeva asked:

"Aur Jhanvi ka kya? Use sach kab bataoge?"

Arushi's face tightened. She thought for a long moment, then replied:

"Doctors ne mana kiya hai. Use kisi bhi tarah ka pressure ya phir voh baatein jo uski memory ko 

trigger kar de..."

Reeva nodded, fully understanding.

After Some Time — Bisht House

Bisht house was buzzing with celebration. Decorations were in full swing.

 Mrs. Bisht stood in the center of the garden, instructing the flower decorators loudly 

today was Dev & Jhanvi's engagement (as Dev had informed them, and Mrs. Bisht had agreed without caring about anything).

Mr. Bisht sat on a cane chair in the corner, flipping the newspaper. 

He had already made it clear — he would never be part of this, and would never accept the marriage.

Whereas;

Jhanvi sat in front of the mirror. Clothes were scattered on the bed — her engagement lehenga rested neatly in the center.

 Her heart throbbed painfully. She had cried so much in the past few days that her eyes had forgotten how to shed tears.

She was lost in her thoughts when her room door opened. 

Reeva stepped in, shut the door behind her, and rushed toward Jhanvi, gripping her arms tightly.

Reeva asked urgently

"Kya ho raha hai ye hmm? Ye decorations and all... ye sab kya hai?"

Her eyes fell on the bed.

"T-tune haan kar di?"

Jhanvi pulled her arm away, plastered a wide fake smile, and said

"Obviously karni hi thi... I mean, kyu nahi karti? Dev ke paas sab kuch hai."

Reeva turned her toward her, grabbing her wrist.

"Kya bakwas kare jaa rahi hai... tu Dev se nafrat karti hai—"

Jhanvi cut her off sharply.

"Karti thi. Ab nahi karti."

Reeva blinked, confused.

Jhanvi continued, voice mocking but eyes cold

"Kaise kar sakti hoon main use nafrat? Tune dekha hai na kitna handsome lagta hai? Aur upar se 

uske paas kitne paise hai... ek ladki ko yahi toh chahiye hota hai."

Reeva shook her head in denial.

"Nahi. Tujhe nahi chahiye ye sab... tujhe toh pyaar chahiye. Sacha pyaar... jo tu Aryan se karti 

hai."

Jhanvi looked away and said bitterly

"Main nahi karti use pyaar."

Reeva made her face her again.

"Jhoot bol rahi hai tu."

Jhanvi replied immediately

"Jhoot nahi. Sach hai."

Reeva gave a dry laugh and challenged her:

"Achha, sach hai toh meri aankhon mein dekh ke bol ki tujhe Aryan pasand nahi."

Jhanvi clenched her fist, stared directly into her eyes, and said:

"Nhi karti main us pagal se pyaar."

Reeva let go of her hand, stunned.

"Tu— Jhanvi, tujhe ek din mein kya ho gaya hai? Tu keh rahi hai tu use pyaar nahi karti? Tujhe achanak se voh Dev pasand? Aur tu Aryan ko pagal bol rahi hai—?"

Jhanvi snapped again

"Pagal ko pagal nahi bolungi toh kya bolungi? Pyaar-vyaar nahi hai mujhe. Thodi sympathy thi... ab puri zindagi main us jaise pagal ke saath thodi bita sakti hoon. Thodi si sympathy kya dikhayi, aur tujhe lagta hai main us jaise pagal se pyaar karungi? Arre, voh pagal apni biwi ki yaad mein vaise bhi mar jaye—"

SLAP!

A sharp sound cracked in the air.

Reeva slapped her.

Voice trembling with heartbreak, she said:

"Mujhe ye umeed nahi thi tujhse, Jhanvi."

She turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Jhanvi collapsed on her knees, a choked sob ripping out of her throat.

Reeva stormed downstairs, grabbed Mrs. Bisht's arm tightly, and dragged her into a corner.

Mrs. Bisht gasped:

"Reeva, ye kya batamezi hai?"

Reeva scoffed:

"Aap ke saath yahi hona chahiye."

Mrs. Bisht scolded:

"Reeva! Bado se aise besharmi se baat nahi karte."

Reeva leaned in, voice sharp as a blade:

"Bade besharmi ki saari hadein paar karte hai toh sahi..."

"Ye jaante hue bhi ki Jha— Anjali, ek biwi hai aur ek bache ki maa bhi, aap uski shadi kara rahi hai!"

Mrs. Bisht began sweating, shaking:

"T-tu-tumhe kaise pata?"

Reeva stepped closer:

"Sach zyada der chhupaye nahi chhupta."

"Jab ye mujhe pata chal sakta hai, toh Jhan— Anjali ko bhi jaldi pata chal jayega."

"Aur phir voh aapse itni nafrat karegi ki aap jhel bhi nahi payengi."

Mrs. Bisht trembled:

"N-nahi... m-m-maine use nahi pata chalne dungi."

Reeva gave a cold smile:

"Kitna bhi chhupa lo... jab sach aana hota hai, toh aa hi jaata hai."

"Aapke paas abhi bhi mauka hai. Use sach bata dijiye, warna baad mein jo hoga... aap jhel nahi payengi."

She walked out, leaving Mrs. Bisht pale and shaking.

Mr. Bisht's Intervention

Mr. Bisht's voice came from behind:

"Sahi toh keh rahi hai voh."

He walked toward her, standing right in front.

"Jab sab koi kahe na Sharda, toh baat maan leni chahiye."

Mrs. Bisht whispered fiercely:

"Bhagwan ne meri beti dubara di hai mujhe... aur main use kisi ke kehne pe jaane du? Ye ek maa ka zameer nahi kehta."

Mr. Bisht scoffed:

"Toh tumhare andar ka zameer ye kehta hai ki ek already shadi-shuda ladki, jiska ek parivaar bhi hai... uski shadi kara do?"

Mrs. Bisht looked away:

"Voh uska past tha, jo use yaad bhi nahi. Dev uska aaj aur aane wala kal hai."

Then she hissed, eyes burning:

"Aur agar tumne use sach batane ki koshish bhi ki... toh tumhare saamne main apne aap ko aag laga lungi."

Mr. Bisht clenched his fist, teeth grinding:

"Ye jhooti dhamkiyan band karo."

Mrs. Bisht repeated, louder:

"Jhooti? Theek hai... dekho!"

She stormed into the kitchen, came back with kerosene, and poured it over herself.

Mr. Bisht stood up instantly, eyes widening in horror.

"Sharda! Ye kya pagalpan hai?"

She held the lighter in hand and whispered with a deranged smile:

"Pagalpan nahi... meri beti ke liye pyaar hai."

"Aur agar tumne use sach bataya... toh main mar jaungi."

Mr. Bisht shut his eyes in frustration and begged:

"THEEK HAI... theek hai. Nahi bataunga main use sach. Par please, lighter phek do..."

The lighter slipped from her hand and hit the floor.

Mr. Bisht rushed to her, hugged her tightly, and cried for the daughter he feared he had already 

lost.