62. BACK
Vedant closed the cabin door quietly.
The click of the lock sounded louder than it should have.
Aarvi stood there, hands still folded in front of her, eyes wet but steady like she was bracing herself for something she already feared.
Vedant ran a hand through his hair, paced once, then stopped in front of her.
"This..." he said slowly, "...wasn't supposed to reach you. But it did."
Her breath hitched.
She didn't say anything.
She just listened.
Vedant looked at her-really looked.
The dark circles under her eyes.
The exhaustion she had been carrying alone.
His throat tightened.
"Because filters can hide headlines," he said quietly, "but not the truth."
Her fingers curled into her palms.
"Tell me," she whispered.
Not loud.
Not demanding.
Just... broken.
Vedant swallowed.
"The night before the news broke," he began, "bhai himself sent an anonymous mail to the media."
Aarvi frowned. Her eyes widened.
"What...?"
"He gave them the story," Vedant continued.
Her heart started racing.
"He told them the breakup happened because of him. Because of infidelity. Because he couldn't stay loyal."
She took a step back, like the ground beneath her had shifted. Her head shook in denial.
"That-that doesn't make sense."
Vedant's voice cracked slightly as he said "It wasn't meant to."
"He... he did that for me?" she asked, barely audible.
Vedant lowered his gaze and nodded.
"Because if the media didn't get a villain," he said, voice rough,
"they would've made you one."
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing.
"He remembered last time," Vedant continued. "How society blamed you. How they tore you apart."
Aarvi's lips trembled as tears slipped freely.
"So he chose himself," Vedant said, "to be the one they hate."
Her knees felt weak.
"He resigned," Vedant added. "Because the board panicked. Because the company started bleeding.
Because his name became poison overnight."
Her voice broke.
"He told me it was just a project."
Vedant let out a bitter laugh.
"He lied."
Tears spilled freely now.
"He stepped down," Vedant said, "lost everything he built... and still instructed everyone to make sure you never saw the news."
Her chest hurt.
Not emotionally.
Physically.
"And the filter?" she asked, already knowing.
Vedant nodded.
"He ordered it himself."
Aarvi pressed a hand to her mouth.
"All that time..." she whispered.
"He was bleeding quietly."
Vedant stepped closer.
"He never wanted you to find out like this-"
But before he could finish, she ran.
Out of the cabin.
Out of the office.
Tears streaming, throat burning.
She wasn't in her senses.
People turned to look, but she didn't see them.
She reached her car, hands shaking, and drove off.
To his house.
The road blurred in front of her.
Her fingers clenched around the wheel.
Tears blurred her vision.
"Vivan..." she whispered, breath breaking.
The honk of a horn cut through the air.
Loud. Sharp.
She blinked but the road swam instead of clearing.
Another horn.
Closer.
Her heart pounded violently.
Her hands trembled as she tried to slow down, but her foot slipped instead.
Time slowed.
The world tilted.
She saw headlights.
Too close.
Too fast.
A scream tore out of her throat.
Then-
Impact.
A deafening crash.
Glass shattered.
Her body lurched forward as the seatbelt cut into her shoulder.
Pain exploded through her head.
The steering wheel slammed into her chest.
Her ears rang-high, sharp, suffocating.
Everything went white.
Sounds faded.
The last thing she felt was warmth slipping away from her fingers.
And the last thing she thought-
I should've gone to him first.
Then darkness swallowed her whole.
___
Meanwhile, Vivan was driving recklessly through the city.
Vedant's voice echoed in his head.
Aarvi knows everything.
She ran out of the office.
His chest tightened.
His grip clenched around the steering wheel, fingers trembling violently. One hand left the wheel to massage his temple, trying to stop the storm raging inside his head. His breathing was uneven, sharp, like he couldn't get enough air.
He shook his head again and again, refusing to accept the thoughts clawing at his mind.
"N-no..." he whispered, voice barely audible.
He reached Aarvi's house first.
Empty.
A neighbour, standing near the gate, spoke softly, almost cautiously.
"Beta... she met with an accident. Everyone rushed her to the hospital."
Something inside Vivan collapsed.
His fist slammed against the steering wheel before he turned the car around and sped toward the hospital.
The moment he entered, the receptionist stood up immediately.
"G-Good morning, sir," she greeted nervously. After all, the Singhania Group owned half the hospital.
Vivan didn't even look at her.
"A-Aarvi..." His throat tightened.
"Aarvi Sisodiya."
The surname burned.
Not Singhania.
Not his.
For a split second, pain flashed across his face. Saying Sisodiya felt like tearing open a wound that hadn't even begun to heal. She wasn't his wife anymore. He had signed that truth himself.
The receptionist nodded quickly and typed.
"Room 314, sir."
He turned to leave.
Behind him, she muttered under her breath with a faint chuckle,
"Another girl..."
___
He reached the floor.
And froze.
Her parents were sitting on the bench outside the room.
His heart thudded violently.
He rushed toward them.
"U-Uncle..." His voice shook despite his effort to sound steady.
"Aarvi... what happened?"
Shivani stood up immediately.
"She is out of danger," she said sharply.
"You can go back now."
Vivan inhaled sharply, relief crashing into fear.
"I want to meet her," he said without thinking.
"I told you she is fine," Shivani snapped, her voice rising slightly.
"Just go back."
Vivan didn't move.
He swallowed hard and looked at Satish, who was still sitting silently on the bench.
Slowly, Vivan bent down.
He went down on his knees in the hospital corridor.
"U-Uncle..." he whispered, joining his hands.
"Please... let me meet her. Just once."
Satish finally spoke, his voice empty of emotion.
"She is lying there because of you," he said coldly.
"And you want to see her?"
Vivan's eyes burned. His throat closed.
"You are not her husband anymore," Satish continued.
"Leave her alone. Let her live."
The words crushed him.
Still, he tried.
"P-Please..." his voice broke.
"Just once. After that... I swear... I will never meet her again."
Silence.
No one replied.
No one softened.
Vivan looked at both with pleading eyes but no one said anything. They ignored him like he didn't even exist.
That was when something shifted inside Vivan.
He stood up slowly.
His face hardened.
"I am going inside," he said firmly, voice low and dangerous.
"If anyone can stop me.... then dare to."
He turned and walked toward the room.
"Security!" Satish roared angrily.
Guards rushed in and moved toward Vivan.
But the moment they recognized him, they stopped.
One of them spoke carefully, almost apologetically.
"Sir... the Singhania Group owns half the hospital. We can't stop him."
Satish snapped, rage spilling out.
"So he will do whatever he wants now?"
The guard shook his head.
"He hasn't done anything illegal. She works in his company. He has the right to check on an employee."
Satish clenched his teeth and stepped toward Aarvi's room.
"If you can't stop him," he said furiously,
"then I will."
Before he could take another step, security grabbed his arm tightly.
"Sir," the guard warned, "if you interfere, we'll have to escort you out."
Satish stared at him, stunned.
That's when Shivani stepped forward.
Instantly gentle. Instantly sweet.
"It's okay," she said softly, rubbing Satish's arm.
"If he wants to meet her... let him."
She turned to the guards.
"We won't cause any trouble. You can go."
The guards nodded and left.
Shivani looked at Satish and said quietly, almost venomously,
"He said he'll meet her only once."
Satish clenched his fist in anger but nodded.
___
As Vivan stepped inside the room, his feet stopped on their own.
The sight in front of him stole the air from his lungs.
Aarvi lay on the hospital bed-small, fragile, nothing like the woman who used to argue with him, laugh with him. A white bandage wrapped around her forehead, faintly stained. One arm was strapped carefully, bruises visible against her pale skin.
His fists clenched at his sides.
His eyes burned.
He looked down, unable to bear seeing her like this-
"Vivan."
The voice was weak. Soft. Barely above a whisper.
His head snapped up instantly.
Their eyes met.
She was awake.
And smiling.
A soft, reassuring smile curved her lips as she slowly lifted her hand and patted the stool beside her, inviting him silently.
His gaze dropped to the stool. He nodded once and walked toward it, movements stiff, controlled. He sat.
"Who told you to become a hero," she asked quietly, her voice fragile yet teasing,"and sacrifice everything for me, huh?"
Vivan looked down.
He swallowed. Again. And again.
Holding back.
"Th... thank God you're fine," he said instead, completely dodging her question.
Aarvi's tone hardened slightly.
"Look at me."
He did.
His eyes were wide, almost glassy like a lost child. His nose was red. His lips pressed into a thin, trembling line.
She slowly tried to sit up.
Vivan shot up from the stool instantly, hands hovering as he helped her adjust, panic flashing across his face. Once she settled against the pillows, he sat again, still looking down, fingers fidgeting restlessly.
"Come closer," she said.
He nodded and pulled the stool even nearer.
She looked straight at him.
"Who told you to do that?" she asked firmly.
And that was it.
Something broke open inside him.
"I-I swear," he blurted out, words rushing as if he'd been holding them in for too long,
"I didn't do it out of pity-"
Aarvi closed her eyes briefly. He still thinks this is about that party. She thought
But he didn't stop.
"I really love you," he continued, voice shaking, breath uneven,
"but when you said I pitied you, it felt like someone-like someone just-"
He kept talking.
Explaining.
Defending.
Unaware that Aarvi had stopped listening to his words.
Her gaze drifted to his lips.
They were trembling. Slightly parted. Struggling to hold everything he was feeling.
Her fists clenched against the bedsheet.
If he keeps talking like this, she thought,
I swear I will-
But he didn't stopped.
And before her mind could stop her-
She leaned forward.
And pecked his lips.
Soft.
Warm.
Barely a second.
But it was enough.
Vivan froze.
Eyes wide.
Breath gone.
It felt like the world had muted itself. Every sound outside the room faded into nothing. His mind refused to process what had just happened.
Aarvi leaned back, watching him with a soft smile almost amused.
He gulped.
"Wh-what you d-did?" he asked, utterly confused.
She leaned in again.
Pecked him once more.
"I did this," she said, grinning widely now.
Vivan's mouth hung open, but before he could react-
The door creaked open.
A nurse stepped inside.
Vivan jumped up instantly.
His ears burned red. His fists clenched. His eyes darted everywhere except at either of the girls.
"Sir, you need to step outside," the nurse said professionally.
He nodded rapidly.
Words refused to form. His cheeks grew hotter with every second.
Without another glance, he turned and hurried out of the room.
Heart racing.
Mind spinning.
Leaving behind a smiling Aarvi- who finally knew exactly what her heart wanted.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Vivan stood there for a second longer than needed.
His heartbeat was loud in his ears. Too loud.
His lips still burned - warm, unreal - like his body hadn't caught up with what just happened.
Aarvi kissed him.
Not a misunderstanding.
Not an accident.
His throat tightened.
He ran a hand over his face once, exhaling slowly, trying to steady himself before turning around.
That's when he saw them.
Shivani and Satish were sitting on the bench opposite the room.
Waiting.
Watching.
His steps faltered - just a fraction.
The rush in his chest didn't fade, but he buried it deep. Pushed it down until only calm showed on his face. His shoulders straightened. His hands clenched once... then relaxed.
He nodded politely.
"I am sorry for what I did... But I needed to see her," he said quietly.
His voice was steady - nothing like the storm inside him.
Shivani's eyes narrowed instantly, scanning his face, as if searching for something out of place. Happiness. Relief. Hope.
But Vivan didn't give her that.
He didn't look at her directly.
Instead, his gaze flicked briefly to Satish.
Just once.
Then his eyes lowered again.
Not out of fear.
Out of guilt.
"She's awake," he said softly. "Doctor said injuries are not severe, you can take her home."
That was all.
No extra words. No explanations. No claims.
Shivani scoffed under her breath. "after insulting us infront of whole hospital you're acting polite."
Vivan didn't react.
If anything, his jaw tightened slightly but he said nothing.
He had learned when silence was stronger than defense.
"I'll... leave now," he added after a pause. "She needs rest."
Satish finally spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight.
"You've seen her?"
Vivan nodded.
Another pause.
Then Satish said, colder this time, "Good. Now keep your distance."
The words landed - heavy, sharp.
Vivan swallowed.
"I understand," he replied.
And somewhere, every sane person would've known-
he absolutely didn't.
Yes. Of course, he thought dryly.
I understand very well.
He looked away, jaw tightening.
So well that I'm already planning how badly I'm going to fail at it.
Because if understanding meant staying away from Aarvi-
then Vivan had never understood anything in his life.
Then he turned and walked down the corridor.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Vivan walked out of the hospital, almost ran like he was holding himself together by sheer will.
The moment he reached his car, the restraint cracked.
He let out a long, shaky breath.
His breathing was uneven, chest rising and falling too fast, too shallow. He leaned against the car for support and dragged a hand through his hair only to pause when he realized his fingers were trembling.
His lips... tingled.
Slowly.
Hesitantly.
He lifted his hand and touched them.
Once.
Then again.
She kissed me.
The thought landed softly, disbelief wrapped in warmth. A small almost shy smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it.
He closed his eyes, jaw tightening as the memory rushed back.
Her eyes.
The way she looked at him.
The softness.
Her lips against his.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
"God," he breathed out, pressing his forehead against the car.
But the smile faded just as quickly.
What if she regrets it?
What if it was just emotion... just pain?
He ran a hand down his face, exhaustion and fear colliding inside his chest.
Do I even deserve this? he wondered bitterly.
And yet his fingers drifted back to his lips.
His breathing slowed.
She hadn't pulled away.
She had leaned in.
His hand curled into a fist at his side. His cheeks burned, warmth spreading all the way to his ears. He tried to suppress it but the smile returned anyway, softer, helpless.
SHE kissed me.
The words echoed in his mind, loud and disbelieving, his ears turning red as his heart raced.
And for the first time since losing everything-
since walking away from power, pride, and love-
Vivan felt something more beautiful.
Hope.
Aarvi lay back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic, the monitor beside her bed beeping steadily, indifferent to the storm inside her.
A nurse, checking her IV, adjusting the drip.
"Try to rest," she said gently, before leaving again.
The room fell silent.
Only then did Aarvi realize her hand was trembling.
She lifted it slowly... and her fingers brushed her lips.
Her breath hitched.
They still felt warm.
Her heart began to race not the panicked kind. The unfamiliar kind. The kind that made her chest ache in a way that wasn't painful... just overwhelming.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Why did I do that?
The answer came before the question even settled.
Because she had missed him.
Because when he stood there-nervous, broken, still so careful with her, something inside her had given up pretending.
Images rushed in without permission.
His hands shaking as he spoke.
The way he looked at her like she was still his safe place.
The way he hadn't touched her back even when she kissed him.
A tear slid down the side of her face.
She hadn't kissed him because she was emotional.
She kissed him because she wanted to.
Her lips curved into a small, disbelieving smile.
So this is what it is, she thought.
Not anger.
Not confusion.
Another tear fell.
But this one... wasn't sad.
"What are you involving me in all this?" Yuvan whispered irritably as Vivan adjusted the ladder against the wall.
"Just shut up," Vivan muttered back, tightening his grip. "Because of you, we're here. So now you're going to help me and dare you say no."
Yuvan let out a long, defeated sigh.
They were standing at the back of Aarvi's house, hidden by shadows and silence because Vivan insisted. He had dragged Yuvan along just in case of emergency, his words, not Yuvan's choice.
Yuvan was clearly not pleased.
Dragged out of sleep. Standing in the dark. Acting like a lookout.
All this just because Vivan wanted to see Aarvi.
Couldn't he just meet her yesterday like a normal human being? Yuvan sulked, folding his arms as he watched Vivan climb halfway up the ladder like a man possessed.
Meanwhile-
Aarvi had been discharged earlier in the evening. The injuries weren't severe, the doctors said. Rest. Observation. Silence.
It was almost midnight when she heard it.
A faint sound.
Metal scraping.
Her heart skipped violently.
She sat up slowly, breath shallow, eyes scanning the room before she moved toward the window. Pulling the curtain aside just a little.
Her eyes widened.
Her mouth fell open.
"Vivan?" she whispered sharply. "Are you insane?"
Below her window, Vivan looked up eyes wide, brows raised, and smiling.
"I needed to see you," he whispered back smiling, completely unapologetic.
She shut her eyes for a second, pressing her fingers to her temple.
Unbelievable.
Then panic kicked in.
She rushed to her bedroom door, quietly locking it, heart hammering, before hurrying back to the window. She bent down, gripping the ladder to steady it as she helped him climb.
The moment his feet touched the floor.
Fear flooded her.
"If my parents see you-" she whispered urgently, grabbing his arm. "There will be chaos. You need to leave. Now."
She turned, trying to push him back toward the window.
That's when he stopped her.
Gently but firmly.
His hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against him.
She froze.
"Wh-what are you doing?" she whispered, eyes darting toward the door, breath uneven.
Vivan leaned closer. Their bodies pressing against eachother feeling eachother's warmth. Their noses brushed, the softest contact sending a shiver straight down her spine.
"Finishing," he murmured slowly, deliberately, "what you left incomplete... in the hospital room."
Her breath hitched.
She looked up at him and his eyes were already on her. Dark. Intense. Certain.
He leaned in, breath tangled with hers.
She didn't pull away.
That was his answer.
He cupped her face then-slow, deliberate-like the world had narrowed to just her and this moment. His palms were warm, steady, thumbs brushing the curve of her cheekbones as if grounding both of them.
"Stop me..." he murmured, breath uneven, voice low enough to tremble.
"Before I lose myself."
Her lips parted at the sound of his voice.
She didn't answer.
Didn't move away.
She just looked at him-eyes searching, familiar, achingly close.
That was all the permission he needed.
He leaned in.
Their lips met slowly-soft, tentative at first. Not a kiss meant to claim, but to confirm. Like he was afraid this might disappear if he rushed it. Like he needed to feel it to believe it was real.
Aarvi inhaled sharply as his lips brushed hers, her eyes fluttering shut when he lingered-when he didn't pull away.
The kiss deepened, just a little.
His mouth moved against hers with quiet intensity, careful but unmistakably hungry. One thumb traced the edge of her jaw, sending a shiver straight down her spine.
He sucked gently at her lower lip-once, then again-tilting his head, letting the kiss grow heavier, warmer. One hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer, while the other stayed at her jaw, steadying her like she might fall apart without him holding her together.
And she responded.
Tilting her head. Pressing into him. Forgetting to think.
The world narrowed.
No parents.
No papers.
No guilt.
Just this.
Her hand slid up his chest, palm flattening over his heart-fast, loud, undeniable beneath her touch. He let out a soft groan, barely audible, but it made her fingers curl, heat blooming low in her stomach.
He pulled back just a fraction, their lips still brushing as he breathed,
"Aarvi..."
The way he said her name-raw, undone-made her chest ache.
She didn't reply.
She kissed him again.
This time slower. Deeper. Like she was tasting him, memorizing him-like she was afraid this might be the last time she was allowed to want him.
She tried to take control, leaning up, rising onto her toes-but the height difference betrayed her. She tried again, frustrated.
He smiled against her lips.
Then, without breaking the moment, he lifted her easily.
Her breath hitched.
Now she had the leverage.
She kissed him harder-desperate, bold-one hand gripping his shoulder to keep balance, the other cradling his jaw. Her mouth moved against his like she needed this, like this moment mattered more than anything else.
Vivan followed her rhythm, slower, restrained-not because he couldn't take over, but because he didn't want to. He was savoring her like this-challenging, wanting, undone for him.
Then she used her teeth-just a scrape against his lower lip.
He groaned.
The sound startled her.
She broke the kiss instantly, eyes wide, smacking his shoulder lightly.
"Are you mad?" she whispered urgently. "What if my parents hear you?"
He blinked at her, stunned.
Then he set her down, disbelief written all over his face.
"If you're this scared of your parents," he whispered back, incredulous,
"why are you kissing me like that, huh?"
Her mouth fell open.
"Okay then," she shot back, offended. "I won't kiss you fro-"
"Okay, sorry," he blurted out immediately.
She froze.
He leaned in and pecked her lips-quick, unapologetic.
"I'm all yours," he whispered.
Her annoyance melted into a smile.
And she kissed him again.
When they finally parted, it wasn't because they wanted to.
Their foreheads rested together, breaths uneven, lips swollen, hearts racing.
His hands were still trembling at her waist.
Her fingers were still fisted in his shirt.
And neither of them pretended this didn't mean something.
___
Outside, Yuvan was pacing like a ticking bomb.
"Bro... bro-this is not funny," he whispered harshly, glancing around for the fifth time in ten seconds. "You said five minutes. It's been-"
He checked his watch.
"-fifteen."
His brows knit together.
Why is he taking this long?
He tilted his head, staring at the closed window above. Did he go there to talk... or what?
He checked his phone. Still no movement.
"...Don't tell me he's doing some emotional speech again," Yuvan thought, irritated. Or worse-crying.
The ladder creaked softly as he shifted his weight.
He froze.
Heart pounding, he scanned the backyard, convinced every shadow was a pair of parental eyes.
Nothing.
Too quiet.
His gaze drifted back to the window.
Is he... cooking something in there or what? Yuvan wondered, genuinely confused. Why does meeting one injured girl take this much time?
He rubbed his face.
God. I knew I shouldn't have come. I should've stayed asleep. Peaceful. Alive.
Another minute ticked by.
Yuvan sighed dramatically, resting his forehead against the ladder.
Whatever he's doing up there, he thought, it better be worth my possible death.
light flickered on inside the house.
Yuvan straightened instantly, panic surging.
"Oh no. Nope. Absolutely not," he whispered, ducking instinctively. "If I get caught, I'm blaming him. Entirely."
He glanced up once more, eyes wide, voice low and desperate.
Finish your... whatever-you're-doing and come back, bro. Please.
Because outside, time was crawling.
And inside-
Well.
Something was definitely cooking.