My destined wife!

（10） You shouldn't have lied biwi

Evening had quietly settled in.

Atharva and Maya were still asleep. They had woken up briefly in between to have lunch, but somehow ended up drifting back into sleep again, tangled in the same lazy haze. The room was dim, the curtains drawn just enough to let the fading golden light slip inside.

Maya stirred first.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, her body aching faintly as she tried to turn to the side. The moment she shifted, Atharva's eyes snapped open too - sharp, aware, as if he had never truly been asleep.

Maya glanced at him softly, then tried to move away.

Before she could slip out of his hold, Atharva's arm tightened around her waist and he pulled her right back into his chest.

"It's evening now," Maya muttered, her voice still heavy with sleep. "We've been in the room since morning... let me go now."

Atharva didn't move. His dark eyes stayed fixed on her face, completely unbothered.

"What's the point of going?" he said lazily. "It'll be night again in a while... and we have to do all that again. Better stay right here."

Maya's eyes widened. She turned her head sharply and glared at him.

"What did you say? Again?"

Atharva hummed softly. "Mm-hmm."

"I can't do it, okay!" she snapped, pushing lightly against his chest. "I just started feeling normal after yesterday's pain... and you already want to do everything again. Move now!"

A slow, crooked smile appeared on Atharva's lips.

He finally let her go - but his gaze didn't leave her for even a second.

Maya quickly got up from the couch, clearly escaping him, and walked toward the table. Her phone screen was glowing. She picked it up and pressed it to her ear while walking outside.

Atharva, of course, followed right behind her... silent and watchful.

"Haan Anvi, bol," Maya said, completely unaware of the man just a step behind her.

On the other side, Anvi's dramatic voice burst out, "Where were you since morning, yaar? I called so many times... once jiju picked up and said he would block me!"

Maya rolled her eyes. "He's crazy, nothing else..."

Still distracted, she walked back into the room.

"You tell me, what happened?"

"Kavya di got discharged," Anvi said quickly. "She's leaving for another city with Kunal bhaiya... to his house."

Maya paused slightly. "Oh... so the family agreed now?"

"Yeah. Now everyone is happy."said anvi.

A faint bitterness slipped into Maya's voice.

"If they had agreed earlier, none of this would have happened... neither her marriage would have been fixed with Atharva, nor would she have run away... nor would mine have happened-"

Her words broke mid-sentence.

Because suddenly-

A strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind and yanked her back.

Maya gasped softly as Atharva pulled her flush against his chest, his head lowering near her neck. His warm breath brushed her skin as his voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.

"Wherever you were in this world... I would have married only you, wifey."

Maya's heart skipped.

She quickly turned her head, startled, and pushed slightly away.

"Don't you have any shame?" she shot back. "You scared me! Who grabs someone like that?"

Atharva's eyes darkened with possession.

"No one except me is allowed to touch you, wifey," he said quietly. "Then why were you scared?"

Maya opened her mouth to reply-

But Anvi's teasing voice cut in from the phone.

"Maya ji... romance later, please. Right now listen to the important thing."

Maya shot Atharva a sharp glare and stepped away from him.

"Yeah, tell me."

"Kavya di is leaving tomorrow morning by flight... that's why she wanted to meet you today."said anvi

"Tomorrow morning? What time is the flight?" asked maya.

Anvi_"Seven o'clock."

"Offo..." Maya exhaled. "That means I'll have to meet her today only. By the way, where is she?"

Anvi_"She's still in the hospital - City Hospital, right in the middle of the city."

Maya_"Okay. I'll come."

Anvi_"Hm. Fine. I'll wait."

The call disconnected.

Maya turned back.

Atharva was already sitting on the couch again, laptop open on his lap, fingers moving calmly over the keyboard as if nothing had happened.

Maya walked straight up to him.

"I have to go meet di at the hospital," she said firmly. "So don't even try to stop me."

Atharva didn't even look up immediately. "I have an important meeting right now. So you're not going."

Maya narrowed her eyes and sat down on the couch right in front of him.

"Listen. If you have a meeting, then attend it - I'm not stopping you. And if you don't want to send me alone, Veer is there, Dhruv is there, or the driver... I'll go with anyone." Her voice softened just a little. "Who knows when I'll get to meet Kavya di again..."

That's when Atharva finally looked up.

Straight at her face.

She was making the most obvious puppy face at him.

A faint, helpless amusement flickered in his eyes.

"Fine," he said at last. "But you'll be back within one hour... otherwise you'll have to pay the penalty."

Maya's face instantly lit up.

"Okay!"

Before he could say anything else, she jumped up and hurried downstairs in excitement.

Atharva watched her retreating figure... a slow, knowing smile forming on his lips.

Then, as if nothing in the world could disturb him, he closed his laptop and calmly walked toward his study room.

Downstairs, the house was unusually quiet.

"Veer!"

Maya's voice rang through the hall.

Veer was lounging on the couch, casually watching TV. The flickering light from the screen danced across his face. There was no one else around. Hearing her call, he immediately turned his head.

"Yes, bhabhi?"

"Come on, drop me at the hospital," Maya said as she walked toward him with quick steps. "Kavya di is leaving tomorrow... I have to meet her."

"Alright," Veer replied easily. A playful glint entered his eyes. "So how do you want to go - bike or car?"

A bright smile instantly appeared on Maya's lips.

"Let's go by bike," she said excitedly. "We'll get some fresh air... and enjoy the ride too."

Veer chuckled softly. "Done. I'll go get ready."

"Me too."

Both of them turned and walked toward their respective rooms.

-

After a while, the lift doors slid open with a soft ding.

Maya stepped out.

She was wearing black jeans, black boots, a fitted black top, and a brown leather jacket. Her hair was left open, falling smoothly over her shoulders. She looked effortlessly stunning.

In the hall, Veer, Dhruv, and Nidhi were already standing.

The moment Maya began walking toward them while adjusting her jacket, all three of their gazes shifted to her.

"Wow," Dhruv let out, clearly impressed. "Bhabhi can look good in every single outfit."

"I agree, man," Nidhi added dramatically. "I think I've developed a crush on her."

But Veer...

Veer said nothing.

He simply looked at Maya - quietly, steadily - as if momentarily distracted.

Maya's eyes moved to him.

Veer was dressed in a black shirt and black pants, the top few buttons of his shirt left casually open. He looked sharp... dangerously sharp.

A small teasing smile curved on Maya's lips.

"Shall we go, devar ji?"

Veer gave a slight nod.

Without another word, the two of them walked out together.

-

Upstairs, inside his study-

Atharva was watching everything through the security cameras.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Then he placed his phone aside and exhaled slowly.

"Uff, wifey..." he muttered under his breath. "Why do you have to look this hot all the time?"

Suddenly, something flickered in his mind.

His expression sharpened.

He immediately picked up his phone and dialed.

"Rana," Atharva said calmly, but there was an unmistakable command in his tone. "Keep an eye on them."

"Okay, sir."

The call disconnected.

Atharva leaned back in his chair and calmly returned to his work, fingers moving over the keyboard as if nothing unusual had happened.

-

On the way-

The evening air rushed past as Veer and Maya rode through the city on the bike.

Both of them were wearing helmets.

Maya sat a slight distance behind him, her hands resting lightly on Veer's shoulders. The city lights were slowly beginning to glow, and the cool breeze played with the loose strands of her hair.

Both of them had Bluetooth in their ears, casually talking as they rode.

Soon, the bike slowed to a stop outside the hospital.

Anvi was already waiting near the entrance.

The moment her eyes fell on them, she froze slightly - her eyes widening in surprise.

Because honestly...

Both of them looked incredibly good.

Maya removed her helmet and handed it to Veer, then immediately stepped forward and pulled Anvi into a tight hug.

For a brief moment, both girls stood there happily.

By then, Veer had already walked up beside them.

"Wow, girl," Anvi said dramatically, pulling back to properly look at Maya. "You look completely different today. I can literally see the post-marriage glow on your face."

Maya rolled her eyes. "What nonsense."

Then Anvi's gaze shifted.

"Haye, Veer..."

Veer blinked, slightly confused. "You mean Hi?"

Maya let out a small amused smile.

Without wasting more time, the three of them walked inside together.

-

Inside the hospital room-

A faint antiseptic smell lingered in the air.

Kavya and Kunal were lying on adjacent beds. Only Priya was present in the room.

The moment Maya entered-

She walked straight to Kavya and pulled her into a tight, emotional hug.

Meanwhile...

Priya and Anvi remained standing there quietly.

Both of their eyes slowly shifted toward Veer.

Kavya looked at her warmly as Maya pulled back from the hug.

"How are you?" Kavya asked softly.

"I'm fine," Maya replied quickly. "And you? The pain doesn't hurt anymore, right?"

Kavya shook her head gently. "No..."

Maya's gaze then shifted to the other bed.

"And you, Kunal bhaiya?"

Kunal immediately raised an eyebrow, clearly offended in a playful way. "Bhaiya? At least now call me jiju. I'm going to marry your sister."

Maya folded her arms with a small smirk. "Then get married first... then I'll say it."

The room instantly filled with soft laughter.

Kunal shook his head, smiling, then his expression turned a little sincere. "By the way... thank you, Maya. If you weren't there, maybe the two of us wouldn't even be here together today."

Veer stood quietly near the side, listening to everything without interrupting.

Maya simply nodded her head in acknowledgment.

For a while, everyone kept talking - light conversations, soft laughter, the room slowly filling with warmth instead of the earlier hospital stiffness. Maya also introduced Veer properly to everyone. Time slipped by almost unnoticed.

-

Suddenly, Veer's phone started ringing.

He glanced at the screen and immediately stepped outside while answering the call.

"Yes, bhai."

On the other side, Atharva's calm but sharp voice came through.

"Where are you guys?"

Veer_"At the hospital."

Atharva_"Where is Maya's phone? I've been calling her for so long. She's not replying."

Veer leaned lightly against the wall. "Maybe it's on silent. I'll tell her."

"Told her , I am waiting," Atharva said, his tone turning firmer. "I told her one hour... it has been two hours now."

Veer_"Okay, I'll tell her."

The call disconnected.

Veer took a slow breath, then pushed the door open and walked back inside.

"Bhabhi."

Maya looked up. "Yes?"

Veer__"Bhai is waiting. He called you many times, but you didn't pick up."

Maya quickly slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the screen.

"Oh... how did it stay on silent?"

She stood up immediately. "Okay, I'll leave now."

Anvi's lips curved into a teasing smile. "What is this? You agreed in one go? Marriage is getting very serious, hmm?"

"Shut up, Anvi," Maya shot back, though there was no real anger in her tone. "He only gave me one hour and it's already been two... everyone else will get worried too. That's why I'm just leaving."

Hearing her, soft smiles spread across the room.

Veer watched their exchange quietly, then spoke, "Shall we?"

Maya nodded.

She hugged Kavya one last time... then Anvi... then Priya.

After that, she walked out with Veer.

-

As soon as they left-

Kavya looked toward the door thoughtfully.

"By the way... Veer is quite smart too, isn't he?"

Anvi immediately grinned. "Yes, di. All three brothers... very handsome."

Kunal instantly frowned in mock jealousy. "Kavya ji, please focus on me. I'm the one who took the bullet for you - not them."

The moment he finished-

The entire room burst into laughter.

On the way-

Maya's gaze suddenly landed on a roadside pani puri stall glowing under yellow street lights. The tangy smell of spices floated in the air.

"Veer!" she called out, lightly tapping his shoulder. "Do you eat street food?"

Veer glanced back briefly. "Yeah... why? Want to eat something?"

Maya's eyes sparkled with sudden excitement. "Shall we eat pani puri?"

A small amused smile appeared on Veer's lips. "Okay. Let's go."

He pulled the bike to the side and parked.

Within moments, Maya and Veer were standing in front of the pani puri stall.

"Bhaiya, two plates of pani puri," Maya said eagerly. "Make one extra spicy and tangy mix."

Then she turned her head toward Veer.

"How do you want yours?"

Veer_"Normal."

Maya_"Okay."

The vendor quickly began serving them.

With every bite Maya took, her eyes automatically fluttered shut - as if she had momentarily reached heaven. The flavors clearly hit her perfectly. She looked ridiculously satisfied.

Veer, meanwhile, kept eating quietly... but every few seconds his gaze shifted to Maya's expressions.

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

After a moment, he said casually, "Your nose has turned completely red... and still you're not reducing the spice."

Maya swallowed and immediately defended herself, "But... that's where the real fun is."

Veer didn't reply.

A few moments later, both of them stepped away from the stall, ready to leave.

That's when-

A jeep suddenly pulled up nearby.

A group of boys stepped out and walked toward them.

One of them casually threw an arm over Veer's shoulder.

"What, bro? You don't eat pani puri with us anymore?" he teased. "But you're eating with her... who is she? Your girlfriend?"

Another boy leaned forward, squinting at Maya.

"Bro, she has sindoor... definitely not a girlfriend."

The first boy's eyes widened dramatically. "You got married and didn't even tell us?"

Veer shot a quick glance at Maya, who was staring at them in complete surprise.

Then he spoke calmly, "She's Atharva bhai's wife. Not mine."

Instantly-

All four boys straightened.

Their expressions changed at once.

They quickly looked at Maya.

"Sorry, bhabhi... we didn't know," one of them said nervously. "Please don't tell him."

Veer let out a soft laugh. "Relax so much. Our bhabhi is cool."

Then he looked at one of them. "By the way, Anuj... what are you guys doing here this late?"

Anuj grinned. "What, bro... there's a race tonight. Did you forget?"

Veer slapped his forehead lightly. "Oh damn... it completely slipped my mind."

"Come on then," Anuj said quickly. "We were literally coming to your house to pick you up. After all, you're our champion. Good thing we found you here."

Veer shook his head. "Not today, yaar. I have to drop bhabhi home. I'll come some other time."

Anuj's face fell. "Don't say that, bro. There's a 50k bet on the line... and we already announced your name. If you ditch at the last moment, how will this work?"

Rahul jumped in, "Yeah, bro, come on. One of us can drop bhabhi... or she can also participate there!"

"Yaar-" Veer started.

"Bike racing?" Maya suddenly spoke.

Everyone's heads turned toward her.

Her eyes were shining with curiosity.

"Come on, Veer," she said, almost excited. "I've never seen a bike race. I really want to... it sounds very fascinating to me."

Anuj immediately clapped lightly. "See? Even bhabhi is saying. Now you have to come."

Veer looked at Maya uncertainly. "Bhai...?"

Maya was already pulling out her phone.

"I'll handle him," she said confidently.

With that, she stepped a little aside.

-

At the same time-

Atharva was already watching her live on his ipad.

Confused?

Actually... he had told Rana to keep an eye on both of them.

And Rana was sending Atharva pictures of their every single move.

Maya stepped a little aside and quickly dialed.

"Hello!"

A low hum came from the other side. "Hmm."

Maya spoke smoothly, her tone deliberately casual. "It might take some time here... Kavya di is insisting I stay, so it'll take a little longer. But we'll come soon."

On the other end-

Atharva's jaw clenched hard with anger, the muscles ticking visibly.

"Okay, bye! Don't wait," Maya added lightly.

And before he could respond-

She cut the call.

Atharva stared at the screen of his iPad, the live pictures still flashing one after another. His eyes darkened.

"You shouldn't have lied, wifey..." he murmured coldly. "You really shouldn't have lied."

-

Maya turned back, slipping her phone into her pocket.

"Veer, let's go! He said okay!"

Veer's brows lifted in surprise. "Wow... you convinced him in one go."

"Chal phir!" Anuj grinned.

"Tum log chalo," Veer said to the group. "Bhabhi and I will come right behind."

With that, the boys sped off.

A little distance away...

Rana quietly started following them.

-

Soon, they reached the race spot.

The place was already lit up with harsh white lights. Dozens of bikers - boys and girls - were gathered there. Engines roared in the background, the air thick with petrol fumes and excitement. Loud cheering, hooting, and whistles filled the night.

Cameras were set up everywhere.

The moment Veer arrived-

The noise level shot up even higher.

From the crowd, only one name echoed repeatedly.

"Veer! Veer! Veer!"

Maya's eyes widened slightly in impressed surprise.

"Wow, Veer... you have a lot of fans."

Veer smirked faintly. "If you watch properly... you'll become one too."

Maya's lips curved. "Sure devar ji."

Just then, a guy with a mic stepped forward.

"Okay, guys!" he announced loudly. "I'm Jame - your host, your buddy! And now... it's time to start the race!"

Cheers erupted.

"From this point to the checkpoint and back here again," Jame continued dramatically. "Whoever wins gets 50k... plus..."

The crowd leaned in.

Jame grinned wickedly.

"Mini's kiss."

Instantly-

A girl in an extremely short dress walked forward and stood beside him.

Maya's eyes widened. "Oooo..."

Beside her, Veer immediately lowered his gaze, clearly uncomfortable.

Within seconds, bikers began moving toward their machines.

Then Jame's voice rang out again-

"To make this race more interesting... all bikers can choose their partners!"

The crowd exploded into loud claps and hooting.

Veer went silent for a moment.

Then he stepped forward and stopped right in front of Maya.

"Would you like to join?" he asked calmly.

Maya blinked. "Me? Really? I get very scared... it only looks good to watch. How will I-"

"Try once," Veer said quietly, extending his hand toward her. "You might end up liking it."

For a moment-

Maya hesitated.

Then she took a slow, deep breath...

...and placed her hand in his.

A few seconds later, she climbed onto the bike behind him.

-

Soon, all bikers were seated with their partners.

Even now, Maya was carefully maintaining distance between herself and Veer.

Then-

A loud horn blasted through the air.

And in the next second-

All the bikes shot forward at once.

The road ahead was nearly empty, but the entire stretch was flooded with lights and cameras. The thunder of engines roared through the night. At the checkpoint areas, crowds were already gathered, cheering loudly.

Sometimes one bike surged ahead...

Sometimes another...

But Veer remained consistently in the lead.

At worst, he slipped to second - never further back.

Behind him-

Maya was completely immersed in the thrill.

Her fingers were tightly gripping Veer's shirt...

...but even now-

She was still carefully maintaining distance between them. She knew her limits.

On the other side-

Rana was standing at some distance from the race point, waiting for Veer and Maya. Cars weren't allowed inside the main racing stretch, so he had parked strategically where he could watch the road.

His eyes were alert... scanning.

Just then-

His gaze flicked to the front mirror.

Two cars were speeding down the same route from behind.

Rana's expression sharpened instantly.

He observed everything carefully for a few seconds... then quickly dialed Atharva.

On the other end, the call connected.

Atharva's voice came low and controlled. "Yes."

Rana spoke fast but steady, informing him of everything he had just noticed.

A brief silence followed.

Then-

"Handle it till I arrive," Atharva ordered.

The line disconnected.

Without wasting a second, Rana jerked the steering wheel and sped toward those cars.

-

Meanwhile-

Veer's bike cut through the night air.

He called out over the wind, "So, are you enjoying, bhabhi?"

Maya's voice came bright despite the rushing wind. "Yes... this is very adventurous!"

A faint grin appeared on Veer's face.

"By the way," he added casually, "you're the first girl to ever sit on Veer Raisinghani's bike."

Maya raised a brow behind the helmet. "Oh really? So you still haven't found me a devrani?"

"Maybe you should find one for me," Veer shot back lightly.

"Definitely like..."

Just then Maya suddenly twisted slightly.

"Hey! That bike just overtook- speed up, Veer! We have to win!"

Veer's eyes flashed.

The next second-

He increased the speed.

-

A few minutes later-

Veer and Maya were far ahead of everyone.

The road ahead looked almost empty.

Maya quickly glanced back-

Then her voice burst out excitedly.

"Yes! We won!"

Veer smirked slightly. "Only bhai can beat me. No one else."

Maya blinked in surprise. "What? He can do this too?"

Veer's smile turned knowing. "Everything, bhabhi... you got a lucky one."

Maya didn't reply.

But just then-

The distant roar of engines reached them.

Maya frowned.

"That's strange... there was no one till now-"

She turned back mid-sentence.

Her voice froze.

"Cars... here?! Cars are not allowed right?"

Two cars were chasing them at high speed.

Veer checked the mirror-

His expression instantly hardened.

From the car windows-Men leaned out.Guns appeared.

Veer_"Fuck!"

The next second-

Gunfire exploded through the night.

"God! Who are these people?!" Maya's voice trembled.

"Hold me tightly!" Veer shouted sharply. "And whenever I duck my head - you duck too!"

He twisted the throttle hard.

The bike shot forward even faster.

Bullets continued tearing through the air.

Maya was terrified.

The shots were passing dangerously close.

Her fingers clutched Veer's shirt tightly - so tightly her knuckles turned pale. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

This was the first time she had ever seen something like this.

-

Veer kept accelerating, eyes flicking between the road and the mirror.

Behind them-

Rana had already engaged.

His car aggressively blocked and rammed the pursuing vehicles, forcing their speed to falter again and again.

For several tense moments-

It was pure chaos.

The bike's direction changed sharply.They distracted from the race path...And went some other lane..

So did the cars behind them.

-

Then-

With precise calculation and cold focus-Rana took one car down.It crashed out of control.

Now only one car remained.

And it was still chasing Veer and Maya at full speed.

-

Inside the remaining car-

One of the men calmly adjusted his aim.A laser dot appeared......and fixed directly on Maya.

This time-

The bullet was certain.

Maya's eyes were already wet with fear.Sweat covered her skin.Her hands were shaking badly.

Even her voice had gone faint.

"Bhabhi! Are you okay?!" Veer shouted.

Maya couldn't answer.

Veer glanced back through the mirror-Her breathing was fast...and her eyes were slowly starting to close.

His heart skipped.

He quickly shifted one hand back and gripped her leg firmly.

"Bhabhi, no- please keep your eyes open... please!"

Maya dragged in shaky breaths.

-

Behind them-

The shooter was just about to pull the trigger-

When suddenly-

A third car stormed in from the left side.

Its headlights sliced across the darkness.

Before the gunman could react-

The man inside that car fired straight at the driver.

The bullet hit.

The pursuing car lost control-

And the next second-

It slammed violently into a roadside pillar and exploded.

The blast was so loud that both Veer and Maya instinctively looked back.

The vehicle was engulfed in flames.

And through that raging fire-

One black car came tearing forward at full speed.

Before Veer and Maya could fully process-

That car pulled up right beside them.

Both of them looked at the man. Maya's eyes were barely able to open, her vision still hazy and unfocused...

And that man was none other than Atharva.

The moment Atharva's gaze landed on them, his expression hardened. Jaw tight, eyes blazing with controlled fury, he ordered the car to be stopped immediately.

Within seconds, all the vehicles pulled over. Rana halted a little distance away, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings cautiously.

Atharva stepped out of the car, anger radiating off him in waves. Veer and Maya followed-but before Atharva could say a single word, Maya's vision swam.

Her body swayed.

And the next second-

She collapsed.

Atharva and Veer lunged forward at the same time, catching her just before she could hit the ground.

Atharva immediately dropped to the ground with her in his arms, his usually composed face now tight with panic. Veer rushed toward the car, hurriedly searching for water.

Atharva (shaking her lightly, voice strained):

"Maya! Maya! Open your eyes..."

Veer returned moments later, slightly breathless.

Veer:"bhai... there's no water..."

Just then, Rana came running and quickly handed over a water bottle.

Without wasting a second, Atharva splashed water onto Maya's face.

For a few long, terrifying seconds-

No response.

Then suddenly-

Maya's eyes flew open.

Maya (screaming in raw panic):

"I don't want to die... I don't want to die...atharva please save me please.!"

Atharva's heart clenched violently. He pulled her face straight into his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around her trembling body.

Atharva (soft but urgent, repeatedly stroking her hair):

"Relax... relax... everything's fine... I'm here... you're safe..."

A few steps away, Veer dragged a hand over his head and looked up at the sky, visibly stressed.

Maya kept crying in Atharva's arms, her fingers clutching his shirt like a lifeline. Atharva didn't rush her. He simply held her, gently rubbing her back, letting her breathe through the panic.

Rana and Veer stood silently, watching the scene unfold.

After a while...

Atharva slowly brushed the loose strands of hair away from Maya's tear-streaked face. With his thumb, he carefully wiped her tears.

Atharva (gently):

"Are you okay now?"

Maya gave a small, shaky nod.

Without another word, Atharva slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back and lifted her into his arms.

He walked toward the car.

Veer watched them for a brief moment... then quietly stepped forward and opened the back door.

Atharva was just about to settle Maya inside when-

Maya (gripping his shirt tightly, voice trembling):

"Please don't leave me... please..."

Atharva's eyes immediately shifted to her face.

She was still terrified.

A brief silence passed.

Then, instead of pulling away, Atharva got into the back seat with her still in his arms. His gaze lifted to meet Veer's through the door.

Veer understood instantly. He nodded and signaled Rana to load the bike into the car.

Within moments, the vehicle pulled away from the spot.

Throughout the drive, Maya remained tightly curled against Atharva, her fingers fisted in his shirt. Silent tears continued slipping from her eyes.

Atharva held her in his lap, his palm moving slowly and repeatedly over her arm in a soothing rhythm.

After some time, he gently tilted her face toward him.

Atharva (soft but slightly firm):

"Stop it, biwi... everything is fine now. Stop crying."

Maya (voice fragile):

"I-I-"

Atharva leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Atharva (in a low whisper):

"Shhh... I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. Okay?"

Maya didn't argue.

Quietly... she rested her head against his chest and held him tightly..

From the front mirror, Veer watched everything, his expression unreadable.

And slowly-

Very slowly-

Maya's breathing began to steady in Atharva's arms.

She was finally starting to relax.

Atharva, however...

He simply sat there-

Silently watching her.

""Well Dear Beautiful And elegant readers, i don't want to give any spoiler..but buckle up, because the story is about to take an unwanted twist...""