London
The realization didn't hit immediately.
Not when she signed the divorce papers.
Not when she left the haveli.
Not even when she watched RIVAN walk away from the jet.
For hours, her mind had remained numb.
Like her heart simply refused to understand what was happening.
But then
the aircraft doors closed.
And for the first time
RIVAN wasn't there.
Not beside her.
Not somewhere nearby.
Not waiting outside.
Gone.
Completely gone.
That was when it hit.
And it hit hard.
Devyani cried the entire flight.
Silently at first.
Then helplessly.
The kind of crying that leaves your chest aching and your eyes swollen.
Every time she looked toward the empty seat beside her
her heart shattered again.
Because her entire world had revolved around one person.
One voice.
One presence.
One man.
RIVAN.
And now
nothing.
No familiar scent.
No calm voice telling her to stop overthinking.
No hand reaching for hers whenever she became scared.
Just emptiness.
The flight felt endless.
Hours and hours trapped between clouds.
Devyani barely spoke.
Barely moved.
Even Reyansh stopped trying to distract her after some time.
Because he knew.
No amount of jokes could fix this.
When they finally landed in London
she didn't even react.
Not even when she saw the foreign city through the window.
Everything felt distant.
Muted.
Like she was watching someone else's life.
Outside the private terminal
a convoy of luxury black vehicles waited.
Six cars.
Perfectly aligned.
Drivers standing beside them.
Professional.
Silent.
Everything looked expensive.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Yet Devyani felt absolutely nothing.
A day ago she would've asked a hundred questions.
Today
she simply followed Reyansh.
Like a lost child.
The journey through London passed in a blur.
Tall buildings.
Busy roads.
Historic architecture.
Bright city lights.
Foreign faces.
Everything rushed past the windows.
But Devyani only stared blankly.
Her thoughts remained thousands of miles away.
Back home.
Back with him.
Finally
the convoy turned through enormous wrought-iron gates.
The gates slowly opened.
And Devyani blinked.
For the first time since landing.
Because what stood beyond them looked unreal.
It wasn't even a mansion.
It looked like something pulled straight out of a dark fairytale.
A massive black-stone estate stood atop a gently rising hill.
The architecture was breathtaking.
Sharp gothic edges mixed with modern luxury.
Towering glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling.
Dark stone walls glistened beneath soft golden lights.
Elegant balconies overlooked perfectly landscaped gardens.
A circular fountain stood proudly at the center of the driveway, illuminated by hidden lights beneath the water.
The villa itself seemed endless.
Three sprawling wings connected together like a royal palace.
The rooflines rose dramatically against the cloudy London sky.
Every corner radiated wealth.
Power.
Prestige.
Yet somehow
it felt lonely.
Beautiful.
But lonely.
Like a giant structure waiting for someone to fill it with life.
The convoy finally stopped.
The massive front doors opened automatically.
Warm golden light spilled across the entrance.
And for the first time
Devyani looked genuinely overwhelmed.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Because she had grown up around the haveli.
She thought she understood grand houses.
But this?
This was another world entirely.
A world of glass chandeliers, marble staircases, private libraries, indoor gardens, art galleries, and luxury beyond imagination.
Reyansh stepped out first.
Then opened her door.
Home.
The word hurt.
Because this place could be beautiful.
Magnificent.
Extraordinary.
But it wasn't home.
A giant haveli.
And a room where she had left her heart behind.
The massive iron gates closed behind them with a deep metallic sound.
Thud.
The sound echoed across the enormous estate.
Devyani stood frozen near the driveway.
Her eyes slowly traveled upward.
And upward.
And upward.
The villa seemed never-ending.
The glowing windows.
The towering walls.
The elegant balconies.
The fountain sparkling under golden lights.
Everything looked unreal.
For a moment she forgot her sadness.
Forgot London.
Forgot even her own thoughts.
Because she genuinely couldn't process what she was seeing.
She took a long breath.
Then another.
The entrance hall alone was bigger than some houses she had seen.
A gigantic crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling like a waterfall of stars. Marble floors stretched endlessly beneath her feet, polished enough to reflect the lights above. Massive staircases curved upward on both sides like something from a royal palace.
She immediately moved closer to Reyansh.
Very close.
Almost hiding behind him.
Her eyes darted everywhere.
The ceilings were too high.
The hallways too wide.
The silence too deep.
Everything felt... intimidating.
Reyansh noticed.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
She folded her arms stubbornly.
The question was so innocent that he couldn't help chuckling.
He nodded.
Instant relief appeared on her face.
Because honestly
she was already missing familiar people.
Very badly.
Reyansh started walking.
Devyani followed.
And followed.
And followed.
And followed.
After nearly five minutes she stopped.
Actually stopped.
Reyansh turned around.
She stared at him.
He blinked.
Reyansh laughed.
"Devu."
She pointed dramatically ahead.
"There's more hallway."
They continued walking.
Long corridors stretched endlessly before them.
Elegant paintings decorated the walls.
Large windows overlooked beautifully maintained gardens.
Every turn revealed another sitting area.
Another staircase.
Another hallway.
Another room.
And with every passing minute
Devyani became more nervous.
Not impressed.
Nervous.
Very nervous.
Because this place felt powerful.
Foreign.
Unknown.
And she hated unknown things.
She glanced toward one particularly dark corridor.
Immediately regret filled her soul.
He stopped walking.
Slowly turned around.
She pointed dramatically toward a distant staircase.
Reyansh rubbed his forehead.
The farther they walked
the smaller she felt.
At home she knew every corner of the haveli.
Every room.
Every shortcut.
Every hidden place.
But here?
If someone left her alone she was absolutely getting lost.
One hundred percent.
No debate.
Her pace slowly slowed.
The nervousness finally settling heavily inside her chest.
She took a long breath.
Then another.
Her fingers unconsciously twisted together.
The question came out softly.
Much softer than her usual dramatic complaints.
Reyansh stopped walking.
Turned toward her.
And immediately saw it.
The fear.
The homesickness.
The loneliness.
Everything she was trying so hard to hide.
For a moment she looked very small standing there.
A girl thousands of miles from home.
Far from everyone she loved.
Trying her best not to fall apart.
She took another shaky breath.
The villa suddenly felt less like a home...
And more like a world she didn't know how to survive in.
After what felt like an entire pilgrimage through the villa, they finally stopped.
Devyani immediately bent forward, placing both hands on her knees.
She inhaled dramatically.
Another breath.
Reyansh stared at her.
She pointed accusingly at him.
A laugh escaped him.
Finally she straightened herself.
Taking one long breath.
Then another.
Trying to prepare herself.
The large wooden doors stood before them.
Elegant.
Massive.
Beautiful.
And slightly intimidating.
Just like everything else in this villa.
Devyani nervously fixed her saree.
Reyansh pushed the doors open.
Slowly.
The room beyond revealed itself.
And immediately
warm sunlight poured through enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.
The atmosphere changed completely.
Unlike the dark elegance of the villa
this room felt alive.
Warm.
Loved.
Lived in.
Comfortable.
The first thing Devyani noticed was the flowers.
Fresh flowers.
Everywhere.
White lilies.
Lavender.
Roses.
Small flower arrangements placed across shelves and tables.
The room smelled peaceful.
Like home.
Near the large window sat Jinal.
A soft blanket rested across her lap.
A book lay open in her hands.
Golden sunlight fell across her face.
Making her look almost ethereal.
For a moment
the entire intimidating villa disappeared.
Because the room felt different.
Like it carried someone's heart inside it.
Devyani blinked.
Then looked around.
Then back at Jinal.
Then around again.
And finally
very softly
she asked,
Reyansh's eyes moved toward Jinal.
Immediately his expression softened.
The tension left his shoulders.
The exhaustion disappeared.
Even his breathing seemed calmer.
And suddenly
Devyani understood something.
This was the first genuine smile she had seen on him since arriving.
He walked closer.
His gaze never leaving Jinal.
Then quietly replied,
A small smile appeared.
Reyansh asked.
Still looking toward Jinal.
Devyani followed his gaze.
He wasn't talking about the room.
Not the flowers.
Not the furniture.
Not the sunlight.
Not the villa.
The realization hit instantly.
And Devyani's expression became absolutely horrified.
She got confused.
Then she looked at Jinal.
Then at Reyansh.
Then at Jinal again.
Then back at Reyansh.
Like a detective solving the world's most obvious mystery five years too late.
Reyansh immediately sighed.
Reyansh pinched the bridge of his nose.
For the first time since leaving home
a genuine smile appeared on Devyani's face.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
And seeing that smile
The moment Jinal properly saw her
her eyes widened.
Completely widened.
For a second she genuinely thought she was imagining things.
Then
her eyes immediately filled with tears.
Happy tears.
Pure happy tears.
The book slipped from her lap.
Her entire face lit up.
The kind of smile that reached straight to the eyes.
The kind that only appears when someone precious suddenly stands before you.
Devyani's own eyes widened.
"JINUUUUUUUU!"
And just like that
all dignity disappeared.
She practically ran toward her.
Half stumbling.
Half sprinting.
Ignoring everything else.
Jinal instinctively tried to get up from her wheelchair.
Only to hiss immediately.
The injuries were still healing.
One arm remained supported.
Her shoulder still hurt.
And despite weeks passing
she wasn't strong enough to stand without assistance yet.
Jinal looked like she was about to cry and laugh simultaneously.
Then carefully
very carefully
Devyani bent down.
And hugged her.
Gently.
So gently.
As if she was afraid of hurting her.
"Jinuuuu..."
Her voice immediately softened.
Jinal closed her eyes.
Her good arm wrapped around Devyani instantly.
Her own voice cracked.
For a moment neither moved.
Just holding each other.
Like two sisters reunited after years instead of weeks.
Meanwhile
a few feet away
Reyansh stood watching.
Silently.
"Jinuuuuu..."
Reyansh blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then slowly rubbed his forehead.
Again.
"Jinuuuu..."
"Devuuuu..."
He looked toward the ceiling.
Seeking patience from God himself.
"Devu."
"Jinu."
"Devu."
"Jinu."
Reyansh finally shook his head.
Completely done.
"I travelled across countries."
No response.
"I arranged security."
No response.
"I brought her here safely."
Nothing.
Both women immediately looked toward him.
For exactly two seconds.
Then
"JINUUUUUU!"
"DEVUUUUUU!"
And they continued hugging.
Reyansh stared at them.
Absolutely betrayed.
"You know what?"
He folded his arms.
"I'm leaving."
Neither listened.
"Fine."
Still nothing.
"I could literally disappear."
Nothing.
"Wonderful."
Jinal laughed first.
Then Devyani.
Then both together.
The room filled with warmth.
Actual warmth.
The kind that had been missing from Devyani's life for the past few days.
she simply felt relieved.
Because someone familiar was here.
Someone who loved her.
Someone who understood her.
And as Reyansh watched the two women laughing together
he silently relaxed.
Because he had watched Devyani walk around like a ghost.
Quiet.
Heartbroken.
Lost.
But now
for the first time
there was life in her eyes again.
And honestly?
That alone made bringing her here worth it.
After a while, Jinal finally noticed Reyansh standing near the door.
Arms folded.
Watching them.
Waiting.
Patiently.
Well...
As patiently as Reyansh could manage.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment.
And without saying a word
he gave her a small look.
A silent signal.
Talk to her.
She needs you.
Jinal immediately understood.
A tiny nod followed.
"Hmmm."
That was enough.
Reyansh exhaled softly.
Relieved.
Because there were some wounds he couldn't heal.
Some heartbreaks that only another woman could understand.
And Devyani needed comfort.
Not solutions.
He glanced toward Devyani one last time.
She was already sitting beside Jinal now.
Curled up near her chair like a lost child who had finally found someone familiar.
For the first time in days
she looked slightly less alone.
That was enough for him.
Without interrupting
Reyansh quietly left the room.
Closing the door behind him.
The moment the door clicked shut
silence settled.
A comfortable silence.
The kind shared between people who don't need to pretend.
Jinal gently brushed a strand of hair behind Devyani's ear.
Her voice softened.
And that was it.
The final thread holding Devyani together snapped.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
Again.
Her lips trembled.
Then she looked away.
Then back at Jinal.
And suddenly
words started pouring out.
Everything.
Absolutely everything.
How RIVAN had decided to send her away.
How he wanted her to study.
How he wanted her to become independent.
How he made her sign the divorce papers.
How he stood there while she cried.
How he didn't stop her.
How he still kissed her forehead.
How he still told her to eat on time.
How he still worried about her.
How he still looked at her like she was precious.
And how that somehow made everything worse.
Because if he hated her
she could've hated him back.
But he didn't.
He loved her.
And still let her go.
Her voice cracked.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
A sob escaped.
Jinal remained silent.
Listening.
Not interrupting.
Not judging.
Just listening.
Another tear slipped down.
Jinal's heart broke.
Completely.
Because the girl sitting beside her wasn't stubborn today.
Wasn't dramatic.
Wasn't childish.
She was simply hurt.
Deeply hurt.
The confession came out as a whisper.
A broken whisper.
"He was my home."
Jinal slowly opened her arm.
Without hesitation
Devyani moved into the embrace.
Curling against her carefully.
Like she used to.
Jinal rested her cheek against her hair.
And held her.
As much as her injuries allowed.
Jinal asked softly.
Devyani shook her head.
That made Devyani laugh bitterly through tears.
Jinal blinked.
Another sniffle.
Jinal tried not to smile.
A pause.
Another pause.
Jinal finally laughed.
Actually laughed.
Devyani wiped her tears.
Looking extremely offended.
Now Jinal laughed harder.
And despite everything
despite the pain.
Despite the distance.
Despite the heartbreak.
A tiny smile finally appeared on Devyani's face too.
Fragile.
Small.
But there.
Because sometimes healing doesn't begin with answers.
Sometimes it begins with simply having someone sit beside you while you fall apart.
The room had finally fallen quiet.
After hours of crying.
Hours of talking.
Hours of trying to act strong.
Devyani had eventually lost the battle against exhaustion.
Now she slept.
Curled up on chair.
Tears still dried across her cheeks.
Jinal's heart hurt looking at her.
The poor girl had cried herself to sleep.
Again.
With a sigh, she picked up her phone.
And called Reyansh.
A few moments later
the door opened.
Reyansh walked inside.
Still dressed in work clothes.
His sleeves rolled up.
His expression tired.
The moment he saw Devyani sleeping
his face softened.
Just slightly.
Then he looked toward Jinal.
And immediately the softness disappeared.
Because unfortunately
the two of them were still fighting.
A very stupid fight.
A very annoying fight.
A fight that had lasted far longer than necessary.
Jinal instantly looked away.
Reyansh instantly noticed.
And instantly became amused.
Because she was acting like he was a stranger.
No eye contact.
No greetings.
No acknowledgment.
Nothing.
Jinal cleared her throat.
Reyansh raised an eyebrow.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
He stepped closer.
Jinal froze.
Immediately.
She glared at him.
"The bed."
A smirk appeared.
"My bed?"
Jinal looked ready to commit violence.
His smile widened.
Jinal stared at him in disbelief.
Reyansh rubbed his forehead.
Jinal immediately pointed at him.
Reyansh folded his arms.
Jinal's eye twitched.
The words slipped out before she could stop herself.
The smirk that appeared on Reyansh's face was criminal.
Jinal instantly regretted existing.
Jinal looked around the room.
Searching for something heavy enough to throw.
Reyansh looked far too pleased with himself.
Which made her even angrier.
Then his gaze landed on Devyani.
Sleeping on the chair.
Curled into herself.
Tear stains still visible on her cheeks.
The amusement disappeared immediately.
Jinal noticed it too.
The room grew quieter.
Softer.
Even their argument lost its fire.
Jinal looked toward Devyani.
Her voice lowered.
Reyansh's jaw tightened.
For the first time since he entered.
They weren't fighting.
Not really.
Just worried.
For the same person.
Reyansh walked toward Devyani.
Carefully.
Slowly.
As if afraid of waking her.
He crouched beside the chair.
For a few moments he simply looked at her.
Then gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Still sleeping.
Still exhausted.
Still heartbroken.
Jinal looked away.
Because seeing Devyani like this hurt.
And seeing Reyansh silently worried hurt too.
Finally she cleared her throat.
Reyansh glanced at her.
Without teasing.
Without arguing.
Without a single sarcastic comment.
He carefully lifted Devyani into his arms.
She immediately moved closer in her sleep.
Instinctively searching for comfort.
A familiar habit.
A painful one.
Because everyone knew whose arms she was actually looking for.
Neither of them said it.
Neither of them needed to.
The silence said enough.
Reyansh adjusted Devyani carefully in his arms, making sure she was comfortable.
She was completely exhausted.
Even in sleep, her eyelashes were wet from crying.
For a brief second, both he and Jinal looked at her silently.
Then Reyansh spoke.
Jinal simply nodded.
"Hmmm."
That was all.
No eye contact.
No proper response.
Just that stubborn little sound.
Reyansh immediately knew she was still angry.
A smirk appeared on his face.
The kind of smirk that usually led to arguments.
She immediately became suspicious.
Reyansh shifted Devyani slightly in his arms.
Then said casually,
("If you keep being this stubborn, then I won't help you change your clothes or help you bathe, understood?")
The room went silent.
Completely silent.
Jinal stared at him.
Absolutely horrified.
Then her eyes widened.
Reyansh looked completely calm.
Meanwhile Jinal looked ready to commit murder.
The smirk on his face became even bigger.
"Oh?"
Jinal grabbed the nearest cushion.
Reyansh immediately took one step back.
Experience.
Pure experience.
Because he knew exactly what was coming.
And sure enough
the cushion flew.
Straight toward him.
Unfortunately for Jinal
he was already moving toward the door.
The cushion missed completely.
"Fucking idiot!"
Jinal shouted.
Reyansh looked over his shoulder.
Completely unbothered.
The sudden concern only irritated her more.
Jinal froze.
For exactly one second.
Then pointed aggressively at the door.
The door closed behind him.
Jinal continued glaring at it.
For a full minute.
As if the door itself had offended her.
Then finally she muttered,
Yet despite all her anger
a tiny smile betrayed her.
Which thankfully nobody was there to see.
One week.
Just one week.
And somehow the haveli felt completely different.
Too quiet.
Too organized.
Too peaceful.
Which was exactly the problem.
Because peace wasn't natural in a place where Devyani existed.
No random questions.
No dramatic arguments.
No running through hallways.
No laughter echoing from room to room.
No one sneaking into the kitchen at odd hours.
No one following people around just to annoy them.
The haveli felt...
empty.
And unfortunately
everyone knew who felt that emptiness the most.
RIVAN.
The problem was
nobody wanted to discuss it.
Because the man had become terrifying.
The staff had started communicating through eye contact.
Half the servants were walking around like they were defusing bombs.
Even the security guards preferred staying out of his way.
In the main sitting room
Payal, Aradhya, and Rudraksh sat together.
The unofficial survivors' club.
Payal sighed dramatically.
Aradhya nodded immediately.
Rudraksh took a long breath.
Silence.
Then all three sighed together.
Payal swallowed.
Rudraksh looked toward the entrance.
Then toward the ceiling.
Then toward God.
Aradhya nodded seriously.
The large doors opened.
And RIVAN entered.
Instantly
the atmosphere changed.
Not because he said anything.
Not because he looked at anyone.
Simply because he existed.
Everyone unconsciously held their breath.
His footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
Slow.
Heavy.
Controlled.
He didn't greet anyone.
Didn't stop.
Didn't even glance around.
Just walked forward.
But for one brief moment
the light caught his face.
And everyone saw it.
The red eyes.
Not from anger.
Not today.
From exhaustion.
From sleepless nights.
From something much worse.
His jaw looked tight.
His shoulders rigid.
His face unreadable.
But his eyes...
His eyes looked like a man who hadn't found peace in days.
Aradhya's chest tightened.
Because she had never seen her brother like this before.
Payal whispered softly,
Rudraksh immediately looked away.
Because suddenly
the scary part wasn't his anger.
The scary part was how empty he looked.
RIVAN continued walking.
Not noticing anyone.
Or perhaps pretending not to.
Straight toward the staircase.
Straight toward his room.
The room.
Their room.
The room that now belonged to him alone.
The sound of his footsteps slowly disappeared upstairs.
Only after he was gone did everyone breathe again.
Payal exhaled first.
Another silence.
Then Aradhya looked toward the staircase.
Toward the closed door upstairs.
And whispered quietly,
The other two looked at her.
She swallowed.
Nobody answered.
Because they had.
And honestly
that scared them far more than his anger ever could.
Six days.
Six days and six nights.
Without her.
Without her voice.
Without her laughter.
Without her endless questions.
Without her stubbornness.
Without her presence.
Without my world.
The room felt wrong.
That was the only word for it.
Wrong.
I stood near the balcony, staring into the darkness outside.
The night wind brushed against my face.
Cold.
Silent.
Empty.
Just like the room behind me.
I slowly turned.
My gaze swept across the space.
The bed.
The couch.
The dressing table.
The bookshelf.
Everything remained exactly where it had always been.
The silence was unbearable.
I never noticed before how much noise she brought into my life.
How much life she brought into this room.
Now all I could hear was the ticking clock.
And my own breathing.
I exhaled slowly.
A deep breath.
Trying to ease the pressure crushing my chest.
It didn't help.
Nothing helped.
My eyes landed on a hair clip.
A tiny one.
Pink.
Carelessly abandoned on the bedside table.
I froze.
For a second I simply stared at it.
Then walked closer.
Slowly.
As if approaching something fragile.
My fingers picked it up.
The stupid little clip.
Worth almost nothing.
Yet somehow it felt more valuable than everything I owned.
A bitter smile touched my lips.
"Kitten..."
The word escaped before I could stop it.
No answer came.
No dramatic "Hmmm?"
No curious face appearing from nowhere.
No questions.
Nothing.
Just silence.
I closed my eyes.
And suddenly memories attacked.
Her running through the room.
Her arguing with me.
Her stealing my pillows.
Her sleeping sideways across the entire bed.
Her endless chatter.
Her laughter.
God.
Her laughter.
I could remember every sound.
Every expression.
Every habit.
Every annoyance.
Every detail.
And somehow...
The more I remembered...
The harder it became to breathe.
The urge was becoming dangerous now.
The urge to call her.
The urge to hear her voice.
The urge to book the first flight.
The urge to walk into London.
The urge to drag her back home.
The urge to hold her and never let go again.
It grew stronger every day.
Every hour.
Every minute.
I wanted to see her.
So badly.
I wanted to know if she was eating.
Sleeping.
Studying.
Smiling.
Crying.
I wanted to know if she missed me.
Even though I already knew the answer.
My hand tightened around the hair clip.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
The loneliness heavier.
I moved toward the bed.
Sat down slowly.
The mattress dipped beneath my weight.
My gaze drifted toward her side.
Still untouched.
Instinctively
my hand reached out.
Fingers brushing the empty space beside me.
Cold.
Not warm.
Not occupied.
Just empty.
A humorless laugh escaped me.
"Six days."
It felt like six years.
I leaned back.
Closed my eyes.
And for one reckless moment
I imagined opening them and finding her here.
Curled beside me.
Complaining about something ridiculous.
Asking fifty questions.
Demanding attention.
But when I opened my eyes
the room remained silent.
The reality remained the same.
I was the one who sent her away.
I was the one who signed those papers.
I was the one who let her leave.
And now I had to live with it.
Yet despite knowing all of that...
Despite understanding why I did it...
Despite believing it was necessary...
One thought kept returning.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Go get her.
My jaw tightened.
Go to London.
Bring her home.
Forget the plan.
Forget everything.
I shut my eyes hard.
Fighting the urge.
Fighting myself.
Because if I saw her right now
if she cried and asked me to stay
I knew exactly what would happen.
I would lose.
Completely.
And willingly.