Chapter 38
2:07 AM.
Mumbai looked almost unreal from outside the penthouse windows.
Rainwater still clung to the glass buildings.
The roads below glowed gold under streetlights.
And my heart?
My heart felt like it was tearing apart inside my chest.
I stood outside Dhruv's penthouse door trembling.
My fingers shook violently before pressing the bell.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
I suddenly wanted to run away.
Because after what I had done today,
After slapping him.
After accusing him.
After letting Advik hit him,
How was I even supposed to face him?
But before panic could take over,
The door opened.
And Dhruv froze.
God.
The sight of him destroyed me instantly.
Blood had dried near his mouth.
Fresh bruises covered his jaw.
His knuckles looked injured too.
His black shirt still slightly crumpled from earlier.
And his eyes,
His eyes looked dead.
Actually dead.
Like something inside him stopped existing today.
The second I saw him,
I broke.
Before he could even speak,
I threw myself into his arms crying.
His body went completely rigid.
Like he couldn't even process what was happening.
I clutched his shirt desperately.
"I'm sorry..."
My voice shattered.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.."
Dhruv still hadn't moved.
Hadn't hugged me back.
Hadn't spoken.
Like he genuinely thought this was some hallucination.
Rain-soaked cold air entered from the open door while I cried against his chest uncontrollably.
Finally,
Very slowly,
His hands lifted.
One arm wrapped around me cautiously.
Almost fearfully.
"...Riya?"
That voice.
God.
The pain inside it nearly killed me.
I cried harder instantly.
Dhruv immediately pulled me inside afterward shutting the door quickly.
"Sit down."
His voice turned calmer automatically despite the shock.
Protective.
Familiar.
Like no matter how broken he was,
Caring for me still came naturally.
He guided me toward the couch carefully.
I noticed his hands trembling slightly.
Dhruv brought water immediately afterward.
I grabbed the glass but my hands shook too badly to drink.
Tears blurred my vision continuously.
Dhruv crouched in front of me instantly.
Concern replacing shock now.
"What happened?"
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And guilt ripped through me brutally.
Because this man suffered for weeks thinking I forgot him.
Then today,
I accused him of destroying my life.
I slowly placed the water glass aside.
Then suddenly hugged him again.
Hard.
Desperate.
Dhruv froze once more.
My face buried into his neck while tears soaked his shirt.
He held me tighter this time instantly.
One hand at the back of my head.
The other around my waist protectively.
"Riya."
His voice lowered softly.
"What happened?"
I pulled back shakily afterward.
And whispered the sentence that changed everything.
"I didn't lose my memory."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Dhruv stopped breathing.
Actually stopped.
His eyes locked onto mine immediately.
"...What?"
Tears rolled down my face continuously now.
"When I woke up in the hospital..."
My voice trembled badly.
"I remembered everything."
Dhruv stared at me like the world tilted beneath him.
"I remembered who I was."
"I remembered Veer."
"I remembered London."
"I remembered how I got kidnapped."
"And..."
My voice broke completely.
"I remembered you."
The room went dead silent.
Dhruv looked at me like he couldn't understand the words.
Like his brain physically refused believing them.
I held his face carefully then.
Bruised because of me.
Destroyed because of me.
"I remember our marriage."
A tear slipped from his eyes instantly.
Silent.
Broken.
"I remember our home."
Another tear.
"I remember Karva Chauth."
His breathing became uneven now.
"I remember you fasting for me."
He shut his eyes sharply.
And suddenly,
He pulled me into him so hard I gasped softly.
Like he was terrified I would disappear again.
His arms wrapped around me desperately.
Possessively.
Brokenly.
His face buried into my hair while his breathing shook.
And for the first time in weeks,
I felt home.
"I thought I lost you."
His voice cracked completely.
God.
That destroyed me.
I held him tighter immediately crying harder.
"I know."
"I'm sorry."
"I had to do it."
Dhruv slowly pulled back afterward.
Still holding my face carefully like I was fragile glass.
Then quietly,
"...Explain."
I inhaled shakily.
Trying to steady myself.
"When I woke up after the truck accident..."
My fingers tightened around his wrist unconsciously.
"My memory came back."
Dhruv watched me silently.
Every emotion visible in his eyes now.
Hope.
Fear.
Relief.
Confusion.
Pain.
I continued softly:
"I remembered everything."
"The kidnapping."
"London."
"You."
"Our marriage."
Then quietly,
"But when I opened my eyes..."
My jaw tightened.
"I remembered Advik."
Something dark flashed across Dhruv's face instantly.
"And my uncle and aunt."
Dhruv went still.
I looked away toward the rain outside briefly.
"When I was eighteen... I started dating Advik."
My voice sounded strangely emotionless now.
Because honestly?
That part of my life disgusted me now.
"He was sweet."
"Caring."
"Patient."
"Perfect."
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"What an actor."
Dhruv's hands clenched slightly.
"By twenty he started pressuring me into marriage."
I continued quietly.
"But I didn't want marriage yet."
"I had the company."
"I was young."
"I wanted freedom first."
Then softly,
"So I kept refusing."
Rain crashed harder outside.
My throat tightened remembering it all.
"One night..."
"I overheard them."
Dhruv's expression darkened dangerously.
"My uncle."
"My aunt."
"And Advik."
I swallowed hard.
"They were planning to kill me."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"I wanted to tell bhaiya."
Tears blurred my vision again.
"But before I could..."
My breathing became uneven now.
"They realized I heard everything."
Dhruv immediately held my hand tighter.
Grounding me.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Their guards caught me."
"Held me hostage."
"Advik knew killing me in London was risky."
"So he drugged me."
My voice cracked again.
"And brought me to India in his private jet."
Dhruv looked seconds away from murder now.
Actual murder.
But I continued softly:
"He planned to kill me here."
"Make it look untraceable."
Then quietly,
"But the pilot helped me."
Dhruv blinked slightly.
"The pilot?"
I nodded immediately.
"He realized something was wrong."
"He secretly helped me escape."
"And when I was injured..."
Tears rolled down again.
"He took me to the hospital."
Dhruv froze completely now.
Because suddenly,
Everything connected.
The hospital.
The coma lie.
The mysterious man.
I whispered softly:
"He was the one who told the doctors to lie."
"To say I was in coma for fifteen years."
Dhruv stared at me silently.
I nodded slowly.
"He wanted to hide me."
"Because Advik was searching for me."
"And he tried contacting bhaiya too."
My voice broke.
"But before he could..."
I looked down.
"He was killed."
Silence crashed heavily between us.
Dhruv looked horrifyingly calm now.
The kind of calm before bloodshed.
Then softly,
"When you woke up?"
I exhaled shakily.
"I genuinely lost my memory."
Dhruv's expression softened instantly hearing that.
"For six years..."
"I didn't know who I was."
"I didn't know my family."
"I didn't know my past."
Then my lips trembled slightly.
"But I knew you."
God.
The look in his eyes afterward nearly broke me again.
I touched his bruised face carefully.
"You became my home even when I remembered nothing."
Dhruv shut his eyes briefly leaning into my touch instinctively.
Then I continued quietly:
"But after the truck accident..."
"Everything returned."
"And when I woke up in the hospital..."
"I realized Advik was still around me."
"So I acted."
Dhruv looked at me carefully now.
"I pretended I forgot everything after the kidnapping."
"I pretended I didn't remember my years with you."
"I pretended I forgot the kidnapping details too."
Then coldly,
"Because I wanted proof."
The room suddenly felt darker.
More dangerous.
"I wanted them comfortable."
"Careless."
"I wanted them to think I was weak and confused."
Dhruv understood immediately now.
And honestly?
I saw pride flicker through his pain for one second.
Then finally,
He frowned slightly.
"Today?"
I nodded.
"I texted you to tell you everything."
His brows furrowed deeper.
"But when I reached there..."
My jaw tightened instantly.
"I saw Advik following me."
Silence.
"So I had to act."
Dhruv stared at me.
Understanding slowly crashing into him.
"The slap."
"I had to make it believable."
My eyes filled again.
"I'm sorry."
"The accusations."
"I had to convince him you were the target now."
"And now.."
"He thinks he's safe."
Dhruv watched me silently.
Then finally,
Very quietly,
"So what now?"
I looked directly into his eyes.
And for the first time since waking up,
The ruthless Riya Rajput and the soft Riya Malhotra existed together.
Dangerous combination.
Now my voice turned ice cold.
"We destroy them."
........
After a while
The penthouse had gone quiet again after everything.
Only rain tapped softly against the giant glass windows now.
And for the first time in weeks,
I could breathe.
Actually breathe.
Because I wasn't pretending anymore.
I wasn't lying.
I wasn't alone.
Dhruv sat on the couch silently watching me while I sat beside him trying to calm down after crying for almost an hour straight.
His hand still held mine tightly.
Like if he let go,
I'd disappear again.
Then suddenly my eyes landed properly on his face.
And my chest twisted painfully.
The bruises.
The dried blood near his lip.
The swelling on his jaw.
God.
Advik had hit him so badly.
And because of me,
He hadn't even defended himself.
Guilt crashed into me again instantly.
"Oh my God."
I sat up immediately.
Dhruv frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Your face."
I cupped his jaw carefully making him hiss softly.
"Riya, it's nothing.."
"It's literally blue."
I glared through my tears already getting up quickly.
"Where's your first aid?"
Dhruv leaned back watching me walk around his penthouse searching cabinets while muttering angrily under my breath.
And suddenly,
He smiled.
Small.
Soft.
Real.
Probably his first genuine smile in weeks.
I returned with the first aid box finally and sat in front of him on the carpet.
Dhruv spread his legs slightly automatically giving me space between them while I opened the kit carefully.
The domesticity of it all almost made me cry again.
Because this,
This felt like us.
Not billionaire galas.
Not royal politics.
Not memory loss.
Just,
Us.
I soaked cotton gently with antiseptic.
Then leaned closer carefully touching the cut near his lip.
Dhruv winced slightly.
"Sorry."
My voice broke instantly again.
Fresh tears filled my eyes.
"I hate myself."
Dhruv immediately frowned.
"Hey."
I shook my head crying softly now.
"You got hurt because of me."
"I slapped you."
"I let him hit you."
"And you just stood there-"
"Because you were scared."
His voice stayed calm.
Certain.
Like he understood me completely.
I looked down quietly while dabbing the blood away carefully.
The room smelled faintly of rain and antiseptic.
Dhruv watched me silently for a few moments.
Then suddenly,
A low chuckle escaped him.
I blinked looking up instantly.
"What?"
He leaned back against the couch staring at me with amusement now.
Honestly?
The sight almost made me emotional again.
Because I hadn't seen this side of him in so long.
"I still can't believe this."
I frowned slightly while putting ointment on his bruised cheek.
"Believe what?"
Dhruv tilted his head lazily.
"That my wife apparently has two personalities."
Despite everything,
I let out a tiny laugh.
Dhruv smirked immediately hearing it.
"There's one version who walks around scared of lizards and blushes every five seconds."
I glared weakly.
"And then there's this version."
His eyes darkened slightly now.
"The lioness who fooled billionaires for weeks."
God.
The way he said lioness.
Like admiration.
Like awe.
Heat rushed into my cheeks automatically.
Dhruv noticed instantly.
And burst out laughing softly.
"There she is."
I rolled my eyes trying to continue dressing his wounds despite smiling through tears now.
"Shut up."
"No seriously."
He caught my wrist gently stopping my movements.
"I genuinely got scared tonight."
I blinked softly.
"Why?"
Dhruv leaned slightly closer.
"Because suddenly my shy wife turned into some mafia queen threatening murder."
A laugh escaped me accidentally.
And God,
The way Dhruv looked at me afterward.
Like hearing me laugh healed something inside him.
His thumb brushed softly beneath my eye catching another tear falling.
Then quietly,
"I missed this."
My chest physically hurt.
I looked down immediately.
But Dhruv gently lifted my chin again.
"No."
His voice softened.
"Look at me."
I did.
And instantly got lost.
Because no matter how cold or dangerous Dhruv Malhotra looked to the world,
He had never once looked at me without love.
Not once.
Even today.
Even after I accused him.
Even after I shattered him.
He still looked at me like I was the most precious thing he had.
My lips trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry."
Dhruv shook his head immediately.
"You came back."
That sentence alone nearly destroyed me.
His fingers brushed my tears away carefully.
One by one.
Then softly,
"You came back to me."
I couldn't stop crying anymore.
Dhruv sighed quietly afterward.
Then suddenly cupped my entire face in both hands.
Warm.
Safe.
Home.
He leaned forward slowly kissing beneath one eye.
Then the other.
Kissing every tear away gently.
My breathing shook instantly.
And then finally,
His forehead rested against mine.
"I'll get you justice."
The promise in his voice sounded terrifyingly real.
Not emotional.
Not impulsive.
Deadly.
Because the moment Dhruv loved someone,
He became dangerous for them.
I nodded weakly.
And immediately hugged him again.
Dhruv wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me fully into his lap now.
Strong.
Protective.
His chin rested on my shoulder while I hid my face into his neck.
Then suddenly,
The idiot spoke again.
"You know though..."
I already knew that tone.
Trouble.
I pulled back suspiciously.
"What?"
Dhruv looked completely serious for exactly two seconds before saying:
"I liked the shy version of you more."
I stared at him offended.
"What?!"
He nodded shamelessly.
"Mhm."
"The one who used to blush if I looked at her for more than three seconds."
I gasped dramatically.
"I was literally plotting against kidnappers!"
"Exactly."
Dhruv smirked lazily.
"Very scary."
I slapped his chest immediately.
He caught my hand laughing softly.
Then leaned closer whispering near my ear:
"But honestly?"
My heartbeat betrayed me instantly.
Dhruv's voice lowered dangerously.
"I like both."
Heat rushed straight into my face.
And the bastard noticed immediately.
His smirk widened.
"There."
He looked genuinely pleased now.
"That's my wife."
I buried my burning face into his shoulder again while he laughed quietly holding me tighter.
And for the first time after weeks of lies, heartbreak and fear,
The darkness around us finally felt survivable.