Dev was riding the bike while Ayaan sat at the back, lost in his thoughts. A familiar voice echoed in Ayaan's head: "Possibility of a bomb blast in the final competition. So I need your assistance." Rathore's voice kept repeating like a haunting reminder, making Ayaan's mind spiral into confusion.
Two questions kept running through his head: Should I stop Anaya from participating in the final competition? Or should I secretly work to prevent the bomb blast?
A voice snapped him back to reality. "Ayaan, is your mind messed up?"
Ayaan blinked and turned to Dev, who had spoken. He sighed before replying, "Dev, I don't know what to say, but immediately go to the hospital that Pooja shared with us."
Dev responded with a casual, "Okay, I'm not in the mood to make trouble. But be honest—do you have a crush on Anaya?"
Ayaan remained silent for a second, hesitating to answer.
Dev smirked. "I guess you don't have an answer. For some reason, I feel like you're forcing your feelings and convincing yourself about her. Still, I don't know what she saw in you."
Ayaan opened his mouth to counter, "It's not like that..."
But Dev interrupted him. "As your childhood friend, my only suggestion is—be honest with Anaya. No—be honest with yourself. Just like you, my brain is also messed up after hearing Rathore's words. I've prepared myself to take action, but you..."
Before Dev could continue, the bike came to a halt in front of the hospital. Without wasting a second, Ayaan rushed inside. His heart pounded as he passed through a high-level scanning machine alongside Dev, clearing the check without any issues. They approached the reception desk.
Ayaan barely took a breath before asking, "Which room is Anaya in?"
The receptionist looked at the records before responding, "Room number 304."
Without a second thought, Ayaan sprinted toward the room. Dev called out after him, "Ayaan, be honest—at least with yourself!"
----------
Ayaan entered the hospital room, his eyes immediately falling on Anaya. She was curled up under the blanket, her body trembling uncontrollably. By her bedside, Sneha and Pooja anxiously questioned the doctor, their voices filled with desperation.
"I checked her medical reports," the doctor replied, flipping through the file in his hands. "Physically, she's completely fine. But based on her condition, I believe she is experiencing severe mental trauma. It's as if she's lost something incredibly important to her."
Sneha and Pooja exchanged worried glances. "But she was fine just a while ago," Sneha insisted. "She was happy, smiling even—until suddenly, she just collapsed to her knees and started crying. Doctor, isn't there something you can do? Any medicine you can prescribe?"
The doctor sighed. "There is no simple cure for mental trauma. She needs time and support." With that, he turned to leave.
Before he could step out of the room, Pooja's sharp eyes caught sight of Ayaan standing at the doorway. Her expression immediately darkened as she stormed toward him.
"How many times did I call you?!" she snapped, her voice filled with frustration. "Why didn't you answer?"
Without warning, she raised her hand, about to slap him.
"POOJA, STOP!"
Anaya's voice cut through the room like a blade. In the next instant, she threw off her blanket and rushed toward Ayaan, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
For a moment, Ayaan froze. It was the first time in his life—other than his mother—that someone had embraced him like this. But more than the hug itself, it was the raw sadness in Anaya's trembling form that shook him to the core.
He remembered Dev's words. "At least be honest with yourself."
Slowly, Ayaan raised his arms and hugged her back.
In a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, he heard her murmur, "Please… don't leave me alone. Please… don't leave me alone…"
His grip on her tightened.
"I won't leave you," he assured her gently. "I'm right here. Please… calm down."
With his words, Anaya's erratic breathing began to slow. Little by little, the tremors wracking her body eased.
Still holding onto him, she guided him toward the bed, where they both sat in silence.
Outside the room, Sneha and Pooja quietly stepped out, giving them space. But as soon as they exited, they spotted Dev casually leaning against the counter—flirting with one of the nurses.
Pooja sighed. "Unbelievable…"
Sneha simply shook her head
-------
Inside the hospital room, Ayaan and Anaya sat quietly on the bed. The atmosphere was heavy, weighed down by unspoken emotions.
Without warning, Anaya leaned against Ayaan's shoulder, her body still trembling slightly.
Ayaan hesitated before asking, "What happened…?"
But before he could finish, Anaya's voice, soft and tired, cut him off.
"Please… let me take a small nap on your shoulder."
Ayaan's gaze lowered to meet hers. Her eyes—red and swollen from crying—held a sorrow so deep that he found himself questioning, What kind of pain could make someone's eyes look like this?
Minutes passed in silence before Anaya finally spoke again.
"I am an orphan…"
The words hit Ayaan like a sudden gust of wind. He stiffened, his breath caught in his throat.
Anaya continued, her voice laced with quiet devastation. "Ever since my childhood, I've lost everyone I cherished—one by one. My parents… the place where I grew up… the place I studied in… Even the people I trusted."
She paused, her voice wavering.
"I lost faith in my foster father. My uncle, Eshwar, the only one I saw as a father, abandoned me without a word. I lost everything. I am an orphan."
Tears slid down her cheeks, and Ayaan could only watch, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.
"I lost my purpose to live," Anaya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "The only thing keeping me going is my best friend's last wish. That's why I'm taking part in this competition… and also because of my dream."
She turned her head slightly, her tired eyes locking onto Ayaan's.
"My ideal future partner…" she said softly. "Ayaan,I already told you, your personality… it's so close to what I always dreamed of."
Ayaan felt his face heat up. For a moment, he couldn't find the right words to respond, so he simply remained silent.
Anaya, however, wasn't finished.
"Ever since I saw you on the train that day… I finally realized I had a reason to keep going."
Her fingers clutched his sleeve as she continued, "But lately, I keep seeing these sad dreams. And every time… I feel like you're going to leave me too…"
She tightened her grip on him, her voice trembling.
"I am an orphan…" she repeated.
Ayaan's mind raced. What dreams? He wanted to ask, but he could only listen as Anaya's emotions poured out.
"I know I'm selfish… but I don't want to be alone anymore. I don't want to be an orphan again…" Her voice cracked. "I've lost you four times already. This is the fifth… please, don't leave me alone again."
Tears streamed down her face as she broke down completely.
Ayaan didn't understand what she meant by 'four times' or 'fifth time,' but he understood one thing—Anaya was drowning in the same hopelessness he had seen in his mother's eyes after losing his father and older brother.
She's just like Mother… hopeless and lost…
Dev's words echoed in his mind.
"Be honest with yourself."
Before he could think, his body moved on its own.
He gently placed a kiss on her forehead.
The same way his mother used to kiss him whenever he cried as a child.
Anaya suddenly froze, her breath hitching. Slowly, her hand rose to touch the spot where Ayaan had kissed her.
Ayaan, his face slightly flushed, looked into her eyes and said with quiet sincerity, "I will not leave you alone."
A warm, tearful smile spread across Anaya's face. But instead of responding with words, she suddenly leaned in—
And kissed him.
Ayaan's eyes widened in shock as her lips pressed against his.
His first kiss.
When she pulled away, there were still tears in her eyes, but this time, they were mixed with a playful glint.
With a teasing smile, she whispered, "This is my first kiss too… so, you better take responsibility."