Reha silently backed herself into the corner of the bed, her knees drawn up, trembling, not from the cold, but from something far more dangerous. Fear. A fear she hadn't fully accepted until now… a fear of him. Of Ved.
Moments later, the door creaked open.
Ved stepped inside, calm but sharp-eyed. His voice was low and firm."Reha, we need to leave. Now."
She shook her head frantically, eyes wide, voice cracking as she pleaded, "No… please don't take me. I'm not going with you. I know what you'll do, you'll sell me off! I heard everything. Please, I beg you… Take the money! My father will give you anything, just let me go!"
His jaw clenched, and in just three strides, he was standing in front of her, not with rage, but with something deeper, something conflicted.
He knelt, his voice quieter now, but no less intense."Reha… calm down. The one who wants to hurt you, to destroy you… It's not me. As long as you're with me, nothing will happen to you. I swear it, I won't let anything touch you."
And the moment those words escaped my lips, something twisted inside me. What did I just say? Had I promised her protection? From my world? If the time came when I had to hurt her to protect his secrets… what then? Why did I tell her she's safe with me when I'm the one she should fear the most?
His own emotions turned against him—anger, guilt, something else he didn't dare name.
Reha whispered, her voice barely audible, "I don't have clothes. Where are we going?"
She looked up at him… and for the first time, trusted him. Not because he deserved it, but because he hadn't hurt her. Yet. That fragile thread of trust hit him harder than any bullet ever had.
He stood, steadying himself. "We'll get some before we leave. Or on the way. Don`t worry," he muttered, forcing himself to stay composed.
But deep down, he couldn't ignore it, this strange warmth inside him. It was unfamiliar… dangerous even. He should've been cold, detached. Instead, he was drawn to her. The girl who stood in front of him, numb… blank… unreadable. Like a broken porcelain doll, too damaged to feel, too silent to scream.
And yet, all he wanted was to understand what was going on in that fragile, terrified mind.
After some time,
Ved knew they couldn't risk entering a mall. Too many eyes. Too many chances she could slip away… or worse, be recognized. So he took her to a quiet corner of the city, a small, hidden shop tucked between shuttered buildings, the kind that didn't ask questions when cash was clean and words were few.
Inside, Reha's eyes lit up, not with joy, but with a strange nostalgia. She walked slowly past the rows of sarees, her fingers grazing the fabrics.
She picked out a few suits, a few sarees, classic, soft colors. Nothing loud. She didn't want attention. She wanted identity.
But just as they were about to leave, a thought tugged at her.
"Wait… I need something else," she said quietly, as if embarrassed.
Ved turned, raising a brow.
"What is it?"
Her voice was softer now, almost hesitant.
"The nuptial chain… mangalsutra. I have bangles, but without that… it won't look like I'm actually married."
He watched her. No dramatics, no demands, just that quiet understanding that even in this chaos, she wanted dignity. A place. A name.
"I'll get it. Just give me a little time," he replied simply.
They returned to the safehouse, shadows lengthening across the floor as evening settled in. The silence was peaceful, unnatural, even. And then, out of nowhere, Reha spoke.
She laughed, a soft, breathy sound that startled even him.
"You know, Ved… I always wanted to get married."
He turned, quietly watching her. She was staring ahead, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
"When I was little, I used to take my mom's dupatta, wrap it around like a saree, and pretend I was the bride. We'd play shaadi-shaadi for hours."
Ved didn't move. Didn't interrupt. Just listened.
Because in that moment, she wasn't the terrified girl in his custody.
She was Reha, just Reha.
The girl who once dreamt of a wedding that smelled like jasmine and echoed with laughter, not silence and sirens.
And for the first time, she wasn't afraid to speak to him.
To him.
He didn't smile. He couldn't. But something in his chest shifted, tightened.
She was sharing pieces of herself he had no right to hold.
And yet, she was giving them anyway.
He looked at her, looked, and wondered how many more of her dreams had been stolen before he even met her.
And worse… how many more he might destroy, just by staying close.
The very next morning, they left.
A new place, a new identity, quiet, distant from the chaos they'd just escaped. They knew the moment they stepped foot there, questions would follow. Curious eyes, probing smiles, neighbours never missed a chance to dig.
And right on cue, it barely took five minutes.
A knock on the door.
Ved was still inside, sorting through things. Reha walked up cautiously and opened it.
Two women stood there, all warm smiles and nosy glances.
"Hello, namaste! You've just moved in, right?" one of them asked sweetly.
"Yes, just arrived… and you are?" Reha responded politely.
"I'm Deepika, and this is my sister-in-law, Shikha. We live right next door."
Reha smiled, though guarded."Oh, lovely. Please come in."
The three women settled in the living room, exchanging pleasantries over casual talk. Deepika was pleasant… but Shikha?
Something about her was a little too interested.
And just as Reha was about to ask if they'd like tea, the bedroom door creaked.
Out walked Ved.
SHIRTLESS!!!
His jeans slung low on his waist, hair still damp from a shower, muscles flexing casually as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Reha, where did you put my T-shirts? I can't find—"He froze.His eyes landed on the two strangers."Oh… Namaste. You are…?"
Reha opened her mouth to introduce them, but she didn't get the chance.
Shikha was already on her feet, flipping her hair unnecessarily.
"We're your neighbours. I mean… I'm Shikha. If you or your wife ever need anything, feel free to knock on our door, okay?" she said, her gaze unapologetically fixed on Ved.
Reha's heart did a strange little clench.
Shikha wasn't just looking. She was devouring him with her eyes.
And Ved? Clueless. Absolutely clueless.He just gave a curt nod.
Reha stood up abruptly, her voice firmer than necessary.
"Thanks for coming by. We'll let you know if we need anything. But we're a little busy right now, unpacking. So…"
Deepika smiled, getting the hint.Shikha, however, lingered just a beat longer."Of course… we're neighbours now. We'll be seeing each other often."
Reha shut the door behind them and turned—arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"Ved! Have you completely lost your mind?! Who walks out like that in front of guests—half naked!"
Ved looked at her, genuinely confused."How was I supposed to know we had company? And besides, it's not like I did it on purpose. Anyway, can you just tell me where my shirts are? I've got work to do."
He walked past her, unfazed.
Reha stared at his bare back as he moved, annoyed, flustered, jealous… and far more distracted than she wanted to admit.
That woman. The way she looked at her Ved. It made something sharp twist inside her chest.
She muttered under her breath and went to the closet, yanked out one of his shirts, and thrust it at him.
He smirked."Thanks. You okay?"
She didn't answer.
Because if she opened her mouth now, she might just admit something she wasn't ready to say.
After some time, the house was quiet.
Ved had gone out, probably for something she wouldn't ask about. Something dangerous, something that belonged to his world, not hers. And Reha was left alone with the stillness… and her thoughts.
But today, she wasn't lost in fear.Today, she felt something else.A strange longing. A quiet rebellion against everything that had been stolen from her.
Her wedding. Her identity. Her choice.
She stood in front of the mirror, touching the red and white bangles on her wrist. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on the crimson saree neatly folded at the edge of the bed.
Slowly, deliberately, she draped it over herself, the fabric cool against her skin, hugging her curves in all the right places. She slipped on the bangles, applied a soft stroke of kajal to her eyes, and let her damp hair fall loosely over her back.
And then… the sindoor.
With trembling fingers, she took a pinch and pressed it gently into the parting of her hair.
She looked at herself.
Red saree. Bangles. Wet hair. Henna-stained hands. The fierce red sindoor burning against her dark hair.
She looked like a bride.
But not a shy, blushing one.She looked like a woman who had lived through hell… and still chose to rise in fire.
All that was missing… was the chain.
And just then, the door opened.
Ved stepped inside, closing the door behind him, brushing dust off his sleeves. He looked up, and froze.
His eyes locked on her through the mirror before she even realized he was there.
He stopped breathing.
There she stood, bathed in soft golden light, wrapped in red silk, every inch of her glowing. She turned slowly, and their eyes met.
His heart slammed in his chest.
She was quiet, unsure."You're back," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
He couldn't speak.
His gaze roamed over her slowly. Possessively. Like she wasn't just a woman in his house—she was his.
She took a slow step forward."I thought… if I never got to be a bride the way I dreamed, why not now?"Her lips curved into a faint smile."Just for a while. Just for myself."
He exhaled, eyes dark, voice hoarse."You did this… for me?"
She looked down."Does it matter who I did it for?"A pause. Then softly—"Maybe I did."
He stepped closer.
Without breaking eye contact, he pulled something from his pocket, a delicate black and gold chain.
Her breath caught.
The mangalsutra.
She stood perfectly still as he walked behind her, gently brushing her hair to one side. His fingers grazed her bare back, igniting shivers under her skin. The heat of his body behind her made her knees weak.
Slowly, he fastened the chain around her neck.
It settled right above her heart.
And in that silence… everything changed.
She wasn't pretending anymore.And neither was he.
Her voice trembled."Why does this feel so real?"
Ved leaned in, his breath ghosting her neck."Because it is."
His hands rested on her waist—firm, possessive.
"You don't belong in my world, Reha. But you've already claimed the part of me no one else ever touched."
She turned to face him, eyes shining, heart thundering."And if I told you I don't want to leave it?"
His lips were just a breath away from hers now.
"Then God help the world if it tries to take you from me."
And with that, he pulled her into him, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as her fingers curled into his shirt, the chain between them now more than a symbol.
It was a promise.
And this time, neither of them would run.