"Are you okay, Reha?" Ved's voice trembled with concern, but before she could respond, she fainted right in his arms.
In that moment, Ved forgot every wound, every drop of blood he'd lost. Nothing mattered except her. He picked her up with shaking hands and sprinted outside, where her father was waiting anxiously.
"Reha! What happened to her?" her father asked, his voice filled with panic.
Ved, breathless but composed, carefully laid her in the car's backseat. "She fainted, Uncle. Please get in—we need to take her to the hospital immediately."
They drove fast. Every second felt like an hour. At the hospital, Reha was quickly wheeled in, doctors rushing around her. Ved stood at the doorway, watching helplessly.
Then a nurse walked over to him. "Sir, your arm, you're bleeding. You need dressing. You've lost quite a lot of blood."
Only then did he glance down. His shirt was soaked in blood. Numbly, he nodded and followed her toward the emergency care room.
From a few steps away, Reha's father observed it all. He hadn't missed how Ved had protected her, how he hadn't waited for anyone else to act, how he hadn't cared about his wounds. And the thought struck him—not emotionally, but practically:
This man knew how to fight. How to protect.
He wasn't thinking about love or emotions. He was thinking about security—how Reha needed someone strong, silent, and skilled, especially with the kind of enemies the Oberois were now attracting.
And if Ved agreed… maybe he could be offered a professional role. Not as Reha's lover. Not even as family.But as her guard, full-time.
A protector who had already proven he would put her safety before his own life.
Everything was finally calm. Mr. Khanna's plan had failed, Reha was safe, and Ved, officially appointed as her personal security guard, was now living under the same roof. Not in her room, of course, but the one right beside hers. Their balconies, though, were conveniently connected, as if fate itself conspired for them.
The very next morning, sunlight filtered in through Ved's half-curtained window. He was still fast asleep, breathing steadily, his arm draped lazily over the edge of the bed, when Reha tiptoed in from the balcony.
She looked at him, messy hair, peaceful face, shirt half-rumpled. He looked so unlike the fierce protector the world saw.
Without saying a word, she crawled onto his bed, slipped under the sheets beside him, and wrapped her arms around his chest. Her body relaxed instantly, and she fell asleep within minutes.
A few hours later, Ved stirred, blinking against the sunlight. His muscles tensed the moment he realized a warm figure was curled up against him.
"Reha?" he whispered, confused. He looked at her hand resting on his chest and her leg lightly wrapped around his.
"Reha? What are you doing here?" he asked again, this time louder.
Her eyes opened just slightly, and she muttered sleepily, "This can create a lot of problems."
"Exactly! That's what I'm saying," Ved chuckled softly. "Ma'am, I'm your guard now. You're already molesting me. Should I report this or enjoy the crime?"
She groaned and turned her face toward him with a smirk. "Shut up. I just want to sleep with you peacefully. Stop being so dramatic."
Ved laughed under his breath, "Oh really? So this is peaceful sleep for you?"
Reha grinned mischievously. "No, this is peaceful—" and she suddenly peppered his face with kisses, his nose, his cheeks, his forehead… and finally his lips.
He didn't resist. Not this time. After all the fear, the chaos, the separation… this moment was theirs.
They lay there tangled in sheets and laughter, with sunlight dancing on their skin and hearts pounding in sync. For the first time in weeks, they weren't pretending. For the first time, they weren't running or hiding. They were just Ved and Reha—in love, under one roof, and finally breathing without fear.
And after some time, a familiar voice echoed,
"Reha?... where are you?"
The voice echoed from downstairs. Familiar. Too familiar.
Reha froze, still lying curled up beside Ved, her head against his chest.
Ved looked up sharply. "Have you heard that?" he whispered, his voice low but tense.
She sat up in an instant. "Yeah... It's Yash. Shit, Ved, it's Yash!"
Ved ran a hand through his hair, eyes darting toward the connected balcony. "You were supposed to be in your room, weren't you?"
"I know, I know! Oh my god—" She jumped out of the bed, grabbing her phone, straightening her hair in panic.
Ved got up too, helping her smooth out her wrinkled kurta, his expression torn between amusement and stress. "This is so bad, Reha."
"It's fine. I'll manage. I always do." She gave him a look—a mix of mischief and rebellion—before she slipped through the balcony and into her own room.
Just seconds later, her door creaked open.
"Hi Yash," she said, voice soft, innocent, like she hadn't just been wrapped around another man a few seconds ago.
Yash stepped in, holding a bunch of lilies, those damn lilies again.
He pulled her into a tight hug.
"I thought I lost you, Reha."
She hugged him back, but her eyes darted toward the balcony where a figure was just barely visible.
You thought you lost me? You lost me the day you let me feel alone in love, she thought.
"I'm fine, Yash," she said aloud, stepping back.
"Everyone's downstairs. If you're feeling okay, maybe come join us?"
"I will. Just... give me 10 minutes?"
He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Love you, Reha."
She nodded, keeping the words locked inside. As he turned to leave, she slowly made her way to the balcony again.
Ved was standing there, arms folded, jaw clenched, eyes stormy.
"Ved, I know it's—"
He didn't let her finish.
"I know, Reha. It's messy. It's wrong. But we'll fight it."
He stepped closer. His voice was low, but full of everything he never said out loud.
"I know you'll come to me... even if it takes time. And when you do, I'll be right here."
Her eyes welled up. Without hesitation, she whispered,
"I love you."
And he whispered back,
"I love you more."