Morning sunlight entered softly through the curtains.
Anaya opened her eyes slowly.
For a moment… she forgot everything.
Then reality hit.
"I'm in Kabir Malhotra's house…"
She walked downstairs quietly.
The mansion was still silent.
Too silent.
Like no one really lived here.
But then…
She heard something.
A soft voice.
A gentle laugh.
Anaya frowned.
"Kabir… laughing?"
That didn't make sense.
She followed the sound slowly.
Step by step.
Her heart beating faster.
She reached a slightly open door.
And what she saw…
Made her freeze.
Kabir was sitting beside a small bed.
A little girl was lying there.
Weak… but smiling.
His sister.
Kabir was feeding her carefully.
Blowing on the spoon so it wouldn't be too hot.
"Slowly," he said softly.
"You'll choke."
His voice…
It wasn't cold.
It wasn't harsh.
It was… warm.
"Bhaiya…" the little girl whispered, holding his hand,
"you won't leave me, right?"
Kabir's expression changed.
His eyes softened.
The same eyes that scared everyone…
Now held fear.
"No," he said quietly.
"I'll never leave you."
Anaya's heart shook.
"This… is Kabir?"
The same man who looked at the world like it meant nothing…
Was sitting here…
Afraid to lose someone.
She stepped back slowly.
But her foot made a sound.
Kabir turned instantly.
His face changed again.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Anaya felt nervous.
"I… I was just…"
Kabir stood up.
Walking towards her.
The softness disappeared completely.
"You like spying?" he said coldly.
"No!" she quickly replied.
"I just heard a voice…"
His sister's weak voice came from inside—
"Bhaiya… who is she?"
Kabir looked at Anaya for a second.
Then turned away.
"No one."
That word hit her heart.
"No one…"
Anaya lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
And turned to leave.
But something stopped her.
She turned back slightly.
And looked at the little girl.
Smiling… even in pain.
Anaya's heart softened.
"She's lucky," Anaya said quietly.
Kabir frowned.
"What?"
"She has you," Anaya said.
"You care for her… a lot."
Kabir stayed silent.
His expression unreadable.
For the first time…
No one called him dangerous.
No one called him cruel.
Someone saw…
His care.
Anaya smiled faintly.
"You're not completely bad."
Kabir's eyes widened slightly.
But before he could say anything—
She walked away.
That night…
Kabir sat alone.
Thinking.
Her words kept repeating.
"You're not completely bad…"
He clenched his fists.
"She doesn't know anything…"
But deep inside…
Something felt different.
For the first time…
Someone saw him…
Not as a villain.
But as a human.
And in her room…
Anaya looked at the ceiling.
Her heart confused.
"Why did it hurt… when he called me no one?"
"And why… does his pain feel real?"
A feeling she never expected…
Started growing slowly.
Not fear.
Not hate.
Something softer.
Something dangerous.