The morning arrived gently, sunlight spilling across the penthouse windows, painting everything in gold. The world outside was calm, but inside, two hearts were quietly shifting closer.

One heart — Reyansh's — was overflowing with love. To the world, he was the devil, a man feared for his anger and dominance. But to her, he was something else entirely. He was the shield, the protector, the one who would stand by her till the very end of the world.

The other heart — Aroohi's — was tangled in confusion. She lived in fiction, in dreams of love, but reality had taught her to build walls. What if she gave too much? What if he broke her heart? Those fears lingered, whispering doubts.

Yet, the way he looked at her, the way he spoke, the way he held her hand — it was different. He wasn't like the men she had imagined or feared. He was something more. Something real.

And as the morning light touched them both, it was clear: their story was only beginning.

The day in Goa had been nothing short of magical. From beaches to bustling streets, laughter echoed everywhere as the group explored together. By nightfall, they gathered on the terrace, the sky above glittering with stars, the sea breeze carrying a calm rhythm.

Riya's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned forward.
"Let's play truth and dare!" she announced.

Everyone nodded eagerly, their excitement filling the air. But Reyansh sat back, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He didn't seem interested, his gaze drifting away as if the game was beneath him.

Karan noticed and nudged him with a grin.
"Bhai, please... khel lo na. Aroohi bhi khel rahi hai. Please."

At the mention of her name, Reyansh's eyes flickered toward Aroohi. She was smiling softly, her innocence glowing under the terrace lights.

For a moment, he hesitated. Then, with a sigh and a faint smile tugging at his lips, he finally nodded.
"Fine... I'll play."

The terrace was alive with energy, the stars above twinkling as if they too were watching the game unfold. Vikram spun the bottle, and it landed on Arjun. He chose truth.

Karan leaned forward mischievously.
"Toh Arjun bhai... kya aapko koi pasand hai?"

Arjun froze for a moment, his eyes widening. The question hit deeper than expected. Slowly, he nodded.
"Yes... not just like. I... love someone."

The group erupted in surprise, their voices overlapping. Vikram grinned.
"Naam toh batao!"

Arjun hesitated, but then his gaze shifted toward Ishita. His silence spoke louder than words. Ishita's cheeks flushed, and the group exchanged knowing glances, the air suddenly heavier with unspoken emotions.

The bottle spun again, this time landing on Karan. He smirked and chose dare.

Vanya leaned forward, her eyes sparkling.
"Open your call chat. Call the last person you dialed... and say you love him or her."

Karan groaned, opening his phone.
"Arre yaar... ye toh puri bezatti karega meri."

The last call was to his friend Rohit. Reluctantly, he dialed and put the phone on speaker.

"Hi bro," Rohit's voice came through.

Karan cleared his throat.
"I want to tell you something."

"Okay, tell me."

Karan blurted out, half-laughing, half-nervous:
"I love you."

There was a pause. Then Rohit's voice came back, playful and dramatic:
"Oh, I also love you, darling! And I recorded this confession... I'll show it to everyone!"

Karan's eyes widened.
"Hey! Don't do this... it was a dare!"

But Rohit cut the call, leaving the group in fits of laughter. The terrace echoed with joy, teasing, and endless giggles.

The bottle had landed on Reyansh, and Ishita asked curiously,
"Reyansh bhai... aapki koi girlfriend thi?"

Reyansh's reply was calm, almost detached.
"No. I was not interested in them."

The group nodded, but before the silence could settle, Aroohi suddenly blurted out:
"Any boyfriends?"

Her words shocked everyone. The terrace fell silent, eyes widening as they turned toward her. She blinked innocently.
"Kya? It was a genuine question."

Just then, Priya, who had been sipping water, choked on her laugh and accidentally spat the entire mouthful straight onto Aarav.

Aarav jumped back, drenched, his expression priceless.
"Kya yaar, biwi... ye kya kar diya!"

The group burst into uncontrollable laughter, the tension breaking instantly. Even Reyansh's lips curved into a faint smile, while Aroohi hid her face, embarrassed yet amused.

Vihaan added with a chuckle,
"No... me, Reyansh, and Arjun never focused on these things. We just worked for our company."

The terrace was still echoing with laughter from Priya's water-spitting accident when Riya suddenly leaned forward, her tone curious yet mischievous.
"Waise Aroohi... tum shaadi closed ones mein kyun kar rahi ho?"

The question made everyone pause. Before Aroohi could answer, Karan jumped in with his trademark teasing.
"Haan, kya pata... Reyansh bhai ne toh bataya hi nahi ki unki marriage tumse ho gayi hai. Aur ye kisi aur ke saath bhag gaye!"

The group chuckled, but Aroohi's expression shifted. Her eyes lowered, her voice trembling yet firm.
"See... I don't want any extra attention. And when the time will come, we will tell everyone about the marriage."

Her words carried a quiet strength, but then she paused, her gaze flickering toward Reyansh. The emotions inside her spilled out, raw and unfiltered.
"And about cheating... it's simple. If he loves me, if he respects our marriage, then even if the most bold, the most beautiful, the most tempting woman stands in front of him... he will not feel anything. But if he can get attracted to other women, if they can get his attention... then he is not mine."

The terrace had fallen into silence after Aroohi's words. Her eyes glistened, her voice steady yet trembling with the weight of her emotions.

"I am the kind of person... if I am in any relationship, I will always want to make it work. I will give everything. But if I move back... I will never come again."

Her tone carried a quiet finality, a strength that made everyone listen without interruption. She paused, her gaze lowering as if she was speaking not just to them, but to herself.

"There was a quote I read once... the efforts you put won't always work out. Sometimes, you must show your absence. Salt is not in the menu, but if the food does not consist of it... you will feel its absence. So... be a salt."

Her words lingered in the night air, heavy yet beautiful. The group sat stunned, their laughter replaced by admiration. Priya's eyes softened, Riya's playful smile faded into respect, and even Karan — the joker of the group — was left speechless.

But it was Reyansh who felt the deepest impact. His gaze never left her, his silence louder than any vow. To the world, he was the devil, cold and untouchable. But in that moment, her truth pierced through him, reminding him that love wasn't about possession — it was about respect, loyalty, and the quiet strength of being someone's "salt."

The laughter slowly died down after Aroohi's heartfelt words. She sighed, brushing her hair back with a shy smile.
"Yaar... game continue karo. Kuch zyada gyaan de diya maine."

Everyone chuckled and the game resumed, spinning bottles, teasing dares, and playful truths. Eventually, the night grew late, and one by one they began heading toward their rooms.

Aroohi lingered behind, left alone on the terrace. The cool breeze brushed against her face, but her thoughts began to drift — toward the shadows of her past, the fears she had buried deep inside. Just as her heart threatened to sink, she felt arms wrap around her suddenly.

She froze. It was Reyansh.

Her eyes widened in shock, but slowly, instinctively, she hugged him back.
"Ansh... what happened?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Reyansh's hold tightened, his voice low but filled with emotion.
"Jaan... I know you are afraid. But I promise... I will make you believe that true love exists in real life too. And I love you."

Aroohi's breath caught. She stood frozen, her heart pounding at his confession.

Reyansh gently cupped her face, his eyes locking with hers.
"Jaan... you don't have to reciprocate now. When you feel it... then say it."

He pulled her into another embrace, holding her as if shielding her from every fear. After a long moment, he leaned down, pressing a tender kiss on her forehead — a vow without words.

Then, hand in hand, they walked back toward their rooms. The night sky shimmered above, carrying the weight of a promise that had just been made.

The terrace was quiet now, everyone had gone to their rooms. I stood alone, staring at the stars, but my thoughts weren't on the sky. They were drifting... slowly pulling me back toward the shadows of my past. The fears I had buried began to whisper again.

And then suddenly — warmth. Arms wrapped around me from behind. I froze, my breath caught. When I turned, it was him. Reyansh.

My heart skipped. Shock turned into something softer, something I couldn't name. I hugged him back, almost instinctively.
"Ansh... what happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.

His words came low, steady, and full of emotion.
"Jaan... I know you are afraid. But I promise, I will make you believe that true love exists in real life too. And I love you."

I stood frozen. His confession hit me like lightning. My mind went blank, my heart raced. Did he just say... love?

He cupped my face gently, his eyes locking with mine.
"Jaan... you don't have to reciprocate now. When you feel it... then say it."

Tears pricked my eyes. I didn't know what to say. My walls, the ones I had built so carefully, suddenly felt fragile.

He pulled me into another hug, holding me as if I was the most precious thing in the world. After a long moment, he leaned down and kissed my forehead. The touch was tender, protective, and it melted something inside me.

As we walked back toward our rooms, my mind was still spinning. His words echoed in me, louder than my fears. True love exists... and he loves me.

When I entered my room, I lay down on the bed, but sleep refused to come. My mind kept replaying the moment again and again — his arms around me, his voice steady, his words echoing:
"I love you."

It should have felt like a dream, like the fairy tale I always imagined. But instead, my heart trembled. The things I had seen, the stories I had heard, the betrayals I had witnessed — they all whispered against his confession.

They also said they loved... but after some time, those feelings didn't remain the same.

I turned on my side, clutching the pillow, my chest heavy. His words were pure, his eyes were sincere, but my scars didn't let me believe easily. I wanted to trust, I wanted to surrender, but the fear of being broken again held me back.

The night stretched endlessly, his voice echoing in my mind, battling against the shadows of my past. And somewhere deep inside, a fragile hope whispered: What if... this time... it's different?

NEXT MORNING

The flight from Goa landed in Rajasthan, and before anyone could ask, I slipped away. My phone had already buzzed with urgency — the hospital needed me. From the airport, I went straight there, my mind shifting into duty mode. Patients, emergencies, endless hours... the day passed like a blur.

But then, another message arrived. This one wasn't about patients. It was about them. About something I couldn't share with anyone.

When I returned home late that evening, I sat at the dining table, exhaustion heavy in my bones. Chachu looked at me with concern, and I spoke carefully, keeping my voice steady:
"Chachu... for medical research, I have to go to New York."

He nodded, calm, unbothered. It wasn't unusual. I had gone before — for research, for conferences, for meetings. To everyone, it was routine.

But inside me, I knew the truth. This wasn't just about research. This was about meeting them. The ones no one knew about. The ones I couldn't tell anyone about.

I lowered my gaze, hiding the storm in my heart. Outwardly, it was just another trip. But inwardly, it was a secret journey — one that carried both duty and mystery.

Packing the essentials last night had felt mechanical, but inside me, the storm was real. When morning came, I freshened up, carried my suitcase downstairs, and tried to keep my voice steady.

Karan bhai looked at me curiously.
"Aru... where are you going?"

I forced a small smile.
"Bhai, I have to go to New York for work. My flight is in two hours... I'm leaving."

I said goodbye to everyone, hiding the truth behind my calm tone, and walked out.

At the airport, I boarded the flight, my mind restless. Hours later, when the plane finally landed in New York, I stepped out into the cold air, booked a cab, and headed straight to the hotel.

The room was quiet, sterile, almost too perfect. I checked in, dropped my suitcase, and went for a shower. The water washed away the exhaustion of travel, but it couldn't wash away the thoughts racing in my mind.

Because this wasn't just about medical research. That was the mask, the excuse. The truth was darker, heavier. Them. The ones no one knew about. The ones I was close to now.

We were close... to our revenge.

I came out of the shower, wrapped in silence, and walked to the window. The city lights stretched endlessly, glowing like secrets waiting to be uncovered. I stood there, staring out, my reflection in the glass reminding me of the double life I carried.

To the world, I was a researcher. To myself, I was something else entirely. And tonight, New York wasn't just a city. It was the next step toward the reckoning we had been waiting for.

The knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. The hotel staff entered politely, setting down a tray of food and liquor before leaving me alone again.

I sat down, eating quietly, each bite mechanical, each sip of the drink heavier than the last. The silence of the room pressed against me, and soon I found myself drifting toward the balcony.

The city lights stretched endlessly, glowing like a thousand secrets. I leaned against the railing, the glass in my hand, and let my thoughts unravel.

What will happen if they all come to know the truth?

The truth of who I really am. The truth of how I look beneath the mask I wear. The truth that I am not the person they think I am.

I stared out at the skyline, the cold air brushing against my skin. To them, I was Aroohi — the calm, the dutiful, the one who always smiled. But here, alone, I was something else. Someone carrying scars, someone carrying vengeance, someone hiding a face and a past no one was allowed to see.

And the thought haunted me: If they ever discover it... will they still stand by me? Or will everything shatter?

The next morning, sunlight slipped through the curtains, waking me gently. I freshened up, but when I stood before the mirror, my reflection felt heavier than usual. My suitcase was ready, my mind already set — today, I was going to meet them.

But it wasn't just about the meeting. It had been so long since I last went there. That place wasn't just a destination... it was my father's dream.

I could still see him in my memories — working day and night, his hands rough, his eyes tired but determined. He built it with everything he had, every ounce of strength, every sacrifice. I had watched him pour his soul into it.

And then... that day. The day that took everything from me. The day that shattered not just his dream, but my world.

I touched the mirror, my fingers trembling against the cold glass. My reflection stared back, but it wasn't me. Not the me they all thought they knew. Behind the mask of calmness, behind the smile I wore for everyone, there was a storm.

I stepped out of the hotel, the morning air crisp against my skin. My car was already waiting. Sliding into the back seat, I kept my face covered, my heart pounding with anticipation.

The car stopped in front of the towering building. My face was covered, my heartbeat steady but heavy. One of my men walked beside me, silent, loyal. Together, we entered through the private elevator — the one no outsider ever used.

The ride upward felt endless, each second pulling me closer to the truth I had buried from everyone else. When the doors opened, the corridor was quiet, untouched, forbidden to most. My steps echoed as I walked toward the cabin.

I pushed the door open.

And there they were.

And then, I heard it.

"Pari..."

The name slipped from their lips, soft yet powerful. The name only they used. The name my father once called me, the name that wasn't known to anyone else.

For a moment, my mask shattered. My throat tightened, my eyes burned, and I held them closer. Because here, I wasn't Aroohi — the researcher, the dutiful daughter, the girl everyone thought they knew.

Here, I was Pari.

The one tied to them. The one carrying scars. The one walking the path of revenge.

And as I stood there, embraced by the only people who knew this truth, one thought echoed in my mind: Soon... everything will change.

We sat together, the air thick with secrets. I told them everything — about last night, about Reyansh's confession, about how his words had shaken me.

Silence followed, heavy and unbroken. Then one of them moved. He came forward, dropped to his knees, and held my hands tightly. His eyes burned with emotion, his voice steady but fierce.

"Pari... we all are here for you. If he loves you, it's good. It's beautiful to feel loved. But you don't have to worry. Because if he ever breaks your heart, you know us. You know how all of us can burn the world for you."

His grip tightened, his tone sharpened.
"We always told you — if someone troubles you, then end it. Kill them. Next, we will handle everything. But this time... it's not just about trouble. It's about your whole life."

I felt my chest tighten, my breath falter. Their words weren't just promises — they were vows carved in fire.

Another voice rose from behind, softer but no less powerful.
"Pari... no matter what you do, no matter what choices you make, we will love you. Always. Nothing can change that."

Their faces surrounded me, filled with loyalty, rage, and unconditional love. And for the first time since Reyansh's confession, I felt something stronger than fear. I felt protected. I felt wanted.

Because no matter what happened, no matter what truth the world saw or didn't see — they would love me. Always.

stay tuned for next chapter

bye 

lots of love from your 

author ikku