Author pov...

Morning arrived softly, sunlight spilling through the windows as Deepak stepped out of his room in his police uniform, adjusting the sleeves with quiet seriousness.

Rajni looked up at him from the dining area and smiled warmly.

"Deepak, you're going on duty today?" she asked gently.

Deepak nodded. "Yes, Maa. There's some work... I'll have to go."

Rajni's expression softened with concern. "But beta, you should rest a little more. After yesterday's function, you must be exhausted."

A small smile appeared on Deepak's lips."I'm fine, Maa. Don't worry so much."

Just then, Alex walked out of his room lazily, stretching his arms.

"Good morning, guys," he said cheerfully.

Rajni smiled at him instantly. "Good morning, beta."

Alex's eyes suddenly landed on Deepak in uniform, and his face lit up dramatically."Wow... police uniform. You look hot Deepak."

Deepak nearly choked on his own breath.

The memory of last night flashed in his mind the conversation he had accidentally overheard between Alex and Deeksha.

Since then, he had been in complete shock after finding out Alex was gay. Even now, he still doesn't know how to react normally around him.

Clearly embarrassed, Deepak immediately turned to leave, but

Rajni stopped him."Deepak, what is he saying? Ask him what he wants for breakfast."

Deepak sighed internally before translating in English, his tone awkwardly formal."My mother is asking what you would like to eat for breakfast."

Alex leaned casually against the wall and grinned."I haven't thought about it yet... but if this beautiful lady cooks anything, I'll happily eat it."

Rajni laughed softly, not understanding the full English sentence but smiling anyway because of his sweet tone.

Deepak quickly interrupted before Alex could say anything more.

"Maa, just give him bread and tea."

Rajni shook her head with an amused smile."Alright."

Without wasting another second, Deepak walked out of the house, trying very hard to ignore the laughter coming from behind him.

Deepak reached the police station early in the morning. The entire building carried its usual restless energy constables rushing through corridors, phones ringing nonstop, typewriters clicking in the background, and the smell of strong tea floating through the air.

Deepak sat inside his cabin, focused on a case file spread open across his desk. His expression was serious, but his mind clearly wasn't fully at work today.

A knock came on the half-open door.

"Sir?"

Deepak looked up. It was Officer Jaiswal standing there nervously.

"Yes?"

"Sir... can I take a half day today?"Jaiswal said

"Half day?" Deepak repeated suspiciously. "What's the occasion?"

Jaiswal's face instantly brightened.

"Sir, it's my wife's birthday today. I promised her I'd take her shopping."

For the first time since morning, a genuine smile appeared on Deepak's face.

"Ohh." He nodded softly. "Then why are you even asking? Go. Spend time with her."

"Thank you, sir!" Jaiswal said happily and quickly turned to leave.

But just as he reached the door "Jaiswal."

"Sir?" He turned back immediately.

Deepak tapped his fingers lightly against the desk, suddenly looking thoughtful."Come here for a minute."

Jaiswal walked closer, confused.

Deepak hesitated for a second before speaking, almost as if the question itself embarrassed him."Yours was a love marriage... right?"

Jaiswal blinked in surprise, then smiled proudly."Yes, sir."

Deepak nodded slowly."So... how did your wife fall in love with you?"

The poor officer looked completely lost now."Sir?"

"I mean," Deepak said impatiently, "you proposed first, right? Then how did she start liking you back?"

Jaiswal scratched his head awkwardly and laughed."Sir, that story is very old now."

Deepak folded his arms."I have time. Tell me."

Jaiswal smiled helplessly before beginning."Sir... every morning she used to stand at the same bus stop near my colony. That's where I first saw her. Slowly I started waiting there just to see her once."

Deepak listened carefully.

"At first she never even noticed me," Jaiswal continued. "But I still kept going there every day like an idiot."

A faint smile tugged at Deepak's lips.

"Then one day," Jaiswal said, "some guy started troubling her on the road. He was blocking her way and saying nonsense."

Deepak's expression darkened instantly.

"I saw it happen," Jaiswal continued proudly. "So I went there and slapped that guy hard in front of everyone. He got scared and ran away."

"And then?" Deepak asked quickly.

Jaiswal grinned."And then, sir... after that day, madam started smiling whenever she saw me."

Deepak frowned harder.

"That's it?" he asked. "She fell in love because you slapped someone?"

Jaiswal laughed loudly."No, sir. Not because of the slap."

"Then?"Deepak said

"Because she felt safe with me."Jaiswal replied

The answer made Deepak go silent.

Jaiswal smiled softly, remembering his wife."Women notice small things, sir. Not big dialogues. Sometimes they just want someone beside them who makes them feel protected... understood."

Deepak looked down at the file on his desk, but he wasn't reading a single word anymore.

Jaiswal glanced at Deepak for a moment before speaking carefully. "Sir... your engagement happened yesterday too. You must love ma'am a lot, don't you?"

Deepak let out a soft laugh, but there was something tired hidden behind it.

"I do, Jaiswal. I really do." His smile faded slightly as he looked away. "But maybe she doesn't love me. And honestly... I don't even know how she'll ever fall in love with me."

The answer made Jaiswal uncomfortable. He had never expected someone like Deepak to sound so unsure.

Deepak noticed his expression and smiled lightly again. "It's alright, Jaiswal. Go enjoy yourself."

Jaiswal nodded and started walking

away, but after a few steps he suddenly stopped. Turning back, he said hesitantly, "Sir... if ma'am doesn't love you, then you should do something."

Deepak raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly should I do?"

Jaiswal's eyes lit up with a ridiculous plan. "Sir, there are one or two thieves in our jail, right? We can send them after ma'am. They'll trouble her a little, act rude... then you'll arrive at the perfect time, beat them up, scare them away. Ma'am will see all that and get impressed. Then she'll definitely fall in love with you."

For a second, Deepak simply stared at him.

Then he immediately shook his head. "No, no. I'm not doing any of that." A faint smile appeared on his face, gentler this time. "If she ever develops feelings for me on her own... that'll mean much more."

Other side Rahul stirred in his sleep as Rani entered the room to wake him up.

She pulled back the heavy curtains from the window, letting the morning light pour in."Rahul, wake up, beta," she said gently but firmly. "Don't you have to go to the station?"

Rahul sat up, rubbing his eyes groarily. The hangover from last night's drinks was still thumping inside his head, making his temple throb.

Noticing his disheveled state, Rani walked over and sat beside him on the edge of the bed. She took his face in her hands, her eyes filled with a mother's quiet pain.

"Why did you drink last night? I've told you so many times, no?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Rahul, cigarettes and alcohol... these are bad things, beta."

Rahul looked down, a wave of guilt washing over him. "Sorry, Mummy," he muttered, unable to meet her eyes. "I won't touch it again."

Rani sighed, a weary smile touching her lips. "You've been telling me the exact same thing for years, Rahul. But you never actually let go of these habits."

Rani watched him, noticing how he avoided her gaze, his eyes darting away in guilt.

She let out a soft sigh and composed herself. "Alright now, go and have a bath. Your father is waiting to have breakfast with you."

"Hmm," Rahul murmured, shuffling toward the bathroom.

Rani lingered in the room, her eyes following him until the door closed.

She began tidying up the mess straightening the sheets and picking up stray clothes. Suddenly, a diary slipped from the bedside table and thudded onto the floor.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she picked it up and flipped it open. Her eyes scanned the entries; Rahul had written extensively in English, and while the complex flow of words escaped her understanding, one name leapt off every page, repeated like a desperate prayer: Ishani. Ishani. Ishani.

A cold realization washed over her. Every single page was stained with that name. Rani's grief turned into a sharp, burning anger her heart hardening. She couldn't stand seeing him in this state because of that girl.

With a trembling hand, she shoved the diary back into its place, finished her cleaning in a blur of resentment, and walked out of the room.

Rahul emerged from his room, looking sharp and authoritative in his crisp police uniform. The family was already gathered at the breakfast table.

When Devnath looked up and saw his son, his face lit up with a proud, paternal smile.

"Good morning, Papa," Rahul said, settling into his chair.

"Good morning, beta," Devnath replied warmly.

Rahul glanced around the table. Bhavya hadn't joined them yet. Beside him, Divya stole a quick, lingering look at Rahul, but as soon as anyone else looked her way, she quickly averted her gaze, remaining silent.

They ate in a quiet domestic rhythm, exchanging only small bits of conversation. After finishing his breakfast, Rahul stood up, adjusting his uniform.

"I'm leaving for work," he announced.

"Bye, Rahul," Devnath said with a nod.

Rahul smiled back faintly. "Bye, Papa."

He walked out of the house, but the moment he stepped outside the building, a sharp pain throbbed through his head.

The effect of last night still lingered cruelly inside him. He pressed his fingers lightly against his temple and somehow forced himself forward.

Then suddenly... he saw her.

Ishani was walking toward him, her bag hanging from one shoulder, the morning breeze moving strands of her hair across her face.

The instant Rahul's eyes landed on her, his heartbeat lost its rhythm.

But Ishani looked at him only once... and ignored him completely.

As if he were nothing.

Rahul froze. Confusion clouded his face while he watched her walk past him without stopping, without smiling, without even acknowledging him properly.

He stood there silently, unable to understand the coldness in her behavior.

And even after Ishani disappeared into the distance, Rahul remained rooted in the same place, staring after her long after she was gone.

All the way to the police station, Rahul's thoughts refused to leave him alone.

Did I do something wrong?

The question kept circling endlessly inside his mind. Ishani had not spoken to him... not even properly looked at him. There had been no smile on her face, no softness in her eyes -nothing.

Just cold indifference.

And somehow, that silence hurt him more than anger ever could.

Rahul tightened his grip on the steering wheel, replaying the moment again and again in his head, trying desperately to remember if he had said or done something that had upset her.

But the more he thought, the more restless he became.

By the time he reached the police station, his mind was already exhausted.

The leftover haze of alcohol from last night throbbed painfully inside his head, and Ishani's ignorance only made it worse.

The entire day felt unbearable.

Even while working, signing files,

listening to reports, or giving orders, his thoughts drifted back to her again and again.

Her expressionless face. The way she walked past him as if he did not matter.

It ruined his day completely.

Mannat grabbed Deeksha's phone and dialed Deepak's number. Back at the station, Deepak saw Deeksha's name flash on the screen and picked up immediately.

"Papa!" Mannat's small voice echoed through the line.

A wide smile instantly broke across Deepak's face. "Yes, my princess?"

"Papa, where are you?"

"I'm at the police station, princess. Why? What happened?"

"Papa, you have to come! Mumma, Alex Uncle, Ishaan, Divya Auntie, and Vaibhav Uncle everyone is going out for a trip. You come too!"

Deepak's smile faltered slightly as he listened. "I won't be able to make it, princess. Papa has so much work to finish. You go and enjoy with everyone, okay?"

The excitement drained from Mannat's face, replaced by a heavy sadness. "Fine. If you aren't coming, then I'm not going either," she pouted, her voice dropping.

A pang of guilt hit Deepak right in the chest. He couldn't bear the thought of her staying back because of him. "Okay, okay, listen... I'll come. But first, tell me, where is everyone planning to go?"

Mannat started to explain, but in her excitement, she fumbled over her words, unable to finish the sentence.

Deeksha, who had been standing nearby watching the drama unfold, gently took the phone from her daughter's hand.

She gave Deepak the details of their plan, and after a brief acknowledgement from him, she disconnected the call.

Deeksha turned to Mannat with a playful scold. "Done with your drama? You're all dressed up and ready to go, yet you love emotional blackmailing your father, don't you?"

Mannat just let out a mischievous giggle, knowing she had won.

Just then, Divya walked into the room, adjusting the dupatta on her shoulder as she looked at Deeksha.

"Did you call Ishani?" she asked softly.

Deeksha nodded. "Yeah, I did... but she didn't answer."

A faint crease appeared on Divya's forehead. "Rahul isn't picking up either."

For a moment, silence settled between them. The excitement of the trip suddenly felt incomplete without the two of them.

Deeksha let out a small sigh before speaking gently, "Maybe we should leave them alone for now. We shouldn't force them."

Divya looked at her for a second, then slowly nodded. "Okay."

Soon, everyone finished getting ready. The house that had been quiet moments ago slowly filled with movement, chatter, and the sound of footsteps.

One by one, they stepped outside, heading toward the car, ready to spend the day exploring the streets of Delhi...

Vaibhav spoke again, his voice carrying both concern and helplessness."Divya, listen to me just once more. You're pregnant... walking around outside in this heat like this isn't good for you. You'll get exhausted. Your feet are already swelling. It's not that important for both of us to go right now we can always go later."

Divya, however, chose not to acknowledge his words. She kept her silence, as if his concerns were drifting past her without touching her.

Vaibhav stood there for a moment longer, watching her stubborn determination, and then slowly gave in.

He sighed, realizing he had lost once again to his wife's quiet, unshakable resolve.

Alex looked around in awe and said softly, "Wow... Deeksha, your India is really beautiful."

Deeksha smiled gently, a quiet pride in her eyes. "I told you," she replied.

Alex kept observing everything with curiosity, his gaze moving from one corner to another like a child discovering a new world.

Meanwhile, Mannat and Ishaan were lost in their own conversation, speaking softly, unaware of the world around them.

Then Deeksha's phone rang, breaking the moment. She glanced at the screen-it was Deepak.

She picked up the call.

"Where are you?" Deepak asked from the other side.

"At the Red Fort," Deeksha replied calmly.

"Okay," he said. "I'll come there in a while."

After some time, Deepak arrived.

The moment Mannat saw him, her face lit up.

She ran towards him without a second thought. "Papa!"

Deepak bent down immediately, lifting her into his arms. He pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek and asked with warmth, "Did you enjoy yourself, princess?"

Mannat nodded happily. "Hmm... a lot."

Deeksha stood a little distance away, quietly watching them. A soft stillness came over her eyes as she observed the bond between father and daughter the effortless love, the comfort, the belonging.

Ishaan watched Mannat and Deepak together, their happiness unfolding so naturally.

A faint ache stirred in his chest. For a moment, his thoughts drifted back to his own father, back to what he missed but never said aloud.

Vaibhav noticed the change in his expression.

He walked over gently and crouched beside him. "Ishaan... will you come in my arms?" he asked softly.

Ishaan looked at him for a second, then a small, hesitant smile appeared on his face. He nodded.

Vaibhav lifted him carefully into his arms, holding him close as if trying to fill a space that had quietly formed inside the child.

"Tell me," Vaibhav said warmly, brushing his hair back, "do you want something to eat?"

Ishaan spoke up, slowly naming what he wanted.

Without hesitation, Vaibhav nodded and made sure he got everything the child asked for, one by one, as if each small request mattered deeply.

As Ishaan's mood slowly lifted, Vaibhav felt a quiet relief settle in his heart.

Seeing the child smile again, free from sadness, brought him a sense of comfort he didn't fully have words for.

Alex slumped onto the bench beside Divya, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

"Tired already?" Divya teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "We've barely scratched the surface of Delhi!"

Alex wiped the sweat from his brow, looking utterly defeated by the North Indian sun. "No, no... I can't handle this Indian heat. Baap re baap! It's like standing inside a furnace."

Divya couldn't help but giggle at his dramatic flair. She handed him a cold bottle of water, which he accepted like a man rescued from a desert.

"Thank you," he sighed after a long gulp. He glanced down at her, his expression softening. "So... how many months along are you now?"

"Four months," Divya replied, resting a hand protectively on her stomach.

Alex's eyes widened. "But... your bump looks so big for just four months!"

Divya laughed heartily this time. "It's twins, Alex."

"Oh! Well, congratulations then!" Alex beamed, and Divya offered him a warm, glowing smile in return.

After a moment of silence, Alex looked at her thoughtfully. "You know, your husband... he worries about you

so much. It's quite sweet."

"I know," she said softly, her voice filled with a quiet affection.

"I wish I could find a husband like that," Alex mused, looking off into the distance.

Divya froze, her head snapping toward him in sheer shock. "What did you say?"

Alex let out a light, breezy chuckle at her stunned expression. "I'm gay, Divya."

Divya stared at him for a moment, her shock slowly settling into awkward amusement, unsure how to react to the unexpected honesty.

A sudden sound of someone being hit echoed through the area.

Divya and Alex immediately turned their heads and what they saw left them completely shocked.

Deeksha was there, angrily beating a boy with her slipper again and again.

Both Divya and Alex quickly stood up and rushed towards her.

"Deeksha... what happened?" Alex asked in disbelief.

Deeksha's eyes were burning with anger. "He was touching me... inappropriately," she said, her voice trembling with rage.

Without waiting for anyone to react, she pointed at him and said coldly, "Ruk... beta. Aaj ke baad tu aur kisi ladki ko galat nazar se bhi nahi dekhega."

She grabbed his hair tightly and hit him again with her slipper, her anger uncontrollable.

"Deeksha, stop! Stop it!" Alex quickly intervened, trying to pull her away.

Just then, Deepak also arrived there, having heard the noise, with Mannat beside him.

Seeing the scene, Deepak was stunned. "Deeksha... what is going on here?"

Deeksha pointed a shaking finger at the man, her face flushed. "Look! My fiancé is here, and he's an IPS officer! Your life is over now, you scoundrel!" She hurled a string of blistering curses at the man that made even the bystanders flinch.

Deepak stood frozen for a moment, shocked to see this aggressive side of Deeksha.

Alex somehow managed to hold her back and calm her down.

Deepak placed Mannat safely aside and moved forward.

The man tried to run, but Deepak immediately caught him.

"What did he do?" Deepak asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"He tried to touch my chest!" Deeksha yelled, breaking free from Alex.

She lunged again, landing a stinging slap across the man's face. Smack!

Watching the fire in her eyes, a sudden chill ran down Deepak's spine.

A thought flashed through his mind: Thank God I didn't listen to Jaiswal... this woman is a fire.

"Deeksha, that's enough," Deepak said, his voice firm as he stepped between them. "I'll take it from here. Step back."

The air remained thick with tension as Deeksha continued her relentless barrage of curses, her voice echoing until the local police finally arrived to haul the man away. Her fury was like an uncontainable wildfire.

"Enough, Deeksha! Just stop it now," Deepak intervened, his voice stern but laced with concern. "Look at Mannat. She's watching you. What will she think, seeing her mother like this, shouting such things?"

The mention of her daughter acted like a cold splash of water. Deeksha's tirade died in her throat.

She turned her gaze toward Mannat, who stood a few feet away, frozen in fear, her wide eyes fixed on the mother she barely recognized in that moment of rage.

Suddenly, the anger drained out of Deeksha, replaced by a hollow ache.

The adrenaline vanished, leaving only trembling hands and a heavy heart. She broke down, the tears flowing freely now.

"Now why are you crying?" Deepak asked, his tone softening as he watched her crumble.

"It's... it's nothing," Deeksha choked out, unable to find the words to explain the mix of violation and maternal guilt swirling inside her.

Alex stepped forward, his touch gentle as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Shhh... let it go. He's gone now. Everything is alright. You're safe."

Deeksha gave a small, shaky nod, dabbing at her eyes with the corner of her dupatta. She took a deep breath, composed herself as best she could, and walked toward her daughter.

Kneeling on the dusty ground, she pulled Mannat into a fierce, protective embrace, seeking solace in the small, warm life.

"We should head back now, Deepak," Alex whispered, glancing toward

Deeksha with a worried frown. "She isn't herself. This has shaken her."

Deepak nodded solemnly. "I agree."

Divya quickly pulled out her phone to call Vaibhav, who had been busy exploring with little Ishaan. Within minutes, the group reunited and began the quiet journey home.

Throughout the ride, Deepak's eyes kept drifting toward Deeksha. He desperately wanted to reach out, to offer a comforting word or a steady hand, but she remained distant, her gaze fixed out the window, wrapped in a cold, stony silence.

When they finally arrived, a heavy stillness hung over the house.

Deeksha took Mannat's hand, her movements mechanical, while Deepak followed close behind carrying a sleepy Ishaan.

They tucked the children into bed exhausted from the day's trauma and travel, the little ones drifted off almost instantly.

Deeksha leaned down, pressing a lingering, tender kiss onto Mannat's forehead before slipping out of the room.

Deepak was waiting in the hallway. "Are you really okay, Deeksha?"

"I'm fine," she replied shortly, her voice devoid of emotion.

She retreated into her bedroom and headed straight for the washroom.

She splashed cold water on her face, trying to wash away the memory of the man's touch and her own explosive rage.

After changing into fresh, comfortable clothes, she stepped back into the room, only to find Deepak sitting on the edge of her bed.

She stopped in her tracks, surprised to see him still there. "You haven't gone home yet?"

Deepak looked up at her, his eyes filled with an unspoken depth of concern. "I was worried about you. I couldn't just leave."

Deeksha sighed, the exhaustion finally showing in the slump of her shoulders. "I'm alright, Deepak. Truly. You should go."

Deepak didn't move. Instead, he reached out and caught her wrist, pulling her toward him with a sudden, firm tug.

Caught off guard, Deeksha stumbled, falling right into his arms as he reclined back onto the bed, pulling her into a tight, protective embrace.

"What are you doing, Deepak?" she protested, her voice muffled against his chest. She struggled feebly to pull away. "Let me go... I'm not in the right frame of mind for this."

Deepak didn't release his hold. He gently cupped her face with his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze.

His eyes were dark with a mixture of simmering rage and raw empathy. "Where did he touch you, Deeksha? Tell me."

At his words, the dam finally broke.

The trauma she had been trying to suppress came rushing back, and she began to sob uncontrollably.

Deepak tenderly brushed away her tears with his thumb, his gaze unwavering. "Tell me," he whispered again.

"He... he grabbed my breasts," she choked out, her voice trembling with disgust and shame. "It felt so foul, Deepak... I felt so dirty."

Deepak tenderly wiped away her tears, his thumb lingering on her cheek.

"Shh... don't cry," he murmured, his voice hardening with a protective edge. "I'm going to ensure he regrets the day he was born. How dare he lay a finger on my Deeksha? My Deeksha is so precious, yet so incredibly strong a woman who knows how to stand her ground."

Deeksha let out a small, watery chuckle despite herself. She looked at him, a faint glint of her usual spirit returning to her eyes. "Where did you learn to talk like this? You're treating me like a small child, Deepak."

In response, Deepak leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss upon her closed eyelids.

"To me, you are exactly that," he whispered against her skin. "You are my world, someone I feel the need to shield from every evil, someone I want to protect, cherish, and love forever."

A warm flush of crimson crept up Deeksha's neck, her heart fluttering at his confession.

She tried to pull away, her lips curling into a shy blush. "Enough now," she stammered, gently pushing against his chest. "Let me go and head home. I'm fine now, really."

"Why?" Deepak asked, his voice dropping to a low, husky murmur. "Is being near me such a problem for you?"

"No, it's not that, but-"

"But what?" Deepak interrupted softly, his gaze searching hers. "You're always running away from me, Deeksha. Always putting up these walls. If you never stay by my side, if you never spend these quiet moments with me, how will you ever let yourself fall in love with me?"

Deeksha looked up at him, silenced by the sheer honesty in his eyes. The resistance she had been clinging to finally crumbled.

Slowly, almost shyly, she leaned forward and tucked her face into the crook of his neck, resting her head against his broad chest.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the steady thrum of his heartbeat. "Stay here. Don't go anywhere tonight."

"I'm not going anywhere," Deepak promised. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her into a fierce, protective embrace that made the rest of the world and the shadows of the day simply fade away.

Deeksha's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm fueled by his proximity.

The masculine scent of his cologne filled her senses, and the radiating warmth of his body felt like a sanctuary she didn't want to leave.

But the moment was shattered by the sharp, insistent trill of her phone.

She shifted, trying to sit up. "Deepak, my phone..."

"Ignore it," Deepak groaned, his grip tightening slightly. "Please, just stay like this."

"Let me just check once," Deeksha insisted, her voice soft. "What if it's something important?"

Deepak let out a defeated sigh and reluctantly released her. Deeksha reached for her phone and saw

Ishani's name flashing on the screen. She picked up quickly.

"Deeksha, I'm going to be very late today," Ishani said, sounding exhausted. "The college work is piling up. Please look after Ishaan, okay?"

"Don't worry, Di. Ishaan is fine, he's already asleep. You take your time," Deeksha reassured her.

As soon as the call ended, Deepak looked at her, a boyish charm in his eyes as he opened his arms wide. "Talked out? Now, come back."

Deeksha couldn't suppress a smile. She crawled back into the safety of his embrace, and he instantly pulled her in, locking her against him.

But as they settled, Deeksha felt a distinct, hard buldge against her thigh.

"Deepak..." she whispered, her face turning crimson. "Your... your dick is poking me."

Deepak didn't look away instead, a playful yet husky edge entered his voice. "Well, when you're lying this close to me, how do you expect me to control my desires?"

Deeksha let out a soft gasp of shyness, burying her burning face deep into his chest to hide her blush.

"Don't move around too much," Deepak warned with a low, teasing chuckle, "otherwise, you're the one who's going to have to deal with the consequences of what you've started."

The room had fallen into a heavy, peaceful stillness, and eventually, exhaustion claimed them both.

But the peace was short-lived. The sudden, rhythmic drumming of heavy rain against the windowpane pulled them back from the brink of sleep.

Deeksha stirred, her eyes fluttering open to see the dark clouds weeping outside. Beneath the sheets, she was acutely aware that Deepak's dick was still pressing firmly against her.

A surge of heat shot through her, and she instinctively clenched her thighs, trying to create some distance. She attempted to sit up, but Deepak's arm was like a lead bar across her waist, refusing to budge.

She looked up at him his eyes were closed, his breathing steady, yet his grip remained possessive. She tried to pry his hand away, but he only pulled her closer.

"Deepak, wake up," she whispered urgently, shaking his shoulder. "Deepak, let go... I need to go."

Deepak's eyes snapped open, dark and heavy with lingering sleep and unspent desire. "Go where?" he murmured, his voice thick.

"I need to check on Mannat," Deeksha said breathlessly. "The rain... she might be scared. I need to see if she's sleeping okay."

Deepak didn't answer with words. Instead, he pulled her upward, his gaze locked on her lips with a raw, undeniable hunger.

Before she could protest, he captured her mouth in a fierce, commanding kiss. It wasn't gentle it was a storm of its own strong, desperate, and overwhelming.

Deeksha's heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird, and despite her mission, she found herself responding, her fingers tangling in his hair as they lost themselves in the friction of the moment.

The world outside vanished until a small, trembling voice drifted through the door.

"Mumma..."

The spell broke instantly. They pulled apart, breathless and flushed, the silver thread of the kiss snapping between them.

"See?" Deeksha panted, her eyes wide with maternal instinct. "I told you. She gets terrified of the rain. Now let me go!"

Deepak let out a long, frustrated sigh, finally releasing his hold. He slumped back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling in defeat.

Deeksha scrambled off the bed, hurriedly smoothing down her crumpled clothes and tucking her hair behind her ears before rushing out of the room.

Left alone in the dim light, Deepak looked down at the prominent bulge straining against his pant.

He let out a low, pained groan, burying his face in his hands as the cold rain continued to mock him from outside.

Ishani was coming back from college in an auto. The rain was pouring heavily and the whole road had become pitch dark. Suddenly, the auto stopped with a jerk.

"What happened, Bhaiya?" Ishani asked, getting worried.

The auto-driver checked and said, "Madam, the tyre is punctured. It won't move now."

Ishani looked outside. She felt a chill of fear. Not a single car or person was visible on the road. "But how will I go home now?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"You call someone from your home to pick you up. I can't take the auto further," the driver replied.

Ishani sighed and took out her phone, but her heart sank the battery was dead and the phone was switched off. "Bhaiya, do you have a phone?"

"No madam, I don't have one," he said.

Ishani was now officially terrified. She was all alone on a deserted road in the middle of the night. She sat in the auto for a while, hoping the rain would stop.

Finally, the driver said, "Madam, I am leaving the auto here and going home. You also figure something out."

"Bhaiya, please don't leave me alone like this! I'm scared," Ishani pleaded.

"Madam, even I can't wait here forever. Do one thing, start walking slowly. You will definitely find some lift or vehicles on the way." Driver said.

The auto driver put his shirt over his head to shield himself from the rain and walked away. Ishani watched him go, feeling completely helpless.

She tightened the grip on her bag straps and started walking on the soaking wet road. Within minutes, she was drenched from head to toe.

Suddenly, she felt a prickle at the back of her neck the feeling that someone was following her. Her heart started racing.

She picked up her pace, staring straight ahead, too scared to even look back. In her rush to escape, her foot twisted on the uneven road and she went down hard.

Pain shot through her ankle, and she couldn't get back up.

Two shadows approached her. As they got closer, Ishani's blood ran cold. It was the same auto driver, and he had another guy with him.

They grabbed her arms roughly.

"Leave me! What are you doing? Let me go!" Ishani screamed, struggling with all her might.

But they were too strong and started dragging her towards the thick bushes and trees at the side of the road.

"Help! Please, someone help me!" she shrieked.

The auto driver let out a disgusting laugh. "No one is coming to save you on this road, madam. Why do you think I brought you this way?"

Ishani's world turned upside down with terror. "Please, I beg you, let me go!"

The other guy reached out and pulled at her pallu. Ishani immediately crossed her arms over her chest, sobbing and screaming for help. Smack!

The auto driver delivered a hard slap across her face.

"Shut up! You're making my ears ache," he growled. "Keep quiet and let us do our work. We haven't had any pleasure in a long time... today, we're going to have some real fun with you."

The two men lunged at Ishani, brutally tearing her blouse. Ishani let out a blood-curdling scream, her heart shattering as they began to pull at her saree.

Just as she felt all hope fading, a booming voice cut through the rain.

"What is going on here?"

The men spun around, their faces turning pale with fear. A man stood there in a police uniform.

Ishani's eyes widened through her tears. "Rahul..." she sobbed.

Seeing Ishani in that state, Rahul's eyes turned a dangerous shade of red.

The men grabbed a thick wooden staff to attack him, but Rahul was faster. He caught the wood mid-air and swung it back with raw fury.

"How dare you?" he roared, his voice trembling with rage. "How dare you touch my Ishani?"

He rained punches down on them, his knuckles connecting with their faces until blood sprayed onto the mud.

Suddenly, one of the men scrambled up and smashed a heavy stick against the back of Rahul's head.

Rahul stumbled, clutching his head as blood began to trickle down his neck.

He realized he didn't have his service

revolver on him, but it didn't matter.

He snatched the stick away and turned into a man possessed. He beat the man mercilessly, blow after blow, until the attacker was lying half-dead and motionless on the ground.

Ishani watched, trembling with terror at the violence. "Rahul, stop! He'll die! Please stop!" she cried out.

Only then did Rahul drop the stick. He didn't even care about the blood soaking his own shirt from his head wound.

He rushed to Ishani's side. She was huddled on the ground, desperately trying to cover her chest with the torn remnants of her saree.

Rahul saw everything, but there was no lust in his eyes only deep, aching pain for her. "Ishani... are you okay? Did they... did they do anything else?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"No," she whispered, shivering.

Rahul let out a long, shaky sigh of relief. "Come, get up. Let's get out of here."

Ishani tried to stand, but a sharp cry escaped her lips as she collapsed back down. Her ankle was badly swollen.

Rahul noticed immediately, his brow furrowed with concern. "What happened to your foot? Are you hurt there too?"

Rahul knelt beside her in the mud, his heart aching at her state. He gently moved the edge of her saree to check her leg her ankle was horribly swollen.

The moment his fingers brushed against it, Ishani let out a sharp cry of pain.

"Ishani, it's a bad sprain," Rahul said, his voice low and steady. "We need to get you to a doctor immediately."

Ishani just kept sobbing, the trauma of the night finally breaking her.

Rahul looked at her tenderly, his own head still bleeding. "It's okay. Everything is fine now. I am here, right? Nothing will happen to you."

Ishani nodded weakly, wiping her eyes.

"I'll have to carry you, Ishani. You won't be able to walk on this foot," Rahul said. Without waiting for an answer, he tucked one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her in a bridal carry.

He walked through the lashing rain toward his car.

He opened the door and carefully placed her on the passenger seat.

Ishani was trembling so much that she gripped his uniform shirt with both hands, refusing to let go. She held on to the fabric as if it were her only lifeline.

Rahul gently tried to loosen her grip so he could get behind the wheel, but she only held on tighter. "Please... I'm scared," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Rahul took her hand in his the same hand that was clutching his shirt and looked her straight in the eyes. "I am right here, Ishani. Nothing will happen. Those men will never come back, I promise. We are going to the hospital now, and the doctor will fix everything. Okay?"

Ishani's tears continued to fall, and seeing her like that, Rahul couldn't help but pull her into a brief, comforting hug. "It's okay... you're safe now."

Finally, Ishani slowly released his shirt. Rahul stepped back, closed her door, and rushed to the driver's side.

He started the engine and drove through the stormy night, heading straight for the hospital.

Rahul reached the hospital and immediately jumped out of the car.

He rushed to the other side, opened the door, and once again lifted Ishani gently into his arms.

He hurried inside, calling out for a doctor.

A nurse quickly arrived with a stretcher. As Rahul moved to lay her down, Ishani's fingers tightened around his hand. "Please... don't leave me and go," she pleaded, her eyes wide with fear.

"I am right here, Ishani. I'm not going anywhere," Rahul promised.

Ishani refused to let go of his hand, so Rahul walked alongside the stretcher, right into the treatment room.

While the doctor was busy cleaning her wounds and wrapping a bandage around her swollen ankle, Ishani kept her grip firm on Rahul's hand, as if letting go would make her world collapse again.

The nurse looked at Rahul and noticed the dark red stain on his uniform. "Sir, your head is bleeding quite a bit. Please let us look at it."

"It's nothing," Rahul dismissed it, his focus entirely on Ishani. "Just take care of her first."

Ishani looked up and finally noticed that Rahul's shirt was soaked with blood from his head wound. Panic surged through her. "Rahul! You're losing so much blood. Please, get it bandaged!"

"I'm fine, Ishani, really," he said, trying to calm her.

"No! Nurse, please help him," Ishani insisted, her voice trembling. Only after she begged him several times did Rahul finally sit on a stool nearby.

The nurse cleaned his wound and applied a bandage. "You're lucky, sir," she remarked. "It's not a very deep cut, but it could have been much worse."

Throughout the entire process, Ishani watched him with frightened, teary eyes, her hand never once releasing his.

In that sterile hospital room, amidst the smell of antiseptic, she felt safe only because he was within her reach.

The doctor looked at both of them and said, "You both need to rest. First, get out of these wet clothes and change into something dry, otherwise you'll fall sick."

Rahul immediately turned to the nurse. "Please bring some hospital clothes for her." The nurse nodded and went to fetch them.

Rahul stepped out of the room to give Ishani some privacy. Even though she was safe, Ishani was still shivering with fear.

Outside, Rahul called Deepak and explained everything that had happened. His voice was cold with anger as he gave the location. "Go and pick up those bastards. They should still be lying there."

Deepak was shocked. "Are you okay, Rahul? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, just go," Rahul replied and hung up.

The nurse approached Rahul then. "Sir, you should also change. You are completely drenched."

Rahul looked down at his blood-stained, soaked uniform and gave a tired nod. He took the fresh clothes from the nurse and changed.

When he returned to the room, Ishani was lying on the bed with her eyes tightly shut.

Rahul pulled up a stool and sat beside her. He watched her pale face for a long time, the silence of the room filled only by the sound of her soft breathing.

"If something had happened to you

today, Ishani... I would have died," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Seeing you in that state... it felt like someone was ripping the soul out of my body. You are so precious to me, Ishani. More than you know."

Ishani heard every word. She didn't open her eyes, but she slowly turned her face away toward the wall.

At his confession, fresh tears began to leak from her closed lids, soaking into the hospital pillow as she realized just how much she meant to him.

....................................................................................

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