Ruhanika's POV

Finally, today was the day. The day I was getting discharged from this hospital.

Kabir stood there in his white coat, his voice dripping with clinical authority, as if he wasn't my brother but just another doctor.
"Ruhanika, you need proper rest even after discharge. About your college, skip it for now," he instructed.

My throat tightened, my eyes shifting away from his face. The truth slipped out before I could stop myself, quiet but heavy like a confession I had been holding for too long.
"Till the day I came here... I hadn't attended college. It's sad."

The words tasted bitter. College wasn't just about classes for me-it was freedom, my chance to live like I actually mattered. And yet, here I was, stuck between hospital beds and people who didn't even care enough to notice my absence until now.

But then... his voice came.
Yuvraj.

"Butterfly, calm down," he whispered, his tone nothing like Kabir's. His words wrapped around my broken edges like a bandage. "You are getting discharged today and you need rest, that's what matters. And today, I'll tell Arjun, Nakul, Twinkle and Shraddha Di about your health."

For a second, I breathed easier. He always knew how to center me, even when my world felt like it was falling apart.

But of course, peace never lasts.

"Why would you tell Arjun and Nakul? We are here. Her brothers are here," Rohan's sharp voice cut through the room like a blade.

My chest clenched. The same brothers who had torn me down with their words and silence were suddenly claiming their right over me? Over my story? Over who gets to know about my pain?

I glanced at Yuvraj and saw it-the tightening of his jaw, the storm in his eyes. He was seconds away from exploding.

"I don't want a fight at this moment," he bit out, his voice steel. "So can you shut up?"

My breath hitched. The tension in the room thickened until I could barely breathe.

Vikram Bhai finally spoke, his voice calmer, older, but firm. "Stop fighting, guys. The main priority is Ruhaiika."

I tried to sit up, my body trembling, but before I could even gather strength, suddenly three hands stretched towards me.
Rudransh. Kabir. Rohan.
All waiting to hold me, to give me support.

For a moment, my heart clenched. But then I looked at them. Those very hands had once pushed me into darkness, into loneliness. And now they wanted to lift me up?

I smiled, but it wasn't warm.
It was sharp.

"I have my people," I said, my voice steady, my eyes cold.

And the next second, Vikram bhai was by my side, Veer bhai arm slid around my shoulder, and Yuvraj's hand locked firmly with mine. The three of them became my anchor, guiding me towards the car. Their presence felt like a wall between me and every wound of the past.

As we reached the car, Yuvraj finally turned. His eyes burned like fire, fixed straight at Rudransh and Kabir.

"I am coming into the mansion with Ruhanika. I hope you guys don't have any problem. And if you do-"
his voice hardened, every word slicing the air,
"I really don't care."

Kabir stepped forward, his jaw tightening.
"You are not allowed."

But before the weight of his words could crush me, Rudransh spoke, his voice strangely calm.
"You are."

Everyone froze for a second, even me.

Rudransh continued, looking at me for the briefest moment before turning to Yuvraj,
"Ruhanika needs you more than us. She won't share anything with us, but she will share with you. So... you can."

Yuvraj's eyes narrowed dangerously. He took one step closer to Rudransh, his voice low, almost venomous.
"Don't you have any problem with me?"

Rudransh let out a heavy breath, his gaze conflicted but firm.
"Who said I don't have a problem with you? I do. I always will. But right now, the main priority is Ruhanika. For her... I can tolerate you."

A smirk tugged at Yuvraj's lips, cold and sharp.
"Good. I didn't think guilt could do this."

And with that, he turned back to me, his grip tightening protectively on my hand as if sealing his words into reality.

I sat quietly in the car, leaning against the window. My body was weak, but my mind was stronger than ever. Yuvraj sat beside me, his hand brushing mine as if he wanted to remind me every second-I'm here. Vikram and Veer bhai were in the front, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn't alone. I had my people.

The car stopped, and as soon as we stepped out, I saw Dadu and Dadi rushing towards me.

"My bachcha... you're fine?" Dadi's trembling hands cupped my face, her eyes filled with tears.

I smiled faintly. "I'm fine, Dadi... just a little weak. Nothing to worry."

Dadu hugged me tightly, his old arms still holding strength. "Never scare us like this again, Ruhanika. We can't lose you."

And then... I heard that voice. My father's.
"Are you fine, Ruhanika?"

I nodded with a plain "Hmm." No warmth. No emotion. Just an answer.

Then came my mother, her arms wrapping around me desperately. "You know how scared I was? I thought I lost you, Ruhanika... I can't imagine my life without you."

I froze in her embrace, my jaw tightening. "You lost me seven years ago, Mom. So don't expect me to get involved in this family drama now. I'm not interested."

Her face fell, but I didn't care. Because I had stopped caring long ago.

And then I felt his presence. Yuvraj's hand found mine, pulling me gently. "Come," I said, looking directly at him. "Let me show you our room."

That's when the poison entered-the soft but venom-laced voice of Buaji, Aarohi's mother.
"Yuvraj will live here? I mean... you're just engaged, not married. Isn't it... inappropriate?"

Yuvraj's lips curved into a smirk as he stepped forward. His voice was calm, but sharp enough to cut steel.
"You're also living here, Buaji right? So if you can live here comfortably, then why can't I live with my fiancée? My love?"

Buaji's face turned pale. But Aarohi wasn't done yet.
"Yuvraj... I mean... in the same room? Don't you think it's... I mean... you should take the guest room instead."

Before Yuvraj could answer, I stepped in. My tone was ice.
"Aarohi, please. Don't pretend to have an opinion on my life. Yuvraj and I can live in the same room-I don't have a problem. And I hope none of you do either. Because if anyone here does have a problem, the door is right there. You can happily leave this house."

Yuvraj squeezed my hand, his smirk turning into a proud smile. And then, finally, everyone left us alone.

I turned to Yuvraj, a small laugh escaping me. "Welcome to my world, Yuvraj."

And he leaned close, whispering in my ear, "Darling, I love your world. Because it has you."

Author POV

The silence after Ruhanika's bold words still echoed in the grand hall. Everyone had seen the fire in her eyes, the refusal to bow down to anyone's so-called "family morals."

Her father's face tightened, anger and disbelief rising in his veins.
"How can they two live in the same room under this roof? This isn't how our family has ever lived-this isn't our values!"

Aarohi's mother - Buaji - immediately jumped in, her voice dripping with venom, "Exactly! We've all seen how Ruhanika has no shame in insulting elders, but now she wants to live like a married woman without marriage? What kind of upbringing is this? What kind of girl does this family have?"

And of course, Aarohi couldn't resist. Her jealousy was like poison, spilling in her words. She folded her arms and said with fake sweetness but sharpness in every syllable, "ma is right... Ruhanika, you're engaged, not married. Staying with Yuvraj like this... it doesn't look right. People will talk, society will talk. You're ruining your own respect."

The air turned tense, Dadu's voice boomed like thunder.

"Enough!"

The entire hall went quiet.

Dadu, who had been silently watching his granddaughter fight alone, finally stood with pride.
"Ruhanika doesn't need to explain her choices to anyone here. If she says Yuvraj will stay with her, then Yuvraj will stay with her. Because unlike the rest of you, we've seen his love. We've seen how he protects her, how he holds her together when everyone else breaks her."

Dadi immediately added, her voice trembling with emotion yet filled with steel, "This girl-my bachcha-was shattered by this very house seven years ago. You all lost the right to question her. Yuvraj gave her a reason to live again, to smile again. And if she wants him by her side, then it is not just her right, it is her healing."

Ruhanika's father clenched his fists, his pride wounded, "Baba, Maa, you can't just let her ruin this family's reputation in front of the world! A girl living with a man before marriage-it will bring shame to all of us!"

But Dadu cut him off sharply, his words like a slap, "Shame? The real shame is how you and your so-called morals abandoned your daughter when she needed you most. Don't you dare speak of reputation when you couldn't even protect her dignity back then. It is Yuvraj who gave her back her respect, not this family."

Buaji gasped in outrage, "How dare you talk to your own son like this?"

Dadi turned towards her, her voice dripping with disdain, "And how dare you, as an outsider, speak against my granddaughter in this house? You poisoned enough minds already. Don't think you can still control this family's decisions."

The tension snapped like glass. Aarohi's face turned pale, Buaji fumed, and Ruhanika's father stood speechless under the weight of his parents' words.

Her father's voice cut through the silence, sharp and loaded with anger.

"Rudransh," he said, his tone carrying both disappointment and command, "you are the eldest. You allowed him into this house... into her room, didn't you?"

All eyes turned toward Rudransh. For a moment, he didn't answer. His jaw clenched, his gaze hardened. He didn't like Yuvraj, not one bit. But this wasn't about him-it was about Ruhanika. And for the first time in years, he chose her over his pride.

"Yes, Papa," Rudransh finally said, his voice calm yet unyielding. "I allowed him."

Kabir and Rohan, who had been standing at the side, exchanged a glance. Neither of them truly wanted Yuvraj here, but neither of them wanted to see Ruhanika crumble again. Kabir stepped forward.

"We all did," Kabir admitted firmly. "He's here for her. She trusts him. And whether we like it or not, Ruhanika's happiness matters."

Rohan, usually the one who kept silent in such storms, added without hesitation, "Exactly. You wanted us to protect her, didn't you? This time, protection means letting her breathe, not suffocating her."

Their father's expression turned darker, almost as if he'd been betrayed. Aarohi's Buaji immediately took the opportunity, her sharp voice cutting in like venom.

"This is unbelievable. What kind of sanskaar is this? A girl living with her fiancé under the same roof, in the same room? Shameful. What will society say?"

Aarohi added quickly, her tone dripping with false innocence, "Dadu, Dadi... even you should think about this. What if people laugh at us? What if they think Ruhanika has no character?"

But before anyone could agree, Ruhanika's Dadu rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with authority.

"Enough!" he thundered. "Not a word against my granddaughter. She has suffered enough. If Yuvraj gives her strength, then he is welcome here as much as she is. And if anyone has a problem... the door is right there."

Dadi's voice, though softer, carried the same weight. "Ruhanika is alive today because of that boy. Because he loves her. We will not question their bond. We will respect it."

Their father shook his head in disbelief, his hands tightening into fists. "You people are blind. You don't see what's happening. You think this is love? This is shamelessness. He is taking advantage of her weakness, and you're all standing here encouraging it!"

Rudransh's voice cut through, calm but icy. "No, Papa. What's shameless is that for seven years, none of us gave her a reason to stay alive. He did. And you expect us to throw him out because society might whisper? Let them whisper. We won't lose her again."

Kabir, nodded slowly. "He's right. I don't like Yuvraj. I never did. But I can't deny what's in front of me. Ruhanika is breathing again because of him. That's more important than your so-called reputation."

Even Rohan, who had been unimpressed earlier, took a step forward. His tone was reluctant but firm. "I won't lie. I don't like this either. But she's my sister. And right now, this is what she wants. If she feels safe with him here, then he should stay."

The room fell silent again. Ruhanika's father clenched his jaw, his pride warring with the truth staring at him from all sides.

And then, to everyone's surprise, Ruhanika's mother spoke. Her voice trembled, but her words carried weight.
"Let him stay. At least for a few days. If she is happy with him here, then let her be happy. Isn't that what matters? She's our daughter. If this gives her peace, why should we snatch it away?"

Her Buaji glared at her, disbelief written across her face. "You're her mother, and you're saying this? Have you forgotten what people will say?"

Ruhanika's mother finally raised her head, her eyes glistening with suppressed tears.
"I am not their mother. I am hers. And if my daughter finds light in him, then I won't be the one to turn it into darkness again."

For the first time, Rudransh, Kabir, and Rohan stood united-not as brothers who once hurt her, but as shields who refused to let her suffocate again.

It wasn't acceptance. It wasn't forgiveness. But it was effort. An effort for Ruhanika.

But as they wheeled her out, another storm entered the picture. Yug walked in with hurried steps, the sound of his shoes echoing against the tiles. His eyes darted around until they landed on Rudransh and the others.

" Ruhanika got discharged today and you weren't here. Where were you?" Rudransh's tone carried both hurt and demand.

Yug lowered his eyes, his chest rising with a slow breath. "I was at the temple, bhai. Truly. I went there to pray for Ruhanika Di. I'm sorry." His voice softened, almost breaking. "She's in the room, right? I'll just go meet her."

But before he could take a step, Kabir's voice cut him off. "Stop, Yug. She's resting... with Yuvraj."

The name hit him like a pause button. His face tightened, and his words stumbled. "Yuvraj? Yuvraj is here?"

Aarohi folded her arms, her tone sharp. "Yes. He's been living here. In the same room with her."

Yug froze, his expression flickering between disbelief and unease. "But this isn't right. They're only engaged."

Rohan, standing tall, spoke before anyone else could. His words carried both firmness and exhaustion. "I know, Yug. They're just engaged. But Ruhanika finds her happiness in Yuvraj. And her happiness matters more than our so-called rules right now. She won't open her heart to us, even if she's dying inside. With Yuvraj, she breathes."

The words made the air heavier. Aarohi jaw tightened, her voice rising in frustration. "See, this is what I mean. Everyone here only talks about Ruhanika. But what about our family's reputation? What about the name we carry?"

For a second, Yug looked at Aarohi, then at Rohan, and finally down at the floor. His silence stretched before he finally spoke. "If Ruhanika Di is happy... and if this happiness helps her heal faster, then I have no problem. About Yuvraj... he's only here for two or three days. If his presence gives her peace, then let him stay. I am okay with it."

Aarohi face turned pale with disbelief. "You too, Yug?"

Before another argument could spark, a strong voice thundered. It was her dadu

"Enough." His voice cut through the air like a blade. "Ruhanika is recovering. And I won't let any drama touch her again. Not from you, not from anyone." He stepped closer, his presence daring anyone to oppose. "If you care even a little, you'll remember-this house should not suffocate her anymore."

The family went quiet. For the first time in a long while, silence carried more weight than words.

Yuvraj's POV

Ruhanika sat down on the couch with that tired little sigh of hers, brushing her hair away from her face.
"There must be family drama going on upstairs," she muttered, leaning back. "Thank God we came here."

Her words made me chuckle. I lowered myself near her, brushing my thumb over her hand.
"Rest, butterfly."

She tilted her head at me, her sharp little eyes narrowing.
"Why didn't you tell anyone about me not even my best friend Twinkle?"

I smirked. "I wanted to... but in the hospital there was so much crowd. I couldn't. And maybe..." I paused, letting my gaze lock on hers.
"...maybe I wanted your full attention."

Her lips parted, and that fire in her eyes burned right through me. "You wanted my full attention, didn't you?"

"Yes," I whispered, with no shame. "Exactly that."

I touched her cheek softly. "Rest, Ruhanika. I'll be back in a minute."

She caught my wrist before I could move. "Don't argue with any of them. Just ignore. Please."

I only nodded and slipped out, heading down the hallway for water. My mind was still half with her - the way her voice cracked a little when she told me to ignore. She wanted peace, not war. But fate had other plans.

Because right there, leaning like a cheap temptation, was her.
Aarohi.

Her fake sweet smile was plastered across her face.
"Yuvraj, you want anything?" she purred.

I ignored her completely, walked past like she was nothing but air. But she wasn't done. Her heels clicked behind me until she blocked my way, eyes glinting with venom.

"Yuvraj, what did you even see in Ruhanika? She's just Weak. Not like me." She leaned closer, her voice dripping with poison. "You should be with me. We would be the sexiest couple. I can give you everything... everything a guy truly wants."

That was it.
That was the last fucking straw.

I grabbed her wrist so tight she flinched, her smugness snapping in half. My jaw clenched, my voice ice-cold.

"You know what the problem with you is, Aarohi?" I hissed. "You think your cheap body can compete with her soul. You think your desperate skin can erase the purity in her heart. But let me remind you-Ruhanika is everything you'll never be. She's my peace. She's my madness. She's mine."

She struggled, whining, but I twisted her wrist further, just enough to remind her of her place. Then with a sharp push, I shoved her back, her balance tipping. Before she could gasp, I grabbed a glass of juice from the side table and poured it straight down her designer dress.

Her shriek echoed in the hall. "YUVRAJ!"

I leaned in close, my voice low and venomous.
"Next time you open your mouth against Ruhanika, I won't stop at juice. Stay. The fuck. Away."

And then-just as the moment cracked open-Yug's voice boomed from the other end of the hall.

"What the hell did you do, Yuvraj?!"

He stormed closer, his face dark with anger. "Why did you push her?!"

My lips curled into a cold smirk. I stepped towards him, closing the gap until my voice was right at his ear.
"She was a bitch trying to seduce me. I just made her remember her place."

Aarohi gasped as if the word pierced her. Yug's eyes widened, fury swimming in them. "No! Yuvraj, she would never-"

"She won't do this?" I snapped, tilting my head. My tone turned venomous. "Then trust her. I really don't care. But I swear, Yug, don't ever question me when it comes to Ruhanika."

I looked down, and Aarohi was trembling, trying to pull her hand away. My boot pressed down hard on her fingers, crushing them into the cold floor. She let out a cry of pain.
"Yuvraj, please! Leave me, please!"

Her begging didn't shake me. My anger had a pulse, and it needed to bleed somewhere.
"Don't. Don't you dare ever try this again," I growled, leaning down so close she could feel the rage in my breath. My eyes locked on hers, full of disgust. "And listen carefully-today you dared to say something against Ruhanika, so I did this. But if I ever find out that the peanut in her food was mixed by you..."

I pressed harder, making her scream louder. My voice dropped to a whisper, venom dripping from every word.
"I swear, Aarohi, you will regret being born."

Then I released her hand, leaving her writhing in pain, her tears mixed with humiliation. I didn't wait for Yug to speak, didn't care what excuses they would make. My work here was done.

I turned and walked away, my only thought echoing-Ruhanika. Only her. Always her.

Author's PO

It was dinner time, and the house was buzzing with the usual noise of clattering plates and voices echoing through the hall. Vikram walked upstairs, holding a soft knock at Ruhanika's door before pushing it slightly open. But before he could call her name, it wasn't Ruhanika who answered-it was Yuvraj.

His tall frame leaned against the door, his tone calm yet protective.
"She's sleeping," Yuvraj said quietly, his eyes flickering back for a second. "She had a bit of a headache."

Vikram hesitated, his gaze softening. "Then I think I should send the food upstairs," he suggested, lowering his voice as if not to disturb her. "If she comes downstairs and faces drama... you know how it is. Her mood will be off."

Yuvraj's jaw relaxed slightly, his protective shield still intact. "Okay," he replied. "Until she's sleeping, I'll be on the terrace. Send the food there."

"Terrace?" Vikram raised a brow, almost teasing.

"Yes," Yuvraj answered firmly, then paused. "But not now. Just wait... maybe send it after thirty, forty minutes. By then I'll be there."

Vikram's lips curved into a small smile, sensing the unspoken care behind Yuvraj's instructions. "Alright," he said, nodding. "I'll send it later."

"Good," Yuvraj muttered, before stepping aside, his eyes glinting with that familiar possessiveness.

Vikram gave a small wave. "Bye, terrace boy."

Yuvraj's lips twitched, but he didn't answer. He simply closed the door softly behind him, leaving the hallway quiet once again.

After forty minutes, he finally walked down the corridor, his steps firm, his heart already racing. He stopped outside her room, pushed the door open gently, and there she was-lying against the pillows, her hair falling loose, her eyes tired but still carrying that spark he could never look away from.

"Ruhanika..." his voice dropped softer than usual, almost like a secret he only wanted her to hear. "I have a surprise for you. Come with me."

Her brows lifted in curiosity. "Surprise? Now?"

"Yes." He nodded with that calm conviction he always carried, though his eyes betrayed the excitement he was trying to hide.

But she frowned a little, shifting against the bed. "Yuvraj, I can't walk... my legs are hurting." Her voice came in that soft, almost complaining tone that always made him melt.

For a second, he just stood there, looking at her, and then without another word, he stepped closer. She was still trying to guess what he meant when suddenly his hands slid under her, lifting her effortlessly off the bed in a bridal style.

Her breath hitched instantly. "Yuvraj!" she almost gasped, her arms flying to hold onto him as her eyes widened. "What if someone sees-"

He looked straight into her eyes, the edge of a smirk tugging at his lips, his voice low and dangerous in that possessive way only he could pull off.

"What? Someone sees? Let them see. Let them burn."

Just as he was about to turn toward the terrace, a sharp voice sliced through the silence.

"What the f**k are you doing with my sister?"

Both Yuvraj and Ruhanika froze. In front of them stood Yug, his jaw clenched, and beside him, Rohan's eyes blazed with fury.

Yuvraj adjusted her in his arms, utterly unbothered, his smirk still lingering.
"Just taking her onto the terrace," he replied smoothly, his tone laced with mockery.

"Why?" Rohan's voice cracked in pure rage.

Before Yuvraj could answer, Yug stepped in, his voice calm yet sharp.
"Leave her, Yuvraj. She needs rest."

Yuvraj tilted his head, his dark eyes glinting.
"I am her safe place. And she needs rest with me." His words dropped like venom.
"If you truly want your sister happy, then don't let anyone step onto that terrace for the next two hours. Got it?"

Rohan stepped forward, fists clenched, his tone rising.
"You can't take her! Ruhanika, come down right now!"

But Yuvraj's chuckle cut through the hallway, slow and taunting.
"You don't want your sister's happiness, Rohan?

Rohan stiffened at the sting of those words, his eyes burning with guilt he couldn't hide.

"Yuvraj, stop..." Ruhanika pressed her hand against his chest, her voice soft. "Please, just take me to the terrace."

Yuvraj lowered his head to her, his lips brushing against her temple as he chuckled darkly.
"Goodbye, guilty brothers."

With that, he turned his back on them, carrying her up the stairs while Rohan's chest heaved with silent rage and Yuga's gaze followed them with clenched fists.

The night air on the terrace was cold, brushing against Ruhanika's skin as Yuvraj finally stepped out under the sky. He set her gently on her feet but kept her close, his arm wrapped around her waist.

"Wait a minute," he whispered, that mischievous glint back in his eyes. He reached out, covering her eyes with his hand.
"No peeking, Ruhanika. I told you... it's a surprise."

Brothers' POV

Rohan stormed into Rudransh room, his face burning red with rage.
"That fucking Yuvraj! He's taking Ruhanika to the terrace. In bridal style. I hate to admit it, but he's getting too damn touchy with my sister."

Kabir snapped, slamming his fist on the side table.
"I have also noticed. Always his hand on her waist. Always clinging, always too close. It's disgusting."

Rudransh shot them a glare but his voice was low.
"Fiancé. He is her fiancé."

Yug scoffed bitterly, almost spitting out the word.
"We didn't choose him. He just came out of nowhere, and suddenly he owns her?"

Rudransh clenched his jaw, conflicted, his voice quiet.
"But Ruhanika did. And to be honest... even I am jealous of him. I don't like the way he takes up every corner of her world. But if Ruhanika chose him, we have to accept him."

Rohan gritted his teeth.
"Accept him? He literally carried Rohanika upstairs to the terrace and ordered us not to come there for two hours. What does that even mean?"

Kabir's eyes narrowed, a dark fire burning in them.
"I want to peek. I want to see what they're doing."

Yug leaned forward, his voice laced with venom.
"I also want to see. Because that bastard looks at her like she's his possession. And maybe she likes it-but I don't. I don't trust him."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Rudransh muttered, almost to himself-
"I don't want to. I don't want to spy."

Rohan smirked bitterly.
"Are you sure, Bhaiya? You don't want to? Or is it that you're scared to see how much Ruhanika is his, not ours anymore?"

Rupran exhaled sharply, frustration creeping in.
"Fine. Just for two minutes."

Kabir muttered under his breath, the words tasting like poison.
"Two minutes is enough to see how far he dares."

Ruhan voice followed, low and bitter.
"Yuvraj might be her safe place... but to us, he's a thief. He stole her from us. And the worst part? She let him."

Ruhanika POV

The moment his fingers slipped gently over my eyes, I knew he was up to something. His touch wasn't just soft-it was protective, like he was guarding me even from the world I couldn't see. My heart was already racing, and I whispered, "Yuvraj... what is the surprise?"

He chuckled low near my ear, that deep sound that always weakens me, and said, "Ruhanika, I just managed this in such a short time... but I really wanted it for you. So, let's come."

He guided me carefully up the last few steps, his hand steady at my waist, and then slowly, he removed his palm from my eyes.

And my breath... stopped.

The terrace wasn't the terrace anymore-it was magic. The night sky above us was glowing with thousands of stars, but somehow Yuvraj had stolen a few down just for me. Fairy lights were wrapped across the walls, tiny bulbs glowing like captured fireflies. In the middle, there was a soft blanket laid out with rose petals scattered all around, and candles flickered as if they were alive, dancing only for us. It felt like I had stepped into someone's dream-but it was mine.

For a second, I couldn't even move. I just stood there, staring, my chest tightening, my eyes stinging. How could he do this? How could he make me feel like I was the only girl that mattered?

I turned toward him, my voice shaky but smiling through it.
"You did this... in just so little time?"

He looked at me with that smile that always melts me, and said softly, "Yes. For you, anything."

That broke me. My lips trembled because the truth hit me-I never gave him half the surprises he gave me. I whispered, almost guiltily, "You do everything for me, Yuvraj... but I never did. At least since we've come to Mumbai, I haven't given you anything like this. No surprises. Nothing. It's disappointing."

But before I could drown in guilt, he cupped my face, his thumb brushing away the sadness from my lips. His eyes didn't let me look away.
"Baby, it's all right. You are in my life-that itself is a beautiful surprise from my God. And you will always be my cutest, most unexpected surprise. Forever."

I swear my heart skipped a beat. The world around us felt quiet, like even the night was listening.

He stretched out his hand and smiled, "Can we claim this moment?"

I nodded, "Yes."

But then he glanced down at me and asked gently, "Your legs are hurting, right?"

I shook my head with a playful smirk. "No... actually I want them to hurt. Because that way I'll always have a reason to be in your arms."

His laugh echoed in the night, low and warm, and he leaned closer, his eyes mischievous.
"You're too lovely when you flirt, you know that?"

And I smiled, because in that moment-under the fairy lights, beneath the stars, in his arms-I wasn't just Ruhanika.
I was his. Entirely his.

We both sat there in silence for a while, but it wasn't empty. It was comforting, like the world could fall apart and I would still feel safe because his arms were around me. I leaned into Yuvraj's chest, listening to his heartbeat as if it was the only sound I wanted to memorize forever.

"I'm very lucky to have you in my life," I whispered, my voice soft but heavy with everything I carried inside. "You know, Yuvraj, sometimes I still don't believe this is real-that you're mine. After everything I have been through... after all the times I felt invisible, unworthy, and unloved... I never thought someone could look at me the way you do. You don't just see me, you understand me. And that's everything. That's more than I ever dared to ask for."

I paused, because my throat tightened, but I forced myself to go on. "You've seen the broken parts of me that I tried so hard to hide. And instead of walking away, you held them like they were precious. You made me believe that love doesn't always have to hurt... that maybe I am worth being loved, fully, deeply, completely. You don't know how much that means to me, Yuvraj. You don't know how much you mean to me."

His arms tightened around me, and when he spoke, his voice shook in the way that told me he meant every word.

"Ruhanika... you think you're lucky to have me, but the truth is, I am the luckiest man alive. Because in a world full of people, I found you-the only one who can drive me insane and heal me at the same time. You don't just exist in my life, you are my life. I know your scars, I know your pain, and I would still choose you every single day. Over and over again, without hesitation."

He tilted my chin up, making me look at him. His eyes burned with something that wasn't just love-it was devotion.

"You're not invisible, Ruhi. Not anymore. Not to me. You're the most real, the most beautiful thing I've ever known. And I promise you, I'm never letting you feel unworthy again. Because you're mine, and I'll spend my whole life proving that to you."

My chest tightened, not from pain but from the overwhelming truth of what we shared. I pressed my forehead against his, whispering back the only words that could hold even a fraction of what I felt.

"I love you, Yuvraj. More than anything."

His lips curved into the smallest, softest smile.

"And I love you, Ruhanika. Always."

I stood there, still unsure, but when Yuvraj held his hand out, I felt my heart stumble. That boyish smirk on his face, the way his eyes softened when they met mine-it was impossible to say no.

"Dance?" he asked, his voice low, almost husky.

I nodded, and the moment my fingers slipped into his, he pulled me up with a kind of protectiveness that made my breath hitch. His eyes lingered on me, trailing from my face to the black dress I was wearing. For the first time tonight, I noticed the way his gaze turned darker, softer, like I was something he wanted to guard and never let go of.

"You look..." he stopped, his throat working as he tried to find words, "...breathtaking."

I felt heat rush to my cheeks, but before I could answer, his arm slid around my waist, pulling me against him. Our bodies moved closer until there was no space left to hide. The faint music played in the background, but the real melody was the way our hearts raced in sync.

We started slow. His steps sure, mine hesitant, but he led me as if I had always belonged in his arms. My black dress swayed with every movement, brushing against him, and his eyes never once left mine. There was no one else in the room. Just us.

He twirled me once, his hand steady on mine, and when I spun back into his chest, his palm rested perfectly against my back. I looked up, and the way he was staring at me-it was dangerous. It was love in its purest, wildest form.

"Do you even know what you're doing to me right now?" he whispered, his breath warm against my ear.

My lips parted, but no words came out. All I could do was hold onto him tighter, sinking into the safety of his embrace.

The dance wasn't perfect, it wasn't practiced. But it was ours. Every sway, every spin, every glance was filled with unspoken words, promises, and love. My laughter escaped when he purposely dipped me too low and caught me just in time, his grip strong around me. He grinned, leaning closer.

"Don't worry, angel. I'll never let you fall."

And in that moment, I believed him.

Because this wasn't just a dance. This was us-wild, raw, beautiful.

And then we stopped. Breathless. My hair was a mess, my heart was still dancing even though the music had faded. I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh.
"This was our messy dance, to be honest," I confessed, still trying to catch my breath.

Yuvraj smirked, that smile which always made me weak, and said softly, "If you are with me, even messy things are beautiful."

"Yuvraj, please," I rolled my eyes, teasing him, "this dance was our least practiced dance... or not practiced at all."

Before I could step away, his hand caught me, pulling me gently by the waist.
My breath hitched. Suddenly, the world stilled again. His eyes locked into mine, his warmth pressing close, and in that moment, it didn't matter whether the dance was messy or perfect-because his arms around me felt like home.

He leaned down, slow, careful, and kissed me on my forehead. Not rushed. Not random. But a kiss that held every promise in the world. My eyes fluttered shut, my chest tightened with emotions I could never put into words.

"I will never leave you, Ruhanika," he whispered against my skin, his voice breaking into me like a vow etched into my soul.

My eyes burned, but I smiled through it, pressing my forehead against his chest. "I will also never leave you," I whispered back, my voice trembling yet strong with every ounce of truth I had.

After he kissed my forehead, he whispered softly, "Let's sit here."

I nodded, and we both sat under the calm sky, the silence wrapping around us like a secret that belonged only to us. My heart was still fluttering, restless with the way he looked at me. I turned to him, unable to hold back the question that had been circling in my head for long.

"What do you like most in me?" I asked, almost shyly, my voice carrying a mix of curiosity and fear.

His eyes softened instantly, and without even pausing, he answered, "Your eyes."

I blinked at him, waiting for more, and he leaned a little closer, his voice dropping into a tone that felt like a confession wrapped in poetry.

"Your eyes are not just eyes," he said, holding my gaze as if it was his lifeline. "They are stories. They speak before you even open your mouth. When you're angry, they burn like fire, daring me to touch the flame. When you're hurt, they drown me, like oceans that pull me deeper until I can't breathe. And when you love, they shine so bright that I feel I could live my whole life just staring into them and still never be tired."

I couldn't breathe for a moment. My chest tightened, and all I could do was stare back, overwhelmed by the way he looked at me like I was more than just a person-like I was art, like I was something divine.

"And do you know what scares me the most?" he continued, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles. "That one day, if those eyes ever stop looking at me the way they do now, I will lose myself completely. Because they don't just look, ... they own me."

His words sank into me so deeply that I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, not from pain, but from the unbearable weight of love I felt in that moment.

Kabir's POV

I clenched my jaw as I watched them from the shadows. Every second that passed felt like poison dripping inside me.
"We... we should never have come here," I muttered, almost choking on my own words. "We four shouldn't have stepped into this moment. But we did. And now look at us-standing here like strangers, watching him love her the way we never could."

Rudransh bhaiya's voice broke the silence, steady but heavy. "He loves her, Kabir. You can see it. You can feel it. Whether we like it or not, he loves her. And we... we have to accept it."

I snapped my gaze at him, bitterness burning in my chest. "Bhaiya, I know! I know in my mind that he loves her. I know she belongs to him. She's his. But..." my voice cracked, "...it hurts. It hurts like hell. Because no matter what, she was ours first. Our blood. Our responsibility. And yet... he has her heart in a way we never did."

I swallowed hard, watching the way Yuvraj's hand lingered on her, the way her smile bloomed only for him.
"They're... they're too romantic," yug blurted, trying to laugh but failing miserably. My chest felt tight, suffocating.

I shot me a glare sharp enough to cut me in half. "Yug."

"What?" yug raised his hands, but his voice trembled. "It's true. We know he loves her. We know it, Kabir bhai We can deny it, we can hate it, but it's there in front of our eyes. He's not just loving her-he's obsessed. Ruhanika di... is Yuvraj's obsession. I can see it in his every touch, every word, every damn glance."

"Why does it feel like we're outsiders in her story?" Ruhan whispered, his voice trembling. "Like we were never truly her brothers... only names, only shadows. And him-this man-he came, and he gave her the love we never managed. He gave her what we couldn't. That's why she chooses him. That's why her eyes shine for him, not for us."

The guilt didn't flinch. I didn't turn away. I kept watching, even though every second shredded me from inside at me. Memories of the times I ignored her, the times I doubted her, the times I let others poison her name-all of it came crashing down. "We failed her. And now, watching this, it feels like a punishment carved on our souls."

"Yes, Kabir. Yes, Yug. Yes, Ruhan. You're all right." rudransh bhai voice was low, deep, like the sound of something breaking. "He loves her. He truly does. The kind of love that burns, consumes, destroys everything in its path. And she... she belongs to him now. Completely."

He inhaled sharply, bitterness clinging to his lungs. "But don't think for a second that it doesn't kill me. It does. It kills me to know he sees sides of her we never will. It kills me to know her laughter, her tears, her scars-everything-is his now. It kills me... but what choice do we have?"

Ruhanika wasn’t ours anymore. Maybe she never was. She was his. Yuvraj’s. And the way he looked at her—it burned. It wasn’t just love. It was obsession. It was the kind of madness no brother could compete with.

I clenched my fists, whispering under my breath, “What should we do now? Huh? What? We lost her. We literally did. And I don’t think… we ever claimed her as our sister.”

The words tasted bitter, but they were the truth. We never claimed her. We never protected her. And now, we were standing here like outsiders, watching another man do what we should’ve done years ago—love her.

Rudransh Bhaiya’s voice cut through the silence. Deep. Heavy. Unshakable.
“We don’t have to claim her, Kabir. That’s not what she needs. We just have to love her like brothers we should have… from the very beginning.”

I felt the sting in my chest. He was right. But the guilt was too much. The jealousy unbearable.

And then Rohan, who had been quiet, finally spoke. His voice cracked slightly.
“I have something to tell you.”

Yug, impatient as always, snapped. “What, Bhaiya? Say it.”

Rohan’s eyes darkened, and I swear my heart skipped when he said, “One week before… me and Ruhanika were talking. And she told me that she wrote us letters for three… four years straight.”

My breath stopped. Letters?

“She said,” Rohan continued, “that she never told anyone she didn’t want to meet us. She said the opposite. She wanted to. But Hostel people  his jaw tightened told us she didn’t want to meet us. That she would rather die if she saw us.”

Yug eyes widened. “What—”

Rohan didn’t stop. His voice grew harder.
“And she told me she sent us so many messages. So many. But as far as I remember… as far as we all remember, we never got anything.”

Rudransh Bhaiya suddenly exhaled, his head dropping into his hand. His voice was low, guilt-soaked.
“Yes. I remember. She said the same to me once, in anger. That she sent us messages. Letters. But I thought… I thought it was just her emotions talking. Because we never got anything.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. My voice was colder than ice when I said, “So we will go to the hostel tomorrow.”

Yug turned to me, confused. “Where was her hostel?”

I didn’t hesitate. “In Mumbai. Far from our mansion, but still in Mumbai. We’ll go there tomorrow. We’ll find out what the hell has happened.”

Rohan’s jaw clenched. His tone dropped dangerously low.
“I doubt Aarohi.”

But before I could say anything, Rudransh Bhaiya, Yug, and I spoke almost together.
“Let’s not doubt. Let’s find out. And if Aarohi is the cause of all this…”

I stared at the ground, but my fists trembled. The venom in my voice shocked even me.
“I swear… I don’t know what I’ll do. But I’ll make sure she regrets it. Every. Single. Thing.”

The silence that followed wasn’t peace. It was war. The kind of silence that promised destruction.

And in my chest, the guilt screamed louder than my jealousy—
We lost Ruhanika once.
We won’t lose her again.