(Kruthi's POV)
I was sitting on the bed with my laptop. My eyes were still moistened.
He doubted me.
That meant- he doesn't trust me.
And if he doesn't trust me, why am I even in his life? If something happens in future, I will be the one he'll always accuse. Because I am an outsider.
I hate the fact that I am thrust in this life.
And more than that, I hate that I cannot do anything.
The doorknob turned.
He entered again.
For a flicker of second his eyes met mine, then squinted slightly.
"Crying?" He asked raising one eyebrow, his hands resting in the pockets of his trousers calmly.
I shook my head slowly.
Lowered my eyes, focused on the laptop.
I could feel his eyes on me. His stare.
And then, his steps coming closer to me.
"I prefer honesty above lies." He stated coldly, took the laptop from me and placed it aside. "You don't get to ignore me."
"I told the truth. I don't know. But again, if you don't trust me, I don't feel I should even explain." I said finally, my slightly moistened eyes, lifting up at him finally.
"Playing victim?" He asked with a smirk. His calloused hand came to my cheek.
Not gentle.
Not understanding.
Roughly.
He wiped a drop of tear near my eyes, and his voice dropped an octave lower. "Do you have any evidence?"
"Do YOU have any evidence that I did that?"
Silence.
Pause.
His hand fell away from my cheek before he fixed me with a glare.
"I don't accuse without reason."
Pause.
"Everything points to you."
He stated calmly.
"Everything?" I asked him back, my voice broke slightly.
A choke suppressed.
"Everything." He stated in a final tone.
"Prove me wrong." He said again with a sigh.
"I... how can I even know?" I whispered, shaking my head. "I didn't even know about the property until you told me."
His gaze didn't soften.
Not even a fraction.
"A final question. Did. You. Enter. My. Study?"
He wasn't asking.
He had already decided.
His expression changed, as if he was tired of hearing the same thing.
I glanced at him once.
"No."
A beat.
Then, wiping the tears from my cheek, I met his eyes again.
"If you think I did…"
My voice didn't shake this time.
"Then prove it."
I didn't say anything further.
There was nothing left to say.
I stood up, picked up a pillow and a blanket, and walked out.
Just like that.
As if leaving the room would make it easier to breathe.
Outside it was all dark.
The hall, the corridor, the rooms.
Everyone was asleep.
Or maybe that's what I thought.
I laid down on the sofa when I felt a presence approaching me.
I. will. not. talk. to. him.
I won't talk to him.
Not now.
Not after this.
And yet—
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye.
I shut them tightly.
Annoyed.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Approaching.
Of course.
He came.
I didn't even look at him.
"Vivaan please, I really don't want to talk—"
"Bhabhi?"
I froze.
I turned.
Naina.
Relief.
Embarrassment.
Everything hit at once.
"Bhabhi, why are you sleeping here? Bhai ke saath argument hua?" she asked softly, sitting beside me.
Her fingers gently wiped the tear I hadn't realized was still there.
I forced a small smile.
"No argument… woh bas…" I trailed off.
Which excuse now?
I exhaled.
"Main naraaz hu unse." I said finally. The truth. (I am angry with him)
Naina blinked.
Then sighed lightly, almost amused.
"Haan but that doesn't justify na that you'll sleep on the sofa? and you're the wife of the great Mr.Vivaan Malhotra" She teased.
Ofcourse she would.
She didn't know what happened...yet.
"But still, bhabhi…" she continued softly, rubbing my back."Space chahiye hota hai kabhi kabhi… but sofa pe nahi."
She smiled a little.
"Aap dono beech mein pillows rakh lena. Simple."
A small pause.
"Raat ko kisi ne dekh liya na… toh unnecessary drama ho jayega."
She was right.
It can create a scene.
And what would I even say?
Why I was angry?
Why I walked out?
And besides...
Rushaan.
He was still here.
Being vulnerable—even by mistake—wasn't safe.
I nodded and stood up walking with her to the bedroom.
"You know Bhabhi. I think iss ghar mein aap hi ho who affects Vivaan bhai."
(You know bhabhi? I think you are the only one in the house who affects Vivaan bhai).
I frowned slightly.
Affect?
Me?
For a second, I almost laughed.
A dry, bitter kind of laugh.
"How?"
"The kheer you made," she said simply.
"He doesn't eat kheer first. Never. He always leaves it for last."
A small pause.
"But today… he didn't."
My steps slowed.
"And don't think I didn't notice," she added, a hint of mischief in her tone.
"The red diamond set."
I looked at her.
Then away.
Or maybe…
I'm just overthinking everything.
When we reached the bedroom, Naina opened it slowly.
"Don't worry bhabhi, I'll handle." She said to me with a mischievous wink.
There he was, standing near the glass wall.
In the same suit.
Looking at the city.
"Naina?" He said, without turning around.
A flicker of confusion.
And he turned around finally.
"Bhabhi sofa par sone chali gayi, aur aapne roka bhi nahi?" Naina folded her arms, pretending to scold him. "Aise thodi hota hai."
(Bhabhi went to sleep on the sofa and you didn't even stop her? this is not how it goes)
The corner of my lips twitched.
I suppressed it.
Then as if he noticed...
"Main aa raha thha." He smirked lightly looking at me "After changing"
("I was going to come" He smirked lightly looking at me "after changing.")
Naina raised an eyebrow.
"Accha? Toh phir bhabhi aapse naraz kyu hain?"
(Really? Then why is bhabhi angry with you?)
My eyed widened slightly.
His expression shifted.
And his face.
His gaze snapped to me.
Sharp.
Controlled.
A warning.
I shouldn't have told Naina that I was angry with him.
Damn.
I opened my mouth to speak "Woh actually..."
"Skyline Crest," he cut in smoothly.
Silence.
"Has been sold."
A pause.
His eyes didn't leave mine.
"Without my permission."
Another beat.
"Legally stamped."
And just like that—the room didn't feel the same anymore.