"You two... when did you get here?" Kabir asked awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.
"It was nothing," he quickly added. "Sanchi was just applying medicine to my hand."
Om raised an eyebrow.
"Kabir, you're talking as if she's some stranger."
His gaze shifted between the two.
"As if you don't have any right over her."
The moment those words left Om's mouth, Kabir realized what he had accidentally revealed.
For the first time in a long while, the great Kabir Arora was speechless.
His mind raced, searching for an answer.
Before he could say anything, Sanchi spoke up.
"It's nothing, Om."
She gently squeezed Kabir's hand under the excuse of saving him from the situation.
"Kabir was just feeling shy after seeing both of you."
She smiled.
"Right, Kabir?"
Kabir immediately understood what she was doing.
"Y-Yeah..."
His other hand instinctively settled over hers.
Sanchi's smile remained on her face, but internally she was annoyed.
She discreetly tried pulling her hand away.
Kabir noticed.
And deliberately tightened his hold.
Sanchi glared at him.
Kabir smirked.
Neither of them let their fake smiles slip.
Their fingers remained intertwined.
"Sanchi..." Kabir called sweetly.
"Kabir..." she replied in the exact same tone.
The silent battle between them continued.
Rudra suddenly groaned dramatically.
"Oh, please!"
He grabbed Om's arm.
"You two can continue this after we leave."
"Come on, Om."
Before Kabir could stop him—
"Rudra—"
The younger man had already dragged Om toward the door.
"Sorry for disturbing you!"
Rudra winked.
"Enjoy."
And then both brothers disappeared.
The room instantly fell silent.
Kabir rubbed his forehead.
"This Rudra..."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"He's a little mischievous, but his heart is pure."
He looked at Sanchi.
"So don't take his words seriously."
Sanchi simply nodded.
"Hmm."
"Alright."
Kabir stood up.
"I should leave now."
Sanchi nodded again.
Just as Kabir reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
Then he leaned closer to her once more.
Dangerously close.
And whispered near her ear.
"And Mrs. Sanchi..."
"Don't forget what I told you."
His deep voice sent an unfamiliar shiver through her body.
Without waiting for a response, Kabir walked out.
The moment the door closed behind him—
Sanchi's carefully maintained composure shattered.
Her fingers tightened around the bedsheet.
Her heartbeat had become completely uncontrollable.
"What is happening to me?"
She wiped the sweat forming on her forehead.
"Why do I react like this whenever Kabir comes close?"
She pressed a hand against her chest.
Trying to calm her racing heart.
Outside the room...
Kabir wasn't doing much better.
He leaned against the corridor wall and ran a hand through his hair.
His own behavior was becoming impossible to understand.
"Stop it, Kabir."
He smacked himself lightly on the forehead.
"Since when did you start talking softly?"
"Since when did you start caring?"
"Since when did you begin noticing the pain hidden behind Sanchi's anger?"
He closed his eyes.
"What is happening to you?"
A warm chuckle echoed through the corridor.
Kabir looked up.
His grandfather was standing nearby.
A knowing smile rested on the old man's face.
"Love."
Kabir frowned.
"What?"
"You're falling in love."
The old man smiled even wider.
Kabir immediately shook his head.
"That's impossible, Dadaji."
He bent respectfully and touched his grandfather's feet.
"Kabir Arora can never fall in love."
Dadaji lovingly cupped his cheek.
"Your words say one thing."
"But your heart says another."
His smile softened.
"Your heart has already fallen for someone's eyes."
Kabir's expression darkened instantly.
"Love?"
A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"I hate those eyes."
Dadaji sighed.
"Stop joking."
"She's going to be your wife for the rest of your life."
Kabir's jaw clenched.
If only his grandfather knew the truth.
I am not joking, Dadaji.
I really hate those eyes.
That is exactly why I tied her to me.
So she can never leave.
So she remains in front of me forever.
So she never even thinks about running away again.
That is her destiny.
Those words remained trapped inside his mind.
Instead, he forced a smile.
"You're right, Dadaji."
"I was just joking."
The old man simply smiled.
As if he could already see through the lie.
The palace slowly settled into silence.
Everyone was resting after the exhausting journey.
But tomorrow...
Everything would change.
Tomorrow, the wedding ceremonies would officially begin.
Tomorrow, in front of both families...
In front of society...
In front of the entire world...
Kabir and Sanchi would perform every wedding ritual together.
The rituals that would bind them even tighter.
Whether they wanted it...
Or not.
To Be Continued...
Will Kabir finally recognize the feelings growing inside his heart?
Will Sanchi's walls begin to crack?
Or will hatred continue to stand between them?
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the official wedding ceremonies...
And with them, a new chapter in Kabir and Sanchi's complicated relationship.
Stay tuned for the next chapter...