Riya walked fast.
Almost running.
She didn't want to stop.
Didn't want to think.
"Riya!"
His voice echoed behind her.
She ignored it.
But footsteps followed.
Closer.
Faster.
And then—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
She stopped.
Arjun.
"Let go," she said.
"No," he replied.
Riya turned to face him.
Her eyes slightly red.
"I said let go."
Arjun didn't.
Instead, he pulled her closer.
"You're not leaving," he said.
"Who are you to stop me?" she asked.
His grip tightened.
"I'm your husband."
The words shocked her.
Both of them.
Silence followed.
Riya looked at him.
"For the first time… you remembered that?" she said softly.
Arjun's expression changed.
Slightly.
"I didn't forget," he said.
"Then why does it feel like I don't matter?" she asked.
That question—
Hit him.
Hard.
He had no answer.
For the first time—
Arjun Mehra was speechless.
---
Slowly…
His grip loosened.
But he didn't step back.
"Don't go," he said quietly.
Riya's heart skipped.
That tone—
It wasn't cold.
It wasn't commanding.
It was real.
---
And that made it even harder.