Vivaan's POV
"Vivaan, why did you do that?!" Avi's voice cracked, loud, panicked.
I didn't even turn at first.
"I didn't know her nose would bleed," I said flatly, brushing the dust off my hands like nothing just happened.
But that wasn't the real question, was it?
Why did she react like that?
That wasn't normal.
Not even close.
Avi laughed bitterly, wiping his face angrily. "Yeah… right. You said the same thing last time too."
That line—
It hit a nerve.
Before I even realized it, I had him by the collar.
"Don't." My voice dropped. Cold. Dangerous. "Don't you dare talk to me in that tone."
He froze instantly.
Fear.
Good.
"Don't forget who I am," I added, tightening my grip just enough to remind him.
His eyes watered, but not just from fear.
"B-but Adi…" he stammered.
I scoffed, shoving him away.
"Seriously?" I looked at him with disgust. "You're softening up now?"
Pathetic.
He looked down.
Shaking.
Crying.
Over her.
Over that girl.
I clicked my tongue.
"Unbelievable."
But then—
something clicked in my head.
That reaction.
The blood.
The way she froze.
The way she almost… lost control.
And then—
Reyansh.
The way he stepped in.
The way he took her away without hesitation.
…
A slow smirk spread across my face.
"Oh…"
Now I see it.
Now I understand.
Her weakness.
And his.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
Right then, Reyansh walked up to us. Calm. Controlled. Like always.
"Don't involve Aadhya in this," he said.
No anger.
No shouting.
Just a warning.
I turned to him slowly.
"And why are you affected?" I asked, my voice laced with mockery.
He smirked.
That same irritating smirk.
The one I've wanted to wipe off his face for years.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he said. "If I were you, I wouldn't let her see blood."
I narrowed my eyes.
He stepped closer.
"Next time… she might not stop."
…
For a second—
just a second—
his words lingered.
But I laughed it off.
"Hah. Do I look like a fool to you?" I said, tilting my head.
"I don't care. She's in Section E. What we do here doesn't concern you."
I stepped closer.
Lowered my voice.
"Not anymore."
His expression didn't change.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he repeated, before turning away.
Yuvika followed him.
My eyes shifted to her.
My chest tightened.
She didn't look at me the same way anymore.
Not like before.
Not like she used to.
I clenched my jaw.
I know why you didn't choose me.
I know.
And I'm sorry, Yuvika.
But sorry doesn't change anything.
Manik and Naman walked past.
Naman threw a sharp glare at Dheeraj.
Tension.
Everywhere.
Then slowly—
everyone left.
Except us.
Section E.
My territory.
I looked around at them.
My people.
Still confused.
Still waiting.
I smirked.
"Gather up."
They formed a circle.
Nikansh stepped forward. "Vivaan… what was that? She—"
"She's staying," I cut him off.
Silence.
Shock.
"What?" someone muttered.
Nikansh frowned. "But—"
"I said she's staying," I repeated, slower this time.
More dangerous.
More final.
They went quiet.
Good.
I leaned back slightly, folding my arms.
"There's a plan," I said, my voice almost amused now.
A dangerous kind of calm.
"The girl isn't weak."
"She just doesn't know what she is."
Their expressions shifted.
Confusion.
Curiosity.
Fear.
I smiled wider.
"And Reyansh…"
My fingers curled slowly into a fist.
"That bastard cares."
That was the missing piece.
That was everything.
I looked towards the door where he had left.
Eyes dark.
Cold.
Hungry.
"Thank you, Reyansh," I murmured under my breath.
"You just showed me exactly where to hit."
My smile faded into something darker.
Something cruel.
"Now let's see…"
My voice dropped.
"How long you can keep that smirk on your face."
Because this time—
I'm not just playing.
I'm breaking you.
And if your cousin is the key—
Then so be it.
Aadhya's POV
I woke up.
Wow… hospital.
What the…
I blinked slowly, staring at the white ceiling. For a second I thought I was dreaming. But no… that weird smell… that silence… that annoying beep beep sound somewhere far… definitely hospital.
Great. Just great.
I turned my head a little. Everything felt heavy. My body… my head… even my eyelids.
A nurse came in. She checked me like I was some project. Then she gave me food.
Nice… finally something to eat.
I looked at the plate.
…
Khichdi.
Of course.
"Wah Adi… kya life hai teri…" I muttered under my breath.
Still… I was hungry. So I ate it silently. But seriously… no taste. Bilkul bhi nahi. It felt like I was eating air.
I finished it anyway and lay back again… staring at the ceiling.
I wonder… who brought me here.
"Miss when can I be discharged?" I asked the nurse.
"You can go home now. Your brother brought you here. They must be waiting," she said.
Brother?
Oh… Amar bhaiyya.
I instantly stood up. A little dizzy… but manageable. I changed into my clothes. Probably masi sent these.
And then I walked out.
Bhaiyya was standing there.
The moment I saw him… I felt a little… safe.
I walked up to him. He looked at me… worried. Like actually worried.
"Chalein," he said simply.
I nodded.
We sat in the car.
"Rey told me… you panicked again after seeing… blood," he said slowly.
I froze.
I didn't reply.
I just looked out of the window.
I don't know what to say.
Because I don't know what's real.
Those memories… they aren't clear. Just broken pieces. Fragments. Some feel real… some don't.
And I hate that.
I hate not knowing.
He didn't ask further. Maybe he understands.
We reached home.
I didn't wait. I just ran upstairs and fell on my bed.
And slept.
Two days passed.
I didn't go to school.
I still felt weak. Not just physically… something else too.
Masi came with food.
"Finally… good food," I whispered dramatically and started eating happily.
After finishing, I thought to change my bandage.
I stood in front of the mirror.
And burst out laughing.
"Wah… Rudolph the red nose reindeer," I said, touching my nose carefully.
"Special edition."
I was about to put a new bandage…
But the box was empty.
"What the—"
Great.
Now I have to go out.
I sighed.
"Chalo Adi… adventure time."
I brushed my teeth, changed into jeans and a T-shirt, combed my hair and left it open.
Took my wallet.
Went downstairs.
Asked masi. Got permission.
And stepped out.
Now the real problem.
Taxi kaise lete hai?
What if I sit in wrong one and they kidnap me?
"Bus better hai," I decided wisely.
So I sat in a bus like a responsible citizen and reached the mall.
I stood there.
Big building. Shiny. Fancy.
And me… with my bandaged nose.
Perfect combo.
I walked inside.
The moment I entered…
People stared.
Some laughed.
Some looked shocked.
Like I came straight out of a war zone.
"Bas karo yaar…" I muttered and quickly covered my nose with my hand.
I rushed to the elevator.
Okay pharmacy… pharmacy…
"Where is it?" I kept turning left and right like a lost child.
Finally I asked a guard.
"Oberoi's Nest, few stores ahead," he said.
Oberoi's…
Why does that sound familiar…
I walked towards it thinking.
And then—
"Wait…" I stopped.
Oberoi.
Vivaan Oberoi Windsor.
…
No way.
"Adi calm down… aur bhi Oberoi hote hai duniya mein…" I tried to convince myself.
I entered the store anyway.
Quickly asked for bandage.
Got it. Paid. Done.
Now escape.
I walked out fast.
And then—
I tried opening the box.
"Yeh khul kyun nahi raha…" I muttered, struggling with it like it personally offended me.
I tried everything.
Nothing worked.
"Bas ab tu gaya…" I whispered dramatically, about to break it—