“How… how did I end up here? In your room? I don’t remember anything from last night.”  
Raj’s expression shifted, a flicker of emotion crossing his features. He opened his mouth to explain, but the sudden buzz of his phone interrupted him. Glancing at the screen, his demeanor hardened.  
Rashi noticed the name flashing on the screen: **MAYA.**  
Her heart sank, memories flooding her mind.  
“Raj…” she tried to speak again, her voice trembling.
But Raj cut her off, his tone sharp. “It’s not necessary for you to know how you ended up here. And do me a favor—don’t ever do what you did last night again. Because of you, I wasted my time.”
Rashi’s throat tightened as his words pierced her. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Raj turned and left the room without a second glance.
Flashback: The Café Incident 
The scene replayed vividly in Rashi’s mind.  
She had been at the café with Samaira, laughing and chatting, when Raj walked in with Maya. The sight of them together froze her mid-sentence. Her eyes were glued to them as they sat at a corner table, Maya leaning in closer to Raj with an easy familiarity.  
“Bhabhi? Are you okay?” Samaira asked, noticing her sudden silence.  
But Rashi barely heard her. Her focus was on Raj. The way he looked at Maya, his expression soft, almost nostalgic—it tore at her heart. Then Maya reached across the table, placing her hand over his. Raj didn’t pull away.  
Rashi couldn’t take it anymore. Her hand trembled as she grabbed her phone and dialed Raj’s number.  
He picked up after a few rings. “Yes, Rashi?”  
Her voice wavered as she asked, “Raj… where are you? Are you okay?”  
There was a pause before he replied, “I’m in my office. Why?”  
Her breath caught in her throat. She glanced up, seeing him just a few tables away, seated with his ex-girlfriend. The lie cut deeper than she thought possible.  
“N-nothing,” she stammered, ending the call abruptly.  
Her hand clenched the phone as she tried to compose herself, but the pain was too much. Samaira noticed the tears pooling in her eyes and immediately pulled her into a comforting hug.  
“Let’s leave,” Samaira said firmly, leading Rashi out of the café. “We’re going somewhere you can forget all this.”  
Present  
As Raj drove to his office, guilt weighed heavily on him. He replayed the look on Rashi’s face before he left that morning—the way her voice trembled when she asked about the previous night. He had seen the hurt in her eyes but chose to brush it off.  
"Why did I do that?" he thought bitterly. "her pain affect me so much?"
He clenched the steering wheel tighter, his jaw tense. He wasn’t supposed to care. This marriage wasn’t supposed to mean anything. But Rashi’s presence was changing him in ways he couldn’t understand—or control.  
And then there was Maya. Seeing her again had stirred memories he thought were buried. But instead of the longing he expected to feel, all he could think about was how Rashi might have felt seeing them together.  
“Why do I care what she thinks I can't involve her in my world there's so much danger?” he muttered to himself, slamming his fist against the steering wheel.  
But deep down, he knew why.  
Rashi was breaking through the walls he had so carefully built, and it terrified him.  
  
Later, after meeting with Maya, Raj dialed Samaira’s number.  
“Hey, my little princess,” he greeted, forcing a lighter tone.  
“Raj Bhai!” Samaira exclaimed. “I’m so sorry about yesterday…”  
“It’s okay,” Raj interrupted. “I was angry, but I understand. Just don’t do something like that again.”  
“I won’t, Bhai. But… Bhabhi was really upset when she saw you with Maya.”  
Raj’s breath hitched. “What are you talking about?”  
Samaira hesitated, then explained everything—the café, the way Rashi had seen him with Maya, and how hurt she had been.  
Raj fell silent, his chest tightening as he processed her words.  
“I didn’t mean for her to feel that way,” Samaira added, her voice laced with guilt. “That’s why I took her to the club. I thought it would distract her, but things got out of hand.”  
“It’s not your fault,” Raj said finally, his voice softer. “But… Samaira,you have to be careful.”  
“I’m sorry, Bhai. I just… I can see how much Bhabhi cares for you. Please don’t hurt her.”  
Raj sighed, his mind racing. “I’ll handle it, Samaira. Take care, okay?”  
“Okay, Bhai,” she said quietly.  
After hanging up, Raj leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts were consumed by Rashi—her pain, her confusion, and the way she had looked at him before he left.  
He had lied to her. 
Hurt her. 
And for what?  
"I can’t keep doing this to her, he realized i owed her the truth. But how will i do it i need to stay away from her I am not that strong to see in danger. She is becoming important for me i had to do that... We have to stay in distance for her safety once i hunt that vikran then I'll tell her the truth but till then i just can't" he said to himself.
*
This is it for this chapter hope you all like it i will upload next chapter on Thursday for sure till then stay tune and keep voting and commenting guys ..... Byeee!