Sunlight danced through the French windows of Chauhan Mansion, painting golden stripes across the marble floor. Ajeet Chauhan sat in his favorite armchair, the morning newspaper rustling in his hands. The peaceful morning scene was broken only by the gentle click of heels on marble.

Mitali Chauhan approached with two steaming cups of tea, her silk saree whispering with each step. She placed one cup beside her husband, worry lines creasing her forehead.

"Your elder son didn't come home again last night," she said softly.

Ajeet didn't look up from his paper. "What can I do about it, Mitali? Everyone here lives as they please."

"We should try talking to him properly." Mitali's voice carried years of concern. "Ever since he came back from London and started his own firm, he's buried himself in work. He only stays in his penthouse, away from us."

Ajeet finally folded his newspaper, revealing tired eyes. "Well, Viraaj handles our company. I thought about bringing Rishab into the business-he has an amazing mind for it. But Mr. 'Shaab Ji' seems to think we're his worst enemies."

Mitali's gaze softened with guilt as she swirled her tea absentmindedly.

"It's our fault, Ajeet. When the boys were growing up-especially when Viraaj was sick-we focused too much on him. Now Rishab has pulled away from us"

Ajeet sighed, rubbing his temple.

Ajeet: "But still, we are his parents."

Mitali's voice wavered slightly, tears pooling in her eyes.

Mitali: "Yes, but for him... we were never good parents."

Ajeet's jaw tightened, but he nodded.

Ajeet: "I'll talk to him later. Alone. Don't worry."

The heavy moment was broken by footsteps on the grand staircase. Abhinav Chauhan, their youngest, bounced down the steps with his usual sparkle, fixing his watch.

"Good morning, Hitler!" he called his father with a grin.

Mitali chuckled at the nickname he always used for Ajeet, while Ajeet simply scoffed. But before they could respond, Abhinav turned to his mother with a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest.

Abhinav: "Good morning Maa, my sunshine! You look so breathtaking in this orange saree today... uff, maar hi daaloge! (uff, you're going to kill me with your beauty!)"

Mitali rolled her eyes with a smile, shaking her head.

Ajeet's warning came with a hint of amusement. "Stop flirting with my wife, or I'll put a bullet through your head."

"See, Maa? He's jealous!" Abhinav leaned against the sofa, smirking. "Poor Dad never learned how to flirt-that's why he's always grumpy."

Ajeet (rolling his eyes): "Jealous of you? Beta, paida kar diya tujhe, shukar mana mera."

(Son, you should be grateful I even gave birth to you!)

The banter was interrupted by Viraaj Chauhan's entrance. He walked in like winter itself-cold, commanding, perfect. "Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, beta," Mitali smiled warmly.

Ajeet couldn't resist teasing. "Good morning, my little champ."

For a moment, Viraaj's icy mask cracked. "Dad, don't call me that. I'm not a kid anymore."

Ajeet leaned back in his chair with an amused grin.

Ajeet: "Yes, yes. All three of you have grown up so much, haven't you? Now, one openly flirts with my wife every day, the other avoids showing his face at home, and the third takes offense when I call him 'little champ'."

He threw his hands up in mock frustration.

Ajeet: "What a perfect trio of brothers!"

Mitali chuckled, while Abhinav smirked and Viraaj simply sighed, shaking his head. Without a word, the three of them turned towards the dining room.

Ajeet watched them go, then huffed.

Ajeet (grumbling as he followed): "Great. My words are completely ignored now."

And with that, the Chauhan family sat down for breakfast, sharing fleeting moments of togetherness before Abhinav and Viraaj left for the office-But one chair remained empty-Rishab's absence spoke louder than any words could.

Adyasha's Penthouse - Morning

The first thing Adyasha felt was the sting of sunlight slicing through the curtains, searing into her closed eyelids. She stirred, her body sprawled on the cold marble floor, limbs heavy, mind sluggish. A dull, insistent throbbing echoed in her skull, but she didn't flinch. Pain had long lost its meaning.

The sharp vibration of her phone shattered the silence, jolting her back to reality. She fumbled for it with stiff fingers, barely glancing at the caller ID before answering.

Chaaya: "Good morning. Where are you? You didn't come home last night."

Adyasha blinked, her voice devoid of emotion.

Adyasha: "Penthouse. What happened?"

A pause. A hesitation.

Chaaya: "If you're free, can you drop me at the office today?"

A request disguised as casual, but Adyasha caught the underlying weight in her voice-concern, unease, something left unsaid.

Adyasha: "I'll be there in a bit."

Chaaya: "Thanks. Meet me at the main square of our society. Bye."

Adyasha: "Bye."

The call ended, leaving behind an unsettling silence.

Adyasha exhaled slowly, dragging her gaze to her hands. Dried blood clung to her skin, webbing across her fingers, smeared along her wrists. Deep, jagged cuts marred her flesh, some fresh, some old. Yet, there was no sting, no sharp reminder of the wounds.

She was numb.

Deadly blank.

For a long moment, she simply stared, as if waiting for something-pain, panic, regret. None came.

Instead, she forced herself to move, The throbbing in her head grew heavier, but she ignored it, pressing forward with mechanical precision.

When she finally stepped out of her room, the atmosphere in the penthouse shifted. The maids stilled, their eyes flickering with unspoken concern. They were used to Adyasha's silence, her ghostly presence that drifted through the halls without a sound.

She acknowledged them with a slight nod before murmuring, "Clean my room."

One of the maids, an older woman with hesitant steps, stepped forward, eyes brimming with worry.

Maid: "Beta... your hands. The cuts."

Before Adyasha could respond, another voice cut in.

Doctor: "You got injured again?"

She turned to see her personal doctor emerging from his room, his expression hardening the moment he took in her state. His jaw clenched as he stepped closer, eyes scanning the fresh wounds, the faint trickle of blood still seeping from reopened cuts.

Doctor: "This isn't good for your body. You lost a lot of blood last night, and now this?"

His frustration was evident, but Adyasha remained indifferent, her voice flat.

Adyasha: "Nothing much. Glass cuts."

The doctor inhaled sharply, exhaling through his nose in silent restraint. Saying nothing, he reached for the medical kit, his hands moving with practiced efficiency. He cleaned the wounds, his grip firm yet careful. When he pulled away the bandage from her head, another faint trail of blood surfaced.

Still, Adyasha didn't wince.

The doctor didn't argue. He simply grabbed a syringe, injecting a painkiller into her arm with a quiet sigh.

She watched him, unreadable. The second he was done, she rose to her feet. No words of gratitude. No explanations. Just a quiet departure.

The doctor watched her go, his expression dark with frustration.

Doctor (muttering): "This girl never takes care of herself. Just yesterday, she had an accident, and now this. She doesn't seem to care... she's always like this."

Outside, the air was crisp, the morning alive with the hum of the city.

Adyasha didn't eat. Didn't drink.

She simply swung her leg over her bike, kicked the engine to life, and sped away-

Straight to the main square, where Chaaya was waiting.

# Morning - The Main Square

Chaaya stood at the edge of the square, watching the road with worried eyes. When she saw Adyasha coming on her bike, covered in bandages, her worry turned to fear. Something was very wrong.

The bike pulled up next to her, its engine quiet under Adyasha's injured hands.

"What happened to you?" Chaaya's voice shook. "The bandages... are you okay? Say something! You're scaring me!"

Adyasha barely looked at her, waving off her concern. "Are you done asking questions? Get on the bike. We need to go."

The coldness in her voice made Chaaya's heart sink. This wasn't just her friend being tired. Something dark had changed in her.

"Wait-" Chaaya started, but Adyasha cut her off.

"Should I just pick you up and put you on the bike myself?"

Chaaya's hands balled into fists. She was scared, but now she was getting angry too.

"Stop acting like this!" she snapped. "My best friend shows up hurt, acts like it's nothing, and I'm supposed to be okay with that? You're driving with injured hands! Have you lost your mind?"

Adyasha's face stayed blank, like she was wearing a mask. She just started the bike again, the engine coming to life.

"Get on. I'll tell you everything later."

"No way!" Chaaya stepped back, crossing her arms. "You're hurt, acting weird, and I'm not getting on that bike!"

Adyasha gave her a tired look. "I'm fine. No pain at all. Either get on now, or-"

She left the threat hanging in the air between them.

Chaaya let out an angry breath. "Using threats now? Really? Fine! But you'll pay for this later."

Still grumbling, she climbed onto the back of the bike and carefully put her arms around Adyasha's waist.

The bike roared forward before she was ready. As they sped through the streets, Chaaya's mind raced with worried thoughts.

*Chaaya's Thoughts*

"Something's really wrong. She's always been a bit cold, but this... this is different. She's scary today. And those injuries-what happened to her?"

She held on tighter, her heart heavy.

"I almost forgot-I only asked for a ride because I wanted to talk to her. I thought with Gauri busy at the hospital, maybe Adyasha would open up. But seeing her like this... maybe it's not the right time."

She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling sick with worry.

"What am I going to do? Gauri said Kirti Aunty only has a month left... How cruel can life be? What will happen to Adyasha when... when it happens? It's too much for anyone to handle."

The bike suddenly stopped, throwing her forward. She barely caught herself.

"Pay attention!" Adyasha snapped. "You could have fallen!"

Chaaya got off the bike on shaky legs, but kept her voice strong.

"See? I'm fine... which is more than I can say for you."

Adyasha just stared at her, silent words filling the space between them.

Chaaya took a deep breath. "I'm going now. But I'm coming back tonight-in my car. We're not done talking about this, Adyasha. Not even close. See you later."

She walked away quickly, even though every step felt wrong. Her heart was screaming at her to stay, to help her friend, but she knew Adyasha wasn't ready to let her in. Not yet.

Adyasha feels a slight twinge of pain in her hands, and she gazes towards them. Fresh blood visible on bandage - a consequence of gripping the handle too tightly.

Useless body," she whispered, the words bitter on her tongue. "Can't even hold itself together."

She turned, ready to mount her bike, desperate to escape-

*CRASH*

The world spun. Pain exploded behind her eyes, stars dancing in her vision. Her body swayed, betraying her once again.

She looked up, fury rising in her throat-

And time stopped.

*Him, Again*

Rishabh pov:

Something pulled at me the moment I stepped out of the car. A whisper in my blood, a thread tugging at my soul. The morning air felt heavy with possibility.

a strange sensation curled in my gut-something unshakable.

Kaka had to take Kaki to the doctor, so I told him to drop me off outside the office. But now, standing here, something felt... off.

My gaze flickered across the street-and then it landed on her.

She stood next to a bike, facing the office entrance.

Her back was to me, but my instincts screamed that it was her-

Even from behind, I knew it was her-the woman from yesterday. The one who'd haunted my dreams, whose fierce eyes followed me into sleep.

My feet moved before my brain could catch up.

Drawn to her.

Like a moth to a flame-knowing full well I might burn.

And then-impact.

Our bodies collided. A sharp breath. A fleeting second.

Electricity surged through my veins-raw, untamed, dangerous.

This time, I knew it was my fault.

Would I admit it? Never.

But none of it mattered, because-

Our eyes met.

And in that instant, I saw everything.

Her honey-brown eyes, once blazing with defiance, now carried shadows-deep, haunting. Her face was pale, exhaustion clinging to her like an invisible weight.

Her lips-chapped, colorless-trembled slightly with each breath.

But it was the bandage on her forehead that made something in me snap.

Who dared?

Who the hell dared to hurt her?

A wildfire of rage ignited in my chest-primal, possessive, protective.

Before I could stop myself, my arms were around her waist, pulling her in.

Shielding her. Claiming her.

For a single heartbeat-**just one-**she didn't resist.

Her body softened.

Her breath caught.

Then-she shoved me away.

Hard.

The loss of contact felt like a blade slicing through my chest.

A physical ache.

An emptiness I couldn't explain.

Why?

Why did her rejection feel like a wound I had carried long before this moment?

The resemblance-the way my soul recognized her before my mind could even process it-was terrifying.

Everything about her called to me.

Demanded answers to questions I hadn't even formed.

Her voice snapped through the air like a whip, yanking me back to reality.

"What's your problem?" Her tone was sharp, edged with fury. "Do you have a death wish? Or do you just need your eyes checked?" Each word was laced with venom, but beneath it-was that a tremor? "Can't you see a living, breathing human being standing right in front of you? How dare you touch me again? What, cat got your tongue?"

I should have responded.

Should have apologized.

Should have argued.

Should have said anything.

But I didn't.

I just stared.

Captivated.

Consumed.

Destroyed.

She was wounded, furious, and utterly magnificent.

Her rage only made her more beautiful. More real.

The pain in her eyes mirrored something broken in my own soul.

And God help me-I needed to know why.

She stands in front of me, too far away. The distance makes my blood boil, though I don't know why.

Then I see her hands.

The bandages.

The white gauze wrapped around her fingers, stained with red.

Something breaks inside me. My anger explodes. I don't think - I just move.

I grab her wrist and pull her close, so close I can feel her warmth. My breath touches her ear as I growl, "Who did this to you?"

She looks at me like I've lost my mind. Then she laughs, but there's no joy in it. "Why do you care?" Her words are sharp, hiding something deeper. "Back off. Unless you want to lose your teeth."

She tries to pull away.

I take a deep breath.

Big mistake.

Her scent hits me - sweet and soft, like a peaceful morning. It calms the storm in my chest. My grip loosens, and I let her go.

She glares at me, those honey-brown eyes burning with fire. But I see past her anger.

I see her pain.

I see her secrets.

I see something that calls to my soul.

Slowly, carefully, I reach for her hand again. This time, I'm gentle - like she might break if I'm too rough.

When my fingers touch hers, it hits me.

Her pain becomes my pain.

Raw. Real. A cry for help she won't let out.

How is this happening?

I've only met her twice.

But my heart knows - she's the one I've been looking for my whole life.

She tries to pull away again.

I hold on tighter.

She opens her mouth to argue, but I press a finger to her lips.

"Shhh."

Her lips are soft under my touch. Too soft. Too tempting.

I want to stay there, keep touching her. But I force myself to pull back and look at her wounds instead.

Fresh blood has soaked through the bandage.

Something dark and protective rises in my chest.

Not just anger.

Something stronger. More dangerous.

Without saying a word, I start walking, taking her with me.

She fights it, trying to step back. I give her one look - dark and warning - and she stops.

I don't let go of her hand.

She scolds me the whole way, but I ignore it. I walk us straight to the elevator and press the button for the 20th floor.

My office. My space.

The doors close behind us.

We're alone

now.

And I know, deep in my bones -

This is just the start of our story.

*The real storm hasn't even begun.*

___________________________________

That was the wrap of 4th chapter.

Don't forget to share your views guys....

~ Radya ✨