Aarohi’s house was quiet, but her room was filled with an eerie heaviness. She lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as the events of the past days weighed on her. The doctor’s words echoed in Veer’s ears as he stood outside her door before leaving, “Take good care of her. She’s been through severe trauma.” Her family knew everything now, yet silence was all that passed between them. There were no words—what could they possibly say to her or to each other?

Veer had escorted her home earlier that evening. As they reached her house, Aarohi sat in the back seat, her face pale and her eyes avoiding his. But before leaving her in her family’s care, Veer got out of the car and walked to her side. He opened the door, and she instinctively looked at him, confusion and hesitation in her gaze. Bending slightly, he leaned close to her ear and whispered in a low, deep voice, “Don’t get your hopes up, Aarohi. I’m not leaving you.”