They reached the beach just as the sky was turning golden.

Siya stopped.

Without saying anything, she slipped off her heels.

“Now it’s okay,” she said softly.

She held the heels in one hand and stepped onto the cool sand.

Aarav watched her, a small smile forming on his lips as he walked beside her.

The breeze played with her hair.

After a few steps, he asked casually, “What do you like, Siya?”

She slowed down.

Turned toward him.

A small smirk curved on her lips.

“Everything you hate.”

He sighed dramatically.

She laughed lightly and walked ahead.

He shook his head, but he was smiling.

A few steps later, she stopped again.

The sunset reflected in her eyes.

“It’s pretty,” she whispered.

He didn’t look at the sunset.

He looked at her.

Her gaze shifted toward the water.

“I want to go there.”

She glanced at the heels in her hand.

He stepped forward.

“Give them to me. I’ll hold them.”

She looked at him for a second.

Measuring him.

He extended his hand quietly.

She placed the heels in his palm.

“Don’t ruin them,” she warned. “They’re my favorite.”

He smiled. “I won’t.”

And she walked toward the water.

The waves touched her feet.

She gasped slightly at the cold.

He stood a little far behind.

Holding her heels.

Watching her.

The ocean moved.

The sky darkened slowly.

But he was focused on only one thing—

Her.

Aarav stood at a distance, watching her.

Siya was smiling.

Actually smiling.

The waves touched her feet as she played with the water like a child — carefree, light, glowing in the sunset.

For a moment, he forgot everything.

She turned suddenly.

Caught him looking.

He quickly looked away.

She sighed.

“Hey… come here.”

He looked at her again. “It’s okay. You enjoy.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly. “Just come. Put my heels somewhere safe and come.”

He paused.

Then carefully walked back, placed her heels on a small stand near the shack.

Beside them, he placed his own shoes.

Then he walked toward her.

The water touched his feet.

Cool.

Refreshing.

She looked at him. “It’s fun, right?”

He nodded quietly.

She smirked.

And suddenly—

Splash!

Water hit his shirt.

He blinked, now slightly wet.

She laughed.

A real laugh.

“Why?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shrugged playfully. “I was getting bored. That's why I called you.”

Then her expression changed.

“Don’t hope for anything. I still hate you.”

He smirked slowly.

“Mrs. Goenka…” he stepped a little closer, “the world rests on hope.”

For a second—

She froze.

Her heart skipped.

That surname.

That tone.

That certainty.

But she quickly turned her face away.

Hiding it.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

A faint victorious smile touched his lips.

And then—

Splash.

He threw water at her.

She gasped. “How dare you!”

And pushed water back toward him.

Soon—

It wasn’t a fight.

It was chaos.

Water splashing.

Laughter mixing with the sound of waves.

For those few minutes—

There was no past.

No Veer.

No hatred.

Just them.

After a long time of splashing water and laughing like children, both of them were completely wet.

Night had fallen.

The breeze turned colder.

Siya shivered slightly.

Aarav noticed.

“Let’s go,” he said softly.

She nodded.

They walked back quietly, sand clinging to their feet.

When they reached the hotel room, Siya picked up her clothes and went straight to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she came out in fresh clothes, her hair slightly damp.

Aarav had changed too.

Aarav phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen.

“Mom,” he said.

Siya paused for a second but said nothing.

He picked up.

“Yes, Mom. We reached safely.”

A soft voice of Kavita Goenka came through the phone.

“And Siya? Is she happy?”

He looked toward her unconsciously.

“Yes, Mom. She’s happy.”

“Good,” Kavita replied warmly. “Enjoy your time.”

From the background, another voice interrupted.

“Bhai! You must be very happy being alone with my bhabhi!”Paakhi said.

“Paakhi!” Kavita scolded lightly.

Paakhi laughed.

Aarav shook his head, smiling. “I’ll talk later.”

He hung up.

But while he was distracted—

Siya had stepped outside.

Her phone was already pressed to her ear.

“Yes.”

The voice on the other end was calm. Controlled.

“Enjoy for now, ma’am. But once you return, just looked up in this”

“I know,” she replied quietly.

Man said “And remember— the Mittals look successful from outside. But inside, they’re criminals. Be careful.”

Her jaw tightened.

“They’re not humans,” she said coldly.

“Exactly, ma’am. Just stay alert.”

The call ended.

She stood there for a moment.

Expression unreadable.

Then—

“Who were you talking to?”

She turned.

Aarav was standing near the door.

“When did you come?” she asked.

“Just now.”

She held his gaze for half a second.

“My friend. She wants to meet me soon.”

He nodded slowly. “Oh. Okay.”

But something felt off.

He couldn’t explain it.

The tone.

Her expression.

The air around her.

An uneasiness settled in his chest.

She changed the topic quickly.

“How are Mom, Dad, and Paakhi?”

He smiled again. “They’re fine.”

“Oh. Nice.”

And she walked past him.

Calm.

Composed.

As if she wasn’t just talking about criminals.

As if she wasn’t planning something much bigger.

And Aarav stood there—

Watching her.

Feeling that the distance between them wasn’t just emotional anymore.

It was dangerous.