Reshabh picked up a call.

“Okay…”

He turned to Aarav and said.“Sir… ma’am is at a restaurant. We’re about to reach.”

Aarav paused for a second—then stepped out of the car.

He entered first, his steps quick, eyes scanning the place.

Reshabh followed behind.

And then—

Aarav saw siya

Siya was Sitting across from a man.

Raghav smiled as the food arrived.

“Here… your chilli potato.”

Siya smiled faintly.

Aarav stopped.

For a moment, Aarav just stood there… watching.

She was smiling.

After everything… she was smiling with someone else.

A strange relief washed over him

at least she was okay she was smiling looking better…

But along with it… came something else.

Something heavier.

She never smiled like that with him.

His jaw tightened slightly.

Still, Aarav walked toward them.

“Siya.”

Siya turned and said “Oh… Aarav? You’re here? What happened?”

Raghav looked at him, observing silently.

Siya glanced between them.

“Raghav… meet him. He’s my husband.”

Raghav stood up and extended his hand.

“Hi, I’m Raghav. Siya’s college friend.”

Aarav looked at him for a brief second… then shook his hand and said“Aarav Goenka.”

“Oh… nice,” Raghav said with a polite smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Aarav didn’t respond.

Siya looked at Aarav and said “But suddenly… why are you here?”

“I was worried,” Aarav said simply. “You didn’t tell Mom.”

“Because she wasn’t home,” Siya replied calmly. “Otherwise, I would have I always told her.”

Aarav fell silent.

Her words were normal… but something in him still felt off.

His gaze flickered briefly toward Raghav.

A quiet discomfort settled in his chest.He didn't like it.

Raghav’s phone buzzed.

He stepped aside and took the call.

After a moment, he returtned and said “Siya, I can drop you—”

“I’m here,” Aarav cut in calmly. “Don’t worry.”

Raghav looked at him, then nodded and said “Alright.”

Raghav turned to Siya and said. “Bye.”

Siya nodded.

Raghav left.

Siya exhaled softly and stood up.

Without saying anything, she started walking out.

Aarav followed behind her.

Outside, Reshabh was already in the car.

Siya sat in the back seat.

Aarav sat beside her.

Silence filled the space between them.

Heavy. Unspoken.None of them said nothing.

Siya picked up her phone and started typing.

Aarav glanced at the screen… then at her.

He turned his face away, his jaw tightening.

“You go anywhere,” he said finally, his voice controlled,

“but you never tell me. At least inform me once.”

Siya sighed, still looking at her phone and said “I always tell Mom.”

That was it.

Aarav’s patience snapped slightly.

He reached forward and took her phone.

“Aarav— stop it. Give me my phone,” she said immediately, irritation clear in her voice.

“You just showed up like this and now—”she said angrily.

“I am your husband,” he cut her off.

She looked at him, her eyes cold.

“Forced husband. Remember?”

Silence.

“Don’t try to control me,” she continued firmly.

“You already know who I am.”

Aarav exhaled, trying to keep himself calm.

“I’m not controlling you,” he said, his voice softer now.

“I was worried.”

She didn’t respond.

“You were crying that day… you were broken,” he continued.“I just wanted to see if you’re okay.”

For a moment, her fingers paused.

But she turned her face away again.

Aarav looked at her, something in his eyes shifting.

he said quietly“fine .... but don’t treat me like someone you can’t even share anything with.”

Siya’s expression hardened.

“I won’t share everything… with someone who’s forced into my life,” she replied coldly.

And turned her face away.He didn't said anything.

The car reached the mansion.

Without looking at him, she took her phone from his hand, stepped out, and walked inside.

Aarav remained seated and just Watching her.

Until she disappeared from his sight.

“Sir…” Reshabh called softly.

Aarav blinked, then looked away.

“Office.”

Reshabh nodded and started driving.

Aarav leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed outside the window.

But he wasn’t seeing anything.

His mind was somewhere else.

With her.

He had been trying…

trying to make her understand that he was always there for her.

That she wasn’t alone.

But every time he stepped closer—

she pushed him away.

Every time.

Even after everything…

she kept building walls between them.

His jaw tightened.

He just wanted her to believe him.

To trust him.

To let him in.

But—

He closed his eyes briefly.

Reshabh glanced at him through the mirror.

“Sir… don’t worry,” he said carefully.

Aarav looked at him.

“Ma’am will understand. We’re trying…”

Aarav didn’t reply.

He just gave a faint nod.

But Reshabh could see it clearly.

Aarav had never looked like this before.

He had always been calm—even in the worst situations.

Unshaken.

Controlled.

But today…

There was something broken in his silence.

And for the first time, Reshabh understood—

This wasn’t about ego.

Or control.

Aarav Goenka was hurting…

Because he loved Siya.

And she didn’t let him.

Siya sat quietly in her room.

Everything kept replaying in her mind—

his words… his silence… his eyes.

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.

Why am I feeling bad for him…?

“He always listens to me…” she murmured under her breath.

She paused and thought He never tried to control me…

Even today—

he had seen her with someone else.

And still… he didn’t raise his voice even once.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

She knew it.

She knew how much he was trying… how much he was holding back for her.

She shook her head suddenly.“No…”

Her voice was firm this time.

“I can’t be weak now.”

For her, accepting him…

meant losing focus.

Meant becoming vulnerable.

And she couldn’t afford that.

Not now.

Not when everything had been taken from her.

So she held it all inside—

every emotion, every softness—locking it away.

Denying it.

Again and again.

But no matter how much she denied it…

It didn’t disappear.

It stayed.

Growing silently.

And slowly… it began to hurt.

Not because of anyone else—

But because of him.

Aarav reached the Goenka mansion.

But something was different.

He walked in quietly, his expression distant, his steps slower than usual.

Without stopping anywhere, he went straight to his room.

Siya was already there.

She looked up the moment he entered.

For a second, their eyes met.

But he looked away.

Without saying a word, he walked past her, changed his clothes, and went into the study.

No teasing.

No casual remarks.

Nothing.

Just silence.

Siya paused.

On normal days… he would have said something—anything.

Teased her. Tried to talk to her.

But today…

Nothing.

She turned her face away, but her expression betrayed her thoughts.

At the dinner table—

She sat beside him.

Aarav ate quietly, not once looking at her.

The silence between them felt heavier than words.

As soon as he finished, he stood up and left without saying anything.

Back in the room—

Aarav lay down on the couch, closing his eyes.

As if shutting himself away from everything.

—

Siya watched him.

Quietly.

Carefully.

The same man who used to try so hard to talk to her to get her attention to tease her…

was now completely distant.

And strangely—

She didn’t like it.

She used to get irritated when he teased her…

but today, when he didn’t even look at her didn't speak a word—

It didn’t feel right.

At all.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

Maybe… he’s hurt too much, she thought.