The car finally came to a stop in front of a luxurious restaurant.
Golden lights illuminated the entrance, but the dazzling sight only deepened the chaos inside Sanchi's heart.
Kabir stepped out first and opened the door for her.
The moment her feet touched the ground—
"Ah..."
A soft cry escaped her lips.
Kabir's expression darkened instantly.
Without saying a word, he crouched beside her.
His gaze fell on the wound on her foot.
The cut had worsened during the chase, and traces of dried blood were still visible.
Ignoring everyone around them, Kabir walked back to the car and returned with a medical kit.
Sanchi watched him silently.
For once, the ruthless man standing before her looked strangely different.
Kabir gently lifted her injured foot into his hands.
His movements were unexpectedly careful.
As if he was afraid of hurting her further.
He cleaned the wound with a tissue before applying medicine.
The moment the antiseptic touched her skin, Sanchi winced.
A small cry escaped her lips.
Her eyes squeezed shut in pain.
Kabir's fingers froze.
For a brief second, guilt flashed across his face.
A guilt he quickly hid.
Inside, however, a storm was raging.
I'm sorry, Sanchi.
Your pain... your tears... your wounds...
Somewhere, I'm the reason behind all of them.
"What are you thinking, Kabir?"
Sanchi's sudden voice pulled him back.
For a moment, it felt as though she had read every thought in his mind.
"Nothing."
He looked away immediately.
After finishing the bandage, Kabir handed the medical kit to the driver.
Sanchi remained seated on the car bonnet.
Not because she wanted to.
Because her body no longer had the strength to stand.
A few moments later, she tried to get up on her own.
The instant her injured foot touched the ground, sharp pain shot through her body.
Her face paled.
Kabir noticed.
His jaw clenched.
Something tightened painfully inside his chest.
Before his mind could stop him—
His body moved first.
The next second, Sanchi felt herself being lifted into the air.
Her eyes widened.
Kabir had picked her up.
One arm beneath her knees.
The other around her back.
As though she weighed nothing.
As though letting her walk was not an option.
"Kabir..."
His name slipped from her lips unconsciously.
Not as a question.
Not as an accusation.
Just... a whisper.
Kabir lowered his gaze.
If he looked into her eyes now, he wasn't sure what he would find there.
Or worse...
What he might find inside himself.
So he kept walking.
Each step heavier than the last.
The wound belonged to Sanchi.
Then why did the pain feel like it was inside him?
Resting against his chest, Sanchi could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
For the first time since the nightmare began, she didn't struggle.
She didn't protest.
She simply held the fabric of his shirt lightly.
A silent gesture.
Neither trust.
Nor forgiveness.
Yet somehow...
Not hatred either.
A strange silence settled between them.
One neither of them could understand.
Sanchi hated him.
She reminded herself of that again and again.
Then why did this moment feel different?
Why was the same man who had destroyed her freedom now protecting her from a single step of pain?
And Kabir...
He only knew one thing.
He wasn't ready to let her stand alone anymore.
As for the reason?
That was a question he had locked deep inside his heart.
And he wasn't ready to face it.
Not yet.
.stay tuned...