Amara's POV:
A faint beeping sound stirred through the haze, pulling me back into the world I had almost slipped away from. My eyelids felt heavy, but I managed to open them slowly. The white ceiling above me was unfamiliar, bright, and sterile — the smell of antiseptic clung to the air.
I turned my head slightly, and there he was — Vihaan — sitting beside me, head resting against the edge of the bed, his hand still holding mine like he hadn't let go for hours. His shirt was wrinkled and bloodied, his eyes swollen, and the faint stubble on his jaw showed he hadn't slept.
"Vihaan…" I whispered, my voice cracked and small.
His head snapped up instantly. Relief flashed across his face before guilt and fear washed it over. He exhaled shakily and brushed a thumb over my hand.
"You're awake," he said, voice trembling despite the smile. "You scared the hell out of me, Ama."
I tried to smile back weakly. "I didn't mean to…"
"Yeah, you never mean to, but somehow you always find a way," he muttered softly, looking away for a moment — his eyes glassy. Then, quieter, almost breaking, "Don't do that again. Not like this."
"Maybe we should buy you a personal room here in the hospital," Eric said from beside the bed, arms crossed with a teasing grin. "Considering your habit of ending up here now and then."
"Eric," Vihaan warned, shooting him a glare.
"Please," I groaned softly, glowering right back at Vihaan. "Don't be mean to him."
Vihaan raised his brows, mock-offended. "Wow. I end up as the bad guy again. Nice."
Vihaan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You are the bad influence here."
"Coming from you?" Eric smirked. "That's rich."
For a second, the tension cracked, and I couldn't help but smile — the first real smile in days.
"Okay, now that she's awake, I can finally eat something," Eric said dramatically before heading out of the room.
The door clicked shut, leaving just the two of us.
"I'm fine, really," I said, trying to ease the heaviness in his eyes.
Vihaan shook his head slowly. "No, you're not. I'm sorry, Ama. You came to me, and I… I pushed you away." His gaze dropped to the floor, voice rough with guilt.
"You never ignored me," I said softly. "And this isn't your fault. Please don't blame yourself for it."
For a moment, silence hung between us — the steady beep of the monitor filling the space words couldn't.
"Vihaan," I whispered, breaking the pause. "There's something I need to tell you. Can you… Help me sit up?"
He immediately moved closer, one hand behind my back, the other steadying my shoulder as he helped me sit.
"Don't get angry, and please… just listen till the end," I said, trying to sound calm though my voice trembled slightly.
He gave a small nod, eyes fixed on me — patient, but tense.
I took a deep breath. "It was Albert," I began, words catching in my throat. "He wasn't just involved in the case, Vihaan. He was there that night. He was one of the people who attacked me… and the one who killed my mother."
For a second, he didn't move — didn't even blink. The air between us felt frozen.
"But today, it wasn't him. It was Julian," I continued, my fingers twisting the bedsheet unconsciously. "He came to the house. He tried to attack me — or maybe… maybe kill me. But he didn't. I don't know if he thought the head injury was enough or if something stopped him. I just… I can't explain it."
I looked at Vihaan, trying to read his face, but his expression was unreadable — too still, too heavy.
"He came to you? Is this because of him?" Vihaan's voice was sharp now, his eyes flicking to the bandage on my head.
"No… it's because, in my rush to call you, I slipped and hit my head on the couch. It wasn't him," I said quickly.
"You rushed because of him, Ama," he shot back. "And that's how you got this injury." His voice cracked between anger and disbelief — I could see it in the way his jaw tightened.
He stood up, pacing once before facing me again. "And Albert — I'll see him in court. He can't just roam free after destroying your life."
"Vihaan," I whispered, my throat tightening. "Please… spare him. I'm begging you. I can't— I can't do this anymore."
His eyes widened, fury flashing in them. "What? Are you out of your mind, Ama? He killed your mother. He almost killed you. And you want to save him? Why?"
"Vihaan, listen to me," I said, forcing the words out before he could interrupt. "Even if he… even if Albert tried to kill me or my mother, if I'm still here today, breathing, meeting you, it's because of him."
His brows furrowed instantly, confusion and disbelief flashing across his face.
"I know how it sounds," I continued, my voice breaking a little. "But if he hadn't taken me in, given me a roof, treated me like—" I stopped mid-sentence, the weight of my own words choking me.
Vihaan's eyes narrowed, studying me — searching for the thing I was trying so hard not to say aloud.
"Ama," he said slowly, his tone lower now, heavy. "Is this… is this because of Jia?"
The air went still. My heart thudded painfully against my chest. I couldn't look at him, because the truth was there — right in his question.
I couldn't hide it anymore — not from him. He could always sense when something was wrong with me, no matter how carefully I tried to mask it.
"Hm," was all I managed to say. Just one sound — but it was enough.
He sighed, the kind of sigh that fills a room with silence. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
"Just because he destroyed my family," I began softly, my eyes fixed on our intertwined hands, "doesn't mean I should destroy his. Jia… she's already given up so much because of me — her favorite food, her dresses, even her dreams." My voice cracked as I continued, "This isn't how one should pay her back."
I tightened my hold on his hand, searching his face for understanding.
For a long moment, Vihaan didn't say anything. His eyes stayed locked on mine — furious, heartbroken, and still impossibly gentle. I could almost see the war behind them, the part of him that wanted to fight the world for me, and the part that was quietly surrendering to love instead.
Then, without a word, he leaned forward and pulled me close — not carefully this time, but desperately, like he'd been holding it in for too long. His arms trembled around me.
"I still don't agree with you," he whispered against my hair, voice thick and unsteady. "I can't. Every part of me wants justice for what they did to you."
He paused, exhaling shakily — his breath warm against my temple.
"But even if you're wrong, even if it breaks me… I'll still be on your side."
I felt my heart twist painfully at his words. My hands found his shirt, clutching it like a lifeline.
"Vihaan…" I whispered, voice barely there.
He only tightened his hold, his chin resting on my head as if anchoring me in place.
"I just need you safe," he said quietly. "That's all I've ever wanted."
And in that moment, the silence between us wasn't empty — it was full of everything we couldn't say out loud.