Kashvi had not felt this light in years.
There was laughter in her voice again.
There was ease in her steps.
For the first time since London began to feel like home, she was genuinely happy.
Ved had become a part of her routine—quietly, naturally.
Morning coffee at the same café.
Occasional walks where words were unnecessary.
Conversations that stayed in the present, never touching wounds they both feared reopening.
They were not lovers.
They were not pretending.
They were simply… friends.
And Kashvi had forgotten what it felt like to breathe without fear.
Krish noticed the change—but he didn't understand it.
She smiled more.
She hummed while cooking.
She returned home with a calmness he had never seen before.
Yet something felt wrong.
One evening, while Kriday played in his room, Krish finally asked,
"What changed?"
Kashvi looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You," he replied quietly.
"You're happy. And I don't know why."
She hesitated. Just for a second.
That was enough.
Later that night, a call confirmed what Krish had been sensing all along.
Ved Oberoi was in London.
Not visiting.
Not passing through.
Living there.
And Kashvi had known the entire time.
The Confrontation
Krish waited for her to return home.
The moment she entered, he spoke.
"How long?"
Kashvi stopped walking.
"What?"
"How long have you been meeting Ved?" he asked, his voice controlled—but strained.
Her silence answered him.
Krish laughed bitterly.
"So this is it," he said.
"This is why you suddenly look alive."
"It's not like that," Kashvi said quickly.
"He's just a friend."
"A friend?" Krish repeated.
"You hid him from me."
"I didn't hide him," she replied.
"I just didn't know how to tell you."
Krish stepped closer.
"You let him back into your life," he said.
"After everything he did to you."
"He's changed," Kashvi whispered.
That was the moment Krish lost his calm.
"You're changing," he snapped.
"And I don't recognize you anymore."
He grabbed her wrist—not violently, but firmly—pulling her toward him.
"I fought for you," he said, his voice breaking.
"I stood beside you when no one else did."
Kashvi tried to pull away.
"You don't get to decide my life, Krish."
"I won't lose you now," he said desperately.
"Not after everything."
She looked at him, shaken.
"We're getting married this week," Krish declared suddenly.
"No delays. No confusion."
Kashvi stared at him in disbelief.
"You can't force this."
"I can," he replied harshly.
"And I will—because I won't let Ved take you away again."
The room fell into silence.
Kashvi slowly freed her hand.
"This isn't love," she said softly.
"This is fear."
Krish turned away, breathing heavily.
And for the first time, Kashvi realized—
She wasn't running toward Ved.
She was running away from being controlled again.