Vaishali's POV –

I didn't sleep that night.

Not really.

Every time I closed my eyes...
I saw those messages again.

"Hello, my little lotus."

My fingers tightened around the bedsheet.

No.

I shut my eyes harder.

This isn't real.
He's not here.
He can't reach me.

But my body didn't believe that.

Because fear...
doesn't listen to logic.

Morning came slowly.

Soft sunlight entered the room...
but it didn't warm anything inside me.

I sat in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection.

I looked normal.

Calm.

Like nothing happened.

Good.

That's what I needed.

No one should know.

Especially him.

A knock came.

I flinched.

"Vaishali?" Rhea's voice.

I exhaled softly.

"I'm coming..."

I stood up, adjusted my dupatta, and opened the door.

Rhea smiled instantly.
"Good morning, bhabhi!"

I tried to smile back.

"Good morning..."

She paused for a second.

Her eyes scanned my face.

"You okay?"

Too fast.Too direct.

"I'm fine," I said quickly.

Too quickly.

She didn't look convinced.

But before she could ask more...

"Come on," she grabbed my hand, "Meera maa is waiting."

Saved for now.

Downstairs...

Everything felt normal.

Too normal.

Breakfast.
Voices.
Laughter.

Like last night never happened.

Like that message didn't exist.

Like he didn't exist.

I sat quietly.

Responding when spoken to.

Smiling when needed.

Pretending.

And somehow...

No one noticed.

Except...

Rudraksh's POV –

She was different.

Subtle.

But I saw it.

The way her fingers stayed clenched longer than usual.
The way her eyes avoided stillness.
The way her smile... didn't reach fully.

Something was off.

And I didn't like it.

At all.

"Vaishali."

She looked up instantly.

"Yes?"

Too alert.Too quick.

Fear?

No.

Not exactly.

Something else.

I leaned back slightly.

"Eat properly."

Simple.Neutral.
But I was watching.

She nodded.

"I am..."

Lie.

But I didn't call it out.

Not yet.

Because if something was wrong...

I'd find out.

My way.

Vaishali's POV –

After breakfast, I somehow managed to slip away.

Back to my room.

Alone.

Safe.

Or at least... it should have been.

My eyes moved to the drawer.

The phone was still inside.

Switched off.

Hidden.

Like that could fix everything.

Slowly...

I walked toward it.

My hand hesitated.

Don't open it.

Don't.

But...

What if he messaged again?

What if...no....

I pulled the drawer open.

Took the phone.

Held it tightly.

My heart started racing again.

"Just check..." I whispered to myself.

My fingers pressed the power button.

The screen lit up.

And for a second...

Nothing.

No messages.
No calls.
Silence.

Relief hit me so suddenly, I almost laughed.

Maybe...

Maybe it was over.

Maybe...

Buzz.

My body froze.

A new message.

Same unknown number.

My fingers went cold.

Slowly...

I opened it.

And the moment I read it—

Everything inside me shattered again.

"Good morning, little lotus."

"You look beautiful in pink."

My breath stopped.

No....No.....

My hands started shaking again.

Pink.

I was wearing pink.

Right now.

My head snapped toward the door.

Then the window.

Then everywhere.

"He's not here... he's not here..." I whispered.

But my body didn't believe it.

Because how...

How did he know?

Another message came.

"Did you really think I wouldn't see you?"

"I told you..."

"You don't belong there."

Tears filled my eyes instantly.

He was watching.

Somewhere.Somehow.
Watching me.

My fingers trembled as I typed...

"Stop."

Sent.

The reply came instantly.

"Or what?"

My heart dropped.

I shouldn't have replied.

I shouldn't have...

Another message.

"Enjoy your little fairytale while it lasts."

"Because I'm coming soon."

The phone slipped from my hand.

This wasn't over.

It was just starting.

Author's POV –

Across the city...

Inside a dimly lit room...

A screen glowed in the dark.

Her picture.

From the engagement.

Zoomed in.

Her face.Her smile.

His jaw clenched slightly.

"Still smiling..." he muttered.

A slow... unsettling smile followed.

"Let's see how long that lasts, Vaishali."

His fingers tapped the screen again.

Zooming further.

Her hand.The ring.

His expression darkened.

"That shouldn't be there."

Silence.

Then softly...

"You were mine first."

Rudraksh's POV –

By evening...

Something still felt off.

And I don't ignore instincts.

Ever.

I stood outside her door.

For a second...

I just listened.

Silence.

Then I opened it.

She was standing near the window again.

Back facing me.

Still.

Too still.

"Vaishali."

She turned.

And this time...

I saw it clearly.

Fear.
Not confusion.
Not hesitation.

Fear.
Real.
Sharp.
Hidden badly.

My gaze hardened slightly.

"Who scared you?"

Direct.

No space to escape.

She froze.

Just for a second.

Then shook her head.

"No one..."

Lie.
Clear.
Obvious.

But her eyes...

They weren't ready to tell.

Not yet.

I stepped closer.

Slowly.

"Look at me."

She did.

Reluctantly.

"I don't repeat myself," I said quietly.

Her breath hitched.

But she still didn't speak.

Stubborn.

Or scared.

Or both.

I stopped right in front of her.

Close enough.

"Fine," I said.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Confused.

I leaned in slightly.

Voice low.

Dangerously calm.

"But whoever it is..."

A pause.

My eyes locked into hers.

"They just made the biggest mistake of their life."

She went still.

Not because she understood everything.

But because she believed one thing...

If Rudraksh finds out...

It won't end quietly.

Author's POV –

One is hiding.
One is watching.
One is waiting.
and one...is about to lose control.

Because this time...

It's not just about power.

It's personal.

And when the truth finally comes out...

It won't be fear that breaks the silence.

It will be war.