𝙇𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨

📍 Malhotra Mansion | Night

Everyone had returned from the picnic.

The mansion was finally quiet.

But two people couldn't sleep.

Shrishti stood near the balcony.

Thinking.

About the bus incident.

The lake incident.

The way Kartik held her.

Again.

And again.

Meanwhile…

Inside his office—

Kartik sat with a file open.

But he hadn't read a single word for ten minutes.

Because his mind kept replaying one scene only.

Shrishti falling into his lap.

Kartik: 😐

He closed the file aggressively.

Kartik: "Focus."

But even the Mafia King was losing against his own heart now.

𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙮𝙖 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚

Next Morning.

Shrishti entered the kitchen sleepily.

Priya immediately narrowed her eyes.

Priya: 😏

Priya: "Someone looks distracted."

Shrishti: "No."

Priya: "Someone is lying."

Shrishti: 😤

Shrishti: "I'm not."

Priya: "Really?"

Priya leaned closer dramatically.

Priya: "Then why were you smiling at your tea?"

Shrishti: 😳

Shrishti: "I WAS NOT."

Aarohi: 😂

Aarohi: "She's gone."

𝙆𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙠 𝙂𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙅𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣

Later…

Everyone gathered in the living room.

Aarav sat beside Shrishti casually.

Very casually.

Too casually.

And purposely rested his arm behind her on the couch.

Across the room—

Kartik noticed immediately.

His expression darkened.

Aryan: 😏

Aryan: "Boss."

No response.

Aryan: "Murder is illegal."

Kartik: 😐

Kartik: "Move."

Everyone froze.

Because Kartik was looking directly at Aarav.

Aarav: 😏

Aarav: "Why?"

Kartik: "Because I said so."

Shrishti: 😳

Priya: 👀

Aarohi: 👀

The tension became REAL.

Then suddenly—

Aarav: 😂

Aarav: "Okay, okay. Relax."

He moved away laughing.

While Kartik sat beside Shrishti immediately.

Without shame.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙙

Everyone started watching a movie together.

Lights dimmed.

Shrishti stiffened slightly.

Kartik noticed.

Without saying anything—

He quietly moved his hand near hers.

Not touching.

Just there.

As if silently telling her—

"You're safe."

And somehow…

That comforted her instantly.

Then suddenly—

A scary scene appeared in the movie.

Shrishti got startled.

And accidentally grabbed Kartik's hand tightly.

Complete silence.

Shrishti: 😳

Kartik: 😳

She immediately tried pulling away—

But Kartik gently held her hand back.

Not forcefully.

Softly.

Protectively.

Priya: 👀

Aryan: 👀

Aarav: 😐

Aarohi: 😭💖

Nobody said anything this time.

Because somehow…

The moment felt too real to joke about.

𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙮𝙖 & 𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚

Meanwhile…

Priya tried reaching popcorn from Aryan's side.

At the exact same time—

Aryan leaned forward too.

THUD.

Their heads collided.

Priya: 😭

Aryan: 😭

Priya: "OW!"

Aryan: "YOU ATTACKED ME."

Priya: "YOU HAVE A HARD HEAD."

Everyone burst out laughing.

𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙪𝙩 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣

Suddenly—

LIGHTS OUT.

Entire mansion went dark.

Shrishti: 😨

Her breathing immediately became uneven.

Kartik stood up instantly.

Kartik: "Shrishti."

No response.

Because she was already panicking.

Darkness surrounded everything.

Another thunder echoed outside.

And suddenly—

Shrishti grabbed Kartik's arm tightly.

Shrishti: (shaking)

"Kartik…"

That one broken whisper did something dangerous to his heart.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮

Another loud thunder struck.

Shrishti flinched badly.

Her breathing worsened quickly.

Kartik immediately understood.

Panic attack.

Again.

Without hesitation—

He picked her up in his arms.

Shrishti: 😰

Instinctively—

She buried her face into his chest immediately.

Holding onto his shirt tightly.

Kartik carried her upstairs carefully.

While everyone watched silently.

Because the fear in Kartik's eyes was real again.

𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙢 𝙈𝙚 𝘿𝙤𝙬𝙣

📍 Shrishti's Room

Aryan lit candles quickly.

Soft golden light filled the room.

Kartik sat on the bed with Shrishti still in his arms.

Because she refused to let go.

Kartik: (softly)

"Look at me."

Shrishti slowly looked up.

Eyes filled with tears.

Shrishti: 😭

Shrishti: "Don't leave."

Everyone froze.

Even Kartik.

Because she said it unconsciously.

Honestly.

Like she trusted him completely.

And that scared him too.

Kartik: (soft whisper)

"I'm not going anywhere."

𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙮𝙖 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙊𝙣 𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙖𝙣

As everyone quietly stepped outside—

Priya accidentally slipped near the door.

Priya: 😨

Before she could fall—

Aryan grabbed her waist sharply.

Pulling her directly against him.

Priya: 😳

Aryan: 😳

For one second…

Nobody moved.

Then—

Aarav: 😂

Aarav: "Interesting timing."

Both immediately stepped apart awkwardly.

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨

Back inside the room…

Shrishti had finally calmed down.

But she was still holding Kartik's hand tightly.

Half asleep now.

Kartik quietly looked at her.

Then gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

A softness existed in his eyes now—

One he had never shown anyone before.

And deep down…

The Mafia King realized something terrifying.

He wasn't just protecting her anymore.

He was falling in love with her.

Completely.