Gauri shook her head, her bitter laugh fading into a tight, trembling voice. "You have always insulted me so much, Vihaan. Every word from your mouth has been a wound. And now you stand here… asking me to marry you? What a joke."
Her eyes glistened, though her pride held back the tears. She turned her face away from him, her voice low but firm.
"Please… just leave. I don't want to see your face again."
Vihaan's expression darkened, his chest tightening as if her words had pierced deeper than any blade. He opened his mouth, then shut it again, unable to find the right words.
For the first time, silence seemed heavier than their endless arguments.
She turned to leave, but Vihaan's hand shot out, grasping Gauri's arm. He pulled her back, and in the sudden movement, they both lost their balance.
They tumbled to the ground, Vihaan's arms instinctively wrapping around Gauri to cushion the fall. For a heartbeat, they froze there—faces inches apart, their breaths mingling, eyes locked in a piercing gaze.
From the doorway, Charvi, who had come out behind her sister, paused. For a fleeting moment, a faint smile touched her lips at the sight of them sprawled together, despite the heavy tension in the air.
The world around Gauri and Vihaan seemed to melt away, leaving only the thrumming intensity between them.
As they tried to get up, Gauri realized her hair was tangled in Vihaan's shirt button. She struggled to free herself, her anger simmering.
"How dare you pull me back?" she snapped, tugging furiously.
Vihaan's response was calm, steady. "I wasn't done talking to you."
Gauri's frustration boiled over. With a swift, sharp motion, she cut away all the buttons from his shirt. The fabric loosened, revealing his chiseled torso beneath.
She shot up to her feet, chest heaving with anger. Vihaan rose too, his eyes locked unwaveringly onto hers, a storm brewing within them.
As Gauri tried to turn away, Vihaan's hand shot out again, pulling her close, their faces inches apart.
"Let me go!" Gauri hissed, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
His grip on her arm tightened. His voice dropped, firm but low.
"I said I'm not done with you."
Then, without another word, he held up his phone. On the screen was a photo that made Gauri's blood run cold—Gayatri receiving money from Dianaswari, the notorious brothel owner and drug dealer.
Gauri's expression shifted from anger to shock, her mind racing with questions.
Vihaan's voice was firm, unyielding.
"In this video, it's clear—your mom was having a business transaction with a drug dealer."
His eyes locked onto Gauri's pale face.
"I can arrest her with this proof."
The world spun around Gauri. Her breath hitched, her chest tightened—she felt like she had been punched straight in the gut. Her mind reeled with the implications, the betrayal, the shame.
Vihaan's voice was calculating, deliberate.
"But… you can save her, if you agree to marry me."
Gauri's eyes blazed with fury, her hands clenched into fists—but before she could respond, a loud clap of thunder boomed outside.
The sky suddenly darkened, and a torrent of rain poured down, drenching everything in sight.
From a few steps away, Charvi looked on, unsettled, wondering why the sky had turned stormy so suddenly.
Another thunderclap shook the ground, and fear overcame Gauri's anger. Her heart pounded wildly—almost against her will, she grabbed onto Vihaan, her arms wrapping tightly around him in panic.
Their bodies pressed close, the rain soaking them both as the storm raged on—mirroring the storm inside her heart.
Their lips hovered mere inches apart, breath mingling. The world blurred, the rain pounded—but in that moment, all Gauri felt was the unnerving intensity in Vihaan's eyes.
His voice dropped low, husky, each word sending a shiver down her spine.
"I'm giving you 24 hours to decide."
His warm breath brushed her skin, leaving her trembling. They stood frozen in time, their bodies swaying slightly, breaths colliding.
Gauri tried to pull away, but his hand lingered. His fingers grazed hers, then deliberately took her palm and pressed a ring into it.
"The ball is in your court," he murmured, voice edged with determination.
Then, without another word, Vihaan turned and walked away—his figure disappearing into the sheets of rain.
Gauri stood rooted in place, shock etched across her face, the ring clenched tightly in her trembling hand.
The storm continued to pour around her, as if the heavens themselves echoed the chaos within her heart.
Gauri stood frozen, the rain cascading down her face, the ring clutched tightly in her palm. Her heart pounded with a thousand unspoken questions, her mind trapped between fury, fear, and confusion.
From the doorway, Charvi's voice cut through the storm.
"Didi… come inside, please. You'll catch a cold."
Gauri blinked, almost as if waking from a trance. Slowly, she lowered her gaze, closing her trembling fingers tighter around the ring. Without a word, she turned and walked toward Charvi.
Charvi gave her a soft, worried look and gently guided her inside, shutting the door against the storm that still roared outside.
Inside the small room, the air felt warmer but heavy with unspoken tension. Gauri's wet clothes clung to her, her eyes hollow with shock. She sank onto the chair, silent, while the sound of thunder outside seemed to echo the turmoil in her chest.