The sky was dull that evening, clouds hanging low as if something was about to break.
Elina walked alone, her mind a storm.
Abhinav's hurt expression.
Bhagyavir's intense words.
Meet's quiet truth.
Everything felt too heavy.
She didn't notice how fast she was walking.
Didn't notice the road ahead.
Didn't notice the car.
A loud horn.
Tires screeching.
Everything happened in seconds.
"Elina!"
A voice—familiar, desperate.
Strong hands grabbed her and pulled her back—hard.
Too hard.
She stumbled, falling to the ground—safe.
But someone else didn't.
A sharp sound.
A crash.
Silence.
"Elina… are you okay?"
Her eyes snapped open.
Abhinav.
Lying on the road.
Her heart stopped.
"A-Abhinav?!" she gasped, scrambling toward him.
He tried to sit up but winced in pain, his arm bleeding, his breathing uneven.
"I'm fine," he said weakly. "You're okay… right?"
Tears filled her eyes instantly. "Why would you do that?!"
He gave a faint, pained smile. "Because… it was you."
People started gathering. Voices. Panic. Noise.
But Elina heard nothing except the sound of her own heartbeat.
And his.
Still there.
Still for her.
Moments later—
Bhagyavir and Meet arrived, breathless.
Meet froze at the scene. "What happened?!"
Elina's voice shook. "He… he pushed me out of the way…"
Meet's expression changed instantly, rushing to Abhinav's side.
But Bhagyavir—
He stood still.
Watching.
His eyes moved from Abhinav… to Elina.
Something unreadable passed through his gaze.
Not shock.
Not panic.
Something deeper.
Abhinav tried to laugh softly, even through the pain. "Guess I'm… still the hero, huh?"
Elina broke down. "Stop joking! You're hurt because of me!"
He looked at her, his voice quieter now.
"I'd do it again."
That was it.
That was the moment.
The moment something inside Elina shattered—and rebuilt itself at the same time.
Sirens approached in the distance.
Everything blurred again.
But one thing stayed clear—
The person who didn't hesitate.
The person who didn't plan.
The person who didn't wait.
Abhinav.
As they took him away, Elina stood frozen, tears streaming down her face.
Her heart whispered something she couldn't ignore anymore—
Some people say they care…
Some people show it.
And now—
She had seen the difference.