32.

NAINA

An hour has passed since my conversation with Reyansh was cut short, yet his words reverberate in my mind. Why would I need protection from him? The question gnaws at me, leaving me unsettled and confused.

My phone buzzes with a new notification, and a chill runs through me as I unlock the screen. The message from an unknown number hits like a slap, shattering the fragile peace I clung to.

Unknown Number:

How was it? I hope there won't be a need for more warnings to keep you away from the Singhanias. Next time, it might be your husband.

My breath catches, and a tightness grips my chest as the pieces of this dark puzzle fall into place. Kabir was right—this is about the throne, and I am the biggest obstacle to his ambitions.

How did I miss all the signs? It feels as though the universe has conspired to keep us apart, but we defied it, making the same fateful choices and falling in love. Now, this love might be our undoing.

I have to protect him and my family at all costs, even if it means risking my own life. The threat is real, and I can't afford to be passive. I need to find this stalker and end their twisted game. I'll use myself as bait to draw out the predator. It's time to confront this threat head-on.

I immediately call Kabir, and he answers on the first ring. "Bhabi, are you okay?" he asks.

"Kabir, where are you?"

"I'm at the Singhania mansion, in the backyard."

"Move to the study. I need to talk to you," I instruct before ending the call and heading to the study.

Kabir arrives quickly, his face a mask of concern. "Tell me," he says as we sit down.

"You were right, Kabir, his only motive is the throne, and I'm the obstacle. He's trying to separate me from Reyansh to seize the throne. We need to find out who's behind this."

"But what about Reyansh? Does he know about the messages?"

"No. I never found the right moment to tell him."

"He needs to know. This isn't going to work otherwise."

"Kabir, I'm going to make him believe I don't love him anymore. I have to. It's the only way to draw out the person behind this." His shock is evident.

"You can't do that, Bhabi. Why become the bait?"

"It's the only way to uncover the truth and protect everyone. It's a risk I'm willing to take."

REYANSH

It's been a week since everything happen, me and Naina haven't had a single conversation after that, she leaves early for office and comes back after I sleep.

It's Sunday today, hopefully I'll get the time to talk to her. I need to talk with about those text. I don't know how I will do it but I have to.

I have increased the security levels around her since the week I don't if she has noticed or not. It's risky for her to be out alone cause there is someone waiting to destroy her. Destroy us.

My trance of thoughts break when the bedroom door opens, I look up to see Naina entering, she gets inside the restroom without even glancing a look at me, and my heart twitches.

I wait for her to come out, and when she finally does I call "Naina" she freezes listening to my and turns around.

"Is everything alright, you know like how we haven't had a conversation since then" I voice out hoping she would answer, hoping she would hug me.

"Ya everything is fine" she says nonchalantly, entering the closet. My heart breaks. As I gulp down the tears. I know we both haven't shed a single tear about the incident.

I move downstairs for breakfast, as all the family members gather around sitting in her respective chairs. After entire damn week I finally have Naina beside me during dinner

Everyone was silently having their dinner until Naina decided to break it "I wanna say something" her voice was cold and stern, her face emotionless and hard rock.

All eyes snap towards her sensing the unusual tone as the air thickens around my heart beats rapidly in my ribcage my guts twist into something.

"I think me and Reyansh should separate" loud gasp fill the hall as everyone looks at her with wide eyes. My head snaps towards her, as I try to read her face, get something but fail.

"Naina dear are you okay? You both can talk it out why are you taking such a big decision?" Papa questions concern filled in his tone.

"I have thought about it papa I don't think this will work out anymore" the coldness in her voice shocks everyone.

I could hear my heart breaking inside, my breaths getting heavier, my lungs fill constructed it feels like someone has put me in chokehold cutting off my oxygen supply, and lighten flames around me which is slowly turning me into ashes.

If words could kill you i won't have been alive by now.

AUTHOR POV

"Naina Singhania  are you even in your senses?" a sharp and bold voice boomed in the hall, everyone looks up to see who it belongs to.

It was Kainaat who enters inside, her eyes blazing with anger. "if you excuse us I need to talk to my didi and bhai" Kainaat says before dragging away Reyansh and Naina while Aarav trails behind them.

Everyone were left tensed and shocked by the revelation, while the four of them take a seat inside the car, with Kainaat on the passenger seat, Aarav on the drivers seat and the couple at the back seat.

"What the hell is happening bhai?"

"We are not talking about it like this Kainaat"

"Not talk about it? Do you think this a game? It's your marriage bhai!" Aarav sharp voice radiates in the car

"Aarav leave this on us we will discuss it" Naina voice was stern and strong unlike her heart inside which is full of pain and betrayal

"Vo hi to nahi karte to ap log!, you are avoiding bhai like it was his fault, us raat ko Jo bhi hoa vo sirf  2 logo ko pata hai, un me se ek hamare bich nahi hai, pata nahi Kis ne ap ko kya boldiya Jo ap apni zindagi ke saath Khel rago ho" Aarav voice showed how much he was tired of all this.

["you guys don't communicate only!"]

["what ever happened that night only two people know the entire truth, and one of them is not among us anymore, I don't know who told you what that you broke a 15 year old friendship"]

"Didi we all know what you are trying to is something very stupid, you both are fucking going to die without each other" Kainaat voice was emotionless, cold, stern.

"Bhai ap kuch bolte kyu nahi" Kainaat asks Reyansh.

["why don't you say something Reyansh"]

"Mai Kya bolu Kainaat ap Jo bhi hoga Naina ke decision se hi hoga uski marzi hai" The pain was evident in Reyansh voice.

Even after everything Naina heart broke into pieces hearing him as a lone tear rolls down his face.

["what should I say Kainaat, whatever is going to happen will depend upon on Naina decision"]

["however who will agree to marry her father's murder"]

"ap Dono ko kya hoa hai? Vo Reyansh aur Naina Kaha hai jiske bare me pura college baat karta tha, vo Reyansh aur Naina ju ek dusre itna pyaar karte the? Where are the best couple of our college?"Aarav says his voice was broken into pieces just like our relationship.

["what happened to you both? Where are the Reyansh and Naina the entire college used to talk about, the once who loved each other more than anything"]

"Haan Aarav kiya tha maine pyaar par shayad vo waqt aur kismat ka kheel ke samme nahi thair paya" Reyansh voices out vulnerability clear in his voice.

["yes Aarav I did love her but it wasn't strong enough to stand the game of time and fate"]

As soon as those words left Reyansh mouth a huge slap echoed in the car. Aarav stops the  car abruptly turning back just to see Reyansh holding his cheek with his hand and Naina who was looking at with anger a lone tear rolls down her cheek.

"Don't you dare raise a fucking question about my love for you Reyansh Singhania"  Naina stern and bold voice echoes in the car her eyes blazing with anger.