As I headed to the car to get Maahi, Mayank tagged along. Upon arriving at her place, we went to her home, where a frantic girl stood ringing the doorbell repeatedly. Assuming it was Maahi, I asked, "Are you Maahi?"

The girl turned, her eyes red-rimmed. "No, I'm Annu, her best friend."

Mayank's curiosity got the better of him. "Why are you ringing the doorbell nonstop?"

Annu's response was laced with desperation. "Oh, Mr. Ameerzade, my friend needs me right now. Can't you understand?"

I intervened, trying to diffuse the tension. "Let's stop and call her to open the door, shall we?"

Annu's gaze turned into questioning. "But who are you?"

I introduced myself. "I'm Ansh Singhania."

Annu greeted Ansh, her eyes still red from crying. "Of course, you're like a son to Atul uncle and Kaveri aunty, they talk a lot about you" she replied when Ansh asked if she knew him.

Despite their familiarity with each other's families, Ansh hadn't seen Maahi since their childhood due to his prolonged stays abroad for studies and business.

As they rang the doorbell repeatedly, Annu's anxiety grew. "Oh God, how could I leave her alone for even a moment in this situation?" she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

After numerous attempts, Ansh decided to take drastic action. "We need to get in," he said, his voice firm. Together, he and Mayank broke the gate, and they rushed inside.

The scene that greeted them was chaotic. Maahi lay on the floor, her hand bleeding from a cut caused by a blade. Annu's eyes widened in horror as she froze, tears streaming down her face.

Ansh quickly assessed the situation. "Mayank, take Annu out of here. She can't handle this," he instructed, his voice calm and authoritative.

Mayank nodded and gently escorted Annu out of the room.

Ansh quickly sprang into action, carefully picking Maahi up and placing her on the bed. He assessed the cut, relieved to find it wasn't severe. With swift efficiency, he cleaned and bandaged the wound, then helped Maahi drink some water.

As I gazed at Maahi, a pang struck my heart. I'd never felt such intense emotion for anyone before, especially since we'd only just met after years apart. Lost in thought, I was jolted back to reality when Maahi suddenly sat up, her eyes brimming with tears. "Mummy, Papa... look, Mummy's fine... everything's okay," she whispered, her voice cracking.

My heart ached as I watched her try to get out of bed, still trapped in her grief. I gently grasped her hand, calling out, "Maahi, stop." She didn't respond, consumed by her emotions. I held her firmly, and eventually, she collapsed into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

For the first time in my life, I felt a stranger's touch wasn't just tolerable but necessary.

Maahi's words cut deep: "Ask God why He did this to me. I never did bad to angone. why my parents?"

I was shaken by her pain, but I held her close, trying to offer what little comfort I could. After a while, she calmed down enough to eat a few bites of food. When I mentioned my father's request for her to come with me, she resisted, insisting she'd talk to him about staying until her father's bail.

I pointed out the toll her actions were taking on her health – the cutting, the fasting. Maahi stood before me, her weak body swaying, and said, "I'll manage, please leave, Ansh Ji."

I was taken aback that she remembered my name after all these years. Eventually, after talking to my father, she agreed to come with me. As I realized she'd be with us, a strange sense of happiness washed over me, one I couldn't quite explain.

As Mayank and Ansh drove away, Maahi turned to Annu and said, "Please visit me regularly." Annu promised, "I'll come every Sunday, and we'll be doing internships in the same city, so don't worry. Take care of yourself, and remember, I'm always with you." They shared a heartfelt hug.

Mayank smiled at Annu, asking her to take care of herself.

Upon arriving at the Singhania mansion, Madhuri rushed to Maahi, embracing her warmly. "My child, you've grown so weak. Now that you're here with me, I'll take care of you."

Maahi touched everyone's feet, a gesture of respect, but Shivay intervened, "Daughters don't touch feet," and comforted her as she cried in his arms.

Charu and Aarav welcomed Maahi with open arms, showering her with affection. "We're always here for you, Maahi. We love you so much." Maahi felt a sense of belonging she hadn't experienced in a long time. Charu showed her to her room, saying, "This is your space. If you need anything, just let me, Aarav, or Mom know. We'll be there to help. It might be tough at first, but we'll have a lot of fun together."

Meanwhile, Shivay instructed the family, "Make sure Maahi feels comfortable and at ease. I don't want her to feel like an outsider. Ansh, keep an eye on things." Ansh replied with a hint of frustration, "Just mention her name; don't refer to her as my wife, Papa."

At dinner time, Shivay asked about Maahi, and Madhuri replied, "She'll eat in her room tonight. Let's give her some time to adjust." Shivay nodded, and the family ate without her.

Later, Madhuri was preparing a plate for Maahi when Ansh arrived. "Who's this for?" he asked, and Madhuri replied, "For Maahi. My child needs care." Ahilya called Madhuri away, asking for a massage. Before leaving, Madhuri handed the plate to Ansh, saying, "Take this to Maahi. Make sure she eats in front of you."

Ansh entered Maahi's room, finding her standing by the window, her eyes brimming with tears. She was dressed in a white kurti with blue pants, her long hair tied in a ponytail that cascaded down her back. A few strands framed her face, adding to her ethereal beauty.

Ansh's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Maahi, Maa sent dinner for you. Please eat." Maahi turned, her eyes locking onto Ansh, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

My words trailed off as I noticed blood seeping from Maahi's hand. Panic set in, and I rushed to her side, gently grasping her small hands. "Are you okay, Maahi?" I asked, concerns etched on my face.

She nodded, her eyes locking onto mine, and replied, "Yes." I pressed for more information. "Why is there blood on your hand?" Her response was detached. "I don't know."

I examined her hand, relieved to find the blood was from a previous cut. I carefully took her hand, leading her to the bed, and began to change the bandage.

As I worked, I couldn't help but notice her beauty – her long hair, light brown eyes, and the serene expression on her face. For a moment, I got lost in her gaze.

But before I could process my thoughts, Gungun stormed in, her presence jarring. She roughly pushed my hand away from Maahi's, causing the bandage to unravel. I stood up, my eyes narrowing as I took in the scene. "Who do you think you are?" I demanded, my voice low and menacing.

Gungun sneered at Maahi. "Oh, so this was your plan all along, wasn't it? You small-town girls are all the same – you think you can trap rich boys with your innocent act? You're quite the victim card player, aren't you?"

Maahi's voice was calm. "That's not true. Ansh Ji was just helping me with my bandage."

Gungun's face twisted in anger. "You are a cheap girl!" She raised her hand to slap Maahi, but I intercepted her, catching her wrist. "Don't you dare say another word to her," I warned, my voice firm. "If you do, I'll forget the limits I'm trying to maintain."

Gungun stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Maahi turned to Ansh, her voice soft. "How could you talk to your wife like that?"

Ansh's response was immediate. "Can't you see what she was saying to you?"

Maahi's expression was calm. "It's okay. She's your wife; she has that right."

Ansh's eyes locked onto hers, his voice low. "But I haven't given her any rights." With that, he finished bandaging Maahi's hand and turned to leave.

Maahi's mind whirled with questions. Why had he said that? Didn't he love his wife? Or was there something more beneath the surface?

As she watched Ansh disappear from view, her thoughts drifted back to the past. She had admired him since childhood, but fate had other plans. Now, he was married, and she couldn't help but wonder why she couldn't shake off the memories of him.

"He's the only man I've admired since childhood," she thought, "but, he's married. Childhood promises mean nothing now. He loves someone else, but why can't I forget him, God?"

________________________________

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