We're all set," Sameer announced. "I've arranged another car with one of the bodyguards."Veeranshu gave a slight nod. "Good. Let's get out of here."

Amaya helped Veeranshu gather his belongings, and they slowly made their way to the hospital exit. When they reached the parking lot, they found the car waiting for them.

Amaya's grandmother sighed softly, looking tired from the long day. "I think it's best if I head home now," she said, giving a gentle smile to everyone around. "I'm feeling a bit worn out and could use some rest." She turned to Sameer and added, "Would you be a dear and drop me home?"

Sameer nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, Dadi. Let me get the car ready for you." He signaled one of the bodyguards to bring the car around. Before leaving, Amaya's grandmother hugged Amaya tightly, whispering, "Take care, my dear. And make sure to look after Veeranshu as well." She then turned to Veeranshu, giving him a kind but firm look. "And you, young man, take good care of yourself. No more reckless behavior."

Veeranshu smiled, touched by her concern. " I'll be careful."

As the car pulled up, she gave a final wave to everyone and got into the car with Sameer. "You all take care," she called out before the car door closed. With a final nod and a gentle smile, she was on her way, leaving a comforting presence behind.

~~~~

As they settled in the car, Amaya gently held Veeranshu's head, carefully positioning it on her shoulder. He sighed, a mix of relief and pain, and closed his eyes. His head was still throbbing from the injury, but the warmth of Amaya's shoulder seemed to soothe him a bit.

Vikrant glanced at them through the rearview mirror and couldn't resist teasing. "Looks like someone is getting special treatment," he said with a playful smirk.

Amaya shot him a mock glare, but her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "He's hurt, Vikrant. Have some empathy," she retorted, trying to keep her voice steady.

Veeranshu chuckled softly. "Let him tease. I'm quite enjoying this," he murmured, his breath warm against her neck. Amaya could feel her heartbeat quicken at his words, but she tried to focus on keeping him comfortable.

Vikrant continued driving, occasionally glancing at the two in the back. "You know, you should get hurt more often if it means getting this kind of care," he joked.

Amaya rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face. "Don't encourage him, Vikrant," she said, her tone light but with an edge of genuine concern.

Veeranshu, with his head still resting on Amaya's shoulder, tilted his head slightly to look up at her. "I wouldn't mind getting hurt if it means you'd always be this close," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Amaya felt a flutter in her chest. "Don't say things like that," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She could feel the heat of his breath on her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

The car ride continued with a comfortable silence, occasionally broken by Vikrant's playful remarks and Veeranshu's quiet chuckles. Amaya found herself enjoying the closeness, even though she tried to maintain a calm exterior.

They arrived at Veeranshu's house, and Amaya helped him out of the car. Vikrant, always the gentleman, opened the front door and led the way inside. "I'll get you settled in your room," Amaya said, guiding Veeranshu carefully.

Once they reached his room, she helped him sit on the edge of the bed. He looked up at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "You're quite the caretaker," he teased.

She laughed softly. "Someone has to make sure you don't do anything stupid," she replied, her tone affectionate.

Veeranshu's eyes softened, and he reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Amaya," he said sincerely.

Before she could respond, he pulled her closer, his hand gently resting on the back of her neck. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. The space between them disappeared as he leaned in, their lips just a breath apart.

Just as their lips were about to meet, the door swung open, and Vikrant walked in, oblivious to the moment he was interrupting. "Hey, do you need-oh," he stopped mid-sentence, realizing what he had walked into.

Veeranshu groaned in frustration, throwing a pillow at Vikrant. "Can't you leave us alone for just a minute?" he complained, though his tone was more playful than angry.

Vikrant laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll give you two some space," he said, backing out of the room with a grin.

As the door closed, Amaya pulled back, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You're embarrassing me," she mumbled, looking away.

Veeranshu chuckled softly, his fingers gently tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said softly.

Amaya sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're impossible," she whispered, but her eyes held a warmth that contradicted her words.

As she started to get up, Veeranshu grabbed her wrist, pulling her back towards him. Before she could protest, he flipped them over, hovering above her with a mischievous grin. He started trailing soft kisses down her neck, his hands roaming gently over her body, sending waves of electricity through her.

Amaya's breath hitched, her body reacting to his touch. But as his hand started to slide under her shirt, she suddenly stiffened. "Veer... wait," she whispered, her voice shaky.

Veeranshu immediately pulled back, concern etched on his face. "I'm sorry, Amaya," he said softly. "I didn't mean to push you."

Amaya shook her head, sitting up. "No, it's okay. I just... ," she replied, trying to steady her breathing.

Veeranshu nodded, understanding. " I'm just... really glad you're here with me," he said,to remove the tension between them, his voice sincere.

She smiled softly. "I'm glad too," she whispered back, leaning in to press a soft kiss on his cheek.

Just then, Sameer returned with a tray of tea and snacks. "Looks like I came just in time," he joked, setting the tray down.

Amaya laughed, feeling the tension melt away.

"Yes, perfect timing as always," veeranshu said.

Sameer placed the snacks on the bedside table and pulled out a chair. Amaya was sitting at the corner of the bed, while Veeranshu lay on the other side. Amaya asked, "So, when did you come back? Did you drop Dadi home?"

Sameer nodded. "Yeah, I just got back about five minutes ago. I figured that both of you must be hungry so I brought something for you, and him"

Amaya shook her head. "I'm not hungry, but give it to Veer. He needs to take his medicines, too."

Veeranshu interjected, "I don't need any medicines. I'm fine now."

Sameer shrugged. "I'm not saying anything about that. You're a grown man; you can handle yourself. But what about Bhabhi?" He nodded toward Amaya.

Veeranshu looked at Amaya, who was giving him a slightly angry look-a look that was clearly feigned. After seeing her expression, Veeranshu sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll take the medicines for now."

Sameer laughed. "Oh, look at that! Our tiger is all mellow now."

Amaya giggled, and Veeranshu smiled shyly. Glancing at the clock, Amaya said, "It's getting late; I should head home."

Sameer offered, "Alright, Bhabhi. I can drop you off."

Veeranshu's expression fell, his face revealing his reluctance for her to leave. Sensing the moment, Sameer stood up. "Just let me know when you're ready, and I'll take you home." With that, he left the room.

Downstairs, Sameer met Vikrant, who had just finished a call. Vikrant walked over to Sameer and said, "We need to do something about Max. I mean, what does he want from us now? What's his deal?"

Sameer nodded, his face serious. "Yeah, you're right. Enough of this nonsense. If he can attack Bhai, he can do anything. We need to take action soon."

Back in the room, Amaya gathered her belongings, preparing to leave. As she said her goodbye, Veeranshu caught her wrist gently and pulled her to sit back down. He rubbed his thumb over her hand and softly whispered, "Please stay." The words were simple, but the emotion behind them was deep-he didn't want her to leave; he needed her there.

Amaya hesitated, "I'm sorry, I can't..."

Veeranshu looked at her earnestly and said again, "Please," before kissing her hand gently. "Please."

She glanced at him, conflicted. "I need to let Dadi know."

Veeranshu smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll talk to your Dadi. I know she won't mind."

Amaya laughed softly. "You think you know her so well?"

Veeranshu grinned. "Of course I do. I know she likes me, and I like your Dadi."

Amaya chuckled. "Alright, go ahead and talk to her."

Veeranshu picked up his phone and dialed Amaya's home number. Amaya couldn't hear her grandmother on the other end, but she heard Veeranshu say, "Dadi, I'm not feeling too well, and I was thinking... Would it be alright if Amaya stayed with me tonight?"

After a pause, a broad smile spread across Veeranshu's face. "Thank you, Dadi. You're the best." He hung up, looking triumphant.

Amaya stared at him in disbelief. "How did you convince her to let me stay?"

Veeranshu laughed. "Your Dadi likes me, that's for sure."

She smiled, shaking her head. "Alright, fine. But don't think you've got me tied down."

Veeranshu grinned mischievously. "Oh, but you're staying with me tonight." His happiness was evident, and Amaya couldn't help but feel a warm flutter in her chest.

After their conversation, Amaya turned to Veeranshu and asked, "What would you like to have for dinner? I'll cook something for you."

Veeranshu shook his head. "No, you don't have to-"

But Amaya insisted, "Come on, let me do this. What would you like?"

Realizing she wouldn't take no for an answer, Veeranshu relented. "Okay, fine. Whatever you feel like making."

Amaya nodded with a smile. "Alright, I'll go and prepare dinner. You stay here and rest."

Veeranshu attempted to get up. "I can come with you."

Amaya gently pushed him back onto the bed. "No, you stay here. I don't need your help in the kitchen."

As she walked to the door, Veeranshu called after her, "Oh, your phone's out of battery. Where's your charger?"

Amaya paused, thinking. "It's in my purse," she replied before leaving the room.

Descending the stairs, Amaya made her way to the hall, where she found Vikrant and Sameer engaged in a hushed, serious conversation. Sensing the tension, she approached them. "What's going on? Is everything alright?"

Vikrant quickly shook his head. "It's nothing, really. We're just chatting."

Sameer nodded in agreement, not wanting to worry her. "Yeah, just talking."

Amaya eyed them suspiciously but decided not to press further. "Okay then," she said. "What do you two want to eat for dinner?"

Both men exchanged a nervous glance, then in unison stammered, "Oh, no, we're good. We're not really hungry." Their voices were filled with reluctance, clearly remembering the last time Amaya had attempted to cook for them.

Amaya couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Relax, i alreadytold veer about it."

Sameer, catching onto the joke, grinned. "Oh, in that case, I should definitely help you out!" He followed her into the kitchen, chuckling.

Amaya shook her head, smiling. "Alright, let's see what we can whip up."

As they entered the kitchen, Sameer grabbed an apron, and they began preparing a meal, laughing and chatting along the way, their spirits lifted despite the undercurrent of tension from earlier.

~~~~

Sameer and Amaya prepared dinner together, enjoying the lighthearted moments and easy conversation that flowed between them. They laughed and shared stories, feeling at ease in each other's company. At one point, Sameer casually asked, "So, are you staying the night then?"

Amaya smiled and nodded. "Yes, I am."

Sameer grinned widely. "Great! We'd love to have you here tonight."

A little while later, Vikrant wandered into the kitchen and noticed their lively banter. "What are you two whispering about?" he asked with a playful grin.

Amaya chuckled, "Oh, just the usual-nothing special."

The three of them continued chatting, laughter echoing around the kitchen. Suddenly, they noticed Veeranshu coming down the stairs. He had a soft smile on his face, watching them with a warm, contented look in his eyes. Seeing Amaya so comfortable with Sameer and Vikrant brought him a sense of happiness.

Sameer noticed Veeranshu first. "Bhai! What are you doing here? You should be resting."

Veeranshu, with a teasing tone, replied, "Oh, I'm just wondering what you all were doing, leaving me alone up there."

They all laughed, and Veeranshu feigned a pout. "Ah, very good, very good. Just because I'm a patient, you left me all alone while you're having fun down here."

Amaya walked over to him, smiling. "Don't be a jealous kid, Veer. Come on, have a seat. Dinner's ready."

They all settled around the table, and Amaya served Veeranshu his dinner. As they started eating, something suddenly crossed Veeranshu's mind. He looked over at Amaya with a curious expression. "Amaya, while I was getting the charger from your purse earlier, I noticed a box inside. I accidentally peeked inside, and there was a beautiful pendant. Did you buy it? It looked really nice."

Amaya's heart skipped a beat, caught off guard. She had completely forgotten about the pendant. Trying to keep her composure, she replied in a soft voice, "Oh, it's not mine. My friend's birthday is coming up, so I bought it as a gift for her."

Veeranshu nodded, accepting her explanation, though a glimmer of curiosity lingered in his eyes. "Oh, okay. Well, it's a pretty choice. I liked it."

Amaya smiled, a bit of relief washing over her as she returned his gaze. "Thank you," she said, her voice gentle.

They continued their dinner with light conversations and laughter, the warmth and camaraderie among them creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

After dinner, Amaya gently urged Veeranshu to return to his room and get some rest. "You need to lie down," she said, her voice filled with concern. Meanwhile, Sameer took Amaya aside to explain the prescription for Viranshu's medicines, ensuring she knew exactly what to give him and when.

Veeranshu, still feeling a bit tired, made his way back to his room. As he entered, he noticed Amaya's phone lying on the bedside table. It was switched off, likely because the battery had died earlier. Seeing that it was now fully charged, he switched it on. Immediately, the phone began to buzz and ping with a barrage of notifications, the sound grating on his nerves.

Frustrated by the constant noise, he picked up the phone to silence it, but his eyes caught a message notification that made his heart skip a beat. It read: "Hey, do you like that pendant? You didn't tell me."

Curiosity got the better of him, and despite himself, he tapped on the message. It was from a contact saved as "Sir." His eyes narrowed in suspicion. He scrolled up and saw a string of messages from the same number:

"Hey Amaya, how are you doing? I haven't heard from you since our dinner night."

"I hope you like the pendant that I gave you."

"I'll be happy if you could come by wearing it tomorrow."

"I really have something important to tell you. See you tomorrow."

Each message was like a dagger to Veeranshu's heart. His grip tightened around the phone as his blood boiled with anger. His chest heaved with heavy breaths, and his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. The thought of another man giving Amaya a pendant, a symbol of intimacy, filled him with a mix of jealousy and betrayal. His mind raced with questions and insecurities. Who was this "Sir"? Why hadn't Amaya mentioned him? And why was she accepting gifts from him?

Veeranshu's face darkened, his usually warm eyes now clouded with fury. He could feel his hands trembling, not from pain or weakness, but from the sheer force of his emotions. His thoughts spiraled, every message he read seemed to ignite a new wave of anger. He tried to calm himself, but the storm within him raged on. His thoughts became consumed with suspicion, and his usually rational mind started to twist scenarios that only added fuel to the fire.

He paced around the room, his breath coming in ragged bursts. The image of Amaya with another man gnawed at him. The idea of her sharing moments, maybe even secrets, with someone else made his blood boil. He wanted to confront her, demand answers, but he also knew he needed to keep his composure.

Amaya entered the room and was taken aback when she saw Veeranshu sitting on the bed, holding the pendant box in his hand. Her eyes widened with surprise, and a wave of nervousness washed over her. She tried to maintain her composure as she spoke, "Veer, why don't you just lie down? You should rest. And... what are you doing with that pendant?" She moved to take it from his hand, but Viranshu gripped it tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He looked up at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of anger in his eyes. "You didn't tell me whose birthday you were talking about. You never mentioned which friend," he said, his voice cold and demanding.

Amaya's heart pounded in her chest. She felt cornered, unsure how to navigate this sudden confrontation. "Why are you so interested in my friends?" she replied, attempting to sound casual, but there was a tremor in her voice.

Veeranshu's gaze hardened. "Why? Is there something about this friend you're not telling me?" he pressed.

Amaya forced a smile, but it felt weak, even to her. "No, of course not. My friend's name is Diya. Her birthday is coming next week, so I got this pendant for her," she said quickly, hoping to put an end to his questioning.

Veeranshu nodded slowly, but there was a sharpness to his movements. "Oh, okay," he said, his tone flat. He opened the box, took out the pendant, and stood up, moving closer to her. He positioned her in front of the mirror, his eyes dark and intense as he looked at their reflections. "Look, I think this pendant would look better on you. Why don't you buy something else for your friend and keep this one?"

Amaya shook her head, a sense of unease growing inside her. "No, I can't keep it. I'll buy another one for myself," she insisted.

"Shhh," Veeranshu whispered, his breath hot against her ear as he tried to fasten the pendant around her neck. Amaya resisted, her hands pushing against his.

"Stop it, Veer!" she shouted, her voice breaking with a mix of fear and frustration.

In an instant, Veeranshu's expression shifted to pure fury. He hurled the pendant against the wall with such force that it shattered upon impact. "That's what I'm saying, Amaya! Stop lying to me!" he shouted, his voice thick with rage.

Amaya's heart raced. She knew he had seen through her lie, but she had no idea how much he knew or how far he would go. She took a step back, but there was nowhere to go-her back hit the wall. Veeranshu moved closer, his body pressing against hers, trapping her in place. His breath was heavy, his anger palpable. "Who gave you this?" he demanded, his voice low but fierce.

Amaya looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "I already told you, my friend-"

"No more lies!" Veeranshu cut her off, his tone sharp as a blade. "I want the truth."

Amaya