"Haan baba." She whispered, her voice muffled against his skin. "Ye sab aapki galti hai... You started that topic aur mujhe sirf aapko hug karne ka mann tha... hume neend nahi aa rahi thi... bas woh din yaad aa rahe the..."

He smiled faintly, tightening his hold around her, stroking her back gently.

After a while, he sighed, pulling back slightly.

"Lekin tumhe aise nahi aana chahiye tha Mishti... itni raat ko pipe chadh ke... agar kuch ho jaata toh?" He scolded softly, trying to sound stern, but the worry in his eyes betrayed him.

Reyansh balanced himself on the balcony railing, his heart pounding as the cool night breeze brushed against his face. He was just about to climb inside when his eyes caught a glimpse of someone sitting quietly in the corner, wrapped in the faint silver moonlight.

His breath hitched, but the panic faded as soon as he recognized the figure.

"Arushi!!" He whispered, still slightly breathless from the climb.

Arushi's eyes snapped wide open at the sudden voice, fear flickering in them for a second. She almost let out a scream but quickly covered her mouth, glancing at Kanak, who was sleeping peacefully inside.

"Aaa!! Reyansh... tummm??" She whisper-yelled, clutching her dupatta tightly.

He climbed down silently and crouched in front of her, his intense eyes fixed on her tear-streaked face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?? Itni raat mein yahan? Agar kisi ne dekh liya toh??" She asked in a panicked whisper, her eyes darting around.

But Reyansh didn't flinch. His gaze remained locked on her swollen red eyes.

"Tumhare aansuon ne bulaya." He whispered, his voice so soft that it felt like the night itself was holding its breath.

Arushi's heart skipped a beat, her lips parting in surprise.

He leaned closer, his rough fingers gently wiping away the tears that clung to her cheeks.

"Kehne lage... Reyansh, hum iss ankhon se nikalte nikalte thak gaye... zara aake inhe rok dena." He whispered, his breath brushing against her face.

A small gasp escaped her lips as he leaned even closer and pressed a feather-light kiss on the trail of her tears, making her eyes flutter shut.

Her heart trembled, the walls she had built around herself slowly breaking.

"Reyansh..." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

Without another word, she flung her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly, pulling her close as if trying to shield her from all the pain in the world.

She closed her eyes tightly for a second, gathering the courage to bare her heart.

"Someone canceled my exhibition... the one I was working on for months." She whispered painfully, her voice cracking.

His brows furrowed, surprised.

"What? But why?"

Her throat tightened as fresh tears filled her eyes.

"Because... there was a post circulating online... about me." She paused, trying to steady her breath.

Reyansh's heart clenched, anger flickering in his eyes.

"What kind of post?" He asked, his voice low.

Arushi looked away, ashamed.

"Someone... accused me of copying another artist's work... they said I don't have my own originality... that everything I create is either stolen or inspired... They called me a fraud, Reyansh." Her voice broke completely.

His fingers clenched against her cheek.

"What the hell... that's not true! You pour your heart into your work, Arushi!" He whispered fiercely.

But she shook her head, tears streaming down.

"It doesn't matter... People believe what they see online. That one post was enough... The organizer didn't even bother to ask me... they just canceled it... without giving me a chance to explain." She choked out.

Once her sobs softened, he gently pulled her face up, wiping her tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"Can I ask you something, Arushi?" He whispered.

She nodded weakly, her eyes still glassy.

"Have you ever seen the moon?" He asked softly.

She blinked at him, confused by his sudden question.

"Of course... everyone has."

"Do you find the moon beautiful?" He asked, his eyes locked with hers.

She nodded slowly.

"Yes... it's beautiful."

A small smile played on his lips.

"Exactly... But have you ever wondered... the moon doesn't have its own light, Arushi. It only shines because it reflects the sun." He paused, letting his words sink in.

Her eyes widened slightly, lips parting.

"Does that make the moon any less beautiful?" He asked, his voice soft yet profound.

She blinked, her heart clenching at the depth of his words.

"No... it doesn't." She whispered.

He smiled faintly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

"Then why do you think you're any less of an artist just because your art might have traces of inspiration from somewhere? Every artist reflects what they feel, what they see, what they've experienced... Inspiration doesn't make you less original, Arushi... it makes you human." He whispered, his eyes shining with pride.

Her heart trembled, tears pooling in her eyes again - but this time, not out of pain.

"You don't have to paint something the world has never seen before to be original... you just have to paint it in a way the world has never felt before." He whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Her breath caught in her throat as his words wrapped around her broken heart like a warm embrace.

"You are not a fraud, Arushi... You're my chandani. And the world will always need it to light up the darkness." He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers.

The moonlight poured in softly through the half-open window, casting a pale glow on Akash's sleepy face as he lay tangled in his blanket. The room was silent, the ticking of the wall clock faint in the background, until a sudden weight hovered over him.

His sleep was broken, and just as he was about to yell, a warm hand clamped over his mouth. His eyes shot open wide in panic, only to meet the familiar sharp gaze of Richa.

For a moment, he froze, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"Tum?" He mumbled against her palm.

She removed her hand, still glaring at him.

"Haan main... aur tum mujhe sapna mat samajhna... warna phir se pinch kar ke tumhe zinda zameen pe le aaungi." She whispered, narrowing her eyes.

Akash blinked twice, still struggling to wrap his head around what was happening.

"What the hell, Richa?? Yahan kaise aayi tum?? Itni raat ko?? Am I dreaming? But mere sapne mein toh tumne shaadi ka joda pehna hota hai aur tumhe dekhte hi violins bajte hain..." He muttered sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

Without warning, she pinched his arm hard.

"Aaaah!!" He yelped, holding his arm.

"Ab samjhe? Main asli hoon... aur violins toh tab bajenge jab tum sudhar jaoge, Mr. Akash Mittal." She snapped, crossing her arms.

He frowned, still half-asleep.

"But tum yahan kyun aayi ho?" He asked.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she shoved her phone right in front of his face.

"Yeh dekh lo..." She said through gritted teeth.

Akash blinked at the screen, squinting.

It was an Instagram reel, a dark, melancholic video about depression and loneliness. His own name was shining bright under the 'Liked by Akash Mittal' section.

He scratched his head lazily.

"Richa, why are you stretching this silly thing, bas reel thi like kar diya... vapas hata deta hoon." He said, trying to sound casual as if it was nothing.

Her sharp glare made him gulp.

"It's not just a like, Akash... that reel was of yesterday... kuch na kuch chal raha hai tumhare dimaag me... but you didn't even discuss it with me... Tumhe pata bhi hai mai kya feel kar rahi hoon? Jaise... jaise I failed you " She sniffled, her voice breaking towards the end.

Akash's heart twisted painfully at her broken words. He facepalmed himself, cursing his own stupidity.

"Arrey, I am sorry okay?? Please don't cry... abse mai Instagram hi chalana band kar dunga... Just listen." He tried to hold her hand, but she was quicker.

Grabbing his collar, she hovered over him, her tear-filled eyes boring into his guilty ones.

"You listen, Mr. Akash Mittal... jab maine kaha tha I love you aur main tumhe duniya se protect karna chahti hoon... toh maine sach me kaha tha... aur tumhe jo bhi baat pareshaan kar rahi hai... wo mujhe batani padegi... chup chap bata do dimaag me kya chal raha hai?" She demanded, her voice soft yet firm.

Their faces were dangerously close, her breath fanning against his lips. His eyes involuntarily flickered down to her lips and he gulped nervously.

"Jo chal raha hai wo sunte hi tumne chata maar dena hai mujhe." He whispered, his eyes still locked on her lips.

Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Kya?"

He snapped out of his daze and blinked rapidly.

"I... I mean... galti se like ho gaya hoga... I promise... mai apni maa ki kasam kha ke kehta hoon, nothing is going in my mind... I am so happy nowadays." He rambled quickly, hoping to calm her down.

Her anger slowly melted into softness. Her eyes welled up again as she stared at him, her heart squeezing painfully at the thought of losing him. Without another word, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in his chest.

"Stupid!! I was so scared." She mumbled, her voice muffled against his shirt.

Akash's heart clenched at her vulnerability. He hugged her back just as tightly, resting his chin on her head.

"I am really very sorry." He whispered, stroking her hair gently.

After a moment of silence, he pulled back slightly and cupped her face, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.

"From today onwards... I won't like any reels... forget liking, I won't even watch reels... forget watching, I won't even open Instagram... forget opening, I will delete my account... forget deleting, I will throw my phone out of the window... forget throwing, I will break the SIM card... forget SIM card, I will cut the Wi-Fi cable... forget Wi-Fi, I will leave the world and become a saint... forget becoming a saint, I will leave this whole universe and go to Mars only for you... bas tum ek baar smile kar do... warna main NASA ko call kar ke rocket book karne jaa raha hoon." He said dramatically, his voice full of desperation.

A small giggle finally escaped Richa's lips, making Akash's heart swell with relief.

"Idiot." She whispered, lightly smacking his chest.

Darsh was sleeping peacefully on one side of the bed, while Vihaan was snoring softly on the other side. The dim light of the moon cast faint shadows across the walls, making the room look eerily quiet.

Suddenly, Darsh felt a tug on his blanket. He stirred a little but didn't wake up, assuming it was his imagination. But within a few seconds, the tug came again-sharper this time.

He frowned in his sleep, pulling the blanket tightly around him.

Another pull.

His brows furrowed, and this time his eyes fluttered open - groggy and half-conscious. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dark, and as his eyes focused, the sight before him made his heart leap straight into his throat.

His soul almost left his body.

Just a few feet away from the bed... someone was floating in the air, wrapped completely under the blanket, the shape of a body faintly visible underneath.

Darsh's breath caught in his throat. He opened his mouth to scream - but no sound came out.

He froze, his heart hammering inside his chest.

"B...Bhoot!" His mind screamed, but his voice betrayed him.

He slowly sat up, trying to move, but his legs felt numb. Gathering all his courage, he attempted to run, but the moment his feet touched the cold floor, the entire room suddenly started spinning.

It felt like the whole palace was shaking... like someone had epilepsy.

Darsh stumbled forward, arms flailing, trying to hold onto something, but he tripped on the carpet and fell straight on his face with a loud thud.

"Aaahhh!!" He whimpered, still unable to scream properly.

Suddenly, the floating figure under the blanket lost balance and fell down the stairs with a loud thud.

Darsh's heart stopped.

He shut his eyes tightly, mumbling prayers under his breath... but then,

Laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

His eyes snapped open, and to his horror, or rather embarrassment , he saw Divya lying on the floor, her back resting against a stool, laughing her lungs out.

"Darsh... darpok!! Hahahahaha!! Mujhe keh rahe the na hahahahahaha!!" She howled, clutching her stomach.

Darsh gasped, his heart still racing.

"Divya!! Ganji chudail!! Taadka!! How dare you!!" He hissed, whisper-yelling so Vihaan wouldn't wake up.

But Divya couldn't stop laughing, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Darsh sat there, panting, still in shock, half angry, half mortified.

"What are you doing here? And how did you enter?" He demanded, trying to catch his breath.

She finally controlled her laughter and pointed towards the open window.

Darsh's jaw dropped.

"Are you crazy?? How can you do this?? It's so unsafe... kahin chot toh nahi aayi?" He asked, his anger momentarily replaced by worry.

Divya just giggled, brushing off his concern.

"You are the one who challenged me... aur Divya Malhotra kabhi challenge se peeche nahi hat ti." She grinned mischievously. "Aur tumhari shakal!!"

And she burst into laughter all over again.

Darsh's face turned red with humiliation.

"TU RUK!! Teri ganji choti ko main naariyal banake baandh dunga!!" He whispered furiously, getting up to chase her.

"Accha?? Ruk tu..." he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Divya's playful giggles filled the silent night as she instinctively stepped back, but before she could take another step, Darsh's rough hand gripped her wrist, pulling her back with a swift motion.

"Aa Darsh... chhor!!" She squirmed, trying to free herself, but his grip only tightened.

"Haath tod dunga tere..." he warned, voice laced with mock anger.

Before she could even register his words, he yanked her closer, her back colliding with his hard chest. The air between them shifted, playful teasing fading into something more... intense.

Her breath caught in her throat as his warm breath fanned against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. His strong arm snaked around her waist, clutching her tightly, leaving not even an inch of space between them.

"Ch..chhodo mujhe.." she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

But instead of letting her go, he tightened his hold, pulling her even closer, their bodies perfectly aligned. His fingers dug into her waist, pressing through the thin fabric of her shirt.

"Why?" he whispered huskily near her ear, making her eyes flutter shut.

Divya's heart was hammering inside her chest, her breath ragged.

"M..mujhe jaana hai..." she whispered, struggling to sound firm.

He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against the curve of her neck as her breath hitched.

"Phir aayi kyun?" he asked, his voice dark and teasing.

Divya's lashes fluttered shut, her breathing uneven.

"Challenge complete karne..." she managed to whisper.

Darsh let out a low chuckle against her skin, sending goosebumps all over her body.

"Challenge? Just to prove yourself better than Anamika? And you said that you don't love me, she does." he asked, his lips barely brushing her earlobe.

"I-I don't love you..." she whispered, trying to convince herself more than him.

A dangerous smirk tugged at his lips.

"Sure?" he murmured, intertwining his other hand with hers slowly, locking their fingers together.

Divya's breath quickened as she tried to pull her trembling hand away - but he raised their joined hands in front of her eyes.

"Low BP?" he teased, his deep voice sending tingles down her spine.

Divya's lips parted slightly, struggling to breathe, as his fingers traced the delicate veins of her wrist with feather-light touches.

Divya's lips parted slightly, struggling to breathe, as his fingers traced the delicate veins of her wrist with feather-light touches.

Her heart pounded harder.

She bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the storm building inside her - but his heated gaze didn't miss the gesture.

His other hand slowly trailed up her spine - his rough fingers making lazy circles on her bare skin, right where her top had ridden up.

A soft gasp escaped her lips, her body arching slightly into his touch without her permission.

Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps echoed in the silence, making both of them freeze on the spot.

Darsh's sharp gaze flicked towards the door while Divya's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She quickly pushed him away, creating a gap between them, her cheeks still flushed from the heated proximity.

Their ragged breaths were the only sound in the dimly lit room until a soft creak from the corridor made them snap their heads towards the door.

"Shayad koi hai..." Darsh whispered, his voice barely audible, but his protective instinct kicked in immediately. He glanced at her flushed face, noticing how she nervously clutched the hem of her shirt.

"Arav bhaiya honge... bagal wala room unka hai na... shayad hamari awaaz sun li ho..." she whispered back, trying to calm her thundering heart.

Darsh's brows furrowed, his mind racing. If Arav really heard them... they were dead.

He leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear again, making her shiver involuntarily.

"Humein yahaan se nikalna hoga... terrace ki taraf."

Before she could protest, his fingers wrapped around her delicate wrist, sending jolts of electricity through her veins.

"Darsh..." she whispered in panic, but he silenced her with a finger on his lips, his intense eyes locking with hers.

"Shhh... chal."

Inside, the house lay bathed in shadows, the occasional flicker of light filtering through the curtains. In one of the rooms, Ishika stirred. A parched throat pulled her out of sleep, and she groggily pushed aside the blanket, sitting up.

"Paani..." she muttered, rubbing her eyes.

She reached for a glass from the shelf, filled it with water, and took a slow sip. Just as she set the glass down, something shifted at the corner of her vision.

A movement , A shadow Right near the entrance.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the counter, her heart suddenly hammering against her ribs. The dim lighting made it hard to see clearly, but she knew she hadn't imagined it.

There was someone there.Her breath hitched, and before her sleepy brain could process anything rational, her instincts kicked in. And her instincts? They were loud.

"AAAAAHHHHHH! CHOOOOORRRR!!"

The piercing scream shattered the silence, shaking the very walls of the mansion.

Doors flew open. Footsteps thundered through the corridors.

Within seconds, panic spread like wildfire.

Kirti stumbled out of her room, rubbing her eyes, still caught between sleep and wakefulness. "K-kya hua?!" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.

Ishika, trembling, lifted a shaky hand and pointed toward the door, her eyes wide with terror.

"Maine...maine do logon ki parchhai dekhi!" she stammered dramatically.

Kirti blinked, her sleep-clouded brain struggling to process.

"Shaadi wala ghar hai... chor hi honge," she mumbled, yawning, as if this was