Avni didn’t just walk; she ran. The gravel crunched beneath her heels, a frantic rhythm that matched the hammering in her chest. Behind her, Avyansh’s voice was a persistent, desperate tether.
"Di! Di, please, just stop for a second!"
She didn't stop. She couldn't. She fumbled with her car door, the metal cold against her shaking fingers, and collapsed into the passenger ’s seat. She just sat there, staring through the windshield at a world that suddenly felt like it was made of glass—sharp, jagged, and ready to shatter.
A moment later, the driver door clicked open. Avyansh slipped in, his presence a quiet comfort in the cramped space. Avni remained motionless. She wasn't sobbing—the grief was too heavy for tears yet—but her silence was deafening. She looked hollow, as if the revelation of the day had scooped out her very soul.
"Di, look at me," Avyansh pleaded, his voice cracking.
"I gave them everything, Avyansh," she whispered, her voice like dry parchment. "Every demand Chacha made, every whim Chachi had... I met them all. But why this? Why would he go this far? He tried to kill Divyansh. My husband. If the timing had been different... if the universe hadn't intervened..." She trailed off, her hands tightening on the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white.
"Di..." Avyansh reached out, covering her hand with his.
"No," she snapped, the first spark of anger flickering in her eyes. "Even now, he used my money—money I bled for—to hire someone to hurt him. How do I look at Divyansh now? How do I face his family? They took me in. They gave me a warmth I hadn’t felt in a decade, and in return, I brought a monster into their lives."
The dam finally broke. Hot, stinging tears tracked down her face. "He could have died because I was too blind to see what my own blood was capable of."
Avyansh pulled her into a fierce hug. "It’s not on you. It’s that bastard Amol. He’s an entitled brat who’s lived off your hard work his entire life. And Chachi? She’s the one who planted those seeds by never saying 'no' to him. This explosion was inevitable, Di. It’s not your burden to carry."
Avni pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, though more tears followed. "I know he won’t blame me. That’s the worst part, Avyansh. He’s too good. But I’ll always see my family's shadow whenever I look at him."
A soft rap on the window interrupted them. It was Divyansh. He stood there, looking tired but steady, signaling for Avyansh to switch places. Without a word, Avyansh slipped out, and a moment later, the scent of Divyansh’s sandalwood cologne filled the car.
Avni hid her face in her palms, the shame overwhelming her. She felt the dip of the seat as he sat, but she couldn't bring herself to look up. Gently, firmly, Divyansh took her wrists and pulled her hands away from her eyes. He didn't offer platitudes. He didn't demand explanations. He simply put the car in gear and drove.
They drove in a heavy, companionable silence toward the coast. Avni stared out the side window, watching the city lights blur into the dark silhouette of the ocean. Throughout the entire journey, Divyansh never let go of her hand. He kept their fingers entwined, resting them on his thigh, his thumb tracing soothing circles against her skin—a silent anchor in her storm.
When they reached the shore, the air was cool and salt-thick. Divyansh climbed out, walked around to the passenger side, and opened her door. Avni sat frozen, her legs feeling like lead. Sensing her paralysis, Divyansh didn't ask her to move. He simply leaned in, whispered her name with a sigh that carried a world of devotion, and scooped her into his arms.
He carried her across the sand, his stride sure, and settled her onto a weathered wooden bench overlooking the waves.
"Avni, look at me," he commanded softly.
She kept her gaze fixed on their joined hands. She felt like a fraud sitting next to him. Divyansh reached out, his palm warm against her cheek, and forced her to meet his eyes.
"It is not your fault," he said, his voice ringing with a conviction that brooked no argument.
That was all it took. Avni crumbled into his chest, her sobs echoing against the sound of the crashing surf. "I am so sorry," she wailed into his coat. "He’s my cousin. He used my resources to put you in that hospital bed. You were there for a week... because I was sponsoring a monster."
Divyansh held her tighter, his chin resting on the top of her head. "I told you, Jaana. It’s over. Amol and his choices are his own. They have nothing to do with the woman I love."
He pulled back just enough to frame her face. "Look at me. I’m right here. I’m fit, I’m fine, and I’m not going anywhere."
Moved by the sheer grace of his forgiveness, Avni reached up and pulled him into a kiss. It started with the desperation of a goodbye but shifted into something deeper—a slow, lingering promise of survival. When she finally broke away, she tucked herself under his arm, burying her face in his chest as if trying to merge with him.
For ten minutes, they simply watched the water. Finally, Avni found her voice again, though it was small.
"When my parents died, I thought the world had ended," she began, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "I was a senior in college; Aryansh was just a kid. Chachaji took us in, but Chachi... she made it clear we were a burden. She wanted me married off immediately so she wouldn't have to deal with us. But I took my parents' insurance money—every cent—and I bet it all on myself."
She let out a dry laugh. "She called it a waste. She said I was throwing away my dowry. But I worked until I forgot what sleep felt like. I built Rivaaz out of pure spite and sacrifice. While other girls were out on dates, I was negotiating with suppliers and sketching designs until my fingers bled."
"And you made it the top fashion jewelry brand in the country," Divyansh added softly.
"I did. And I used that success to buy them a home. I paid their debts. I put their children through school. I thought if I gave them enough, they’d finally love us. Instead, it just made them feel entitled to my life." She turned to him, her eyes shining in the moonlight. "When Chachi sent me on that blind date mistaken you for your brother, I went out of habit. But then I saw you."
A small smile played on her lips. "You were outside that cafe, ignoring your date just to help a stray puppy. My heart did something it had never done before. I said yes to the marriage because for the first time, I felt a pull that had nothing to do with obligation."
She leaned closer, her head finding its place on his shoulder. "You didn't just become my husband. You became my light. You took my hyper-active, work-obsessed personality and you gave it a home. I used to think I couldn't keep up with someone like you, but now... I realize the Earth can't leave the Sun. You’re my family now, Divyansh,my Sun to my earth The only one that matters."
She took his face in her hands, her voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. "You broke down walls I didn't even know I’d built. I love you. I can’t imagine a world where I don't get to wake up and see your face."
Divyansh was silent for a long moment, his own eyes shimmering. He didn't need a grand speech. He pulled her into a final, lingering kiss that tasted of salt and starlight.
"I love you, Dimples," she murmured against his lips.
"I love you more than my own life, Jaana," he whispered back.
They sat there, foreheads pressed together, a small, shared laugh escaping them both. As they looked out at the ocean, the first sliver of the sun began to break over the water, turning the deep indigo of the night into a brilliant, hopeful gold. It was a new day, and for the first time in a long time, Avni wasn't afraid of the light.
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