"I have to leave for a meeting," Akash mumbled while checking his phone with a frown. "We'll talk later, okay? On the phone, because I doubt we'll get to see each other again today." He looked at her for a moment, and she simply nodded.

"Also, your father will still be arrested today, along with his associates. I'll have your phone sent to you with one of the staff members," he added.

She nodded again.

He pushed his chair back, rising in one smooth motion.

He adjusted his suit, gave her one last endless look, and then walked out, leaving the door clicking shut behind him.

The interview had also ended, and the room was now filled with the muffled sounds of the reporters packing up their gear—camera bags being zipped, tripods collapsing, and quiet conversations buzzing in the background.

Muhammad approached her with an easy smile, holding out his hand. "Muhammad, from Mewat too. I studied in Banaras before coming to Mumbai, and now, here I am, working." he said energetically, his eyes crinkling as he spoke.

"That's great," she replied, her smile polite but restrained while not attempting to shake his hand.

Noticing her hesitation, he cleared his throat, and his expression softened. "Not open to making friends?" he asked, giving a little chuckle to ease the tension. "I'd like to get to know you more—if you're open to it, of course. I promise I'm not half as serious as I seem right now."

She stared up, giving him a measured look.

"Your colleagues are leaving, Muhammad," she said in a gentle yet firm tone, with a subtle nod toward the door where his team were exiting.

One of her staff stepped in quietly with her phone in his hand. "Sir sent this," he murmured, passing it to her before walking back out.

Muhammad on the other hand stayed rooted, his expression unchanged, until the staff member was out of sight.

Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he broke the silence. "Just friendship," he said softly. "Why won't you accept it?"

She met his gaze, finding herself caught off guard in his dark eyes for a second.

She inhaled, exhaled, then finally relented, letting her shoulders relax a bit. "Alright," she said with a faint smile, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But for now, I have work to do. And I'm sure you do too."

His face broke into a grin, his dimples deepening, adding an almost boyish charm to his face.

He nodded, his enthusiasm brightening the space between them. "I'll be here tomorrow to check out that 'mystic' coffee of yours," he teased. "No camera. Promise."

She laughed softly, nodding. "You're welcome to."

He quickly scrawled his number on a notepad and slid it toward her. "Whenever you need me, just a call away. I'll probably drop by tomorrow evening, too—maybe we could have dinner?"

She glanced down at the number, her fingers gliding the paper, and offered a small, appreciative smile. "We'll see," she replied in a kind tone however, still leaving enough room to keep things in perspective.

He gave her a final, long look, his smile still in place, before he nodded and made his way to the door.

She watched him go, and after the meeting room became empty, she released a quiet sigh, the tiredness of the day settling over her shoulders.

She leaned back in her chair, glancing at the notepad in front of her, where his number was staring back.

A small smile tugged at her lips and she reached for her phone, tucking it away for later.

Her thoughts drifted back to Akash, and she missed his presence already.

The restaurant was finally quiet.

She took a deep breath, enjoying the brief quietude. Her eyes roamed over the room, catching the late afternoon light filtering through the windows, ornamenting a pale sheen across the polished wood tables and flickering softly off the glassware.

"Didi?" a voice interrupted her thoughts, pulling her back into the present. It was one of the staff, standing at the doorway after a polite knock.

"Good afternoon, Didi. I wanted to let you know that the morning overview report is ready. The file has been sent to your office," he informed her.

She nodded, with an appreciative smile crossing her lips. "Thank you. I'll go over it shortly."

The staff member nodded and quietly left, leaving her alone in the room once more.

****

"Yes?" Akash spoke into the phone.

"Mr. Deshmukh and the others have finally been located," the commissioner informed him. "He was detained trying to leave Mumbai at the train station after changing his identity. He is currently in prison."

His expression hardened as he listened, his knuckles tightening around the edge of his desk.

He nodded even though the commissioner couldn't see him. "We will be there tomorrow morning. Anita has already had a long day today. I wouldn't want her to stress again."

"Sure, Sir. Good evening."

"Good evening." He hung up the phone, letting out a slow breath and he leaned back in his chair.

He glanced at the scuttling staff beyond his glass office walls, and then sighed.

He stood up and moved toward the window, the cityscape of Mumbai sprawling beneath him. The setting sun released a courteous luster over the buildings, illuminating the busy streets below.

****

She settled into the back seat of the taxi, sighing as the driver pulled away from the curb.

The chaos of the city fell away, replaced by the quiet buzz of the engine and the soft, slowed notes of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" slopping from the speakers.

The guitar chords and his voice, almost a whisper, felt like a lullaby, filling the car with an ardency that softened the crisp night air.

Outside, the streetlights stretched out in golden streaks, brightening the slick, rain-dappled pavement.

A faint chill seeped through the window, bringing with it the scent of damp earth and distant spices from a late-night food vendor.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself sink into the melody and the calm that washed over her after the long, exhausting day.

Her phone laid untouched in her bag, and the buzz from it drew her attention.

She hadn't checked it since morning, and as she scrolled through her notifications, one caught her eye—a credit alert from 11:56 AM. She blinked, tapping on it to read the details. The amount made her heart skip a beat: ten million.

Her gaze loitered on the screen, her pulse quickening after she saw the name: Akash Kapoor. Beneath the amount, in the details section, a message read: "To my soon-to-be wife. It's my responsibility to take care of your finances from now till forever. This is your monthly upkeep. If you need more, don't hesitate to call me."

A slow, incredulous smile spread across her face because it was a reality she still found surreal after her first marriage.

Unable to resist to ask him why he sent such amount, she dialed his number. The phone rang once, twice—she found herself holding her breath because a slight nervousness was building in her heart with each ring. But after several moments, the call went to voicemail, leaving her with a soft ache of disappointment.

She dropped the phone into her lap, staring out the window while they crossed a bridge, the city lights reflecting in the dark river below.

The slowed rhythm of the song filled the silence, and she allowed herself a moment to imagine it—a life where she and him were partners, truly committed, sharing not only friendship but life itself.

The taxi turned onto a quieter street lined with trees, their branches heaving long shadows under the streetlights.

She hugged her arms around herself, and then closed her eyes, letting the slowed-down melody and lyrics sink deep into her heart.

The driver's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "We've reached," he said, and she opened her eyes, looking at the sight of her house silhouetted against the night sky.

She stepped out, feeling the chill of the night air brush against her skin, crisp and a little biting.

After paying him, she walked through the gates, her footsteps the only sound on the cobbled path.

Her phone then vibrated in her hand, startling her.

She saw Akash's name on the screen calling, and a wide smile automatically spread across her face. She swiped to answer and settled down onto the garden bench, the cool metal pressing against her while she looked up at the blanket of stars above.

"Good evening, Mrs Akash Kapoor," his voice came through, deep and husky, like the embrace of her favorite artist.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, with heat prickling beneath her skin, and she bit her lip, caught between excitement and shyness. Her pulse quicken as she fumbled for a response, but no words came out.

How was she supposed to answer him when even the simplest of his words left her so flustered?

He must have understood her reaction because his voice softened with a slight chuckle. "Sorry I missed your call. The phone was on silent. But, you'll be happy to know I was actually talking to my parents about us."

She blinked, her breath catching slightly as she processed his words.

Us. He was making it real—and so quickly.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"They want to meet your mother as soon as possible," he added.

She leaned back, closing her eyes and the cool breeze swept through the garden, carrying the scent of night-blooming jasmine.

She could almost see his face and the joy in his gaze. The thought alone brought a flutter to her stomach, filling her with a warmth that chased away the evening chill.

"Why would you send me so much money?" she finally whispered, however, the soft, almost bashful smile still remained on her lips while she absentmindedly twirled a flower between her fingers.

"I thought the message was clear enough. I'll soon be your husband, which makes you my responsibility." he simply answered.

Her smile deepened and a blush crept up to her cheeks. "But... we're not married yet." She paused, the surprise still evident in her tone. "And, how did you even get my account details? I don't remember sending them."

A low chuckle resonated through the line. "I did ask, but you were a little too stubborn to share," he teased gently. "I didn't want to intrude, but I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to start taking care of you as soon as possible. So, I got Mukesh to help me."

She let out a soft hum, focusing on the delicate petals between her fingers. "But, Akash, I can't accept so much. It's... more than I'd ever know what to do with. I have my own income. And honestly, it would've been better given to someone who really needed it—like Divya."

There was a pause, then his voice returned. "This isn't for anyone else. It's my soon-to-be wife's upkeep. As for loans, I don't have the funds for that," he added with a chuckle. "I'm not a bank."

She remained quiet.

A moment passed before his tone turned to seriousness. "By the way, before I forget—your father's been arrested, along with his associates. They're all in custody now. I thought you should know, in case you want to visit..."

The mention of him wiped the smile from her face, her hand instinctively closing around the flower. "No," she replied firmly, "He's not worth it. Let him face his justice alone. He destroyed the last thread binding us a family. You were right. I needed to cut ties. And I have."

"Well, let's forget him for now. Have you spoken to your mother yet?" he asked, and she let out a slow breath.

"I just got home. I'm still outside." She paused, then called his name with speed in her tone. "Akash!"

"Yes?" he responded, immediately attentive.

"I want to revisit the hospital," she murmered. "There has to be a way. I've never wronged anyone so God wouldn't punish me by denying me children. I want to take that test again. I've finished all my medications; there should be some change now."

He sighed, and his voice loosened up. "Anita, I've told you, it doesn't matter to me."

"But it matters to me," she replied. "I'll go back to the hospital tomorrow. I need to know."

"Honestly, don't put yourself through this stress," he urged. "We already talked about this—if it comes to it, we can consider adoption when you're ready."

She shook her head, whispering, "I want a child that's part of me. I won't lie about it. Adoption... I'll only consider it if there's truly no other option."

He took a deep breath, then exclaimed. "Alright, I understand," he whispered tiredly. "I'll book an appointment for you at ten tomorrow. I'll come pick you up, okay? From?"

Her lips curved into a smile. "The restaurant. Thanks and Goodbye!" she mumbled.

"Take care, and please, don't overthink it." he replied.

She nodded and lowered the phone slowly, exhaling while she gazed around the garden.

****

She peeked into her mother's room, smiling at the sight of her sleeping peacefully while her snores filled the air.

She then closed the door silently and walked into her own bedroom next door. She tossed her purse onto the bed, then stretched her arms wide to ease out the stress of the day while she let out a deep yawn.

"Mother's asleep. I'll talk to her about Akash in the morning," she murmured to herself.