Aashiqui Aa Gayi🧡🍁🧡 ✓

||Epilogue||

The week following their passionate kiss had been a strange and confusing time for Bhairav. 

He found himself caught in a whirlwind of emotions—joy, excitement, but also a gnawing sense of uncertainty. 

Since that night, Shruti had been avoiding eye contact with him, her once open and bright demeanor now shadowed with an unspoken tension. 

Every time he tried to approach her, she would find an excuse to leave the room or turn her attention elsewhere.

It left Bhairav feeling deeply unsettled. 

He couldn't shake the fear that he had overstepped, that in his moment of passion, he had forced something upon her that she wasn't ready for. 

The thought weighed heavily on his heart, making him restless, and every day that passed without addressing what had happened only made it worse. 

He had been holding onto his feelings for so long, suppressing the love he had for her, but after that kiss, he could no longer keep it inside. 

He needed to talk to her, to tell her how he felt, but Shruti's avoidance was making it difficult.

Finally, after a week of this unbearable silence, Bhairav decided he couldn't take it anymore. 

He had to confront her, to clear the air between them, and find out where they stood. 

The thought of losing her, or having ruined whatever fragile connection they had, was too much to bear. 

Determined, he came home early from work, something he rarely did.

As he entered the house, he heard the sound of laughter coming from the dining area. 

He paused in the doorway, his heart lifting at the sound. 

He quietly approached and saw Shruti and Janak sitting together at the table, sharing a meal. 

Shruti was laughing, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and it made Bhairav's chest swell with a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. 

Her laughter was like music to his ears, and seeing her smile was enough to bring a rare smile to his own face.

He stood there for a moment, watching her, lost in the memory of the first time he realized how much her smile meant to him. 

It had been the day he gave her the admission form, and the joy in her eyes had struck him deeply. 

From that moment, he knew he was in love with her smile because it reached all the way to her eyes, making her entire face light up. 

It was a sight that never failed to make him feel alive.

What Shruti didn't know was that Bhairav had secretly appointed a few men to watch over her, ensuring her safety without making their presence known. 

Every day, they would report back to him, letting him know that she was safe and happy. 

Just hearing about her well-being was enough to brighten his day, to give him the strength to carry on with his often harsh and dangerous work. 

That was the effect she had on him, a light in his dark world.

Clearing his throat to announce his presence, Bhairav stepped into the room. 

The sound caught the attention of both Shruti and Janak, who turned to look at him. 

Janak was visibly surprised to see him home so early.

"बेटा, तू भैरवच आहेस ना?"  ("Son, you are Bhairav, right?") Janak asked, a playful glint in his eyes.