Rishab stood frozen as Karan blocked his path, his stance unyielding.
"What do you mean by this? I need to see Preeta Ji!" Rishab insisted, desperation creeping into his voice.
Karan's irritation flared. "She's scared and needs time to calm down. Let her be for now."
"But I'm—" Rishab started to protest, but Karan cut him off sharply.
"Please, can you stop being so pushy? Preeta needs rest, and she doesn't want to see anyone right now. We need to focus on the police situation first." Karan's tone was forceful, tinged with a hint of rudeness.
Rishab was bewildered but followed Karan's lead, heading outside to deal with the police. Karan, as a precaution, locked the door to Preeta's room before joining him. They soon found themselves in the backyard, where a bruised and handcuffed Mehul stood between his parents, who glared at the police with barely contained rage.
"Karan, how dare you disgrace my son like this?" Mehul's father roared, seething as Karan approached.
Karan met his glare without a shred of fear. "Officer, I'm Karan Luthra. I called you here to file a complaint. This monster," he gestured to Mehul with undisguised contempt, "attempted to molest my best friend. Not only is she terrified, but he also hurt her. Please, take him away before I lose control of myself." His voice was low, but it carried a force that left no room for dispute. The police noticed his tightly clenched jaw and the way his bruised knuckles twitched as he fought to keep his temper in check. Understanding, the officer gave a nod to his team to remove Mehul.
"Karan, this won't end here," Mehul's coach snarled, stepping forward, only for his wife to follow, her face contorted with outrage.
"I'm sure that woman seduced him!" Mehul's mother shouted tearfully. "My son doesn't need to force anything—he has plenty of women!"
Karan's eyes blazed with indignation. "Ma'am, I know exactly what kind of man your son is—he's the type who preys on a woman's vulnerability. And you, a woman yourself, are defending him? Can you not imagine, even for a moment, if this were your daughter? Would you still insist on blaming her?" His voice cracked with fury. "It's easy to dismiss her pain because it isn't yours. Just because it's not happening to you, you think it's the woman's fault."
"But my son, he's not like that," Mehul's mother stammered, the fire in her eyes dimming.
"I'm sure you know what kind of man you have brought up", leaving the woman speechless and Rishab gawking. Of course, she knew her son, she knew they had spoiled him rotten, finding a place on a higher social ladder, they forgot to teach their son the manners of humankind. They failed as parents and they have no one to blame for it.
"As for my career," Karan continued, his voice unyielding, "I don't need anyone's support if it means defending someone like him. If fame has to come at the expense of someone I care about, I'll walk away from it without a second thought. And if the law of this country can't protect her, then this country doesn't deserve me to play for her." His words echoed in the yard, heavy with conviction, leaving everyone around him in stunned silence.
The officer stepped forward, breaking the tension. "Mr. Luthra, we'll need a statement from the victim."
Karan's tone softened, though his resolve remained unshaken. "She's terrified. Perhaps you could bring a female officer tomorrow?" The officer nodded, agreeing to return in the morning.
As the police escorted Mehul away, Rishab opened his mouth to speak, but Karan cut him off gently. "Rishab, please—go back to the party before anyone notices you're missing. I'll join you once I've checked on Preeta."
With that, Karan turned back to the house, ready to stand as her shield for as long as she needed him.
The cold, sterile hospital room felt like a world away from the chaos that had unfolded the previous night. Dadi had been called urgently to the hospital, but somehow, Preeta remained unreachable. The night passed in a blur of worry, and Karan had refused to leave her side. After giving her some sedatives to calm her, Preeta had drifted into a restless sleep. Karan, unable to tear himself away, had positioned himself just outside her door, his thoughts a swirling storm.
The morning light crept in, golden and soft, as Sameer found Karan curled up on the floor outside Preeta's room. "What are you doing here?" Sameer asked, his voice a mix of confusion and concern.
Karan stretched, his body stiff from the awkward position, the sleepiness in his eyes contrasting sharply with the powerful presence he exuded. The early morning sun illuminated his features, casting an ethereal glow around him. His black hair shimmered under the light, and his onyx eyes gleamed with an almost otherworldly intensity. Sameer froze, staring at his brother in stunned silence. He had always known Karan was handsome, but at this moment, he was nothing short of breathtaking.
"Just because," Karan murmured with a shrug, his voice low and soft, but tinged with something more. He stood and stretched, the muscles in his back rippling beneath his shirt. Without waiting for a response, he pulled Sameer towards the kitchen. "Let's eat."
After a quick breakfast, Karan arranged breakfast for Preeta. His movements were quick and purposeful, his heart racing with an emotion he hadn't quite identified yet. As he reached her room, he knocked softly, his breath caught in his throat.
"Come in," came her voice from the other side, tinged with uncertainty.
Karan's heart skipped a beat as he opened the door, his eyes locking on Preeta lying in his bed. A whirlwind of emotions stormed through him, but he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. It was a dream he never dared to hope for—her, in his bed.
Preeta looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She looked fragile, yet somehow, she was even more beautiful than before. A quiet sigh escaped his lips. There was something about her vulnerability that pulled at his heart, making it ache in a way he hadn't expected.
Preeta sat up slowly, her movements cautious, as if afraid of her own feelings. She ate the breakfast in silence, her mind clearly somewhere else. The muffled chatter from outside filtered in, breaking the quiet tension in the room. It hit them both at once—the realization that today was the day. Rishab's wedding.
