Her Only Saviour

51. Ashes know silence

𝖂𝖆𝖉𝖆 𝖆𝖆𝖏 𝖐𝖆𝖗 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖍𝖊 𝖐𝖆𝖑 𝖒𝖚𝖐𝖆𝖗 𝖏𝖆 𝖙𝖚
𝕺𝖍𝖔 𝖇𝖍𝖚𝖑 𝖏𝖆𝖞𝖊 𝖏𝖔 𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖎 𝖇𝖍𝖚𝖑 𝖐𝖆𝖗 𝖏𝖆 𝖙𝖚

𝕵𝖞𝖆𝖉𝖆 𝖓𝖆𝖍𝖎 𝖆𝖆𝖓𝖐𝖍𝖔𝖓 𝖓𝖊
𝕳𝖆𝖎 𝖉𝖊𝖐𝖍𝖓𝖊 𝖐𝖍𝖜𝖆𝖆𝖇 𝖉𝖔 𝖕𝖆𝖑𝖐𝖊

𝕬𝖆𝖉𝖍𝖆 𝖍𝖎 𝖘𝖆𝖋𝖆𝖗 𝖗𝖆𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖆
𝕻𝖚𝖗𝖆 𝖍𝖔 𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖆𝖓 𝖍𝖆𝖎 𝖉𝖎𝖑 𝖐𝖊

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After Kaamini finally drifted into sleep, tucked in her room with her bedside lamp dimmed and a glass of warm water beside her, Anirudh quietly stepped out.
His shoulders were heavy, his chest tight from holding in the ache of the night.

The hallway was still. Silent.

Just as he passed by Saisha’s door, a sharp sound tore through the stillness.

“Hsss—ah!”

Anirudh stood still.

It wasn’t a scream.

Not quite.

But a sound too sudden, too pained, to ignore.

Frowning, he knocked lightly and pushed the door open.
“Saisha?”

She turned around abruptly, startled.

“Bhaiya!” she said, too quickly.
Her eyes widened just for a second before she masked it with a weak smile.
“What are you doing up?”

“I should ask you that,” Anirudh replied, scanning the room instinctively. Nothing looked out of place—just her laptop open, a book lying sideways, a scented candle flickering faintly.

“I thought I heard you—like you got hurt or something.”

She laughed lightly.
A bit forced.
“No, no! Just dropped my phone. It startled me. You know me, klutzy as ever.”

He didn’t smile.

His eyes drifted down—and caught the edge of her sleeve slipping back.

Just for a moment.

Long enough to see the redness on her inner wrist.

Fresh.

Almost blistered.

His brows drew together.
“Saisha… your hand.”

She blinked. “Oh that? It’s nothing! I—um—brushed against my curling wand. It happens all the time. I swear it’s not serious.”

“Still,” Anirudh said, his tone level, “you should get it checked in the morning. You don’t want infection.”

“Of course. I will,” she nodded, stepping slightly in front of her nightstand.

But she looked tired.

Pale, even.

He hesitated.

But eventually nodded.
“Goodnight, then.”

“Goodnight, Bhaiya.”

He left without another word, shutting the door softly behind him.

And walked toward his room.

And for the first time in years, Anirudh Oberoi had no idea what his sister was hiding, but he knew she wouldn't lie to him.

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