BEYOND UNFINISHED✔️

Chapter 22. Bound by Shadows

Song:- Do pal (Veer Zara).

Ae dil hai mushkil. (Arijit singh).

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Where is the good in goodbye...

"Abhi..."
Anaya's voice was barely a whisper, muffled by the fabric of his shirt. Her arms curled around him tighter as if trying to bury herself in a world that no longer existed.
His warmth. His scent. His presence. For the first time in days, she felt safe... even if just for a fleeting second.

"I'm not okay..." she whispered, voice cracking like glass, "Never going to be. I hate it here. Please... take me away... please..."

Abhi's arms tightened around her, but his eyes closed in silent agony.
How could he?
How could he tell her the truth? That her father had practically auctioned her off to the Rajvanshs like she was a trophy. That his own father had severed ties with Vikram Singh, his so-called friend, over this betrayal. That everything they ever dreamt of was now just ashes in the wind.

And she—Anaya—would blame herself. She always did. Even when it was never her fault.

"Abhi... say something," she pleaded, raising her teary eyes to meet his, "You're upset, right? You should be. I'm a coward... selfish and pathetic—"

"No!"
He cupped her face with trembling hands and kissed her forehead. His voice cracked under the weight of love and helplessness. "Never say that. Never. You're the most selfless soul I've ever known. You are brave. You survived what no one else could. You're not selfish, Anaya... you are the reason I still believe in good in this world..."

"I just want us to be okay... you, me... us." Her voice was raw, trembling with desperation.

He nodded slowly. Lying through his teeth. Because nothing was okay. Nothing ever would be again.
But then his gaze hardened.
No. He couldn't give up on her. Not yet.
Why should he? Because some arrogant bastard thought he could cage a soul like hers?

Abhi's jaw tightened as he looked into her eyes. "We'll be okay. I promise. I'll get you out of this... meaningless marriage. I swear I will—"

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
The voice came like a blade slicing through the air.

Anaya flinched in Abhi's arms. That voice—
Dark. Controlled. Possessive.
Arjun Rajvansh.

Abhi stiffened as the tall, brooding man approached like a storm ready to destroy everything in its path.

"Let. Her. Go," Arjun said, each word laced with menace. "I believe you're holding what belongs to me. And I don't share, Mr. Mehra."

Abhi's hold on Anaya tightened instinctively, protective.

Anaya turned, horrified.
Arjun's eyes were burning. With rage. With jealousy. With something terrifyingly unhinged.

Her heartbeat stumbled.
She remembered his threat—"If I ever find him near you, he's a dead man."

"No! Arjun, please don't... don't hurt him. I'm the one who's wrong. Punish me if you want. Just... please don't touch him."

Arjun's lips curled into something dark and wicked.
He stepped forward and yanked Anaya by the wrist, dragging her away from Abhi. His fingers were iron against her skin.

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with unnerving calm and whispered so only she could hear,
"Such concern for him? How touching... I'll deal with that later, Mrs. Rajvansh. But right now... I have some unfinished business with your so-called 'best friend.'"