Daksh didn't argue. He didn't rush to soothe her or deny her pain. Ishani turned away, her body tense, voice barely above a whisper but sharp with hurt. " it feels like the universe made a cruel joke - giving me you instead of the one I wanted." Her words landed heavy, and inside, Daksh felt the sting like a thousand invisible wounds. But he swallowed the pain, forcing himself to stay calm. "Ishani," he said softly, stepping a little closer, "please... just hear me out. I never asked for this. I only wanted to protect you from being broken even more." She flinched but didn't turn around. "Protect me? How can I feel protected when everything I dreamed of is shattered?" His voice grew gentle but urgent. "Maybe I can't fix the past. But I'm here - not as a replacement, but as someone who wants to stand by you." She clenched her fists, her breath hitching. "I'm tired, Daksh. So tired of pretending this is okay." Daksh's heart ached, watching her fight with herself - wanting to break but refusing to fall. "I'm not asking you to pretend. Just to give me a chance... to be here." Then Ishani whispered, voice raw and trembling, "I'm not ready. Not yet." Daksh nodded slowly, the pain clear in his eyes but his resolve unshaken. "Whenever you're ready... I'll wait." ||Daksh Sehgal - the elder son of the prestigious Sehgal family. Intelligent and responsible, he carries the weight of his legacy with quiet strength. With devilishly handsome looks and a calm, kind soul, Daksh is more than just a charming face - he's a protector at heart, willing to put others before himself.|| ||Ishani Raichand - a gentle soul wrapped in grace and innocence. Soft-spoken yet strong, she is a girl who carries the weight of the world on her fragile shoulders without ever letting it show. Her heart beats for her loved ones, and she endures every storm with silent courage. For her father's reputation, she's willing to sacrifice her own dreams, her own voice even her own happiness.||