The next day, the grand hall buzzed with the murmurs of family members and relatives as a traditional ritual unfolded. It was an intimate affair, reserved only for close ones. Hridansh sat beside Adhira, performing each ritual as instructed, though his mind drifted elsewhere. His fingers trembled slightly as he held the ceremonial offerings, but he forced himself to stay present. Yuvaan and Ishvaan were nearby, their observant eyes catching the slight hesitation in his movements. Yuvaan gave him a silent nod of reassurance, to which Hridansh responded with a forced half-smile.

He hadn't seen her since morning. That thought alone should have brought relief, but instead, it left an odd emptiness in his chest. He willed himself to push the feeling aside. Today was not about the past.

And then, as if fate enjoyed mocking him, she appeared.

His gaze instinctively snapped to the staircase, where a delicate figure descended, clad in a flowing pink anarkali. Shalvi walked slowly, one hand gripping the railing, her eyes lowered. Had it been four years ago, he would have held his breath, mesmerized by the angelic grace she carried. But now, all she did was ignite the storm within him. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening over the sacred threads wrapped around his fingers.

Beside him, Adhira sensed the change in his demeanor and followed his gaze. Her soft features remained neutral, but something unreadable flickered in her eyes when she saw Shalvi. Ishvaan and Yuvaan exchanged knowing glances.

Shalvi could feel the weight of their stares, but she refused to lift her eyes. She didn't need to—she already knew whose gaze burned into her soul. Keeping her composure, she made her way to Chitra, wearing a polite, almost mechanical smile. Standing beside her mother, she exhaled slowly, steadying herself.

Yuvaan noticed the growing tension in Hridansh and discreetly tapped his shoulder, bringing him back to the present moment. Hridansh inhaled sharply, breaking his gaze away. He wouldn't allow her to affect him. Not anymore.

But as Shalvi gathered the courage to steal a glance at him, her heart constricted painfully. His smile—one she had once lived for—was now directed at someone else. His fingers intertwined with Adhira's, and he looked at her with warmth, as if Shalvi had never existed.

A fresh wound tore open within her.

Why was she doing this to herself? Why couldn't she just look away? Hadn't she suffered enough?

Her mind screamed at her to turn back, but three years of longing refused to let her. How was she supposed to simply erase what she had once cherished with every fiber of her being?

Blinking rapidly to stop the tears from forming, she dropped her gaze to the floor once more. Today was not for broken hearts. Today, she would endure.

Even if it shattered her completely.

After sometime,

Adhira walked through the quiet corridor, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. In her other hand, she carried a glass of orange juice, the cold condensation dampening her fingers. The dim lights flickered softly against the polished floor, casting long shadows.

Just as she turned a corner, she collided into someone, and the sudden impact sent the glass tumbling from her grasp. The sharp sound of shattering echoed through the hallway, followed by a soft gasp.

"What the—" she started, but a meek voice interrupted her.

"I... I'm so sorry."

Adhira looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the person before her—Shalvi.

The pink fabric of her anarkali was now stained with orange, a striking contrast against the delicate embroidery. Shalvi hastily tried to wipe the liquid off, rubbing at the damp spots as if she could erase the damage. But it was already done. When she finally lifted her gaze, her movements stilled.

"I... I-I'm sorry," Shalvi stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't see you coming. I was just heading to my room and—"

"No, it's my fault," Adhira interrupted, her voice calm. "I was too distracted looking at my phone."

Shalvi didn't respond. Instead, her eyes flickered downward, avoiding Adhira's gaze. She bent down, hurriedly reaching for the scattered shards of glass.

"Wait, don't," Adhira said quickly, stopping her with a gentle touch on her wrist. "You'll hurt yourself. I'll call someone to clean it up."

A servant passing by was called over, and within seconds, he began clearing the mess. Shalvi nodded and got to her feet, turning swiftly as if eager to escape.

"Shalvi, wait," Adhira called softly, a kind smile on her lips.

Shalvi's steps faltered, but she didn't turn around.

"I haven't even had the chance to talk to you properly since you arrived," Adhira continued. "How are you? It still feels so strange knowing we're cousins. Can you believe we never knew all these years?" Her voice was light, trying to ease the invisible wall between them.

Shalvi forced a small smile, barely lifting her head. She only nodded, her fingers clutching the fabric of her dress.

Adhira hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Shalvi, I know—"

"I'm fine," Shalvi interrupted, her voice laced with quiet exhaustion. "How are you?"

Adhira sighed. "I'm fine... but you don't seem to be. You're different, Shalvi. Not like the person I met four years ago. And I know the reason. It's about Hridansh, isn't it?"

The name alone was enough to make Shalvi flinch.

"He's your would-be husband," she whispered, her voice strained. "I know that. You... don't have to worry about me. You can trust him, if not me." A hollow smile flickered across her lips, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm only here till your wedding. After that, I'll leave."

Adhira's heart ached at the quiet defeat in her tone.

"Shalvi, no," she tried again, reaching out to hold her hand. "I didn't mean it like that. I just want—"

Before she could finish, Shalvi instinctively pulled her hand back, as if burned by the touch.

Adhira saw the way Shalvi recoiled from her touch, and a pang of hurt flashed through her heart. But she quickly composed herself, not wanting to push too much. She let out a slow breath before speaking, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Shalvi, I won't ask what you're feeling right now because... somewhere, I already have an idea," Adhira said, studying her carefully. "But I just want to hear it from you... You still love him, don't you?"

A sudden, searing memory sliced through Shalvi's mind.

"I hate you, Shalvi Arya!"

The voice rang loud, sharp, unforgiving.

A violent shiver ran down her spine, and she immediately shook her head, as if trying to shake away the past itself.

"No... no," she muttered, her breath uneven. "I... I don't." Her hands trembled as she repeated, "I don't."

Adhira's eyes softened. "Okay, okay. Relax, Shalvi," she said, trying to calm her.

But Shalvi only clenched her fists tighter, whispering again, "I don't."

Adhira hesitated for a moment before placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "It's okay," she murmured. "If you don't want to talk about it, I understand." Then, forcing a small smile, she took a deep breath and said, "Come on. Let's go to my room. We'll talk."

Shalvi looked at her, her gaze hollow. "What is there to talk about?"

Adhira frowned. "What do you mean? We can talk about college days, chill a bit, just like old times." She tried to keep her tone light, but the weight between them was impossible to ignore.

"Please," Shalvi whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm already dealing with enough. I don't want to remember those days." She let out a humorless chuckle, one that held nothing but bitterness. "Besides... once a betrayer, always a betrayer."

Her lips quivered before she forced herself to continue. "Congratulations on your wedding with him. I... I hope you both get the best in every phase of life." Her voice cracked, but she quickly looked down, blinking furiously. "I'm sorry if my presence bothers you. I had no idea whose wedding I was attending."

Adhira's heart ached at the brokenness in her voice. She gently squeezed Shalvi's hand. "Shalvi, no... it's nothing like that."

Shalvi finally lifted her gaze, and Adhira froze.

Fresh tears shimmered in those dark eyes, unshed but painfully visible. Her voice wavered as she spoke again.

"When I used to say that... no one believed me."

She smiled, or at least tried to—but it was the most heartbreaking thing Adhira had ever seen.

Before Adhira could say anything, Shalvi slowly pulled her hand away. And then, without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Adhira standing there, watching her retreating figure.

The weight of her words lingered in the air, suffocating and heavy.

This was not the Shalvi Arya she once knew.

Adhira swallowed hard, looking down as she let out a shaky sigh. She hadn't even realized when her own eyes had welled up. Quickly, she wiped away the moisture with the back of her hand, before silently walking away, carrying the ache of a conversation that had left both their hearts heavier than before.

Unbeknownst to Adhira, someone else had witnessed the exchange.

Hridansh stood at the far end of the corridor, his steps halting as his eyes fell on the scene before him.

He saw Adhira saying something to Shalvi, who stood with her back to him. Then, in the next moment, whatever Shalvi said made the faint smile on Adhira's lips vanish. Her expression fell, and he noticed the way Shalvi pulled her hand away before hurriedly walking off.

His eyes narrowed, instantly filling with rage. Adhira stood there, frozen, her face reflecting sadness he couldn't quite place. And then, much to his surprise, she wiped away the moisture forming in her eyes before walking away in silence.

A bitter fire ignited within him.

Without a second thought, he turned sharply and marched in the direction Shalvi had gone.

Shalvi entered her room, exhaling deeply as she closed the door behind her. She just wanted to rest, to escape even if only for a little while. But before she could process anything, the door burst open with force.

She stumbled backward in shock.

And then, before she knew it, she was slammed against the wall.

Pain shot up her back at the impact, a gasp escaping her lips. One of her hands was pinned to the cold surface while the other was twisted behind her. Her eyes instinctively shut in fear, her breath hitching. But the moment his familiar scent surrounded her, her body stiffened.

She knew who it was.

She didn't need to open her eyes to confirm it.

It had been years since she had been this close to him, and yet, here he was. So near that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.

"What did you say to Adhira?"

His voice was like ice, sharp and unforgiving.

Her eyes flew open, her breath catching as she met his piercing gaze—red with fury.

Hridansh's grip on her tightened, his hold unrelenting. Once, this same proximity would have made his heart soften. Once, those same eyes used to hold love, warmth. But now, all she saw was rage.

She tried to speak, but her throat went dry.

He was too close. And her heart—traitorous as ever—reacted the same way it always had around him. Fast. Erratic. Wild.

But this wasn't the same Hridansh she had known.

"What did you say to Adhira, damn it!" he roared, his patience snapping as he shook her harshly.

A soft gasp left her lips, fear creeping into her veins. Her lips trembled, her throat constricting as she struggled to find her voice.

"I—I didn't—" she stuttered, her words barely above a whisper.

"Speak up, will you?! What are you trying to do now, huh?" His voice was laced with accusation, with unfiltered anger. His fingers dug into her wrist as he twisted it further.

Shalvi winced, biting back a cry.

"Please... it—it's hurting," she whispered shakily, her eyes welling up. "I... I didn't... I swear I didn't—"

"You did nothing?" Hridansh let out a humorless laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Of course, why would you? After all, you're the most innocent girl in this whole damn world, right, Ms. Shalvi Arya?"

Tears slid down her cheeks, her breaths shallow. "Pl-please," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "I did nothing... please, believe me."

"Believe you?" He let out a bitter chuckle, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second before he scoffed. "You and believing don't belong in the same damn sentence, Shalvi."

"Ansh—" she tried to say, but his furious voice cut through her words before she could finish.

"Shut up!" he roared. "Dare you take my name again, and you will face the worst! Just listen to me, and listen carefully." He leaned closer, his grip tightening painfully around her wrist. "I am warning you for the first and last time. You have already done enough damage! You mean nothing to me, and Adhira is the woman I am going to marry. If she gets even a single scratch, if she sheds even one tear because of you, then I swear, Shalvi Arya, you will see the real hell. And that's a promise!" His voice was low, dangerous, every word dripping with venom.

Shalvi trembled in his hold, her breath hitching in fear. "I... I.. didn't do any... anything," she stammered, barely able to form words.

"After doing so much, you still have the audacity to deny it?" Hridansh gritted his teeth, the ghosts of the past clawing at him, making his anger boil over.

At those words, something inside her shattered. The weight of his accusation crushed her completely. She had no strength left to fight, no will left to explain.

"I... I am sorry," she whispered, her voice almost inaudible. "Please... leave me. It's hurting... please..." Her head hung low, her weak struggle futile against his overpowering strength.

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—was it hesitation? A trace of the old Hridansh who once worshipped the ground she walked on? But he crushed it before it could take root, hardening his heart again.

"Stay away from her! Got that?" His voice was sharp as a blade, his grip bruising.

Shalvi could only nod, her body trembling like a leaf in a storm.

With one final glare, he shoved her away, making her stumble back before storming out of the room.

Shalvi barely managed to catch herself, gripping the edge of the bed for support. Her knees felt weak, her heart felt like it had been ripped out and trampled on. Slowly, she turned and closed the door, shutting herself away from the world.

She walked to her bed and sat down, blinking away the tears that refused to stop.

"I love you, Shalvi. I am always there for you..." His voice echoed in her mind—soft, warm, filled with love.

She let out a bitter laugh, a hollow, lifeless sound.

"I love you too, Mr. Black Coffee," she murmured to the emptiness, her voice laced with agony. But there was no one left to hear it.

Her phone rang suddenly, jolting her back to reality.

It was her mother.

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and answered.

"Shalvi, where are you? Look, Pranika ji needs some help attending the guests. Please come downstairs," Chitra's voice came from the other end.

"Hmm, ji Maa. I am coming," she replied, her voice calm—too calm.

She disconnected the call, walked into the washroom, and washed her face. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she forced a smile. A practiced, empty smile.

With one last deep breath, she stepped out and headed downstairs, burying every emotion deep within her.

...

Shalvi was helping Pranika. As the mother of the bride, she was exhausted from attending to guests and relatives. Shalvi took it upon herself to serve drinks, despite Pranika's protests. When she insisted, Pranika sighed and blessed her for her kindness.

Adhira was caught up with the guests, unable to do much.

As Shalvi was serving drinks, a girl walked in, greeting Adhira first and then Pranika. They exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes before Pranika turned toward Shalvi.

"Shalvi beta, this is Ivanya. Advay's fiancée. And Ivanya, she is Shalvi, my niece and Adhira's cousin," Pranika introduced them.

"Hi, Ivanya Bhargava," Ivanya greeted warmly.

"Hi, I am Shalvi Arya," Shalvi replied, forcing the same usual fake smile.

Ivanya's forehead creased slightly as if something about the name struck a familiar chord. "I think I've heard this name before, but I can't really remember where," she said thoughtfully.

Shalvi's heart pounded. Did Ivanya know anything about her and Hridansh? Was she aware of the past that haunted her every step? She caught Adhira's glance, her cousin's expression shifting in silent concern.

"Arey Ivanya, she was in the same college as Adhira and Hridansh. Maybe you heard her name from them," Pranika interjected, hoping to dismiss any further curiosity.

"Hmm, maybe. I don't really recall much, but..." Ivanya began, but Adhira quickly cut her off.

"Ivanya, why don't you freshen up and get some rest first? We can catch up properly in the evening, hmm?" Adhira suggested with a smile, though there was an edge of urgency behind it.

"Yeah, that would be great. Okay then," Ivanya agreed.

Pranika called for someone to take Ivanya's luggage and lead her to her room. Ivanya nodded and walked away.

Adhira turned toward Shalvi, hesitating as if she wanted to say something. But before she could, Shalvi turned her back to her and walked away.

Hridansh's words echoed mercilessly in her mind.

Shalvi entered the kitchen, carefully placing the tray on the counter. She had barely taken a breath when Yuvaan walked in, reaching for a glass of water. Their eyes met briefly before she turned away, focusing on filling glasses with soft drinks. She had no energy left for confrontations.

"Shalvi, can I have a word with you?" Yuvaan's voice was firm, leaving no room for avoidance.

Shalvi stilled, her fingers tightening around the glass she was holding. Then, sighing softly, she turned to face him.

"I don't like sugarcoating things, so I'll be blunt," Yuvaan began, his expression unreadable. "Don't create any mess this time. Stay away from both Adhira and Hridansh. Otherwise, it won't end well for you."

Shalvi's breath hitched, but she remained silent.

"I've seen what he went through, and I won't let anything disrupt his peace now. I don't care about you, Shalvi, but I do care about my best friend. He has every right to enjoy his wedding without your presence becoming a problem." His tone was sharp, his eyes cold. "You are a guest here—so attend the wedding and leave silently. If anything goes wrong, forget about Hridansh—I will kill you before that,"

The words cut deeper than a knife, but Shalvi swallowed the lump in her throat. So this is what everyone thought—that she was here to ruin their wedding. That she was the storm waiting to strike. If only they knew... If only they understood the unbearable torment of watching the love of her life marry her cousin. f she had known she was being forced to attend the wedding of the man she loved—to watch him marry her cousin—she might have chosen death that day rather than enduring this pain every single moment.

"Yuvaan Bhai, even you...?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Yuvaan's expression darkened instantly.

"Don't you dare call me that," he snapped. "I don't have a sister! Got that?"

Shalvi flinched as though he had physically struck her. She nodded slowly, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill.

"So... sorry," she murmured, her voice breaking as she bit her lip to hold herself together.

She turned her back to him, forcing herself to focus on the glasses in front of her, her fingers trembling as she continued filling them. Yuvaan stared at her for a moment before his voice cut through the silence again.

"Just take a moment to count all the things you're sorry for," he said, his tone laced with bitterness. "Because it will never be enough."

Shalvi inhaled sharply. The weight of those words pressed down on her chest, suffocating her.

"I... I've been trying to understand that for the past four years," she admitted softly.

Yuvaan heard her, but he didn't respond. She finally turned around, carefully placing the last glass onto the tray. Then, composing herself, she held the tray out toward him, a forced, weary smile on her lips.

"Anyway, would you like one, SIR?" she asked, pausing slightly before continuing. "Don't worry. I assure you, I won't do anything to mess up your friend's wedding. After all, not everyone gets the privilege of attending their ex's wedding and serving drinks to his guests," she added, holding the tray in front of him with her best fake smile.

Her voice held a faint trace of sarcasm, but her eyes reflected nothing but quiet devastation.

Yuvaan looked at her, something unreadable flashing across his face. For the briefest moment, his anger wavered. But before it could settle into anything else, he schooled his expression, his jaw tightening.

Without another word, he turned on his heels and walked away, leaving Shalvi standing there, holding onto the one thing she had left—her shattered dignity.

Shalvi took a deep breath, steadying herself as Yuvaan's words echoed in her mind. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the tray and walked out of the kitchen. The grandeur of the Rajvansh mansion was overwhelming, the hall filled with laughter, music, and the scent of fresh flowers. Yet, to her, it all felt distant—like a world she no longer belonged to.

Just as she stepped out, her eyes involuntarily searched for him. And there he was—Hridansh Rajvansh. Dressed in a crisp black sherwani, he stood at the center of a small gathering, his usual charm in full display. But his face hardened the moment he noticed her. Their eyes met for a fleeting second before he turned away, as if she was nothing but a forgotten chapter of his past.