The morning after her failed escape, Twinkle's frustration hadn't lessened one bit.

She hated Kunj Malhotra.

Hated how he always acted like he knew what was best for her. Hated how he looked at her like she was his problem to solve.

She needed a shower to wash away her anger.

After freshening up, she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom, her mind still clouded with thoughts of escape.

That's when she saw him.

Kunj stood near the bed, flipping through some files. His sharp, well-fitted shirt was unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong forearms.

Twinkle froze.

Kunj turned his head slightly at the sound of the door opening. And then he saw her.

His gaze dropped.

A single moment. A fraction of a second. But Twinkle felt it.

His eyes traced the curve of her collarbone, her damp hair clinging to her skin, the way the towel barely reached her mid-thigh.

Twinkle sucked in a breath.

His eyes snapped back up to her face.

For a moment, they just stared at each other.

Twinkle's heart pounded against her ribs. Kunj's face gave nothing away, but the way his jaw clenched told her he was trying very hard to remain indifferent.

The room felt smaller,warmer.

"Can't you knock?!" Twinkle snapped, clutching the towel tightly around her chest.

Kunj's voice was clipped, but there was a strange roughness to it.
K-"This is my room."

Twinkle's cheeks flamed.
T-"Well, I'm here now, so get out!"

Kunj didn't move. His eyes darkened slightly, as if debating something.

Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and walked toward the door.

Twinkle let out a relieved breath-

Until she tripped.

A gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled forward-straight into Kunj's back.

Her fingers instinctively clutched his shirt, her body pressing against his for support.

Kunj stiffened.

Twinkle barely had a second to react before Kunj turned sharply, his arms moving fast and instinctively-catching her.

The files in his hands scattered across the floor.

His grip around her waist was firm, too firm. Their bodies pressed together, chest to chest, every inch of him was too close.

Twinkle felt her breath catch.

Kunj's large and warm hands, burned through the thin material of her towel.

She couldn't breathe.

She couldn't think.

Kunj's breathing was heavier than before. His hands didn't move. His gaze flickered to her lips for the briefest second before he quickly looked away.

"Careful," he muttered, voice rough and lower than usual.

Twinkle's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.

Why wasn't she pulling away?

A strange heat spread through her, something she didn't want to feel.

Kunj must have sensed it too, because the moment stretched longer than it should have.

His fingers curled slightly around her waist-so small, so fragile compared to him-before he realized what he was doing and jerked his hands away.

Twinkle staggered back, her breathing uneven.

Her heart was still hammering, but this time, it wasn't out of anger.

Kunj's gaze was unreadable, but his eyes-they held something. Something dangerous.

"Next time, be careful," he muttered, his voice rougher than before. Then, without another glance, he stormed out of the room.

Twinkle stood there, her hands shaking, her skin still tingling where he had touched her.

T-"What the hell just happened?"

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

The Malhotra mansion always felt cold   for all its grandeur. It was a place of power, where whispers of blood and danger lingered in the air. But tonight, it felt different.

Twinkle sat awkwardly at the edge of the couch, her hands folded in her lap.

Kabir, Kunal, and Kunj were engaged in a rare moment of ease. No guns, no blood, no tension. Just them.

Kunal, the most playful of the three, threw a peanut at Kabir, who barely glanced up from his whiskey glass before catching it midair.

"Childish as ever," Kabir muttered.

"Oh, come on, Bhaiya," Kunal grinned, lounging back. "For once, don’t act like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Kabir shot him a look but didn’t argue.

Kunj, sitting next to Twinkle, smirked. "Kunal, you’re the reason we all have headaches."

"And yet, without me, this house would be a graveyard," Kunal shot back, tossing a peanut toward Kunj this time.

Twinkle watched the banter unfold, completely mesmerized.

For the first time, she saw them not as the feared Malhotra brothers or her bosses but as siblings.

She had never known this feeling. The warmth of family. The unspoken bond that tied them together.

Then suddenly Kunal turned to her, his eyes twinkling.
Kunal-"And what about you, Bhabhi?"

Twinkle blinked. "W-What?"

"You think I’m annoying, right?" He leaned forward with a dramatic pout. "I bet you secretly like me the best."

Twinkle’s lips parted in surprise.

Before she could answer, Kunj groaned. "Ignore him, Twinkle. He’s an idiot."

"Excuse you!" Kunal gasped, holding a hand to his chest like he was wounded.

Kabir shook his head, amused. "You’re proving his point, Kunal."

Kunal rolled his eyes. "Fine. Twinkle, settle this. Who’s your favorite?"

Twinkle stiffened. She wasn’t used to this—being included.

But for some reason… she didn’t hate it.

She looked at Kunal’s expectant expression, then at Kabir’s unimpressed face, and finally, at Kunj, who was watching her with unreadable eyes.

And before she could stop herself—

She smiled.

A real, genuine smile.

It was small, barely there, but the effect was instant.

The room fell silent.

Kabir’s brows raised slightly. Kunal’s jaw dropped dramatically. Even Kunj stiffened beside her.

Twinkle immediately realized what she had done and looked down.

She hadn’t smiled in days. Maybe even weeks.

Kunal was the first to recover. "Oh my God."

Twinkle frowned. "What?"

Kunal grabbed Kabir’s arm, shaking him like an excited child. "Did you see that bhaiya? She smiled! I swear, it happened!"

Kabir rolled his eyes. "She’s not a ghost, Kunal. Of course, she can smile."

"Yeah, but she hasn’t!" Kunal turned to Twinkle dramatically. "Do it again."

Twinkle’s cheeks flushed. "No!"

"Please! Just once more! Bhai did you see it?"

Kunj, who had been silent, took a slow sip of his drink. "Hmm."

Kunal groaned. "You’re no fun."

Kabir exhaled. "Alright, stop acting like an idiot. Twinkle, if you ever want to survive in this house, don’t encourage him."

Twinkle let out a small laugh.

Kunal pointed at her. "See! She likes me the most."

Kunj groaned again, this time hiding a small smirk.

And just like that—the cold mansion felt a little less dark.

N.B:- Kunal refers Kabir as Bhaiya and Kunj as Bhai.

---

🔥 What Next?

The sudden attack from Raghav shattering the warmth of this moment.

That's it for today

Hope you liked it

Bye,love you all a lot 😘