Shubman woke up, feeling a gentle hand on his head. Startled, he looked up to see Pashmima's tear-streaked face, fear flashing across his eyes. "Are you okay, Mina? Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Pashmina tried to force a smile, her fingers still combing through his hair. "I'm okay, Shubman," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "Just... had a dream, that's all."

Shubman frowned, sitting up beside her. "A dream? You're shaking, Mina. It must've been more than just a dream." He reached for her hand, holding it firmly as if trying to pull her back from whatever had hurt her in that dream. "You can talk to me, you know."

She looked at him, her eyes searching his face, trying to find the right words. She remembered Karan's words urging her to move on, to give herself a chance at love. She hesitated, the weight of everything settling heavily on her chest.

"I saw him," she said finally, her voice cracking. "I saw Karan."

"You want to talk about it now, or... you know?" he asked, hesitating.

Pashmina looked up, her eyes red from crying. She shifted back a bit, making space for him on the bed. "I want to. I have to," she said softly.

Shubman looked at the space she'd made, then at her, unsure if it was right for him to lie down beside her. But his concern for Pashmima outweighed the hesitation. He slowly moved closer, settling beside her on the bed, keeping a respectful distance.

When he lay down at a distance, Pashmina frowned. Without a word, she moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder, seeking the comfort she desperately needed.

She knew her heart still belonged to Karan, but she couldn't deny the comfort Shubman offered. His presence was like a steady warmth in her coldest moments, and resisting it felt impossible, almost like denying herself a breath she desperately needed.

Shubman felt a jolt in his heart as Pashmima wrapped her arms around him. The sudden closeness made his breath hitch, and he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady the emotions rushing through him. It was a mix of joy, fear, and hope-a feeling so intense it almost overwhelmed him.

As Pashmina nestled against him, Shubman's mind raced. He could feel the warmth of her body, the softness of her hair brushing against his cheek, and the way her breath hitched slightly as she sighed. It was a bittersweet moment; he longed to comfort her, yet he was acutely aware of the shadows of her past lingering between them.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, hoping his voice would break through the haze of her sorrow.

"Better now," she whispered, her voice a delicate thread as she nestled closer to him. With a deep, shuddering breath, she steeled herself, preparing to confront the demons she had kept locked away for far too long.

"The reason I slipped into darkness," she began, her voice trembling, "is that I still blame myself for not turning the steering wheel in time." Her words felt heavy, each syllable dragging the memories back to the surface. "I can't shake the feeling that if I had just reacted faster, things might have been different."

Shubman listened intently, his heart aching as he watched the tears pool in her eyes. "But Karan says it wasn't my fault," she continued, her voice breaking. "He tried to convince me, but I kept replaying that moment over and over in my head. It's like a loop that I can't escape."

"Pashmina," Shubman said softly, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You did your best in a terrible situation. You can't blame yourself for what happened. Sometimes life throws things at us that we can't control."

Pashmina nodded, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "I was scared to leave my room, thinking I might hurt anyone who came into contact with me. That's why I reacted the way I did when I saw the short guy behind Paaji." She took a shaky breath, her voice trembling. "A day before you arrived, I saw a ghostly vision of Karan urging me to trust the man who would walk through my doors."

"I don't remember anything after that," she admitted her voice barely above a whisper. "But all I know is that you came, and I felt like Pashmina Kohli again, the girl I was before the accident." She looked up at him, biting her lip to hold back the wave of emotions that threatened to spill over.

Shubman cupped Pashmina's face gently, his thumb stroking her cheek as he leaned closer. She hesitated for a moment, her heart racing as she wondered if he might kiss her. But instead of brushing his lips against hers, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Pashmina Kohli, you are strong, my brave Mina," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.

Pashmina looked up at Shubman, clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly as she breathed deeply, her heart pounding in her chest. "And I've learned how to be brave because of you," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion.

Shubman smiled softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he held her gaze. "Bravery isn't just about facing the world without fear," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "It's about being vulnerable and allowing yourself to feel, to trust again."

Pashmina's grip on his shirt tightened slightly as she absorbed his words. "I never thought I could open up like this again. After everything that happened, I was sure I'd be stuck in my darkness forever."

Shubman shook his head, his expression earnest. "You're not stuck, Pashmina. You're moving forward, one step at a time. It takes time to heal, but every moment you share, every truth you express, it's all part of the process."

Pashmina looked up at Shubman, her fingers nervously fiddling with the button of his shirt. "You speak so much like Karan," she said, her voice hoarse.

"And speaking of Karan, I had a dream about him," she said, her voice trembling. "He urged me to... " She gasped, wishing she could share everything in one breath, but the words caught in her throat

She hesitated, the memories swirling around her like autumn leaves caught in the wind. Shubman leaned in closer, his expression encouraging her to continue. "What did he say?"

Taking a deep breath, she finally managed to share, "He told me it was time to let go of the guilt, to let go of the past, and to embrace what lies ahead."

Shubman's heart raced at her words, and he sensed a glimmer of hope in the air. "And what do you think lies ahead?" he asked, keeping his tone light and hopeful, careful not to push his feelings onto her. He wanted to give her the space to explore her thoughts without any pressure.

Pashmina closed her eyes, feeling a surge of vulnerability wash over her. She leaned in closer, resting her forehead against Shubman's, their noses barely touching. Her breath came out warm against his lips as she spoke slowly, savouring each word like a precious moment.

"Us... You and me," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Only if you want this broken woman in front of you."

Shubman's voice emerged in gasps as he held her tighter. "Are you okay with that, Mina? Are you ready to love me? Because I'm ready to love you forever, and Pashmina Kohli is not broken. She is just finding her way."

Pashmina smiled through her tears as she looked at him. He had redefined her situation without labelling her as broken. "It will take time, but yes, I want to love you, Shubman," she said.

"That's all that matters," he replied softly. "We'll take it one step at a time. There's no rush."

Pashmina slowly pushed herself up from where she had been lying, her movements tender but filled with intent. She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on his dimpled cheek, her lips lingering just for a heartbeat. "Thank you for walking through my doors," she whispered, her voice barely audible but brimming with gratitude.