Looking at him, I fought back tears. How could Saurav hate this man? What had he done to deserve such isolation? I could see the longing in his eyes, a hunger for a son’s love that Saurav refused to give. If only Saurav knew how incredible his father truly was.
After breakfast, I visited the hospital. Seeing my sister like that never got easier. She lay in the bed, looking more fragile than the day before, yet her smile remained vibrant. That soft, innocent expression made my heart ache.
“Kavya… ” she whispered. I forced a smile and moved to her bedside.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she lied.
I sat beside her and brushed the hair from her forehead with a mother’s touch. “You don’t have to lie to me, Kirti.”
She gave a small, breathless laugh, then winced. “Then don’t look at me like I’m made of glass,” she whispered.
“You’re stronger than you think,” I said firmly. “One day, we’re going to dance together again.”
“We will…” She squeezed my hand as a wave of pain crossed her face. “You’ll fix it, right?”
The weight of her question pressed against my chest. “Yes,” I promised, nodding. “I’ll fix everything.”
An hour later, I stepped out of the hospital. My composure finally cracked. I leaned against the cold stone wall and closed my eyes, my breathing coming in ragged gasps.
“I can’t lose her,” I whispered to the empty air.
Images of Kirti’s face flashed through my mind, and suddenly, the path ahead was clear. This wasn't about pride or boundaries. It didn't matter what Saurav would think. This was about survival. This was about my only family. I would do anything to save her, even if it meant dancing with Abhiraj.
I drove straight to Abhiraj’s house. My steps were heavy, weighted by the finality of my decision. The door opened before I could even knock, as if he had been waiting for me.
Abhiraj stood there, his expression unreadable.
“You’ve decided,” he said. It wasn't a question.
I nodded. “We’ll do it.”
He stepped aside to let me in. “Good.”
“This is strictly for the competition,” I clarified, my voice steady. “No personal involvement. No misunderstandings.”
Abhiraj met my gaze, a faint glint appearing in his eyes. “I don’t mix business with pleasure,” he replied. “But dance requires trust.”
“I’ll be a professional,” I countered.
“That won’t be enough,” he said calmly.
“I’ll give the performance whatever it needs,” I corrected.
Abhiraj gave a single, sharp nod. “Then we start tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Time isn’t on your side, Kavya.”
That word again. Time. It was always about time.
I exhaled slowly. “Fine.”
As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Does your husband know?”