Her husband.
Her Aayansh.
Her body swayed slightly, but she held herself still, gripping the balcony railing.
"Jhooth... yeh sab jhooth hai." Her voice was barely a whisper.
[Lies... this is all lies.]
Aayansh let out a bitter chuckle "Kaash yeh jhooth hota, Ishanvi."
[I wish it were a lie, Ishanvi.]
She shook her head, stepping back. "Aap mere saath mazak kar rahe ho, hai na? Yeh koi ghatiya joke hai?"
[You're joking with me, right? This is some sick joke?]
"Yeh mazak nahi hai," his voice was hoarse. "Main wahi hoon jise duniya Shadow Vorn ke naam se jaanti hai. Wahi jo underworld ko control karta hai. Wahi jo sirf maut ka dusra naam hai."
[This isn't a joke. I am the same man the world knows as Shadow Vorn. The one who controls the underworld. The one who is nothing but another name for death.]
Ishanvi felt the air leave her lungs.
Her hands shook.
"Aur... coma?" she forced the words out, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Aap... coma mein kaise gaye?"
[And... coma? How did you end up in a coma?]
Aayansh's gaze dropped for a moment before he looked back at her-his jaw tightening.
"Spain."
A shiver ran down her spine.
"Mujhpar ek jaanleva hamla hua tha, Ishanvi. Mujhe marne ke liye chhoda gaya tha."
[I was attacked... someone left me to die.]
Ishanvi's lips parted, but no words came out.
Aayansh took another step towards her, his gaze locked onto hers, holding nothing back "Mujhe bullet lagi thi. Maine apni team ko kaha ki kisi ko kuch na bataye, kyunki main nahi chahta tha ki sab yeh jaano."
[I was shot. I told my team not to tell anyone anything because I didn't want everyone to know.]
Ishanvi's hands fisted at her sides. "Toh mujhe bewakoof banane ka plan tha?" she seethed. "Mujhe anjaan rakhne ka? Main kaun hoon aapke liye, Aayansh? Ek trophy wife?"
[So you planned to fool me? To keep me in the dark? Who am I to you, Aayansh? A trophy wife?]
Aayansh's jaw clenched. "Nahi, tum meri Ardhangini ho."
[No. You are my Ardhangini]
The sincerity in his voice made her breath hitch-but she didn't let it show.
Instead, she let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head "Aapne kabhi mujhe aapki duniya ka hissa banana hi nahi tha, hai na?"
[You never intended to make me a part of your world, did you?]
Aayansh exhaled sharply "Main tumhe is duniya se door rakhna chahta tha, Ishanvi. Tumhari suraksha ke liye."
[I wanted to keep you away from this world, Ishanvi. For your safety.]
"Suraksha?" she scoffed. "aapne mujhe yeh batana bhi zaroori nahi samjha ki aap maut ke saaye mein jeete ho?"
[Safety? You didn't even think it was necessary to tell me that you live under the shadow of death?]
He stepped closer, desperation flickering in his dark eyes "Main nahi chahta tha ki tumhe takleef ho."
[I didn't want you to suffer.]
Ishanvi inhaled shakily.
"Aur mujhe kya laga, Aayansh?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Ki aapne mujhe chhod diya?"
[And what did I think, Aayansh? That you abandoned me?]
Aayansh's entire body tensed.
A lump formed in his throat.
"Ishanvi..." he reached for her, but she flinched, stepping back.
"Aapne mujhe akela chhod diya, Aayansh." A tear slipped down her cheek. "Aur mujhe yeh bhi nahi pata tha ki aap zinda bhi ho ya nahi."
[You left me alone, Aayansh. And I didn't even know if you were alive or not.]
His entire world shattered at her words.
His fingers curled into fists, his chest burning with guilt.
"Mujhse galti ho gayi, Ishanvi," he whispered. "Par main waapis aa gaya hoon."
[I made a mistake, Ishanvi. But I have come back.]
She let out a shaky breath, turning away from him.
Her gaze lifted toward the moon outside, her heart still racing.
Aayansh clenched his jaw.
He took slow steps toward her until he was standing right behind her.
His voice dropped to a whisper "Tumhe jo bhi saza deni hai, de do, Ishanvi."
[Give me whatever punishment you want, Ishanvi.]
She inhaled sharply but didn't turn.
Aayansh closed his eyes for a moment before whispering his next words-ones that held all his broken pieces.
"Bas mujhe apni zindagi se mat nikaalna."
[Just don't erase me from your life.]
Ishanvi's mind was a whirlwind of emotions-anger, betrayal, disbelief... and something else.
Something she couldn't name.
Aayansh stood behind her, his gaze fixed on her back, his own heart hammering in his chest. He had bared his soul to her, yet she remained unmoving, her silence cutting through him deeper than any bullet ever could.
He couldn't take it anymore.
With slow, determined steps, he closed the distance between them. His fingers trembled slightly as he reached out and gently, ever so gently, took her hand in his.
Ishanvi stiffened.
But she didn't pull away.
Taking that as a sign, Aayansh carefully led her toward the bed.
She walked silently, not resisting, but her fingers remained limp in his grasp-cold, lifeless, as if she had shut herself away from him.
It terrified him.
As soon as she sat down, Aayansh did something that made Ishanvi's breath hitch.
He knelt in front of her.
Not just knelt-he bent forward and placed his forehead against her feet.
Ishanvi gasped, her eyes widening. "Aayansh-"
But he didn't lift his head.
His grip on her ankles tightened as his voice came out hoarse, desperate "Mujhe maaf kar do, Ishanvi."
[Forgive me, Ishanvi.]
Ishanvi stared down at him, unable to process what was happening.
This was Aayansh Agniwanshi-the King of Jaipur. The man people bowed to, the man who ruled with quiet authority.
