(Manik is driving his car and is thinking about Riya and how he found her in such a vulnerable state today.)

Manik (thinks)- Agar main time par nahi aata to... No no no. She is fine. Kuch nahi hua usse. But aaj ke baad main uss Ashwin ko Riya ke saath ye nahi karne dunga. Never.

[Manik (thinks)- If I had not reached on time then... No, no, no. She is fine. Nothing has happened to her. But after today, I won't ever let Ashwin do such things to Riya. Never.]

(He stops the car on the side and thinks something.)

Manik- But I need to do something too! Jis se uska mood thoda better ho jaye. But mujhe to pata hi nahi usse kya pasand hai. Damn it.

[Manik- But I need to do something too. Something that can make her mood a little better. But I don't even know about her likes. Damn it.]

(He then looks around on the road and spots a florist shop. He then thinks about something and gets down the car. He goes to the shop and looks around to select a bouquet. His eyes then fall on a beautiful bouquet of pink roses, and he buys that for Riya.)

(He comes back, sits in his car, and puts the bouquet on the passenger seat.)

Manik (to himself)- Wow, Manik! You have purchased a bouquet for someone. And that too, for a girl. Unbelievable.

(His heart further taunts him here.)

Heart- To biwi ke liye hi liya hai. Achi baat hai.

[Heart- You have purchased it for your wife only. It's a good thing.]

Manik (to his heart)- Shut up yaar. Ab aur drama nahi chahiye mujhe.

[Manik (to his heart)- Shut up, man. I don't want more drama now.]

Brain (tauntingly)- Haan haan. Ab to vaise hi meri zarurat nahi padti tujhe. Maamla dil ne jo sambhaal liya hai.

[Brain (tauntingly)- Of course. Now you wouldn't even need me, right? As your heart has taken over everything.]

Manik- Oh God, stop it, you guys.

(He then drives to Malhotra Mansion.)

(Manik enters the Mansion with the bouquet and sighs relief at finding no one in the hall. He quickly goes upstairs to his room, but what Mr Malhotra forgot about was Cabir. As soon as Manik reaches upstairs and a smile of victory forms on his face, it goes away instantly as he spots Cabir sitting on the couch outside his room and has already seen him with the bouquet. Cabir comes to him, looking surprised at seeing the bouquet in his hands.)

Cabir- Kya hogaya Bhai? Ye kisne diya hai aap ko?

[Cabir- What happened, Bro? Who gave this to you?]

Manik- Ye kuch nahi bas aise hi... bas... tu ye chod. And tell me yahan sab theek tha mere peeche se?

[Manik- It's nothing just... just... You actually leave all this. And tell me that is everything okay here?]

Cabir- Haan Bhai main yahin par tha tab se. Aur koyi upar nahi aaya aapke room mein.

[Cabir- Yes, bro, I was here only. And no one came to your room as well.]

Manik (quite shocked)- Tu tab se mere kehne par bahar baitha hai mere room ke?

[Manik (quite shocked)- You are standing outside the room because I said so?]

Cabir- Aap ne hi to kaha tha ki bhabhi ka dhyaan rakhna jab tak aap aa nahi jaate. Ab room mein to andar jaa nahi sakta tha to socha yahin wait kar loon.

[Cabir- You only told me to take care of her until you return. And I couldn't go inside the room, so thought of waiting here only.]

(Manik looks at Cabir with an amazed expression, and Cabir looks confused.)

Cabir- Kya hua Bhai? Sahi nahi kiya kya maine?

[Cabir- What happened, bro? I shouldn't have done this?]

Manik- Nahi. Bilkul sahi kiya. Good job Cabir.

[Manik- No... You did the right thing. Good job, Cabir.]

Cabir (happily)- Thank you, Bhai.

[Cabir (happily)- Thank you, Bro.]

(Saying this, Cabir hugs Manik tightly, and Manik gets a little shocked by his gesture. But he eventually wraps his arms around him, and Cabir is all smiles.)

Cabir (thinks)- I miss you so much, Manik Bhai. And I love you so much too. I hope aap mere pehle wale Bro ban jayen jaldi se. I miss my Bhai so much.

[Cabir (thinks)- I miss you so much, bro. And I love you so much too. I hope you become the older version of yourself. I miss my brother so much.]

Manik (thinks)- I wish nothing had changed, Cabir. I wish we were still the same. Kaash main tujhe sab samjha pata. Par tujhe tere maa baap ki asliyat bata ke tera dil nahi todna chahta tha yaar. I am sorry. But tera Manik Bhai tere saath khada hai. Humesha. Ye bhoolna mat kabhi. Kabhi khud ko akela mat samajhna.

[Manik (thinks)- I wish nothing had changed, Cabir. I wish we were still the same. I wish I could explain everything. But I didn't want to hurt you by telling you the truth about your parents. I am sorry. But your brother is always with you. Never forget this. Never think that you are alone.]

(They both break the hug and give each other a small smile. And before Manik can say anything, Cabir quickly goes from there. Manik sighs and goes to his room and locks the door. He sighs, looking at the empty bed, so she is already awake.)

(He sits on the bed and waits for her to come out of the bathroom. After a few minutes, she comes out, and their eyes meet- his concerned ones and her tired ones. He is worried about her, while she is now tired of fighting her battles alone. Both have been the change in each other's lives despite the need to realize that. Her eyes fall on the bouquet lying on the bed, and he follows her gaze, picks up the bouquet, and comes to her.)

Manik- Vo... I brought these flowers.... umm, they are for you.

Riya (quite shocked)- Huh?

Manik- I bought flowers for you.

Riya- Really? For me?

Manik- Yes. To make you feel good.

(He gives her the bouquet, and she smells the fragrance from the flowers and a small smile forms on her face.)

Manik- Umm, which are your favourite flowers?

Riya- They are good. And I like roses. Pink ones, especially.

(He smiles at her words, and she sighs deeply.)

Riya- Kuch puchoge nahi tum?

[Riya- Won't you ask me anything?]

Manik (confused)- Kis baare mein?

[Manik (confused)- About what?]

Riya (teary-eyed)- Won't you feel disgusted by me after you come to know everything that happened today?

(He thinks deeply before answering because he knows that what she needs is not pity but assurance. He has been through these attacks and knows what it feels like when people pity and sympathize with you. Though he had his own ways to deal with stuff like these, he would definitely not want Riya to heal that way.)

(So, after taking a deep breath, he gently holds her hand and caresses the promise ring he gifted her. She looks on keenly at his gestures, trying to comprehend the meaning behind them.)

Manik- You know, after whatever happened today and then Cabir told me that Mrs Malhotra intentionally invited Mr Dixit here. I could do nothing but feel proud of you. For being such a fighter. Such a warrior. I know I don't know everything about you and your past; we have only known each other for days. But I can see that you would have been continually fighting your wars alone. And that is why I am proud of you for being a fighter and never giving up.

(Tears flow down Riya's eyes as she sniffs with her head hung down.)

Manik- Hey, hey. You don't have to cry. It's over now. Okay, look here. Look at me.

(He lifts her face up gently with his hands and then softly cups her face.)

Manik- But now. You will not suffer and will definitely not cry because of them. I promise you today. I won't let them harm you. It's my promise to you.

(She nods her head in a yes, and he wipes her tears.)

Manik- So now no crying, hmm?

Riya- It's just been days, Manik. Not even weeks. What is all this happening with us? Where are we heading? We don't even know each other properly.

Manik- I know. But kuch sawalon ke koyi jawaab nahi hote. Just like this one. I don't know where we are heading, but one thing which I am 100% sure about is that we are heading in the right direction. And that too together. Aur jahan tak ek dusre ko jaan ne ki baat hai then we must stay together for a lifetime. Dheere dheere ek dusre ke baare mein sab pata chal hi jayega nahi?

[Manik- I know. But some questions just don't have answers, just like this one. I don't know where we are heading, but I am 100% sure that we are heading in the right direction. And that too together. And about knowing each other, we have to stay together for a lifetime now. We will get to know everything about each other slowly, right?]

(She nods in a yes and they both smile, looking at each other.)