After booking the online cab service, Ritu waited patiently for five minutes inside the restroom. It felt like an eternity doing so. She constantly felt jumpy when she heard any sound inside the restroom. Her vigilance was not enough though. Because, she knew sooner or later someone will enter the restroom and discover her. Or worse, Irfan or Rehan would suspect Pihu and come running searching for her.

But it was her immense fortune today that no one entered for more than five minutes. So, she took a deep breathe, put on her mask and Pihu's sunglasses. Then with a quick look at the mirror, she slipped out of the restroom and looked nowhere except the exit. Soon enough, she exited the restaurant and headed towards the crossroad her cab would wait for her.

Her mind playing several scenarios and she constantly made up her and Jai's conversation inside her head. How would he react when he'd see her in front of him. And worse, how would he react after learning what she had thought for the kids.

She genuinely wanted to help the kids. They didn't deserve any of the hardships they had been pushed into. They already had been fighting their battles being orphans. Their birth parents abandoned them before they could understand what a parent mean, and now they had to face the battle they had no share in it. The old trauma was yet to heal and there a new wound had emerged.

Although Ritu didn't know how they were taken care of in the orphanage, considering Jai's personality, she could picture his grandfather's nature.

When she was little, she used to ask her parents why didn't her grandparents live with them while all of her friends' grandparents did. Because she would see them at the kindergarten coming to pick up their grandchildren. And it'd make her immensely sad when either Vijay or Priyasha would come to pick her and Gyan from the kindergarten. Her father rarely had time. He'd come occasionally. But she wanted to meet her grandparents.

Then one day, her mother told her the simple reason which was too difficult to understand back then. Priyasha revealed the harsh and painstaking truth about her husband and their father. That he was an orphan. Abhiraj lost her mother when he was very young and since then he lived in an orphanage. Even when his father was alive, he didn't take Abhiraj with him and married another woman.

But fate was cruel. Although he married twice after Abhiraj's mother died, he couldn't have another child. So, that left Abhiraj as the sole heir to the Permabell Chemicals Pvt. Ltd and Permabell Tea Estate Pvt. Ltd. So, Abhiraj inherited all of his properties after he died dreadfully while trying to save Priyasha from her kidnapper and rapist.

Ritu never knew the full story until she was around 13-14. That too, not from her parents but from others who gossiped about the Roys more than they should.

So, Ritu could perceive what her father must have gone through all his childhood in an orphanage. She learned somehow, it was a pleasant time for her father and the time he spent at the orphanage shaped his personality as the cold, strict and seemingly cruel one. And his trauma had been passed down on his children. Especially, her brothers had been carrying that immense burden on their shoulders.

No one deserved to carry such pain. And that was the only reason why Ritu wanted to help the kids. Even if she couldn't help them any other way, she at least could provide them a good environment. A good place to live.

Her father had earned a lots of money throughout his career. Ritu was certain, he could easily provide these orphaned kids some of his gains. Apparently, Abhiraj looked tough and harsh, but deep down, her was a softy. Ritu knew how much he cared for his children and would go to any extent for them. Ritu was absolutely certain then if she persuaded him, he wouldn't deny her.

But the main problem is Jai.

He might not agree to take help from them. And rightfully so. For heaven's sake, they were fighting against each other. Even if Abhimanyu was innocent, it had not been proved so in the court yet. And unless he was proven innocent and free from the accusation, they'd remain enemies.

Ritu cursed under her breath as she settled inside the cab. Why did dadabhai had to talk to Jai's grandpa on that same night he was murdered? And why the hell he bought that plot of the orphanage? Couldn't he buy some other plots? He could buy any plots he laid his eyes on. But then again, that was the whole point. His eyes landed on the orphanage's plot and he bought it! Damn it!

After another ten minutes, the cab dropped Ritu before Velvet Delights. As she stepped out, an inexplicable tremor ran through her. The shop looked just as she remembered—small and inviting, with the name Velvet Delights printed in large letters above the front window. Ritu felt the summer afternoon heat shimmering in the air, making the surrounding suffocating.

At this hour, barely anyone glanced at the little cake shop. The usual sound of bustling customers was replaced by a depressing stillness. Ritu walked closer, her steps slightly shaky because of Pihu's heels. The air around the shop was infused with the muffled aroma of freshly baked cakes. Ritu paused just outside the door and glanced at the sign board that hung loosely at the eye-level and read 'OPEN'. She deliberated for a brief moment. Would it be a good idea to walk in right ahead and look for Jai? But then, she couldn't back out now after coming this close to her objective.

She took a deep breath to calm herself down. Nobody would recognize her. She could easily pass for any other customer. Ritu convinced herself quite ruefully, "It's going to be alright, just relax." But she wasn't sure how much it worked on her.

After another few seconds, as she pushed the door open, the soft bell tinkled above her, disrupting her inner turmoil. Inside, the quiet felt even more noticeable without the usual murmur of conversations. Still, the space had a calm, familiar feel, and the faint smell of freshly baked cakes lingered in the air, offering a small escape from the heat outside.

Ritu's heart sank as she scanned the space, searching for the one face that had consumed her thoughts. But there was no sign of him. An unusual bittersweet feeling crept in. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face before her eyes landed on a familiar figure behind the counter—the same person she had seen manning the cake stall at the party.

Ritu walked over to the counter.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. What would you like to have?" the young man behind the counter greeted her with a smile.

Ritu didn't respond to his question, instead she hastily asked, "Are you new here? Where're the other guys who used to work here?"

The guy raised his eyebrows, clearly taken aback by the abruptness of her question. He cleared his throat and answered, "Well, I'm not really an employee here. My elder brother, Naman, works here. But he's been unwell for the past few days, so I'm helping out the owner." He tilted his head, studying her. "Are you a regular customer? You seem to know my brother well."

Still wearing her mask and sunglasses, Ritu didn't bother denying his assumption. Instead, she asked, "What's your name?"

"Myself, Sanam. And you are?"

Ritu didn't answer. Instead, she pulled off her sunglasses and mask, revealing her face.

Sanam's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh! It's you. I saw you at the party, right?"

"Yes," Ritu replied, her smile faint.

"Well, what can I get you today? Another Berry Blast? Or..." His eyes drifted toward the array of cupcakes on the shelf, but before he could suggest anything else, Ritu cut him off.

"I'm not here for the pastries," she said, her voice steady but tinged with tension. "I'm here to meet someone."

Sanam blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Who?"

"Where's Jai?"

At the mention of Jai's name, Sanam's expression shifted. A flicker of nervousness flashed across his face. "Why are you looking for him?"

Ritu's gaze flickered as she mumbled absent-mindedly, "It's personal."

Sanam hesitated, clearly unsure of how to respond. He glanced over his shoulder toward the back of the shop. "He's, uh, working in the pantry. But... I can't let you..."

Before he could finish, the pantry door swung open, and Jai emerged carrying a tray of freshly baked pastries. His arrival brought a shift in the air, making Ritu's heartbeat quicken in an instant. She felt a tingle ran down her spine, igniting a inexplicable feeling of temptation deep within her. Every sound seemed to fade around her as her gaze locked onto him. He was completely focused on the task at hand, unaware of Ritu's presence in the shop. He walked straight toward Sanam with the tray and placed the tray on the counter. Sanam quietly picked it and adjusted it among the other trays on the shelf.

It wasn't until Jai turned around to take a look at the shop that he caught sight of her. His expression shifted from calmness to shock. The air between them thickened immediately with the unspoken tension. Ritu felt her heart race as their eyes met, an unexpected wave of palpitation coursed through her. Ritu's insides fluttered with a strange mix of excitement and dread as Jai turned completely, standing face to face with her. The only barrier was the display counter.

Jai was quick enough to mask his shock, replacing it with an unreadable expression.

Being near him again unsettled her. Although her conscience warned her this connection could lead her to peril, the irresistible pull she felt toward him was impossible to ignore. Deep down, she knew she was playing with the fire and it could consume her. But she was too far gone to control her compulsions.

Jai asked in a low, almost warning tone, "What are you doing here?" His eyes darkening as he glanced at her hands holding the dupatta and sunglasses, before they moved back up on her face. "You shouldn't be here."

Ritu inhaled sharply and blurted, "I need to talk to you."

Jay's jaws clenched. He responded in slightly harsher than his normal tone. "You should leave. Now. Before this becomes something we both regret."

Ritu's eyes wavered as she averted her gaze. "I didn't take this risk for nothing. You have to talk to me. I know after what happened that day, you'd want to avoid me. But I really have something important to talk to you."

Jai's face hardened. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? Do you not remember what you told me that day? That I'm someone from the slums and want to build my fame on the infamy of your brother's reputation. Isn't it, Miss Roy?" He paused momentarily before adding, "Your brother and I—we are—adversaries, Miss Roy. Your brother's fame is connected to you as well. You shouldn't be seen with me under any circumstances."

Ritu's face burned with shame. She did remember their first encounter in his shop. She had reacted too harshly with him. "I- I remember it. And I'm still holding onto my belief that my brother is innocent," Ritu responded, shifting her gaze back on his face. "But I still choose this."

Jai furrowed his brows in confusion momentarily. He straightened up, his expression shifting from confusion to frustration. "Miss Roy, please leave before it's too late. I don't want another scene in my shop."

After saying so, he didn't wait for a response. Without a second glance at her, Jai turned on his heel and strode toward the pantry, pushing the door open with a sharp motion before disappearing behind it.

But Ritu wasn't one to back down easily. Ignoring Sanam's concerned protest, she followed Jai. Her heart raced at the thought of being alone with him once more. She reached and grabbed the door handle, twisted it, and slipped inside, shutting the door behind her.

The moment she entered, the thick scent of freshly baked buns, sugar, and vanilla swirled around her, almost knocking the air out of her lungs. The heat from the ovens made the room feel stifling, amplifying her already heightened nerves. She threw her arm over her nose, trying to shield herself from the overpowering smell, as her eyes adjusted to the dim light.

Jai, mid-step, froze and whipped around, his expression morphing from shock to disbelief. His hands dropped the towel he was holding, and he took a step forward, his jaw clenched. "What the hell are you doing here?" he whispered harshly, the frustration evident in his voice. His body tensed as if bracing for the chaos her presence always seemed to bring.

"You wouldn't talk to me outside. So, I came in," Ritu mumbled into her arm.

His eyes narrowed as he took in her defiant stance, the small space between them crackling with unspoken tension. He crossed the distance in two quick strides, his hand grasping her arm lightly but firmly as if to guide her back toward the door. "You shouldn't be here. I said leave." His whisper was rough and urgent, as he gently urged her away from the pantry.

She fumbled back a couple of steps until her back hit the door. She raised her gaze and met his deep-set eyes. Although she had met them closely before, this time it felt more intimate. His eyes weren't exactly brown, but a lighter shade of that color. Like sunshine-infused honey. She blinked but didn't break eye contact. Instead, she responded in a firmer tone, "I want to help them."

Jai paused. Then his brows furrowed. He searched her eyes deeply before asking, "Help? And what exactly made you think I would take help from you?"

Ritu held Jai's gaze as the words came out on their own. "They aren't exactly your responsibility. But you're still taking care of them. Aren't you? Then, why can't I?"

Jai said nothing for a while and kept staring into her eyes. Then he let out a sigh, blinked and averted his gaze. "You don't know what you're saying Ritusha. This isn't a game. Our worlds are poles apart. You're Abhimanyu Roy's sister."

Her name coming out of his lips sounded strange...in a good way. "And that has nothing to do with my relationship with my brother. I want to help them. It has nothing to do with your rivalry with him. Besides," Ritu paused briefly, observing Jai as he suddenly released her arm and took a step back, before adding, "When the truth comes out, you'll know dadabhai is innocent. Someone has framed him. He doesn't even eat non-veg because he thinks killing innocent animals for our gratification is a heinous act. How could he then think of killing a human? Just think about it. It doesn't add up!" Her voice rose slightly at the end. "Jai, please. Trust me. You're suspecting the wrong person. Dadabhai is innocent," Ritu almost pleaded.

Jai stared at her. His eyes still skeptical of her deposition. "I don't want to discuss the case with you. You don't know anything. Besides, the court will decide who's the culprit soon. I have nothing to talk about it with you, Ritusha. You should leave now," he said in his gentle voice. "You took a great risk by coming here—alone, no less. This might become the talk of the town. Do you realize that? You being here with me, after everything that's happened...if someone recognizes you..."

"No one will know. I have my ways," she whispered cutting him mid-sentence, her voice trembling slightly. "Besides, I've made my choice, and I'm not going back." She also wanted to say, this time she was listening to her instincts, and she knew it wouldn't let her down. But she refrained from letting the words slip out of her lips.

Jai shook his head, clearly not impressed by her statement. "You're reckless, Ritusha. You don't think before you act, and it's going to get you...or worse, us...in trouble."

Ritu stepped closer to Jai, her defiance radiating off her. "Maybe I don't think things through. But I know what I feel. And right now, I'm trusting my instincts." And her instinct was currently reassuring her subtly that she had nothing to fear with this man standing in front of her.

Jai clenched his jaws. Although his frustration simmering beneath the surface evidently, his voice remained gentle. "Ritusha, this will only bring more trouble to you. To me. Or your brother if...he's truly innocent." The words rolled out of his mouth with slight hesitation.

"He is. He's innocent. I can plead for him till the time you're satisfied enough or start believing it."

Jai closed his eye and sighed. A moment later, he opened his eyes and turned around to walk away. But before he could, Ritu, in a moment of sheer defiance, reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"Jai."

He seemed to flinch slightly before turning back, looking down at her hand wrapped around his wrist, his brows furrowed in bewilderment. He looked up and focused on her face, clearly stumped by her impetuous act.

Ritu held his gaze and softly spoke. "Show me." Her voice barely above a whisper. "Show me your world."

For a stretched moment, no one moved. Ritu observed Jai's initial puzzlement morphing into confusion, caution, and something deeper, almost unrecognizable. He pulled his hand free, but there was no anger in his movements, only hesitation. "You don't know what you're asking for."

"I do," she insisted. Her heart pounded in her chest, a strange thrill coursing through her veins. "I want to meet them. Jai, please."

Jai shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "This might ruin your reputation."

"It won't," Ritu shook her head. "And I don't care what others gossip about me. I'm used to people gossiping about me, envying me...since a very young age. Perhaps, that came as a punishment for being the daughter of my parents."

For a long moment, they stood there, locked in a silent standoff. Jai's eyes bore into hers, searching for something—perhaps a sign that she would back down. But Ritu remained steadfast.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Jai relented. "You're playing with fire, Ritusha."

"I'm a Leo. Playing with fire is my hobby, Jai," she agreed, then added more gently, "But I promise, I won't burn you."