Vansh's pov

I had a very long day today and was so tired today that I didn't feel like having dinner. I was walking towards the staircase when I suddenly stopped, hearing a voice calling me. I felt content hearing her. "Mr. Raisinghania," she sweetly called me. I looked back at her; she was standing near the dining table. Casting her eyes down, she said, "Till you get freshened up, I will serve you food." It warmed my heart, and I felt butterflies dancing in my stomach. With a blank face, I nodded and turned my back to her. I smiled as I went to my room and quickly got myself ready.

I slowly walked towards the table. When she saw me coming down the stairs, she immediately started serving. I sat and asked her, "Have you eaten?" She nodded her head without looking at me. I gestured for her to sit, which she obeyed. The whole time I was eating, she was playing with her hands.

After I finished eating, she looked at me for a second. Looking at her, I knew she wanted to talk to me, and I also knew what she wanted to talk about.

I knew she wanted to talk to her family, and I was going to let her do that. Last night, when I accepted her request, I decided I would call her family tomorrow, but because of a few reasons, I couldn't come early. I had already decided that if she wasn't asleep, I would definitely call her family.

"What is it?" Even though I knew, I still asked her.

"Umm.... I... I want to talk... with... my family," she said, stuttering. I took a deep breath, nodded, unlocked my phone, and gave it to her. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and a huge smile spread across her face. My heart skipped a beat seeing her. It felt alive again. She quickly grabbed my phone. Seeing that I had already dialed her father's number, she looked at me, then put the phone to her ear while I went towards the sofa to give her some privacy.

After almost half an hour, she came to me and handed my phone back. She was still smiling and happy; I could tell just by looking at her. Saying "Thank you and good night," she left. After I saw her retreating figure, I also got up and went to rest.

The whole night, whenever I tried to close my eyes, her smiling face appeared before me. How I wanted to see her smile like this always.

Riddhima pov :

I finally talked with my family after more than 2 weeks. I am really happy hearing everyone's voice. It gave me peace.

I waited for him not only because I wanted to talk to my family but also because I felt sad for him. He was eating alone every day, and I could see the loneliness in his eyes. Despite being surrounded by people, he seemed isolated. And I knew how that felt. After my best friend betrayed me in college, I used to sit alone. It made me more depressed. When I learned about him, I felt sad, So, I waited for him.

I was contemplating whether I should talk to him or not. But after he finished eating, I looked at him, summoning all the courage I had left. He asked me what I wanted, and I immediately told him about my request, which he accepted right away. I was so happy. He even left the room to give me privacy. I was really moved by his gestures. I talked with all my family, telling them that I am okay, I am fine, I am eating, I'm not crying, and most importantly, that I'm safe.

Yes, definitely, I'm safe.

The relief in their voices brought tears to my eyes, but they were tears of joy this time. After our conversation, I handed the phone back and thanked him and greeting him with a Good Night I left. The night had been a turning point for me. Now I can sleep peacefully.

Lying on the bed, my mind was haywire, running with wild thoughts—more specifically, about him.

He is not a bad person, but he is also not a good person. Even though he is good to me, that doesn't change the fact that he is a criminal. He killed someone right before my eyes. He blackmailed me and my family and literally kidnapped me from my house and brought me here, but still, my stupid heart wants to believe that he is a good person.

He can be so gentle sometimes, showing a kindness that seems at odds with the violent acts he has committed. When he speaks to me, there's a softness in his voice, a tenderness that makes me question everything I know about him. It's confusing, frustrating even, to reconcile the man who shows me moments of unexpected care with the one who has caused so much fear and pain.

I remember those brief instances when he seemed almost human. It's like a constant tug-of-war within me, my mind screaming to flee while my heart whispers that maybe, just maybe, there's more to him than the darkness I've seen.

I hate myself for these thoughts. How can I feel anything but hatred for someone who has done such terrible things? Yet, here I am, lying on this bed, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to sort out the chaos in my mind. My heart betrays me, clinging to the hope that there's a redeemable side to him, a side that could make all this madness make sense.

He has a way of looking at me that makes me feel seen, truly seen, in a way I haven't felt before. It's those moments when he lets his guard down, when the mask of the criminal slips, that I catch a glimpse of vulnerability. It's maddening. I wonder if he feels any remorse for what he's done, or if the kindness he shows me is just another manipulation, a way to keep me under his control.

Why do I care? Why do I let myself get drawn into his world? I should be plotting my escape, focusing on finding a way out of this nightmare. But instead, I lie here, my mind a storm of conflicting emotions, my heart a traitor in my chest. Part of me wants to believe that there's good in him, a part that can be saved. It's a dangerous hope, one that could easily lead to more pain and suffering.

In the end, I am left with more questions than answers. Who is he really? Can someone like him change? And if he could, would that make any difference to the terrible things he has done? As the night wears on, I find no solace, only the relentless churn of thoughts and the ache of an uncertain heart.

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Annyeong👋