Okay guys, this scene is after  "His to Destroy, Hers to Heal" – Chapter 91 . I didn't include Adhiraj's POV in the chapter, so I'm sharing it here — how he found out about Innaya, how he reached her, and what he felt when he almost lost his best friend.

Adhiraj was working from home, his attention fixed on the documents open on his laptop, when Tara rushed into his room holding a phone.

"Bhai... Innaya's phone is with me," she said hurriedly. "I have an urgent PPT to submit. Can you send someone to give it to her?"

The moment he heard Innaya's name, Adhiraj looked up. Without much thought, he closed his laptop and stood.

"It's okay," he said calmly, taking the phone. "I had to meet her anyway. I'll go myself."

It was supposed to be a simple visit. Nothing more. But when he reached the Raizada mansion, he slowed near the gate. Just then a car rolled out. His eyes followed it casually — and then he froze. Innaya was inside. With Veer.

His brows knitted instantly. A few days ago she had told him things were tense at home... that Veer was distant... that something felt wrong. So why was she leaving with him now? And why did she look uncomfortable?

A faint uneasiness settled in his chest. Without overthinking, he started his car and followed them from a distance. They drove toward a secluded property. Adhiraj parked far away and stepped out quietly, hiding behind a line of trees. From there, he watched.

He saw Innaya. He saw Veer. Then Nayantara and Dheer Parihar.

His instincts screamed danger. The atmosphere was wrong. His heartbeat picked up, jaw tightening, eyes narrowing as he tried to read the situation. He was about to step forward when flames suddenly erupted inside the mansion.

Within seconds, thick smoke filled the air. Adhiraj's mind went blank. He saw Nayantara and Dheer rush out, dragging an unconscious Veer and throwing him into the car before speeding away. But Innaya wasn't there.

Fear slammed into his chest so hard he actually staggered.

"Innu..." he whispered, panic rising.

He ran toward the back of the mansion without thinking. Heat scorched his skin, smoke burned his lungs, but he didn't stop. Memories flooded his mind — childhood days, protecting her from bullies, her laughter, the promise he had made when she married.

You can always come back. I'll protect you.

He had always meant it.

"Please... let her be safe..." he muttered, entering the burning building.

When he finally found her — weak, surrounded by flames — relief and fear crashed into him at once. He carried her out, his heart pounding wildly, realizing just how close he had come to losing her. But the real realization came later.

At the hospital, when she woke up, she didn't cry about the fire. She didn't ask about herself.

"Raahil... Raahil..."

She tried to remove the IV, her hands trembling, her body weak, yet her determination unshaken.

"Please take me to him... he'll break... he won't survive this..."

Adhiraj stood there silently, watching her desperation. Watching the fear in her eyes — not for her life, but for Raahil's and something shifted inside him.

He had panicked earlier too... when he thought he might lose her. But what he saw in Innaya was different. It was deeper. Raw. Consuming. She looked like she couldn't exist if something happened to him. That's when a quiet thought crossed his mind.

So this is what real love looks like.

He leaned back slightly, folding his arms, observing her like an alpha male who had always believed emotions were something to control... not drown in. He had always been strong, composed, practical.

Even when Natasha betrayed him he had been hurt, yes. Angry, yes. But he had moved on. Quickly. Cleanly. Without losing himself and now he understood why.

Because it was never love.

If it had been love, he wouldn't have moved on so easily. If it had been love, he would have broken. If it had been love, he would have lost control the way Innaya was losing herself now.

He looked at her again — pale, trembling, stubbornly trying to stand.

This... this is love, he thought quietly. The kind that makes you forget pain. The kind that makes you fight death. The kind that doesn't let you breathe without the other person.

A faint smile appeared on his lips. His best friend had found something rare.

"Okay," he said softly.

He helped her stand, supporting her carefully, guiding her to the car. He didn't stop her. Didn't question her. Because now he understood — some emotions are stronger than logic. As he drove her to Raahil, he glanced at her once. She sat silently, clutching her dupatta, eyes filled with fear and hope.

And Adhiraj felt a calm settle inside him. He had almost lost his best friend. But he also saw that she wasn't alone anymore.

When she rushed toward Raahil later, forgetting her injuries, forgetting everything, Adhiraj stood slightly behind, watching quietly and he smiled. Not in pain. Not in jealousy. But in quiet satisfaction. Because his best friend had finally found real love.

Adhiraj didn't realize how exhausted he was until everything finally went quiet. After leaving Innaya with Raahil, after seeing her cling to him like her entire world depended on him, after watching Raahil break and then hold her like he had found life again... Adhiraj quietly stepped back.

He didn't say anything. He didn't interrupt. He simply left. Because that moment belonged to them. But as he walked away, something heavy settled inside his chest.

Too many emotions at once. Relief because she was safe. Fear... remembering how close he came to losing her. Warmth... seeing her love.

And beneath all of it — a chilling realization. He had almost seen his best friend die. The thought alone made his chest tighten.

Images flashed in his mind — flames rising, smoke suffocating the air, her unconscious body lying there. If he had reached even a few minutes later... if he had hesitated... if he hadn't followed her...

He clenched his jaw. He didn't even want to imagine what could have happened. Life suddenly felt fragile. Temporary. One moment someone is there... breathing... laughing and the next... they could be gone. That realization stayed with him even when he reached his office.

The silence inside the cabin felt suffocating. He loosened his tie, ran a hand through his hair, and dropped into his chair. His shoulders felt heavy, like the weight of the day was still pressing down on him.

For the first time, Adhiraj felt shaken. A knock sounded. He didn't respond. Another knock. Still nothing.

Then the door opened slightly.

"Sir...?"

He lifted his head. Sia stood there.

Concern instantly filled her eyes as she walked toward him. "What happened Sir? Are you okay? You don't look fine... should I get water? Coffee? Did something happen today?"

Her voice was soft, but anxious. She kept looking at him like she genuinely cared — like his silence worried her and something inside him shifted.

He suddenly didn't want to sit alone with the fear still clawing at his chest. Without thinking, he stood up and  reached forward, grabbed her wrist gently, and pulled her closer. The next second, he wrapped his arms around her. The hug was intense — not rushed, not casual — but deep, instinctive, almost desperate.

He pulled her close, one arm locking firmly around her waist, the other pressing against her back. He didn't leave any space between them, as if closeness itself was reassuring him she was real, that she was there.

His face lowered into the curve of her neck, eyes closing. His breath was uneven at first, warm against her skin. He held her tighter, like he didn't want to let go — like he needed her presence to steady himself.

Sia froze briefly, surprised by the sudden intensity. But then she felt it — the tremor beneath his control, the way his hold wasn't just strong, but almost protective... possessive... as if he was holding onto something he didn't want to lose. Her expression softened.

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him. One hand slid to the back of his head, fingers resting gently in his hair, while the other moved across his back. She held him carefully, tenderly... like he was precious, like she understood he needed comfort without asking for it.

"It's okay..." she whispered softly.

Her voice was calm, warm, grounding. Adhiraj tightened his hold. His hand at her waist pressed slightly firmer, instinctively pulling her closer. The warmth of her body, the steady rhythm of her breathing, the gentle way she held him — it all seeped into him, easing the sharp edges of the fear he had been carrying.

For the first time, he became aware of her — not just as someone comforting him, but as someone whose presence felt... right.

Safe.

He realized he wasn't just holding her for support. He was holding her because being this close to her quieted something inside him. Because her arms around him felt like reassurance. Because, in that moment, he didn't want distance.

Sia continued to stroke his back slowly, her touch soft and soothing. She leaned slightly into him, holding him like he mattered... like he belonged there. The silence between them deepened.

His breathing gradually slowed. His grip softened slightly, but he didn't let go. Instead, he stayed close, absorbing the warmth, the calm, the quiet comfort she offered and somewhere in that stillness, Adhiraj realized something he hadn't expected.

The fear of losing someone had shaken him but this closeness with Sia made him feel grounded again. Not rushed. Not overwhelming. Just steady.

He exhaled slowly, still resting near her shoulder.

And Sia, holding him gently, whispered again —

"I'm here..."

After a few minutes, Adhiraj slowly loosened his hold. The intensity of the moment faded, but the warmth lingered between them, like the air still carried the echo of their closeness. Neither of them spoke immediately. The silence wasn't awkward — it felt heavy, intimate, almost fragile.

Sia gently stepped back, her hands sliding away from his shoulders, but they lingered for a second longer than necessary... as if she, too, wasn't ready to break the moment completely. She looked at him, her eyes still soft with concern, searching his face quietly.

"I'll get coffee," she said in a low voice.

He didn't stop her. He simply nodded, still watching her as she turned and walked out. The room felt quieter in her absence.

A few minutes later, she returned with two cups. Instead of sitting on the chair, she moved toward the low table near the window. Without saying anything, she slid down to the floor, leaning her back lightly against the sofa. It was a simple gesture — casual, comfortable — like she was choosing ease over formality.

Adhiraj followed without hesitation. He sat opposite her, lowering himself to the floor, his shoulder resting against the edge of the table. Their knees almost touched, the small space between them filled with an unspoken familiarity.

They sat there, cups in hand, sipping slowly. No words. Just silence. He didn't speak. She didn't ask.

Outside, the city moved as usual, but inside the cabin, time seemed slower. The quiet stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It felt like both of them were processing something deeper — like they were sharing the same stillness.

After a while, Adhiraj finally spoke, his voice low, almost rough.

"I almost lost my best friend today."

Sia looked up at him immediately, her expression softening further. She didn't interrupt — she just listened.

He stared at the coffee in his hand, eyes distant. "There was fire  she was unconscious... if I had reached a few minutes late..." He stopped mid-sentence, his jaw tightening. "I don't even want to think about it."

Sia's fingers tightened around the cup. She could hear the fear in his voice — not loud, but deep.

"She's lucky," she said gently. "To have such a loyal best friend."

Adhiraj gave a faint, humorless smile and shook his head.

"No... she isn't."

Sia frowned, confused.

"If she was lucky," he continued quietly, "I would never have allowed her to marry Raahil."

Sia blinked, surprised. "But they look so much in love."

Adhiraj leaned his head back against the sofa, exhaling slowly.

"Yeah... I was wrong," he admitted. "Raahil proved today how much he values her... the way he broke when he thought he lost her... I saw it." His voice softened. "I'm happy for her."

Sia studied him carefully, then asked, "Do you love Innaya? As more than a friend?"

Adhiraj turned his head and looked at her directly.

"No," he said calmly. "Never. That thought never crossed my mind. She was always my best friend from childhood. I protected her... fought for her... but it was never love like that."

Silence settled again, thicker this time.

Then he spoke, almost absently, "I once loved Natasha... I think everyone knows that."

He let out a small mocking laugh. "She left me devastated. At least that's what I thought back then."

Sia watched him quietly. "And now?"

Adhiraj glanced at her, then back at his cup.

"Now I think it was never love," he said quietly, his voice softer than before. "Maybe it was attraction... maybe ego... maybe just the comfort of having someone. I don't know what to call it anymore."

He paused, staring into the coffee as if searching for the right words.

"Because love..." he exhaled slowly, "...love doesn't fade that easily, does it?"

His voice grew deeper, more reflective.

"When you truly love someone... with your soul... it leaves a mark. The kind you don't erase, no matter how much time passes. The soul doesn't forget that easily."

He lifted his gaze slightly, distant.

"You don't just wake up one day and move on like nothing happened. You carry it. Quietly. Somewhere inside you. Even if life goes on that feeling stays."

He fell silent for a moment, then added in a low voice—

"If you can walk away so easily... maybe it was never love to begin with."

Sia lowered her gaze slightly. "I don't know much about love... I've never really had time for it. My whole life I was under the burden of responsibilities."

Her voice was calm, but there was a quiet weight behind it.

Adhiraj watched her for a moment, then asked softly, "You never  thought about a life partner? About the kind of person you'd want?"

Sia shook her head first. "Not really. I never planned that far." Then she paused, as if reconsidering.

"But... if I ever do..." she added quietly, her fingers tightening around the cup, "I think I'd want someone simple."

Adhiraj didn't interrupt.

"Someone who doesn't measure everything in money or status. Someone who respects relationships,  who values family." She spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words. "Someone calm... not loud. Strong... but gentle. A person who doesn't make you feel small  but makes you feel safe."

Her eyes softened as she continued.

"And someone who stands beside you in difficult times. Not just when things are easy. Someone loyal  who doesn't give up when life gets messy." She gave a faint smile. "I don't need grand gestures  just honesty and consistency."

She stopped, almost embarrassed. "Maybe I'm asking for too much."

Adhiraj stared at her.

Her expectations weren't unrealistic... they weren't materialistic... they weren't driven by glamour or ambition. They were pure. Almost untouched by the world he knew.

For a moment, he wondered — was she real?

In a world where people chased power, influence, and perfection. she was talking about loyalty, simplicity, and safety. No conditions. No demands. Something inside him shifted.

He leaned back slightly, still looking at her, a faint, thoughtful smile forming. Not mocking... just surprised.

"You know," he said quietly, "people don't usually think like that anymore."

Sia shrugged gently. "Maybe but I think love should make life peaceful not complicated."

Her simple reply stayed with him.

And Adhiraj realized... it wasn't just her words. It was her innocence... her grounded expectations... her quiet strength.

For the first time, he found himself wondering... if someone like her could actually exist in his world.

Adhiraj looked at her then — really looked at her. He realized he didn't know much about her. Just fragments. Just surface details.

"Tell me about you, Sia."

She blinked, surprised. "You want to know about me?"

He nodded.

"Tell me... how was your childhood? What were you like? Where did you study? Who were your friends and why did you leave Raipur?"

Sia took a slow sip of her coffee, gathering her thoughts.

"I lost my mother when I was five," she said quietly. "My father raised me and he did a really good job. I had a good childhood... disciplined though. I was always made to learn new things... classes, activities... I didn't play much."

She gave a faint smile. "I had only one best friend — Rajeev. He used to bully me but also protected me."

Hearing the name, something flickered in Adhiraj's eyes — a faint, unfamiliar pinch of jealousy — but he masked it quickly, his expression remaining calm.

"We went to the same college," she continued. "We were always competitive... who scored better, who topped that kind of thing."

She paused, her gaze drifting to the floor.

"I didn't have many friends. I was insecure about myself. I felt people would make fun of me... so I kept distance. I became introverted."

Her voice softened further.

"When my family went through difficulties,  I decided to come to Delhi. I needed to  help my father."

She stopped there.

From outside, it sounded simple. But inside, Sia knew she hadn't told him everything. Not because she didn't trust him... but because something about Adhiraj made her cautious with her own emotions. She wasn't ready to reveal all her vulnerabilities not yet.

She took another sip of coffee, avoiding his gaze.

Adhiraj watched her quietly. He sensed the pauses, the unspoken parts, the things she wasn't saying. And for the first time, he realized he wanted to know everything about her — not out of curiosity, but because her story... her presence... had begun to matter.

Sia continued speaking, her voice soft, almost thoughtful as she explained pieces of her past. Adhiraj wasn't fully listening to the words anymore — he was watching her.

The way her eyes lowered when she spoke about insecurities... The way she held the coffee cup with both hands... The way a loose strand of hair had fallen across her cheek, brushing lightly against her lips every time she spoke.

He didn't even realize when his attention shifted completely.

This was Sia — the same tomboyish girl with short hair, simple clothes, no effort to impress anyone. She never tried to appear delicate, never behaved like the women who usually surrounded him. She spoke directly, walked confidently, and carried herself without pretense. And yet... she was making him feel things he had buried long ago.

"...and then I decided to get a job," she finished quietly, still looking down.

The strand of hair slipped forward again.

Without realizing it, Adhiraj moved. Slowly... deliberately... his hand lifted.

Sia stopped mid-sentence when she felt his fingers lightly touch her temple. His touch was gentle, careful — as if he was afraid she might pull away.

He tucked the loose lock of hair behind her ear.

The movement was small... but intimate.  Her breath caught. Both of them froze.

His fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary, grazing softly against her skin. The warmth of his touch sent a faint shiver down her spine. She lifted her eyes to look at him and suddenly, they were very close.

Their gazes locked. The room went completely silent. There was something different in Adhiraj's eyes now — softer... yet intense... like he was seeing her in a way he hadn't before. As if he himself was surprised by the pull he felt.

Sia forgot what she was saying. Her lips parted slightly, her heartbeat quickening without her permission. Adhiraj's eyes slowly dropped. From her eyes... to her lips... He stilled.

For a brief second, he forgot everything — the office, the conversation, the control he always maintained. All he could see was her — the quiet vulnerability, the closeness, the warmth between them.

Then his gaze moved back to her face, as if grounding himself again. The moment stretched — quiet, charged, fragile. 

His hand had already dropped, yet the space between them felt warmer than before. He leaned back slightly, but his eyes didn't leave hers. There was confusion in them and something deeper... something he hadn't expected.

Sia swallowed, her fingers tightening slightly around the coffee cup. She didn't move away. She didn't speak. She just kept looking at him, as if afraid the moment would break if she did. Neither of them said anything. But something shifted.

He didn't know when this happened... or how this simple, unassuming girl had reached the part of him he had locked away.

But he felt it. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just a quiet pull... growing stronger... impossible to ignore. 

Dear Readers,

Please vote and comment! 

Did you like today's chapter?

Adhiraj is slowly falling for her... did you enjoy their conversation? Their soft romance is just about to begin. 

I'm new to writing this kind of gentle, emotional romance... let's see how it goes. Your support means a lot!