Recap:  Aryan breaks down as Sanju ignore him

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Aryan's mind was a storm. He paced around the mansion like a restless soul, unable to settle, unable to eat or sleep. The thought of Sanju—physically injured and emotionally wounded—tore through him like a blade. He couldn't forgive himself for what she was going through, and the haunting image of her pain played on loop in his head.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, the evening sun slanted through the blinds as Kousalya Maa gently helped Sanju sit up on the bed.

"Here, kanna," she said lovingly, holding a cup of steaming coffee. "Take a few sips at least. It'll help you feel a little better."

Sanju nodded weakly, taking the cup into her trembling hands just as the door opened. Pavi walked in, her face etched with concern.

"Heyy Sanju! What happened to you? How did this even happen?" she exclaimed, rushing to her side.

Sanju managed a soft smile. "It's nothing, Pavi. I was careless... didn't see the car while crossing the road."

Pavi's eyes widened. "You say that so casually! Do you even realise how scary this sounds?"

Sanju sighed. "How did you know I was here?"

"I called your number," Pavi explained, taking a seat beside her. "But Ranjith sir answered. That's how I found out. I couldn't come during office hours, but I rushed here now."

Sanju nodded. "Hmm, okay."

Kousalya Maa stood up with a smile. "Sanju, I'll be outside. You two talk."

Pavi, looking puzzled, turned to the older woman. "Who are you, aunty?"

Sanju's heart skipped a beat. That question... it made her nervous. But before she could respond, Kousalya Maa spoke with calm dignity.

"I've been working at Aryan sir's house for many years now. Sanju is like a daughter to me."

Sanju's eyes widened as she shut her eyes in disbelief. That wasn't something she had planned to share, not yet. She looked at Pavi, who now stared at her with a mix of confusion and shock.

"Wait... what?" Pavi said slowly. "She works at Aryan sir's place? And she says you're like a daughter to her? Sanju, please, you better tell me what's going on. This doesn't add up."

Sanju looked down, gathering her courage. "Pavi... I'll tell you everything, but please... not a single question after that. I'm really not in the state to answer anything right now."

Pavi frowned, but relented. "Okay... fine. But say it. I'm getting tense here."

Sanju inhaled deeply. "I knew Aryan even before joining ARC. I... I've been living in the same house as him."

Pavi blinked. "Whatttt?!"

She stood up in sheer disbelief. "Sanju, what are you saying? You've been living under the same roof? What does that mean? Are you two...?"

"I told you not to ask anything now," Sanju interrupted, her voice barely a whisper.

Pavi raised her hands. "Alright, alright. But I knew it. I knew there was something between you and sir. And I'm honestly happy for you. You deserve someone like him."

Tears brimmed in Sanju's eyes at those words. It felt strange—to hear someone else be happy for a love that was so tangled in hurt and silence.

"Heyy, why are you crying?" Pavi asked gently, holding her hand. "Did I say something wrong?"

Sanju shook her head. "No... nothing like that. Just overwhelmed, I guess."

Pavi smiled softly. "So... now that you're here, where's your man, hmm?"

Sanju frowned. "Didn't he come to the office?"

"That's what I was going to ask you," Pavi teased. "Shouldn't you know where he is?"

"Maybe he's at home," Sanju said quietly.

Pavi narrowed her eyes playfully. "For someone who acted all innocent till now, you've been hiding quite the story. Once you're back, I need the full scoop. I have so many questions about your love story."

Sanju glanced away, murmuring, "I have many questions too..."

"What was that?" Pavi asked.

"Nothing," Sanju quickly said. "We'll talk more when I'm back in office."

"Alright. Take care, Sanju. I'll drop by again tomorrow if you're still not okay."

"Don't stress yourself," Sanju said. "I'll meet you soon."

"Bye Sanju, get well soon."

After Pavi left, Sanju leaned back on the pillow, her mind clouded with memories of Aryan... and pain.

"Aryan... did you not trust me enough? Did you think I wouldn't understand if you had just told me about that girl? You broke my heart, not by what happened, but because you didn't believe in me. I thought... I thought I was the only one who could hold you like that. And seeing her hug you... it shattered me. I'm sorry, Aryan. I know it hurt you when I ignored you. But I couldn't stop the anger. I couldn't bear the thought that you kept me in the dark."

Outside the room, Ranjith was on a call with Bala from the mansion.

"Yes, Bala?" he answered.

"Sir, Aryan hasn't eaten a single thing," Bala said in a worried tone. "The food is untouched. He hasn't even had water."

Ranjith sighed. "Let him be, Bala. Don't disturb him. I'll handle it."

"Alright, sir."

After ending the call, Ranjith turned to Kousalya Maa. "It's getting worse. He's breaking, maa."

"I don't think this should be left like this, Ranjith," she said with concern. "It's not right for either of them."

"You're right. I'll talk to Sanju," he said, walking towards the ward.

When he entered, Sanju was staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"Sanju..."

"Yes, brother?" she responded, a bit startled.

"Can we talk for a few minutes?"

"Sure," she said, but added quickly, "If it's not about your sir."

"It's not about him exactly," Ranjith said, pulling a chair beside her. "It's about both of you. I know he told me not to say a word... but I can't stay silent anymore. The way things are going—it's not right."

Sanju was confused now. "What is it you want to tell me?"

"How long have you known Aryan?" Ranjith asked quietly.

She gave him a puzzled look. "Since I arrived at the mansion. Seven months."

Ranjith nodded. "It's been seven months since you met him. But he's known you for over a year."

"What?" Sanju sat upright, shocked. "What are you saying? How?"

Ranjith smiled sadly. "He first saw you at Emerald Resort. You were with your friends. That was the first time I saw my boss smile... truly smile. You don't know what that meant."

" I was there to celebrate my friend's birthday " Sanju recalled the day at the resort and her heart skipped a beat. 

" That was the first we met you and we saw you again at the beach. You were with your friend.  You were eating ice cream. He asked me to find out everything about you. I got every details about you and from that moment, we had people silently following and protecting you. He knew everything about you. Somtimes he himself followed you and watched you from far. To hide his identity he used to wear mask. He knew all your likes and dislikes. Those days were the most happiest for him."

He paused. "He lived like a teenager in love. He was so full of life whenever he saw you happy and when someone hurt you, he punished them ruthlessly"

Sanju's eyes were filled with tears now.

"And when your father... Mr. Krishnan... we had him under watch too. But your father found out. He called Aryan sir to your house, and they had a long conversation. He like him very much approved of him, Sanju but Aryan sir stopped him from saying anything about him to you. He wanted to wait and confess everything to you by himself " 

Ranjith's voice lowered. "Then the accident happened. Our guards who were following got him admitted to the nearest hospital and intimated us. We reached hospital on time and Aryan sir met your father in the ICU. Your father sought a promise from Aryan sir to protect you and care for your forever. You breathed his last in Aryan sir's hands."

Sanju's lips trembled.

" you reached the hospital and on hearing about your father you lost your conscious. It was Aryan sir who carried you into a ward. He called your friend Keerthy to stay with you. And he got Pradeep arrested to keep you safe. He ordered me to arrange everything for your father;s final rites. When you stayed home, he called Keerthy to know about you. He watched you through mobile. Despite any important work, he always thought of you. Everything... he did everything silently."

Ranjith placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "And even now, people want to hurt you. That's why he kept you close, Sanju. That girl... Sunitha... I know better about her but I want you to know about her from him. Please give him that chance. Yesterday, when you got into the accident... he broke down like I've never seen him break. He stayed by your side through out the night. He hasn't eaten, hasn't moved from his place. Please... forgive him."

Sanju's tears rolled down freely.

"Please don't cry, Sanju," Ranjith whispered. "Sir wouldn't bear it."

He then dialed a number and handed his phone to her.

"Here. You may not believe me. But speak to the person on the line. You'll believe them."

Without another word, he left the room, giving her space... and a chance to heal what was broken.

The phone trembled slightly in Sanju's hand as she held it to her ear. Her voice came out soft, almost hesitant.

"Hello..."

A familiar voice answered, calm and gentle. "Hello."

Sanju's heart skipped. That voice. Could it be...?

"Keerthy?" she asked uncertainly.

"Yes, Sanju. It's me. How are you? And... how is Aryan brother?"

The mention of his name made Sanju's breath hitch. "You... you know Aryan?"

Keerthy let out a soft chuckle. "I know him very well. He's been behind you all the time, Sanju. Silently, watching over you... protecting you."

Sanju's grip tightened on the phone. "Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice quivered, a mix of confusion and quiet hurt.

"I wanted to," Keerthy said gently. "But he didn't want me to. He told me he'd tell you himself when the time was right."

Sanju went silent. Her heart was aching, swelling with emotions she could no longer contain. As Keerthy continued speaking, revealing little by little the things Aryan had done for her—the way he'd looked out for her, the way he'd ensured her safety—Sanju's tears started to flow, slowly at first, then freely. Every word from Keerthy was like a soft blade, cutting through her guilt and sorrow.

"He cared for you like no one else ever has," Keerthy continued. "He made sure I was safe too, you know. Me, mom, and dad—we're all fine. Because of him. It was Aryan anna who arranged everything for us. Our protection, our home, everything... he took care of it all without ever letting you know."

Sanju couldn't stop crying. Her heart felt heavier than ever, but this time it wasn't anger or confusion—it was pure, aching regret.

"I... I didn't know," she whispered.

"I know, Sanju. But now you do. That's all that matters."

There was a pause before Sanju asked, "How are you? And... how are mom and dad?"

"We're good," Keerthy said, her tone warm and reassuring. "Actually, we're happy. And that's all because of him."

Sanju wiped her tears. "Okay... Take care, Keerthy. I'll talk to you later."

"You too. And..." Keerthy paused. "Please convey my regards to my Aryan brother. He's more than family to me."

As the call ended, Sanju sat frozen for a few seconds, the phone still pressed to her ear. Her eyes brimmed with tears again, but this time her heart ached in a different way.

She looked up at the ceiling, the walls of the hospital room blurring as her vision clouded with tears.

"Aryan... do you love me?" she whispered into the silence. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did we keep playing this game of hide and seek with our hearts?"

She clutched her chest, her voice cracking.

"I can't imagine a life without you, Aryan. You've become a part of my soul... and I don't know when or how that happened. But now that I know, I can't go back. I don't want to."

Her tears fell like rain, soaking into the pillow beneath her. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly.

"I'm sorry..." she cried, rocking gently. "I've hurt you so many times, doubted you, pushed you away... and yet, you stayed. You stayed, Aryan. Even when I was cruel. Even when I didn't understand."

Her sobs grew louder, her head pounding with pain.

"I promise, I'll never leave you again. I'll give you every bit of my love, everything I have. Just don't leave me, Aryan. Please... forgive me."

The intensity of her emotions overwhelmed her. She cried harder, clutching her head as a severe headache began to set in. Her temples throbbed as if her sorrow was manifesting into physical pain. She rocked herself, whimpering in agony.

At that moment, the door opened and Ranjith entered with Kousalya maa. Their eyes widened in alarm at the sight before them.

"Sanju!" Ranjith called out, rushing to her side.

She was curled up, holding her head, trembling.

Kousalya placed a gentle hand on her back. "Sanju, what happened? Why are you crying like this?"

Ranjith didn't waste a second. He pulled out his phone and called the doctor.

Within minutes, the doctor arrived, quickly assessing her condition. He checked her vitals, then gently eased her down onto the bed.

"Her stress levels are spiking dangerously," the doctor said, turning to Ranjith. "She's under severe emotional distress. I'll give her a mild sedative for now, but we can't keep doing this. These sleeping doses will only harm her in the long run. She needs emotional healing. Please inform Aryan sir immediately. Only he can bring her peace at this point."

Ranjith nodded solemnly. "I understand, doctor. I'll speak to him."

After the doctor administered the injection, Sanju's breathing began to slow. Her eyes fluttered as the medicine took effect.

Ranjith sat beside her, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Sanju..." he spoke softly, like an elder brother trying to soothe a broken child. "Please don't let your thoughts consume you like this. You need rest, dear. Everything else can wait. Right now, your health matters most."

Sanju opened her eyes slowly, her voice barely audible. "Brother... please... don't tell him you told me. I want to hear it from him... from Aryan..."

Ranjith smiled faintly and squeezed her hand. "I won't say a word. I promise. But you need to calm down. Everything will be okay."

She nodded weakly, her eyes heavy.

"Aryan..." she murmured. "Aryan... Arya... Arya... Ar..."

And with that, sleep took over her fragile body. But even in that haze, his name lingered on her lips like a prayer, a hope, a longing that refused to fade.

Only one thought echoed through her mind, even as the sedative dulled her senses.

He's my heart. My soul. And I will never let go of him again.

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A/N:

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