The silence between them was thick, the kind that made Aditi feel like the air itself was charged. She was caught in a trap—her body screamed to move away, but her feet felt glued to the ground. Vikram’s presence overwhelmed her in ways she couldn’t describe.

“Tum bahut smart ho, Aditi,” Vikram’s voice dropped lower, as he took another step closer. “Lekin tum mujhe kabhi apne dil ki baat nahi batati.”