Third person’s pov!

Vedant stood by the window, his phone pressed to his ear as the evening sun bathed the room in a golden glow. 

Vaidehi, returning from the kitchen with a glass of water, paused mid-step when she heard him speaking. His tone was brisk, sharp, and carried a sense of urgency. 

Something about it made her stop in her tracks.

“Karna,” Vedant said, his voice carrying an edge. “What’s the status? Have the ladies been finalized for Mumbai?”

Vaidehi froze mid-turn of the page. Ladies? Finalized for Mumbai?

“What do you mean some of them are refusing?” Vedant demanded. “They signed up for this. They know what they’re getting into.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Signed up for what? She tightened her grip on the book, her pulse racing.

Vedant kept walking around the room and saying, "Listen. It doesn't matter if they're scared. We already made a promise to the clients. Make sure they're ready to go by tonight. I don't want any trouble."

Vaidehi took a deep breath. Clients? Leaving tonight?

“If they’re causing trouble, handle it discreetly. We can’t afford any noise. The last thing we need is attention.” Vedant stopped in his tracks and rubbed his head. 

She clenched her fists, her mind spinning. Handle it discreetly? What is going on?

“Karna, these things need to run smoothly. The team in Mumbai is already ready to receive them. From their end, everything is set up.”

The Mumbai team? Set up? She got a chill from hearing those words.

Vedant's voice dropped. 

"Yes, I know it's a late-night shipment, but that's how these things work."  He kept walking quickly.

"Listen up, Karna. I have someone new in mind. She's great for this. She needs to go with the next batch."

The blood in Vaidehi ran cold. As her mind raced, her hands shook. Someone new? Me?

"She has the right demeanor and look." Vedant said, "I think she'll do a good job. I'll take care of it. Make sure you have everything ready on your end.”

Vaidehi's vision got cloudy as she became scared. Her heart was beating fast as she gripped the chair's backrest. 

‘He wants to send me to Mumbai... in a batch?’

“Just make sure they’re on their way by midnight.”

The glass slipped from Vaidehi’s fingers and shattered on the floor, the sound echoing in the room. Vedant turned his head sharply at the noise, his brows furrowing when he saw her standing there, pale and wide-eyed.

“Vaidehi?” He asked, concern flickering across his face. “Are you okay?”

She couldn’t speak. Her throat felt tight, her chest heavy. She nodded quickly, backing away, her mind screaming at her to get as far away as possible.

“I’ll call you back,” Vedant said into the phone, cutting the call. He took a step toward her, his expression softening. “What happened? Did you hurt yourself?”

“No… no, I’m fine,” she stammered, her voice shaky. She stepped back again, her mind racing. I need to call Anna. I need to get out of here.

“You look pale,” Vedant said, frowning. “Go sit down. I’ll clean this up.”

She nodded mutely and fled to her room, locking the door behind her. Her breaths came in short, panicked gasps as she sank to the floor.

He’s shipping women off to Mumbai. He said it himself. What does that mean?

Tears pricked her eyes as she thought about the implications. 

‘What kind of man have I ended up with?’ 

Her brother’s words rang in her ears, offering a sliver of comfort. ‘I’m just outside. I won’t let anything happen to you.’

She grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed his number.

“Anna,” she whispered when he picked up, her voice breaking. “Something’s wrong. I think… I think he’s involved in something terrible.”

“Calm down, Vaidu,” Viswa said, his voice steady. "Tell me everything."

Vaidehi took a shaky breath and told what she had heard. Her brother's silence on the other end made her even more scared.

"Stay in the room. No matter what, don't leave the room." He finally said in a stern voice. “Once he settles for the night, I will come and get you..”

A while later, Vedant stood outside Vaidehi’s room, his knuckles rapping against the wooden door. 

“Vaidehi, dinner’s ready,” he called, his tone softer than usual.

Silence. He frowned, pressing his ear to the door. 

“Vaidehi?” he called again, a touch louder this time.

Still no response.

He exhaled, his brow furrowing. 

“Alright,” he muttered under his breath, glancing at his watch. It was already late, and she had been in there since the glass broke. Maybe she’s asleep, he thought.

The thought unsettled him. But he shrugged it off, convincing himself that the day had exhausted her.

Leaving her be, Vedant headed to the dining table, where the food lay untouched. He sat down, his appetite dulled by a strange sense of unease. 

As he mechanically ate his meal, his mind replayed the way she had looked earlier—pale, wide-eyed, and trembling. Something was off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

After finishing his dinner, Vedant retired to his room, his footsteps heavy as he moved down the hallway. Pausing outside her door once more, he contemplated knocking again but decided against it. 

“She’s probably asleep,” he muttered, retreating to his own room.

From outside the house, Viswa watched the light in Vedant’s room switch off. His sharp eyes darted toward the last room down the corridor—Vaidehi’s room. It was still dark. He reached for his phone, dialing her number.

Inside the room, Vaidehi’s phone vibrated against her palm. She picked it up with trembling fingers. 

“Anna,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“The light’s off,” Viswa said, his voice steady and reassuring. “He’s in his room. Wait fifteen minutes, and then leave. Do you hear me, Vaidu?”

“What if… what if he comes after me?” She swallowed hard, her throat dry. 

“He won’t,” Viswa assured her. “Not if you handle it right. Leave a note—make it seem like you are leaving on your own terms. Don’t make it look like you are accusing him of anything.”

Vaidehi nodded, though he couldn’t see her. 

“Okay,” she whispered.

Fighting the panic rising in her chest, she sat down at the small desk in her room and pulled out a sheet of paper. Her fingers trembled as she wrote:

Vedant,

I am sorry for dragging you into my mess. I know you didn’t sign up for this, and I don’t want to be a burden. I have made my decision to leave. Please don’t blame yourself—this was inevitable.

Goodbye.

She stared at the words, her heart pounding. Would this be enough to placate him? Would he let her go without a fight?

Fifteen minutes later, Vaidehi folded the note and placed it neatly on the tea table in the living room. She glanced around, her eyes lingering on the room in which Vedant was sleeping. Her chest tightened, but she pushed the feeling aside.

Wrapping a shawl tightly around herself, Vaidehi opened the door as quietly as possible, the cool night air hitting her face. She stepped outside, her heart racing, and closed the door behind her with barely a sound.

Viswa was waiting by the gate, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light. The moment he saw her, he rushed forward, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders. 

“Let’s go,” he said firmly, leading her to Surya’s car.

As the vehicle pulled away, Vaidehi glanced back at the house, her heart heavy with fear and uncertainty.

Inside, Vedant stirred restlessly in his sleep, unaware of the note waiting for him in the living room.

A/n

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SF❤️