Ekansh’s POV

The night was calm, but my mind was anything but. Every moment I spent near Dia left me more restless, more confused. She was unlike anyone I had ever met—fragile yet fierce, her presence a storm that unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain.

I found myself standing outside her room, my fist raised to knock but hesitating. What was I doing? What could I even say to her? I took a deep breath and finally knocked.

“Come in,” her soft voice called from the other side.

I stepped inside, finding her sitting by the window, her hair cascading over her shoulder. She was wearing a simple pink kurta, and even in the dim light of the room, she looked radiant. She turned to face me, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me.

“Ekansh? Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

I closed the door behind me, my steps measured as I approached her. “Dia, there’s something I need to say,” I began, my voice quieter than usual.

She stood up, her brows furrowing. “What is it?”

I paused, searching her eyes for any sign that she felt the same pull I did. “I don’t know when it happened,” I started, my words deliberate. “But somewhere along the way, you became more than just someone I… took.”

Her eyes widened, and she took a small step back, as if she didn’t trust what she was hearing.

“I’ve hurt people. I’ve done things I’m not proud of,” I continued, my voice raw. “But with you… I want to be someone better. Someone who deserves you.”

Dia’s POV

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. Was this really happening? Was Ekansh, the man who had once been my captor, standing here confessing that he… cared for me?

“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” he said, his eyes dropping to the floor. “But I can’t keep this to myself anymore. I care about you, Dia. More than I’ve ever cared about anyone.”

I took a shaky breath, his words wrapping around me like a warm blanket. But with that warmth came confusion, fear, and a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in so long—hope.

“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he replied, stepping closer. “I just needed you to know.”

I looked up at him, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Could I trust him? Could I allow myself to feel anything for this man who had caused me so much pain yet had become my protector?

Ekansh’s POV

Her silence was agonizing, but I didn’t push her. She had been through so much, and the last thing I wanted was to overwhelm her.

“I don’t expect you to feel the same,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “But I promise you this—I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re safe, that you’re happy. Even if it takes the rest of my life.”

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she just stared at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Take your time, Dia,” I said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

As I turned to leave, her voice stopped me. “Ekansh…”

I turned back, hope flickering in my chest.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

It wasn’t the response I had hoped for, but it was enough. For now.