(Devansh's pov-)

I had already left for work when I realised I'd forgotten the file.

Annoyed, I turned the car back and returned to the house. The corridor was silent when I entered our room-too silent. She was usually there at this hour. Sitting by the window. Reading. Waiting.

"Akshara?" I called out, distracted, my mind already on meetings and deadlines.
"Akshara, sun rahi ho?"

No answer.

I frowned. She always replied. Even if it was a soft haan. Even if she didn't look up.

I checked the room. The washroom. The small sitting area.

Nothing.

A strange unease settled in my chest.

"Akshara... kahaan ho aap?" My voice sharpened as I moved faster.

Then I noticed the balcony door,slightly open.

Shit.

I pushed it open.

She was there.

Sitting on the floor, back against the wall, her body curled in on itself. One hand clutched her chest, the other pressed against her lips as silent sobs shook her shoulders. She wasn't making a sound but I could see everything.

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Why didn't she answer me?
Why didn't she tell me she was here?

I stepped closer. "Akshara? Aap yahaan ho? Answer kyun nahi kiya?"

She looked up.

Her eyes were red,raw, swollen, like she had been crying for a while. The moment she saw me, she wiped her tears hurriedly and stood up, smoothing her dress as if that could erase what I'd just seen.

But something inside me tightened.

I asked her what happened.

She didn't speak.

Instead, she slowly lifted her hand.

Her hearing device lay broken in her palm.

Something cold settled in my stomach.

Her fingers trembled as she held it, like it was more fragile than glass. Then she looked at me and spoke, her voice uneven, controlled only by habit.

"Mr. Raizada..." she hesitated, "maine aapse shaadi karke kuch galat kiya kya?"

My jaw clenched.

"Sirf isliye... kyunki main sun nahi sakti?" Her gaze dropped to the device.
"Mujhe pata hai main nahi sun paati... lekin yeh—" her voice cracked, "yeh meri duniya hai. Iske bina mujhe samajh hi nahi aata log kya keh rahe hain. Agar yeh bhi bojh ban jaaye... toh phir main kya karoon?"

I didn't let her go further.

I raised my hand gently, making sure she was looking at me.

"Mere lips dekhiye."

She looked up, uncertain, scared.

I spoke slowly, clearly so she wouldn't miss a word.

"Aapko yeh sab kisne bola?"
"Aap humari hain. Aur burden jaise shabd aapke liye nahi bane."

My voice was firm, but something inside me was breaking.

"You are my wife, Akshara."

I pulled her into my arms before she could say anything else.

She clutched my shirt, her control finally shattering. Her sobs soaked into the fabric as I held her tighter, my hand moving over her back.

"Shh... don't cry," I whispered.

And that was when I realised it.

The beast everyone feared...
was melting.

Not because of weakness.
But because of her tears.

It was wrong.
It was dangerous.

Yet I held her there, knowing one undeniable truth-

This woman was already changing me.

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