Mehak was huddled under her blanket, staring at the wall. For the first time in months, she hadn't gone to the Vardhan Estate. She had lied to her maasi, claiming she had a terrible migraine.

Her mind was a chaotic mess of images. She kept seeing Aditya's hand, the same hand that had gently touched her hair once, clenched around that man's throat. 

She knew Aditya would never hurt her, he had been nothing but kind, even protective. But it was the reality of his world that terrified her. 

"Kyu Mehak? Itni darr kyun rahi hai?"

(Why Mehak? Why are you so scared?)

She whispered to herself, her voice trembling.

"Tujhe toh pata tha wo mafia hai. Phir ab kyun darr lag raha hai?"

(You knew he is a mafia. Why are you so scared now?)

She realized she wasn't scared of him. She was scared of the gap between them. 

At the Vardhan Estate, the atmosphere was suffocating. Aditya hadn't moved from his study in 24 hours. He sat in the darkness, but the silence he usually loved now felt like it was crushing him.

When the clock struck 11:00 AM and no van arrived, he felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his chest. When 12:00 PM passed, he started pacing. By the time the next day arrived and there was still no sign of her, he felt like the walls of his mansion were closing in. He felt like he was losing the only thing that made him feel alive.

"Khanna!"

Aditya roared, his voice echoing through the halls. Khanna appeared instantly.

"Ji, Sir?"

(Yes, sir?)

"Gaadi nikalo. Hum flower shop ja rahe hain."

(Get the car ready. We are going to the flower shop.)

Aditya commanded, his face a mask of desperate determination. Khanna hesitated.

"Sir...security risks ho sakte hain. We recently had an attack."

(Sir…there can be security risks.)

"I don't care. Bring the car!"

For the first time in five years, Aditya Vardhan was leaving his fortress for a reason that had nothing to do with power or money. 

Mehak was trying to keep her hands busy by trimming the thorns off some roses. Her maasi was watching her suspiciously.

"Mehak, tu thik toh hai na? Aaj kal tu bohot chup chup hai."

(Mehak, are you okay? You are very quiet nowadays.)

Maasi said, reaching for a bunch of carnations.

"Haan maasi, bas thodi thakaawat hai."

(Yes maasi, just a little tired.)

Mehak lied, her eyes focused on the floor. Suddenly, the sound of a heavy engine purred to a stop right in front of the shop. A sleek, jet-black SUV darkened the doorway. Mehak froze. She knew that car. Her eyes widened in pure panic.

"Oh God! Maasi! Please, please, hide me!"

Mehak scrambled, dropping her scissors.

"Kya? Kya hua?"

(What? What happened?)

Her maasi asked, confused.

"Aditya! Mr. Vardhan! Main unse nahi mil sakti, maasi! Bol do main yahan nahi hoon. Bol do main...main Mars pe chali gayi hoon!"

(I can’t meet him, maasi! Tell him I’m not here. Tell him I…I have gone on Mars.)

Before the poor lady could react, Mehak dived behind the counter, ducking behind a massive bunch of sunflowers and lilies. She curled into a ball, holding her breath, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.

The bell above the door chimed. 

Khanna stepped in first, looking around with sharp eyes, followed by Aditya. Aditya was wearing his black glasses, his hand gripping his cane tightly. He looked out of place in the small, colourful flower shop.

Her maasi stood up straight, her voice shaking slightly but remaining polite.

"Vardhan Sir...namaste. Aap yahan? Kuch chahiye tha toh phone kar dete, hum deliver karwa dete."

(You here? If you needed something you could have called, we would have delivered.)

Aditya didn't speak. He tilted his head, his nostrils flaring slightly. The shop was filled with the scents of a hundred different flowers, roses, jasmine, mud, and leaves. But through all of that, he was searching for one specific note.

Khanna cleared his throat.

"Mehak kahan hai? Sir ko usse baat karni hai."

(Where is Mehak? Sir wants to talk to her.)

Maasi glanced toward the counter where Mehak was hiding and then back at Aditya.

"Wo...wo toh yahan nahi hai, Beta. Mehak ek badi delivery ke liye bahar gayi hai. Kaafi door hai, shayad shaam tak aayegi."

(She…she is not here. Mehak is out for a big delivery. It’s very far, she’ll be back by evening.)

Mehak, hiding behind the counter, squeezed her eyes shut. 

'Yes, maasi! Good lie! Just make him leave!' 

Aditya stood perfectly still. He listened. He could hear the hum of the refrigerator, the distant honking of cars, and the nervous breathing of the woman in front of him. But then, he heard something else.

A very faint, rhythmic thump-thump-thump. A heartbeat. It was fast, frantic, and it carried the scent of orange blossoms. He turned his head slowly toward the counter. A small, sad smile touched his lips.

"Jhoot bolne se pehle achhe se seekh lena chahiye."

(You should learn before lying.)

Aditya said softly, his voice echoing in the small shop. Maasi gasped.

"Sir, main..."

(Sir, I…)

"Khanna, bahar jao. And inhe bhi le kar jao."

(Khanna, go outside. And take her too.)

Aditya commanded. Khanna nodded and stepped out followed by the lady who looked behind nervously, worried for her niece. Aditya took a slow, deliberate step toward the counter. His cane tapped on the floor, the same sound Mehak had heard a thousand times in his study.

"Mehak."

He said, his voice a low, vibrating whisper.

"Tumhe lagta hai main tumhe pehchan nahi paunga? In hazaron phoolon ke beech mein bhi, main sirf tumhari mehak pehchan sakta hoon."

(You think I will not recognize you? In between these flowers, I can recognise your fragrance.)

Mehak felt a shiver run down her spine. She stayed curled up, her hands over her mouth, but she knew it was over.

"Main tumhare dil ki dhadkan sun sakta hoon, Mehak. Itni tez hai...mujhse darr lag raha hai?"

(I can hear your heart Mehak. It’s beating so loud…are you scared of me?)

The silence in the shop was thick. Mehak realized there was no point in hiding anymore. He saw her more clearly than anyone else ever had.

Slowly, she stood up from behind the counter. Her hair was a mess, a stray sunflower leaf was stuck to her sleeve, and her eyes were red from crying. She looked at him, standing there amongst her flowers, looking so powerful yet so vulnerable.

"Aap...aapko kaise pata chala?"

(You…how did you know?)

She asked, her voice small and cracked. Aditya turned his face exactly in her direction. Even behind the glasses, she felt the intensity of his focus.

"Maine kaha na. Mere liye, poori duniya andhere mein hai, Mehak. Sirf tumhari awaaz aur tumhari khushbu hi meri roshni hai. Jab roshni gayab ho jati hai, toh andhera aur bhi gehra lagne lagta hai."

(I told you. For me, the entire world is dark, Mehak. Only your voice and your fragrance are my light. And when this light disappears, the darkness is even more deep.)

Mehak felt the tears finally spill over. Her fear was still there, but it was being washed away by the sincerity in his voice. The dangerous mafia don had come to a tiny flower shop just because he missed her chatter.

"I'm sorry."

She whispered, stepping out from behind the counter.

"I was just...I saw that blood, Aditya. It was so scary."

Aditya let out a long, heavy breath. He reached out his hand, palm up, waiting.

"Wo meri sachai hai, Mehak. Main badal nahi sakta. Par tumhare liye...main sirf wahi rahunga jo tumhare fizool jokes pe blush karta hai. Kya tum mujhe ek mauka dogi? Mai wapas uss andhere bhari zindagi mai nhi jaana chahta."

(That is my truth, Mehak. I cannot change it. But for you…I will remain the same man who blushes at your jokes. Will you give me a chance? I don’t want to go back to that darkness filled life.)

Mehak looked at his hand, then at his face. She realized that she couldn't let him go back to that silence. She took a step forward and placed her small, trembling hand in his large, warm palm.

"Andhere mein toh main aapko kabhi nahi rehne dungi."

(I will not let you go into darkness.)

She said, her bubbly spirit finally flickering back to life. His grip on her hand tightened as if he'd never let go.