A boy stood outside the room, pressing his ear against the wall, clearly trying to listen to what was happening inside.
Tashyam's gaze fell on him—and lingered.
The boy looked to be about the same age as Tashyam.
Tashyam stepped closer and patted the boy's back casually.
"My bedroom has excellent sound insulation," he said calmly. "Even if you try, you won't hear anything."
The boy startled and straightened up immediately, forcing an awkward laugh.
Tashyam stood in front of him with his hands in his trouser pockets.
The calm aura he carried inside the room with Raaya had completely vanished.
Right now, he looked cold… and dangerous.
Trying to cover up, the boy said,
"I… I was just passing by. Something about this wall felt strange, so I checked it. What's so weird about that?"
Tashyam asked sharply,
"Who decorated my bedroom?"
At that question, the boy started glancing around nervously.
His name was Shaurya Raghuvanshi, a distant relative of Tashyam and technically his cousin.
Among all those of Tashyam's generation in the Raghuvanshi family, Shaurya was the only one remotely close to him.
Tashyam said firmly,
"Shaurya, I asked you something."
Pouting, Shaurya replied,
"I did. It's your first night after all. Had to set the mood a little, right? Otherwise, you'd stay a virgin your whole life. By the way… why did you come out so early?"
Tashyam replied coldly,
"Don't do anything like this again."
"All right, I won't," Shaurya said quickly. "But at least tell me, why are you out already? Need protection? I've got some."
Tashyam said nothing.
Ignoring him, Tashyam walked toward the adjacent room.
Shaurya followed him.
"Bro, say something. What happened inside?"
Tashyam continued to ignore him and walked into the room.
Shaurya followed him inside.
Tashyam picked up a pack of cigars and a lighter from the bedside table.
Shaurya watched him closely, trying to understand what was going on in Tashyam's mind.
Tashyam stepped out onto the attached balcony.
Shaurya followed him there too, his eyes filled with gossip-loving curiosity.
Tashyam lit a cigar and took a deep drag, gazing up at the sky.
Shaurya said in disbelief,
"Bro, it's your first night. What are you doing here? Go to your wife. She must be waiting for you."
"She won't wait," Tashyam replied flatly.
Shaurya was even more confused now. Nothing about Tashyam's behavior made sense to him.
Suddenly, Shaurya said,
"Wait… don't tell me you asked her to leave the marriage today itself?"
Tashyam didn't respond, which only strengthened Shaurya's suspicion.
Shaurya stepped closer.
"Tashyam… how much money did you offer her?"
"Money?"
Tashyam lowered his gaze and looked at him.
"Yes, money," Shaurya continued. "She might be from the Malhotra family, but no girl would walk away from a money tree like you. And she's the most ignorant daughter of that family. Why would she…"
"She didn't ask for any money," Tashyam interrupted coldly. "In fact, she isn't interested in this marriage at all."
Shaurya froze.
No girl from high society ever refused Tashyam Raghuvanshi.
Girls were ready to do anything just for a glimpse of him.
And yet… Raaya wasn't interested in marrying him.
"That's impossible," Shaurya exclaimed, slapping his thigh. "Why would any girl not want to marry you? And if she wasn't interested, why did she agree to the marriage? She's definitely acting. You don't know, girls are very cunning. Especially the ones raised abroad."
Tashyam listened silently.
Hearing Raya's name repeatedly made her beautiful face surface in his mind.
Placing both hands on Tashyam's shoulders, Shaurya said confidently,
"Bro, don't worry. I won't let that girl play games with you. I know how to deal with girls like her. Your brother will handle everything."
Tashyam frowned.
Shaurya was reacting as if Raaya were some wicked witch and Tashyam an innocent child.
"I know how to judge and understand people," Tashyam said harshly. "Now get out."
Shaurya clutched his chest dramatically, as if his heart had been broken.
"Get out," Tashyam repeated coldly.
Annoyed, Shaurya said,
"It's only been a few hours since your wedding, and you've already changed. Fine. When that girl cheats you, you'll understand my importance."
"Leave," Tashyam said, turning back toward the sky.
Shaurya left, silently cursing Raaya. Doubt had begun to grow in his mind regarding her intentions.
Tashyam took another drag of his cigar and looked toward the balcony of his room, where Raaya was.
It was midnight.
Raaya sat on the bed, working on her laptop.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated.
She checked it.
Caller ID: Sophia.
Raaya answered.
A serious female voice spoke from the other side.
"Is the drama over there?"
"Hm," Raaya replied.
"You're coming back tomorrow, right?" Sophia asked.
"Yes," Raaya said softly.
"I'm in Mumbai. Let's go back together."
Raaya's eyes narrowed. She hadn't expected Sophia to be in India.
"I told all of you not to come here," Raaya said.
"I didn't want to," Sophia said quickly. "Adrian forced me. He was worried about you."
At the mention of Adrian, an unsettling silence appeared in Raaya's eyes.
Sophia realized she'd said something she shouldn't have.
"Raaya, listen..."
Raaya disconnected the call.
The calm on her face vanished.
She closed her laptop and stepped onto the attached balcony.
Tashyam was still there.
Both balconies were adjacent, only a few steps apart.
Seeing Raaya, Tashyam asked,
"You're still awake?"
"I can't sleep," she replied, looking at him.
"Jet lag?" he asked.
"Maybe," she said softly. "Why are you still awake?"
"We're in the same boat again," Tashyam replied.
Raaya remembered... Tashyam didn't live in India either.
He had arrived in Delhi from Germany just last night.
Raaya sat down quietly on the resting chair.
Tashyam said nothing more.
Silence settled between them.
Leaning her head back against the chair, Raaya closed her eyes.
Delhi had a light blanket of cold that deepened at night.
Within moments, Raaya fell asleep, without even realizing it.
Tashyam turned to go back inside when his gaze fell on her.
He stopped.
A few strands of her hair were scattered across her face.
She looked incredibly soft while asleep.
"Raaya, are you sleeping?" Tashyam called gently. "It's cold outside. Go inside."
No response.
He called her two or three times, but she didn't wake up.
Finally, Tashyam used the master key and entered his room.
Cold wind brushed the balcony. Raaya was curled up in her sleep.
If she slept there all night, she would definitely fall sick.
Tashyam stepped onto the balcony and looked at her.
The vermilion on her forehead hadn't completely faded.
She had removed all her jewelry, but the mangalsutra still rested around her neck.
Seeing it made Tashyam feel… strangely good.
Why? he couldn't understand.
Pushing aside his thoughts, he tried waking her again.
No response.
In the end, Tashyam bent down and lifted Raaya into his arms.
Feeling the cold, Raaya instinctively curled into him.
For a moment, Tashyam froze.
In twenty-six years of his life, no woman had ever been this close to him.
Exhaling deeply, he carried her inside and laid her on the bed.
He was about to step away when something felt odd.
Lowering his gaze, he saw…
Raaya was clutching his shirt tightly in her fist.
He gently freed his shirt and straightened up, but stopped again.
Raaya was murmuring something in her sleep.
Unintentionally, Tashyam listened.
"Baby… don't leave Mamma… Mamma loves you so much…"
Tashyam's expression changed completely.
Malhotra Palace,
Shubham had gotten up to drink water when his eyes fell toward the backyard.
Something was being burned there.
"What are they doing so late at night?" he muttered. "I should check."
He went down to the backyard.
Some staff members were there, along with Mr. Raghuvendra and Mr. Digvijay.
Seeing what was being burned, Shubham froze.
All those things either belonged to Raaya, or had been used by her.
"Uncle, why are you burning these?"
Shubham asked in shock.
"They're Raaya di's things."
"It's necessary," Mr. Digvijay replied emotionlessly. "Stay out of these matters."
Shubham was left speechless.
He had always tried to understand but until now, he didn't know why his family treated Raaya so strangely.