The mansion felt different again.
Not cold…
But heavy.
After that night…
Everything changed.
Kabir stopped talking to Anaya.
Avoided her.
Ignored her presence.
As if…
She didn't exist.
Anaya stood in the hallway, watching him walk past her.
Without even looking.
Her chest tightened.
"Why is he doing this…?"
"Did I do something wrong…?" she whispered to herself.
Days passed.
Same silence.
Same distance.
But one thing didn't change—
Kabir still made sure she was okay.
Food was always on the table.
Medicine always kept ready.
Security always around her.
Care…
Without presence.
That hurt more.
One evening…
Anaya couldn't take it anymore.
She walked into his study without knocking.
Kabir looked up.
Annoyed.
"What are you doing here?"
Anaya's eyes were already filled with tears.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
Kabir looked away.
"I'm busy."
"Don't lie!" she said, her voice shaking.
Silence.
She stepped closer.
"You were fine before… then why now?"
Kabir's jaw tightened.
"Because this is how it should be."
Anaya's heart broke a little.
"What does that even mean?"
Kabir stood up suddenly.
His presence overwhelming.
"It means…" he said coldly,
"You don't belong in my world."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I never asked to belong in your world…"
Her voice softened.
"I just… wanted to stay with you."
Kabir froze.
For a second.
But then—
His expression hardened again.
"That's your mistake."
Those words…
Cut deep.
Anaya's hands trembled.
"Why are you pushing me away?" she whispered.
Kabir's voice dropped.
Dangerously low.
"Because people who stay close to me…"
"Get hurt."
Silence filled the room.
Anaya looked into his eyes.
Not fear this time.
Pain.
"Then let me decide that," she said softly.
Kabir shook his head.
"You don't understand."
"Then make me understand!" she cried.
Kabir closed his eyes tightly.
As if fighting himself.
Then finally—
He said the one thing that broke her completely.
"I don't care about you."
Everything stopped.
Anaya felt like the ground disappeared beneath her.
Her voice came out as a whisper—
"…lie."
Kabir didn't respond.
But his silence…
Was louder than words.
Tears streamed down her face.
"If you didn't care…" she said,
"then why did you stay with me that night…?"
"Why did you protect me…?"
"Why do I feel safe with you…?"
Kabir clenched his fists.
"Stop it," he said.
But she didn't.
Her voice broke completely—
"Because I…"
"…I think I love you."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Kabir's heart stopped for a second.
But instead of pulling her close…
He stepped back.
Far away.
"You're confused," he said coldly.
Anaya shook her head.
"I'm not."
But Kabir turned away.
"Stay away from me, Anaya."
That was it.
That one sentence…
Destroyed everything.
Anaya stood there.
Broken.
Slowly…
She turned.
And walked away.
That night…
She cried harder than ever before.
And Kabir…
Sat alone in the dark.
His eyes closed.
His fists clenched.
Her words echoed in his mind—
"I think I love you…"
And for the first time…
Kabir Malhotra felt something he never allowed himself to feel—
Fear of losing someone.