Silence filled the room.
After everything.
After the fear.
After the chaos.
---
Riya stood in front of Arjun.
Her heart still racing.
"You could've been hurt," she said.
Arjun looked at her.
"And you could've been lost."
Silence.
---
Riya stepped closer.
"Why do you care so much?" she asked.
Arjun didn't answer immediately.
But this time—
He didn't look away either.
---
"Because…" he started.
Then stopped.
For the first time—
He struggled with words.
---
Riya waited.
Her heart beating faster.
---
Finally—
Arjun stepped closer.
Very close.
"This marriage…" he said softly.
"It's not fake anymore."
Riya's breath stopped.
---
"I tried to ignore it," he continued.
"But I can't."
His eyes locked with hers.
"I love you."
---
Silence.
Pure.
Deep.
Real.
---
Riya's eyes filled with tears.
Not of pain.
But of something else.
Something beautiful.
---
Slowly—
She smiled.
"I was waiting for you to say that," she whispered.
---
And this time—
When he kissed her…
There was no hesitation.
No confusion.
No distance.
---
Because now—
It wasn't a deal.
It wasn't a mistake.
---
It was love.