Since Anjali knew the hotel had been sealed, she naturally understood that he had left the scene with another woman.
But she hadn't called him immediately yesterday; she must have spent the entire night overthinking and spiraling. Rahul realized he couldn't hide the truth from her anymore.
"I'm at a friend's place. She came to the hotel to pick me up yesterday after everything happened."
"Then... how are you? Are you comfortable?" Anjali's voice was still thick with concern.
"I'm doing well. Honestly, you don't need to worry about me."
As Rahul said this, the line fell into a heavy silence.
"Anjali, I—"
Before Rahul could offer an explanation, Anjali cut him off. Her voice was soft but firm.
"Rahul, you don't need to explain anything to me. It's okay."
"We aren't officially together; you don't owe me a report on your every move. It's actually my fault for not taking better care of you. I feel terrible that you suffered such psychological harm at that hotel."
"Now that I know you're in a safe place, I can finally breathe. After all, a girl who has the power to make the Mayor personally order a shutdown... she can definitely protect you better than I can."
"The only thing I can do for you now is to ensure those two people at the hotel receive the full weight of the law."
Hearing this, Rahul felt a profound wave of emotion. He had never experienced being cared for by someone so selfless. Of all the girls he had met in Dhaka, Anjali was the only one who felt like a true partner—she was completely on his side, thinking of his well-being without making any demands.
But he knew his own nature and the System's requirements. He was a nomad. He couldn't stay.
"Thank you," he said, his voice dropping an octave.
"You're welcome," she replied quietly.
The silence returned. Rahul wanted to say more, but the words felt stuck. Finally, Anjali spoke up, her tone turning extremely serious.
"Rahul... how much longer will you stay in Bangladesh? Will I... will I see you again?"
Rahul replied truthfully, "Probably twenty more days. Maybe less, I might have to leave early. But as long as I'm still here, we will definitely meet."
"Rahul... if you stay, could you... could you give me just one full day? Just you and me?" she asked cautiously.
Rahul felt a sharp pang in his heart. "Of course. No problem at all. I promise I'll make time to spend a whole day with you."
Anjali cheered up instantly, her voice bubbling with joy. "Good! You promised. No taking it back! I'm going to the Court now to get revenge for you. Talk soon!"
She hung up, leaving Rahul staring at his phone with a hollow feeling in his chest.
He didn't know that yesterday, Anjali had arrived at the hotel with the City Hall inspectors, only to be told by the SHO that Rahul had left with a beautiful woman in a BMW. She had hidden in the hotel bathroom and cried privately, terrified that he would cut her off now that he had found someone more powerful and glamorous.
After checking his other apps—a message from Samina he politely brushed off—Rahul checked his WeChat. His real estate agent in Mumbai said two buyers were interested in his apartment but wanted a price cut.
Rahul didn't hesitate. "Give them a 5% discount."
He knew the market was cooling. Buying that house had been the biggest mistake of his life; it was a shackle. He needed his YouTube channel to succeed so he wouldn't have to rely on anyone else's charity.
He shoved his phone into his pocket and opened his bedroom door.
Coincidentally, Anisha was walking out of her room at the exact same moment. She was wearing a sheer, white silk nightgown. Despite the wine from the night before, her skin looked radiant and rosy.
When her eyes met Rahul's, a blush instantly flooded her face, reaching all the way to her ears.
"Good morning, Rahul."
"Morning. How's the head? If you're hungry, I made honey water and sandwiches."
"Wow, Rahul... how can you be so thoughtful?"
Anisha suddenly closed the distance and threw her arms around him. Rahul felt like he had been enveloped in a soft, fragrant cloud.
"Hmph. Anisha, since when did you become so proactive?"
Anika walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sandwiches and snorted with visible jealousy.
Anisha pulled away slightly but stayed close to Rahul, shooting her sister a look. "Weren't you the one who told me I needed to fight for what I want? Now that I'm doing it, you're complaining?"
Anika didn't answer. She sat cross-legged on the sofa and took a fierce, frustrated bite of a sandwich.
Watching the twins bicker, Rahul felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn't considered the friction his presence would cause between them. If he ruined their relationship, he would never forgive himself.
Anisha brought a plate over and sat down beside her sister. Two pairs of incredibly long, snow-white legs were now displayed right in front of Rahul.
Anisha looked at her pouting twin and smiled faintly.
"Why are you still acting like this? Little sister, have you forgotten our Bangladeshi tradition?"