Author's POV
2:07 A.M.
The entire Rathore Mansion was asleep.
The chandeliers were switched off.
Only the dim lights in the corridors illuminated the massive mansion.
The grandfather clock echoed...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
On the second floor...
Two bedroom doors opened carefully.
Dev stepped out first.
Aarav followed him, holding his bike keys.
Both looked around cautiously.
Dev whispered,
"Aaram se... agar Aryan bhai uth gaye na toh gaye."
Translation: Carefully... if Aryan bhai wakes up, we're finished.
Aarav nodded nervously.
Both quietly walked downstairs.
Their destination...
A late-night bike ride.
Akshara's POV
Akshara sat on the balcony outside her room.
She couldn't sleep.
Whenever her mind became restless...
Sleep refused to come.
She took a sip of warm water.
Just then...
She heard footsteps.
She frowned.
At this hour?
She quietly stood up and walked into the hallway.
Looking down from the staircase...
She saw Dev and Aarav tiptoeing towards the main door.
A faint smile almost appeared on her face.
Almost.
She slowly walked downstairs.
Her footsteps were silent.
By the time the brothers reached the main door...
She was already standing behind them.
Calm.
Expressionless.
Holding a glass of water.
Author's POV
A calm voice echoed through the silent mansion.
"Itni raat ko... kahan ja rahe ho?"
Translation: Where are you going at this hour?
Both brothers froze.
Dev slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
"A... Akshara?"
Aarav looked equally shocked.
For a few seconds...
Nobody spoke.
Akshara folded her arms.
Waiting.
Dev scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Bas... thoda drive pe."
Translation: Just... going for a short drive.
Akshara raised one eyebrow.
"Raat ke do baje?"
Translation: At two in the morning?
Neither of them had an answer.
Dev looked at Aarav.
Aarav looked at Dev.
Both silently understood one thing.
If she told Vikram...
Their bikes would disappear for a month.
Dev immediately joined his hands dramatically.
"Please kisi ko mat batana."
Translation: Please don't tell anyone.
Aarav nodded quickly.
"Especially Dad ko toh bilkul nahi."
Translation: Especially not Dad.
Akshara stared at them.
No expression.
No smile.
Nothing.
The silence made both brothers even more nervous.
Dev sighed dramatically.
"Please..."
Translation: Please...
Akshara's POV
She looked at both of them quietly.
These were the same brothers...
Who had made it clear she wasn't their sister.
Yet tonight...
They were asking for her help.
The irony wasn't lost on her.
She finally spoke.
"Ek condition hai."
Translation: I have one condition.
Both brothers nodded immediately.
"Jo bolo."
Translation: Anything.
"Helmet pehenoge."
Translation: You'll wear your helmets.
They nodded.
"Speed limit cross nahi karoge."
Translation: You won't overspeed.
Again...
They nodded.
"Aur tees minute mein wapas."
Translation: And you'll be back in thirty minutes.
Dev smiled brightly.
"Done!"
Aarav grinned.
"Promise."
Akshara stepped aside from the door.
"Go."
Both brothers hurried outside.
Just as Dev started the bike...
Akshara spoke again.
Without raising her voice.
"Late hue..."
Translation: If you're late...
Both slowly turned.
"...toh main khud Mr. Rathore ko utha dungi."
Translation: ...I'll wake Mr. Rathore myself.
Dev swallowed hard.
Aarav immediately looked at his watch.
"We'll be back."
Within seconds...
The bike disappeared through the gates.
Vikram's POV
Around 2:35 A.M.
Vikram walked downstairs to drink some water.
He had been unable to sleep.
As he entered the kitchen...
He noticed someone sitting quietly at the dining table.
Akshara.
She was reading a book.
A mug of warm chamomile tea rested beside her.
She looked up.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Vikram asked gently.
She shook her head.
"Not tonight."
He nodded.
"Same."
For a moment...
Both sat in comfortable silence.
Then Vikram smiled.
"You don't have to call me 'Mr. Rathore' every time."
Akshara looked at him.
"I know."
There was another pause.
"But..."
She continued softly,
"I'm not ready to call you anything else yet."
Vikram's smile didn't fade.
"I'll wait."
"No pressure."
"As long as it takes."
For the first time...
Akshara looked at him for a few extra seconds.
She didn't know why.
But his patience...
Didn't feel fake.
Just then...
The sound of a bike stopping outside reached their ears.
Akshara glanced at the clock.
2:37 A.M.
Seven minutes late.
She quietly closed her book.
Vikram looked confused.
"What happened?"
Akshara stood up.
"Nothing."
She walked towards the main door.
Outside...
Dev and Aarav were removing their helmets.
The moment they saw Akshara...
Both froze.
Dev looked at the clock.
"Oh no..."
Akshara folded her arms.
Without saying a word.
The brothers exchanged terrified glances.
Had she already told Vikram?
Or...
Was she about to?
_____
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