The hospital corridor smelled of antiseptic and silence.
Machines beeped steadily.
Preyajeet lay unconscious, bandages wrapped around his side. The bullet had narrowly missed something fatal — but the doctors had warned: the next 24 hours were critical.
Akanksha sat beside him.
Her injured shoulder was stitched, but she refused proper rest.
Her fingers gently held his hand.
"You're not allowed to give up," she whispered. "You promised."
Outside the ICU room, senior officers from Indian Intelligence had arrived.
Inside another secured chamber—
Akanksha was being questioned.
"Your identity is still classified as a hostile foreign asset," one officer said sternly.
"You crossed into Indian territory under false credentials."
She didn't argue.
"I know."
"Why should we trust you?"
She looked straight into their eyes.
"Because I stopped the attack."
A file was placed in front of her — all the data from the exposed Shadow Network.
Proof.
Evidence.
Her silence had saved thousands of lives.
Still—
Trust between nations was fragile.
And she knew something painful was coming.
Morning light entered the ICU room.
Preyajeet's fingers moved slightly.
Akanksha leaned forward immediately.
His eyes slowly opened.
Blurry at first.
Then focused.
On her.
"You stayed," he murmured weakly.
She smiled through tears.
"Where else would I go?"
He tried to sit up but winced.
"Hey… hero," she said softly. "Rest."
He studied her face carefully.
"You're crying."
"I'm not," she said quickly.
He gave a faint laugh.
"You're a terrible liar."
Silence settled between them — soft, warm.
Then his expression changed.
"They'll send you back, won't they?"
Her eyes dropped.
"Yes."
The word hung heavy in the air.
"I'm officially still a spy," she continued. "Diplomatic negotiations will take time."
"And until then?"
"I'll be under surveillance."
He closed his eyes briefly.
For a soldier, he understood duty.
For a man… it hurt.
Two days later.
The news channels across both countries displayed a rare headline:
"Joint Intelligence Operation Prevents Cross-Border Escalation."
No names mentioned.
No faces shown.
Just "anonymous operatives."
Akanksha stood at the airport terminal under tight security escort.
Preyajeet had insisted on coming despite doctor warnings.
They stood facing each other in silence.
Crowds moved around them, unaware of the history between them.
"This isn't goodbye," he said firmly.
She forced a small smile.
"Soldiers shouldn't make emotional promises."
"I'm not speaking as a soldier."
Her composure cracked slightly.
"Then what are you speaking as?"
He stepped closer.
"As the man who loves you."
Her breath stopped.
For a second, the world disappeared.
"You don't even know what future we have," she whispered.
"I don't need to know the future," he replied. "I just know I choose you in it."
Tears slipped down her cheek.
Security officers signaled.
Time was up.
She leaned closer, her forehead touching his for a brief moment.
"No matter what border they draw… don't let them draw one inside your heart."
He nodded slowly.
"And you?"
She stepped back, walking toward departure gate.
Without turning around, she said—
"Wait for me."
The doors closed.
The plane taxied away.
Preyajeet stood still, watching until it disappeared into the sky.
War had been stopped.
But their real battle—
Was just beginning.