The city felt colder that night.
Or maybe…
Kabir Malhotra's heart did.
He drove like a madman.
Searching.
Every street.
Every corner.
Every place she could possibly go.
"Find her," he ordered over the phone, his voice shaking for the first time.
"I want her location. Now."
But time was slipping.
And Anaya…
Was alone.
She walked without direction.
Without hope.
Without strength.
Her feet hurt.
Her body was tired.
But her heart…
That was the most broken.
"Why does it hurt so much…?"
She stopped near an empty road.
Dark.
Silent.
Suddenly—
A car stopped near her.
Three men stepped out.
The same ones from Kabir's past.
"Well, well…" one of them smirked,
"look who we found."
Anaya's heart dropped.
Fear rushed through her veins.
"Stay away…" she whispered, stepping back.
They laughed.
"You're Kabir's weakness, right?"
Before she could react—
They grabbed her.
She struggled.
"Leave me!"
But they were stronger.
Cruel.
"Boss will be very happy," one of them said.
Meanwhile…
Kabir's phone rang.
"Sir… we found her."
Kabir stopped breathing.
"Where?"
"They took her."
Silence.
Deadly silence.
Kabir's eyes turned dark.
Darker than ever before.
"Send me the location."
His voice…
Was no longer human.
It was rage.
Pure rage.
At the abandoned warehouse—
Anaya was thrown inside.
She fell to the ground.
Her hands trembling.
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Please… let me go…" she whispered.
One of the men laughed.
"Your Kabir isn't here to save you now."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
But even in fear…
One name escaped her lips—
"Kabir…"
Suddenly—
A loud crash echoed.
The door broke open.
Everyone froze.
And there he stood.
Kabir Malhotra.
His eyes burning with anger.
His presence…
Terrifying.
"Touch her again…"
he said slowly,
"And I'll make sure you don't live to regret it."
The men laughed.
"You think you can fight all of us?"
Kabir stepped forward.
Calm.
Deadly.
"I don't think."
"I know."
What followed…
Was chaos.
Punches.
Blood.
Screams.
Kabir fought like a man who had nothing left to lose.
Because for him—
Anaya was everything.
Within minutes—
Everyone was down.
Broken.
Defeated.
Kabir stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Covered in blood.
Then—
He turned.
Anaya sat on the ground.
Shaking.
Crying.
Their eyes met.
For a moment…
Everything went silent.
Kabir walked towards her.
Slowly.
He knelt down in front of her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
His voice…
Soft.
Broken.
Anaya looked at him.
Tears falling endlessly.
"You came…" she whispered.
Kabir's chest tightened.
"Of course I came," he said.
"Because I…"
He stopped.
For the first time—
Kabir Malhotra didn't know how to say it.
Anaya's voice trembled—
"Why…?"
Silence.
Then finally—
Kabir held her face gently.
"Because I can't lose you."
Her breath stopped.
"I tried to stay away…" he continued,
"But it only made me realize…"
His voice broke.
"I love you, Anaya."
Tears flowed from her eyes.
But this time…
Not just from pain.
From love.
She shook her head softly.
"You hurt me…"
Kabir closed his eyes.
"I know."
"I'll spend my whole life fixing that… if you let me."
Anaya looked at him.
Her heart still fragile.
Still scared.
But his eyes…
They were honest.
Slowly…
She moved closer.
And hugged him.
Tightly.
Kabir froze.
Then wrapped his arms around her.
Protecting her.
Like she was his world.
Because she was.
❤️