"Whispers of Fate"

The car ride was quiet, except for the occasional glances Vihaan stole at her. She wasn't crying, wasn't complaining. Just staring out the window, lost in thought.

Finally, as they reached home, Vihaan spoke. "You should rest. No more running around."

Mannat nodded silently, pushing open the car door. But before she could take a step, Vihaan was there. His arm slipped around her waist, supporting her as they walked inside.

She stiffened slightly. "Vihaan, I can walk-"

"Just let me," he cut her off, his tone firm.

Mannat didn't argue. She didn't have the energy. And maybe... maybe she didn't want to.

Inside, the house was eerily quiet. No chacha-chachi, no taunts. Just them.

Vihaan guided her to the bed, and as soon as she sat down, she felt it-that same warmth she had felt in the hospital when he had said our baby.

He was still standing there, watching her.

After a moment, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Mannat..." He hesitated, then sat down beside her. "You were scared today."

She lowered her gaze. "You were too."

His fingers curled into a fist on his knee. "Yeah."

For a deal, this was getting complicated.

Vihaan turned to her, his voice quieter now. "Nothing's going to happen to you or the baby, okay?"

She nodded, but the question burned in her mind-why did it sound like a promise?

The evening air was thick with tension as Mannat stood near the wardrobe, her arms crossed. She had been holding back all day, but now, she couldn't anymore.

"I want to go to the hospital," she said firmly.

Vihaan, sitting on the couch with his phone in hand, didn't even look up. "No."

Mannat exhaled sharply. "Vihaan, please. Dadaji-"

"He's fine," Vihaan cut her off, finally meeting her gaze. "The doctors are there. You don't need to go."

Mannat's fingers curled into fists. "Why are you stopping me? I'll be fine."

Vihaan tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "You've started arguing, Mannat. I've noticed it. But you should do it with the ones who are actually unreasonable to you."

Mannat froze.

For a long moment, she just stared at him, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Then, her lips parted, and her voice came out softer, yet firm-

"Because they are not mine."

Silence.

Vihaan stilled, his fingers tightening around his phone. The words hit harder than they should have.

He had expected her usual calmness, her way of brushing things aside. But this... this was different.

Mannat looked away, as if regretting saying it aloud. As if she had exposed something she hadn't meant to.

But Vihaan wasn't one to ignore things.

His jaw clenched, and he stood up, closing the distance between them. "And you think I am?"

Mannat's breath caught in her throat.

Vihaan wasn't angry. He wasn't mocking her. But there was something in his voice-something that made her heart skip a beat.