The Recipe of Love ??

The early morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden patterns on the marble floor.

Ishki stood by the wardrobe, her fingers brushing the edge of her neatly folded clothes, trying to keep herself busy trying not to look at her.

As the words hung in the air, She paused, her back still turned. She could hear her footsteps drawing closer behind her, hesitant yet hopeful.

"I can't.." Ishki murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

She shut the wardrobe door gently and turned around. Her eyes met hers, already glistening. "Even if I want to, I just can't stay here anymore. So please, don't force me now."

She raised her palm slowly, as if to place an invisible wall between them. It wasn't anger. It wasn't bitterness. Just.. exhaustion.

The kind of emotional fatigue that wraps around your heart when everything feels too heavy to carry.

Shravya's face fell. Her lips parted, as if searching for the right words. But all that escaped was a soft, broken whisper.

"Why are you doing this, yaar.. it won't be any fun without you. Please, don't leave."

There was no pretense in her voice. No drama. Just raw emotion. The kind that hit her harder than any argument ever could.

She looked away for a moment, trying to compose herself. But when she glanced back, when she saw Shravya's puppy eyes, shining with silent hope.. it broke her.

She bit her lower lip, mentally battling the decision she'd already made. But her heart betrayed her logic.

A sigh slipped from her lips, and with a small shake of her head, she finally gave in.

"Okay okay, cool.. I won't go. Happy now?"

Her tone was casual, but the softness in her voice betrayed her true emotions.

"Happy?! I'm super happy.. thank you so much!"

Shravya didn't wait another second. She wrapped her arms tightly around her, hugging her like she never wanted to let go. The relief, the gratitude.. it all poured out through that one embrace.

Ishki closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to breathe, to feel that warmth just a little longer.

Later Next day Morning..

The breakfast table was still cluttered with half-finished cups of tea and leftover parathas when Devyansh stepped out, his sunglasses pushed up onto his head as he walked briskly toward his car.

He pulled the door open and slid into the driver's seat, the leather interior humming with silence. Without wasting a second, he pulled out his phone and dialed.

As soon as the call connected, his tone turned sharp, cold, and businesslike.

"Even though the mastermind Sameer is no more and his chapter is closed, I want every detail on the others involved, understand?" His jaw clenched, voice dropping with intensity.

"Anyone who was part of Ishki's kidnapping.. I want all their details. Now that there's no threat to the vault, I don't intend to spare anyone. Once you gather the information, coordinate with the security manager and get them all transferred to our prison. Then update me. I'll personally handle their reminders. Okay?"

There was a small pause on the line before his PA responded.

"Okay, Kunwar Sa."

Without another word, He ended the call and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. He rested both hands on the steering wheel for a moment, his mind racing faster than the engine.