Raghav stepped closer.
"You're willing to die for them?"
Aarav didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Ananya's tears fell uncontrollably.
"Why?" she whispered.
Aarav finally looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was no guard.
No distance.
Only truth.
"Because I love you."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Ananya's breath caught.
"You… what?"
"I never stopped," he said quietly.
Her heart shattered.
And healed—
At the same time.
"You don't get to say that now…" she cried.
"Not like this…"
"I should've said it earlier," he replied.
A pause.
"But I won't miss this chance."
Tears blurred her vision.
Because this was the truth she had waited years to hear.
And it came…
At the worst possible moment.