"I want whatever future you want," he said simply. "If that includes kids, great. If it doesn't, that's fine too. My future is you. Everything else is just details."
She kissed him, pouring everything she felt into it. This man—who'd started as her enemy, who she'd been forced to marry, who she'd fallen in love with despite every reason not to—he was her home. Her partner. Her everything.
"We're going to be okay," she whispered. "Aren't we?"
"We're going to be more than okay." He pulled her closer, tucking her head under his chin. "We're going to be incredible. Together."
They fell asleep wrapped around each other, the nightmares kept at bay by the warmth and safety of their connection.
Two Weeks Later
The shift in the household dynamics was noticeable.
Nisha sought Advika out one afternoon, finding her in her personal sitting room, reading.
"Can I come in?" Nisha asked, uncharacteristically hesitant.
"It's your house too."
"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Nisha sat, her posture stiff. "About everything, really."
Advika set her book aside, waiting.
"I was wrong," Nisha said abruptly. "About you. About us. About everything. And I'm sorry."
"You've apologized before."
"I know. But this time I mean it differently." Nisha looked down at her hands. "When you were taken, when Sidharth was losing his mind trying to find you, I realized something. You're not just his wife. You're family. Real family. And I've been treating you like the enemy when you've never been anything but kind to me, even when I didn't deserve it."
"Nisha—"
"No, let me finish." Nisha's voice cracked. "I was jealous. You were right, that day you yelled at me. I was the only woman in this house for so long, the center of my brothers' world, and suddenly there was you. Beautiful, talented, kind you. And I was terrified they'd love you more than me. That I'd lose my place."
"You could never lose your place," Advika said gently. "You're their sister. That's irreplaceable."
"I know that now. I see how Sidharth looks at you—it's different than how he loves me. Not more, just different. And I was so busy being threatened by it that I couldn't see how good you are for him. How you've made him better, happier."
"He's made me better too."
"I know." Nisha finally met her eyes. "I'm asking for a fresh start. Not as enemies, not even as reluctant family, but as actual sisters. If you'll have me."
Advika studied her for a long moment. This woman who'd made her life hell for months, who'd sabotaged her marriage, who'd been cruel in ways both subtle and overt.
But who was also Sidharth's sister. Who was also traumatized by their parents' deaths. Who was also just scared and young and learning.
"Fresh start," Advika agreed, extending her hand.
Nisha took it, and for the first time since they'd met, her smile was genuine. "Thank you."
They talked for hours after that—really talked. About Nisha's fears, Advika's struggles, the family they were trying to build. It wasn't perfect. They'd probably never be best friends. But it was real.
And it was a start.
Rishabh found them later, both laughing over some story Nisha was telling about Sidharth's childhood.
"Am I dreaming?" he asked, pretending to pinch himself. "Or are you two actually getting along?"
"Shut up, Rishabh," both women said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed.
