Three months later, the charade began to crumble. Priya's pregnancy was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, her presence a constant reminder of the life that Shashwat was obligated to embrace, the life that stood in stark opposition to the passionate, forbidden world he shared with Rani.

He had grown increasingly distant, his mind preoccupied, his touch less frequent, his gaze haunted by a mixture of guilt and longing. He tried to convince himself that he was doing it for Rani's sake, that he was protecting her by keeping his distance, by avoiding any unnecessary attention. But deep down, he knew that he was lying to himself, that he was simply afraid, that he was too weak to break free from the chains that bound him.