Aditya stood helplessly, just watching Anamika walk away.

  At the same time, as Saaniya reached the elevator, her steps came to a halt. Standing before her was Aniket — but the expression on his face had completely changed. It felt as if this wasn’t the same Aniket she had encountered on the road just a while ago.

  The moment Aniket saw Saaniya supporting Anamika, he hurried toward them. But then his eyes landed on Aditya standing a short distance behind — the sorrow in Aditya’s eyes was hard to miss.

  It didn’t take Aniket long to understand what was going on.

  But the cunning smile spreading on his face clearly said — he was already plotting something.

  He quickly reached out and grabbed Anamika’s hand, saying dramatically,“Oh no no! What happened to you?! Were you also chasing someone in anger and ended up twisting your foot?!”

  Saaniya gave him an angry glare. In response, Aniket winked at her and smirked.

  Then, switching his expression instantly, he asked with concern,“Anamika?! Are you in a lot of pain?! How will you climb down 15 floors with that injured foot?!”

  Saaniya snapped, “What nonsense are you talking?! She doesn’t need to climb down — there’s an elevator right here. I just came up in it myself!”

  Aniket (making a face) — “You may have come up in it, but you can’t go down now! Actually… I just came from downstairs. Electricians are here to check all the electronics in the building. That means…”

  Anamika (innocently) — “What does that mean?”

  Aniket (smiling slyly) — “It simply means… stay away from anything electronic right now — especially the elevator! You never know when it might stop working and trap you inside!”

  Saaniya (annoyed) — “Stop with the nonsense! How can they just suddenly show up like that?!”

  Aniket — “It’s not sudden… the staff was notified about it yesterday. (pointing at Aditya) Isn’t that right, Adi?”

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  Anamika and Saaniya turned to look at Aditya, who mumbled awkwardly,“Y-Yeah…”

  Covering up for him, Aniket quickly said,“See! He said yes! So, you can’t use the elevator. So should we help you down instead?”

  Saaniya glared at both of them, thinking to herself,“I know exactly what you’re trying to pull! And I didn’t expect Aditya to support you too…!”

  Saaniya (coldly) — “No worries! I’ll carry Anu on my back and take her down myself!”

  And with that, she picked Anamika up on her back and started descending the stairs.

  Aditya turned to Aniket, frustrated.“What kind of pathetic excuse was that?! Now what?!”

  Aniket (pouting) — “How was I supposed to know that witch would refuse help so dramatically?! Just wait… I’ll handle it.”

  He rushed after them and called out,“Come on, Saaniya! Can’t you take a joke?! I was just…”

  Before he could finish, Saaniya cut him off angrily, “Keep your jokes to yourselves — both of you! It was my mistake to come to you for help! From now on, neither of you need to care about us! Tell Aditya — I’m canceling the contract! I’ll find another investor for Anu!”

  As soon as she said this, Anamika turned around, her eyes drifting back to Aditya who stood at the top of the staircase, guilt washing over his face. Seeing that, Anamika lowered her eyes.

  Aditya couldn’t bring himself to take even one step forward.

  And Aniket, silently, thought to himself —“You… Miss Saaniya Khan. I won’t let you take Anamika out of my friend’s life like this. She will go — yes — she definitely will… but not like this. She’ll leave the way I want… in a way that pushes her out not only from his life… but from his heart too.”

  Saaniya got into the elevator, and Aniket followed.

  He bowed his head slightly and said,“I’m sorry… for the joke.”

  Saaniya didn’t say a word.

  When the elevator reached the ground floor, she quickly walked out, heading toward her car. She helped Anamika into the passenger seat and was about to get in herself when Aniket grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the car.

  Saaniya tried to free her hand angrily, but then suddenly froze.

  Aniket knelt down, lowering his head and said, “If all of this is happening just because I made that contract… or because I joked around… then I apologize. But please — don’t punish my friend for it! Aditya is not helping Anamika because he dreams of being with her… he just wants to help her fulfill her dreams and erase the fear he’s seen in her eyes since childhood! Please… your friend is the reason my friend is still alive. Don’t take her away from him like this. If you do… he’ll break. I promise… the day Anamika's manga is published, and she’s fulfilled her dreams… that day, my friend will walk out of her life on his own.”

  Saaniya’s face remained expressionless.

  She stood still — but in Aniket, she saw a reflection of herself.

  She saw the 19-year-old Saaniya — the one who had once begged for Anamika’s happiness, rubbing her nose against a cruel woman’s shoe, asking for forgiveness…

  …And in return, that woman had said just one thing:

  “You’re begging the wrong person for her freedom! She’s mine… only I have rights over her. She can’t talk to anyone else! Do you understand?! Anyone who dreams of her must die — and you will kill them! If you don’t… I’ll kill you. Now choose: your life, or Anamika’s freedom?”

  As those terrifying words echoed in her ears again, and that woman’s monstrous smile flashed in her mind — Saaniya began to tremble.

  She turned away and started walking toward her car, saying, “I… I’m not going to make this decision. Anamika will decide for herself whether she wants to work with Aditya or not… whether she wants to accept that contract or not. Forget what I said. Tell Aditya — the decision will be only Anu’s… No one else will decide for her.”

  Aniket just stood there, watching her walk away.

  For the first time, he noticed something strange in her voice…

  …and he saw Saaniya walking with unsteady steps, as if her soul had trembled.

  He asked himself quietly,

  “What happened to her? She was a volcano a moment ago… and now, there’s not even a spark left.”

  But what was this sudden change?

  And what caused it?

  Who was that woman in her memories?

  Now that the decision rests in Anamika’s hands…

  What will she choose?

  Will she walk away from Aditya’s life forever —

  or will she stay by his side… and complete her dream

  with him?