Mrs. Pratap Singh gently brought Manju downstairs and seated her on a large chair that looked like a royal throne. Her face was still covered by a long veil.

Veer was sitting with his relatives, quietly watching everything.

All the women gathered around Manju. An elderly grandmother was the first to come forward. She slowly lifted Manju's veil, looked at her, and smiled.

"You have brought home a very beautiful daughter-in-law, Mrs. Pratap Singh."

Hearing those words, a small smile appeared on Veer's face.

One by one, all the women lifted Manju's veil to see her face. They blessed her and placed gifts and envelopes in her hands. When the muh dikhai ceremony was over, Mrs. Pratap Singh helped Manju stand up and said softly, "Now you can go to your room and rest."

Manju slowly walked toward the staircase with her veil still covering her face.

As she climbed the stairs, her foot suddenly twisted, and she lost her balance.

Just then, Veer noticed her and rushed toward the stairs.

He couldn't catch her in time, but Manju fell onto him instead. She wasn't hurt because Veer took the impact of the fall.

For a few moments, Manju was lying on top of Veer.

Their faces were only inches apart.

Neither of them looked away. They simply stared into each other's eyes.

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped. They could feel each other's warm breath, and neither of them said a word. Then, from behind them, the elderly grandmother cleared her throat loudly.

The sound brought Manju back to her senses. Embarrassed, she quickly tried to get up.

As Manju tried to get up, she slipped again and fell back onto Veer.

This time, she didn't just fall...

Her lips accidentally met Veer's.

Veer had imagined their first kiss many times, but never like this. Deep inside, he was happy, but with everyone watching, he felt embarrassed.

Manju was completely shocked by what had just happened. She quickly got up and ran to the terrace.

Everyone had witnessed their first kiss—a moment that should have belonged only to the two of them. That thought stayed in Veer's mind. But for Manju, this was something she had never wanted.

Veer quickly followed her to the terrace. Manju was standing there, crying quietly.

Veer walked up to her and said in a calm voice, "You should get some rest." Manju turned toward him with tears in her eyes.

"Why did you do this?" she asked.

Veer looked confused. "What did I do?"

Manju looked at him and said, "Why didn't you stop this marriage?"

Veer stayed silent.

With tears running down her innocent face, she spoke again. "You're right... Why would you answer my questions now?"

Avoiding her eyes, Veer said quietly, "Some things can't be changed."

Manju gave him a sad, angry smile through her tears and turned to walk back to her room.

Veer silently followed a few steps behind her.

The two of them were walking back to their room, with Manju in front and Veer following behind.

Suddenly, the lights went out.

Manju had always been afraid of the dark. The moment everything went black, she panicked. Without thinking, she turned around, ran back, and crashed into Veer's chest.

The moment she realized it was Veer, she didn't think about anything else. She tightly wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.

Her eyes were tightly shut with fear. Veer's heart began beating faster as he felt Manju holding him so tightly.

A moment later, the lights came back on.

Veer gently held Manju by her arms and carefully moved her away from his chest.

"Open your eyes," he said softly. "The lights are back."

Manju slowly opened her eyes and saw Veer standing right in front of her.

She suddenly realized that the very man she had been telling to stay away from her was the one she had just hugged so tightly.

Embarrassed, she quickly pushed Veer away, turned around, and ran into the room.

Veer couldn't help smiling.

"She's nothing like the person she pretends to be," he thought happily.

After changing his clothes, Veer came out of the bathroom. He saw Manju sitting on the floor beside the bed, wearing a beautiful white short nightdress. She was quietly crying while looking at her injured foot.

As soon as she noticed him, she quickly wiped away her tears.

Veer walked over, sat down beside her, and gently asked, "If it hurts, don't hide it."

In a low voice, Manju replied, "It doesn't hurt."

Veer opened the first-aid box, took out some medicine, and sat beside her again.

Manju quietly watched him. He's actually worried about me... she thought.

Veer gently lifted her foot into his hands and carefully applied the cream.

Then he looked up at her and asked softly, "Then why are your eyes so full of tears?"

Manju simply kept looking at him without saying a word.

After finishing, Veer gently held her ankle and looked into her eyes.

Manju looked back at him in silence.

With a worried yet gentle voice, Veer said,

"I can't bear to see you crying, Manju."

Manju was surprised.

"Why is he suddenly saying things like this?" she wondered.

She kept looking at Veer without saying a word.

Veer continued softly, "I don't know why, but whenever I see you crying, I can't control myself. It makes my blood boil."

For a brief moment, the anger in Manju's eyes softened, and a hint of warmth appeared.

But the very next second, memories of her past came rushing back.

She remembered what Rohan had done to her... how her own parents had forced her into a marriage... and how she believed Veer and his parents had taken away her dreams and ruined her future.

"My life is ruined... I'll never forgive any of you," she thought.

The moment those memories returned, Manju pulled her foot away from Veer's hands and tried to stand up.

But the pain in her ankle became worse, and she couldn't get up.

Veer watched her quietly. It hurt him to see her struggling like that.

He walked over and gently lifted her into his arms from behind.

Manju was shocked.

"Put me down!" she shouted angrily, hitting him with her hands.

But Veer didn't listen. He carefully carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.

He never touched her inappropriately, and Manju knew that very well.

Without saying another word, Veer went back to the sofa and lay down to sleep.

Manju pulled the blanket over herself, but instead of sleeping, she quietly kept looking at Veer.

The next morning, Manju was still asleep. During the night, her blanket had slipped off.

Veer woke up first. He gently covered her properly with the blanket before going to take a shower.

A little later, Manju woke up. Her ankle felt much better now.

Just then, the bathroom door opened.

Manju looked toward it...

The moment she saw Veer, she screamed at the top of her lungs,

"Veeeeeeer!!"

The reason was obvious.

Veer was standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist. His tall, handsome figure, well-built body, and toned six-pack abs were clearly visible. His fair skin was still wet from the shower, with drops of water glistening all over him.

Seeing Manju scream, Veer couldn't help smiling.

He looked at her and said...

To be continued...