The door opened quietly. Malvika stepped inside… and stopped. Aksh was awake. He lay on the bed, one arm resting carefully in a sling across his chest. The room was dim, lit only by the soft lamp near the bedside. The bruises along his temple and jaw had already begun to fade, yellow and pale against his skin. He was staring at the ceiling. Not moving. Not restless. Just… still.

As if his mind was somewhere else entirely. The faint click of the door closing made his eyes shift. They flickered toward her. And stayed there. Malvika hesitated for a second before walking further in. Her steps were slow, uncertain. The kind people take when they are not sure if they are welcome. She stopped beside the bed. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Aksh watched her quietly. Then his gaze drifted briefly to the door behind her.