Author's POV

Shaurya sat alone in his dimly lit room, elbows on his knees, fingers tangled in his hair.

The silence around him was suffocating—but the storm inside him?
Deafening.

Her words echoed like a curse in his mind.
"Yes. You should have let me die."
His chest tightened.
How could she even think that?

They had fought for her. Siya had stayed by her side, sleepless. His men were hunting down the monsters who did this. And yet…

"I thought she wanted to fight… but it’s still the same."
A bitter laugh escaped him—but there was no humor in it.

"You wanted her to fight back, but did you ever stop to think that maybe she already is?"
His subconscious echoed with quiet rage.

"Not in your way, not like your wars—but in hers. In silence. In stares. In every breath she forces herself to take."

And he realized…
She wasn’t weak.
She wasn’t passive.
She wasn’t the kind of girl who sits and swallows pain.

She had argued with him. Challenged him. Thrown his words back in his face.
She didn't say she wanted to live.
But she hadn't given up either.

She had fire—buried deep beneath the pain, but it was there. He saw it. Felt it.

"Maybe that was her fight. Maybe that was her way of saying—I'm still here."
Shaurya exhaled slowly, his eyes burning.

For years, he had trained himself to be calm, to be calculated. But this… this wasn’t politics.
This wasn’t war. This was far messier.

This was her pain. Her battle.

And he? He was supposed to protect her.
Instead, he had pushed her. Pressed her wounds. Let his own helplessness speak.

"You wanted her to act like a fighter? She already is. Just not in the way you're used to."

He looked up at the blank wall in front of him, eyes hard.
"I was wrong."
He admitted it—not out loud, but deep where it mattered.

She wasn’t just a victim.
She was a girl who had every reason to fall apart… but still chose to stand, even if her legs trembled.

She had every right to hate the world… but she was still breathing in it.
And that was strength.

She didn’t cry or beg or pretend. She threw his anger right back at him and said what she felt.

Shaurya could respect that.
More than that, he admired it.

A quiet smile touched his lips—sad, but honest.
"You’re not weak. You’re the bravest damn girl I’ve ever met."

And now, he would learn patience all over again.

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to think.
"I can’t just sit here cursing myself. I have to do something… but what?"

A thought struck him, and without hesitation, he picked up his phone.

Google search: What to do when you upset someone?
He began reading aloud.

Acknowledge it.
"Yes, I recognize that my words may have hurt her. I should have spoken softly instead of being so harsh."

Apologize sincerely.
"Of course, I want to apologize… but how?"

Listen to their feelings.
"Sunne ke liye saamne waale ko kuch kehna bhi toh chahiye…"
("To listen, the other person has to say something first…")

Before he could read further, his door swung open.
"Shaurya, listen—" Veer started but stopped mid-sentence.

Both he and Ryan exchanged confused glances when they saw Shaurya sitting hunched over his phone, his brows furrowed in deep concentration.

Curiosity piqued, they walked closer and peered over his shoulder.

Take responsibility.
"I already take full responsibility for my words."

Make it right.
"But how?"

Give them space.
"Space toh already de rakhi hai!"
("I’ve already given her space!")

Learn from it.
"Aree… sab bata diya, lekin karna kya hai wohi nahi bataya!"
("They've told me everything except what to actually do!")

Frustrated, Shaurya locked his phone and tossed it aside.

Veer burst out laughing, while Ryan smirked.

Shaurya turned sharply. “When did you both come in?”

Veer wiped a tear from his eye. “When you were busy googling how to apologize like a lost puppy.”

“Who’s mad at you? Maybe we can help.” Ryan said with deadpan face.

Sighing, Shaurya explained what had happened the day before—how she had spoken for the first time since she was found, how she had admitted she didn’t want to live, and how he had responded in anger.

By the time he finished, both Veer and Ryan were staring at him, their eyes wide with shock.

“What?” Shaurya asked, confused by their reactions.

Veer stepped forward. “She… spoke to you?”

Shaurya blinked. “Yeah, so?”

“You idiot!” Veer smacked his arm. “She hasn’t spoken to anyone since she was found, and the first person she chooses to respond to is you! And you—” He grabbed Shaurya’s collar. “You ruined it by saying that?”

“Bhai, gusse mein keh diya!” Shaurya defended himself. “I just… I didn’t like hearing her say she didn’t want to live.”
("Brother, I said it in anger!")

“Oh, so your solution was to make it worse?” Veer scoffed. “She’s been through hell, Shaurya. You think she woke up feeling grateful to be alive? No! To her, she just returned to the same cruel world that destroyed her in the first place.”

Ryan shook his head. “You really are an idiot.”

Shaurya groaned. “I know! That’s why I’m looking for ways to apologize!”

Veer smirked. “You could give her flowers, jewelry, a bag, clothes—anything like that, you know…?”

He paused, then grinned mischievously. “If my Butterfly were upset with me, I’d take her on a date, dance with her, hug her, and kiss—"

"Chup kar ja, kaminee! Bahen hai woh meri!" Shaurya growled.
("Shut up, you bastard! She’s my sister!")

Veer just laughed. “Alright, alright. Then, let’s think of something else.”

Shaurya turned to Ryan desperately. “Ryan, tu bata. Yeh toh hai hi gadha.”
("Ryan, you tell me. This idiot is useless.")

Ryan looked genuinely shocked. “Wait… are you actually asking me for advice?”

Shaurya sighed. “Yes, Ryan. You can use your brain sometimes.”

Ryan think for sometime and then grinned. “Oh! I have the perfect solution.”

Shaurya and Veer leaned in, expecting something useful.

Ryan clapped his hands together. “Give her boxing gloves.”

Shaurya blinked. “What?”

“She’s mad, right? Let her beat you up. Trust me, her anger will fly away. Win-win situation.”

Shaurya stared at him like he’d grown a second head, while Veer struggled not to choke on his laughter.

Ryan, completely unfazed, continued. “Fine, plan B. Stand in front of her, look miserable, and say, ‘I’m dumb, I’m an idiot, and I don’t deserve forgiveness.’ Boom. Problem solved.”

Shaurya’s expression turned even more incredulous. “Ryan, I—”

“Wait, wait, one more! Guaranteed to work.” Ryan’s eyes lit up as if he had unlocked the secrets of the universe.

“If all else fails, just dramatically collapse to the ground and pretend to faint. Women love a little emotional damage. She’ll panic, forget why she’s mad, and bam—situation under control.”

Veer finally lost it. He burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
“Ryan, what the hell?! Where do you get this stuff?”

Ryan proudly pulled out his phone. “WhatsApp video. 10 Amazing Ways to Apologize to Your Girlfriend or Wife. These three were my favorites.”

Veer was crying with laughter now. “No wonder you’re still single.”

Shaurya just shook his head in defeat. “I regret everything.”

Finally calming down, Veer thought for a moment, then an idea struck him. “You cook food for her, right?”

Shaurya nodded. “Yeah, so?”

“Then write a letter and pack it with the tiffin. You don’t even have to face her.”

Shaurya stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. “Tu sachha bhai hai!”
("You are a true brother!")

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Haan, aur main kya hoon? Google ka rejected version?”
("Yeah, and what am I? A rejected version of Google?")

Shaurya chuckled. “Haan.”
("Yes.")

Ryan groaned while Veer laughed again. But Shaurya had already made up his mind. He wasn’t going to waste any more time. He needed to make things right.
.

.
.
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