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Author's POV

The phone call was short, but the tremor in Krithika's voice was enough for Manvi to pack a bag immediately. "I'm coming to Knowledge City, Kittu. Just stay there."

Dhruv didn't ask questions; he simply grabbed the car keys.Upon arriving at Krithika's apartment, Dhruv offered a supportive nod to his sister-in-law before heading straight to Anant's place.

Kittu's POV

I sat on the sofa, my hands wrapped around a mug of cold tea, feeling smaller than I had in years. When Mannu walked in, I didn't even try to put on the "Strong Woman" mask.

"Anant proposed," I whispered.

Mannu sat beside me, a soft, knowing smile playing on her lips. "I knew it, Kittu. I saw the sparks and that chemistry back at the school and my wedding, but I was too afraid of your 'temperament' to say anything."

"I walked away, Mannu. I didn't say anything. I just... I couldn't breathe." I poured it all out-the fear of losing my independence, the weight of being the Strong one who has to be perfect, the terror that letting him in meant letting myself break.

Mannu didn't judge. She just pulled me into a tight hug, the kind only a sister can give. "Kittu, listen to me. Being self-reliant is a strength, but using it as a cage is a mistake. Following your heart isn't a sign of weakness. If a man like Anant genuinely wants to be the shoulder you lean on, let him. And remember, you'll be his shoulder, too. That's not a surrender-it's a partnership."

Anant's POV

Dhruv sat across from me in my study, the silence between us heavy with shared history. I had told him everything-the fireworks, the ring, and the way she simply vanished into the night.

"I love her, Dhruv," I said, my voice cracking for the first time. "It's not a conquest. It's not about being right. I've spent my life building a company, but when she walked away last night, I realized I'd been building it on sand. She's the only foundation that makes sense to me. I don't want a trophy wife; I want the woman who beats me by 0.5% and then challenges me to do better."

Dhruv leaned back, his gaze steady. "Then don't let her walk away again, Anant. A girl doesn't want a hero; she wants a soulmate and partner. Go get your partner."

Author's POV

Later that evening, the four of them gathered at Anant's house. The air was thick with tension. Dhruv caught Manvi's eye and gave a subtle tilt of his head toward the balcony.

"Mannu, I think I left something in the car. Come help me find it?" he said, his voice full of intentional transparency.

As they slipped away, the two Titans were finally left alone. The city lights twinkled behind them, but the real electricity was in the two feet of space between them.

The Confession: Anant & Kittu

Anant was the first to move. He didn't kneel this time. He just stood before her, raw and unguarded. "I'm not taking back the fireworks, Kittu. And I'm not taking back the words."

Krithika looked up, her eyes swimming with tears. "I was afraid, Anant. I thought if I said yes, I wouldn't be 'Krithika Sharma' anymore. I thought I'd just be a shadow."

"You could never be a shadow," Anant murmured, stepping into her space. "You're the sun. I'm just the planet that finally found its orbit."

"I love you," she whispered, the words finally breaking free from the fortress. "I love you so much it terrified me."

Anant didn't wait. He pulled her into a fierce, protective embrace, and for the first time, Krithika let her shoulders drop. She didn't have to be the elder daughter, the consultant, or the rival. She just had to be his.

"Love isn't a hostile takeover," Anant whispered into her hair. "It's a merger of equals. It's knowing that when the world throws a hail storm at us, we don't just find cover-we dance in it. You are my greatest rival, my toughest critic, and my soul's only match. From 0.5% to 100%, I am yours."

Krithika pulled back just enough to look at him, a tearful smirk returning to her face. "Fine. But I'm still keeping the framed marksheet."

Anant laughed, a sound of pure relief, and pulled her back into the quiet safety of his arms. The hail storm had passed, and the sun was finally rising on Knowledge City.

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