Vincenzo remained seated on the edge of the bed long after Purvi left.
His eyes stayed fixed on the closed door.
He could still hear the faint sound of her footsteps disappearing down the hallway.
Then silence returned.
He looked at his injured arm.
The bandage was neatly wrapped around it, every edge carefully secured.
Purvi had done it.
The same woman who had spent the entire evening worrying about him.
The same woman who had cried while cleaning his wound.
The same woman who had looked at him as though his pain somehow belonged to her too.
He exhaled slowly.
“Ridiculous.”
A soft knock came at the door.
Vincenzo looked up.
Before he could answer, the door opened.
Lucia stepped inside.
She closed the door behind her and smiled softly.
“Son, how are you doing now?”
Vincenzo sighed.
“It’s only a scratch, Grandma.”
Lucia walked toward him.
She had heard those words before.
Too many times.
“Only a scratch?”
“Yes.”
She reached him and gently touched his shoulder.
“Son…”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“You should take care of yourself.”
“I’m fine.”
Lucia shook her head.
“That’s exactly what Purvi said you would say.”
He went quiet.
Lucia smiled.
“That girl cares about you.”
Vincenzo looked away.
“She cares about everyone.”
“Yes.”
Lucia sat beside him.
“But I haven’t seen many couples like you two.”
Vincenzo frowned.
“We’re not—”
“I know.”
Lucia raised a hand.
“I know what you keep saying.”
“The marriage is a contract.”
“Exactly.”
She smiled knowingly.
“But even when you’re being difficult, she still cares.”
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened.
Lucia continued.
“She doesn’t stop smiling.”
His eyes flickered.
“Even tonight, when she was worried sick about you, she still tried to smile.”
Vincenzo remembered her trembling lips.
The tears on her cheeks.
Her attempt to hide them.
Lucia looked toward his bandaged arm.
“She didn’t even eat properly.”
Vincenzo’s head turned.
“What?”
Lucia raised an eyebrow.
“Your PA called while we were waiting for you.”
She gave him a pointed look.
“Do you know what Purvi had been doing all evening?”
Vincenzo remained silent.
“Waiting for you.”
His expression changed slightly.
“She kept looking toward the door.”
Lucia smiled sadly.
“She was worried about where you were.”
Vincenzo swallowed.
Lucia continued.
“She made dinner for everyone while worrying about you.”
He stared at the floor.
“She wanted to make sure you had eaten.”
Something tightened in his chest.
Purvi had barely eaten herself.
And yet her first concern had been whether he had.
Lucia touched his shoulder again.
“Son, remember something.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“You applied vermillion to her forehead.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Lucia smiled.
“You remember?”
“Of course.”
“That little red mark means something to her.”
Vincenzo said nothing.
“Remember the wedding?”
His mind immediately went back to that day.
Purvi had stood before him, nervous but composed.
Her eyes had been filled with uncertainty.
He had taken the vermillion and applied it to her forehead.
At the time, it had simply been part of the ceremony.
A responsibility.
A ritual.
A contract.
But now…
Lucia’s voice softened.
“You’re the reason she blossoms as a married woman.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“Grandma…”
“I’m not saying you have to love her.”
The words caught him off guard.
Lucia smiled gently.
“I know you might not.”
He looked away.
“But she is your wife.”
His jaw tightened.
“At least for the duration of the contract.”
Lucia sighed.
“Yes.”
She didn’t argue with him.
Instead, she continued.
“And that means you are supposed to shield her.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“Protect her.”
Lucia’s eyes were serious now.
“Not only because she is your wife.”
She touched his injured arm carefully.
“But because she is a person who has become part of this family.”
Vincenzo’s gaze dropped to his bandage.
Lucia continued.
“And because you’re older.”
He gave her an incredulous look.
“You’re lecturing me about being older?”
“I am.”
Despite himself, Vincenzo almost smiled.
Lucia noticed.
“There.”
“What?”
“That.”
She pointed at his face.
“You almost smiled.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.”
Lucia laughed softly.
“Purvi is rubbing off on you.”
Vincenzo shook his head.
“She’s irritating.”
“Perhaps.”
Lucia smiled.
“But she is kind.”
He didn’t argue.
“She is warm.”
Silence.
“She cares.”
His eyes lowered.
“Even when you push her away.”
That one hurt.
Vincenzo leaned back slightly.
Lucia studied him.
“You keep telling that girl she is temporary.”
He looked at her.
“Because she is.”
“For now.”
Vincenzo’s expression hardened.
Lucia didn’t back down.
“That doesn’t mean you should treat her like she is disposable.”
“I don’t.”
“Then prove it.”
He remained silent.
“Don’t make her fear losing you.”
His eyes flickered.
Lucia continued.
“She has already lost people she loves.”
Vincenzo knew that.
He knew enough about Purvi’s past to understand why her words had carried so much weight.
I don’t want to lose anyone else.
He heard her voice in his head again.
Lucia squeezed his shoulder.
“No wife loves seeing her husband in pain.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“Even when both of them are lying to each other about not caring.”
His expression froze.
Lucia smiled.
“I know you two.”
“We don’t—”
“You care about each other.”
Vincenzo immediately looked away.
Lucia laughed softly.
“You can deny it.”
“I am.”
“I know.”
“You always say you know everything.”
“Because I am your grandmother.”
She smiled.
“And because I’ve lived long enough to recognize things.”
Vincenzo sighed.
Lucia stood.
“Just be careful, son.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Don’t make Purvi cry because you were careless.”
He said nothing.
“And don’t make this family lose you because you think you’re invincible.”
Lucia started toward the door.
Then she stopped.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“Drink whatever Purvi brings you.”
He frowned.
“Grandma—”
“She made it with love.”
“It’s turmeric milk.”
Lucia laughed.
“Then drink it with love.”
She opened the door.
Vincenzo stared at her.
“Grandma.”
She looked back.
“You didn’t answer me.”
“What?”
“How are you?”
Vincenzo glanced at his arm.
“I’m fine.”
Lucia smiled.
“Of course you are.”
Then she walked out.
Vincenzo sat there quietly.
Her words replayed in his head.
You’re the reason she blossoms as a married woman.
Don’t make Purvi cry because you were careless.
He looked toward the door again.
He didn’t know when Purvi had become someone whose tears bothered him.
Someone whose smile he noticed.
Someone whose absence made the house feel different.
Someone whose worry had followed him home.
He shook his head.
“This is just a contract.”
He said it quietly.
Almost as if he needed to convince himself.
The door opened again.
Purvi walked inside carrying a glass of warm turmeric milk.
She stopped when she saw him sitting there.
“Oh.”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“You came back.”
Purvi smiled.
“I told you I’d bring this.”
She walked toward him and handed him the glass.
“Drink.”
Vincenzo stared at it.
Then at her.
“You really made this?”
“Yes.”
“You remembered?”
Purvi smiled.
“I remember things.”
Something about her answer made his chest tighten.
He took the glass.
Purvi’s eyes immediately went to his bandaged arm.
“How does it feel now?”
“Fine.”
She frowned.
“You and Grandma have the same answer.”
Vincenzo almost smiled.
Almost.
Purvi noticed something in his expression.
“Did Grandma come here?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Vincenzo looked at her.
“Nothing.”
Purvi narrowed her eyes.
“Grandma never says nothing.”
He took a sip of the turmeric milk.
His face immediately changed.
Purvi burst into laughter.
“You hate it!”
“It’s terrible.”
“You said you’d drink it.”
“I didn’t say I’d enjoy it.”
She laughed again.
And for a moment, Vincenzo simply watched her.
Her smile.
Her bright eyes.
The way her entire face seemed to light up when she laughed.
Then he remembered what Lucia had said.
She doesn’t stop smiling.
He looked down at the glass.
Perhaps his grandmother was right about one thing.
Purvi cared.
More than she should.
And somehow…
He was beginning to care that she cared.
That thought frightened him more than the men who had attacked him that night.
Because a knife wound could heal.
But whatever was happening between him and Purvi…
He had no idea how to stop it.