The iciness in his gaze dissipated, replaced by a softer expression. Kriti lowered her head, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
Shabd's gaze fixated on the innocent girl standing in front of him, visibly shaken and marked by the red imprints of the slap on her face. Blood trickled from a wound on her forehead, a painful reminder of the recent events. Her quivering lips, dry and tinged with red, mirrored the fear that consumed her. The remnants of previous wounds adorned her slender, graceful neck, evidence of her troubled past.
Noticing her clenched fist gripping his shirt, Shabd experienced a surge of compassion. Gritting his teeth, he reached out and gently took hold of her trembling hand, slowly pulling her away. Kriti lifted her gaze to glimpse Shabd's retreating figure but dared not
