The dinner ended in a strange silence. Shailaja had left her food halfway through and stormed back to her room, angrily muttering about how Adiraj was making something out of nothing. Adiraj, meanwhile, finished the rest of his dinner in silence, his hand never once leaving Madhavi's thigh beneath the table. Madhavi continued eating quietly, hardly daring to look up, her heart fluttering inside her at the realization of what he was doing. He wasn't merely touching her; he was trying to reassure her, quietly reminding her that despite the anger filling the room, she was safe beside him. The realization made an unnatural blush spread across her cheeks, until they felt as though they were on fire. She lowered her eyes even further, hoping he wouldn't notice.