ANVAY'S POV

I was still in the room. Knowing she would eventually come here, I slowly got up from the couch and walked towards the walk-in wardrobe. Before stepping inside, I knocked on the door like a gentleman.

Subconscious mind: Like you would mind if you saw her changing. (Smirk.)

Only then did I slide the wardrobe door open and walk inside, stopping right beside her.

"Kya hua, jaan?" I asked in the most natural tone, as if I hadn't just done something that would completely shock her.

Well, it wasn't a big deal at least not to me. But if someone else saw all this, they'd probably think I was kinky.

My eyes drifted towards the lingerie section, and a proud smile spread across my face.

"Aapko inke designs pasand nahi aaye?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I looked at her. I stepped behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Agar aapko aur designs rakhne hain, toh aap rakh sakti ho. Hamare paas bahut space hai."

The moment she picked up the black butterfly lingerie set, I had to look away for a second to hide my smile. She kept turning it from one side to the other with the cutest frown on her face, genuinely trying to figure out which side was the front. Watching her struggle with something so simple was strangely adorable.

"Y-ye sab kya hai?" she whispered in complete disbelief.

I glanced at the set in her hands before looking back at her innocent expression. "Oh, ye..." I said casually, as if there was nothing unusual about it. "Dikh nahi raha aapko? Addiction ki latest collection hai. Achhi hai na?"

Her eyes instantly widened.

A deep shade of crimson spread across her cheeks as she stared at me, completely speechless. I couldn't help smiling. She clearly hadn't expected that answer.

Honestly, I had arranged every single thing in this wardrobe myself. From her everyday clothes to her party outfits... everything had its place because I didn't want anyone else handling my wife's personal belongings. It wasn't about control ,it was simply something I wanted to do for her. Though, I had to admit, a tiny selfish part of me was looking forward to seeing her choose her favorites one day.

The mere thought of her wearing those in front of me... ugh. I felt my hard cock twitch with arousal. I shut my eyes, trying to calm the wild thoughts running through my mind.

"A-achhi hai..." she stammered, still holding the delicate fabric as though it might disappear. "Par... ye yahan kyun hai?"

I shrugged, completely unbothered. "Pehenne ke liye hi hogi na. Shaadi ke baad aapko kisi cheez ki tension nahi honi chahiye. Aur aapka time bhi waste nahi hoga dhoondhne mein."

She blinked at me before slowly looking back at the lingerie in her hands.

"Par..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, "...isme chupega kya?"

That innocent question nearly broke whatever composure I had left.

A quiet laugh escaped my lips.

Closing the small distance between us, I slipped one arm around her waist and gently pulled her closer until there was barely any space left between us. Resting my forehead against the side of her neck, I smiled to myself before murmuring in a low voice,

"Chupana hi kyun hai?"

For a moment, the room fell completely silent. I could actually feel her freeze in my arms. Her heartbeat had become so fast that even without looking at her face, I knew exactly how red she must have been.

I smirked knowing the fact that only, I can make her blush like this.

I tightened my hold around her waist. "If you want to try them right now, you can... otherwise yahan aur bhi nightdresses hain. Abhi ke liye aap unmein se koi pehen sakti hain," I said softly, burrying my face into her neck.

" Umm..yaha sab aise hi honge na...", she mumbled with her closed eyes, her rising and falling chest were pressing against me. " Aap jayenge toh change karungi na"

I stepped back and smiled. "Achha, aap change kijiye. Main aapke liye snacks laata hoon. Gusse mein aapne lunch bhi nahi kiya hoga na."

Saying that, I walked out of the wardrobe, leaving her completely speechless.

I know she must feel when i leave her in the heat of the moment but it's for her own good.

____________

AUTHOR'S POV

OTHER SIDE

In the Malhotra Mansion..

"Yeh sab kya hai??" Arushi asked in complete shock, seeing the shopping bags arriving one by one.

The bags weren't small or half-empty. It looked as if someone had decided to open their own shopping mall.

Mishita and Inaya stood there innocently, staring at the mountain of shopping bags. The entire family had gathered in the living room, where all the bags were neatly placed.

"Yeh sab humne order nahi kiya. Kiska hai yeh sab?" Arushi asked in shock, her brows furrowing as she looked at the endless shopping.

Ishita stopped one of the delivery men. "Oh bhaiya, kya hai yeh sab? Humne kab mangvaya?"

He replied hesitantly, "Ma'am, yeh sab yahin ke liye hai. Humein toh yahi address mila tha."

Zayn stepped forward. "Kisne diya address?"

The employee pulled out a card from his pocket and showed it to them.

It was Adhisti Malhotra's card.

"Masi... yeh toh Ishtii ka card hai," he said in complete shock, making the entire living room fall silent.

The moment they heard that, Mishita and Inaya exchanged nervous glances and gulped. They knew the suspicion would now fall directly on them. Without saying a word, both quietly tried to slip away, only to be caught by Arushi and Ishita.

"Mishti... Innu," Ishita called out before they could escape.

Both of them froze before turning around with sheepish smiles.

"J-Ji, Bua..." Mishita replied nervously.

Yeh Ishtii bhi na... agar gussa aise hi nikalna tha toh kam se kam bata deti. Main seedha apne sasural hi chali jaati, she complained inwardly.

Letting out a quiet sigh, she exchanged another helpless look with Inaya.

"Yeh sab kya hai?? Aur Ishtii kahan hai??" Arushi asked, her eyebrows twitching together suspiciously.

"M-masi woh..." Inaya hesitated for a moment. She had never lied to her family and had never learned to hide things. "Hume nahi pata. Woh toh hume mall mein hi chhod kar chali gayi thi. I think woh jiju se gussa thi, isliye usne yeh sab kiya hoga," she explained, looking down.

Mishita looked down as well.

"Gussa thi? Gusse mein yeh sab kaun karta hai?? Usko kya mall kholna hai apna?? Cheeze dekho kitni keemti hain. Gusse mein aise paise barbaad kar diye--"

Mishita interrupted, "Bua, chill na... hum sab baant lenge yeh. Aur bahar bech bhi sakte hain. Think, hum apni website bana kar bech dein toh?? Kitna profit hoga! Aur dikhne se itni bhi mehngi nahi lag rahi. Sochiye, kitna benefit hoga. Ishtii ko toh discount mila hoga. Hum toh cost to cost sell karenge, tab bhi benefit hi hoga."

Ishita shook her head. "Bhaiya, bill dikhana," she demanded the bill from the employee.

He nodded and pulled out the bill copy from his pocket, showing it to them.

They glanced at the bill, only for their eyes to widen even more.

"Yeh zyada mehnga nahi hai??" Arushi almost yelled in shock. "Zara amount dekho..."

Arushi hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Heyy Kanha ji... kya karun main iss ladki ka?"

She let out a deep sigh and sat down on the couch while the mountain of shopping bags covered almost the entire floor.

"Ab Shiv ko kya kahungi main..." she mumbled before pausing for a second. "Wait... why am I stressing? Yeh sab unki hi galti hai. Kitni baar bola hai, mat chadhaao sar pe."

She rolled her eyes and picked up her phone, dialing your number. But since both of you were inside the walk-in wardrobe and Adhisti's phone was lying under the pillow, no one heard the ringtone.

"Don't worry, Aru. Ishtii aayegi toh ghar hi na... hum phir baat karte hain," Ishita said concernedly. She was still amused by Adhisti's anger issues.

"Kaise relax karun, Ishi? Yeh ladki ne toh dimaag kharab kar rakha hai..!!" Arushi groaned before looking at Mishita and Inaya again. "Ab bataogi tum dono ki woh naraz kyun thi Anvay se?"

Mishita and Inaya exchanged a quick glance. Mishita gulped nervously. She knew there was no point in lying.

Arushi had an unbelievable talent for catching lies, especially from the people she loved.

"Vo-voh... hum mall gaye the na... tab Ishti ne bhai ke saath ek ladki ko dekha," Mishita admitted hesitantly. Even now, a part of her refused to believe what they had seen... but she couldn't deny her own eyes.

"Achha..." Arushi nodded absentmindedly.

A second later, the meaning of Mishita's words finally registered.

Her eyes widened.

"WHAT?!" she exclaimed dramatically. "Mujhe pata tha! Yeh ladka itna seedha ho hi nahi sakta jitna dikhta hai!" She folded her arms, pretending to be furious.

Arushi (in mind): Aisa kaise ho sakta hai...? Anvay kuch bhi kar sakta hai... par aisa dhokha? Nahi. Itna toh main usse jaanti hoon.

Inaya immediately stepped closer, gently holding Arushi's arm before giving her a side hug.

"Masi, calm down..." she said, trying not to laugh. "Ishti ne unhe achha sabak sikha diya hai... aur shayad abhi aur sikha ke hi aa rahi hogi."

"Kya baat ho rahi hai?" a familiar voice came from the entrance.

All three of them turned at once. Nivansh walked inside casually, his gaze landing on Mishita almost immediately. Without a second thought, he slipped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her towards himself.

"Kya hua, janeman?" he asked softly, looking at her side profile. "Aap itni tension mein kyun ho?"

As he spoke, he gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The simple gesture was enough to make Mishita's cheeks turn a deep shade of crimson.

A faint smile appeared on his lips, but she rolled her eyes, looked the other way, and ignored him. Still, she didn't remove his hand from her waist, knowing everyone else would misunderstand the situation.

"Inaya," looking at Nivansh, asked, "Bhaiyaa, aap hi ho? Adhir bhaiya nahi aaye?" She deliberately changed the topic to divert his attention.

He turned towards Inaya and smiled softly. "Nahi, woh apne kaam mein busy hoga." Then he looked around at everyone's expressions. "Kya hua? Kuch problem hai?"

"Vo..." Arushi sighed before looking at him. "Main batati hoon." And she started telling him everything.

On the other side..

ADHISTI'S POV

After changing into the nightdress, which was honestly both comfortable and adorable. I walked out of the walk-in wardrobe and stepped back into our room.

A smile instantly found its way onto my lips as my eyes wandered around. The best part of this room wasn't its luxury, the expensive interior, or the colour palette.

It was the feeling.

Our room.

My gaze landed on the framed photographs scattered across the walls and shelves. Most of them were mine, making me chuckle softly, while the rest were pictures of us together.

Hayee... woh din kab aayega jab humari shaadi hogi...?

The thought made my heart flutter.

Par agar aisa hua hi nahi toh?

I frowned at my own thoughts.

What the hell am I even thinking? I mentally smacked myself. Aisa toh sapne mein bhi nahi ho sakta. Family ko toh mana hi lenge... aur agar nahi bhi maane... A small smile crept onto my lips. ...toh bhi shaadi toh unhi se karungi.

My eyes shifted towards the bedroom door.

"Uh... woh zaroor kitchen mein honge."

Without wasting another second, I walked out of the room and made my way towards the kitchen on our floor. Surprisingly, it didn't take me long to remember the entire layout of the mansion. While he had been showing me every corner earlier, I had been paying complete attention.

The moment I reached the kitchen entrance, I spotted him standing near the counter, completely focused on whatever he was cooking.

A smile tugged at my lips.

Quietly, I walked towards him, making sure my footsteps didn't make a sound. The moment I reached him, I slipped my arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly. Even at 5'6", I barely reached the middle of his broad back, making me pout a little at the ridiculous height difference.

I smiled the moment I wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my cheek against his back. I knew he was still upset, but I also knew him well enough to know that he could never stay angry with me for long.

Or... at least that's what I thought.

He didn't say a single word. Quietly, he turned off the gas stove, served the fried rice onto a plate, and took the sandwiches out of the oven.

The silence itself made me nervous.

The moment he turned towards me, I instinctively held his hand and smiled at him, hoping my silly grin would melt his anger away like it always did.

For a second...

It actually worked.

His expression softened.

But only for a second.

The next moment, his fingers slowly slid from my arm to the side of my neck. Before I could understand what was happening, he pulled me towards him in one swift movement until barely any distance remained between us.

"Toh aapko itna spicy uss professor ke saamne dikhna hai?" he asked in a dangerously calm voice.

My smile disappeared instantly.

"W-woh..."

I couldn't even complete my sentence.

He didn't let me.

Within seconds, I found myself lifted into his arms. Out of pure instinct, my legs wrapped around his waist while my hands gripped his shoulders for balance. My heartbeat became completely uncontrollable as he looked straight into my eyes.

"Tell me..." he murmured, his voice low enough to send shivers through my body. "Who only has the right to see you like this?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out.

Instead, he rested his face against my neck.

"Aapko itna struggle karna kyun pasand hai?" he whispered.

My breath caught in my throat.

Holding me securely, he walked towards the small dining table in the kitchen and gently made me sit on its edge, refusing to create even an inch of distance between us.

Looking at him this close, I finally realized...

He wasn't angry because of the dress.

He was jealous.

And somehow...

Knowing that made my heart flutter even faster than before.

I pouted, my fingers instinctively clutching the fabric of his shirt as I tried to defend myself.

"T-toh?" I mumbled. "Mera matlab woh nahi tha, Priyatam. Aapke saamne nahi... par aisa bhi toh nahi hai na ki sirf aap hi dekh sakte ho. I mean, aankhein toh sabke paas hoti hain. Main aapke saamne nahi toh college mein ya kahin aur pehen leti."

His jaw clenched.

"Kahin aur?" he repeated quietly, his gaze never leaving mine.

I huffed. "Aur woh toh bas aapke boring se reaction ki wajah se kaha tha. Agar reaction achha hota..."

He raised an eyebrow. "Boring?"

"Haan!" I narrowed my eyes at him. "...books ki tarah. Toh ab tak toh pata nahi hum kya-kya plan kar chuke hote."

A helpless smile almost appeared on his face, but he hid it immediately. "aapko pata bhi hai aap kya bol deti hain kabhi kabhi?"

I rolled my eyes before looking away.

"Anyways... sab kuch waste hi tha." I folded my arms across my chest with an exaggerated pout. "So, I won't wear anything for you. Huh!"

"You are so old," I complained dramatically. "Aap is generation mein paida kaise ho gaye? Thoda romantic hona bhi seekh lijiye. Waise bhi, inke Satyawan banne se kaunsa mummy-papa ko yeh achhe lagne lag jayenge? Arey wah betam.tumne toh line cross nahi ki... tujhe toh main saatve aasman par bithaunga!"

AUTHOR'S POV..

Anvay was looking at Adhisti's face the entire time she kept blabbering. He didn't know whether she was really desperate to do everything or if it was just moments like these that made her want him.

Meanwhile, Adhisti kept speaking with tiny pouts appearing every few seconds, her hands moving dramatically as she tried to prove her point. She looked away every now and then as if she was annoyed, only to steal another glance at him the very next second.

A helpless smile crossed Anvay's face.

Slowly, he cupped her face and placed a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Baat mere line cross krne ki nahi hai.. apko kya lgta hai main aisa kuch krke apse shaadi nahi kr sakta? Ya iske bina apse shaadi nahi kr sakta?"

His words made her playful expression soften. She blinked at him before her lips slowly parted, but no words came out. Instead, she simply looked into his eyes, quietly listening.

He asked in the softest tone. He knew she understood things very quickly.

"Baat apke character ki hai Addiction, baat humare rishte ki purity ki hai... Tell me if I do anything with you before our marriage, kya apke parents yeh sochege ki koi na bachhe h ho gayi glti.. they will only think ki main sirf yehi sab chahta tha."

The teasing smile on Adhisti's face gradually disappeared. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his shirt as she listened. She lowered her gaze for a brief moment before looking back at him, her eyes silently asking him to continue.

He tried to explain even though it was tough. It had never been about her parents. It was about his own insecurities. No matter how much the world respected Adhisti or what they thought of her... and no matter how badly he wanted revenge against the Malhotras, he could never let anyone question her character. He wouldn't allow a single finger to be raised against her.

"Addiction, kya meri harkte dekh kr, mere action dekh kr apko nahi lagta main bhi utna hi apko chahta hu jitna aap..."

Leaning closer to her face until their lips were dangerously close to each other, he continued,

"My situation is same as you, Addiction. It's just I don't want anyone to judge us, our relation. Mujhe samaaj se frk nahi padhta, par uss duniya se padhta hai jis mein aap ho.."

Adhisti's heartbeat seemed to skip for a moment. She forgot to blink, completely lost in his words. The playful arguments she had prepared faded away one by one.

Their lips brushed slightly.

"Aur jo sukoon shadi ke baad aapki sanity lene mein hoga..." he paused, meeting her eyes, "...jo sukoon apko tb chunne mein ayega woh abhi aa hi nahi sakta."

A shy smile unknowingly appeared on her lips before she quickly hid it by biting the inside of her cheek.

Their breaths collided.

"Addiction, I want you. Yes, I need you in the same way you need me... but put yourself on my place. Think, agar yehi apke parents ki jagha mere parents na accept krte toh??"

She slowly nodded.

For the first time since the argument had started, she genuinely tried to see things from his perspective.

Moving a little back, just enough to look into her eyes, he smiled faintly.

"Line cross krna badi baat nahi hai.. but the difficulty, the things happened after these things... you are too young to understand them. Moreover you are still... a little girl with bold moves."

The last words were spoken playfully.

Adhisti's eyes widened instantly.

She frowned, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at him with the cutest offended expression.

"And stop reading those books, otherwise I'll burn them."

Her mouth immediately fell open.

"What?" she whispered in complete disbelief, looking at him as though he had just committed the biggest crime imaginable.

He said it like a strict father. He knew she picked up all of this from those books. They had completely messed with his Addiction's mind.

He knew that if two people truly loved each other, being intimate wasn't a big deal. But what was the point of intimacy if it was driven only by lust?

Right now, whenever they started losing control, she mistook it for love. But it was just hormones. And that was okay. He knew one day she would understand the real reason he wanted to wait until they were married.

"Achha, leave it. Let's have dinner..."

Turning towards the kitchen counter, he picked up the fried rice.

"Waise bhi main compliment du ya nahi, you can always look into my eyes for reassurance."

He walked back towards the table where Adhisti was sitting and placed the bowl of fried rice beside her.

She looked up at him quietly, her eyes softer than before.

"Ki meri nazar mein bs aap khubsurat ho."

He bent down, resting his hands on his knees to match her eye level.

"Agar meri nazar mein koi aur khubsurat hota toh ab tk jhuti tarifo ke pull bandh chuka hota."

Adhisti couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. She quickly looked away, pretending his words hadn't affected her at all.

He gently kissed the tip of her nose.

"So stop overthinking.. aap mein koi problem nahi hai aur aisa toh bilkul bhi nahi hai ki main aapse physically attracted nahi hu.. it's me who has problem to do anything before marriage. You can blame me for this thing, I won't mind. Kyuki aap sirf hume dekh rahi ho, par being your husband I have to see many things so that you can be careless as always..."

A faint warmth spread across her cheeks. She looked at him with a small smile, her eyes silently thanking him for understanding her even when she failed to understand herself.

He gently caressed her cheek before moving back towards the counter to pick up another plate of sandwiches.

ADHISTI' S POV..

I smiled at his words.

Smiling?

No...

I was blushing.

A warmth spread across my cheeks before I could stop it, my heart swelling with a happiness that was impossible to hide. The smile on my face only grew wider as I looked at him, completely forgetting the world around us.

"I loveeeeeee youuuuuuu soooooooooo muchhhhhhhhhhhhhh," I said, stretching every word with a grin.

Without giving him a chance to react, I reached for his wrist and gently pulled him towards me. My fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt, making him lean just enough for me to place a quick peck on his cheek. Before he could recover, I quickly scooped up a spoonful of rice and held it to his lips.

I already knew he wouldn't answer.

And strangely...

I didn't mind anymore.

There was a time when his silence used to upset me. I would overthink every little thing. But somewhere along the way, I realised he wasn't someone who expressed himself easily.

He kept his emotions locked away, only letting a handful of people see that side of him.

He wasn't like me.

I wore my heart on my sleeve. I spoke whatever I felt without thinking twice. He was the complete opposite. He never let anyone step into his personal space... yet with me, he talked more openly than he did with anyone else.

The way he looked at me, cared for me, protected me... somehow, those things always spoke louder than words ever could.

I knew one day he'd say it. There was no need to rush him. As he finished the bite and quietly fed me the next one, a smile spread across my lips. I happily accepted it before absentmindedly licking the corner of my lips.

"Umm... so yummy."

I chewed for a moment before looking at him again.

"Waise, Priyatam... main kuch kahun?"

Curiosity flickered across his face as he pulled out the chair opposite mine and sat down, silently waiting for me to continue.

I swallowed the bite before speaking. "Abhi aapne kaha na... sab shaadi ke baad." I nodded seriously. "I totally understand, okay? I'll be a good girl and won't say anything." Then I raised my hand between us, leaving about an arm's length of space. "But phir... aap bhi itni distance maintain karoge."

I pointed at the gap dramatically. "Haan... itna."

A tiny pout formed on my lips. "Because his presence makes me lose my self-control. Aur phir woh khud kuch nahi karenge..." I hurriedly added, waving my hand. "Don't take me wrong! Main achhe wale sense mein bol rahi hoon."

I let out a tiny huff.

"Meri jaisi innocent ladki ko bhi kabhi-kabhi craving toh hogi hi na..." I muttered under my breath before looking back at him hopefully. "So... how's it?" I asked hopefully. "Ab hum shaadi ke baad hi kiss karenge. Unke liye bhi easy ho jayega... you know..." I paused, genuinely giving my idea some thought before my face brightened. "Achha, dekho..." I began counting on my fingers one by one. "Hum hug kar sakte hain..." I raised the first finger. "Woh mere cheeks pe kiss kar sakte hain..." the second finger went up. "Nose..." the third. "Forehead..." the fourth. Then I narrowed my eyes at him and pointed my finger warningly. "No neck kisses." I declared as if I were making official rules. "Umm... woh lips pe sirf peck kar sakte hain... proper kiss nahi. Same goes for me."

Completely satisfied with the list I'd just made, I gave myself a tiny nod, as though I'd solved the biggest problem in the world. Then, acting like the discussion was over, I casually picked up another spoonful of rice and slipped it into my mouth, quietly chewing while pretending not to care.

But every few seconds, my eyes wandered back to him on their own, secretly searching his face for the slightest reaction, waiting to see whether he'd agree... or completely destroy my brilliantly planned "rules."

For almost fifteen seconds, I simply sat there, waiting for his reaction after proudly announcing my rules, terms, and conditions. He didn't say a word. He just kept looking at me with an unreadable expression. Slowly, I noticed the corners of his lips twitch, as though he was fighting the biggest battle of his life not to laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him immediately.

Don't you dare. He knew very well how much I hated it whenever someone laughed at my innocence. For me, I wasn't innocent..I was simply being logical.

Finally, he managed to control himself. "Okay, I agree with your conditions..." he said, making my face instantly brighten. Before I could celebrate my victory, he suddenly added, "...but..."

My smile froze. The next second, he pulled my chair towards himself. I instinctively grabbed his shoulder for balance, my eyes widening in surprise. "Kya aap mujhse dur reh paogi?" he asked with the most innocent expression possible. If I didn't know him, I would've believed that face completely. Unfortunately, the mischief dancing in his eyes exposed him.

"So..." he tilted his head slightly, studying every little reaction on my face, "...toh kya aap sach mein mujhse dur rahogi abse?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but before a single word could escape, he continued, "Aap aaj raat yahan ruk rahi hai... so you won't cuddle me? Are we really going to stay in different rooms, or you would be on the bed and I would be on the couch like a forced marriage couple?"

My brain instantly stopped working.

Wait... I hadn't even thought about tonight. Different rooms? No cuddling? Why did his questions suddenly make my own rules sound so cruel?

As if that wasn't enough, his fingers slowly brushed against my neck. My breath caught for a moment.

"I won't kiss your neck," he said so casually that it almost sounded unfair. "Tell me... if you can stay away from touching my abs."

My cheeks instantly warmed. Before I could recover, I noticed him absentmindedly lick his lips.

Ughh why he is doing this.

"I won't kiss you for long... kya aap mujhe kiss kiye bina reh logi? Won't you play with my Adam's apple?"

I blinked at him, completely speechless. Every single question he asked quietly destroyed one rule after another, and the worst part was... I didn't even have an answer.

A quiet chuckle escaped him before he casually picked up his sandwich and took a slow bite, acting as if none of this mattered. "Fine," he sighed dramatically. "From today onwards... no long kisses, no show off of my hard work. You won't sit in my lap, right? No carrying you from one place to another... yahan tak ki no massage to your legs when they're hurting just because you walked two extra steps."

My eyes widened with every sentence.

Then he looked straight into my eyes, completely calm. "And don't complain when I actually follow your rules." He took another bite of his sandwich before asking with the most innocent face ever, "Fair enough?"

I simply stared at him. A few seconds ago, I had been so proud of my brilliant plan. Now... hearing him repeat it back to me, it suddenly sounded like the worst deal in the history of mankind.

"Uhh... vo..." I stammered, my eyes widening the moment I realised how my words could've sounded. "Mera kehne ka woh matlab nahi tha... sachii." I waved my hands in front of him, trying to explain myself as quickly as possible. "Main bas yeh keh rahi thi ki hum hug kar sakte hain... matlab..." I bit my lip awkwardly. "...you can carry me also. Aur... kissing thodi zyada intense hoti hai... Kisi ke hard work ko admire aur praise karna bhi toh achha hota hai..." I finished, my voice growing quieter towards the end.

Not giving him enough time to interrupt, I quickly stood up from my chair and walked around the table. The next moment, I settled comfortably on his lap, both my legs hanging together on one side of his while I adjusted myself to find the perfect position.

A satisfied sigh escaped my lips as I leaned against him.

"Ab..." I said matter-of-factly, "aapke bacche ke legs pain karenge aur aap massage bhi nahi karoge." I looked at him with an accusing expression.

"Yeh toh galat baat hai na." My fingers absentmindedly played with the buttons of his shirt as I continued complaining. "Phir aapko bhi toh achha nahi lagega agar koi aur kare."

I looked up at him innocently before shrugging.

"Aur waise bhi..." I mumbled, "...main kya keh rahi thi... rules-vules ka kya hai? Aate-jaate rehte hain." A tiny smile tugged at my lips. "Hum cuddle bhi nahi karenge toh aap so hi nahi paoge." I nodded confidently as if I had just stated an undeniable fact. "Dekho... mujhe toh koi problem nahi hogi..." I paused dramatically before poking his chest with my finger. "...par aapko ho jayegi. Aur main..." my voice softened into a small mumble, "...main aapko problem mein dekh hi nahi sakti."

My arms slowly slipped around his neck again as I rested my chin lightly on his shoulder, smiling to myself as though I'd just won the argument.

A small smile spread across my lips the moment I heard his chuckle. Looking at his amused face, I couldn't help smiling back.

"Hmm... dekho kitni dikkat hai, betu. Ab mujhe itni problem hogi, aapko kaise achha lag sakta hai..."

I lowered my gaze for a second, trying to hide my smile.

He always had a way of turning my own arguments against me.

"So everything would be the same, okay!! No line crossing and we will do our romance like always. Waise bhi pyaar ka naam woh sab karna hi toh nahi hai na... we will be together, happy, and our relationship will be the healthiest."

His words slowly melted away the stubbornness inside me.

Maybe...

He was right.

Love wasn't only about crossing boundaries.

It was about feeling safe, respected, and happy with each other.

Before I could say anything, he leaned forward and gently kissed my forehead.

"Achha, ab khana thanda ho raha hai. Chaliye dinner karte hain... then we will cuddle."

I rolled my eyes dramatically, but a smile still stayed on my lips. Like always, he said it as if it were an order no one could refuse. Quietly, I opened my mouth as he brought another bite of the sandwich towards me, happily eating it while looking at him.

Then, in the same calm voice as though he had just commented on the weather, he added, "Aur aaj toh aapne itna soft sa nightsuit pehen rakha hai... already aapke boobs itne soft hain, aaj toh inn pe sone ka aur bhi maza ayega."

For a whole second...My brain completely stopped working. The bite inside my mouth almost made me choke. My eyes widened as I slowly lifted my head to look at him.

He looked perfectly normal.

As if he hadn't just said the most unexpected sentence of the entire evening.

AUTHOR'S POV..

On the other side...

The moment Shivansh stepped inside the mansion after returning from the office, his eyes immediately searched for one person.

Adhisti.

When he didn't find her anywhere, his gaze shifted to the mountain of shopping bags still lying untouched in the living room. A frown settled on his face.

"Ghar nahi aayi se kya matlab, Sukoon?" he asked, looking straight at Arushi. His voice remained calm, but the anger hidden beneath it was impossible to miss.

Arushi let out a helpless sigh before answering, "Shreya ne uski location hack karne ki try ki thi, par location ka pata nahi chal raha hai. Last time toh mall mein hi dekha tha Mishti aur Inaya ne."

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

"Yeh pakka uss Rathore ka kaam hai," Shivansh gritted his teeth. "Aapne uska phone try kiya?"

Arushi immediately shook her head. "Aapko kyun lagta hai Ishtii uske saath hogi? Mishita bata rahi thi un logon ne Anvay ko kisi aur ladki ke saath mall mein dekha..." She quickly explained everything before her worried eyes met his. "Aap pata karo na... kaha hai meri bachhi."

Shivansh noticed the panic on her face and gently held her hand.

"Sukoon... main hoon na. Don't worry. Humari Star ko kuch nahi hoga."

Just then, the main door opened and Nivansh walked inside, slightly out of breath. One look at his face was enough for everyone to understand he hadn't found her.

"Bua... kuch pata nahi chala Sunshine ka. Park, club, riverside... sab jagah check kar liya."

Shivansh closed his eyes for a brief second before exhaling heavily.

"Ek kaam ka ladka nahi hai koi." , Muttering under his breath, he pulled out his phone and immediately dialed Adhisti's number.

After dinner, we were lying on the bed, comfortably cuddled together. A small smile rested on my lips as he placed gentle kisses along my neck, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the ear of my top.

I couldn't stop smiling.

Sometimes I seriously wondered what went on inside his head. He looked at the strap with complete curiosity, as if he were trying to figure it out.

"I don't know if it's a bra or a top," he mumbled softly, making me bite back a laugh. "But whatever it is... it's really cute... and looks adorable on you"

" It's top Anvay..bra nahi hai "

Before he say his phone suddenly rang, breaking the peaceful silence between us.

He let out an annoyed groan and reluctantly pulled away just enough to take his phone out of his pocket.

The moment his eyes landed on the caller ID, he scoffed dramatically.

"Oh, great..."

Turning the screen towards me, he showed me the caller's name.

"Your Hitler is calling... I mean, your revered father."

I glared at him and with a cute little baby,

the next second, with an exaggerated sigh, he dramatically rested his head on my chest as though the phone call had completely ruined his mood.

Ugh this man..kisne inko itna bada kardiya..harkate bachoo vali hai saari..

Without saying anything, one of his hands slowly moved towards my navel, absentmindedly drawing lazy circles there while his gaze remained fixed on the phone in my hand. Then he gently caught one of my hands and placed it in his hair.

The silent message was clear.

He wanted me to play with his hair while I talked.

Smiling helplessly at his childish antics, I slowly ran my fingers through his soft hair before taking a deep breath and answering the call.

I smiled unconsciously as my fingers continued caressing his hair. My gaze shifted towards the phone screen lighting up beside me. The moment I saw the caller's name, my heartbeat skipped for a second. I quickly cleared my throat before answering the call.

"H-He... hello, Dadda..." I greeted nervously, instinctively gulping.

A soft chuckle came from the other side.

"Star... it's your Dad, not your Dadda," Dad corrected gently. His voice carried the same warmth it always did, almost as if he had already expected that I would answer his call.

A sheepish smile spread across my lips.

"I know, Dadda... it's my Dad," I replied with an innocent grin. "Waise... aapne call kyun kiya?" I asked, completely forgetting both the time... and the fact that I was sitting with him.

Just then, he quietly rested his head against my stomach, making my breath hitch. A thousand butterflies erupted inside me at once, accompanied by an unbearable ticklish sensation.

I instinctively bit my lower lip, trying my best not to react while absentmindedly running my fingers through his hair.

"Star..." Dad's voice turned a little more serious. "Look at the time." There was a familiar hint of protectiveness in his tone. "Tell me where you are. I'm coming to pick you up."

Confused, I slowly lifted my head and looked towards the wall clock.

The moment my eyes landed on the time...

They widened.

9:30 p.m.

For a few seconds, I simply stared at it in disbelief. It was the first time in history that I had stayed outside the house this late.

"Uh... Dad... vo... hum na--

The words got stuck in my throat. I couldn't find the right way to explain.

If I told him that I was at his house with him, I knew Dad would get angry and come to take me back by any means necessary.

"Star, main kuch puch raha hu. Where are you??" Dad asked, his voice a little strict.

Before I could answer, I looked down at Anvay. A mischievous smile instantly spread across his lips , I watched him rest his chin against my lower stomach, completely ignoring the call.

My breath hitched.

I instinctively bit my lower lip, trying my best not to react while my fingers slipped into his hair.

He looked up at me with an innocent smile that clearly wasn't innocent at all.

"Tell him, Star... you are staying with me," he teased, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Star..."

Even through the phone, I could hear the concern in Dad's voice.

Before I could gather enough courage to reply, Anvay gently took the phone from my hand. Supporting himself on one elbow, he brought it to his ear while his gaze remained fixed on me, making me shake my head helplessly.

"What happened, sasur ji?" he asked so casually that my eyes widened.

"Where the hell are you?" Dad's voice instantly changed from worried to furious.

"Pehle pyaar se baat karo, phir bataunga," Anvay replied with the most shameless smile ever.

I could almost hear Dad grinding his teeth from the other side.

For some reason...

Anvay looked completely satisfied.

"Fine... but still you can't come here. Because I won't tell you the correct address, and she is staying here tonight. Don't worry, she will be safe and healthy. She had her dinner, and we are planning to sleep. So... good night."

Before Dad could say another word, Anvay disconnected the call and casually tossed the phone onto the other side of the bed.

_________⁠_✧⁠*⁠。⁠✧⁠*⁠。_________

AUTHOR'S POV...

The black SUV raced through the empty highway at full speed, its headlights cutting through the darkness of the night. Shivansh gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched while Arushi sat beside him in the passenger seat, repeatedly glancing out of the window as if she could somehow find Adhisti on the deserted roads.

Behind them, two more luxury cars followed without leaving any distance. Nivansh was driving one with Mishita sitting beside him, while Aditya and Zavian were in the other. Back at the mansion, Ishita, Inaya, and Shreya had stayed behind. Someone had to remain there in case Adhisti returned on her own.

Trailing behind the three luxury cars, nearly twenty jeeps filled with armed bodyguards sped down the highway, their headlights forming a long line across the dark road.

Just then, Arushi's phone buzzed.

She immediately picked up the call.

"Hello... kuch pata chala? Aisa kahan ghar bana ke rakha hai usne!!"

On the other end, Shreya remained surprisingly calm.

"Aru, thoda shaant ho ja. Location thodi track hui thi, par system crash aa gaya tha, isliye main exact location send nahi kar paayi. Lekin jahan Dhruv bhai ka ghar tha... ussi forest line mein, Baagwala ke paas kahin location show ho rahi hai. Main dobara exact location nikalne ki try kar rahi hoon. Tum log filhaal uss road par dekho."

Arushi instantly nodded before turning towards Shivansh.

"Shiv... Baagwala side chaliye. Vahin kahin location mili hai."

Without wasting another second, Shivansh nodded and turned the steering wheel, changing the direction of the car before pressing harder on the accelerator.

At the same moment, the Bluetooth connected to the car lit up as his phone started ringing.

He accepted the call.

"Apne direction kyun change ki? Sunshine ka pata chal gaya?!" Nivansh's worried voice echoed through the speakers.

Keeping his eyes on the road, Shivansh replied, "Nahi... par chal jayega. Baagwala side dekhte hain. Aur baaki kisi se koi information mili?"

Driving his own car while keeping pace with Shivansh's SUV, Nivansh answered,

"Abhi tak toh nahi. Par maine saare hotels band karwa diye hain. Aur Delhi se lekar Mumbai tak har kone mein apne aadmi laga diye hain. Sab usse dhoondh rahe hain."

Only the sound of the engines roaring against the empty highway echoed through the night.

Shivansh's grip on the steering wheel tightened even more.

"Police?" he asked after a few seconds.

Nivansh shook his head even though the other man couldn't see him.

"Nahi. Abhi nahi. Agar police involve hui toh media ko pata chalne mein der nahi lagegi. Aur agar media ko pata chal gaya... toh Sunshine ka naam bhi drag hoga. Main woh risk nahi lena chahta."

A heavy sigh escaped Shivansh. " Hmmm"

Arushi, who had been silently listening to their conversation, suddenly spoke. "Shiv mujhe dar lagra hai 2 baj gaye hai agar vo kuch aisa vesa -- ek toh apki ladli ka phone bhi band aara hai "

The question made everyone fall silent once again. Nivansh looked ahead at the empty road , his hand tightened on the staring wheel, eyes burned with anger with a mare thought. " Aisa nahi hoga bua don't worry..Itni himmat aane se phele mai usko zinda nahi chrdunga "

Sitting beside Nivansh, Mishita silently gulped. Her fingers tightened around each other as she lowered her head and started praying.

Mishita (in mind): Hey Bhagwan ji... I know she is safe and secure. Bhai aisa kuch kar hi nahi sakte... par yeh log samajh kyun nahi rahe? Inhe kya pata... pehli baar thodi na Ishtii bhai ke saath hai.

She closed her eyes for a brief second before opening them again, her heart torn between her family and the truth she couldn't reveal.

Meanwhile, in the third car, Aditya glanced sideways at Zaviain, who was continuously typing on his laptop balanced over his lap. His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard, his eyes scanning multiple screens without missing a single detail.

"Kuch mila?" Aditya asked impatiently.

Without looking up, Zaviain suddenly clicked a key before pressing another button. He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Shivansh's number.

The moment Shivansh answered, Zaviain spoke without wasting a second.

"Hello... mil gayi hai Princess ki location. Maine tujhe send kar di hai."

Hearing those words, Aditya instantly looked towards him. Zaviain turned the laptop screen in his direction, displaying the exact location on the map.

Without waiting for another instruction, Aditya tightened his grip on the steering wheel and immediately turned the car towards the location Zaviain had tracked.

Almost at the same moment, Shivansh's phone vibrated with the location notification. His eyes briefly shifted towards the navigation screen before returning to the road.

"Mil gayi..." he murmured.

Arushi immediately leaned closer.

"Kahan hai?"

"Forest ke andar..." Shivansh replied, his voice growing colder. "Main location sabko forward kar raha hoon."

Within seconds, every vehicle in the convoy received the same location.

The route on each navigation screen changed simultaneously. Without slowing down, all three luxury cars took the narrow road leading towards the dense forest, while the twenty security jeeps followed closely behind.

The headlights cut through the darkness as dust rose behind the speeding vehicles.

Inside the second car, Nivansh glanced at the location before pressing harder on the accelerator.

"Bas kuch hi minute..." he muttered.

Mishita silently looked outside the window.

Please... she prayed. Bas sab theek ho. Bhagwan ji... aaj kisi ko sach pata na chale.

In the third car, Aditya's jaw remained clenched.

"Kitni door?" he asked.

Zaviain checked the map once again.

" Panch minute"

Aditya nodded.

The convoy continued racing through the silent forest road. The only sounds breaking the eerie silence were the roaring engines... and the growing fear inside every heart.

Barely five minutes later...

The convoy came to a screeching halt in front of a massive mansion hidden deep inside the forest.

The tall black gates stood like silent guards, surrounded by towering trees that blocked almost every trace of moonlight. The entire place looked isolated from the rest of the world.

One after another, the luxury cars stopped.

Before the engines had even fully turned off, the doors flew open.

Shivansh stepped out first, his expression darker than the night itself. Arushi quickly followed behind him. Nivansh, Mishita, Aditya, and Zaviain also got out without wasting another second.

Within moments, all twenty bodyguard jeeps stopped as well.

The armed guards immediately jumped out, spreading across the entrance and surrounding the mansion with practiced precision.

The sudden arrival of so many vehicles shattered the silence of the forest.

The guards stationed outside the mansion instantly stiffened. Their eyes widened as they watched the convoy of luxury cars and armed men stop outside the gates.

Guard 1 :- Ye toh vahi Malhotra's haina? Sir ko pata chala humne inhe andar jaane dia toh inse phele hume upar phochadenge..

Guard 2:- tera toh hai hi kon? Mere toh biwi bachee bhi hai..ab kya karna hai?

Guard 3:- Tujhe kya lagta hai shoot karenge hum inpe? Ya rokenge? Ofcourse sir ko call kar.

One of them immediately pulled out his phone.

Without saying a word to anyone else, he dialed Anvay's number.

...

Inside the mansion...

Everything was quiet.

Anvay was lying peacefully on the bed with Adhisti sleeping in his arms, her head resting against his chest while his arm remained securely wrapped around her waist. They had unknowingly fallen asleep like that, completely unaware of the storm waiting outside.

The sudden vibration of his phone on the bedside table disturbed the silence.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Still half asleep, he reached for the phone without opening his eyes. The moment he saw the caller ID...

Whatever little sleep remained disappeared.

He glanced at the girl sleeping peacefully in his embrace before carefully answering the call in a low voice.

"Haan?"

The guard's panicked voice came from the other side.

"Sir... problem ho gayi hai. Malhotra family yahan aa gayi hai... aur unke saath bahut saare armed bodyguards bhi hain."

For a brief second...

Silence.

Then Anvay slowly closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh. "Gate mat kholna. Main aa raha hoon."

He disconnected the call, his gaze immediately falling back on the sleeping girl in his arms.

"...Good morning to me." He muttered under his breath with a helpless smile.

Back at the mansion...

An eerie silence had settled over the entire place.

The cold night breeze rustled through the towering trees, carrying with it an unsettling calm. Dozens of headlights illuminated the massive black gates, making the isolated mansion look even more intimidating in the darkness.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

Standing at the front, Shivansh stared at the enormous gates without blinking. His expression was unreadable, but the fury burning beneath his calm exterior was impossible to miss. He had already lost every bit of patience he had left.

"Gate kholo."

His deep voice echoed through the silent forest.

The guards stationed outside instinctively looked at one another. A wave of nervousness passed across their faces. None of them dared to move, knowing exactly whose orders they had been given.

After a long moment, one of the guards slowly stepped forward. Swallowing hard, he lowered his gaze respectfully.

"S-Sir... humein permission ke bina gate kholne ki ijazat nahi hai."

The sentence had barely left his mouth when the atmosphere changed.

Almost instantly, the bodyguards standing behind Shivansh tightened their grip around their weapons. One by one, they took slow steps forward, their eyes never leaving the guards at the gate. The tension in the air grew so heavy that even the wind seemed to stop blowing.

Aditya took one slow step forward, his polished shoes scraping lightly against the ground. His jaw was clenched so tightly that the muscles along his face visibly twitched. His sharp eyes never left the guard standing before him.

"Permission...?" he repeated, his voice frighteningly calm.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips. "Hamari beti andar hai... aur tum permission ki baat kar rahe ho?"

The guard visibly gulped.

A thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead despite the cold night air. He lowered his head respectfully, his voice trembling.

"S-Sir... main sirf apna kaam kar raha hoon..."

Before anyone else could speak, Nivansh casually slipped both hands into his pockets and took a slow step ahead. Unlike Aditya, there wasn't a hint of anger on his face.

That calmness was somehow even more terrifying. "Aur agar hum apna kaam karne lage..." he spoke quietly, almost politely. Then his eyes lifted towards the towering black gate. "...toh yeh gate zyada der tak khada nahi rahega."

Silence.

The guards exchanged helpless glances once again. No one dared to touch the gate. No one dared to deny them either.

Every passing second only made the tension worse.

Then...

The massive wooden door of the mansion slowly creaked open. Every head turned towards it at once. The guards standing near the entrance immediately straightened, lowering their heads respectfully.

"Sir..."

Their voices came out together. A tall figure stepped out of the mansion with slow, unhurried steps.

One hand rested casually inside his trouser pocket while the other lazily adjusted the cuff of his white shirt. His expression remained completely relaxed, as though the dozens of armed men standing outside weren't enough to make him even slightly concerned.

His eyes slowly travelled across every familiar face before finally stopping on Shivansh.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Good evening, sasur ji...oops good night vese aap log yaha?", he looked at everyone and shook his head with scarasm, " Kya baat hai pura ashram hi utha layee.."

Aditya clenched his fists in anger and gritted his teeth. "Iski toh--

He was about to move and kill him, but Arushi's words echoed in his mind. If something happens to him, his Angel won't leave him. She was blind in his love.

Shivansh took one slow step forward, his gaze locked with Anvay's. His eyes showed how angry he was, but this time he just wanted to make sure his Star was alright.

"Meri beti kahan hai?"

The smile on Anvay's face didn't disappear. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely confused by the question.

"Kaunsi beti?"

That one sentence was enough. Aditya's patience snapped.

"Anvay!" he barked, his voice echoing through the silent forest. "Bakwaas band kar aur Angel ko bahar bhej."

Anvay lazily rubbed the back of his neck before letting out a tired sigh.

"Aap log bhi na..." he muttered. "Raat ke do baje kaunsi Angel uthi hoti hai? Meri Angel so rahi hai. Raat ka waqt toh waise bhi devils ka hota hai."

Nivansh glared at him in anger. "Bahut ho gaya tera!!"

Anvay looked at him in amusement and walked towards him, stopping just a step away.

"Hmm... chal bata, kya karega? Haath lagayega? Maarega? Bol na, kya karega?"

He laughed like a psycho. Then, glancing at everyone's faces, he looked at Arushi.

"Ohh, good evening, sasu maa. Apne pati ko samjhaiye na ki yeh log kyun tamasha kar rahe hain. Aapko pata hai na mujhe yeh tamasha-vamasha bilkul pasand nahi hai... meri Angel uth gayi toh?"

He said it while looking at Aditya with a smirk, then shifted his gaze to Nivansh.

Arushi's voice trembled with tears as she thought about her daughter.

"Anvay... Ishtii kahan hai!? Kya khel khel rahe ho? Tumhara parivaar nahi hai, toh tumhe nahi pata humari haalat kya ho rahi hai."

Nivansh grabbed his collar in anger. "Iska haal toh main behaal karunga."

He raised his hand to punch him. Mishita's eyes widened.

"Niv!--"

But Anvay stopped his hand mid-air and looked at Mishita.

"Don't worry... meri marzi ke bina yeh toh kya, cheenti bhi mujhe haath nahi laga sakti."

Then he glanced at Arushi. "Woh so rahi hai, aur tum log bas meri Addiction ki neend hi kharab karoge. Aur maine dharamshala bhi nahi khol rakhi hai ki tum sab ko andar aane ke liye invite karun."

Then he added, "And sasu maa... aap log kitne double standards rakhte hain. Beta shaadi kare toh bahu accepted, par agar beti mujh jaise bhole-bhale insaan ko boyfriend banaye aur shaadi ke liye bole, toh seedha rejected. Not fair, haan. Waise kya naam tha aapki bahu ka... uh..."

He pretended to think.

Shivansh yelled in anger,

"ANVAYY!! EK SHABD BHI BOLA MERI BETI KE BAARE MEIN TOH—"

Anvay laughed like a psycho.

"Haan haa... samajh raha hoon, sasur ji. Par aap log mujhe chhodkar doosre dushman ko pakdiye na pehle, jiske paas aapki doosri beti 15 din rahi. Matlab ek beti ek raat bhi nahi reh sakti, aur doosri 15 din... haww... not fair, haan."

Shivansh's eyes burned with anger. He closed his eyes, clenching his fists, as he didn't want anyone to know about this.

Arushi and the others looked at Shivansh in confusion, except Nivansh, as he already knew everything.

Nivansh punched Anvay hard across the face in anger.

"Teri toh, kamine!"

Anvay's face turned to the other side from the impact, but a smirk still appeared on his lips. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Ek raaz ki baat bataun? Nahi yaar... chhodo. Mood nahi hai."