It was a really busy Sunday for Sonakshi. She had arrived at the venue to get everything in place for the fashion show. Dev had not yet reached the venue he was scheduled to come in five minutes to look at the preparations and then leave to get ready and make an iconic entry in front of the media.

Sonakshi would be leaving in an hour too to get ready and rush back here. No way was she going to attend her boyfriend's fashion show in a floral top and black jeans. She had to doll up for her Dev.

"Thinking about me?" A voice spoke hushed in her ears. His warm breath was hitting her nape.

She felt so comforted at his presence. His presence soothed her. It took away all her stress and worries.

"Mr. Casanova, stop doing that. I might get a panic attack," Sonakshi said, moving a bit away from him.

"But you are comfortable with my touch right," Dev said, now moving closer to her.

The ring on her right hand caught his attention. It was glistening so beautifully. He then looked at the angelic face in front of him. She was his. Sonakshi belonged to Devrath.

"I guess," Sonakshi said. She was not completely sure. She had had a panic attack around Dev once. She did not want the panic attacks to become a problem for their romance.

Dev took her right hand in his hand and kissed her tenderly near the ring. The hearts made out of diamond were standing out from the platinum.

"You liked the ring?" He asked her.

"I loved the ring," She assured him.

"What were you doing till now?" He asked her, "Don't overwork yourself. I want you to look fresh for the show and in front of my parents. After all, there is the anniversary party after this."

"I was just looking at the preparations. Then I will go home to get ready," Sonakshi said.

"Your family allowed you?" Dev asked, shocked that Shrewd Sharma had allowed his daughter to come for the party.

"Well, Dad created a huge ruckus. Bhai went into over-protective brother mode. They both were against me coming here," She spoke.

"Then how come you are here?" Dev asked, wanting to know what stunt this wildcat in front of me might have pulled off to come here to be with him.

Flashback

SONAKSHI'S POV

We all were having dinner. Now is the right time to ask for permission. I fiddled with my ring for a minute and took a deep breath.

"Dad! I want to ask you something," I started.

Now all the eyes around the table were on me. Dad just nodded.

"Umm Dad, As you already know Dixit Industries is hosting a fashion show, I am a part of the event management team so I would have to be there the whole Sunday," I said looking at my father's face.

He was thinking deeply. I could see Suraj Bhai's face turning angry.

"You want to attend that?" Dad asked me in a serious tone.

"Yes," I affirmed confidently.

That was the last straw dad's dam of anger just burst. He threw the glass of water in his hand on the floor.

"First and foremost Sona, Dixits and Sharmas are rivals. The only reason you are working in that company is to spy for us, Sona. Moreover, Devrath Dixit is a two-faced man. I don't trust him, dear. I don't want to lose you," Dad spoke.

Lose Me? What the hell is Dad speaking? Does he think I am some five-year-old child to get kidnapped by my boyfriend? Does he think my boyfriend will kill me? I swear it is going to be a tough task convincing dad to believe that I love Dev. He is going to make a greater ruckus when I will reveal it to him.

My brother did not say a word. That was weird.

Was there something my Bhai had already figured out? Or had he anticipated this? I need to have a heart-to-heart brother-sister talk with him.

I then looked at my mom. She was looking different. I had never seen her lose her temper at my father to such a degree. Looking at her red face, I knew she would kill me now.

Get ready to be killed, Sona.
Let my soul rest in peace. I love you all.
But Life is just now how we expect it to be, is it?

SHE STARTED YELLING AT MY DAD!

"How dare you! How dare you put restrictions on my daughter Shekhar Sharma! All these years, I stayed by you as a perfect wife, sometimes even neglecting the wants of my children. Today I am not going to stay quiet. You cannot control the lives of my children. They are not your pawns. They are your flesh and blood. They have feelings. They are not rocks not to feel anything when their father is toying around with them." Mom yelled at him.

"Madhuri..." Dad started.

"No one interrupts me. It is high time I become the strong woman Madhu Dixit that I was, rather than the soft-spoken Madhuri Sharma." Mom said

WOW! WOW! WOW!

Wait a minute!

Hold your horses, Mom!

My Mother is Madhu Dixit!

So, this means Dev is my cousin brother!

What the hell!

Our relationship is doomed!

Matrimony among cousins is illegal!

"You are Madhu Dixit, Mom?" Bhai asked her, "Raghunath Dixit's sister?"

"I am his adopted cousin," Mom said.

Thank God! Dev is not my cousin by blood.

My marriage would be legal!

This calls for a celebration!

"Listen up Shekhar. My children are not your puppets. They have their own desires, dreams, and goals. If my daughter wants to go to the fashion show and my brother's anniversary party after that, you will not stop her. You have restricted her enough. Now onwards, I make the rules and everyone else listens," Mom yelled, her eyes furiously turned at my father.

I swear, my mom looked like Lady Hitler, completely badass. If looks could kill, we would be having our funerals this instant.

Thankfully looks don't kill!

Flashback Ends

Sonakshi narrated the whole incident except for the revelation of the fact that her mother was Madhu Dixit.

"So now I understand that you get your wildcat character from your mother, Mia Bella," Dev said struggling to control his laugh after listening to the incident in which Shrewd Sharma was scolded by his wife. He then remembered what he had read in her background check. It was time to ask Sonakshi if she was aware of any connection to Madhu Dixit.

"My dad was flabbergasted," Sonakshi was saying.

"Is your mother Madhu Dixit?" Dev shot at her.

Sonakshi's face paled.

How does he know?

Dev was observing her face with complete concentration. The paling of her face indicated that he was spot on in his guessing.

He was in a big problem. Marriages between cousins are illegal unless they are not blood-related.

"Yes, she is Madhu Dixit," Sonakshi said.

Dev closed his eyes.

"She is the adopted cousin of Mr Raghunath Dixit," She continued.

Dev opened his eyes and picked Sonakshi in his arms and twirled her around in joy.

"Yay! So, if we marry, it will be legal," He said still twirling her around.

"Yes. Wait why are you thinking of marriage so fast?" Sonakshi asked him.

"You know Sona, I would take you to a temple this instant and marry you this minute," Dev said.

"Shut up. Put me down," Sonakshi ordered him, "If I get married to you, I want a lavish wedding with all my family there. Not some Temple wedding. Wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime moment Dev, I want it to be a big fat Indian wedding."

"Yes, your highness," Dev nodded, bowing in front of her.

"Let me go home, I need to get changed," Sonakshi said now looking at the time.

"Why go home? Come to the office with me. We can come together to the show. Also, I am going to introduce you to my parents," Dev said, hinting at the together time they would get and the fact that they might become an official couple with the blessings of his parents.

Sonakshi blushed when she heard he was going to introduce her to his parents. This man was going to be the death of her. She was smiling at him sweetly. Sonakshi was suddenly affected by the fact that there was all silence around them. She turned to look around.

All the people in the hall were staring at her and Dev. Sonakshi was feeling embarrassed. Most of the women in the room were staring at her as if she was speaking to the love of their lives. Well, she was. She didn't care anymore. Her attention was only on the man in front of her.

She loved him.

He loved her.

Dev had pulled Sonakshi along with him to his car made her sit and drove to their office. Both of them walked to his cabin.

As soon as they entered the cabin, Sonakshi saw the room was full of beautiful full-length gowns. She gasped in delight her eyes shining with the excitement of a small innocent child. Each piece was unique in the room.

"You like the surprise?" Dev asked her. The previous night he had spent hours calling up designers to send their limited-edition pieces to his office. He wanted to surprise her. They would be meeting his parents and he would like his diamond to look like a real-life princess.

Sonakshi did not answer him. She walked to the dresses and examined them. The dresses were so beautiful. She did not know what to choose. More than the dresses what affected her was the love and affection that Dev was showering on her.

Her father had treated her like a princess but he never did things that touched her deep in her heart like how Dev's gift affected her. Her father had gifted her things as if it was his responsibility to fulfil her needs, He never knew what she had wanted was just genuine affection and comfort, not lectures on how to be a well-mannered daughter of a businessman.

She went to a silver dress that won her heart. It had a thigh-length slit. It was embroidered with sequins. That dress won her heart. She picked it up and turned towards Dev who was leaning against the door of the cabin just looking at her.

"I like this," She said looking at him.

He just nodded.

"Get out," She said to him suddenly.

Dev's eyes widened. This woman in front of him was pushing him out of his own cabin.

She has the guts to push me out of my cabin? I am not a lovesick puppy that I will obey her every order.

I love her but there is something I can't do. Give in to each of her whims and fancies. I am the dominant one, not her.

"What the hell are you doing woman? You are pushing me out of my cabin," Dev said agitatedly.

"Then what do you expect me to do, change in cabins that have CCTV cameras?" She questioned him with equal intensity.

It was then that Dev understood. She wanted to get ready. He walked out of the cabin like a gentleman after checking that he had completely closed the blinds in the room and that all the lights were working in the room. He even switched on the A.C. just in case Sonakshi wanted it.

It was an hour now. Dev was ready in his formal black Armani suit looking like a prince charming waiting for his beloved.

Obviously, it was the truth. He had a rose in his hand. For the last half an hour he was searching on the internet

'The perfect way to gift a rose to the girl you love.'

Some websites advised him to kneel down and hand the rose to her. Others asked him to stand initially hiding the rose behind him and giving it to her when she moved closer. And some asked him to put the rose in his mouth while kneeling.

He chose the last option. The door of his cabin was opening.

He quickly positioned himself on his knee. He quickly adjusted his suit and put the rose in his mouth ready to surprise his lady love. He had called violinists to play a melody as soon as she walked out of the room.

The door of the cabin opened. Sonakshi walked out of the room wearing the silver gown. Taking one look at her, Dev's jaw dropped. The rose in his mouth fell into his hands. He was frozen and captivated by the beautiful belle in front of him.

Her eyes had kohl applied neatly enhancing their perfection. She had applied just the correct amount of blush as her natural blush would do the rest of the work. Her lips were looking like red roses. He felt the need of kissing those beautiful rose petals that belonged to him.

She looked magnifique!

She walked towards him and giggled slightly looking at him staring at her with an open jaw.

"Mr Casanova. What happened? Were you clean bowled by my beauty today?" She asked, batting her eyelashes acting ever so innocent.

"You look gorgeous!" Dev said, still looking dazed.

Sonakshi couldn't help but laugh seeing a dominant man who would always order her around and pull her here and there sitting helpless with his mouth open in front of her.

"Close your mouth, otherwise flies will get into your mouth," Sonakshi said teasing his state.

"Haaye! My heart is dead Mia Bella!" Dev said, dramatically now holding out the rose to her.

"A dead person can't dramatize the act of giving a rose to a woman," she said, feigning seriousness.

"If the fashion show were not there in some time, I swear my lips would be on your rose petals tasting you and exploring your mouth," Dev said, playfully grinning at her.

Sonakshi cringed at his perverted talks. But he was her Casanova after all.

"Should we go?" She asked Dev.

"In a few minutes," Dev said.

Dev called up someone on his phone and asked him to bring a specific car. Sonakshi could not hear him clearly. He walked back to her.

She put her right arm around the left arm that he held out for her. He walked her to the entrance. Sonakshi was shocked looking at the cars in front of her.

In front, there were two black Audis. After that, there was a black SUV. In the middle, there was a glimmering black Aston Martin. It was followed by another SUV. And finally, the two black Audis followed.

She felt as though she was a queen. Dev walked and opened the back door of the Aston Martin for her. She walked taking small steps hesitantly. She neared the door that Dev had opened for her. She looked at him as though silently asking him whether what they were doing was worth it or not.

Dev just said four words,

"TO OUR BRIGHT FUTURE!"

WORD COUNT: 2560 WORDS

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT IT TAKES JUST ONE CLICK TO LIKE SOMEONE'S WORK. THAT MIGHT MEAN A LOT MORE TO THEM THAN IT MAY MEAN TO YOU.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT I MEANT.

THANK YOU FOR READING MY BOOK 📖
THANK YOU FOR LIKING MY WORK 😊
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CHEERIO!

NEXT UPDATE: TOMORROW.