'Ye dil tum bin kahi lagta nahi,
hum kya kare!'

A/n: 8000 words so grab a snack while you read this!

~~~

"Aradhya!" I felt a shove on my head but I squirmed going back to my sleep, snuggling in my place.

"Aradhya, utho!" A very irritating voice reached my ears again making me frown with my eyes closed.

"Aradhya, I will throw you out of the car if you don't get the fuck up! UTH JA!" Oh! Was it my sweet sweet brother trying to oh so sweetly wake me up? Kahi diabetes hi na ho jaye mujhe itne pyaar se.

Please tell me y'all get my sarcasm? Thank you very much!

But I royally ignored his screeching voice, still being perched in my seat. My back taking the support of the door and my knees pulled up to my chest.

"Fine. Have it your way then!" Opening my eyes tentatively but still acting to be asleep, I tried seeing what he was up to. Aarav bhai got down the car, leaving me alone and I internally shrugged. A few moments passed before my side of the door was of pulled open from the outside and since I had my body pressed there, the minute my door was opened, I screamed, all prepared to land straight on my beautiful butt.

"Aahhhhh!"

But before I/my butt could actually kiss the ground, Aarav bhai held me in his arms bridal style. My hands going around his neck immediately.

"Nautanki!" He muttered under his breath but I narrowed my eyes, hearing him clearly. We were back from the water park and it was late in the night. We had our dinner together with everyone itself before calling it a day and bidding bye.

"Stop being an ass!" Snuggling more in his arms, I whispered slowly. He still wasn't talking to me nor was he ready to listen to me. He was giving me the silent treatment from my engagement day, it's been a whole week to that. And on top of that, the arrogant prick was calling me by my full name. I hate it when my family does that to me. It's just too formal, too impersonal for my liking.

Without replying to me yet again, he simply carried me in his arms all the way to my room. Everyone else already gone to sleep with the silence prevailing in the house. Mind you I had my best pouting game on but the kanjar just won't look at me.

"Bhai, aap baat kar rahe ho ki mein chachi se shikayat lagao?" I tried using my brahmastra, hoping that would do the trick.

"Look at my face. Do you really think I give a fuck about that?" He pinched the bridge of his nose while I stood silently. Why wasn't any of my tactics working? I'll have to think something quickly or else who would bear my stupid expenses every month?

"I'm done for the day. See you never!" And just like that he was out of my room and on his way to his own. Urghhhh! If only I was allowed to whoop his stubborn ass.

Bhagwan ji, why always me? Thodi toh pity kha liya karo.

On one side I know his behaviour is justified because that brother of mine couldn't even see a scratch on myself since childhood. More than dad or chachu, he has kept me under his protective wings. Me being younger than him and him not having any other sibling didn't leave us with much option other than spending our time with each other but our love and affection only grew more with time. I never realised when I started searching for him at every step of my life and he never stopped being there for me when needed. There have been times when dad has missed some really important moments of my life because he was also grieving the loss of his wife along with handling his company my brother is was there.

Aarav bhai was there with me in every step. Celebrating my board results to holding me during my cramps, he's done it all. So I understand how much it would've hurt him to know what I went through. More than that, he is hurt by me because I never told him about it ever. He never gets angry with me but man when does, he makes me go through hell on earth. And I'd do it all to have my brother holding me protectively and pampering me and teasing me.

Letting my thoughts to rest for a while, I took a quick shower and changing in my comfy clothes, I dropped on my bed, groaning at the softness and in no time I was out like a light.

~~~

"Where is bhai?" I questioned first thing as soon as I came downstairs after getting ready for office the next morning. My family exchanging glances amongst themselves before chachi pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit.

"He already left for office!" She informed, filling my plate with some fruits and a bowl of chia pudding. Along with my glass of bournvita.

"It's still 8:35? He always leaves after 9!"
My tone came out a lot more whiny than I wanted it to be and no one had any answer to that. Or more like they didn't wanted to word out to me what I already knew which was 'you've got a grade a asshole as you brother. Deal with him yourself'.

"I'll get going as well!" Before I could get up from my place, my father dearest glared right at me.

"You aren't going anywhere before you clear that plate of food that's in front of you!" Passing him a sickly sweet smile, I sat back down and tried gobbling everything. Chachu finding all this a little too funny with the way he tried stifling his smile while sipping tea.

"Any problem, chachu?" I raised my eyebrows at him in question and he coughed a bit at that, shaking his head in negative and I nodded. Chachi rolled her eyes with a smile of her own as she patted his back.

"Okay! I'm done here. I'll get going! Chachi, don't send lunch for me and bhai. We'll eat outside. Apke shehezade ko manana bhi toh hai!" All three of them chuckled at my words and I stood up taking my handbag, being done with my breakfast. Kissing dad's cheek with a back hug and repeating the same with chachu and chachi, I left for office.

Exactly Fifteen minutes later, I was in my office and made my way to the cabin. Just as I had settled myself and was about to start working, my phone rang. The name making me smile to the fullest.

"Helloooooo!" I stretched my hello for no apparent reason as soon as I picked up Ranveer's call and he chuckled from the other made. My heart melting into a puddle at his voice. Aaj din acha jayega!

"You can't see my text but you have all the time in the world to post a story!" Oh he saw my story which I posted while coming here in the car? But wait. Text? What text? Which text? Before replying to him, I checked my messages app and surely he had dropped a good morning text and it was sent at 7:45am. How did I missed that?

"I just saw. Pata nahi how I missed it. It wasn't intentional at all!" He simply hummed and I bit my lower lip.

"Apne sirf ye bolne ke liye call kiya?"

"Nahi! Kehna toh kuch aur bhi tha!" He replied, a sound of shuffling coming from his side before it was normal again.

"Where are you?" I asked with confusion.

"In my room. Getting ready for work. You reached yours?" I hummed at his question absentmindedly. A little too distracted on the fact that he was getting ready for the day. I posted a picture of my ootd on my insta so he knows what I wore, how I look. Would it be that big of a crime if I ask for his pick as well? I was his fiancé. I had some special rights.

"Adu, I wanted to tell you something important." I came out of my fiancé land and nodded like a stupid but he couldn't see me. I cleared my throat

"Yes?"

"Mom has kept satyanarayan Pooja and havan at home tomorrow. She will obviously also call your family and invite them. I just wanted to let you know myself. Would you be able to make it?"
He questioned when he should know I wouldn't miss it for the world.

"Of course, Ranveer! I'll be there. Any special reason though?" He sighed from the other side at that.

"It's actually for you joining the family, Meera bhabhi's pregnancy and me taking over the ceo position in the company!"
My lips formed a smile at his words but I frowned noticing a hesitation as he informed the last part. Or I was simply overthinking it.

"I'll make sure to be there tomorrow!"
I responded nonetheless before a thought crossed my mind. I will be going to his house for the first time. That house is going to be my sasural, my home. Yeah, I wasn't feeling giddy at all. There were just a few thousand butterflies in my tummy but other than that I was all good.

"Okay! I'll see you tomorrow then!" He replied.

"Yeah! Bye!" With that being my last words, I was ready to end the call.

"Also, Adhya?" Damn! He and his endearments for me will be my death. I should be used to it at this point but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

"Haa?"

"You look ravishing today!" He then ended the call, muttering a bye while I sat wide eyed at what the hell just happened. Or more like what did he say? I look what? I closed my eyes, covering my face with my hands as it started getting read. Just a mere compliment. Four words uttered by him and I'm already on the verge on fainting. I don't even want to think what'll happen on our wedding nigh—

WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM?

Shit. I have to distract myself from this. Taking deep breaths and calming myself down, I opened my laptop, powered it on and was all ready to work for the three hours straight. That was until my eyes landed on my phone and I got tempted to see my story again. Contemplating for a whole minute, I shrugged and opened my account. My teeth digging into my lower lip.

There were a lot of likes on the story and replies as well. I laughed at Myra's reply as I opened our chat first.

Myra: You're too good for my brother. That lucky son of my mother ✋🏼🥹🫶🏼

Next was Sahiba and my heart melted at her words.

Sahiba: BOSS BITCH ENERGY ONLYYY😭👸

There was one reply from Sahil as well and I narrowed my eyes before opening it.

Sahil: I totally get what my best friend sees in you. With all due respect🌚

I——didn't know if I should laugh at that one or not but I did blush. Next I moved to my fiancé's chat and rolled my eyes.

Ranveer: ❤️

But that single heart means more than anything because the man never uses any emojis, ever. Liking that heart with teenage giddiness, I was about to close the app when a new message popped up and it was from my brother.

Aarav: concentrate on actually getting some work done. Agar teri company dubi toh mein tujhe chapprasi bhi nahi rakhunga!

Remember how I wanted to pacify my brother? Yeah. I don't think I want to do that anytime soon because he simply doesn't deserve all the hassle. But since I was the bigger person and I was also a very good sister, I tried calming myself down.

Me: You're meeting me at 1:30 for lunch. Our usual place. You know the consequences if you don't come. Bye!

With that being enough socialising for the day, I threw the phone away and did my work with utmost concentration for three hours straight. Putting a pause after that, I closed my laptop and left office to meet my naraaz brother at the place we've been visiting from years.

"You're half an hour late, bhai!" My eyes threw daggers at Aarav bhai as soon as he came and sat in front of me in the private booth I was occupying. He shrugged picking up my glass of mock tail I had ordered for myself and took a really big sip.

"Lost track of time!" He smiled at so sweetly that I wanted nothing more than to break all his teeth. But I had to remind myself that I was here to win him back and not to get disowned.

"Bhai, can we please go back to normal? You know I hate it when we don't talk." My defeated tone made him look up at me and I hope he could see that I really couldn't take this. No matter how much we fought but we never gave each other the treatment.

"And I hate the fact that when you should've actually talked to me about something that was needed to be told, you chose to stay quite. How convenient na, Aradhya!" Aarav bhai tried really hard keeping his voice low, his eyes full of anger and tone harsh. I knew he was referring to the fact that I chose to kept mum on Niharika's matter. That I chose to not tell anything to him.

"You have come out of it. You have 'healed'. You have left that ugly past behind but I just got to know what all my sister when through so please forgive me if I'm taking time to process it."
My throat clogged up at his words. Wetness filling up in my eyes making my vision blurry as I looked down, fumbling with my fingers.

"I'm sorry—bhai! I was scared. I—I didn't wanted—to be more of a burden than I already was on—"

"I swear to god, Aradhya, I'll slap you so hard if you finish that sentence!" He cut me off in even more anger than before and a sob left past my lips. Tears sliding down my  eyes the next minute. He huffed a long breath, closing his eyes and stood up, sitting beside me and taking me in his arms.

"Where did we lack to make you feel that way?"
I held onto him tightly, sobbing in a low voice as I shook my head in his chest. Aarav bhai rubbed his palm on the back of my head continuously to calm me down, also wiping my tears simultaneously.

"Nowhere. You have loved me and protected me with everything, bhai, but I was really young. It wasn't bad till mumma was there so I never gave it much importance. I just thought Niharika and I will take time to mingle up together, that eventually we'll get along but that didn't happen. And when we lost mom, you know I had gone into my own shell. You, dad, chachu, chachi. You all were always so worried and paranoid where I was concerned that I just didn't wanted to add more to it. I know now that I could've come to you. But I just never gathered the courage. I'm sorry. Please!"
With a hoarse voice and teary face, I tried explaining myself, hoping he would understand where I was coming from. Aarav bhai simply held me close to him, kissing my head every now and then.

"Shush! Calm down now!" He whispered rubbing my back and slowly rocking me back and forth in the hug. I turned my head up to have a look at his face.

"Do you forgive me? I'm really sorry, bhai! I just didn't know what I should've done. Please don't punish your Aru now for something she did when she had no brain of her own!" I tried deflecting the atmosphere from tense to normal by attempting a joke on myself but my brother's glare told me  it was a wrong move. So I went back to pouting.

"Did she—did she ever harmed you physically?"
I felt bhai's heartbeat going up even when he asked that question making me pull apart and look in his eyes. His eyes look hurt just by imagining my pain and I teared up again at his love for me.

"No. Her blows were all verbal thankfully and never physical." He blew out a breath he was holding at my answer and pulled me back in his arms, my head on his chest.

"Agar aaj ke baad tune itni badi baat mujhse kabhi chupayi na toh bhul jana ki mein tera kuch hu!" I wriggled, breaking apart and glaring at him for uttering such words.

"Bhai!" I reprimanded, letting him know that it wasn't funny.

"Don't bhai me. I very serious about it!" He replied in a no nonsense tone and I rolled my eyes as if he actually has the guts to do that. Being done talking about the elephant in the room, we both satiated our growing hunger by having our lunch together, in between which I made my brother oder a channel lipstick for me as a compensation for not talking to me, for calling me by my name and for making me shed some precious tears.

"Sidhe sidhe bolna ki tune ye lipstick apne paise se kharidi toh pure mahine ke liye kangaal ho jayegi. I anyways believe in charity so I don't mind buying this for you. Philanthropy runs in my blood!" He smirk that pathetic smirk of his seeing which I felt I could puke all over him.

"HA. HA. HA. Good one. Order!" He chuckled at my not so scary tone, going back to his phone and placing the order. My smile widening cheekily as I saw the money deducting from his account.

Independent toh thik hai but there's a different joy in exploiting your brother and spending his money. He then cleared our food bill as well and we left that place with a full tummy and a happy heart.

~~~

"Noooo! Chachi, the pleats are uneven. See!" I was almost on the verge of crying at this point.

"Aru, stand still for a minute and let me do my work!" Chachi glared at me making me pout as she knelt down, adjusting the pleats properly how I wanted. She then stood up and pinned the pallu of my saree on my left side shoulder with a safety pin.

"Go. Have a look in the mirror and tell me if it's good!" Nodding like a good girl at her instructions, I moved to the full length mirror in the the walk in closet with calculative steps and the moment I saw myself draped into that beautiful white cotton saree which I had paired with a maroon blouse, I actually fell in love with myself. Yeah. That's how pretty a saree can make any woman feel.

"Chachi?" I called her in and she came with her eyebrows raised in question. Biting my lower lip, I gave myself another glance.

"I actually look really pretty in this!" She chuckled at my words, shaking her head and coming close to me, she took my balayein.

"Of course you do, sweetheart. You always look pretty!" I rolled my eyes to her response, not believing that even a bit.

"Okay, now that your saree is done, I'll go see what the men are up to. You finish getting ready and meet us downstairs, haa?"
Getting a nod from me, she left and I took a deep breath. It was the next day and we were about to leave for Ranveer's house. There is this really weird feeling in my heart about the scenario. I'm not scared but at the same time I am. I guess a word as big as sasural does that to you. It is going to be my home soon. A space that I'll share with my would be husband which makes it all even more personal.

I wore few red bangles in my right hand and my mumma's cartier watch in the left. For the jewellery I kept it simple. Just a pair of jhumka in my ears, Ranveer's gifted necklace and my engagement ring. Leaving my hair open, I combed them to get rid of the any knots. Putting on a little red bindi, I painted my lips a light shade of red, using the same to add colour on my cheeks and nose. Spraying my vanilla mist all over, I was all set to go.

I gave one last glance to myself in the mirror and turned to leave but then stopped. Was I overdressed? Should I change into a kurta? What if I trip, making a fool of myself? What if I get a stain on the saree? Chachi ne jaan le leni hai.

"Aru, chal jaldi. We're getting late!" I jumped on my place hearing my brother's loud voice and immediately left my room with heels in my hand.

To hell with being overdressed. YOLO.

"Aa gayi!" I responded and skipped down the steps hurriedly while holding the saree.

"Sambhal ke!" Bhai.

"Watch out, Aru!" Chachu.

"Aage dekho!" Dad.

My lips stretched into a full blown smile at the three of them who had their eyes fixed on me like a hawk until I sat on the sofa to put my heels on. Chachu came forward beating me to it and helped me with the same. Standing up, he kissed my forehead and holding his hand I stood up too.

"Sundar dikh rahi hu na?" I asked in a whisper to him like a secret and he simply nodded with a smile.

"Akhir beti kiski hai?" He asked in an entitled way making me giggle but before I could respond, chachi beat me to it.

"Meri. Let's get going now before we end up getting late!" Chachu showed his wife tongue, making all of us laugh and together we left our house, settling in the car and started off for Ranveer's place. Everyone kept talking amongst themselves while I kept quite, fidgeting within myself as the distance was decreasing. After about 20 mins, we reached our destination. The huge gates opened up letting our car in and my eyes moved across Malik mansion, taking everything in.

I got down the car once we stopped after giving myself a pep talk mentally. All of us made our way inside as their main door was open and once the Maliks noted our presence, they came ahead , receiving us. Coming in the living room we exchanged hugs and pleasantries before settling down.

My eyes roamed all around searching for my fiancé but he was nowhere to be seen.

"He's upstairs, freshening up. He had to go to the office to attend some urgent meeting! Came back just some minutes ago!" I almost gasped at Myra's whisper in my ear as if knowing exactly what was going on in my head. Her smile equal parts innocent and teasing. Embarrassed at being busted, I looked away from her and she giggled, wrapping her arms around me sideways.

"You're looking sooo pretty, Bhabhi!" She muttered in adoration and I smiled genuinely at that, thanking her and holding her hand in mine all the while.

"Meera bhabhi?" I asked, noticing her absence as well and Myra pointed at something behind me. I turned my head and saw Bhabhi doing something in the open kitchen, along with a helper.

"She almost fought with mumma to let her look after prashaad! Come, let's go meet her!"
She pulled me up, taking me towards the kitchen whereas our families where engaged in a conversation amongst themselves. Meera bhabhi noticed me entering the kitchen and her face lit up in a smile.

"Aru! Come here!" She pulled me in her arms, hugging me tight while I chuckled returning the gesture. God! Just how genuinely good these people are and how grateful I'm that I got them.

"Kitni pyari lag rahi ho!" She complimented breaking apart while I looked down being shy or embarrassed. Or maybe both.

"Hainaaa! I told her the same. Veer bhai's gonna have a hard time keeping his hands to himself!"
Myra not being the one to hold back, shared her thoughts and I went red like anything. The blush spreading all over from my neck to my ears. Bhabhi laughed at my hot face as I avoided eye contact.

"Can I help you with something?" That was me trying to change the topic and both the women to laugh even more. I really think they are evil to do this to a poor soul like me.

"Nice try but no. You have came here for the first time. No one's making you work just yet, Aru!"
Bhabhi explained, leaving my hands and going back to the shira that she was making. I made a face at that for not being of any use.

"Aru Bhabhi, come. Sahiba and I will give you a house tour. There's anyways time for the pooja to get started!" Without waiting for my reply, Myra held my hand already dragging me out of the kitchen. Meera bhabhi chuckling at her enthusiasm and I did the same, following her steps. Sahiba joined us as well when Myra called her out from the living room and they showed me around the first floor.

Choti maa and Raj uncle's room was on the first floor. Reyansh bhai and bhabhi shifted down as well since bhabhi's pregnancy. There were rooms for helpers as well for when they were around. We then moved to the back of the house with had a huge pool and a garden much like ours. We moved back inside and to the second floor. They showed me the gym area, Pooja ghar, a mini theatre room and the study room used for work purposes, of course.

"And this is my room!" Myra opened the door, letting us inside and I took in her room which was quite similar to mine. With minimal aesthetics and a soft feminine touch.

"Ma'am cleaned her room just today since you all were coming. Or else she lives with piles of cloths and food wrappers around her."
Sahiba commented, smirking at Myra while the poor girl gasped on her secret being out for no apparent reason. I chuckled, pinching her cheeks lightly.

"Then we are very much alike. Even I'm not known to be the most organised person. That's too overrated anyways!" Myra showed her tongue to Sahiba at my response and she smacked Myra's head lightly with an eye roll. We moved out of there when Sahiba pointed towards another door which was closed, a little away from Myra's room.

"That's Ranveer's room!" And that was cue for my heart to pick up it's pace at his mere mention. Take deep breaths. Relax. I pacified myself mentally.

"Come, let's go inside!" Before Myra could knock on his door, I held her hand back, shaking my head in negative.

"It's okay. Let's wait for him to come down."
Why was I nervous about seeing him? I was nervous about seeing him in his space that I'll be sharing with him soon. Call me an idiot, I don't give a damn.

"But why? Bhai's room is the last one you're left to see. Let's go in, he wouldn't mind!"
Myra was confused at my denial to go in and I took a long breath, biting my lip. Sahiba looked at my face keenly as I tried forming a sentence and she probably sensed my hesitation for she held Myra's hand, nodding in no.

"Ranveer is freshening up. Let him get ready we'll meet him downstairs. Chal, Suhani aunty might be looking for us!" Myra gave us a weird look before shrugging. I blinked my eyes in a silent thank you to Sahiba for understanding me just like that and she passed a little flying kiss in my direction. A giggle stuck in my throat at that.

We three turned to go down and just as we took a step, the door behind us was pulled open. We turned back again and there he stood. Dressed in a simple white kurta with sleeves rolled up. The cloth made just for him with the way it fitted him on all the right places, showing off his magnificent form. His hair still wet probably from the shower, a little strand falling on his forehead. Our eyes clashed, my brown against his and I held my breath. A shiver running down my spine at his gaze all over me.

With bated breaths, I stood on my place waiting for him to come and hug me, take me in his arms or kiss my forehead like he does every time we meet but he simply passed me a small smile. That's it? A smile? It wasn't even a real smile, I know that. What was wrong? Did I not looked good? But I know did. Everyone told as well that I was looking pretty.

He gestured us to walk, Sahiba and Myra went ahead making Ranveer and I to walk together. His addictive cologne reaching my nostrils and I was ready to faint. Or jump his bones. I don't know. The four of us came down and he met my family, touching the feet of elders and sharing a hug with my brother. Sab dikhai de rahe hai inko bas mujhe chod ke?

I kept stealing glances at him all the time as he conversed with everyone normally, as if nothing was wrong in the world but the moment his eyes would clash with mine, he'd look away. As if he was caught stealing. We all moved to the Pooja ghar when pandit ji came and the satyanarayan katha was set to start. I covered my head with the pallu when the Pooja commenced and we sat down, joining our hands.

"What is happening?" I whispered in a low voice to my fiancé who sat beside me but was yet to spare me a glance.

"Pooja?" He responded in a question and I was so close to rolling my eyes. As if I don't know that already and as if he didn't know what I was referring to. What the hell went wrong? Did I do something to upset him? None that I can remember of.

Before I could question him any further on this, pandit ji started reciting the paath. I decided to talk to him afterwards, concentrating on bhagwan ji right now. After paath was completed, the havan took place and all of us participated in that. Lastly Aarti took place after which we were done. Myra roamed the Pooja thali around for everyone to take blessing. When she came to us, Ranveer circled both of his hands around the burning diya and then kept his hands on my head. Repeating the same with himself while I kept looking at him. It was something so small but so significant for him to do.

Everyone took god's blessing and had prashad but I was the last one left. I joined my hands in from of god, closing my eyes and bowing my head.

'Bhagwan ji, I don't know how to explain it in words. I don't think I'll be able to do that anytime soon but Ranveer has started occupying a place in my heart that I never thought anyone could. In such a short span, I've showed him all my shortcomings, I've misjudged him a lot. I took my time trusting him, scared to open my heart to him. Scared to let someone see my true self but I never realised when he made me break my walls. He never forced me to open up. He just held my hand, just assured me about his presence, he let me know about his genuine intentions regarding me, regarding us and I never knew when I started picturing him with me. I want to thank you for bringing him in my life and I want your help as I navigate through my journey with him. I hope I do justice to him, to our bond. I hope we get married and have a beautiful life ahead. A life where we grow together. Respect each other and learn to one day fall in love with each other. I'm think I'm already on my way to that. Keeping my fingers crossed that he feels the same, though! Please look upon our family, bhagwan ji. Please keep us safe and healthy, always.'

Opening my eyes being done, I bowed my head one last time before turning around only to find everyone gone but Ranveer. He stood there alone looking at me with an emotion so strong floating in his eyes that I couldn't look up at him.

"Here!" He opened my right palm and gave me the prashad, eating a bit from it himself and I gulped. Eating the shira, I muttered a small thanks to him.

"What's the matter?" My voice was hurried as I saw him walking out of the Pooja ghar. He stopped and turned back to look me with creased forehead. He can't possibly not know what I was referring to.

"Did I do something to upset you?" Ughh I hated myself for wanting to cry at this moment. Ranveer gave me a close look before sighing and held my wrist in his large hand.

"Come!" He pulled me along with him and I followed quietly, not knowing what he was up to. Walking a few steps, we came to his room and he was about to open the door. I pulled on his wrist with my other hand and he turned to look at me in question.

"Everyone might be looking for us downstairs!" I whispered, my eyes hooked with his.

"I'll drop bhabhi a message. She'll handle them. Good enough?" He asked, putting a strand of my hair behind my ear and I nodded, agreeing.

He turned the knob , pushing the door open and we came inside together. With my heart beating at an obnoxious rate, I glanced around the large room. It was really very big compared to all the other rooms I saw, the colour theme of his room being black and grey. Screaming that it was a bachelor's pad. A big king size bed in the centre. A couch in the other end of the room with a study table beside that. I saw a way to a walk in closet as well, the bathroom might be from there itself. His room was as masculine as it could get but it was utterly clean too. No speck of dust nor a pillow out of place. Hell even the quilt on his bed didn't had any crease.

He'll faint when he gets to know what hurricane I bring in my room. God bless him dealing with that.

Ranveer closed the door and I came out of my thoughts, turning to him. He folded his hands around his chest, eyes nowhere else but me.

"Aap ignore kar rahe hai mujhe?" I asked softly with a little glare just because I couldn't handle his intense stare. My body already felt it was on fire and the man has not even touched me.

"Mein khud ko bacha raha hu apse!" He replied in a dark husky voice and I swear to god I felt my core clenching. What the hell was going on here?

"Huh?" Like the stupid that I was, I muttered being confused. He shook his head with a little smile and started advancing towards me. Once he was close, he wrapped his big hands around my waist. A gasp leaving past my lips as his skin touched my bare waist. Why did I think it was a good idea to wear a saree?

"You're saree!" He murmured in a strained voice as if he holding himself back from something. He dropped his forehead against mine, heaving a sigh and I fluttered my eyes close upon feeling his warm breath fanning my face. My hands going up to his shoulders, holding him for my sanity.

"It doesn't look good?" I asked, a bit afraid to know his answer. My non existent nails digging into his skin as he pulled me more closer to his body. My chest pushed into his.

"You're looking so fucking hot in this saree that my heart is begging me to go on my knees for you and show you things only I have the right to!"
Ranveer groaned those words out and if he wasn't holding me, I would've been melted in a puddle on the ground. A shiver going straight to my core. I always knew coming in his room was a bad idea. We shouldn't be left alone.

And the funny part was that he had literally scene me in shorts but this is where he loses his calm? The world needed more men like my fiancé.

"I don't—mind!" His eyes clashed with mine at my words and I shut my mouth that instant. What the hell did I say? This can't be me. I know I'm not capable of pulling that off. This man was bad for my sanity. I start losing my last two brain cells around him.

Ranveer smirked that panty dripping smirk at me, my toes curling in my heels. He dipped his head going to my neck and breathed for a moment there. My eyes closing and I turned my head, giving him more space to do whatever he plans on doing. I shivered visibly as he rubbed his chin on the hollow of my neck and his few days old stubble scratched my sensitive skin. He held all of my hair in his hand and placed it on my other shoulder. My deep neck blouse made my whole back visible for him. Goosebumps appearing all over my skin as I felt his finger making random patterns on my back.

I hid my face in his chest, breathing through my mouth. My hands around going around his torso and holding him tight. We stayed like that for a bit too long. With none of us moving an inch. Our breathings heavy and synchronised. After a while, Ranveer removed his hands from around me, trying to break apart and I stood looking down. Holding my hand, he made me sit on the edge of his bed and himself knelt in front of me.

"Did I make you uncomfortable?" He asked in a gentle tone, cupping my chin when I kept quit and didn't look at him. Shaking my head in negative, I gulped moving close and cupping his face.

"I wouldn't be sitting here with you if you would've made me uncomfortable, you never can, Ranveer!"
He took hold of my right hand which was on his cheek and moving his face, he kissed the inside of my palm multiple times. My heart warming up at the gesture. Pulling his face closer, I dropped my lips on his and giving him a peck. After which I gestured him to get up and sit beside me but he gave me a shocker by dropping his head in my lap and snuggling in me. His hands going around my hips. My stomach sucked in as I held my breath, trying to process what's happening. Bhagwan ji, why was this man being so cute today?

Tentatively, I put my fingers in his hair and bit my lower lip when he only moved more closer in me, sighing in content. His breath hitting my bare tummy and I was ready to faint all over again.

"Why are you being so clingy today?" With a teasing smile, I asked, moving my fingers in his hair just like I always wanted to.

"Clingy is my middle name, cupcake. And this is not even phase one so you better get used to it as soon as possible!"  He mumbled, still in the same position and a giggle left past my lips when he pinched the side of my waist lightly. If you would've told me a month back that there would be a man I'd feel this comfortable with then I would've flipped you the bird but here we are. With my fiancé making me his personal cuddle bear and me being more than happy to be so.

"Okay, grumpy man!" We were silent after that with him being laid in my lap peacefully and me caressing his back and hair. That was until a thought crossed my mind.

"Ranveer?" He hummed to let me know that I had his attention so I continued,

"Why do you call me cupcake?" That has been a question in the back of my head.

"Your scent!" My brows furrowed at his two word answer as if that should explain everything.

"Matlab?" I asked further for him to elaborate.

"Matlab ki you smell like one, Adu! Hence I call you cupcake!" I smell like—that? Oh! My body mist. The vanilla fragrance that I use on daily basis must be the reason. My cheeks got the red hue back just like that and I kept quite. Should I start calling him library since he smells like old books? Yeah, no. I don't think so that'll sound remotely romantic. He can live without being called that.

"Did you sort it out with Aarav?" A smile appeared on my face upon his question letting me know that he remembered. He's actually an attentive man that way. I nodded in response before saying,

"Yes, we had a talk yesterday. That son of my chachi gave me a hard time but we're good now!"
Ranveer nodded in understanding and pulled away from me after that, making me miss his warmth already. *pouting internally*

"I wanted to talk to you about something important!" He says, playing with the bangles in my hand and I nodded for him to go on.

"How do you feel about shifting in an apartment?" Shifting? Where did that come from? Why was he asking this out of nowhere?

"I don't understand?" I let him know my confusion. He stood up from his position, sitting in front of me on the bed and held both of my hands in his.

"There's this new project of a residential building which is being done just five mins away from your home. The builder will start giving possessions in four months so by the time we get married, it'll be completely done. It's under a really renowned person so that's a good thing. We can go have a look at some of the sample apartments if you want and whichever you like, we'll buy that. We can move there after marriage." I immediately removed my hands from his hold, putting a stop on his rant.

"I'm sorry but everything is going above my head. Firstly, why are you looking for another place? Secondly, who said anything about shifting to a different house after marriage?" I know I never said such think to him?

"You told me that the idea of living away from your family scared you. So I thought let's buy an apartment close to your home. That way you can visit them whenever you want without any problem." He let me know his thought.

"Or you could simply be my family's ghar jamai?" I joked while he was at it but he shrugged nodding his head.

"We can do that! It's a win win for me, anyways! Paise bhi bach jayenge aur aap bhi khush!" Gem? No. This man was the whole factory of the rarest diamond in the world. How good can he be? In a world where women are crying to have the bare minimum, I have my fiancé wanting to lay the world on my feet. Just to make me happy. With all my heart I wish every girl gets a life partner as considerate as mine because we deserve it.

"Ranveerrrrr, kya karungi mein apka!" With my heart filled with adoration for him, I moved close, ALMOST sitting in his lap and wrapping my hands around his neck. I kissed his jaw lightly before moving a bit back to look at his gorgeous face.

"What?" He asked being totally confused and probably weirded out by the heart eyes that I was giving him. His hands sneaking around my waist, keeping me close to him.

"I was scared of shifting after marriage, yes, but that doesn't mean I want a separate space for us close to my family just because it'll be convenient and easy for me to go see them whenever I want nor are you going to be ghar jamai!" I let that sink in into his head before I continued again,

"I am not the first girl being scared of leaving her mayka but that doesn't mean that I don't want to live in my sasural, baba! If I live here with everyone then would you guys refrain me from seeing my family?" I asked, cupping his face so that he looked at me and he shook his head immediately.

"Why would we do that? No one has the right to stop you from meeting them." He responded with a look that told me I was stupid in all the languages.

"Exactly. If no one will stop me then why can't I live here with you, with others and meet my family whenever I feel like? Feeling scared was my natural reaction, Ranveer, but I want to be with my other family as well. Jinse aap mujhe bandh te hai. I want all the sasural drama in it's raw form. Saas ke taane, nanand ke jhagde aur bhabhi ki daat. I want the full package." I giggled at the end bringing a smile on his face as well and I was tempted to kiss him.

"Keep dreaming of that, baby, because all you'll get is saas ka pyaar, nanand ki adoration and bhabhi se khatirdari! My eyes watered at his words as he caressed my cheek with his knuckles, dropping a kiss on my crown. Yeah, no one was more lucky than me at this moment.

"God! I'm so fucking glad that you are mine."
Ranveer whispered, cupping the back of my neck and pulling my face up. He took my lower lip into his and sucked hard, trying to pull away but I held his collar of his kurta.

"The only one glad here is me, Mr Malik!"
Saying so I joined our lips back together this time with no intention to leave soon. Our hands roaming around each other's body as if we couldn't be closer enough. He pulled me in his lap completely with my legs on one side and clutched my waist in a deadly grip, the other tugging on my hair to angle my face as per his want. Our tongues clashed and I sucked on his, giving a little bit which made him groan like an animal in the kiss and I clenched my legs together, feeling a pool down there.

We really needed to calm the hell down.

Ranveer took both my lips in his and sucked the life out of it. Leaving that, he kissed my jaw going down my neck. My hands tightening and pulling him even closer to me. Putting his tongue out, he licked the pulsing point on my neck and I mewled in his neck like a kitten but wriggled when he digged his teeth and bit my skin.

"Ranveerrr!" I shouted his name a little louder and he immediately lapped on the bitten skin to soothe the pain. He kept his face hidden there, holding me while I had my face stuffed in his chest, both of us huffing out long breaths as if we've run a marathon.

"You okay?" I nodded with a gulp at his question. His voice still heavy, deep and I tried coming out of his arms but he didn't let me, roaming his fingers in my hair. If kept doing that than I'll end up sleeping.

"I can't wait for this three months to get over already!" My face turned more red than it already was at his shameless declaration and I landed a light slap on his shoulder in reprimand. He chuckled in my ears and I shivered, snuggling close to him. My heart somewhere agreeing with his statement.

•••

So how was this chapter? Personally I'm really proud of writing this because it's the longest and has all the feels!

What was your favourite scene and why was it the bedroom one?🌚

Anyways do drop in your votes and comments 🫶🏼

Till then bye and take care 🌷