"My laptop!" she yelped, suddenly remembering.

Adranksh sighed, turned around, and without a word, walked back to the sofa. Instead of setting her down beside him, he took a seat and pulled her onto his lap.

"Bend and take it yourself."

She blinked at him, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. The laptop was behind her, but the position he had put her in made things... complicated.

Still, determined, she adjusted herself, arching her back to reach for it. As she stretched, her curves pressed against him, her toned stomach peeking from beneath her blouse. His hand instinctively moved to support her lower back, fingers grazing her soft skin. His gaze followed the slope of her waist, up to the delicate rise of her chest.

'So perfect for me to hold.' The thought came unbidden, and he clenched his jaw.

It took everything in him to keep his hands still, to not let his desires take over.

"Adranksh, where is it?" she asked, frustration in her voice as her fingers fumbled blindly for the laptop.

Her voice pulled him back to reality. Tearing his gaze away from her tempting form, he instead focused on her face.

Everything about her was alluring.

Shaking off his thoughts, he pulled her back toward him, making her sit properly on his lap.

"Don't move." His voice was low, firm.

Leaning slightly, he brushed past her, their cheeks touching for a brief second. He grabbed the laptop with one hand while securing her with the other, then smoothly lifted her into his arms.

Maya let out a small gasp, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

As he carried her toward her room, the sound of a camera shutter broke the moment.

Her body stiffened. She immediately hid her face in the crook of his neck. "How did they get inside?" she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

Adranksh, caught off guard by her sudden closeness, took a second to compose himself. He glanced around, spotting figures crouching behind the bushes.

His jaw tightened. "I'll deal with them later."

He quickened his pace, carrying her out of view.

Once they reached a secluded hallway, she lifted her face from his neck and smiled, relieved. "I don't want my pictures on the tabloid tomorrow. I don't want people to know I'm getting married."

He looked at her, his eyes unreadable, but he gave a small nod.

Reaching her room, he instructed her to open the door before stepping inside and gently placing her on the bed.

Then, his tone turned sharper. "When is that fucker- I mean, Mr. Oberoi- arriving?"

Maya wasn't surprised by his sudden change in demeanour. Instead, she smirked. "Not bad. When did you find out?"

Adranksh narrowed his eyes. "Wrong answer."

Her smirk only widened. She leaned back into the pillows. "Tonight."

His gaze darkened. "Make sure you don't cross the line, Maya." The warning was clear.

And just like that, he turned and walked out.

Maya watched his retreating figure, then shrugged. "Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!" she called after him before getting back to her work.

-

An hour later, Maya changed into comfortable clothes and stepped into the bathroom to wash off her mehendi. The warm water soothed her skin as she quickly showered.

Fresh and relaxed, she walked out, heading toward her walk-in closet.

I look down at my hands, now stained in deep brown designs. The intricate mehendi swirls remind me of Ajji's words:

"The darker the mehendi, the deeper the love you'll receive from your husband."

A bittersweet smile tugs at my lips. If only she were here now-she would have been so happy.

But happiness isn't what I seek.

I inhale sharply, pushing away the tears that threaten to fall. The past flashes before my eyes-ugly, painful, raw. Revenge. That is my purpose. That is what I will achieve at any cost.

My thoughts drift to Adranksh.

He doesn't seem as terrible as I once thought. My mind replays the moment I instinctively buried my face in his neck, seeking refuge from the flashing cameras. I never imagined a man could smell so intoxicating-rich, musky, with a hint of something uniquely his.

I remember the way his heartbeat quickened when my nose brushed against his skin.

What would it feel like to kiss his neck?

To have him under me as I did it?

A startled laugh escapes my lips, shaking me from my ridiculous thoughts. What am I even thinking?

Shaking my head, I walk toward the bed and pick up my outfit for the evening-a breathtaking black lehenga adorned with silver embellishments. Slipping into it, I admire my reflection. The deep neckline, the way the fabric hugs my curves-every detail exudes confidence and power.

Vee and Ishu will arrive soon after getting ready, so I have a little time to myself.

As I finish my makeup, a knock echoes through the room.

The door swings open, and Vee barges in with Ishu right behind her.

Vee's lehenga is a stunning mix of pink and purple, while Ishu's is a soft, ethereal blue.

They both stop and look at me, their faces lighting up.

"Looks like we don't have any work left, Ishu," Vee teases with a playful smirk.

Ishu laughs, pulling us toward the mirror.

"Smile!" she chirps before clicking a picture.

There's no time to waste. "Let's practice! We only have 30 minutes." Vee plays the song, and we take our positions, moving gracefully to the rhythm.

Thirty minutes later, Amma and my Atte's walk in, their faces brimming with pride.

"My beautiful girls, it's time."

"Go set the stage on fire!" Atte cheers.

Excitement buzzes in the air as we step into the grand hall. A magnificent stage stands at the center, draped in cascading flowers and illuminated by golden lights. Every corner of the venue exudes elegance and celebration.

As we walk in, another group enters from the opposite side.

Adranksh.

Our eyes meet.

He looks devastatingly handsome in a black kurta, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders perfectly. Before I can react, he strides toward me, his movements confident and deliberate. His hand finds my bare waist, sending an unexpected jolt through me.

What are we doing? I glance at him, silently asking the question.

"Walk with me." he murmurs.

He doesn't wait for a response. Instead, he leads me forward, our families following closely behind.

Together, we step onto the stage.

The air shifts, thick with anticipation. Adranksh reaches into his pocket and retrieves a ring. Without hesitation, he extends his hand.

I place my left hand in his, and he slips the ring onto my finger, his gaze never wavering from mine.

Vedha hands me a velvet box. Taking a deep breath, I lift the ring from inside and hold out my hand. He places his in mine-steady, warm. With slow precision, I slide the ring onto his finger.

Then, he leans in, his voice a whisper against my ear.

"You are mine now, Maya. There's no backing out."

I meet his gaze, a sweet but sharp smile curving my lips.

"Don't forget, Adranksh. If I am yours, you are mine too."

His smirk deepens, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable-pride, amusement... or something else entirely.

The moment is sealed.

As we step off the stage, the weight of what just happened settles in. With quiet elegance, we take our seats on the plush sofa placed in front of the stage, watching the festivities unfold.

Maya sat beside Adranksh, watching with a soft smile as their loved ones twirled and swayed across the stage. The colors, the music, the sheer joy of the moment-it was intoxicating. But she barely had time to soak it all in before Vedha and Ishani grabbed her hands, pulling her toward the center of the stage.

"Let's go Maya! It's our turn!" Vedha grinned.

"Let's set this stage on fire." Ishani winked.

As the opening beats of Chikni Chameli blasted through the speakers, the crowd erupted into cheers. The three of them took their positions-Maya in the center, Vedha and Ishani at her sides.

The music surged, and they moved in perfect sync, their bodies flowing effortlessly to the rhythm. Every twirl, every flick of their wrists, every stomp of their feet-it was magnetic. The audience was captivated, their eyes glued to the stage as the three girls danced with fiery intensity.

And then, as the song hit its climactic verse, Vedha and Ishani gracefully stepped back, leaving Maya alone at the center.

The spotlight belonged to her now.

Her movements turned sharper, her hips swayed with confidence, and every flick of her waist oozed power. She lip-synced to the lyrics, her expressions bold, teasing-owning every word.

Her gaze flickered across the crowd before locking onto him.

Adranksh.

His dark, piercing eyes were on her-unwavering, intense.

Something about his stare made her skin tingle. He wasn't just watching her dance; he was studying her, devouring every movement as if he were trying to memorize it. His jaw was clenched, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Maya smirked.

She twirled, her dupatta flying, her body bending and swaying effortlessly to the music. The fire inside her ignited even further as she realized-this was power. The power to captivate, to command attention. And right now, she had his.

By the time the song reached its final beats, Maya ended with a dramatic pose, slightly breathless, her heart hammering in her chest. The room burst into applause, the sound of whistles and cheers echoing everywhere.

Vedha and Ishani ran back onto the stage, hugging her.

But Maya's eyes remained on Adranksh.

His lips had curled into a smirk. A slow, knowing smirk.

And in that moment, she realized something-she had his full attention now.
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ADRANKSH SINGH RAJPUT:

"When shall we leave, sir?" he asked.

"Now."

Without another word, we got into the car and drove away from the resort. But no matter how much distance we covered, my mind refused to leave her. I had expected a timid, shy bride-one who would blush and lower her gaze. Instead, she was bold, reckless, and absolutely intoxicating.

Her scent still lingered on me, her warmth a phantom against my skin. The way she had settled on my lap, the curve of her waist beneath my hands, the way her breath had teased my neck...

Fuck.

If she had placed her lips there instead of her nose, I wouldn't have been able to control myself. My heart pounded against my ribs like it was on a goddamn treadmill.

Tomorrow, she's going to be mine.
Whether she likes it or not.
She's going to be my wife. Mine.

Dhruv's voice pulled me back from my thoughts.

"Sir, we're here."

I stepped out of the car, smoothing out the slight wrinkles in my sherwani before striding into the dimly lit building. My eyes scanned the room, landing on the man tied to a chair in the center.

"Did he spill anything yet?" I asked Thar, my right-hand man.

"Not yet, sir."

I exhaled sharply. "Bring them."

Thar nodded. One of the guards stepped forward, untying the trembling man, who immediately collapsed at my feet.

"Thank you, Hukum," he whimpered.

I stared down at him, my voice eerily calm. "Run."

At first, he looked relieved. Then he heard the barking.

His head snapped up, eyes widening in horror as he saw my Dobermans-Scar and Bruno-being led forward. He fell back at my feet, hands clasped in desperation.

"Hukum, I'll tell you everything! Please, let me go!"

"Then speak."

"It was the Shekhawats! They made me do it. Please, I swear, I had no choice."

I tilted my head, considering his words before stepping back. "Run."

His breath hitched.

"If they catch you, they'll hurt you." I gave him a head start. "Go."

The second his feet moved, I unchained Scar and Bruno.

"Attack."

His screams filled the room.

Without sparing him another glance, I turned to Thar. "Clean them up when they're done."

Forty minutes later, I arrived back at the Mahal. Tonight, she would officially be mine.

I pulled the ring from my pocket, placing it on the table before heading into the bathroom. A cold shower did nothing to rid me of the fire that Maya had ignited in my veins. She was an addiction-one I had no intention of quitting.

Dressed in the black sherwani my mother had picked, I stepped out to find my family waiting.

Mom smiled. "Shall we?"

I slid my phone into my pocket and nodded.

The hall was filled with people, but I only saw her. Maya stood at the entrance with her family, looking like a goddess draped in black. Power radiated from her, sharp and undeniable. And her lehenga? A perfect match to mine.

Fate.

I walked toward her, placing a firm hand on her bare waist. She stiffened, shooting me a look that screamed, What the fuck are you doing?

"Walk with me."

Without waiting for her response, I led her into the hall, our families trailing behind.

On the stage, we exchanged rings. As I slid the band onto her finger, I leaned in, my lips grazing her ear.

"You are mine now, Maya. There's no backing out."

She met my gaze, defiance burning in her eyes. Her voice was a whisper, but her words were sharp as a dagger.

"Don't forget, Adranksh. If I am yours, you are mine too."

A fake smile curled on her lips, but I saw the challenge beneath it.

Perfect. Finally, someone interesting.

I smirked, guiding her to the sofa. But the night wasn't over yet.

Maya's friends dragged her toward the stage. She glanced back, flashing a smile before stepping forward. I leaned back, crossing my leg over the other, prepared to enjoy the show.

And fuck, did she deliver.

The way she moved-- so effortlessly sensual-had the entire room captivated. The sway of her hips, the confidence in her stance... Every second of her performance was an exquisite kind of torture. When her gaze locked onto mine, she winked, knowing exactly what she was doing to me.

It took everything in me not to march up there and claim her in front of everyone.

When the song ended, I exhaled, finally released from her spell. But then she disappeared backstage. Ten minutes passed.

Where the fuck was she?

I got up, grabbing a bottle of water when I heard her voice.

"Sid!! You came!"

I turned just in time to see her throw herself into another man's arms. His hands gripped her waist like they belonged there.

They didn't.

Within seconds, I was beside them, pulling her out of his embrace. My hand settled possessively on her waist as I addressed him.

"Mr. Oberoi." My tone was clipped.

His eyes darkened. "Mr. Rajput."

"Excuse us. I need to talk to my fiancée. You two can catch up later."

I didn't wait for a response before leading her away. She squirmed, trying to pry my hand off, but I pinched her waist lightly.

She yelped. "You-"

"Shut up."

I dragged her down a dark hallway, pinning her against the wall.

She crossed her arms beneath her chest, lifting her breasts slightly in the process. My gaze flickered down before returning to hers. She leaned against the wall, unbothered.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"No reason."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you always this childish, Adranksh?"

I ignored the jab. "Why do you want to keep our marriage hidden from the media?"

She sighed, voice firm but laced with something almost vulnerable. "Because I don't want to use your name to grow my business. I built my empire without my father's influence, and I refuse to depend on yours after marriage. I want my success to be mine. Do you understand?"

I stared at her.

This woman.

Every misunderstanding I had of her had been shattered.

"Let's sign a contract, Maya."

She raised a brow. "A contract?"

"Yes. I want this marriage to work. We'll plan our lives accordingly."

She didn't know it yet, but a contract meant she wouldn't be able to leave me.

Even if she wanted to.

After a pause, she nodded. "Fine. Let's go to my room."

She turned and walked toward the last room at the end of the hallway. I followed.

Settling onto the bed, we began drafting a contract.

Clause by clause, we set the rules of our marriage.

But no contract could contain what was already unfolding between us.

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VOCABULARY:
Use of Kannada words:
a. Ajji- Grandmother.
b. Thatha- Grandfather.
c. Appa- Father.
d. Amma- Mother.
e. Anna- Older brother.
f. Atte- Aunt.
g. Mama- Uncle.

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