19.

NAINA

Two months had passed since our wedding, yet it felt like no time at all. Reyansh and I had grown even closer, sharing our lives in ways I never imagined possible. Each morning, we woke up entangled in each other's embrace, our legs intertwined just like now. He slept peacefully beside me, a few strands of hair falling casually across his forehead.

His perfect jawline, big eyes, and pink lips captivated me. As he slowly opened his eyes, my blue orbs met his warm brown ones, and I wondered how such simple brown eyes could be so enchanting.

"Good morning," his deep and husky voice greeted me, sending butterflies fluttering through my stomach, just as it had from the beginning.

"Good morning," I replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. He placed a soft kiss on the top of my head before getting up to start his day.

Reyansh headed to the bathroom, and soon after, his phone rang. "Reyansh, you have a call!" I called out to him.

"Answer it, please!" he shouted back.

I grabbed his phone, seeing an unknown number on the screen. Just as I was about to answer, the call ended. My brows furrowed in confusion. I was about to set the phone back down when it pinged with notifications from the same number. I hesitated, then clicked on the notification. Several pictures exploded on the screen—images from that night.

Unknown: Hi little prince.

My heart raced, the sound of my pulse pounding in my ears. Quickly, I forwarded the number to my phone and deleted the message from his. As I put his phone back, Reyansh walked into the room.

My heart pounded erratically, and it became hard to breathe. Not wanting Reyansh to notice my distress, I stormed into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

I gripped the countertop, splashing my face with water repeatedly, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I discarded my clothes and stepped into the shower,

letting the warm water wash over me, offering a semblance of peace from the horrific memories—the bloody sight, the terrifying face, the sensations that still haunted me. Who was that person? How did they have pictures from that night?

After what felt like an eternity, I turned off the shower, wrapped myself in a bathrobe, and walked into the closet. I changed into a blue shirt and pants, applied some skincare and lipstick, trying to pull myself together.

When I emerged, I found Reyansh sitting on the bed, scrolling through his phone. He wore a blue shirt that matched mine, paired with white pants. A strand of hair fell charmingly across his forehead.

How could someone be so effortlessly attractive?

He looked up, meeting my gaze, and a small smile adorned his lips. The urge to pull him by his collar and kiss him fiercely surged within me.

Behave, Naina.

"Shall we?" he asked in his deep voice. I forced a smile, nodding as we both walked out together, side by side.

We both descend down the stairs; all the family members were already seated except Aarav, obviously.

We take a seat together. Aarav enters the room in his trousers and T-shirt. "Good morning," he says, taking a seat beside Mihir. We all greet him back.

We were eating in complete silence until it was broken by the drop of Reyansh's spoon. He bends down to pick it up.

He gets up with a smirk on his face. "Papa and Chachu, why are you eating with your left hand?" he teases, his voice dripping with mischief.

All eyes snap towards them, and I can see smirks on everyone's faces. "Aise hi," Chachu says, clearing his throat.

["just"]

Doesn't he know not to disturb couples? I slowly sneak my hand under the table, taking his right hand in my grip.

He chokes on his food, turning to me with wide eyes while I give him an innocent look, sipping on water. "Arey bhai, aap bhi?" Aarav says with a smirk.

["you as well brother?"]

Reyansh clears his throat, "Vo... bas hogaya," he says, looking at his plate. "Haan haan, hota hai. Nahi, yeh to ek bohot normal galti hai," Raihaana says.

["umm...it just happened"]

["ya of course of course it keeps happening it's a normal thing"]

"Anwika, Advika, and Naina, bas baccho. Aap haath chhod do unke, and let them eat," Dadu says, in a sweet voice with a laugh referring to us three. We look at him with betrayed faces before leaving their hands.

["Enough dear now let them eat"]

"You were lucky today, Husband," I whisper in his ear.

He smiles, squeezing my hand under the table. "Vo to mai us din bhi tha when I met you," he whispers back, making my heart flutter.

The meal continues, the previous tension replaced with light-hearted banter and shared smiles. It feels like a perfect start to the day, surrounded by family and the one I love.

-•-

It was currently evening I was wrapping up with my work cause me and Reyansh have a business party to attend at 7PM and it's 5PM I have to get home by 6PM.

Quickly wrapping up all the work, and one thing which I did was contact Kabir. I need to get the information and that number.

I was on my way back home, reaching I get ready wearing a sophisticated, cream-colored, double-breasted blazer-style gown. It features long sleeves, a notched lapel collar, and a fitted silhouette, accentuating a formal and elegant appearance. The design includes matching buttons and subtle seam detailing.

Reyansh gets ready in suit. The outfit consists of a taupe three-piece suit, including a jacket, vest, and trousers. The suit is paired with a white dress shirt and a black tie.

We slide into the car, the soft leather seats cradling us as the doors close with a gentle thud. As he starts the engine, I can't help but steal a glance at him, his profile illuminated by the glow of the dashboard lights.

"Ready to handle those people Mrs.Singhania" he asks, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I laugh, "they are easier to handle compared to you Mr.Singhania ."

As we pull onto the road, we fall into our usual rhythm of playful banter.

"Remember that time we got lost on our way to the beach?" I say, giggling.

He chuckles, "How could I forget? You insisted we didn't need GPS because you had an 'excellent sense of direction.'"

"Hey, I got us there eventually, didn't I?" I retort, nudging his arm.

"Yeah, three hours later," he teases, his smile widening.

We continue sharing stories, our laughter filling the car. The city lights blur past us, and with every mile, the outside world seems to fade away.

Out of nowhere, he reaches over and gently squeezes my hand, his touch sending a warm wave through me. "You know," he says softly, "I love these moments with you. Just being together, talking about everything and nothing."

I look at him, my heart swelling with affection. "Me too," I whisper. "You make everything better. Even when things are tough, you have this way of making me feel like everything's going to be okay."

He glances over, his eyes locking onto mine. "That's because when I'm with you, everything is okay," he says, his voice earnest and tender.

I feel a rush of emotion, my heart resting at ease in his presence. "I'm so thankful for you," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "Every single day."

He smiles, his eyes softening. "And I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. You are my joy, my peace, my everything."

We continue our drive, the conversation flowing effortlessly. We laugh, we tease, and we cherish the precious moments that make our love so special. As we pull into the driveway, I realize that no matter where we are, as long as we're together, I am home.

Soon as we step out, the flashes blind our view. Reyansh snakes his arm around my waist, guiding us through the chaos. We make our way inside.

The people here are dangerous, masters of manipulation, their smiles a façade hiding deep-seated contempt. Each one secretly prays for the other's downfall.

We meet and greet, maintaining a cold demeanor. The entire time, I feel someone's lingering gaze. The disgusting smirk on his face whenever he looks at us makes my skin crawl.

To test my instincts, I lead Reyansh to a corner room. As expected, someone follows us. I drag him through a staff-only door, my heart pounding.

His brows twitch in confusion when I pin him against the wall. He tries to speak, but I cover his mouth with my palm. "Shh, don't say anything," I whisper.

I was right. A pair of neatly polished, professional shoes stands just outside the door. I hear hushed whispers but can't catch their words.

The footsteps eventually fade away. I turn to Reyansh, suddenly aware of our proximity. He's pinned against the wall, my hand still on his mouth, the only thing between us.

He kisses my palm. I withdraw my hand, attempting to step back, but fail as he grips my waist, pulling me closer. Our chests collide.

"What was that, Mrs. Singhania?" he asks in a deep, low whisper. The intensity in his voice sends shivers down my spine. If he keeps this up, I'll kiss him right here.

Not getting an answer, he raises an eyebrow, silently demanding a response. Not getting an answer, he raises an eyebrow, silently demanding a response.
His eyes burn into mine, and the heat between us becomes almost unbearable.

His grip tightens on my waist, and I can feel his breath hot against my cheek.

"Answer me," he murmurs, his voice a seductive command. The space between us feels charged, electric. I can barely think, let alone speak.

"Reyansh, I.." My words falter as his hand trails up my back, sending a shiver down my spine. He tilts his head, his lips brushing against my ear.

"You what?" he whispers, his voice a tantalizing mix of challenge and promise. I can feel his lips curve into a smirk against my skin.

My breath hitches, my body responding to his every move. "I just wanted to see if we were being followed," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

His hand moves from my waist to the small of my back, pulling me even closer. Our bodies are now pressed together, every contour of his form against mine.

"And now that you know we were?" he asks, his voice dripping with a dangerous edge. The tension is unbearable. My pulse races, and I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

"Now I know," I breathe, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and desire. He chuckles softly, a dark, seductive sound that makes my knees weak.

"You're playing with fire, Mrs. Singhania," he murmurs, his lips grazing my neck. "And you enjoy it," I shoot back, surprised by the boldness in my voice.

He pulls back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes. His gaze is intense, filled with a hunger that makes my heart race.

"Maybe I do," he says, his voice low and dangerous.
Before I can respond

he captures my lips in a fierce, demanding kiss. His hands roam my body, igniting every nerve. I melt into him, unable to resist the pull.

Our kiss deepens, and the world around us fades away, leaving just the two of us and the fire we've ignited.

As we finally break apart, gasping for breath, he looks at me with a mix of triumph and desire. "You have no idea what you've started," he whispers, his voice filled with promise.

"Then show me," I reply, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside
me.

With a predatory grin, he pulls me back to him, and I know there's no turning back. The game has begun, and I'm ready to play.