I had never been a fan of weddings. But i had to come ofc.
The noise. The chaos. The overenthusiastic relatives who asked far too many personal questions. Beta, when will you get married? Beta, do you have a girlfriend? The sheer nosiness of people at events like these made my skin crawl.
I didn't expect to find myself standing at the entrance of the Mehendi ceremony, momentarily frozen like an idiot.
And the reason?
Avni Rajput.
I wasn't sure what I had expected when I came here. Maybe another round of our usual verbal sparring, maybe another chance to see her storm away after losing patience with me seeing me enter first. But this?
This was something else entirely.
She was standing at the center of the courtyard, surrounded by a group of women, laughing at something her cousin had said. And for the first time-I saw her without that sharp business-like exterior.
She was dressed in a emerald-green dress, the intricate golden embroidery shimmering under the soft lighting. Her long hair, usually tied up in professional perfection, was left open, cascading down her back. Her bangles jingled as she threw her head back in laughter, completely unaware of me.
And fuck, she looked breathtaking.
I had never seen her like this before-unguarded, free. There was no sharp retort on her lips, no fire in her eyes from yet another argument with me. Just... Avni, in her element, glowing in a way that made my chest feel tighter than it should.
I should've looked away. Should've walked in like I owned the damn place, should've ignored whatever the hell this feeling was. But I didn't.
Because for the first time, I realized-she had always been beautiful, but like this? She was absolutely fucking stunning.
For a few seconds, I forgot who we were supposed to be-forgot the rivalry, the constant back-and-forth.
And then, as if sensing my stare, she turned.
Her expression shifted in an instant-her posture straightened, her eyes sharpened, and just like that, the unguarded Avni I had glimpsed was gone.
She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "What, Mr Singhania? Staring too hard? Should I be worried?" I snapped out of whatever daze I'd been in, masking everything with a smirk. "You? Worry about me? Highly unlikely."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes before turning on her heel and walking away, leaving behind the scent of roses and something infuriatingly sweet.
I exhaled, dragging a hand through my hair. For a few seconds, she had disarmed me. And I hated it.
I wasn't the type to get lost in fleeting moments, especially not over a woman who would rather throw me off a cliff than admit my presence affected her.
I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. This wasn't some fairytale moment.
This was Avni Rajput. And if I knew her like I thought I did, she wouldn't let me forget our little war anytime soon.
But even as I moved further into the venue, even as relatives and business associates approached with forced pleasantries, my mind stayed stuck on her.
Avni Rajput.
The woman who had thrown my name around like a curse too many times. The woman who could shatter a room's confidence with a single glance. The woman who, for a brief second, had looked so damn different-so unguarded that it had caught me off guard.
And now, I wanted to push her, just to see how fast she'd bring that wall back up.
I spotted her again near the Mehendi corner, where women were getting intricate designs drawn onto their hands. She wasn't getting one herself-of course, she wouldn't-but she stood close to her cousin, laughing softly at something the girl said.
Her expression was relaxed, her features softer than I had ever seen them before. I should have left her alone.
But I never did what I should do.
With measured steps, I closed the distance between us. And just as she turned to pick up a glass of water from the table, I spoke-low enough that only she could hear.
"You almost looked approachable just now, Ms Rajput. Careful-you might ruin your reputation." She stiffened, fingers tightening around the glass before turning to face me with a look that was nothing short of murderous.
"And here I was, actually having a good time." She took a slow sip of water, her eyes narrowing. "Figures you'd be the one to ruin it." I smirked, sliding my hands into my pockets. "Don't give me that much credit. You and a good mood? That's a rare sight. I had nothing to do with it."
Her jaw tightened, but I saw the flicker of something behind her irritation-something dangerous. Amusement. "You must really enjoy getting under my skin, huh?" she mused, tilting her head.
I stepped slightly closer, just enough to watch her pulse flicker at her throat. "I do enjoy watching you pretend I don't." She scoffed, looking away as if I wasn't worth the effort. "You're insufferable." "And yet, here we are."
A muscle in her jaw twitched before she turned on her heel, walking away without another word. But I didn't miss the way she clenched her fist. Didn't miss the way she inhaled sharply, as if forcing herself to stay composed.
And I especially didn't miss the way my own chest tightened in the aftermath of our exchange. Damn it.
I had spent years dealing with powerful men, negotiating ruthless business deals, and controlling every aspect of my life with precision.
Yet, one woman-one single, infuriating woman-was getting under my skin far too easily.
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