The wedding was grand. The venue was adorned with golden drapes and twinkling lights, the air thick with the scent of roses and sandalwood.
The sound of laughter and music filled the space, people moving around in an endless swirl of colors, traditions, and celebrations.
The loud music. The overly enthusiastic relatives. The never-ending small talk about life, marriage, and goddamn business.
I had perfected the art of avoiding all of it. A polite nod here, a forced smile there-just enough to get through the night without anyone bothering me too much.
But the moment I stepped into the wedding venue, my entire world tilted off its axis.
She was standing there, in the middle of the celebration, her laughter melting into the warm evening air, completely unaware of the storm she was creating inside me.
Avni Rajput.
I had always seen her in her element-the fierce, powerful businesswoman who wore confidence like a second skin. She was untouchable, always in control, always impossible to rattle.
But this?
This was a version of her I had seen before in mehendi function .
Dressed in lehenga embroidered with delicate gold thread, she looked nothing short of royalty.
The soft glow of the fairy lights above reflected in her kohl-lined eyes, making them shimmer like they held a thousand secrets.
Her long, dark hair fell in soft waves down her back, the small maang tikka on her forehead drawing attention to the delicate curve of her face. She wasn't just beautiful.
She was breathtaking.
I had never seen her like this before-carefree, laughing with her cousins, her eyes alight with a joy that had nothing to do with business meetings or negotiations.
And for a second-just a second-I couldn't breathe.
I stood there, frozen, watching her move through the crowd like she belonged to this world of light and celebration. Like she wasn't the same woman who could tear someone apart in a boardroom with just a single look.
My fingers curled into fists.
I hated this.
Hated that she had this effect on me. Hated that I was standing here like a fool, captivated by a woman who would probably kill me in my sleep if she had the chance.
Get it together, Aditya.
I was about to look away, force myself to find something-anything-else to focus on. But then, I saw him. A man.
Standing too close to her. Talking to her like he had every right to. And worse? She was smiling at him.
I felt my entire body go rigid. Something dark and possessive curled inside me, an unfamiliar fire burning in my veins.
Who the fuck was he?
I watched, my jaw clenching, as he leaned in slightly, saying something to her that made her laugh-really laugh. Not the polite, reserved smile she gave to strangers.
This was real. This was the kind of laughter that made her eyes crinkle, made her shoulders shake slightly.
The kind of laughter she had never given me.
My fists tightened. I didn't realize I had started moving until I was already making my way toward them. My steps were controlled, my expression blank, but inside?
Inside, I was fucking livid. When I reached them, she was still lost in conversation, completely oblivious to the storm brewing behind her.
It wasn't until I was close enough to hear them that she finally noticed me. And just like that, her smile disappeared.
The guy beside her turned to face me too, his expression polite, completely unaware of the tension in the air. "Hey," he said, extending a hand. "I'm Aarav. Avni's friend from college."
Friend. That should have been enough to make me step back. It wasn't.
I ignored his outstretched hand, my gaze fixed on Avni. "A friend, huh?" Avni rolled her eyes. "Yes, Aditya. A friend." My lips curled into a slow smirk. "Didn't realize you were so busy."
She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?" I took a step closer, dropping my voice just enough so only she could hear. "Just wanted to remind you that it's rude to leave your fiancé alone while you smile at another man."
Her breath hitched. smirked
She took a sharp step back, her jaw tightening. "Don't call yourself that." I tilted my head. "Why not? It's the truth."
She looked ready to throw something at me, and for a second, I almost wished she would.
Just so I'd have an excuse to grab her wrist. To pull her closer. To remind her that no matter how much she fought, no matter how much she resisted, she was mine.
Aarav, still standing there like an idiot, chuckled. "You guys seem close." Avni snapped her gaze to him, clearly trying to compose herself. "We're not. He's just-" I cut her off, my tone smooth. "i am her future husband"
Aarav's smile faltered slightly. "Oh." Avni exhaled sharply, her patience snapping. "Excuse us," she said, grabbing my wrist and dragging me away from him.
I didn't resist. She led us toward a quieter corner of the venue, far from prying eyes. Then she turned on me, fire in her eyes. "You are insufferable."
I smirked. "And yet, you're still here. Talking to me." She groaned, running a frustrated hand through her hair. "Why do you always have to ruin things?" I stepped closer, my voice dropping. "I wasn't ruining anything."
She scoffed. "You just had to assert your dominance, didn't you?" I shrugged. "He was looking at you like you belonged to him."
She blinked, momentarily stunned. Then she let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, so now you care?"
My jaw ticked.
Before I could say anything, a voice called out from behind us. "Aditya! There you are." I turned to see my mother making her way toward us, her eyes gleaming with something suspiciously close to amusement.
Avni stiffened beside me. I smirked, leaning in just a little closer. "Looks like you're about to meet your future mother-in-law."
Her head snapped toward me, pure horror flashing in her eyes. "I hate you."
I grinned. "I know."
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