60. Surprise!

Damn... This chapter...

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Daksh returned early that day, his excitement evident as he stepped into the house.

His eyes eagerly scanned the rooms until he found Divya in the kitchen, humming softly to herself.

A tender smile spread across his face as he silently approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Divya gasped, startled by his sudden touch, but relaxed when she recognized the familiar warmth.

"Hello, Honeypie," he whispered softly in her ear, his voice low and teasing, sending a shiver cascading down her spine.

She tilted her head slightly to look at him, her cheeks flushed. "Daksh ji! You scared me!" she scolded playfully.

Daksh chuckled at her reaction. "I couldn’t resist," he said with a grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I have something for you," he added, his tone brimming with excitement.

Curious, Divya turned around to face him. "Something for me? What is it?" she asked, her smile brightening.

Taking her hand in his, he gently led her out of the kitchen. "Come on! You'll see," he said enthusiastically.

They reached their room, but instead of stopping there, Daksh guided her toward a locked door that adjoined their bedroom.

Divya's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she studied the mysterious door.

"Oh, what’s this?" she asked, her head tilting slightly.

Daksh pulled a small key from his pocket, holding it up with a playful grin. "You’ll find out soon enough," he said, inserting the key into the lock.

He turned it with a soft click and then faced Divya, who was now brimming with anticipation.

She raised an eyebrow, her smile growing. "What are you up to, Daksh ji?" she teased.

Instead of answering, he stepped behind her and gently covered her eyes with his hands.

"Daksh ji!" she chuckled, clearly amused by his dramatic flair.

"Patience, Honeypie," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

He guided her carefully into the room. "Ready?" he murmured as he removed his hands from her eyes.

The moment her vision cleared, Divya gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in astonishment.

Before her lay a beautifully arranged big library, with towering shelves filled with books of every genre, cozy seating, and a soft glow from warm, ambient lighting.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief and overwhelming joy.

She turned to him, her eyes shining with tears of happiness, and flung her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

Daksh smiled, his heart swelling at her reaction.

He bent slightly to accommodate their height difference but then straightened up, effortlessly lifting her off the ground and twirling her around in a circle.

Divya let out a delighted laugh, holding onto him tightly as they spun in their little bubble of joy.

He gently set her down, his hands lingering on her waist as they both caught their breath.

Divya’s cheeks flushed a deep pink at his touch, and she quickly adjusted her hair, trying to compose herself.

"Um..." she stammered, struggling to find the right words, "Tha-thank you. Thank you so much," she finally managed, her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to meet his eyes out of sheer shyness.

Daksh’s lips curled into a soft, mischievous smile as he watched her fumble.

His hands pulled her closer by the waist, his touch firm yet gentle. "Well... go on, Honeypie. Go check them out!" he said with playful encouragement.

Divya nodded, her heart pounding as she felt his grip tighten briefly.

She quickly turned and walked toward the shelves, her steps a little hurried as she tried to calm her racing heartbeat.

Her fingers skimmed over the spines of the books, and her eyes widened in awe.

"Daksh ji," she said, her voice laced with disbelief and excitement as she turned to him. "All these books..."

Daksh moved closer to her, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Well... I wasn’t sure what books you liked to read," he admitted sheepishly. "When I asked Anu, she mentioned romance and... um... dark romance, I think? I had no clue what to choose, so I just got them all."

Divya’s face lit up with happiness as she clutched one of the books. "Oh, Daksh ji!! These are all my favorites!!!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with gratitude.

"Glad to know," he said, his smile widening as he stepped closer to her.

Without warning, his arms snaked around her waist again, pulling her close.

Divya gasped, her blush deepening as she felt the warmth of his body against hers.

"Well," Daksh whispered, his voice low and teasing as his lips hovered near her ear, "don’t you think I deserve a return gift for this?"

Divya blinked nervously, her breath hitching at his proximity. "Wh-wha-what gift...?" she stammered, barely able to get the words out.

Daksh’s smile turned devilishly charming, his gaze dropping to her trembling lips. "Don’t worry," he said, his voice a seductive murmur, "I’ll take it myself."

Divya’s eyes widened, and she instinctively shut them tightly, her fists clutching the book in her hands.

Daksh chuckled at her innocence, his heart warming at her reaction.

Leaning in, he placed a soft, teasing kiss on her right cheek, dangerously close to the corner of her lips.

Divya froze, her breath catching as the sensation lingered. The world seemed to blur, leaving only the tingling warmth of that brief touch.

Daksh, satisfied with his playful tease, scooped her up effortlessly into his arms.

Divya, still lost in the moment, opened her eyes in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

He carried her to a large, luxurious swing nestled in the library, its soft cushions inviting and cozy.

Sitting down with ease, he gently placed Divya on his lap, holding her securely.

Divya looked at the swing in amazement. "Wow... this swing is so big!" she said, her eyes wide with excitement.

Daksh chuckled, leaning closer. "It’s meant for the two of us," he said, his breath brushing against her skin.

Divya turned to him, her curiosity piqued. "You’ll read too?" she asked, her voice soft and hopeful.

"No," Daksh replied, his tone steady yet intimate. "I’ll look at you while you’re reading."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Huh?"

"Yeah," he said, his gaze locking with hers.

"You get lost in your book world, and I get lost in you."

Divya’s heart skipped a beat, her cheeks burning as the words sank in.

Divya couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. She bit her lower lip, trying to hide it, but Daksh noticed, and it only fueled the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Don’t hide that smile," he whispered, his fingers gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "It’s my favorite thing in the world."

Divya’s blush deepened, and she looked away, pretending to focus on the rows of books in front of her.

Her fingers lightly grazed the cover of a novel, but her mind was too preoccupied with the way Daksh’s gaze burned into her, his presence so overwhelming yet comforting.

Daksh leaned back slightly on the swing, his arms still securely around her waist.

"You know," he began, his tone playful, "I’m starting to think this library might’ve been my best idea yet. You’re glowing with happiness."

She turned to him, her eyes soft and filled with gratitude. "It is your best idea. I’ve never felt so special before," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daksh’s smile softened, and he tilted his head, studying her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

"You are special, Honeypie. You deserve all the happiness, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get it."

Her breath hitched at his words, and for a moment, she was at a loss for how to respond.

This was the side of Daksh that always left her speechless—the man who hid his tenderness behind his strong exterior but let it show in the moments that mattered most.

Suddenly, Daksh reached behind him and grabbed a small, gift-wrapped package he had tucked away. He handed it to her, his grin widening.

"There’s more?" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Open it," he urged, leaning closer to see her reaction.

Divya carefully unwrapped the package, her heart racing with anticipation.

Inside was a beautifully bound leather journal, its cover engraved with her name in delicate golden letters.

"Oh, Daksh ji," she whispered, her fingers tracing the engraving.

"I thought you’d like to jot down your thoughts or maybe even write your own stories," he explained, his voice warm. "You can fill it with whatever makes you happy."

Tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked them away, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of his gift.

"It’s beautiful. Thank you," she said, her voice trembling.

"You’re welcome," he said, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.

For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the swing swaying softly.

Divya flipped through the journal, her mind already racing with ideas of what to write, while Daksh watched her, his heart full.

After a moment, Divya glanced up at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You really plan on just sitting here and watching me read?" she asked.

"Absolutely," Daksh replied without hesitation, a teasing smile on his face. "You’re far more interesting than any book."

She laughed, her cheeks still tinged with pink. "You’re impossible."

"And you’re irresistible," he countered, his tone playful yet sincere.

Divya shook her head, but her smile betrayed her.

Nestling closer into his arms, she allowed herself to relax completely, the warmth of his love surrounding her like a protective shield.

For the first time in a long time, she felt truly at peace, and as the swing gently rocked them, she realized that with Daksh by her side, she could face anything the world threw at her.

♥︎♡♥︎♡

And love whispered, 'not yet'...💕