Prologue

~ Prologue ~

SCENE 1

"Dard ke siwaye aur kuch nahi de sakta." He whispered against her ear. His lips touched her earlobe sending a shiver down her spine and her clutch on his shirt tightened.

"Man-manzoor hai. A-atleast kuch toh de rahein hain." She stammered in a whispering voice against his chest. Her vulnerable voice and sincere words made his eyes close and jaw clench as his emotions badly stirred inside him.

...

SCENE 2

She gasped sharply as he scooped her up effortlessly into his arms, holding her in a perfect bridal style.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt, voice trembling with both shock and something unspoken. He said nothing , didn’t even glance her way as he carried her toward the staircase with determined steps.

"Main chal kar ja sakti hoon." she murmured, almost unsure, tapping his chest gently in protest.

[ I can walk ]

He stopped midway on the stairs, finally looking down at her with slight clenched jaw. His ocean-deep eyes locked with hers making her breathe hiss as a crimson hue covered over her cheeks.

"If you walk, what will I do?" His voice was low, stripped of any warmth, yet laced with something deeper. Her eyes widened at his words, lips parting to respond but no words came.

Flushed, she turned away, burying her face in the curve of his neck, her small fist clutching his collar tightly, trying to hide from him, using him as her only shield.

He watched her small body pressed against his, something badly stirred inside him which made his eye softened but without any further do he looked up composing himself.

"Get a grip, Yuvraj." He mentally scolded himself and resumed to walk towards their room.

When they reached the room, she swallowed hard, nerves bubbling in her chest as he pushed the door open with his foot. Stepping inside, he walked straight to the bed and gently set her down at the edge, his touch careful, controlled.

She looked up only to find his eyes already on her. The intensity in his gaze made her cheeks flush once more.

"Sit here. I’ll bring the first aid kit," he said, his voice deep and hoarse. She only nodded, unable to trust her voice.

He turned away and moved toward the dressing table, bending to search through the drawers. Her eyes following his every move who was almost irritated, She bit her lower lip suppressing her smile.

"You've opened the wrong one. It’s in the left drawer." she said softly making him pause as he muttered something under his breathe and shifted to the left drawer, nodding in acknowledgment.

He returned, first aid box in hand, and sat down on the floor without a word. Pouring a small amount of ointment onto his finger, With a tenderness that contrasted his usual demeanor, he gently pulled her sprained foot toward him like even the slightest touch might hurt her, and he couldn’t bear that.

Her heartbeat quickened as his fingers brushed against her skin, sending a rush of butterflies fluttering through her. But the moment realization washed over her, her eyes widened and she abruptly pulled her leg back from his hold.

"Y-ye kya kar rahe hain?" she exclaimed in shock. The very idea of her husband touching her feet felt nothing short of a sin to her, especially through the lens of her traditional upbringing. But seemingly nothing for him.

[ W-what are you doing?? ]

"Taking care of my wife, who seems to have forgotten how to care for herself." He said calmly meeting her eyes making her gulp. Something twisted inside stomach by his words as a crimson hue covered over her cheeks.

"Nahi, me-mera matlab... how can you tou-touch my feet?" she stammered, her words rushed and flustered.

"And why shouldn’t I touch your feet, Mrs. Rajvansh??" he asked, lifting a brow in calm defiance.

"Woh..You are my husband... and—"

"Firse shuru ho gayi." he thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at her never ending list of sanskaar-fuelled protests.

[ There she go again ]

"Shut up! And give me your foot." he ordered bluntly, leaving no room for argument. She flinched at his harsh voice and quickly nodded and forwarded her foot.

He took her foot gently in his rough hands, carefully tracing the ointment over the swollen part of her ankle. She hissed in pain, and he immediately stopped, clicking his tongue in frustration.

"See? How delicate you are?" he scolded, his tone firm but laced with worry. "I told you yesterday not to go to dance class, didn’t I? You’re already on your periods, and still, you danced like nothing mattered. Now see the consequences."

He looked at her, frustration evident but the moment his eyes met her innocent gaze, he faltered. Something twisted inside him, soft and unsettling. Guilt pricked at him as he quickly looked away, unable to hold that look any longer.

"Aap aise kaise bol sakte hain??" she gasped, his words hitting her like a sudden ache in the chest. Tears sting in her eyes.

[ How can you say like that?? ]

"Because seeing you in pain, pains me. Can't you—" He stopped abruptly the moment their eyes met, as if the weight of his own confession had just landed on him. He cursed under his breath, realising the slip too raw, too honest.

But it was already out.And it had reached her.The words sank deep into her heart, blooming warmth in places she thought were untouched. A soft, involuntary smile spread across her lips.

"W-what? Why are you smiling?" he asked quickly, looking away in panic. His voice still carried that usual gruffness, but his eyes they betrayed him completely.

She bit her lower lip stopping herself from smiling when suddenly an idea popped in her mind. She blinked, letting the tears flow. As she watched him massage her sprained ankle with the ointment, she sobbed fakely but real for him to grab his attention making his eyes widened as he saw tears in her eyes.

"Wh-what happened did I hurt you somewhere?" He panicked caressing her ankle slowly.

"Yes! You did." She winced sniffing with vulnerable eyes looking into his blue eyes soften.

"Where??" He asked raising her

"You talk to me so rudely, I feel pain here. You hurt me here. " She said with a sad pout pointing on her chest - over her heart making emotions stir inside him. The emotions in his eyes-perhaps it was guilt there.

Those tears in her beautiful doe eyes which was now full of hurt - made his heart tightened. He felt like a bastard. He slowly lowered his head down, his hand still holding her injured ankle, he let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry, Jaan." He whispered, then pulled her injured foot up towards his face and planted a lingering kiss over the sprain blue mark making her heart skip a beat as he looked at him with a stunned expression.

And in that moment she realized, The man before her is a man of actions not words. He choose his silence to speak more than what he can ever describe in words.

The way his expression immediately changed the moment he saw the tears in her eyes, the way his gaze softened, the way he forgot he was scolding her everything made her heart skip a beat.

This everything made her fall for him all over again at his silent love or maybe it was just the beginning.

But she knew her plan for making him fall for her, make him crave him for her was working.

"And one day you'll also love me, crave for me the way I do for you. " She thought as a small smile spread on her lips.

...

SCENE 3

"Aise mat dekho." He swallowed hard, looking down at her, his grip tightening around the cup.

[Don't look at me like that.]

She sat across from him, her eyes wide and innocent, unaware of the storm she was causing inside him.

"Why?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, genuinely confused.He looked away, exhaling sharply his jaw clenched.

"P-pyaar ho jayega." He confessed, his voice as a whisper made her breathe hiss.She blinked, stunned by his words, her breath hitching. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air heavier

[L-love will happen.]

"Aapko ya humko?" She asked softly, her shock was visible on her face. He froze. His fingers stiffened around the cup as her question echoed in the silent room. His throat went dry, and for a moment, he couldn't bring himself to look at her.

[To you or to me?]

"What??" His voice was barely a whisper, betraying the turmoil within him.She leaned forward slightly, her gaze locked onto him.

"Pyaar aapko hoga ya humein?" she repeated, her voice softer this time, yet holding an undeniable challenge.

[Will love happen to you or to me?]

His eyes flickered to hers, searching, hesitating. The weight of her words pressed against his chest, making it harder to breathe.

"What do you mean?" he muttered, trying to mask the shakiness in his voice, but she caught it.

"Matlab ye, ki agar pyaar ho bhi jaye… toh kya galat hai?" she asked, tilting her head, a small, unreadable smile playing on her lips.He clenched his jaw. His heart was betraying him, pushing him towards something he had spent so long resisting.

[I mean, even if love happens… what's wrong with it?]

"Galat nahi… bas sambhalna mushkil ho jayega." His words were slow, deliberate, laced with a tension that neither of them could ignore.

[Not wrong… just difficult to handle.]

She let his words settle between them. Then, with a soft chuckle, she leaned back, her eyes still holding his.

"Toh sambhal lijiye, Yuvraj ji." She whispered and with and with that, she picked up his tea cup, her fingers brushing against the warmth he had left behind.

[Then handle it, Yuvraj ji.]

Without breaking eye contact, she brought it to her lips and took a slow, deliberate sip—from the exact same spot where his lips had touched. His breath hitched. His fingers curled into fists on the table.

She placed the cup back gently, tilting her head as if nothing had happened, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Ab toh sambhalna aur bhi mushkil ho gaya, Yuvraj ji." She said as a giggle escaped from her lips.

[Now handling it has become even more difficult, Yuvraj ji.]

His jaw clenched, his heartbeat loud in his ears. She had just crossed an invisible line he had been desperately trying to maintain.

And she knew it.

...

SCENE 4

"Please! You told me na to not poke my nose into your life so I'm doing the same.. Now why are you poking your nose into mine huh?" She said glaring at him then looked away focusing back onto cleaning the vanity area and her skincare products.

"Sorry, Sweetheart.. I really feel guilty for snapping at you like that.. Isiliye toh dekho kese joru ka gulam bana hoon." He said sweetly leaning against the wall looking at her who was busy fixing the vanity area. His words made her roll her eyes.

"Hmm! Aapke ye behuda films ke line aab mujh par nahi chalne wale. Bohot kar liya pyaar humne." She said pushing him as he was infront of her which was blocking her path and she walked towards the wardrobe taking her sarees out one by one making his demeanor hardened.

He frowned walking towards her, he dragged her by her arms making her land on his hard chest and her eyes widened and frowned in irritation.

"Kya hai!?" She snapped and his grip tightened around her arm, she hissed at his grip.

"Why are taking your clothes out?" He asked looking at her with intense cold gaze.

"I will go to my home." She whispered controlling her erratic heartbeats knowing she is inviting the danger, she broke the eye contact looking past him with a nervous gulp.

"What did you say?" He asked his jaw clenched making her meet his cold unfazed gaze.

"My h-home." She fumbled with a gulp as his expression dangerously changed.

"Which home?" He asked again this time his voice low and dangerous.

"My-my homee." She said a little louder this time.

"This is your home. Stop saying stupid things you won't go anywhere. " He growled leaning dangerous close to her face, his grip slightly loosened up on her arm.

"I will- achuuu! " She sneezed loudly over his chest as her face went pressed on him chest making his lips twitch as he looked up at ceiling controlling his chuckle.

...........................

"Yuvraj ji!" She called.

"Ji, Devi. Boliye." He answered with a smirk.

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