"What they refused to confess lingered in every brush of fingers and stolen glance."

"What the hell, Yuvraj?" She snapped, attempting to move away, only for him to place a firm hand on her throat—not choking, but holding her in place.
"Try moving again, and you'll see the worst side of me," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Despite the threat, Taani willed her heartbeat to calm, reminding herself that this was just Yuvraj.

"Wow, what a filmy dialogue. Are you done playing the villain, or is there an actual reason behind all this?" she taunted, masking her unease. But his proximity, his touch—it unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

His lips curled into a smirk. "Just wanted to get a few things through your pretty little head, princess." He leaned in, his face mere inches from hers, teasingly close but never closing the distance.

She turned her head to the side, only to meet the cold surface of the wall. He smirked at her futile attempt to escape, his dark eyes flickering with amusement.

"What things?" she asked, impatience lacing her tone.

"First," he murmured, his fingers tightening momentarily around her throat, "you never let another man touch you, let alone hug you."

Taani arched a brow, a slow wave of anger replacing the earlier nervousness. "What else?"

"Second, when someone suggests you'll end up with another man, you correct them. Firmly. You tell them you're marrying me."

Her breath hitched. So he had heard everything.

She recovered quickly, forcing her voice to remain indifferent. "That's none of their business."

"Oh, but it is," he countered smoothly, his gaze flickering to her lips before meeting her eyes again. "And you make it your business to tell them that."

Taani let out a humorless chuckle. "Anything else, Your Majesty?" she mocked, placing her hands on his chest and attempting to shove him away. He didn't budge.

Yuvraj leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Last but definitely not least, kitten—" his lips brushed against hers, just a fleeting touch, enough to taste the hint of cherry on them "—call me your 'friend' again, and married or not, I won't hesitate to kiss the daylights out of you in front of them. Just to make a point."

Taani's eyes widened at the brief contact, her breath hitching. Before she could react, he stepped back, slipping his hands into his pockets with infuriating ease, as if nothing had happened—as if he hadn't just turned her entire world upside down.

She took a shaky breath, then, fueled by sheer defiance, grabbed his collar and spun them around. Yuvraj allowed it, intrigued by what she was planning.

Now, it was he who was against the wall, and she who looked up at him. 'Damn him and his ridiculous height,' she thought with frustration.

Placing her palm on his chest, she slowly trailed it upward, fingers grazing his throat before tightening in a firm grip. His brows lifted slightly, amusement flashing in his eyes, but he didn't move to stop her.

She held his gaze, her voice unwavering. "First, I can hug whoever I want."

Yuvraj smirked. "Oh, sweetheart, then you'll see what I do in retaliation and I promise, you won't like it one bit."

"Shh. Don't interrupt," she murmured, pressing a single finger to his lips. His smirk deepened, but when he nipped the tip of her finger, she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Second," she continued, ignoring his antics, "how exactly was I supposed to introduce you? We're not married. We're not even engaged. Until that changes, I'd rather keep things... friendly." She flashed him a mocking smile and patted his chest before stepping away.

But before she could take more than a step, his hands circled around her waist, yanking her back against him.

She gasped, both palms flattening against his chest for balance. "Yuvraj Singhania! Behave yourself!" she hissed, glaring up at him.

Instead of letting go, he chuckled—low, deep, and entirely too confident. Then, to her utter shock, he bent down and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to her forehead.

Taani nearly stumbled as she re-entered the hall, her heart still hammering from Yuvraj's words. But she barely had a moment to compose herself before her father waved her over. Standing beside him was her mother... and Yuvraj.

Her breath caught.

Siya immediately took her hand, concern etched on her face. "Taani, kahan chali gayi thi? Kabse tumhe dhoond rahe hain hum." (Taani, where were you? We've been looking for you.)

She forced a reassuring smile. "Yahin thi, Maa. Don't worry." (I was around, Maa. Don't worry.)

Avoiding Yuvraj's gaze, she turned her attention to her father, who seemed oblivious to the silent tension crackling between her and Yuvraj.

"Dekho, Yuvraj bhi yahan aya hai, aur mujhe pata bhi nahi chala," he said, grinning. "Tum mili usse?" (Look, Yuvraj is here too, and I had no idea. Did you meet him?)

Taani swallowed, still refusing to meet Yuvraj's gaze. "Ji, Papa." (Yes, Papa.)

Ranveer nodded, satisfied, and turned back to Yuvraj. "Ab hum chalte hain, beta. Tum apna dhyan rakhna." (We'll be leaving now, son. Take care of yourself.)

"Ji, aap bhi, Papa." (You too, dad.) Yuvraj's voice was warm as he bent down, touching their feet.

Taani's parents beamed, pride evident in their expressions. Despite being one of the most powerful businessmen in the country, Yuvraj remained deeply rooted in his values.

Then, as if nothing had happened between them, he turned to her, flashing a slow, knowing smile. "Bye, Taani."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. He was up to something.

Choosing not to engage, she mumbled a quick "bye" and hurried after her parents, not daring to linger.

If she stayed even a second longer, she had no doubt he'd do something again—something outrageous, something that would leave her rattled.

Behind her, Yuvraj's deep laughter echoed through the air, rich with amusement.

"Kitni dur bhagogi, meri jaan?" he murmured, watching her retreating figure with a smirk. "Aana toh tumhe mere paas hi hai..." (How far will you run, my love? You'll end up with me anyway.)

And he meant every word of it.

***

Every day, Siya dragged Taani on yet another shopping spree. Most of the time, Divya joined them, often bringing Yuvraj along so they could coordinate their outfits for each function. Today was no different. After selecting their own things, Divya and Siya wandered off, leaving Taani and Yuvi to browse on their own.

Despite her initial hesitation about marriage, Taani couldn't deny the thrill of shopping for different occasions. 'I'm only getting married once, why not go all out for it?' she thought, running her fingers over the delicate embroidery of a yellow saree.

Yuvi, on the other hand, leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching her with growing irritation. Outfit after outfit, she rejected them all, shaking her head, pursing her lips, demanding something different. 'Of course, she'd be this picky. Just like every other stuck-up girl who acts simple and sweet but throws a tantrum over clothes,' he thought, his jaw tightening.

The salesman, sensing her dissatisfaction, hesitated before saying, "Iske baad saare lehenga thode mehenge hain." (After this, the outfits are pretty costly.)

Yuvi's glare hardened. "Maine koi budget diya tumhe? Use pasand aana chahiye bas! Jo sabse mehanga ho wo bhi dikhao use!" (Did I give you a budget? She should like it, that's all! Show her the most expensive one as well.)

The salesman scurried away.

Meanwhile, Taani, oblivious to Yuvi's irritation, twirled around, holding up a yellow saree. "How's this one?" she asked, eyes gleaming with excitement. When he barely glanced at it and mumbled, "I don't know," her smile faltered.

She tried again, picking out another one, then another. Each time, his disinterest was evident. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Taani's initial excitement slowly dimmed as she held up yet another outfit, only to receive the same disinterested response from Yuvi.

At first, she had brushed it off, convincing herself that he just wasn't the kind of guy who enjoyed wedding shopping. But with each half-hearted glance, each indifferent shrug, something inside her cracked a little.

'Is it so hard for him to just pretend to care?' she wondered, gripping the fabric of the saree a little tighter. This was supposed to be their wedding—their big day.

Even if it wasn't a love match, even if she had her own doubts, she had at least hoped that he would show some involvement. That maybe, just maybe, he would care enough to pick something out with her, share a small moment of excitement.

But he didn't. And that hurt far more than she was willing to admit.

Her stomach twisted with annoyance. 'Why am I even bothering? If he didn't care, then neither would I.' Forcing a neutral expression, she turned away, pushing down the disappointment that threatened to creep in.

Instead of seeking his opinion, she started asking the store attendants, nodding at their suggestions as if they mattered more than his indifference.

Yuvi, who had been absently scrolling through his phone, suddenly sensed the shift. The constant tug on his attention, the excited questions just vanished.

She wasn't trying to involve him anymore. Instead, she was nodding at the store attendants, discussing her choices with them as if he wasn't even there.

His brows furrowed. 'Wait... why does this feel off?'

Wasn't this exactly what he had wanted? For her to stop pestering him, to stop dragging him into things he didn't care about? Then why did this sudden distance feel oddly unsettling?

'What the hell is wrong with you, Yuvi? You were irritated when she kept asking, and now that she's not, you don't like that either?' He clenched his jaw, thoroughly annoyed—though whether at her or himself, he wasn't sure. 'Make up your goddamn mind!'

With an exasperated sigh, Yuvi wandered through the racks, barely paying attention—until something caught his eye. A yellow net lehenga with intricate silver embroidery, delicate yet striking.

It reminded him of her—soft but impossible to ignore. Without a second thought, he picked it up and walked back to her.

"This looks nice," he said, holding it out casually.

Taani, caught off guard by his sudden involvement, blinked at him. For a moment, she wanted to believe he actually cared, but she quickly masked her surprise.

Arching a brow, she folded her arms and barely spared the outfit a glance. "You wear it then," she scoffed. "What's it to me?"

Yuvi frowned at her stubborn act, but then his sharp eyes caught the way hers flickered back to the lehenga, lingering just a second too long. 'She likes it!'

A slow smirk tugged at his lips as an idea formed. "Oh, so you don't like it?" he mused, feigning indifference. "That's alright. There was another lady eyeing this. I'll just give it to her. She'd be thrilled."

Taani's head snapped up, her frown deepening into a glare. "Of course, you care about making everyone happy but your future wife!" she huffed, marching toward him.

Before he could react, she snatched the lehenga from his hands, clutching it possessively. Turning on her heel, she strode to the counter, her chin held high.

"Pack this," she ordered curtly, ignoring the salesman's amused smile—and more importantly, the victorious grin playing on Yuvi's lips.

"Ab daant dikhana band karo aur shaadi ka joda khareedne mein help karo humari." (Now stop grinning and help me select my wedding attire.) Taani said, brushing past him, feigning disinterest.

"Jo hukum, rani sahiba!" (Whatever you say, your highness!) Yuvi teased, falling into step beside her.

Taani bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. No matter how much he annoyed her, she had to admit—his little nicknames were kind of cute.

"I know a well-known shop where I'm sure you'll find your wedding dress," he said, effortlessly picking up the shopping bags in one hand. His other hand instinctively reached for hers as they crossed the road.

Taani's breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his touch, her gaze flickering to his strong grip, the veins subtly visible beneath his skin. 'Why does this man have such annoyingly attractive hands?' And why did her mind betray her by conjuring a very inappropriate thought about how they'd look wrapped around her— 'What the fuck, Taani? Focus!'

Her face burned crimson as an all-too-familiar memory from the charity banquet flashed in her mind—how he had a hand wrapped around her throat, in a blatant display of dominance...

Yuvi, catching the way her eyes kept darting to their hands and how her blush deepened, smirked knowingly. He stopped near the car, and before she could react, she walked straight into him.

"Oo mohtarma, apne khayalon se bahar aao aur road pe dhyan do!" (Oh madam, come out of your thoughts and pay attention on the road!) He flicked her forehead lightly before turning to place the bags in the trunk.

Taani scowled and stuck her tongue out at him before slipping into the passenger seat.

Just then, Yuvi's phone rang. It was Divya.

She sounded tired. "Beta, I'm not feeling too well. I'm heading home. Siya will drop me."

Yuvi frowned. "I can come too-"

"No need," she cut him off. "Just drop Taani home after shopping."

The call disconnected, and Yuvi sighed, instantly realizing what his mother and Siya maa were trying to do. 'Smart move, ladies.'

He turned to Taani. "Maa ghar chali gayi hain, unki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Siya maa unhe drop kar dengi. Wedding dress choose kar lo fir mai tumhe bhi ghar drop kar dunga." (Mom went home because she wasn't feeling well, Siya maa will drop her. Choose your wedding dress, then I'll drop you home.)

Instead of picking up on the obvious setup, Taani's face filled with concern. "Sab theek to hai na? Achanak kya ho gaya unhe? Hume bhi chalna chahiye unke saath." (Is everything okay? What happened all of a sudden? We should also go along with them.)

Yuvi exhaled sharply, barely holding back an eye-roll. 'Is she seriously this naive?' But instead of stating the obvious, he simply leaned back in his seat and smirked.

"Bahu rani, sab theek hai, zyada chinta karne ki zarurat nahi hai." (Darling daughter-in-law, everything's fine, don't worry too much.)

Taani's face flamed red at his taunt. Huffing, she turned her face toward the window, determined not to say another word to him for the rest of the ride.

Yuvi, however, couldn't stop smiling. Every now and then, he stole glances at her, amused at how adorable she looked when she was fuming.

'This is going to be fun!'

They arrived at the boutique, but Taani wasn't in the mood for shopping anymore. She barely glanced at the dresses on display, her mind elsewhere.

She just wanted to get this over with. That was when the owner, a strikingly pretty woman, entered the room, her gaze immediately locking onto Yuvi.

"Yuvi! Oh my God! Where have you been? I haven't seen you in forever!" She practically threw herself at him, planting a kiss on his cheek without a second thought, completely ignoring Taani, who was standing right beside him. Yuvi, as if on autopilot, returned the hug, his attention still on the woman, oblivious to the storm brewing next to him.

Taani's chest tightened, her blood boiling with every second that passed. She remembered how he had cornered her at the charity event to order her not to hug or get close to her male friends.

'Hypocritical bastard!' She thought, her eyes seething with anger as she glared at him. The hand she had clenched into a fist was trembling with the urge to lash out—at both of them.

Yuvi, sensing the shift in her mood, turned his smirk toward her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He was enjoying the tension, clearly not aware of how close he was to crossing a line.

"I'm good, Tamanna. Actually here to pick out wedding outfits," Yuvi said, stepping away from the woman.

"Oh?" Tamanna perked up, her tone dripping with curiosity. "Whose wedding? Her's?" Finally, she acknowledged Taani, but only to mock her.

Taani bit back the urge to snap, instead rolled her eyes with practiced indifference. "Chalo dikha to sahi tumhe ki koi aur bhi hai saath mai..." (At least now you realize there's someone else here with him...)

Yuvi cleared his throat, glancing at Tamanna with a sheepish smile before responding. "Yes, hers... and mine."

Tamanna's face shifted from a flirtatious grin to a stunned expression as her eyes widened comically. Taani couldn't suppress a smirk at the woman's surprise. 'Serves you right, you bitch!'

"You're getting married? But didn't you break up with me, saying you weren't ready for that?" Tamanna asked, her voice laced with confusion and irritation.

Yuvi rolled his eyes, the memory of that convenient breakup flooding back. 'Of course,' he thought, 'If I knew that you were a gold digger, a clingy one at that, I would have done it sooner.'

But Taani was too focused on the situation to care about anything. Her eyebrows shot up as she processed what she had just learned. 'So she's the ex?' Her gaze hardened, a quiet storm of fury gathering inside her.

"Who is she, anyway? She doesn't even look like she comes from a well-off family. No offense, sweetheart," Tamanna remarked, eyeing Taani with a forced, condescending smile.

Taani's jaw tightened, her teeth grinding as the words hit her like a slap to the face. But there was no way in hell she was going to let this woman have the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

With a sickeningly sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes, Taani shot back, her voice coated with pure venom. "Quite bold of a measly boutique owner to say such things," she said, each word deliberate, punctuated with biting sarcasm.

Her eyes narrowed, turning cold with contempt as her finger trailed lazily along a dress hanging nearby.

She examined the fabric with feigned distaste, as if it were beneath her. "No wonder this place is practically empty. With fabric this cheap and poorly stitched, it's no surprise no one comes here."

She turned her cold gaze back to Tamanna, her eyes narrowing as she continued, her words sharp and deliberate. "Instead of wasting your time throwing yourself at your ex-boyfriend—no matter how desperate you are—maybe you should focus on improving the quality of your merchandise. Start by actually selling clothes, and maybe, just maybe, you'll keep customers coming back instead of chasing them away with your pathetic attempts at attention."

Yuvi's eyes widened, his mouth momentarily going dry. He had been teasing her, expecting her to brush it off with a few sarcastic remarks, but this?

This sudden explosion of rage caught him completely off guard. Her transformation from annoyed to absolutely furious was like flipping a switch. He watched, stunned, as her eyes blazed with anger.

But then again... maybe he should've seen it coming.

"Listen, you—" Tamanna started, stepping forward with the typical air of superiority she always carried, but before she could finish her sentence, Taani was already in motion, faster than Yuvi could react. She grabbed the finger aimed at her and twisted it viciously, pulling a sharp yelp of pain from Tamanna's lips.

Taani's gaze locked onto Tamanna with icy precision, every inch of her posture radiating the kind of rage Yuvi had never seen from her before. She leaned in close, her voice dangerously calm, each word deliberately slow, almost menacing.

"No, sweetheart. You listen to me—and you listen well." Her voice cut through the tension like a blade. "I'm Tanisha Mittal! Don't you dare forget that name." Her lips curled into a smile, but it was the kind that sent a chill through the air. "And I don't take kindly to being disrespected. If I were you, I'd seriously think twice before trying this nonsense again. And clinginess? Not a good look, darling. There's a way to meet people, even if they're your ex. So keep your distance from him, or I'll make sure you regret it."

The air around Taani felt thick with tension as she spun around, refusing to look back at Yuvi or Tamanna.

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

Thank you for sticking with me through this chaotic story so far. I promise, the storm's only just beginning — and these two? Nowhere near done driving each other mad.

Yuvraj's possessiveness is getting bolder, and Taani's resistance? Fierce as ever. They're fire and fire — burning in different ways but inevitably drawn to the same flame.

And to anyone celebrating their birthday today—Happiest Birthday Sunshine! 🎂💫
May your day be full of love, unexpected plot twists (the good kind), and someone who looks at you the way Yuvraj pretends not to look at Taani. You deserve all the magic.💛

Shukriya and lots of love✨
Until next time,

-Your author
Exquisite🕊️