"Not every storm screams. Some tear you apart quietly, one unspoken word at a time."

Her heart thudded in her chest, her hands shaking from the fury she had just unleashed. 'They both think they can just walk all over me—Yuvraj with his pathetic excuse for an ex, and this woman acting like she is worth more than a spec of dust on my shoes. They think I'll just stand here and let them toy with me like some fool? Over my dead body!'

She could feel her pulse in her temples as she walked, every step heavy with frustration. 'And he just stood there,' she thought bitterly, 'looking like a damn idiot. Enjoying my anger like it's some kind of a game.'

Her mind kept racing with all the things she had wanted to say to him but had kept bottled up. 'Why should I even care?' she thought, her anger rising again. 'A few moments of laughter and charm, and now he thinks I'm his to handle however he likes. Just like his damn ex.' She bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms. 

As she reached the door, she heard Yuvi calling out to her—a little too late. Her mind flashed to the moment when Tamanna had kissed him, to the way Yuvi hadn't even flinched, hadn't even cared enough to pull away and acknowledge her standing there, feeling like a fool.

She hailed an auto rickshaw with a sharp gesture, her back still turned, her emotions in a whirlwind. As she climbed into the auto, she could hear him shouting, his frustration boiling over.

"F*ck!" he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. She felt a brief moment of satisfaction knowing that he was finally getting a taste of the consequences of his actions.

Yuvi quickly caught up, cutting off the rickshaw and demanding that she get out. "You either get down on your own, or I drag you to the car kicking and screaming. The choice is yours."

Taani, still fuming with anger, looked at him with suspicion. Would he really try to do that? But as soon as his hands moved toward her, she felt a jolt of alarm and she shrieked, moving swiftly to the other side of the rickshaw. "Okay, okay, fine! God!"

The rickshaw driver, witnessing the scene, looked at Yuvi with disgust. "Madam, ye bhaisahab aapko pareshan kar rahe hain kya?" (Is this man bothering you?)

Despite her anger, Taani bit her lip to keep from laughing at Yuvi's furious expression. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were wild with frustration.

"Ye bhaisahab uske hone wale pati hain, aap zada chinta na karein." (This man is her soon-to-be husband, you don't have to worry about it.)

The driver's expression shifted from concern to confusion, and he glanced between the two of them. "Hone wale pati hain to kya, kuch bhi karenge?" (Will you do anything just because you're her soon to be husband?)

Taani couldn't hold it in anymore. She covered her mouth to suppress the laugh that was threatening to escape. Yuvi's glare was enough to make her quickly reassure the driver that everything was fine.

He hurriedly paid the driver and walked behind her, as if to make sure that she doesn't pull anymore stunts like these.

When they finally got in the car, Taani buckled herself in without a word, her eyes glued at something outside the window, wanting to shut him out entirely. But her peaceful moment didn't last long.

"I'll take you to another boutique," Yuvi said, trying to make up for his thoughtlessness. 

Taani couldn't resist the sarcasm. "What? Want to meet another ex of yours?"

Yuvi sighed regretfully. "Okay, I deserve that one. I'm sorry about what happened. But you'll like this one for sure."

Taani didn't respond. Instead, she fixed her gaze outside the window, fuming silently. This whole ordeal was exhausting, and she wasn't sure what was worse—the situation with Yuvi or the fact that she didn't feel like she could walk away from it.

When they reached the new boutique, Taani found herself pleasantly surprised by the décor and the elegance of the dresses. The designer, a middle aged man, introduced himself and offered to custom-make an outfit that would suit both her and Yuvi.

"I don't have time to customize a new design, but you can choose from the designs I've already created, exclusive for the top tier." the designer said. "The cost would be slightly higher, maybe around 10 lakhs."

Taani's eyes widened in shock at the price. This wasn't just any boutique—it was an exclusive, high-end place. But Yuvi didn't seem fazed in the slightest.

"Only use the finest fabrics," he instructed. "Don't worry about the cost, in fact, add another 10% as a tip." 

Taani's mind raced as she tried to comprehend the extravagant sum he was so nonchalantly throwing around. Yet, she kept her lips sealed, unwilling to acknowledge it.

Her silence was a subtle way of making him feel the weight of his thoughtlessness, of his complete disregard for her emotions and feelings.

As they made their way back home, Yuvi kept stealing glances at Taani, who appeared deep in thought, her eyes distant and unfocused. Maybe she was still angry, or perhaps she was lost in her own world, unwilling to engage with him.

When Yuvi finally broke the silence, his words were sharp. "Mujhe nahi pata tha tum itni jealous bhi hogi. Maine to suna tha tum bhi is shaadi se khush nahi thi." (I didn't know you would be so jealous. In fact I'd heard you too were not happy with this marriage.) His tone was light, but there was a slight edge, as if he was testing her limits.

Taani's eyes narrowed slightly. She wasn't jealous, not really. She had every right to feel how she felt, and she wasn't about to let him think she was some fragile thing who couldn't handle reality. "Jealous hone wali koi baat nahi hai isme, hume bas un jesi ladkiyan bilkul pasand nahi." (There's nothing to be jealous about, I just don't like girls like her that's all.)

Her words were measured, her composure still intact, but the coldness in her tone betrayed her simmering frustration. "Aur dikkat hume is shaadi se nahi, shaadi karne se the thi. Par ye sab baatein ek taraf hain, hum kabhi bhi aapko kisi ke saath bhi share nahi karenge ye aap yaad rakhiye." (And I didn't have any issues with this marriage, I just wasn't ready to get married in general. But keeping all these things aside, I won't share you with anyone else ever, remember that.)

Her reminder was meant to cut through his nonchalance, to make him understand that she wasn't some passive participant in this farce of a marriage. His eyes widened, but she didn't flinch.

'What is this girl?' he thought, unable to shake the feeling that somehow, she was pulling him into something far deeper than he had anticipated. 'I thought I'd give her the cold shoulder after the marriage... and here she is, making me fall for her with her own charm.'

He was conflicted, frustrated by the way his heart betrayed him every time she so much as looked at him. The warmth in her voice, the way she carried herself, the stubborn strength behind her delicate features—it was all messing with his head.

He didn't want to feel anything for her. He couldn't afford to. So, in a desperate attempt to shut it all down, he steeled himself and let the words fall from his lips without a single thought about her feelings.

"Listen, Taani, I just want to make one thing very clear to you. I have no feelings for you, nor do I think I ever will. I'm only getting married because Dadi quite literally forced me to. I never wanted this. Of course, I'll fulfill my responsibilities as a husband, but don't expect anything more from me."

He hesitated for a second, then forced a casual smirk, as if his next words could soften the blow. "I would like us to be friends, though. You're fun to be around."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Each word that left his mouth felt like a dagger to her heart. What had she done to deserve such a fate? She had agreed to this marriage when every part of her screamed against it, and now, her soon-to-be husband was making it painfully clear that he would never have any real feelings for her.

She had hoped, maybe naively, that time would change things—that they could start building something, some kind of connection. But with one cold statement, he had extinguished that hope, leaving no space for even a glimmer of possibility. Who could be more unfortunate than her?

Taani, the hopeless romantic, had dreamt of falling in love, of experiencing that magical phase before marriage, but it now seemed like nothing more than a distant fantasy. Her heart ached, but she refused to let him see it.

She gave no hint of her inner turmoil, no expression of the hurt that twisted inside her. Instead, she looked at him, the bitterness in her smile more apparent than any tear.

A humorless laugh escaped her lips, a sound that left Yuvi frozen in confusion. He had expected her to be upset, maybe even angry, but she just seemed... unaffected.

In reality, her calmness unnerved him more than anything. The fact that she wasn't reacting the way he thought she would, made him question what was going on inside her.

But then again, wasn't this what he wanted? A life without complications, without emotions? Yet, her indifference made him feel something he couldn't quite place, a strange discomfort in the pit of his stomach. But who was he to complain? After all, this was his choice, wasn't it?

Taani's eyes remained fixed on the window, yet the world outside had long ceased to register. "Can I expect loyalty from you?" Her voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable tremor beneath it, a quiet cry for something that could never be answered.

The question hung in the air, its weight heavy and suffocating. Yuvi's silence cut through the moment, leaving him dumbfounded.

Loyalty? He had never even considered betraying her. It wasn't in him, he would never do that! Her question threw him off balance. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. 

Taani, sensing his hesitation, felt her heart splinter a little more. He can't even answer without thinking, can he? She let out a breath, keeping her face unreadable, as though to protect herself from the crumbling reality she was facing.

"Of course," he muttered after what seemed like an eternity. But the emptiness in his voice stung more than she could ever have imagined. 

"I won't expect anything else from you. I will fulfill my responsibilities as a daughter-in-law and your wife with all my heart until I can. Just don't give me any reason to raise hell upon you, because I will." The words felt like a vow she would have to keep, even if it cost her everything inside.

Without waiting for him to respond, without a glance or goodbye, she grabbed her bags and walked out of the car, her steps heavy, her heart breaking with each one.

Later, when she finally found herself alone in her room, she couldn't hold it in anymore. Collapsing against the door, the tears she had been fighting since the moment she left his car finally spilled over.

She cried herself to sleep on the cold floor, the sobs shaking her body as she let the broken pieces of her heart fall apart in the silence of the night.

***

A Month Before the Wedding.

The rich scent of fresh paper and ink filled the elegant wedding card boutique, mingling with the faint aroma of sandalwood incense burning in the background.

Soft instrumental music played from hidden speakers, adding to the boutique's sophisticated ambiance. The golden light reflected off the thick, embossed invitations laid out before them, each one grander than the last.

Taani sat beside Yuvi, her fingers gliding over the luxurious textures of the cards. Every intricate detail—ornate borders, delicate calligraphy, shimmering embellishments—seemed too extravagant for her taste, but she knew the family wanted nothing less than perfection.

"This one seems good," she said, her voice measured as she set an invitation in front of Yuvi. She was composed, polite—neither distant nor overly familiar.

Yuvi, seated across from her, leaned back slightly, watching her with a contemplative gaze.

It had been two weeks since their conversation—the one where he had drawn a clear line, declaring that love would never be part of their equation.

Since then, there were no more late-night talks, no more teasing or bickering over wedding details, no more of her playful demands for his attention. And somehow, that was worse than any argument he could have ever imagined.

And it was driving him insane.

"I would like us to be friends though."

He had said those words himself, expecting—perhaps even hoping—that their dynamic would remain light and uncomplicated. That she would accept it and adjust accordingly. And she had. Perhaps a little too well.

Taani didn't ask for his opinion on every little thing anymore. She didn't check if he had eaten, didn't complain if he arrived late to their pre-wedding errands, didn't try to fill silences with unnecessary chatter. If he contributed, she listened. If he didn't, she simply moved on, as if his presence—or absence—made no real difference.

For reasons he couldn't quite put into words, he suddenly wanted her to argue with him, to roll her eyes at his tardiness, to at least react in some way when he walked into the room. But she didn't. She remained calm, composed, effortlessly friendly, as if she had already accepted her fate.

And for the first time since this wedding was arranged, Yuvi found himself wondering if he was the one making a mistake.

"That one's too plain," Yuvi commented, picking up another sample with an intricate design and running his fingers over its surface. "This one has a better texture."

Taani barely glanced at it before nodding. "It does look nice," she agreed, making a note. "But it's a bit too formal, don't you think?"

She forced herself to keep her voice neutral, as if his voice hadn't just sent a shiver down her spine. As if she wasn't hyper-aware of every shift in his posture, every flicker of his gaze.

She reached for another card just as he did. Their fingers brushed.

A breath caught in her throat, and for a split second, she felt herself waver.

But she forced herself to pull away, keeping her expression unreadable, as if his touch hadn't set her skin ablaze. She told herself it meant nothing—that it was just the circumstances, the whirlwind of the wedding preparations.

Yuvi noticed the way she withdrew—but not in the way he wanted. There was no hesitation, no nervous flutter of lashes, no flustered reaction. Just quiet indifference.

His fingers curled around the card tighter.

He knew it was irrational—completely ridiculous, even—but he missed it. He missed her reactions, the way she used to fight him on the smallest things, the way her emotions were always so obvious, so real. He missed the way she used to talk to him like he mattered.

Now, she engaged just enough to maintain civility, spoke just enough to avoid awkward silences, and responded just enough to make it clear she wasn't upset.

But she never lingered. Never searched his face for an answer. Never looked at him like she was hoping for more. And somehow, that irked him more than anything else.

But that wasn't fair. He had made it clear that he didn't want anything beyond friendship. He had no right to expect more.

"Here," Taani said, pulling out another invitation sample and placing it on the table. "This one has an elegant design without being too over-the-top. What do you think?"

Yuvi blinked, snapping his focus back to the task at hand. His gaze dropped to the card, tracing the intricate gold detailing, but his mind wasn't on it at all. 

He knew he was being a hypocrite, but her not-so-subtle silence was eating him alive. He wanted her to feel something again. He wanted her to show him that there was still a spark, which he was sure the both of them had felt at the charity banquet and in every meeting afterwards. 

Taani had always been so full of life—her opinions, her reactions, her passion for everything she cared about. It wasn't just her beauty or her spirit that drew him in—it was her fire.

She had never been afraid to speak her mind, to argue with him, to laugh loudly, to be unapologetically herself. But now... it was as if she'd put all of that into a box, locked it and thrown away the key.

"Are you sure you want a card like that?" he asked, his tone a little sharper than necessary. "Seems a bit... dull. Doesn't exactly scream 'luxury wedding', does it?"

Taani didn't look up from the sample. She simply shrugged, her face neutral. "I think it's perfect. It's elegant without being gaudy. We don't need to show off."

Yuvraj snapped, his anger taking over him. Before she could react, he leaned over the couch, caging her in with both hands braced on the headrest behind her.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he whispered harshly, his voice laced with something deeper than just anger, filled with pain and desperation.

Taani's eyes widened in shock. "Yuvi—what are you doing? Move back!" she hissed, attempting to push him away, her gaze darting around nervously. "Everyone's watching!"

He didn't move. If anything, he leaned in closer, his forehead almost touching hers. Their lips were barely an inch away, and she could see the torment swirling in his dark eyes.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he murmured, his eyes fluttering shut as if the weight of his emotions was too much to bear.

Taani's breath hitched. "Doing what? Yuvi, what's going on?" Her voice softened when she noticed the lone tear trailing down his cheek. Instinctively, she reached up and wiped it away. "Are you in pain?" she whispered.

More tears followed, slipping past his defenses. "You bet I am," he choked out. "Taani, come back to me." His voice cracked, raw with emotion. "I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry." His fingers trembled as they brushed against her cheek. "I shouldn't have said those things. I was such a goddamn fool." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to give this marriage a fair chance."

Taani's heart clenched painfully at his words. "What do you mean come back to you? I'm right here, Yuvi." She gently cupped his face and pressed soft, featherlight kisses against his damp lashes. "I never left."

But Yuvi only shook his head stubbornly, his grip on her tightening. "No, you're not here... You're not really here." His voice was almost childlike, laced with heartbreak. "Not the way I want you to be."

"Yuvraj?" She whispered, her voice trembling. "Yuvi...?"

"YUVI!!!" A voice snapped through his daze. Yuvi blinked furiously, his breath catching as reality came crashing back. He was still seated on the couch, holding on to the wedding card Taani had selected a few moments ago. Still stuck in a world where none of that had actually happened. 

"Yeah?" He mumbled, still trying to process what just happened. It all felt so real, but by the confused look on Taani's face, it was clear that it was all in his mind.

"Are you alright?" Taani asked, finally showing a hint of concern for his health.

Yuvi just nodded his head, without uttering a single word. 'If only I could have the daring to say all that in reality.' He thought and leaned back in his chair, letting out a frustrated breath. "You know, you're making this way too easy. No fire, no protests—nothing."

A small, humorless smile touched her lips. "Not everything requires a fight, Yuvi," she said lightly. "Besides, I know you're a busy man. Why waste time on unnecessary arguments?"

Unnecessary arguments.

It was a direct callback to their past—the way she used to drag him into playful squabbles, the way she used to challenge him just for the sake of it, the way she never let him get away with dismissing her.

His frustration mixed with something else—something unfamiliar. Admiration? or was it... love? He couldn't quite place it, but it made him uncomfortable. This wasn't the dynamic he had wanted. He had wanted her to fight, to show him that she cared about something, about him.

But here she was, showing him only grace and quiet strength, and he didn't know what to do with it.

Taani, meanwhile, felt like she was suffocating.

Every word he spoke, every glance he threw her way, every time his fingers came too close to hers, it chipped away at the careful armor she had built.

She had promised herself she wouldn't let him see—wouldn't let him know that his presence still did unthinkable things to her, that even after everything, her heart still stammered at the sound of his voice.

So she just gave a small smile and moved on. "Let's look at this one next," she said, flipping to another card.

Yuvi stared at her for a long moment before sighing. He had no idea what he was supposed to say to fix this.

And the worst part? He wasn't sure he even had the right to.

***

A few more days went by just like this—Taani, polite and friendly, always just present enough to fulfill her responsibilities, yet distant enough to keep Yuvi at arm's length.

A kind of panic rose in his heart, an unusual kind of anxiety he couldn't quite justify. He had been the one to say there was no place for love between them. Then why did it feel like something precious was slipping through his fingers?

Jewelry Shopping — a few days later

The jewelry store buzzed with activity, the glint of gold and diamonds reflecting in the bright mirrors. Yuvi entered, late as always, his eyes scanning the room for Taani.

She was standing in front of a display case, holding up a delicate gold necklace against her neck, her brow furrowed as she studied herself in the mirror. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked, even without the jewelry.

He swallowed, slightly shaking his head to bring himself out of those thoughts. "Sorry, got held up in traffic," he muttered, sliding into the seat beside her, trying to appear nonchalant.

Taani gave a small nod, acknowledging his presence. She immediately returned to discussing designs with the jeweler, her attention unwavering. Yuvi watched as she selected each piece with care—nothing too extravagant, just enough to be elegant, a reflection of her quiet grace.

It made him remember the day they were shopping for the wedding outfits, how she had turned to him with bright, eager eyes, asking if she looked pretty. How he had taken for granted that she would always look at him like that.

"Is this too much?" Taani asked, turning toward her mother with the earrings in hand, her voice calm and measured.

Before anyone else could answer, Yuvi found himself speaking up. "No, it's perfect," he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Taani glanced at him, their eyes meeting for the briefest of seconds. For that fleeting moment, something flickered in her gaze—something soft and almost... hopeful.

Her lips parted, as though she might say something more, but then the moment passed. She quickly turned away, masking whatever had been there with a polite, practiced smile as she faced her mother again.

"These are lovely too, don't you think?" she asked her mother, her voice light, smooth, giving no indication that something had just shifted in the air between them.

Yuvi exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. He was imagining things, he had to be. But then why did his chest feel tight?

She sat in front of the large mirror in the bridal jewelry showroom. The heavy gold necklace adorned with delicate pearls, the intricate maang tikka resting against her forehead, and the matching earrings that cascaded down the sides of her face—it all felt surreal.

For a moment, she truly saw herself as a bride. As Yuvi's wife.

A thought, unbidden and far too beautiful, flitted through her mind—Yuvi, looking at her with nothing but love in his eyes. A warmth spread through her chest at the mere imagination of it, a world where he wanted her, cherished her and adored her.

And before she could stop herself, she turned to look at him.

Her eyes, always so careful, so composed, held something unguarded, something raw—an emotion she hadn't allowed herself to feel in weeks. Longing. Hope. The remnants of a dream she had once dared to dream.

Yuvi, who had already been looking at her, went completely still. His breath hitched.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't just there, carrying out her duties with detached grace. She wasn't being polite or distant. She was looking at him—really looking at him—like she used to, with warmth, with something deeper, something that made his pulse stutter.

And it undid him.

She looked ethereal draped in the bridal jewelry meant for their wedding, but it wasn't just her beauty that held him captive. It was the way she looked at him in that fleeting moment—as if, despite everything, a part of her still wished for something more.

His fingers twitched, an impulse stirring within him—to reach out, to say something, to hold onto whatever had just passed between them before it was too late.

But then, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.

Taani blinked, her expression smoothing into polite indifference, the softness in her gaze vanishing like a mirage.

And Yuvi was left sitting there, wondering why it felt like he had just lost something he never even allowed himself to want.

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

I hope you felt this chapter—because it held so much between the lines, from tension that builds not from fights, but from silence, to words that cut deeper because they were meant to protect, not destroy.

If you've ever had to let your pride guard your heart, or smiled just to stop yourself from breaking—then maybe, in some way, you saw a part of yourself in Taani today.

As always, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT! I see the messages asking for faster updates, but I need to see some real excitement for the chapters you're already getting. Let’s meet each other halfway, okay? You show me the love, and I promise to keep delivering it back through every chapter. 💌

And to anyone celebrating their birthday today —

Just like Taani, may you grow stronger in silence, kinder through storms, and wiser with every unexpected twist life throws your way. Here’s to soft strength, quiet healing, and love that never has to be begged for.

Happy Birthday Sunshine!🌻🎀

Shukriya and lots of love✨

– Your Author,

Exquisite🕊️