"Jealousy isn't always loud—sometimes it can be disguised as a polite smile with clenched fists."

The Sangeet night was in full swing, the air buzzing with music, laughter, and the anticipation of grand performances. Taani's performance with Yuvraj had been planned for weeks, and tonight was finally the night. But before all that, she had another battle to fight—getting ready.

The makeup artist waited for her with an array of brushes and palettes, and Taani groaned dramatically at the sight of her.

"God! Not another torturous few hours," she muttered, nearly shedding tears at the thought. But, with a resigned sigh, she plopped down on the chair, bracing herself for the ordeal. While she adored the end result, the process was nothing short of torture.

Two hours and three naps later, her makeup was finally done, leaving only her outfit to be put on. Just as she finished adjusting the heavy lehenga, her phone buzzed.

"Pura din logi kya ab taiyaar hone ke liye!? Mai 2 ghante se intzaar kar raha hu tumhara." (Will you take the whole day to get ready? I've been waiting for two hours!)

Yuvraj's text was accompanied by a selfie—him pouting, nose scrunched up like an impatient child. 

Taani burst out laughing at his cuteness as she read his text, her fingers instinctively hovering over the keyboard. She could almost picture him—impatiently pacing, running a hand through his hair, maybe even checking his watch every few seconds. The thought made her giggle, a warmth blooming in her chest. Feeling a bit more upbeat than usual, she decided to match his teasing tone, her fingers flying over the screen as she crafted a quirky response.

"Tum ladko ko waise bhi karna hi kya hota hai? Hume toh dress pehnne ke liye bhi chaar logon ki madad lagti hai!" (What do you guys even have to do? We girls need four extra people just to get dressed!)

She followed it up with a mirror selfie—carefully angled, revealing just enough of her silhouette without showing her face.

Somewhere across the mansion, Yuvraj sucked in a sharp breath as he stared at his phone. His fingers tightened around it, his heart stuttering at the sight of her perfect form draped in an exquisite lehenga. But then he noticed her text and his jaw clenched.

"I hope koi ladka nahi tha wo 'help' karne ke liye." (I hope no guy was there to 'help' you.)

He sent another selfie, this time narrowing his eyes, an intimidating glare settling over his sharp features.

Taani grinned wickedly, unable to resist teasing him further.

"The na, do ladke the. Ab mera lehenga hi itna bhaari hai, mai kya karti?" (Yeah, there were two guys. My outfit is so heavy, what else could I do?)

Of course, she was lying, but his reaction was too entertaining to pass up.

The response was immediate.

"WTF!? You changed in front of strange guys?!"

She nearly doubled over laughing, sending him a string of laughing emojis instead of an answer.

"😂😂😂"

Just then, the makeup artist finished packing up. "Ma'am, your makeup is done. I'll take my leave now."

Taani glanced at herself in the mirror, admiring the flawless finish. "Thank you so much! It's perfect."

The artist chuckled. "At least you look much happier now than when we started."

Taani blushed, offering an embarrassed smile before shrugging as if to say, 'it is what it is.'

She grabbed her phone and checked her notifications as she stepped out of the room. There was yet another text from Yuvraj.

"Jawab do!" (Answer me!)

Rolling her eyes, she ignored him, muttering under her breath, "Bossy Singhania."

But just as she was about to descend the stairs, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking her back. She barely had time to yelp before she was pulled behind a large decorative tree in the hall, her back colliding against the wall.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. "What the hell?! Chhodiye hume!" (Leave me!) she shouted, thrashing against her captor's hold.

A firm palm clamped over her mouth.

"Tumhe toh mai batata hu mai kitna bossy hu." (I'll show you just how bossy I can be.)

YUVRAJ.

The moment she heard his voice, the panic dissolved, but her pulse didn't slow—it only sped up for an entirely different reason. She looked up, wide-eyed, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts.

He was so close, his presence dominating, suffocating... intoxicating. The rough pads of his fingers against her lips, the fire in his gaze, the way his body caged her in—it all sent shivers down her spine.

"Mmhmm," she tried to mumble against his palm, her eyes pleading. She scratched at his arm, demanding release.

His lips tilted into a smirk. "Bossy Singhania, huh?" His voice was a low, taunting whisper. "Tumne abhi dekha hi kahan hai mai kitna bossy ho sakta hoon." (You haven't even seen how bossy I can be.)

He inched closer, his breath fanning across her face, his cologne enveloping her senses. She could feel the heat of his body pressing into hers, the sheer intensity of his presence making her dizzy.

Finally, he moved his hand from her mouth—only to replace it with a firm grip around her throat. Not tight, just enough for her to feel his claim, his authority.

She gasped, her fingers flying up to clutch his wrist.

"Ese koi karta hai kya?!" (Who does this?!) she shrieked, her voice laced with frustration, fear, and something dangerously close to excitement.

Her hands flew to his chest, shoving him, slapping his shoulder in frustration.

Yuvraj clicked his tongue. "Hey, hey, calm down. It's just me," he murmured, his hands softening, thumbs brushing against her cheeks, wiping away the small tears that had welled in her eyes.

And then, he stilled.

For a moment, he just looked at her. Really looked at her.

Her wide, watery eyes shimmered under the warm golden lights. Her nose and cheekbones had turned a delicate shade of red from the outburst. She looked breathtaking.

"Beautiful..." he whispered, almost to himself.

Taani blinked, caught off guard. "Tumko ye beautiful lag raha hai huh?!" (You think this is beautiful?!)

Forgetting all about her pretense that she was maintaining for weeks, she resumed her assault, slapping at his chest again, but he was quicker, catching her wrists and pinning them above her head against the wall.

Her breath hitched.

The movement brought her chest flush against his, her soft curves pressed into his hard frame.

Yuvraj's smirk deepened, mischief twinkling in his dark eyes. "Ab mai baat kar sakta hoon, ya abhi bhi kuch baaki hai?" (Can I talk now, or do you still have something left to do?)

"Did you really change in front of boys?"

'There's no way he is still hung up on that!' She thought, then swallowed hard, suddenly hyper-aware of every inch of their closeness. Still, she wasn't going to let him win that easily. Raising a brow, she challenged, "So what if I did?"

His eyes darkened, his playful smirk fading into something more dangerous. He leaned in, so close that their noses brushed, their lips mere centimeters apart.

"I hope you're not being serious, darling," he murmured, his voice velvety smooth, but laced with warning. "Because I'd hate to teach you a lesson—one that I think you won't entirely dislike."

His grip on her wrists tightened ever so slightly.

"This..." His lips ghosted over the shell of her ear, his body pressing her further into the wall. "All this is mine." He trailed a hand over her upper body in an almost featherlight touch, his breath hot against her skin. "Only for me to see, touch and... taste."

Taani's lungs burned, her knees threatening to buckle.

She gasped, her entire body betraying her, heat pooling in her core at the way he claimed her without hesitation.

"I was just kidding! Now let me go, you psycho!" she finally burst out, squirming in his hold, her cheeks burning.

And then—

"Ahem."

Taani's entire body locked up. Her eyes shot wide as she registered the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Yuvraj, however, remained unfazed. He didn't need to look to know who had arrived to ruin the moment. With an exaggerated sigh, he finally pulled away, though his hand lingered at her waist, keeping her close.

Taani, meanwhile, peeked from behind the decorative tree they were so conveniently hidden behind, only to find Rishi and Karan standing a few feet away. Both were deliberately looking anywhere but at her, but the mischievous grins they were failing to suppress told her everything.

"Don't worry, we saw and heard nothing," Karan quipped, his smile widening as Taani's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

Yuvraj chuckled under his breath, thoroughly enjoying her embarrassment.

Rishi, on the other hand, dragged a hand down his face in exasperation. "Way to go, you dumbass," he muttered under his breath.

Still avoiding looking directly at them, Rishi relayed the message in the most uninterested voice possible. "The cameraman is calling you both for the photoshoot."

"We'll be down there in some time." Said Yuvraj, seemingly unbothered by his brother and best friend's presence.

Taani, on the other hand, latched onto the excuse like a lifeline. She spun around to glare at Yuvraj, determined to escape before her dignity completely crumbled. "We're going. RIGHT NOW." Her voice left no room for argument, her eyes daring him to challenge her.

Karan and Rishi exchanged amused glances. 'This is going to be interesting,' they silently agreed. 'Finally, someone who can put Yuvi in his place.'

Yuvraj sighed dramatically but laced his fingers with hers, giving in—for now. As they walked past the two unwanted intruders, Taani kept her head down, mortified beyond belief. Yuvraj, on the other hand, deliberately bumped his shoulder into Karan's, grumbling, "Saala kabab mai haddi." (Fucking spoilsport!)

"Shut up!" Taani hissed, pinching his forearm in retaliation.

"Oww, Taani!" Yuvraj whined, rubbing the red mark she left on his skin.

Karan and Rishi burst into laughter, watching their once-invincible friend get effortlessly handled by his fiery fiancée.

Yuvraj didn't feel an ounce of shame or embarrassment at getting scolded by his soon-to-be wife. If anything, he basked in it.

This.

This right here.

The fire in her eyes, the flustered reactions, the way she fought back with everything she had—it was what he had been yearning for. For weeks, he had missed this maddening, electric push-and-pull between them.

And now that he had it again, there was no way in hell he was letting it slip away.

So, as Taani stomped ahead, still fuming, he simply smirked to himself, rubbing the faint red mark on his forearm like it was a medal of honor.

He'd take a thousand of those pinches, a million of those glares, just to keep her exactly like this—burning, stubborn, and wholly, unapologetically his.

The hours drifted by in a blur as the cameraman guided them through various poses, some new, some reminiscent of their Haldi shoot. Laughter and chatter filled the air, but amidst it all, Taani couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement.

They had just reached the final shot—gazing into each other's eyes, hands lightly touching, the air thick with unspoken emotions. But then, Taani's eyes flickered past Yuvraj's shoulder, and her heart skipped a beat.

It was him.

"Sid!" The name escaped her lips before she could stop herself. Her eyes widened, disbelief and joy sweeping over her all at once. She didn't hesitate. She ran towards him, faster than she had ever moved in her life, her body propelled by sheer joy, moving on instinct. She had missed him so much, the friend who had always been her anchor, the one person who understood her better than anyone else.

Sid stood just a few feet away, his usual confident demeanor replaced by a soft smile as he saw her approach. Without a second thought, she launched herself into his arms, the world around her fading as she enveloped him in a tight hug. His arms encircled her instantly, pulling her closer, and Taani buried her face in his chest, her heart swelling with relief and happiness.

Sid's hand came up to gently cup her cheek, his thumb rubbing tenderly over her skin as he whispered something in her ear. Taani's heart skipped at the warmth in his voice, and without realizing it, she lowered her gaze shyly.

But just as quickly, the warmth of their moment was shattered.

A sharp, unmistakable surge of jealousy washed over Yuvraj as he stood frozen, watching the scene unfold in front of him. His knuckles turning white as he clenched it with fury. 'How dare he touch her like that?' The thought burned through his mind, every inch of him screaming in possessiveness. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he wanted to tear him apart, but instead, he took a slow breath, composing himself with effort.

His eyes locked on Taani and Sid for a beat longer than he intended before he moved towards them with deliberate steps, his body radiating an anger he carefully masked. He reached them in a heartbeat, his hand snaking around Taani's waist and pulling her flush against him—hard enough that she couldn't escape.

Taani flinched slightly at the suddenness of it, her body rigid as she instinctively tried to pull away. But Yuvraj's hold tightened around her, his grip firm and unwavering, the warning clear in his eyes. She looked up at him in surprise, her mind registering the inappropriateness of the moment, just a minute ago. She swallowed the knot in her throat, her gaze shifting back to Sid, only to see the way he was eyeing her and Yuvi with an unreadable expression.

Yuvraj, though, wasn't finished. He turned to Sid, his expression schooled into politeness, though his voice dripped with something cold, something possessive. "Sid, what a pleasant surprise. It's nice to meet you again," he said, extending his hand.

Sid's gaze flickered from Yuvraj's arm around Taani to his extended hand. He took it with a firm shake, though his face betrayed none of the warmth he'd shown Taani. "You too, Yuvraj," he replied, his voice steady, though there was a hint of something else in his eyes—something like challenge.

Taani stood there, caught between them, her chest tight with helplessness. Her heart had soared when she saw Sid, but now, it felt like it was being tugged in two directions—one towards her best friend, and the other towards the man she was meant to marry. It was suffocating, the way they both clung to her, both demanding her attention in such different ways.

Her voice trembled as she asked, almost instinctively, "When did you come back?"

Sid answered casually, a faint smile on his lips. "An hour ago."

"From where?" Yuvraj interjected.

"From Australia," Sid replied, and for the briefest moment, Yuvraj's brows furrowed in feigned surprise, though it was quickly replaced by politeness. He had already known Sid's whereabouts, having looked into his every move. 

"Hmm. How could the best friend of the bride miss her wedding?" Yuvraj said, the words a thinly veiled jab, though his smile remained fixed. "I had thought you'd be the first to dance with my Taani at every function. Perhaps we'll remedy that at the Sangeet."

The last part of his sentence seemed to linger in the air, heavy with possessiveness. He didn't miss how Sid's face tightened at the claim, nor the way his fists clenched subtly. But Yuvraj just smirked, his grip on Taani's waist never loosening as he tugged her closer.

Taani felt like she couldn't breathe, her heart pounding in her chest. Her gaze met Sid's one last time, she saw the hurt in his eyes—the same hurt she felt at the distance between them.

But she said nothing, walking quietly with Yuvraj, who didn't loosen his hold on her.

As soon as they entered the venue, the noise hit them like a wave—cheers, laughter, and the deafening beat of music. The crowd parted, everyone eager to welcome the bride and groom. The first thing Yuvraj did was drag her to the center of the dance floor.

Taani's mind was elsewhere, her thoughts still tangled with Sid's presence. But Yuvraj wasn't about to let her escape. He placed his hand possessively around her waist, pulling her flush against him, the warmth of his body invading her personal space.

Her fingers twitched with anger, but she kept them stiff on his shoulder, her mind calculating her next move. She could feel his smirk against her cheek, as if he knew exactly how much he had her trapped.

Determined to make her displeasure known, Taani locked her hands behind his neck and pulled his face down toward her. To the onlookers, they looked like a couple lost in a moment of intimacy. But Taani's eyes blazed with fury as she whispered fiercely into his ear.

"Keep your hands away from me or I might just break them."

Yuvraj didn't flinch, a cocky grin spreading across his face. Instead of releasing her, he pulled her even closer, his grip tightening on her waist as he leaned in. The guests hooted and cheered, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Meri pyari biwi, itne gusse se mat dekho, kahin sach mai pyar na ho jaye tumse," (My sweet wife, don't look at me with such anger or I might actually fall in love with you.) He teased, his voice dripping with a false sweetness that made Taani's blood boil.

'If I haven't fallen already...' he thought in his mind.

Her eyes widened, her mouth opening to retort, but the words caught in her throat. She was so angry she couldn't even form a sentence. All she could do was glare at him.

"You...you!" She sputtered, her voice a mix of disbelief and fury.

Yuvraj just chuckled, unfazed. "Haan haan mai, your future husband, Ms. Tanisha Mittal," he said, his voice dripping with a playful banter.

Her frustration reached its peak. "Shut up!" she hissed, seething.

They danced through two songs, the music a blur in her ears, the crowd's cheers turning into distant noise. When she finally couldn't take it anymore, she forced herself away from him, her chest heaving with the effort.

"Khadoos Singhania!" she muttered under her breath, her temper still flaring.

Making her way toward the open bar, Taani hoped to drown her frustration in a drink. But as soon as she spotted her friends gathered in a tight circle near the counter, she sighed inwardly. 'Of course, they'd be here,' she thought, rolling her eyes.

Raghav's voice cut through the air, taunting. "Ahh, the bride herself makes an appearance, bow down everyone!" He had his arm wrapped around Mahira, his apparent fiancée, as the group turned to look at Taani.

Without acknowledging him, she simply rolled her eyes and ordered a drink. But then Sonia, ever the loudmouth, practically shouted at her, "What the fuck? We met a few days ago, and you introduced him as a family friend!"

She tipped the glass back, gulping it all at once, the sharp sting of the alcohol immediately coating her throat. The burn was comforting, momentarily distracting her from the chaos in her mind. "Well, he is one," she said, her voice smooth. 

"Don't be coy, bitch," Sonia teased, though there was an edge to her tone.

Taani didn't bother replying. Instead, she ordered another drink and took another gulp, this time deeper, savoring the way it slid down her throat. It was like pouring gasoline on her anger, but the flames felt so much better than the suffocating weight of frustration building up inside her.

Another shot of whiskey. Then another. And another. Her mind began to blur with each swallow, the anger that had been gnawing at her chest slowly fading into a fog of alcohol. The voices around her became muffled, the sting of Yuvraj's apparent possessiveness dimming with every gulp.

Mahira, clearly itching to provoke, smirked at her. "Snatched the hottest businessman out there, huh? Great job, Taani!" she said, her voice mocking. Then she let out a loud, exaggerated laugh, clearly trying to bait Taani.

Taani's eyes flickered with a spark of defiance, and she threw her head back, delivering her response with a cool smirk, though her voice sounding a bit tipsy. "I'm not you, Mahira. I don't have to snatch anyone."

The shock on their faces was immediate. She had never been this bold, never so direct. She could feel their eyes widen, their mouths dropping open in surprise.

Raghav, though, didn't miss a beat. "Quite the backbone you've grown, even without the back-up of Mehra, isn't he the one who usually does the talking for the both of you? It's pathetic how you immediately dumped him for the next best thing. I pity him, really."

The words cut through her like a blade, slicing her confidence in half. But Taani wasn't about to let them see her break. She took a slow, deliberate sip of her drink, the burn of the alcohol not enough to numb the sting of his words.

"Are you just sour because I beat you to the race? After all, you've been engaged to Mahira for far longer. Makes me wonder though... are you even planning on marrying her, or...?" She let her words hang in the air, her challenge loud and clear.

Pranav couldn't hide his laughter, and even Vaibhav had to turn away, failing to stifle his grin. Mahira, however, was fuming, her face turning red with rage.

"Mind your words, bitch!" she screamed, making a scene.

Before Taani could retort, a deep voice thundered beside her.

"You mind how you talk to my wife!" Yuvraj's voice, cold and menacing, sliced through the tension. He had appeared out of nowhere, his presence like a dark cloud that instantly cast a shadow over the conversation.

Mahira shrank back, her bravado faltering as she hid behind Raghav. Even he looked a little shaken by Yuvraj's intense glare.

"You dare insult the host?" Yuvraj continued, his voice low and dangerous. "Security! Show her the way outside." His anger was palpable, and before Mahira or Raghav could protest, two security guards were ushering them out.

"Out," Rishi added, gesturing to Raghav, who didn't even dare argue. He walked off, but not before giving them a threatening look, promising consequences later.

As the commotion died down, Taani looked at her husband, the man who had always been so in control, so ruthless when it came to protecting what he saw as his.

"You don't let anyone talk to you like that ever again, you hear me?" Yuvraj's voice softened as he spoke to her.

Taani, feeling the weight of everything, nodded silently. A small, watery smile tugged at her lips.

"Damnn that was...hot." She said with a playful giggle

Yuvraj raised an eyebrow, his expression softening in amusement. "Just how much have you had to drink?"

"One?" she hesitated, then when his eyebrow arched higher, she quickly corrected, "Two? Umm... maybe three. No more than four, I swear."

Yuvraj clearly loving this carefree side of his fiancée wondered what else could she do in this state of hers, but the moment was interrupted by the sound of laughter from Rishi and Karan, who couldn't contain their amusement.

Before anyone could comment further, Avi appeared with a sleepy Kiara in his arms, and as soon as she saw Taani, she began shouting her name in excitement, squirming to get out of Avi's arms.

"Bua! Bua! Dur! Dur!" Kiara's tiny voice brought a smile to everyone's face, and even Taani, in her slightly tipsy state, couldn't resist her cuteness.

Taani took a step toward her niece, but Yuvraj held her back. "Sab theek hai Avi, bas iski tabiyat thodi theek nahi lag rahi hai," (Everything's alright Avi, it's just that Taani's not feeling quite well.) he replied, a calm reassurance in his voice as he spoke to Avi.

Avi nodded and told him that he'll give Kiara to Dhriti and come back to take her home so she can rest but Yuvi denied saying he will drop her instead. Avi hesitated a bit but when Kiara started making a fuss he had no choice but to agree with him.

"Take care of her!" He warned, before walking off.

Yuvraj, not wasting any time, scooped Taani up bridal style, her arms draped around his neck. He carried her out of the venue, two guards following closely behind.

As they walked away, Sonia, watching from the bar, sighed dramatically. "God! He's such a hot gentleman!"

Rishi, who had been standing nearby, shot her a surprised look before hurrying off after Yuvraj and Taani.

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

That was quite a rollercoaster, wasn't it?

We went from an intense almost-romantic gaze to Taani shouting Sid’s name and flying into his arms like a whole Bollywood moment—only to have Mr. Possessive Singhania show up seconds later with a grip tighter than Taani’s patience. 😂

Sid is not the kind of guy to walk away quietly.

Let’s just say… things are going to get messier. Past feelings? Secrets? A jealous fiancé who doesn’t play fair? Yeah. You don’t want to miss what’s coming.

If you enjoyed this chapter, don’t forget to LEAVE A VOTE AND DROP A COMMENT below! Tell me whose side you’re on—#TeamYuvi or #TeamSid? Or just #TeamTaani because she’s totally slaying 👑

And to anyone celebrating their birthday today—HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY SUNSHINE!!!✨🎉

Sending you lots of love, drama (the fictional kind😉), and maybe a hot possessive fictional fiancé if that’s your thing 🎀

Until next time,

Shukriya and lots of love✨

-Your Author

Exquisite🕊️