She was lying on the hotel room bed, her hair covering her face. She was wearing white shorts and an oversized brown top, sleeping on her stomach.

When someone entered the room...

"Dii! Thank God. Where were you since last night? I know that whenever you go somewhere, you tell me or at least Papa, but this time you didn't. Do you know how much I struggled to reach here?" he said in one breath.

She instantly sat up upon hearing his voice.

"Take a breath Akhil and relax. I can take care of myself. And tell Mr. Khanna that I'm okay. He doesn't have to stress about me. He should stress about his blood pressure." she said.

"Yeah, I'll tell them you're fine, but you have to come home with me." Akhil said.

"No, I can't right now. I have some work." she said, pulling her hair back into a messy bun.

Akhil's eyes widened.

"Dii!?" he exclaimed.

"What, Akhil?" she asked.

"Dii... marriage got youu?" he asked, completely forgetting how to form a sentence.

"W-whattt?" she said. Then she realized.

Her hand instantly flew to her neck as she glanced down at the mangalsutra resting against her skin inside her top.

"Yeah, I got married." she said casually, as if she were announcing that she had bought a chocolate bar on the way here

Akhil blinked rapidly, his eyes darting around the room as if trying to convince himself this wasn't a dream.

"Akhil, go back home. Tell Mr. Khanna that I'm okay and safe. I'll be back soon to meet him, okay? Now go. I have work to do, and I think you need a doctor right now."

He blinked again.

"Y-yeah... I think a therapist needs me."

With that, he turned and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind him, she burst into laughter at his condition.

Just as Akhil walked out, someone else entered the room and shut the door behind him.

She was standing in front of the mirror, busy on her phone.

"Kaha gaye the?" she asked without even looking up from the screen.

"Kuch kaam tha," he replied. He was dressed in a black hoodie.

"Okay. When are you taking me to your home?" she asked, finally turning to look at him.

"Let's go. Get ready" he said calmly.

"Sit. Just five minutes' she said before walking into the bathroom.

After some time, she came out wearing a simple blue kurti and jeans, her damp hair falling freely over her shoulders.

"Tell me, how am I looking? I wore something like this for the first time" she said, looking at herself in the mirror as she placed a small bindi on her forehead.

He was sitting on the bed.

"Good."

Internally, he was smiling, but his expression remained calm.

"Just good?" she asked with a smirk, turning to look at him, her arms folded across her chest.

"I'll tell you later how you're looking. Let's go now." he said before walking out, his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.

She nodded. After picking up her phone and bag, she followed him outside.

As they walked, he took the bag from her hand. It wasn't anything heavy, just a small bag.

She glanced at him for a moment but didn't say anything and continued walking beside him.

After some time, they reached a building, and he stopped the car.

Her brows furrowed in confusion.

He stepped out, took her bag from the back seat and started walking toward the entrance.

[Ab ye koi nahi bolega ki kitna rude hai uske liye door tak nahi khola 🥱🔪]

She opened the car door and stepped outside. Seeing him walk away, she quickly followed him into the lift.

"Bade ajeeb ho yaar" she said, glancing at him, whose eyes remained fixed on the lift doors.

"Kyun? I didn't open the door for you and walk out without telling you to come?"

"Haan."

He finally looked at her.

"You're capable. I don't need to treat you like you're helpless. Aur na hi mujhe lagta hai ki respect dikhane ke liye har waqt overacting karni padti hai."

He paused.

"Jahan zaroorat hogi, main khud kar dunga."

"Hmm..." she hummed thoughtfully.

"You know, I've noticed something. Tum zyada bolte nahi ho, but jab bolte ho na, saamne waale ke paas jawab dene ke liye words hi nahi bachte."

A small smile crept onto her lips as she looked at him.

Vihaani wasn't looking for special treatment. She was more than capable of doing things on her own.

She was merely observing him, trying to understand the way his mind worked.

And perhaps that was exactly why he didn't do any of those things. He knew she was capable enough to handle herself and saw no reason to treat her otherwise.

They stepped out of the lift, and he unlocked the door with his keys.

Both of them walked inside.

The apartment was clean, neat, and surprisingly simple.

"This is your place?" She asked, looking around.

"Any problem?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.

Their eyes met.

"Nahii. Bas tumhari personality se match nahi karta. I thought it would be something dark, you know... intimidating and all," she said.

He placed her bag on the sofa.

"Go change your clothes. That's your room," he said, pointing toward a door.

"Mine? And where will you stay?" she asked.

"We'll see where I'll stay. Right now, go and change."

For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then, taking her bag, she turned and headed toward the room he had pointed out.

I stepped inside the room.

It wasn't very big. Just a simple room with a small balcony attached to it. A bean bag rested in one corner.

Last night...

He had left me at the hotel, saying he had some work. Before I could ask him anything, he was already gone.

Pushing the thought aside, I placed my bag on the bed.

Looks like I'll have to wear the same clothes again.

My gaze fell on a couple of paper bags lying beside it.

Curiosity got the better of me.

I opened one.

Inside were a brand-new toothbrush, face wash, soap, shampoo, a fresh towel, and a pair of slippers.

He had dropped me at the hotel last night. So when had he arranged all this?

Maybe... last night.

I picked up my white shorts and brown oversized top, the same clothes I had worn at the hotel, and headed toward the bathroom.

In the hotel room, when she walked out wearing the simple blue kurti and jeans she had told me she was wearing for the first time in her life...

I was on cloud nine.

I knew how difficult it was to make Vihaani do something she didn't want to do.

And I would never ask her to do something against her will.

She chose to do it herself.

She asked me how she was looking.

How was I supposed to tell her that she looked beautiful in a way no compliment could fully describe?

I called her...

"Good."

One word.

The truth was, she deserved a thousand compliments. Maybe even more than that or perhaps there simply weren't enough words to describe her anymore

I had to remind myself to look away.

My woman was always beautiful.

Not because of expensive clothes or makeup, but because even the way she smiled was beautiful.

Let her do whatever she wanted.

I was happy simply because she was with me now.

I didn't need anything more.

Just staying close to her... breathing the same air she did... was enough for me.

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to cooking for her instead.

On the other side...

"Really?" she asked curiously.

"Umh... really nothing" he replied quickly.

"Okay... uh, I want to go to my house. My clothes and everything is there, and I also have some important files there" she said.

He looked at her for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"Alright."

He closed the laptop and stood up.

"I'll arrange the car."

Rudrani blinked

"You don't have to come with me if you're busy."

He glanced at her.

"I'm not busy. But if you're not comfortable, it's okay. You’ll have to tell your family first, right? Yeah… right." he said softly.

"N-no, it's not like that." she said quickly.

"And also, right now there might not be anyone at home. Let's go."

She smiled softly and stood up.

After some time, they arrived at Rudrani's house.

Just as she had expected, the house was quiet. Apart from a few servants going about their work, there was no one else around.

Leaving him in the living room, Rudrani

went upstairs.

Nearly half an hour later, she returned with a suitcase, a few important files, and the rest of her belongings.

He helped her place the luggage inside the car.

Without staying any longer, the two of them left.

Soon, they were back at the farmhouse.