𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗜𝗗𝗟𝗜 𝗠𝗘𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜

• First Kiss •

The morning sun had already spilled through the curtains, painting the room in a soft golden glow. The clock struck seven as Saanvi shifted in her sleep, turning to her side-only to find Eshaan propped up on his elbow, watching her with those striking amber eyes that met hers without hesitation.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he said in a voice that was still warm from sleep.

Startled, Saanvi quickly sat up and replied, "Good morning, Mr. Shekhawat."

But Eshaan's lips curved into a mischievous smirk. In his most dramatic tone, he groaned, "Meri to izzat lut gayi... main barbaad ho gaya... he bhagwan."

Her eyes widened instantly. She grabbed his collar, her voice trembling, "Kya... kya... hua... tha... kal... raat... ko? Maine kya kiya?"

Eshaan, barely holding back his laughter, leaned closer to tease her further. "Mrs. Shekhawat... humare beech wahi hua jo har ek pati-patni ke beech hota hai... aapne... to meri izzat lut li."

Saanvi gasped, and her eyes shimmered with tears that threatened to spill.

The moment Eshaan saw the hurt on her face, his teasing vanished. He cupped her cheeks gently. "Shh... sweetheart, I was just teasing."

But her soft sobs grew louder as she buried herself in his chest. Wrapping his arms securely around her, he murmured against her hair,
"Shh, baby... I will never touch you until you want me to. I'll wait-a day, a year, a lifetime-until your own heart calls for mine. When you say yes, it won't be to my need, but to your own desire, freely and wholly given."

She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes and found only honesty and love there.

"Hamne sach me kuch nahi kiya tha na?" she asked in a whisper.

"Aapko hum par na sahi, khud par to bharosa hai na?" he countered softly.

"Hume aap par khud se zyada hai," she replied without hesitation.

Eshaan's eyes widened at her words, as though he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "Sach me?"

Saanvi nodded, her voice low but steady. "I came into this marriage with fear in my heart, thinking you had taken away my choice. But day by day, you showed me you'd never take what I wouldn't give. You never touched me without my will, never spoke without kindness. You gave me back the freedom I thought I'd lost... and in doing so, you've made me yours."

A soft blush crept onto Eshaan's cheeks. "I never wanted to be the reason you feared love. I only wanted to be the reason you believed in it again. Your heart is not mine to take-it's mine to protect until you place it in my hands. And now that you've chosen me... I swear, I will spend my life proving you were right to."

Saanvi smiled faintly. "Acha chaliye, hattiye ab. Hume ready hona hai- aaj humara pehla din hai aapke ghar me."

"Humare ghar me," he corrected gently.

Her cheeks warmed at the word, and she disappeared into the bathroom.

By the time she returned, Eshaan was already dressed for the office-white shirt, black pants, phone in hand. But his scrolling stopped the instant he saw her.

Saanvi walked out in a deep red saree, her hair cascading in soft waves over her shoulders. The jingling of her anklets and the gentle clink of her bridal chooda filled the room as she moved to the dressing table.

Eshaan couldn't take his eyes off her. "She's the most beautiful answer to every prayer I've ever made..." he breathed.

Saanvi kept her makeup minimal, her natural glow doing most of the work. As she reached for the small vermillion container, Eshaan suddenly appeared behind her and gently took it from her hands.