The sun barely peeked into the house when the storm arrived—not with thunder, not with lightning... but with Anu's voice.

The morning was simple, serene, boring even.

Krishna sat at the dining table.
Lakshmi hummed gently as she arranged fresh jasmines in the brass bowl.

Everything was normal.

Until Anu walked in.

Her steps were steady.
Her face looked calm.
But her eyes... her eyes held a cyclone.

She stood in front of her father.

"Nana..." her voice didn't shake, didn't soften. It was hard. Steady. Determined.

Krishna looked up.

"Hmm, cheppu Amma."

Anu inhaled.

"I'm ready for the marriage. Start the wedding preparations."

The jasmine Lakshmi held slipped from her fingers and fell onto the table with a soft thud.

Krishna froze mid-breath.

"Anu... are you serious?"

She nodded once—emotionless, robotic, horrifyingly calm.

"Start everything from tomorrow."

Krishna smiled but Lakshmi's heart dropped.

This girl...the same girl who cried every night for vedansh...

And now—

She agreed?

Just like that?

But Anu didn't give them time to ask anything. She turned around quietly and walked away.

Inside her chest, her heart thumped wildly.

Not with fear.

With the weight of a dangerous plan.

A plan shared with only one person... Vedansh

She entered her room and closed the door gently. She turned— And suddenly her back hit the wall.

A strong hand gripped her wrist. Another wrapped around her waist.

Warm breath touched her cheek.

And then—

"bava..." she whispered.

He pulled her into his chest like he was drowning and she was oxygen.

His arms locked around her body, hugging her so tight her bones almost cracked.

Only then did she exhale—a long breath she had been holding since morning.

He buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent like he needed it to survive.

His voice came out rough, desperate.

"Whatever I told you last night... you said it?"

She nodded into his chest.

"Yes. I told nana. He said he'll start everything from tomorrow."

His grip tightened.

He hummed... a deep, possessive sound.
Not relief.
Something darker.

She whispered softly, "bava... for how many days do we need to act like this?"

He lifted her chin with his finger.

"Not for long, baby. Very soon. This acting will end."
He leaned closer, lips brushing her forehead.
"And then we will marry for real."

Her eyes softened.
Her fingers trembled as she held onto his shirt.

They smiled— the kind of smile that belonged only in the shadows.

Because outside... no one could know.

No one could see.

No one could even imagine.

While Anu leaned into forbidden arms...

.

.

Nidhi hurriedly tied her hair, grabbed her bag, and rushed out.

She was late for college.

But before her fingers touched the door knob—

"Wait. I'll drop you."

She turned.

Rahul stood there.
Keys in hand.
Face blank.
Eyes unreadable.

"No bava... I'll go myself."

He glared.

"I said I'll drop you. Why are you arguing?"

His tone wasn't request.
It was command.

Without waiting for her reply, he walked to the car.

Nidhi exhaled sharply.

What is wrong with him these days?

She followed him unwillingly.

The ride was silent.

Only the sound of the engine.
Only the tension between them.

He pulled up near her college gate.

As she unbuckled her seatbelt, he leaned slightly and said—

A line sharp enough to cut her breath,

"Don't talk to boys. Just study. Understand?"

Nidhi froze.

Her eyes widened.

She turned slowly, disbelief all over her face.

Why.
Why does it matter to him?

He has no right.

He is just a cousin.

Just a relative.

Nothing more.

She didn't reply. Didn't even look at him.

She walked out.

With a sharp attitude. With silent anger.

Rahul watched her go.

And despite everything...

Despite her ignoring him...

Despite her attitude...

Despite the fact she walked away without a goodbye...

He smiled.

A stupid, helpless smile.

Yesterday, when he saw her smiling at another guy...
Something ugly twisted inside him.

Something he couldn't understand.

Something he couldn't accept.

But he couldn't tolerate anyone near her.

No one.

Not even as a friend.

His phone rang right then—a sharp, shrill tone.

He picked up.

"Rahul, emergency. Report to station immediately. Criminal escaped. Full alert."

Rahul's smile vanished instantly.

The police station was chaos.

Files scattered.
Phones ringing non-stop.
Officers running in and out.
Heavy tension everywhere.

A dangerous criminal—Rakesh Devgan—had escaped from central jail last night.

A man involved in kidnapping human trafficking, drug lines, and violence.

Rahul rushed inside "Any details.?"

The officer briefed quickly.

"He escaped during transfer. Could be anywhere in the city. Keep your gun with you.
And Rahul... this guy is known to target police families. He takes revenge personally."

Rahul's heart skipped.

Nidhi.

Automatically... his hand went to his pocket.

He took his phone out.
But he didn't call her.
Didn't want to panic her.

Yet something inside him twisted.

What if she's alone?
What if she's walking somewhere?
What if someone follows her?

His stomach knotted.

He threw himself into the work, questioning witnesses, checking footage, giving orders.

But every few minutes...

His eyes darted to his phone.

He hated it.
He hated how one girl could disturb his entire concentration.

But he couldn't do anything about it.

Not anymore.

Evening came.

Rahul went to pick Nidhi.

But the moment he reached the college gate...

He saw her laughing with a guy.

That same guy.

The same one who stood close yesterday.

The same one who dared to smile at her.

Rahul's hand tightened on the steering.

His jaw clenched.

But his face stayed blank.

Too blank.

He watched the guy laughing with her.

Something snapped inside him.

But when she walked toward him, he put on the calmest expression possible.

He didn't say a word during the ride.

But as soon as they entered home and the door clicked shut—

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

Her breath hitched.

He stepped closer.

His voice was low, dangerous.

"I told you to stay away from boys. didn't i?"

She pulled her hand back.

"And why should I listen to you? For you, I'm just a cousin. Right?"

He stiffened.

"That doesn't give you any right to command me," she continued, "or tell me who to talk to. Understand?"

His eyes dropped.

A breath escaped him.

"Right," he whispered.
"I'm no one."

He walked away.

She watched him go.

And she smiled.

He was hurt.
He cared.
He got jealous.

She liked it. Nidhi freshened up and fell asleep hugging her panda like a child.

Rahul cooked dinner quietly.

Every spoon he stirred carried one thought:

"You are not anyone to me."

The line hurt.

More than he expected.

But still... he cooked for her.

He knocked on her door.

No response.

He opened slightly.

The sight melted him—

She slept peacefully, hair across her face, hugging her panda, looking so tiny and soft.

He whispered,

"hmm... always tiring yourself."

He smiled to himself, closed the door gently, and went to do his work.

And he waited.

He didn't eat.

He never misses his 7:30 dinner.

But today...
he couldn't eat without her.

Nidhi woke up lazily and walked out.

She froze.

Rahul was still working.

Still awake.

Dinner untouched.

He looked up immediately.

"Oh... you woke up? Come, let's eat."

She frowned.

"You didn't eat?"

He shook his head.

"You were sleeping. I didn't want to disturb you."

Her eyebrows knitted.

"What about you? You could've eaten."

He looked away for a second... shy, embarrassed.

"I...umm i had somework"

"how stubborn he is.. he can't even accept that he is waiting for me i know bava no matter how much work u have you will complete your dinner by 7:30." she thought.

Rahul—the man who never breaks routine— waited.
Just for .

She sat down quietly beside him.

Something warm fluttered inside her chest.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

Just when they finished dinner, Rahul's phone buzzed again.

"Report to station. New lead." igp said.

He stood up.

Nidhi looked up at him.

"You're going now? It's midnight."

Rahul nodded, fastening his belt.

"Yeah. Dangerous criminal on run. I need to go."

Something inside her twisted.

Worry.

She stepped closer unconsciously.

"Take care."

He froze.

She never says this.

Her voice was soft, fragile.

He swallowed hard.

"I will and you too don't go out. lock the door and if anyone rings the bell-" she cut him off "bava don't worry i will sleep now. you know if i sleep i am not going to wake up even if tsunami comes." he smiled and nodded.

He left for the station.

A new report came.

"Sir, CCTV shows the escaped criminal in the area near the REVA college road."

Rahul's blood ran cold.

That was where Nidhi walked every day.

He clenched his jaw.

Meanwhile, in hall

Nidhi tried reading.

But her mind kept wandering to Rahul.

Why is he behaving like this?
Why did he not eat without her?
Why does he look jealous?
Why does she feel something... strange?
Something warm?

She hugged her pillow tightly.

"he don't like me... right?"

Her heart didn't answer.

Instead... it thumped a little faster.

.

.

.

Anu and vedansh sat together quietly, planning the next move.

He traced lazy patterns on her hand.

"Once we get the proof against Vaishnav, you're mine. Completely."

She blushed.

"And if we fail?"

He cupped her face.

"I won't let that happen.
Not even fate can separate us."

Their love was dark.
Hidden.
Forbidden.

But powerful.

Too powerful.

Just like the silent love growing between Rahul and Nidhi.

Two love stories.
Two battles.
Two dangers.

.

.

.

The courtyard was drenched in golden sunlight, the soft yellow glow of turmeric reflecting off the walls and floors. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of marigolds and jasmine, mixed with the earthy scent of haldi. 

Plates brimming with freshly ground turmeric sat neatly arranged alongside flower baskets, while soft strains of shehnai music floated in from the corners of the hall. Everything looked perfect for a traditional Haldi ceremony, but for Anu, the ritual held a different meaning today.

Seated in the centre, she wore a simple yellow lehenga. The fabric clung delicately to her frame, the folds swaying slightly as she adjusted her posture. Jasmine flowers were braided intricately into her hair, a few strands falling loosely around her face, giving her a delicate, almost ethereal appearance. Her cheeks were flushed with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, her heart thumping faster than usual. Part of her excitement stemmed from the ceremony itself, but a deeper, more dangerous thrill ran beneath it—the knowledge that Vedansh was watching, somewhere in the room, waiting for the private moment he had promised.

Family members went about the ritual with cheerful smiles, applying haldi to her cheeks, chin, and forehead. They teased her, laughed with her, and blessed her, but no amount of attention from anyone else could distract her from the one person who mattered. 

Anu could feel it—the real Haldi had yet to happen. Their moment was still pending, private, theirs alone. She tried to focus on her family, to smile and nod politely, but her heart kept leaping every time she caught sight of him. She knew exactly what he intended, and deep down, she couldn't wait.

Later, when the courtyard cleared and the ceremony ended, she excused herself and slowly made her way to her room. Closing the door softly behind her, she let out a shaky breath, the tension of the day finally pressing against her chest. Her skin still glowed from the turmeric applied by her family, her hair slightly messy with flowers slipping out of their braids. She lifted her lehenga to adjust the folds, brushing imaginary specks of haldi off the floor, when the door clicked shut behind her again.

A shiver ran down her spine. Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the room. Her body stiffened, and her breath caught in her throat. Warmth brushed against her neck, and a husky, low voice broke the silence.

"the haldi, is still incomplete Anu."

She froze, her heart hammering violently. She didn't turn, her voice barely a whisper, shaky with anticipation and need.

"Ve...Vedansh... what are you doing here?"

He came closer, each step measured, deliberate, until his chest was almost pressing against her back. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the steady thrum of his heartbeat matching her own. He lifted his hand, smeared with fresh haldi, and slowly whispered against her ear, his voice low and possessive.

"This is your real haldi. Our haldi."

Her breath hitched. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. He leaned even closer, pressing against her in a way that made her knees tremble. Slowly, he lifted her dupatta and slid it aside, exposing the delicate curve of her waist.

Her body shivered instinctively. He dipped his fingers into the haldi again, deliberately, teasingly, and slowly traced the warm paste along her bare skin. Each touch sent jolts of electricity through her, leaving her breathless. She gasped softly, trying to pull back, but he smirked against her shoulder, his lips brushing lightly over the tender skin.

"I'll apply where no one else is allowed," he murmured, voice husky, vibrating through her core.

One hand slid around her stomach, pulling her back against him as haldi smeared between their bodies. His other hand, still on her waist, traced careful, claiming lines with the turmeric, marking her as his. Anu's body responded without permission, leaning into him despite her mind screaming caution.

"B-bava... someone will come..." she whispered weakly, a mix of desire and fear lacing her words.

He pressed his lips against the side of her neck, just below the ear, his warm breath sending shivers through her.

"Let them. You're mine," he murmured, low and commanding, possessive and tender all at once.

His lips moved again, this time tracing slow, lingering kisses along her neck. Haldi-stained, warm, intoxicating. Anu's knees weakened, her body melting against his touch. Her hands trembled, weakly clutching his wrists, trying to hold him at bay while simultaneously craving more.

He kissed her again, softly, then deeper, leaving faint yellow marks along her skin—his marks, their Haldi. She inhaled sharply, heart pounding, mind dizzy with the intensity of his attention. Every nerve, every sense, every inch of her skin seemed alive under his touch.

His hands roamed possessively, tracing and claiming, never letting her go. He whispered her name against her ear, each syllable heavy with heat, longing, and a promise she could feel vibrating in her bones.

"Now it's complete. Now you're truly mine," he murmured, lips brushing the shell of her ear.

Anu's breath hitched once more. Her eyes fluttered closed as her fingers twined into the fabric of his shirt, clutching him, holding him close. She could feel every beat of his heart against her back, every subtle movement, every whispered breath. The world outside—her family, the courtyard, the ceremony—didn't exist. There was only him, her, the warmth, the scent, and the heat of Haldi on her skin.

For a long moment, they stood like that, bodies pressed together, hearts pounding in unison, the scent of turmeric mixing with the warmth of skin, and the quiet hum of the late afternoon sun filtering through the curtains. They didn't speak. There was no need. Their eyes, their breaths, their very bodies communicated everything that words could never hold.

And slowly, almost reluctantly, he pulled back just enough to look at her face. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes glimmering with a mixture of fear, anticipation, and desire. A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips, possessive and tender all at once.

"Remember," he whispered, his thumb brushing lightly across her jaw, "no one else can touch you like this. No one else ever will."

She shivered, leaning back against him again, letting herself melt into his hold, trusting him with every pulse of her being.

In that quiet room, with golden Haldi marking her skin and his lips leaving invisible promises across her neck and waist, Anu knew one thing for certain: nothing, not even the world outside, could come between them.

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