Guys, this chapter made me laugh, melt, and even cry while writing it.I truly wish you could feel the same emotions . I know you all wait for updates, and yes, I do take time  but please, think about me too!
I write with all my heart, and it honestly breaks me a little when I don't see even a single heart in comments nor even a vote . You guys just read and go... it hurts, truly. 

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AUTHOR POV

Siddhartha's mother adjusted the edge of her saree, her face glowing with quiet satisfaction as she looked between Aarohi and her son. Then, she finally said the words everyone had been waiting for.

"So," she said, her voice calm yet firm, the tone of a woman used to being obeyed. "Siddhartha and Aarohi's marriage is confirmed."

The room filled with murmurs smiles spreading across faces, little Rishu clapping his tiny hands, not fully understanding what was happening but sensing the excitement.

Aarohi's grandmother, sitting beside her with gentle authority, smiled warmly and said, "From our side as well, there's no objection. But still, just for peace of mind, we should have their kundli checked once. It's a tradition

Siddhartha, who had been silent all this time, finally looked up . "MAGAR KUNDLI KYU ?" he asked, his tone deep but respectful. "When both families already agree... when we have agreed — what's the need for another confirmation?"

His words carried the kind of confidence that made people pause before replying that sharp, clear dominance of a man used to making decisions, not following them.

But before he could say anything more, his mother turned toward him sharply, her voice cutting through his sentence Beta, kundli milwana is not about confirmation," she said, her expression firm but affectionate. "It's about blessings, about tradition. It's something we do for good future, not out of doubt. Calm yourself, hmm? You're still a child in front of these customs."

He exhaled quietly, lowering his gaze for once, and nodded."As you wish, Ma," he said, his voice softer this time .

Aarohi's father smiled kindly, trying to ease the sudden tension in the air. "We'll have it checked with our family priest," he said, his tone reassuring. "And you can do the same on your side, just for formality's sake. It will be good to have both families involved."

Siddhartha's mother nodded approvingly. "Of course, Bhai saheb, that's perfect. You go ahead with your pandit ji. We'll trust your word completely."

It was around three thirty in the afternoon the sun stood lazily in the middle of the sky, throwing golden rays into Aarohi's room through half-drawn curtains. Her desk was cluttered with files, papers, a cold coffee mug, and a few open law books . She had finally fallen asleep after a week of sleepless nights, having worked on a complicated case that had been giving her a headache for days.

The room was silent except for the soft hum of her faint breathing. She was finally at peace and of course, that peace never lasted long in her house.

The door creaked open.

Ashu entered quietly, tiptoeing as if he were sneaking into a battlefield. He turned back and motioned for someone behind him to follow .

"Shanti sae jiju ," Ashu whispered dramatically .

Siddhartha his eyes scanned the room once, landing briefly on the sleeping girl curled under her blanket.

Ashu grinned like a devil . He pulled out his phone, scrolled through it, and pressed play.

A creepy horror tune started playing - Aarohi stirred a little,turning in bed. "Mmm... Ashu, mat kar warna papa.... Ko bta dungi..." she mumbled sleepily, her voice muffled by her pillow.

Ashu smirked and turned the volume up. The sound got louder, more horrifying echoing through the entire room.

Aarohi's brows furrowed deeper. "AAASSHHHUUUUU—"

Before she could finish, she opened her eyes.

And froze.

Right in front of her stood Ashu face painted ghostly white, black circles around his eyes and lips, wrapped entirely in a long black scarf like some kind of cursed mummy.

For a few seconds, her brain refused to process it. Then reality hit.

"Chal hatt bhakk !" she said , nonchalantly the next moment, Aarohi's eyes landed on the tall figure standing near Ashu .Her breath hitched. Her heartbeat stumbled.

Her voice broke as sheshouted , "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Siddhartha leaned slightly toward Ashu, his tone low, calm . "Tell me something , Ashu ," he said, his voice smooth but sharp. "Your sister didn't even blink when she saw you dressed like a ghost. But she screamed seeing me. Should I take that as an insult or a compliment?"

Ashu smirked. "Definitely a compliment, Jiju. You've got that scary aura without even trying."

Aarohi's muffled voice came from under the blanket. "I heard that! And for the record, I wasn't scared, I was... startled!"

Siddhartha took a few slow steps toward her bed, his shoes silent on the floor. "Startled?" he repeated, his voice quiet but heavy enough to make her blanket tremble.

She peeked out, her messy hair sticking out everywhere, her sleepy eyes blinking up at him. "I—I wasn't expecting anyone, that's all!"

"Clearly," he said, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "You don't usually expect people to walk into your chaos, do you?"

Ashu snorted. "Oh no, she doesn't.yae puri kumkaran hai ."

"ASHU, GET OUT!" she shouted, throwing her pillow at him.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving a thick silence.

"So, my soon-to-be wife," he murmured, tilting his head slightly, "are you planning to stay silent, or will you step out of that blanket ?"

Aarohi didn't move. She just groaned faintly and rolled to the other side, trying to ignore the sound of his voice as if she were dreaming.

Siddhartha raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" he said, the teasing tone thickening in his words. "Are you actually scared of your husband?"

But before he could even complete that sentence—

Aarohi shot up, sitting straight in bed like someone had poured cold water on her. Without a second thought, she grabbed her penguin soft toy and hurled it straight at him.

Siddhartha, of course, caught it effortlessly mid-air, his fingers closing around it .

"Woah, woah, easy there, Mrs. Future Singhania," he said, smirking, holding up the toy like proof of her crime. "No need for violence this early in the day."

"Don't—" Aarohi's voice rose, her cheeks flushed crimson as she pointed a finger at him, "don't call me that! I'm not your wife!"

Siddhartha's eyes glimmered with amusement, the edges of his mouth curling just a little more. "Not yet," he said smoothly, stepping closer to her bed, "but soon enough."

Her jaw dropped. "That's... that's an entirely different matter! And besides, what are you even doing here at this hour? This is my room!" she asked, clearly flustered now, her voice bouncing between irritation and disbelief. "You....you can't just walk in whenever you feel like it!"

He took another step closer "I can," he said quietly, his tone deep and deliberate.

She frowned. "Why?"

He looked directly into her eyes then dark, unwavering, dangerous. "Because I wanted to see you."

For a moment, she forgot how to blink.

Her lips parted slightly, as if her mind needed a second to process what he'd just said. He was standing there in front of her in a black shirt rolled up to his elbows, veins showing on his forearms, his wristwatch gleaming faintly.

"You wanted to see me?" she repeated, almost whispering, like she didn't quite believe it.

"Yes , "I've had a long day...His eyes softened a little as they found hers. "So, if I have your permission ," he said, his tone shifting into something playfully charming, "would you do me the honor of joining me for a long drive, mahotarma?"

Aarohi blinked in disbelief, her brows furrowing as a hint of excitement escaped her tone despite her efforts to sound composed. "Saachi?" she asked .

Siddhartha chuckled softly He leaned closer, his hand pressing her penguin soft toy into the bed, his body leaning just close enough for her breath to catch. "Muchii," he whispered teasingly, his eyes locked on hers, his lips curling into that signature smirk that made every moment feel like a slow burn.

Aarohi stared at him wide-eyed, her breath uneven as her mind scrambled for a comeback. she did what she always did pushed him, her hands pressing against his chest , her cheeks tinted pink.

He laughed,He took a step back, still smiling, still looking at her like she was the only person worth teasing in this entire world.

Aarohi straightened her bedsheet and said in her best serious tone, "You go outside. Wait there. I'll come in ten minutes after I get ready."

Siddhartha tilted his head, pretending to think about it, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Or," he drawled slowly, taking a step closer again, "I could just wait here in your room."

Her eyes widened instantly. "You... what?" she stuttered, her voice rising, "Here? In my room?"

He nodded calmly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "Why not?."

Her jaw dropped. "Besharam! Nirlajj!" she shouted, pointing at him ..

Siddhartha laughed again, unable to help himself this time He picked up the poor penguin toy again and tossed it gently toward her. "Then hurry up, honae wali biwi jii ," he said, still chuckling. "Before I actually decide to stay."

She caught the toy and glared at him, though the corners of her lips betrayed her with the faintest hint of a smile.

He turned toward the door, still grinning, his footsteps slow and deliberate. Just before stepping out, he looked back at her one last time, his voice dropping to that teasing whisper again.

"Ten minutes," Siddhartha said in that low voice . "And if you take longer, sweetheart..." his eyes flickered "I'm coming back in myself."

"Bhakk!" Aarohi exclaimed, throwing a pillow at him before turning her face away, half annoyed, half blushing.

Minutes later she stepped out of her room. Her hair fell in loose waves, She wore a simple kurti and jeans, but Siddhartha's gaze lifted from his phone call the moment he sensed her presence that instinctive awareness of hers .

At the dining table, he sat with his usual power, legs crossed casually, phone pressed to his ear as his other hand reached out for another samosa. Her dadi was beside him, serving him samosa's .

"Dadi?" Aarohi asked, disbelief dripping from her tone. "What exactly are you doing?"

Without even looking up, Dadi replied cheerfully, "Feeding my future grandson-in-law samosas, what else?"

Aarohi's mouth dropped open. "Waahh... waahh! Mereko toh aap daant deti hain even if I touch my phone while eating, aur inko—"

Before she could even finish, Dadi cut her off with a firm, "Shhh! Don't disturb him. He's on a business call."

Aarohi turned her fiery glare toward Siddhartha, who calmly took another bite of the samosa, his eyes locking with hers, a small teasing smile curling on his lips as if saying, go on, dare me.

He finished his sentence on the phone, voice smooth and cold like marble "Close the deal." then cut the call .

"Done," he said, placing his phone aside. "Now..." he looked at Aarohi, who stood with her arms crossed like a furious cat ready to scratch. "What's the problem,misses soon-to-be-singhania?"

Aarohi's voice rose an octave. "The problem is that Dadi scolds me for touching my phone during dinner, but you oh, you get royal service while being on a call, with samosas fed to you !"

Dadi laughed softly, patting Aarohi's cheek. "Aarohi, stop making a scene, bachchi hai tu abhi."

Aarohi's jaw dropped. "I'm not a child!" she protested, stamping her foot.

Siddhartha leaned back in his chair, a faint chuckle rumbling from his chest. "Dadi," he said smoothly, eyes still on Aarohi, "I think this fireball needs some air. Too much heat in here . "I'll take her out. A little long drive might help her cool down."

Aarohi glared. "I'm perfectly calm, thank you very much!"

He tilted his head, walking close enough for her to feel the warmth of his cologne, his voice a soft, dangerous whisper. "Oh, I can see how calm you are ."

Dadi laughed again, covering her smile with her dupatta. "Go, go beta, take her. She talks less when she's outside."

Aarohi muttered, "That's not true."

Siddhartha smirked, his hand brushing lightly past her as he took the car keys. "Let's test that theory then, Mrs. Soon-To-Be Singhania."

Her cheeks flamed instantly. "Stop calling me that!"

He chuckled, opening the door for her. "Then stop looking so much like one."

She froze for half a second, her heart doing that stupid racing thing again. "You're impossible."

"And you," he said, lowering his voice as his eyes met hers, "are my favorite kind of challenge."

Siddhartha walked out first,she following silently .

Before she could even realize, he turned slightly, opened the car door with that smug half-smile and said, "bathiyae madam jii."

Once they were both seated, Siddhartha started the engine, the low hum vibrating through the air. For the first few minutes, there was silence, except for the sound of the city fading behind them and the soft jazz playing in the background.

Aarohi groaned, tilting her head toward the window. "Yaaaarrr, I'm getting bored. You are such a boring person."

Siddhartha arched a brow, eyes still on the road. "Oh really, What do you suggest I do? Dance while driving?"

"Why not?" she said, grinning mischievously. "idea ekdum mast hai apko pta hai abhi ek gana trending chal rha patli kamariya matka kae nagin si balkha kae - . I'll even give you ten rupees"

The car screeched to a sudden halt. Aarohi jolted forward, letting out a loud scream, "AAAHHHHHH! WHAT THE HELL,SHIVVVV JIIIII BAACHAOO !" She clutched her seatbelt, glaring at him. "If you don't know how to drive, then why are you even driving !"

Siddhartha's hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly, veins visible on his wrist, jaw clenched. He turned slowly toward her, his voice dangerously low, almost a growl. "What did you just say?" Aarohi replied gglaring at him . "About you not knowing how to drive?"

He shook his head, eyes darkening. "No. Before that." Aarohi frowned, trying to remember. "Uh... I don't know, I forgot?"

He leaned closer, his lips barely an inch away from hers. "That part about patli kamar..." he murmured, his tone somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

Aarohi reached for her phone and opened Spotify with the most dramatic flair. "this song CHATPATA hainaaa."

Siddhartha stared at her like she had committed a crime. Aarohi, however, was already in her element singing off-key, swaying her arms in the air .

He sighed deeply, rubbing his temple. "Unbelievable."

She threw him a defiant look, "What? Don't act like you don't like it. Even your car is vibing, see?" .

He gave her a side-eye glare so cold it could freeze fire. "Remind me again why I thought it was a good idea to take you on a drive?"

Aarohi smiled sweetly. "I DON'T KNOW."

He exhaled sharply, eyes back on the road as he restarted the car. "Shiv ji Aafat ki ki pudiya biyaah kar ghar laane wala hu main," he muttered under his breath, but his lips curved slightly a smile he tried to hide, but failed.

"What did you say?" she asked, leaning closer. "Nothing," he replied, pressing on the accelerator.

The car purred against the smooth highway, the afternoon sun slipping through the tinted glass and kissing Aarohi's face softly. Her playlist was already playing her chaotic mix of Bollywood and heartbreak songs that didn't match her face but somehow did. Siddhartha glanced at her a smirk formed at the corner of his mouth as the next song changed. "Pink Lips," began blasting through the car speakers.

Siddhartha tilted his head slightly, his hand still on the steering wheel, his other hand lazily resting near the gear. "Suno..." he said, his tone deep, smooth, and half-teasing. No response. Aarohi was lost in her own world, eyes out the window, tapping her fingers on her lap ..

"Suno..." he said again, this time with sweetness in voice , Aarohi ignore him more.

When she still didn't react, he chuckled under his breath and said, "Siddhartha ki hone wali biwi ji, zara suniye toh."

Aarohi didn't even blink. Siddhartha raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his seat for a second, and with a wicked smirk — applied a sudden jerk to the car.

Aarohi yelped instantly, her body jolting forward, "AAAHHH! Dimag se paidal vyakti! What the NARAKKKK ?" she snapped, her hand pressing against her chest dramatically.

Siddhartha bit back a laugh, feigning innocence. "Kuch kaha aapne, honae wali Mrs. Singhania?"

she glared at him, her eyes wide, face flushed, and hair slightly messy from the sudden movement. "Are you deaf or what?"

He grinned. "Same to you, sweetheart. You didn't hear me either."

Aarohi rolled her eyes . "Yehhh kya punishment hai bhagwan? Kaesa sa pati paros rah oho yaar aap ? Narmada Maiyya, mujhpar daya karo!" she exclaimed dramatically, throwing her head back against the seat.

Siddhartha chuckled, deep and warm, but his tone shifted as he looked at her half teasing, half soft. "You done complaining, honae wali biwi jii ?"

"Never," she shot back instantly. "Good," he said with a smirk. "Because now you'll have to deal with me for the rest of your life."

Aarohi turned her head, eyes narrowing, "Overconfident much?"

"Realistic," Siddhartha replied smoothly, his voice dipped in that sinful calm that only he could pull off. "Because you already fight with me like a wife, scold me like one, roll your eyes like one, koi nah bas maa ka aadaesh aaye aur mai fir aapko biwiiii jii bol kar bula saku."

She blinked, taken aback for a second not because of his words, but because of the way he looked at her while saying them.

"Stop talking like that," she mumbled, breaking the eye contact.

"Like what?" he asked, leaning slightly closer while keeping his eyes on the road.

"Like you mean it."He smiled, eyes darkening. "Maybe I do."

The silence that followed was heavy. Her heart was beating faster not because of the car, but because of him .

To break the tension, Siddhartha suddenly said, "By the way, we're going to the Shiv Mandir."

"What? Why?" Aarohi asked, still trying to hide her racing heartbeat.

Siddhartha's lips curved into a slow smirk. "Because I need Shiv ji ki blessings – aapko jhelnae ki shakti dae taaki mereko wo ."

Aarohi gasped dramatically, hitting his arm with her hand. "Shiv ji is my partner since childhood, okay? Don't drag him into this nonsense!"

He chuckled, eyes full of mischief. "Mine too, since childhood, you know."

She scoffed, "You? Partner with Lord Shiva? Please, the only partnership you have is those scary bodyguards of yours!"

Siddhartha said laughing "Even my bodyguards have better discipline than you."

"Oh really?" she said, raising her brow. "Then maybe you should marry one of them!"

"Mujhe maaf karo maate..." Siddhartha's voice was low — teasingly .

Before Aarohi could even react, the phone on the dashboard lit up ' Maa ' flashing across the screen.

he held the phone toward her. "Aap utha lijiyae , mai drive krrha ."

Aarohi nodded and answered, her voice soft and polite. "Pranam, aunty..."

A bright laugh rang through the speaker "Areh, bahu rani! Aunty nahi, call me Maa yaa Mummy. Siddhartha bhi wai bolta tum meri beti jasi ho aur kuch samaye mai hamarae ghar bahu nhi beti banogi tum."

Aarohi froze, her fingers curling around the edge of the phone as those words sank into her chest. Her eyes blinked rapidly happy tears forming in her eyes .

Siddhartha noticed. He didn't speak he just glanced at her once, the corner of his lips twitching upward in the faintest smile.

Aarohi swallowed hard. "J-Ji, Maa..." she whispered, her voice breaking in the middle.

His mother's tone melted even softer. "Meri bachi..."

And that was all it took. Aarohi's throat tightened, her eyes clouded . "You know," she said, trying not to choke, "Apko pta hai meri mumma mereko chor ka shiv ji kae pas chleygi jab mai choti thi tab hi par ..." her voice broke again, "...after talking to you, I don't feel that emptiness anymore."

On the other side of the line, his mother's voice trembled. "Areh mera bacha... from today, never say again that you don't have a mother. You do. You have me. I'm your mother now.."

And that was it. Aarohi's breath hitched, the tears she'd been holding finally spilling freely. She tried to cover her mouth, but the sob escaped anyway .

The sound of her crying did something violent to his chest.

"Bachaee ," his mother said suddenly, her tone half-scolding, half-loving. "Baccha sant nahi rotae, samjhaee ? Siddhartha gadha! What are you doing ?"

Then he did something that shocked Aarohi. He pulled the car to the side of the road, parked it, and stepped out. The cold wind brushed against him as he walked around to her side, opened the door, and without hesitation, unbuckled her seatbelt.

Aarohi looked up, eyes wet . "What are you—"

Before she could finish, he leaned down and murmured, "Come here."

He took her hand and helped her out of the car. The evening air wrapped around them, but all Aarohi could feel was the warmth of his palm against hers.

"Bachaae," he said softly, brushing away a tear with his thumb. "Maa nae kaha nah wo apki bhi mummah hai to aap kyu ro rhi aapkae sath ham sab hai maa hai , puri family hai , mai huu mat ro aap aesae."

He cupped her face, forcing her to meet his eyes "And if you cry like this again," he said, voice dropping low, "I'll cry too. And trust me,mai bahut ganda dikhta rotae huae maa sae puch lena aap ."

That made her laugh through her tears a soft, wet laugh..

"There it is," he said, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. "That smile. I'll do anything to keep that smile."

She looked up at him, whispering between shaky breaths, "You're impossible."

"Alright then," Siddhartha said, with a smirk that could melt both patience and pride, "since we've shed a few tears, it's only fair we balance the mood with something yummyyy ."

Aarohi blinked, still half lost in the moment.

"Hmm," he nodded, glancing at her sideways with a knowing smile. "Ashu told me you're obsessed with chatpataee musics , khanan , everything ."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "He told you that?"

"Of course," Siddhartha said, his voice dropping lower, softer. "gupchup haina? ."

Aarohi couldn't help it she laughed, shaking her head, her dimples forming as her cheeks flushed one cheek dimple . "You actually remembered that?"

Siddhartha's smirk deepened as he leaned closer, his breath brushing against her skin. "I remember everything about you."

Her smile softened. "You know," she murmured, brushing her hair behind her ear, "you're not as bad as I thought."

He froze mid-motion and arched a brow, pretending to be offended. "Not as bad? Excuse me? You mean I'm a little bad?"

She laughed , "Fine, fine you're... tolerable."

Before she could protest, he reached over and – tickle that made her gasp and immediately burst into laughter. "Aahhhhh !!Stop! Stop, you'll make me—"

"Laugh?" he teased, his own smile breaking through his stoic mask. "Good. You should laugh more often.."

Aarohi squirmed, giggling uncontrollably as she tried to push his hand away. "You're impossible!"

"And yet," he said, his voice low and teasing as he leaned closer, "you're still here."

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