I LOVE YOU KITTEN #4
("At least save a little dignity.")
Rivan clenched his jaw.
"...Shut up."
Reyansh grinned wider.
"What happened?"
"Engagement sunte hi processor hang ho gaya?"
("Did your brain crash the moment you heard 'engagement'?")
Rivan muttered through gritted teeth,
"Teri shaadi mein dekh lunga."
("I'll deal with you during your wedding.")
Reyansh laughed.
"First let someone agree to marry me."
Rivan finally looked at him.
"I'll personally reject every proposal."
Reyansh smirk.
"Dkhte hain."
Before RIVAN could reply
Payal suddenly frowned.
"Bhai..."
Both cousins instantly sat straight.
"Hmm?"
Payal narrowed her eyes.
"What are you two whispering?"
Reyansh answered without missing a beat.
"I'm teaching him business strategies."
"How not to blush in board meetings."
The entire table went silent.
Slowly...
Every single person's eyes shifted toward Rivan.
Who was still...
Bright red.
Virendra blinked.
Yashodha looked confused.
Then Payal understood first.
Her mouth slowly opened.
"Oh..."
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Our groom is blushing."
Within seconds...
The entire dining table erupted into laughter.
Aradhya added,
"Someone take a picture."
"This historical moment deserves a frame."
Even Virendra chuckled.
Devyani had been quietly watching all of this.
She couldn't stop smiling.
She had never seen this version of him.
Embarrassed.
Flustered.
Completely defenseless.
As if sensing her gaze...
Rivan slowly looked toward her.
She tilted her head slightly.
A teasing smile played on her lips.
"So..."
she asked sweetly.
"Mr. Thakur..."
"Should I postpone the engagement?"
His eyes widened immediately.
"No."
Everyone burst into another fit of laughter.
Devyani bit her lip to stop herself from laughing harder.
Rivan realized what he had just done.
Reyansh leaned back in his chair, completely satisfied.
ENGAMENT DAY
Devyani woke to the soft morning light filtering through the villa curtains.
She stretched, dressed in a simple cotton kurta, and headed downstairs for breakfast.
The long table held fresh parathas, fruit, and steaming chai, yet her eyes kept scanning the room.
Rivan was nowhere in sight.
A small knot formed in her stomach, but she pushed it aside.
Today was their engagement day; she refused to let worry spoil it.
Payal and Aradhya burst into the room moments later, eyes bright with excitement. "Dress time!" Payal announced, holding up two options.
Devyani smiled faintly and picked the first one without much thought, her mind still drifting to where Rivan might have gone.
The villa door opened again.
Jinal stepped in first, suitcase in hand, followed by Aditya.
Gasps and cheers filled the space.
Devyani dropped the dress and ran straight into their arms, hugging both tightly.
Aditya pulled back, eyes wide. "Bhabhi, look at you. Two years and you're glowing."
"Adi bhaiyya, I missed you so much," Devyani said, voice bright. "Why did you arrive late?"
Aditya leaned close and whispered, "Because my bhabhi wants a Devrani, so I thought I'd do some work on that."
Devyani's eyes widened. "Really?" she whispered back. "Shhh, top secret," he replied with a grin. She nodded, smiling. "Tell me later."
Jinal wrapped her in another hug. "My Devu is all grown up now."
The four girls left together for beauty care, laughter echoing down the hall.
Halfway through a facial, Devyani's phone rang. Rivan's voice came through, low and teasing. "Kitten, will you come downstairs?"
"Hmm, okay," she answered, heart already racing. She ran down the stairs, excitement pushing every earlier worry away.
At the villa entrance Rivan stood waiting, black shirt sleeves rolled up, one hand extended. He led her straight to the waiting car without a word.
She settled into the passenger seat. "Where are we going?" she asked as the engine started.
The drive to his private penthouse took only a few minutes, the sleek black car gliding along a winding road hidden from the rest of the city.
Tall trees lined the path, their shadows stretching across the pavement beneath the fading evening sky.
Inside the car, silence settled between them not uncomfortable, but charged with anticipation.
Every glance Devyani stole toward him only made her heart beat faster.
When they finally arrived, Rivan parked directly before the grand entrance. The towering glass doors reflected the soft glow of the city lights below.
He switched off the engine and turned toward her, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Close your eyes, kitten," he said quietly.
The tenderness in his voice left no room for resistance. Devyani obeyed immediately, her lashes lowering as excitement fluttered through her chest.
A moment later, she felt her door open. Rivan's hand found hers, warm and steady, helping her out of the car. One arm slipped around her waist while his other hand gently covered her eyes.
"Careful," he murmured.
Guided entirely by him, she moved forward. Every step heightened her curiosity. The faint scent of flowers drifted through the air, teasing her senses. The private elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and together they stepped inside.
The ascent felt endless.
Devyani could hear nothing but the quiet hum of the elevator and the steady rhythm of her own heartbeat. Behind her, Rivan remained close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body through the thin fabric of her dress.
Then the elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
Cool air brushed against her skin.
Without a word, Rivan guided her forward.
The scent hit her first.
Roses.
Jasmine.
Lilies.
A thousand delicate fragrances woven together into something intoxicating.
He led her a few more steps before stopping in the center of a vast space. Silence stretched around them.
"Keep them closed," he whispered against her ear.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She heard him move away briefly, the faint sound of footsteps echoing against marble. Then he returned, stopping directly in front of her. His hands settled firmly on her waist.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Then his voice broke the silence.
"Now."
Slowly, Devyani opened her eyes.
And forgot how to breathe.
The penthouse hall unfolded before her like something from a dream.
The enormous marble space had been transformed into a breathtaking garden of light and flowers.
Thousands upon thousands of white and blush-pink roses cascaded from the soaring ceiling in lavish garlands, flowing down like floral waterfalls.
They draped around towering columns, framed the walls, and wound themselves along the sweeping grand staircase in thick, luxurious layers.
Every surface seemed alive with blooms.
Crystal vases taller than her waist overflowed with white lilies, orchids, and fresh jasmine. Their petals glowed beneath the warm golden light, creating an atmosphere so beautiful it felt almost unreal.
Beneath her feet, the polished marble floor had disappeared beneath a sea of deep crimson rose petals. The rich red carpet stretched across the hall like a royal pathway, soft and endless, leading her gaze toward the far end of the room.
Above, hundreds of tiny fairy lights hung suspended on nearly invisible wires.
They shimmered softly, surrounding the hall in a golden haze, like captured stars frozen in midair.
Between them floated elegant white balloons, drifting lazily beneath the ceiling.
Each balloon carried delicate gold lettering, repeating the same words over and over.
Forever.
Always.
My love.
Forever.
The entire penthouse glowed with warmth, romance, and devotion.
Then her eyes dropped to the floor ahead.
And her breath caught.
Spread across the white marble in sweeping strokes of deep red rose petals were words so large they dominated the room.
"I LOVE YOU"
The message stretched nearly twenty feet across the floor, perfectly positioned so it was the first thing she saw the moment she opened her eyes.
Surrounding it were intricate hearts crafted from petals, intertwined arrows, and delicate floral patterns that radiated outward like works of art.
At the far end of the hall stood a long candlelit table draped in white silk.
Crystal champagne flutes sparkled beside a velvet ring box. Beside them rested a neat stack of handwritten letters tied together with a satin ribbon pages filled with words written only for her.
For several seconds, Devyani could do nothing but stare.
The fairy lights blurred.
The flowers melted into colors.
Emotion rose so suddenly that it stole the air from her lungs.
One trembling step carried her forward.
Then another.
Her eyes moved across every impossible detail, trying to absorb the magnitude of what stood before her.
All of this.
Every flower.
Every light.
Every petal.
Every letter.
Had been created for her.
Behind her, Rivan remained close, his hand resting lightly against her hip as though grounding her in the moment.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Her lips parted, but no words came at first.
When she finally spoke, her voice emerged as little more than a whisper, thick with emotion.
"Pati ji..."
She turned toward him slowly, her eyes shining.
"When did you..." Her voice broke.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"How did you do all this?"
Rivan let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck as an almost boyish smile crossed his face.
"Umm..." he began, glancing around the flower-filled hall before looking back at her. "I've been planning this for so many days."
He chuckled softly, slightly embarrassed.
"I kept thinking about how I was going to propose to you... every little detail, every flower, every light." He paused, smiling helplessly. "But then... you suddenly proposed to me."
He shook his head with a quiet laugh.
"So... my entire plan became useless."
For a brief moment, they simply looked at each other.