Kaizan is back #3
A tall, broad figure was leaning casually against the balcony frame, looking out at the city lights.
Devyani's heart bypassed a beat and went straight into a frantic flutter. Rivan.
Panic surging, she bolted toward the bed, snatched the duvet, and whipped it around herself like a shield, clutching it tightly against her chest.
Her cheeks burned a furious crimson.
Rivan turned around at the sound of the rustling fabric, completely unbothered.
He didn't even have the decency to look guilty.
Instead, a slow, amused smile spread across his face as he took in the sight of his very flustered, blanket-wrapped wife.
He stepped inside the bedroom, sliding the glass door shut behind him.
"Wh... what are you doing here?!" Devyani stammered, her voice a mix of a squeak and a whisper, terrified someone down the hall might hear.
"Haaa... it's bad manners! Get out!"
Rivan tucked his hands into his pockets, walking toward her with agonizing slowness.
LBad manners? I'm pretty sure checking on my fiancée after a grueling five-hour party qualifies as being a caring future husband."
"We are engaged,Mr Thakur , not married!" She retreated a step, the blanket dragging on the floor.
"You can't just sneak into my room at midnight!"
"I didn't sneak. The balcony door was unlocked. It was practically an invitation," he teased, stopped just a few feet away, his dark eyes dancing with mischief.
He tilted his head, deliberately looking at the massive bundle of fabric she was hiding behind.
"Besides, what's with the fortress? Planning a camping trip in your bedroom?"
"Go away," she groaned, burying her burning face slightly into the edge of the blanket. "You're infuriating."
"And you're adorable when you're flustered,"
Rivan said, leaning in just a fraction closer, enjoying how her eyes widened.
Devyani wrapped the blanket around herself with aggressive precision, tucking in the edges until only her face peeked out like an annoyed little burrito.
Lifting her chin, she tried her absolute hardest to look intimidating, entirely sabotaged by the fact that the oversized quilt was currently swallowing her whole body.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at Rivan, who had just quietly shut the door behind him and slipped his hands into his trouser pockets.
"Ummmm... what exactly do you want?" she questioned, trying to sound authoritative.
Rivan didn't answer immediately. He just stood there, letting his gaze wash over her.
she looked effortlessly adorable.
A slow, dangerously handsome smile curved onto his lips as he took one lazy step toward her, then another.
Without breaking eye contact, he answered in a voice so smooth it felt borderline illegal: "Ummm... you."
Devyani blinked, then immediately rolled her eyes with a theatrical click of her tongue.
"My God... what terrible timing," she sighed, folding her arms beneath her quilted armor.
Rivan dramatically dropped his brow. "What happened?"
"I'm currently unavailable," she replied with a deadpan, dead-serious nod. "Until marriage. You may collect your wife after the wedding. Standard policy, terms and conditions apply."
Rivan stared at her for three full seconds before letting out a sigh heavy enough to shift tectonic plates. His lower lip jutted into a tragic pout.
"Awww... that's heartbreaking. No wife? No hugs? No cuddles? No romance? Not even holding hands?"
Devyani shook her head with a sweet, merciless smile, prompting an offended "Ouch" as Rivan clutched his chest.
"I respect the policy," he suddenly brightened, leaning in. "But just give me one kiss. A tiny down payment. Advance booking."
Devyani's mouth fell open. "No! Completely sold out!" When Rivan whined about filing an appeal against her dictatorship, she simply beamed.
"Thank you, I accept the compliment."
Deciding negotiations were officially dead, Rivan casually shrugged and walked straight past her. Ignoring her confused protests, he claimed squatter's rights and sat right down on the edge of her mattress, stretching out and adjusting a pillow behind his head.
"Hmm. Nice room," he noted with exaggerated appreciation.
"What are you doing on my bed? You can't sleep there!" Devyani gaped.
Rivan patted the mattress approvingly. "Existing. The floor looks cold, but your bed looks absolutely perfect."
When a stomped foot and a demanded "Get up!" resulted in a calm "I respectfully decline," Devyani launched a pillow at his head.
He caught it effortlessly, tucking it under his neck with a smirk. "Thanks, I needed another one."
Driven to the edge of sanity, she marched over, grabbed his wrist with both hands, and pulled with all her might. "Move!" she strained.
Rivan didn't budge a single millimeter. Instead, physics betrayed her, and with a tiny squeak, she stumbled forward, landing flat on the mattress right beside him.
Rivan looked down at her, his eyes dropping to the small hands still desperately clamped around his wrist.
A triumphant grin spread across his face. "You came closer by yourself."
"I did not! I was trying to push you away!"
"And destiny pulled you toward me," he countered smoothly.
Devyani groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Why are you like this? I miss your arrogant version at least he gave me personal space."
Rivan laughed softly, leaning back against the headboard. "This version likes you too much. And I'm not going anywhere."
Devyani stood rooted to the spot, clutching the blanket against herself like it was the only thing protecting her sanity.
Unfortunately...
The real threat wasn't Rivan.
It was her own brain.
Her gaze, completely against her will, drifted toward him.
He was standing casually with his sleeves rolled halfway up, the top two buttons of his shirt left open after changing for the night. The fabric hugged his broad shoulders effortlessly, outlining the hours he spent training.
Oh no...
Her eyes immediately darted away.
Then...
Like a traitor...
They wandered right back.
No, no, no, Devyani.
Look somewhere else.
The ceiling... yes... the ceiling is beautiful.
She looked at the ceiling.
Two seconds later...
Her eyes quietly slid back to him again.
WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AGAIN?
Inside her head, absolute chaos erupted.
Control yourself.
He's your fiancé, not a buffet.
But those...
Her eyes betrayed her once more.
...those biscuit ABS...
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Ahhhhhhh!
They shouldn't be legal!
Devyani!
Stop!
Stop thinking such ashleel things!
You've become shameless!
Control your inner demon!
Take a deep breath.
Think about something pure...
Flowers.
Temples.
Ice cream.
"...No."
Her brain immediately rejected the idea.
Not even Belgian chocolate looks this tempting
She slapped a hand over her own mouth.
OH MY GOD!
WHAT AM I THINKING?
Get a grip!
This man is going to be your husband, not dessert!
...But why does he have to be so frustratingly attractive?
Ughhhhhh!
She squeezed the blanket tighter around herself, looking like she was physically fighting invisible enemies.
Across the room...
Rivan had been silently watching the entire performance.
First she looked at him.
Then the ceiling.
Then him.
Then the wall.
Then him again.
Then suddenly she started making tiny expressions all by herself.
Her lips moved without making any sound.
Her brows furrowed.
She frowned.
She looked scandalized.
Then embarrassed.
Then offended.
Then... she quietly glared at herself.
He couldn't take it anymore.
One eyebrow slowly arched upward.
"...Kitten?"
She didn't hear him.
She was still busy arguing with herself.
You're hopeless.
I know.
Stop looking.
I'm trying!
Clearly you're not!
Rivan finally spoke louder.
"...Are you..."
He paused, trying very hard not to laugh.
"...talking to yourself?"
The words snapped her back to reality.
"Huh?"
She blinked rapidly.
Then realized...
He had been watching her.
The entire time.
Her soul nearly left her body.
Her cheeks exploded into a shade of red that could rival a tomato.
"No!"
She answered far too quickly.
"I wasn't!"
Rivan folded his arms.
"Oh?"
She nodded so aggressively that her messy bun bounced.
"I was..."
She desperately searched for an excuse.
"...praying."
He blinked.
"For..."
She pointed dramatically toward the door.
"...your soul."
"My soul?"
"Yes."
"So that it..."
She coughed awkwardly.
"...peacefully exits my room."
Silence.
Rivan stared at her.
Then slowly nodded.
"Right."
"Exactly."
"You were praying."
He walked a little closer, unable to hide the amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"I've never seen someone pray with so much aggressive nodding."
She froze.
"...I nod when I pray."
"Really?"
He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing.
"I see."
Then...
His eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Although..."
"I think I heard something."
Her heart skipped.
"...What?"
He pretended to think.
"Hmmm..."
"Oh yes."
He snapped his fingers.
"'Biscuit.'"
Devyani's eyes widened.
HE HEARD THAT?
Rivan looked genuinely concerned.
"Are you hungry?"
She blinked.
"What?"
"I mean..."
He looked down at himself dramatically.
"I didn't expect my future wife to think about snacks at a romantic moment like this."
Her mouth fell open.
"I..."
"No!"
"I wasn't thinking about snacks!"
"Oh?"
"Hmm!"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Then why were you saying 'biscuit'?"
Her brain completely stopped functioning.
Think, Devyani.
THINK.
Say anything.
"Because..."
She swallowed.
"...the catering!"
Rivan blinked.
She immediately continued with increasing confidence.
"Yes!"
"The catering!"
"The engagement catering."
He looked utterly confused.
She nodded enthusiastically.
"The biscuits..."
"...were very good."
"So I was remembering them."
She smiled.
A painfully fake smile.
"...That's all."
Rivan looked at her for several silent seconds.
Then his gaze slowly drifted from her face...
...to his own abs...