Sanskriti reached home late into the night, her car crunching soft on the gravel drive under moonlit shadows.She slipped into her room quiet, heart still pounding from the feast's chaos, shutting the door with a soft click.

First, she peeled off the heavy lehenga, its silk whispering to the floor, then unclasped the glittering jewelry ,necklace, bangles, earrings each piece clattering light onto the dresser. Slipping into simple nightwear, a soft cotton kurta that felt like a sigh of relief, she sank onto the bed, free at last.

Her mind replayed every moment Ved's warm smile and easy chat that drew her shy gaze, a spark lighting her cheeks amid the crowd's hum.

But fury crashed in like thunder, her heart pounding as she relived Atharva's wild storm, bursting through the crowd, fingers clamping her wrist in iron fire, yanking her flush against him with raw, jealous demands that ignited her slap across his shadowed cheek.

She rubbed that wrist fiercely, skin still tingling with his branded heat, anger roaring fierce yet tangled in a forbidden pull wild, electric, drawing her deeper against her will.

His last words echoed sharp "You'll be bound to answer me for the rest of your life."a possessive vow that sent shivers racing down her spine.

defiant, breathless, laced with a tremor she couldn't name.

Strange emotions swirled intense within her, a beautiful storm of hate and hidden longing, leaving her breathless, cheeks aflame, pulse racing in the moonlit dark.

Exhaustion finally won, eyes fluttering shut as sleep pulled her under deep.

The next day,

Sanskriti woke to morning light filtering through her curtains, but her heart felt heavy, weighed down by the night's tangled storms. She sat up slow, rubbing sleep from her eyes, the echoes of Ved's gentle spark and Atharva's fierce claim still pulling at her like unseen chains.

A sigh escaped as she glanced at her wrist, faint marks lingering from his grip, stirring that wild mix of fury and forbidden warmth anew.

She dressed quietly and headed to the breakfast table, where her mother sat sipping tea amid plates of fresh parathas and fruits.Sliding into her seat, she picked at her food before looking up soft.

"Mother, may I go meet Mona today? She's been asking for me."

Saudamini set down her cup, eyes narrowing curious. "Why the sudden visit, dear.."

Sanskriti smiled quick, words smooth.

"Mona's mother just opened a famous boutique full of lovely dresses. I want to pick some new ones."

Saudamini’s face lit up, liking how her daughter now cared for pretty clothes, thinking marriage thoughts bloomed at last. "Go then, sweetheart enjoy, but return by evening with choices to show me."

Sanskriti finished breakfast quick, her heart still heavy, then stepped out to the waiting car. "Driver, drop me at Mona's place the new boutique area,"she said firm, sliding into the back seat as the engine hummed to life.

The drive wound through bustling streets, her mind drifting back to Atharva's grip.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up smooth outside Monalisa Boutique, its elegant sign glowing under the morning sun, owned by her friend Mona.Sanskriti stepped out, smoothing her dupatta, the chatter of fabrics and colors pulling her toward the glass doors.

Mona rushed out from behind the counter with excited hugs, her arms wrapping tight around Sanskriti at the boutique door.

"Sanskriti! Finally you're here for the new arrivals! Come, come, I've got the softest silks and embroidered lehengas that'll make you shine."

Sanskriti smiled faint, stepping inside amid racks of vibrant fabrics, the scent of fresh jasmine filling the air, but her heavy heart lingered from the night.

Sanskriti forced a small smile amid the boutique's sparkle, but her eyes turned serious as she pulled Mona aside. "Drop the act, Mona enough with the dresses. Let's go to your office. We need to talk, real talk."

She led the way past silk racks to a quiet back room, door clicking shut behind them.Sanskriti sank into a chair, heart heavy, ready to spill the night's storm.

Sanskriti's her voice breaking soft as she poured out everything.The night's raw chaos with Atharva in every heated clash, and that gentle spark from meeting Ved. Mona's eyes grew wide, leaning close without a word at first, just listening to every tangled detail spill free.

By the end, Sanskriti's cheeks burned, hands twisting in her lap, the weight lifting slight from sharing the storm.

Mona leaned forward in the dim office light, her eyes sparkling with mischief now that the flood of words had slowed. "Wait, Sweetgeart this new guy  who has you all twisted up... is he handsome? Tell me, how does he look? Dark eyes that pierce right through you, or what?"

Sanskriti's breath caught, cheeks flushing deeper as memories of his fierce gaze and strong jaw flickered unbidden.

Sanskriti hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of the chair, but Mona's eager gaze pulled the words free. "Tall, broad shoulders like carved stone, sharp jaw that clenches when he's angry. His eyes... dark storms, burning right through me, with hair tousled just enough to tempt a touch. Hands strong, callused, yet they gripped like fate itself."

Mona's grin widened, whistling low. "Sounds like trouble."Mona's eyes danced with delight, leaning back with a teasing smirk.

"Oh Sanskriti, tall, stormy-eyed guy with a jaw like thunder? Sounds like the gods sculpted him just to unravel you! Admit it that grip of his isn't just anger; it's the kind that lingers in your midnight sighs."

Sanskriti's cheeks flamed hot at Mona's teasing, her gaze dropping shyly to her lap as she twisted her fingers. But she drew a quick breath, steadying herself with a firm nod. "No, Mona only Ved fills my thoughts. He's gentle, sweet, with that warm smile that soothes like a soft rain, not this storm."

Sanskriti's face turned serious, the shy flush fading as she leaned forward, voice urgent. "Mona, what should I do? I met Ved just yesterday, but now I need to talk to him find out his feelings, if that gentle spark means something real."

She paused, eyes worried. "In a few months, I'll turn 19, and that's why Mother's already started hunting grooms so no time left."

Mona's eyes lit up with a sly spark, leaning in close with a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't worry, dear I'll soon arrange a meeting for you and Ved.Just be ready when the chance comes trust me to make it happen discreetly."

Sanskriti bit her lip, a mix of nerves and hope fluttering in her chest at the promise.

Then, with a playful wink, she added, "And once you and Ved are together, you owe me help me snag a moment with that handsome guy, deal?"

Sanskriti's eyes widened, a surprised laugh bubbling up despite herself.She shook her head with a soft laugh, the tension easing as she stood from the chair.

"Enough matchmaking dreams, Mona let's pick those dresses you eyed earlier."

Mona had already bundled a few shimmering ones with a heavy discount flashed on the tag, waving off Sanskriti's reaching hand.

"No paying, my treat!"

But Sanskriti insisted firm, pulling out her purse. "I'll pay half, at least fair share for friends."

Mona relented with a dramatic sigh, splitting the bill as they stepped back into the boutique glow.

Sanskriti hugged Mona tight outside the boutique, the night's secrets tucked safe between friends, then turned toward home through the quiet streets.The cool air brushed her skin as she walked, packages light in her arms, mind swirling with Ved's gentle smile and Mona's bold promises.

By the time she slipped through her gate, the stars winked overhead, her heart a tangle of hope and haste.

Sanskriti slipped into the house quietly, the packages rustling soft as she headed straight to her room, heart still racing from the night's confessions.

After a few minutes, she gathered the dresses and knocked gently on her mother's door, stepping in with a hopeful smile to show them off.

Mother's eyes lit up, fingers tracing the shimmering fabrics with approval.

"Beautiful choices, beta—they suit you perfectly."

Relief washed over Sanskriti like a warm breeze, easing the knot in her chest as she bid goodnight and returned to her room, sinking into bed ready for sleep.

______________________

Atharva stormed into the military camp under the moon's pale watch, his boots kicking up dust as guards snapped salutes, sensing the thunder in his stride.

Atharva pushed through the tent flap into his dimly lit room, the camp's distant murmurs fading behind him, only to find Shaurya sprawled across the bed, dead to the world exhausted from the grueling drills and early morning scout runs that had drained him dry.

Shaurya's chest rose and fell in deep, ragged breaths, boots kicked off haphazardly, uniform rumpled like he'd collapsed mid-thought.

Atharva paused, jaw tight, the feast's fury still coiling in his gut, unwilling to wake his brother just yet.

He pushed through the door into the washroom at the military camp, shrugging off his jacket with rough tugs, then splashed cool water over his face and neck from the basin, freshening up with quick, tense strokes.He pulled on a simple shirt and trouser and came back to the room.

Shaurya awake with a groggy start eyes blinking open, rubbing his face as he sat up slow."Atharva? Back already? What storm dragged you in this late?"

Shaurya yawned wide, shaking off sleep's grip, sensing the tension crackling off his brother like dry lightning.

Shaurya blinked away the last of sleep, catching the dark storm brewing in Atharva's eyes, heavy with unspoken rage.To divert his mind quick, he swung his legs off the bed with a forced grin.

"Oh, it's dinner time already nnd I'm starving after those drills. Since you're changed, let's go eat before I waste away."

Atharva paused, jaw still tight, but the rumble in Shaurya's stomach cut the tension slight.He grabbed his hand with brotherly insistence and pulled him toward the door.

"Fine, food it is lead on before you faint," Atharva grumbled, letting himself be tugged along through the camp's lantern-lit paths to the mess hall.

Atharva and Shaurya finished their simple meal in the mess hall's warm clamor, plates scraped clean as the camp's night routine hummed around them.

Shaurya stretched with a satisfied sigh, clapping his brother's shoulder. "Better now food fixes everything, eh?"They trudged back through the cool paths to their basic room, the door creaking shut behind them, lanterns casting long shadows once more.

As they retired to their beds in the sparse room, the lantern dimmed low, Shaurya propped up on an elbow, curiosity sharpening his gaze. "Alright, Atharva what happened? You've been brooding like a thundercloud since you walked in."

Atharva lay back staring at the ceiling,

voice tight with raw hurt as he confided in Shaurya and told him everything about his tense clash with Vikrant.How his brother thinks wrong about him, utterly mistaken on his true intentions that struck deep.

Shaurya sat up sharper in the flickering light, fists clenching slow as loyalty fired in his eyes, then softened his tone to comfort. "Easy, brother Vikrant bhai's blind to your heart, but I see it clear. You're no villain let his folly burn him, not you.

Atharva turned his face toward Shaurya with a quiet nod, gratitude flickering brief in his stormy eyes, but Shaurya sensed the pull he was still engrossed deep in tangled thoughts, the night's shadows clinging stubborn.

Shaurya propped up on his elbow in the dim room light, eyes narrowing gentle on his brother's distant stare. "Atharva, that nod's grateful, but you're still miles away anything else bothering you? Spill it for god's sake."

Atharva's gaze darkened further, voice dropping low as he confessed everything about the third encounter with the girl her fierce slap in the garden shadows, the way she'd wrenched free from his grip, her eyes blazing defiance that both wounded and ignited him.

Shaurya burst into laughter, clutching his sides in the dim room light, the sound booming sudden and unrestrained after hearing a girl had slapped Atharva clean across the face. "You, slapped by her, A girl? The mighty Atharva, felled by a girk's fire? Oh, brother, that's gold she's got spirit worth claiming!"

Atharva shot Shaurya a furious glare, eyes narrowing like sharpened steel in the dim lamplight, the laughter dying quick under the weight of his simmering rage.

"Shaurya, if you don't wanna die, then stop laughing ,now."

Shaurya raised his hands in mock surrender, grin fading to a wary smirk.He leaned in closer, his tone firm yet gentle as he tried to make Atharva understand.

"Listen, brother grabbing her wrist like that? Wrong move, especially with a girl who doesn't know yo. It screams threat, not heart, no wonder her slap flew true.Next time, lead with words that woo, not hands that cage win her fire, don't fight it."

Atharva's glare simmered down to embers, Shaurya's wisdom sinking in slow against his stubborn pulse.

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