It was late at night when Anamika, with her usual playful energy, walked down the quiet hallway of the hotel. She had a plan—Operation Tease Vineet, Phase 2. 

Naman had mentioned how Vineet always locked his room at night. But tonight, the door was slightly open.

She smirked. “Perfect.” 

Without thinking much, she pushed the door open and walked in.

Big mistake. 

Because right there, in the dim glow of the bedside lamp, stood Vineet Singhania. 

Shirtless.

Freshly showered, hair slightly damp, with water droplets still sliding down his well-defined chest. He was in nothing but his black lowers, the drawstring hanging loosely at his toned waist. 

Anamika’s eyes widened. Her playful smirk? Gone. Her teasing words? Forgotten. 

She just stood there, staring. 

Vineet, who had been rubbing a towel through his hair, turned at the sound of the door closing. His brows furrowed. "Anamika?"

She swallowed. Damn. Why did he have to look this… this… unfairly hot?

A smirk tugged at Vineet’s lips as he watched her. She was staring. Openly. 

He took a slow step forward. "Like what you see?" His deep voice held amusement. 

Anamika snapped out of it, blinking rapidly. "I—uh—I wasn’t staring!"

"No?" He raised a brow, crossing his arms over his chest, which just made his muscles flex even more. 

She mentally cursed herself. Why had she come in here again? 

Oh, right. To tease him. Not to get flustered like a fool.

Clearing her throat, she put on her best fake confidence. "I just… came to say goodnight." 

Vineet stepped even closer, making her step back instinctively until her back hit the wall. Trapped.

"That’s all?" His voice was low, his intense gaze holding hers. 

For a moment, neither of them spoke. 

Then, in the most unexpected move, Anamika grabbed his face, stood on her toes, and quickly pecked his lips. 

"I actually like your seriousness, Mr. Singhania," she whispered, her lips still dangerously close to his. 

Before he could react, she turned and rushed out of the room, leaving behind a very stunned—and very intrigued—Vineet. 

---

The door clicked shut, and Vineet stood there, staring at it. 

She had kissed him. 

Her lips—soft, warm, teasing—had just brushed against his. 

It was nothing—just a peck. But why the hell was his heart racing?

Vineet let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. 

Anamika Jindal. 

This woman was dangerous.

For the first time in his life, someone was distracting him. Not business. Not responsibilities. Her. 

And that… bothered him. 

Or maybe, just maybe—he didn’t mind it at all.

......

The terrace of the hotel was beautifully lit with soft fairy lights, the cold Ladakh breeze making the atmosphere even more magical. Naman and Ishika stood there, wrapped in their own little world, away from the chaos of wedding preparations. 

Ishika, wrapped in a shawl, leaned on the railing, gazing at the stars. "I can't believe this is our last night as just Naman and Ishika." 

Naman, standing beside her, smirked. "Hmm. From tomorrow, you'll be Mrs. Ishika Singhania. Sounds good, doesn't it?"

She smiled but didn't say anything. 

Noticing her silence, Naman turned to her. "Nervous?"

Ishika let out a small laugh. "A little. Everything is going to change."

Naman gently took her hands in his. "For the better, love."

She looked into his eyes. "You’re so sure about us, aren’t you?" 

He cupped her face, his thumb softly caressing her cheek. "I have never been more sure about anything in my life. I love you, Ishika. And I promise, no matter what changes, my love for you never will."

Ishika felt a lump in her throat. "I love you too, Naman." 

He pulled her into a tight hug, wrapping his arms around her as if never wanting to let go. 

For a while, they just stood there, holding onto each other, cherishing these last few hours before stepping into a new phase of their lives.

Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Naman whispered, "Also, since this is our last night as an unmarried couple… shouldn't we do something memorable?" 

Ishika gasped, playfully smacking his chest. "Naman!"

He chuckled. "Just saying. We could dance under the stars, maybe steal a kiss or two…"

Ishika rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine, let's dance. But just dancing, okay?"

Naman dramatically sighed. "Fine, fine. But only because I love you."

With that, he pulled her into a slow dance, humming a soft tune as they swayed under the starlit sky, treasuring their last night before becoming husband and wife.

As they swayed under the twinkling stars, the world around them faded into the background. Naman held Ishika close, his hands resting on her waist while hers clutched his shoulders. The cool Ladakh breeze brushed against their skin, but the warmth between them was enough to keep them lost in the moment. 

Ishika rested her head against Naman’s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "This feels perfect," she murmured. 

Naman smiled, tilting her chin up so she could meet his gaze. "It is perfect, because it's us." 

The moment stretched between them, their faces inches apart. The soft glow of the fairy lights reflected in Ishika’s eyes, making her look even more beautiful in Naman’s view. He slowly leaned in, giving her enough time to pull away if she wanted, but she didn’t. Instead, she closed her eyes, her breath hitching in anticipation. 

Their lips met in a slow, gentle kiss—one filled with love, longing, and the promise of forever. Naman’s fingers brushed against her cheek as he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer as if he never wanted to let go. Ishika’s hands slid into his hair, responding to him with the same intensity. 

When they finally pulled apart, Ishika’s cheeks were flushed, her heart racing. "That was… something."

Naman smirked, resting his forehead against hers. "I hope you know, this was just the first of many. From tomorrow, I'll have lifetime rights to kiss my wife whenever I want."

Ishika laughed, playfully pushing him away. "We'll see about that, Mr. Singhania." 

He chuckled, pulling her back into his arms. "Oh, trust me, Mrs. Singhania, you won’t be able to resist me for long."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, they knew one thing for sure—this was just the beginning of their forever.

.......

After their kiss, Ishika leaned into Naman’s embrace, her head resting on his shoulder as they stood in comfortable silence. The night sky stretched endlessly above them, a blanket of shimmering stars casting a soft glow over the terrace. 

Naman gently traced circles on her back, his voice soft when he finally spoke. "Ishika, I know tomorrow is going to be a big day, but before that, I want to tell you something."

Ishika looked up at him, curiosity reflecting in her eyes. "What is it?"

He took a deep breath, his fingers intertwining with hers. "I know marriages come with responsibilities, adjustments, and a lot of changes. But I want you to know that I don’t expect you to change. I fell in love with the woman you are today—strong, independent, and full of life. I want you to keep being you, always." 

Ishika’s eyes softened, emotion swelling in her heart. "Naman..."

He cupped her face gently. "I promise to be your partner in everything—to share your happiness, your worries, and even your dreams. I don’t just want to be your husband, Ishika. I want to be your best friend, your biggest cheerleader, and the one person you can always rely on."

A tear escaped Ishika’s eye, but it was one of happiness. "How did I get so lucky?" she whispered. 

Naman wiped away her tear with his thumb, smiling. "I think we were meant to find each other, Ishika. And from tomorrow, it’s forever, okay?"

Ishika nodded, her heart full. "Forever."

She tiptoed and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead, sealing their promise under the vast, infinite sky.

.....

To be continued....