Hey lovely readers!I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the story so far. Your support and feedback mean the world to me, so please let me know your thoughts after reading. Happy reading!
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In the garden, (Author's POV)

Aashika paced back and forth, irritation evident in every step. Waiting for these late freaks was testing her patience. Just then, the door banged open, and Nysa rushed inside, breathless.

"Bhaago, bhaago aur bhaago! Baby ko leke bhaagte hi raho, aap toh," Aashika teased, smirking at Nysa’s usual carelessness.
(Run, Run and Run! You just keep on running with the baby!)

"Okay, okay, sorry!" Nysa huffed, trying to catch her breath. Before she could continue, the door burst open again. One by one, the brothers stormed in, and Ruhan immediately cut to the chase.

"What's the plan?"

Aashika folded her arms. "Which plan?" she asked, her expression too serious, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.

"What do you mean which plan? The one where I divorce Arjun!" Nysa shot back, her frustration bubbling.

Without missing a beat, Aashika handed her a stack of papers. "Throw these on his face. That’s it. Simple!"

Silence.

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"B-Bhabhi, are you kidding us?" Rivan stammered.

"Nope. This is a divorce. Let it be like one. Why the hell do we need a plan for this? Just tell him you want a divorce. Done!" Aashika stated as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

Nysa gaped at her. "Are you freaking serious? He has a gun! Can you even imagine? He’ll kill us!"

Aashika waved a hand dismissively. "You have me. What’s the big deal? Am I any less than a gun?" She shot her a playful smirk.

Nysa gave her a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look.

Aashika sighed and turned to the group. "Okay, fine! Do you guys trust me?"

"Aashi, this isn’t about trust; it’s about your safety," Ajay interjected, concern laced in his voice.

"I’ve arranged everything. Trust me, guys, no one’s getting into trouble," Aashika assured them, then quickly added with a grin, "Including me, hehe!"

No one responded. Instead, they exchanged uneasy glances.

Aashika pouted. "Fine! I get it. There’s only one person in this room who trusts me!"

Nysa raised a brow. "Who? Aapke pati parmeshwar?"
(Who? Your husband?)

Aashika made a baby face. "No! Your baby! Because he or she is the only one actually listening to me, unlike you all!"

Nysa wasn't one to back down. Smirking, she fired back, "OMG! You love babies so much! Why don’t you make one?"

Aashika froze, at a complete loss for words.

Rohit, sensing danger, scrambled to change the topic. "S-see! Arjun has arrived. Let’s go!"

Rivan snickered. "Haan haan… Ab to aap hume Arjun hi dikhayenge!"
(Oh sure… now, of course, all you see is Arjun!)

Rohit shot him a warning glare.

With that, the group made their way toward the living room, where the entire family was waiting.

Plan Successful, (Nysa's POV)

As we stepped into the living room, I could feel the weight of countless eyes on us—all except Arjun and Ehsaas, who were glued to their phones, completely indifferent to our presence.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered the courage to speak. "Arjun, I need to talk to you."

He gave a slow, devilish smile. "You always go on talking. Why are you asking for my permission now?"

My heart pounded violently against my chest. It’s simple. Just say it.

"Arjun, I want a divorce."

Silence.

Everyone's eyes were now on me—except Arjun’s. He continued scrolling through his phone, completely unbothered.

"Nice joke. Stop this nonsense and start packing. You know we’re leaving tomorrow," he said, his tone dismissive.

I clenched my fists, my voice rising. "I’m not joking! Enough is enough. I can’t live in this situationship anymore. Just… just divorce me!"

That finally got his attention. He looked up, his expression darkening. "Why the hell are you wasting my time? Go to your room!" he barked.

Aashika stepped in, her voice sharp. "Do you think we’re joking, Mr. Ranawat? It’s obvious you don’t care about Nysa di, so why don’t you just divorce her?"

Arjun scoffed. "Oh, just stop it, Aashika! You’re the only one obsessed with this family drama. And maybe that’s why your company is still lagging behind! You don’t even earn half of what I do!"

Aashika smirked. "Oh really? You’re right—I don’t earn half of what you do." She took a step closer. "But you know what? My company hasn’t been involved in millions of shady scandals like yours!"

That struck a nerve. Arjun shot up from his seat and stormed toward her. "Stop talking to me like a who—"

I cut in sharply. "Don't you dare talk to her like that!"

Arjun turned to me, his eyes burning with anger. I instinctively stepped back, but Rivan nudged me, silently urging me to stand my ground.

Arjun smirked. "Why are you protesting now, hmm? You never did when I spoke to you like that before."

Aashika folded her arms. "Because she knew very well that kicking against a wall is meaningless."

Arjun’s gaze snapped back to her. "Stop running your mouth, Aashika, or I’ll do something you can’t even imagine."

She tilted her head, unfazed. "And what if I prove you wrong, Mr. So-called Arjun Ranawat?"

"Do whatever you want," he sneered. "But you’ll fail."

Aashika’s eyes gleamed with determination. Without another word, she grabbed an iron rod and strode toward the mansion’s entrance.

All of us rushed outside, following her. And then—

CRASH!

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the air as the iron rod slammed into the front windshield of Arjun’s Jaguar F-Pace—an 80-lakh luxury SUV.

Everyone froze.

Aashika stood there, gripping the rod, her smirk intact.

"Oops," she said casually. "Guess I didn’t fail after all."

Arjun stormed toward Aashika, his fury burning brighter than ever. His entire demeanor screamed danger, and for a moment, I was sure he was ready to kill her.

And then—he actually pulled out a gun.

The cold, menacing barrel of his Glock 17 pointed straight at Aashika.

Rohit’s voice thundered through the air. "You think this is a game, Arjun? Put that gun down!"

Arjun scoffed, unfazed. "No way."

But Aashika? She didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Didn’t even acknowledge the threat in front of her. Instead, she simply stared at him, her expression unreadable.

And then, she spoke—utterly unfazed, completely insane, and enough to make Rohit groan in disbelief as he buried his face in his hands.

"Bro, you think you can kill me with this old model of Glock 17? Seriously? The ‘Almighty’ Arjun Ranawat uses such outdated things! But you know what? My Desert Eagle is more than enough to kill you."

Arjun’s eyes widened. "Wh-what the hell—"

Before anyone could react, Aashika pulled out her gun.

And just like that, they stood there—both of them armed, both ready to fire.

The tension was suffocating.

Rashmi’s voice broke through the silence, her tone dripping with disdain. "A-Arjun beta, leave this argument. This girl isn’t even worth your time. Just sign the damn papers, and let’s go. And as for this Aashika—" she sneered, "we’ll soon show her what the Ranawats are capable of."

Aashika tilted her head mockingly. "Zaroor, auntyji!"
(Sure, dear aunty!)

That was all it took.

Arjun snatched the divorce papers from my hands, his grip so tight the pages crumpled slightly. He signed them without hesitation, then leaned in, his voice a low growl against my ear.

"You’ll regret this, Nysa Bhardwaj."

And then—he left.

His entire family followed suit.

They literally left.

I stood there, stunned. I had spent countless nights thinking about how difficult this would be, how much courage it would take… and yet, all it took was a little bravery and one girl shattering his car’s windshield—along with his oversized ego.

As we stepped back into the mansion, a wave of satisfaction washed over me. My entire family had stood by me, their unwavering support warming my heart. But amid the relief, there was one person who didn’t look pleased.

Dadi.

Bade Papa turned to Aashika, eyeing her with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. "Beta… ye gun tujhe kahaan se mili?"
(Where did you get this gun?)

Aashika, ever so honest, replied without hesitation. "Mujhe shooting seekhne ka shauk tha, isliye socha license le leti hoon!"
(I was interested in learning to shoot, so I thought I’d get a gun license!)

Too much honesty.

Rohit crossed his arms, giving her an examining look. "Have you ever shot someone with it?"

"NO!" she answered immediately.

Rohit narrowed his eyes. "Then why do you even have it?"

Aashika huffed. "Arey! I told you—I was interested in shooting, so I got it! Sach mein, I’m absolutely serious."

Everyone tried—really tried—to hold in their laughter.

But Maa shook her head dramatically. "Beta, tu itna sach mat bola kar… hume heart attack aa jayega!"
(Beta, don’t be this honest… we’ll get a heart attack!)

Aashika blinked innocently. "Sabko saath mein?"
(Will everyone together have it?)

Ruhan frowned. "What?"

Aashika answered matter-of-factly. "HEART ATTACK!"

That was it.

We erupted into laughter.

This girl… she wasn’t just something else. She was an alien. Or, maybe, just her parents' unique creation.

At night, Nysa's room, (Nysa's POV)

I sat in silence, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in the whirlwind of thoughts about how life can change in just a single moment. A sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my trance. It was Maa. She walked in and sat beside me, her presence warm yet heavy with unspoken concern.

She gently broke the silence. "Nysa, whatever happened this morning is bound to have a huge impact on your life. I'm not saying it was wrong, but none of us truly understand why you did it. Why, Nysa?" Her voice was soft, yet searching.

I knew she deserved the truth. If not for anyone else, I had to open up to her.

"Maa, there was never a real relationship between us. I understand that arranged marriages take time to settle, but the more I tried to make it work, the more I lost my self-respect. I kept hoping things would fall into place, but nothing ever did. My in-laws never acknowledged me, and as for Ehsaas… it was as if I didn’t even exist in his world."

I took a shaky breath, my voice faltering as I continued.

"And Arjun, Maa… to him, this was just a business alliance, nothing more. He had affairs—countless betrayals behind my back. And whenever I tried to confront him, he would either walk away or, worse… when he was drunk, he would force himself on me. That was my life, Maa. A complete, inescapable hell."

Maa stared at me, her eyes searching mine. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice laced with both pride and disappointment.

"Great! This is something I never expected from my girl—the one who made us all proud by topping her CA batch, the most mature of all my children, the one with every capability to carve her own future. Why, Nysa? Why didn’t you tell us earlier? I’m damn sure if you had, we would have pulled you out of this chaos long ago!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I whispered, "I… I didn’t want to burden you with my problems."

Maa wrapped her arms around me, and in that moment, I felt the safest I had in a long time. Her embrace was enough to soothe all the unanswered questions that had plagued my heart. She wiped my tears and cupped my face gently.

"Nysa, you should have never faced this alone. We are here for you. Your happiness matters the most."

I sighed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was scared of disappointing you… of admitting that my marriage was a failure."

Maa’s gaze softened, her thumb brushing away the last of my tears.

"Life isn’t about meeting expectations, beta. It’s about finding your happiness. Strength isn’t in enduring suffering—it’s in knowing when to say ‘enough.’"

A lump formed in my throat. "But I feel so broken, Maa… How do I start over?"

She squeezed my hands gently. "You already have. Walking away was the first step. Rebuilding takes time, but you’re not alone. We’ll get through this together."

Overcome with emotion, I hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Maa."

Just then, a loud bang on the door startled me. I frowned and called out, "Kaun hai?"

From the other side, an all-too-familiar, enthusiastic voice responded,

"Aapka sabse chhota sa, cute sa bhaiiii! Ruhan bhaiya, Ajay bhaiya aur main kitchen mein pasta bana rahe hain! Aap bhi aa jao!!"
(Your youngest and cutest ever brother! Ruhan bhaiya, Ajay bhaiya, and I are making pasta in the kitchen—come join us!)

I sighed, shaking my head. "Pregnant main hoon, mood swings inhe ho rahe hain..."
(It’s me who is pregnant, but these guys are having mood swings.)

Rolling my eyes, I asked, "Abhi toh khana khaya tha… ab phir bhookh kaise lag gayi?"
(You guys just ate dinner… how are you hungry again?)

Rivan, blissfully unaware that Maa was in the room, answered truthfully,

"Aaj ka khana pata nahi kisne banaya tha… gale se neeche hi nahi utar raha tha! Table se uth kar chale jaate toh aur Mahabharat ho jaati… isliye jaise-taise khaya, par bhookh abhi bhi lagi hai!"
(I don’t know who cooked today’s food… it was so bad, we couldn’t even swallow it! If we had left the table, there would have been an even bigger drama… so we somehow forced it down, but we’re still hungry!)

WHAT THE HELL! Why does this man speak so loudly?!

Maa’s expression darkened as she swiftly swung open the door, her eyes narrowing at Rivan. Before he could react, she grabbed his ear and twisted it.

"Kyun beta… khana khaya nahi ja raha tha? Badi Maa aur Mummy ka khana toh pasand hi nahi aata na tujhe?"
(So, you couldn’t eat the food, hmm? You never seem to like the food made by your aunt and mother, do you?)

Rivan yelped, "Sorry!!! Badi Maa, kaan toh chhodo…!"
(Sorry!!! Aunty, please let go of my ear!)

Maa finally released him, but he continued rubbing his ear, making exaggerated baby faces as if he had suffered a great injustice.

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Laughter bubbled up from within me, spilling out uncontrollably.

At night, Aashika's room, (Author's POV)

Rohit sat in the balcony, his gaze fixed on the night sky. The past few days had been a rollercoaster, and his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

Aashika stepped onto the balcony, quietly taking a seat beside him. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice her presence.

She gently patted his shoulder. “Are you thinking about something?”

Rohit sighed, his expression drained. “No… no…”

Silence settled between them for a few minutes. Then, Aashika turned to him with an unnervingly serious expression, making his heart skip a beat.

"You know what, Rohit…" she said in a grave tone.

His brows furrowed. “Wh-what?”

“I hate silence!!” she suddenly exclaimed.

Rohit exhaled in relief as she burst into laughter. “Oh God! For a moment, I thought you were about to ask for my permission to murder someone!” he teased, shaking his head.

Still laughing, she nudged him playfully.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Tell me, what does a relationship mean to you?”

“Lifelong commitment,” Aashika answered without a second’s hesitation.

Rohit raised an eyebrow. “Really? But what if it’s a toxic relationship? Sometimes, it’s better to let go than to hold on to something that’s only causing harm.”

“A toxic relationship is never truly a relationship, Rohit,” she replied firmly. “Either it’s a situationship or a bond formed out of fear.”

He nodded slightly, her words sinking in. “You’re right. But… what if your partner wants to leave? Then shouldn’t you move on too? Staying committed would only hurt you.”

Aashika looked up at the sky and said softly, “You’ll never do that, Rohit. I believe in you.”

Her unwavering trust sent a jolt through him. Trust—something he had always feared. What if, in the end, he broke her trust just like he feared breaking everyone else’s?

“N-no, Aashika… that’s not my answer,” he said, avoiding her gaze. “Please answer my question properly.”

She turned to him, determination in her eyes. “Even if my partner wants to leave, I’ll remain committed to him forever. For me, the seven vows taken in marriage matter. There’s no going back. Love isn’t about receiving—it’s about giving. If I’ve ever felt love in a relationship, then no matter what happens, I will always remain true to it.”

Rohit’s eyes never left hers as she spoke, her words etching themselves into his soul.

After a pause, Aashika finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind. “Now, my turn. Rohit, for you, our marriage was always a love marriage—you loved me for four years. But for me, it started as an arranged one. Have you ever felt that I didn’t reciprocate your feelings? That I never truly gave this relationship a chance?”

Rohit smiled slightly. “Are you questioning my trust in you, Lily?”

She hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “I-I just…”

He cut her off gently. “Have you ever wondered why the moon and stars, despite being so far apart, still appear in the sky together?”

She frowned. “And what does that have to do with our relationship?”

Rohit looked up at the sky before turning to her. “To the moon, the stars are its forbidden lovers—always distant, yet always there. No matter how far apart they are, they never fail to show up for each other. They belong together, even in separation. That’s how I see us. Even when you seemed distant, I always knew you were there. And somehow, we were meant to be.”

A lone tear escaped Aashika’s eye. She had never imagined someone could say something so profound—so perfect—to her.

Rohit cradled her face gently. “You know what? You’re the reason I live. You’re my ‘Reason to Breathe.’”

That was it. Aashika could no longer hold back. The walls she had so carefully built around herself came crashing down. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around Rohit, as if claiming him as hers forever.

Suddenly, someone started banging on the door.

"Ab to mai kebab bhi nahi khaata, phir kyun sab humesha meri romantic life mein kebab mein haddi ban jaate hain!!" Rohit wailed dramatically.
(I don't even eat kebabs anymore, so why does everyone always become the bone in my romantic life!)

Aashika giggled at his misery as Rohit sighed, running a hand through his hair before heading to check who dared to interrupt. When he opened the door, there stood Ajay, looking slightly distressed.

"Did I ever call you unnecessarily on your date with Rishika?!" Rohit snapped, his sarcasm sharp.

"Oh bro! I didn’t come to be a third wheel in your romantic life!" Ajay defended himself. "It’s just that while we were making pasta, we kinda… ended up creating some other kind of… maybe a weird spaghetti or…" He trailed off, struggling to explain.

Rohit narrowed his eyes and instantly understood. Without another word, he grabbed his ‘useless’ elder brother and pulled him along, shutting the door behind him.

Meanwhile, Aashika decided to take a bath to wash away her stress. She walked into the bathroom, closed the door behind her—but forgot to turn the knob!

In the kitchen, Rohit stared at the chaotic pot of spaghetti, rubbing his temples.

"Alright," he muttered, adding a few more ingredients. After some final touches, he stirred it and made a weird face. "Ho gaya! Ab ye khane laayak to ban hi gaya hai!"
(Done! At least this is edible now!)

Rivan smirked. "Kaash agar aapko pehle hi bula lete, to shayad ye aur accha banta!"
(If we had called you earlier, maybe it would've turned out even better!)

Rohit shot him a deadly glare. "Yeah sure! To mai abhi tak tere naak aur kaan kaat ke tujhe Shurpanakha bana deta!"
(Yeah sure! Then, I would've cut your nose and ears and turned you into Shurpanakha!)

In the midst of his roasting session, Rohit forgot to turn off the gas. The sauce overheated, and suddenly, it splashed right into his eyes.

"Ouch!!" He yelped, instinctively rubbing them before rushing to wash them out with water.

"Is it still irritating?" Ruhan asked.

"Haan," Rohit grumbled, blinking rapidly.
(Yes!)

Ajay rolled his eyes. "Go put some eye drops instead of rubbing them!"

Rohit groaned but complied, making his way back to his room. The irritation in his eyes started to subside, but his vision remained slightly blurry. Wanting to clear it up further, he decided to splash more water on his face.

He walked into the bathroom and leaned over the sink, letting the cool water soothe his eyes. But just as he straightened up, he caught a reflection in the mirror—someone standing behind the glass partition of the bathing area.
(Mature content ahead)

He turned around, blinking, only to come face-to-face with Aashika in just a bathrobe, her eyes wide in shock.

"What the fuck?!" They both shouted in unison.

Startled, Aashika lost her balance and slipped.

Rohit lunged forward, his hands catching her just in time before her head could hit the metal valve. For a moment, they both froze, their heavy breaths mingling in the humid air.

His heart pounded in his chest, the fear of losing her gripping him so tightly that it hurt. Aashika’s eyes were still shut from the sudden movement. When she finally blinked them open, she found Rohit staring at her—his eyes speaking a thousand emotions he couldn’t voice.

"Tum theek ho na?" he whispered. (Are you fine?)

She nodded, and he carefully helped her to her feet. But something about his expression unsettled her.

"Wh-what happened, Rohit? Why do you look so pale?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

His jaw clenched as he exhaled heavily. "I've lost too many important people in my life, Lily. I can’t afford to lose you too."

Aashika’s heart clenched. She cupped his face, her thumbs brushing over his cheekbones. "Itna serious face mat banao na, mujhe rona aa jayega…"
(Don't make such a serious face, or I'll cry…)

But Rohit remained silent, lost in his own storm of emotions.

Aashika knew exactly how to pull him out of it.

She tugged his face down, closing the distance between them. Without hesitation, she claimed his lips, pouring every ounce of love, reassurance, and longing into the kiss.

Rohit stiffened for a second before he gave in, his arms encircling her waist and pulling her flush against him. His lips moved in sync with hers, raw and desperate, as though he was trying to drown out every fear, every haunting memory.

"Hold back, Rohit, because I won’t…" Aashika whispered breathlessly against his lips, her fingers trailing teasingly along his back.

"I don't even want you to," Rohit murmured, his voice husky, his eyes darkened with desire.

His lips trailed down to her jaw, then lower, placing searing kisses along her neck. Aashika shivered, her hands gripping his damp hair, tugging him closer.

Rohit’s fingers found the shower knob, and with a swift twist, warm water cascaded over them, drenching their clothes—well, his clothes.

Aashika’s bathrobe clung scandalously to her curves, and he groaned at the sight.

His lips returned to hers, more urgent this time. Aashika matched his intensity, her hands slipping under his soaked shirt, tracing every muscle, every inch of skin she could reach.

The heat between them made the warm water feel cold in comparison.

Rohit’s hands slid up her thighs, gripping them tightly as he hoisted her up, pressing her against the cool shower wall.

He nipped at her earlobe, his breath hot against her skin. "You drive me insane, Lily…"

Aashika chuckled, her fingers raking through his wet hair. "Good. Because you drive me just as crazy…"

His lips crashed onto hers again, and this time, neither of them held back.

The world outside ceased to exist. All that remained was the sound of water, their mingled breaths, and the fire that burned between them, refusing to be extinguished.

"I'm feeling cold, Rooh..." Aashika mumbled, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Not anymore, sweetheart," he rasped, a wicked smirk curving his lips. In one swift motion, he turned off the shower and scooped her into his arms, his grip possessive, unwavering.

He laid her down on the bed, settling beside his queen, claiming her in every stolen breath, every lingering touch.

"I love you so much, Lily," Rohit murmured, his lips ghosting over hers, their breaths tangled. "You made me believe in living again… in living for someone you love."

Aashika’s eyes darkened with emotion. "At least you loved me, Rooh," she whispered. "I never believed in love, but you… you gave that word a meaning I never thought existed."

His heart clenched at her confession. In response, he kissed her temple, a silent vow that he would always be there.

His fingers traced down her damp hair, grazing the bare skin of her back—slow, deliberate—sending a shiver through her. In return, she gripped his neck, pulling him even closer. Her lips brushed against his Adam’s apple in a soft, teasing kiss, making his breath hitch.

And then, just as suddenly, she pulled back.

Rohit frowned, taken aback by the abrupt retreat. But the wild smirk playing on her lips told him she was up to something.

"Strip," she commanded, her voice low, dangerous.

He blinked, staring at her, his mind scrambling to process her words.

Aashika tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "You heard me right, pati dev. Strip."

A slow, predatory smirk spread across his face. He leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss on her forehead before pulling back just enough to meet her gaze.

Without hesitation, he shed his clothes, his movements unhurried yet deliberate, his eyes never leaving hers. He laid back beside her, the air between them crackling with tension.

(And before anyone questions—don’t worry, the lady was already in just a bathrobe!)

"Rooh," she murmured, her voice sultry, but with an edge of something dark, intoxicating. "You have no idea how much I want you to be mine… how much I want to dominate you."

His heart pounded, his pulse roaring in his ears.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned in, his breath teasing the shell of her ear. "I love women who don’t just surrender, but know how to take control… who make their husbands weak for them."

His fingers trailed along her spine, his voice a mere whisper laced with provocation.

"Show me what you’ve got, Lily."

She leaned in, her breath ghosting over his skin, lips pressing against his neck with a tantalizing slowness. The warmth of her mouth sent a shiver coursing through him before her teeth grazed his flesh—firm enough to leave a mark, a silent claim of possession.

"Say it, Rooh…" Her voice was sultry, low, almost hypnotic, but laced with undeniable authority. Her hazel eyes darkened, a storm swirling in them as she tightened her grip around his neck, fingers curling just enough to make him feel the pressure. "Say that you're mine."

His heartbeat thundered against his ribs, his body responding to her every touch, her every command. His grip on her waist tightened, fingers pressing into her soft curves as his breath came out ragged. His dark eyes, burning with equal intensity, met hers.

"I belong to you, Ash," he rasped, his voice thick with desire.

A slow, victorious smirk curled on her lips as she released his throat, watching him, savoring the way his pupils dilated.

"Good," she whispered, her lips hovering just above his.

But Rohit wasn’t one to surrender so easily.

Before she could take control further, his hands shot up, gripping her wrists, and with one swift movement, he flipped them over. A gasp escaped her lips as she suddenly found herself beneath him, pinned against the mattress, her bathrobe slipping slightly to expose the bare skin of her collarbone.

His strong arms caged her in, his breath hot against her cheek as he stared down at her with a wild glint in his eyes. "You think you can just claim me without consequence, Lily?" he murmured, his voice a sinful mix of amusement and challenge. "You forgot something… I claim you just as much."

His fingers trailed down her arm, slow, teasing, before gripping her waist firmly, pulling her closer. She let out a shaky breath, trying to push back, but he tightened his hold, forcing her to stay right where he wanted.

"Let’s see how much you can handle, Lily," he murmured, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear, his voice sending delicious chills down her spine.

She swallowed, her hands pressing against his chest, but he caught her wrists, pinning them above her head.

"Rooh…" she whispered, her breath hitching.

"Not so dominant now, are you?" he smirked, his lips brushing against hers but never fully kissing her, driving her mad with the anticipation.

Aashika narrowed her eyes, the fire in them flaring once again. "Don’t get too comfortable, pati dev," she shot back, her voice dangerously sweet.

A chuckle rumbled through his chest, dark and amused. "Oh, Lily, I want you to fight back. It makes it so much more fun."

And just like that, she pushed her knee up, barely missing his waist, forcing him to loosen his grip.

Taking advantage of the moment, she twisted her wrists free and rolled him over, straddling him once again.

"You're playing with fire, Rooh," she whispered, tracing her fingers down his jaw, her nails barely scraping his skin.

His hands rested on her thighs, gripping them firmly. "And you love it," he murmured, his voice rich with challenge.

Aashika leaned down, her lips inches from his. "What I love… is making you lose control."

He smirked. "Then let’s see who breaks first."

Aashika smirked, her fingers tightening around Rohit's neck as she straddled him. His breaths came heavier, but his intense gaze never wavered from hers.

She leaned down, her lips brushing against his—teasing, testing. Just when he thought she would claim his mouth, she veered off, trailing soft, feather-light kisses along his jaw, her breath warm against his skin.

She took her time, dragging her lips down the column of his throat, feeling his pulse quicken beneath her touch.

Rohit let out a sharp exhale, his hands gripping her waist firmly. But she wasn’t done playing. Her teeth grazed his collarbone, enough to make him flinch, enough to remind him that she was in control—for now.

But control was a fickle thing.

Before she could revel in her victory, Rohit's eyes darkened and he played his game.

The air left her lungs as she found herself pinned beneath him, her wrists trapped above her head.

"Enough playing, sweetheart. Now my turn!"

His body pressed against hers, heat radiating between them. His lips hovered just inches from hers, teasing her the same way she had teased him.

Then he kissed her.

No warning. No hesitation.

It was raw, hungry, consuming. His lips moved over hers with an urgency that sent a shiver down her spine. His hands roamed, fingers tracing the curves of her body, learning every dip, every reaction.

Aashika arched into him, her own fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer.

The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling as their bodies molded together. His touch burned against her skin, sending waves of heat coursing through her veins.

Her nails raked down his back, and he groaned against her lips, the sound reverberating through her.

Rohit’s lips left hers, only to trail down her neck, sucking, biting—marking. Aashika’s breath hitched as he found a sensitive spot just below her ear, his tongue flicking over the skin before he sucked lightly, leaving his claim.

A soft moan escaped her lips, her fingers clutching at his shoulders. He smirked against her skin, knowing exactly what he was doing to her.

But Aashika wasn’t one to surrender so easily.

With a sudden push, she flipped them again, her hands pressing into his chest as she loomed over him. His eyes darkened, filled with something wild—something only she could bring out in him.

Their bodies moved in perfect sync, the air between them thick with heat, with unspoken promises. Neither willing to let the other win, yet neither wanting to break away.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered.

Next morning, (Aashika's POV)

As I woke up, golden sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Snuggled against me were two strong, muscular arms, holding me as if I were the most precious thing in the world. I tried to move, but I didn’t want to let go of this enchanting sight.

His messy hair fell over his face, his features relaxed in deep slumber. He looked so… adorable.

Before I could get lost any further in my delusions, he suddenly pecked my nose, snapping me back to reality.

"C’mon, Lily, still thinking about last night?" He smirked, his voice laced with mischief. "Huh, I never expected you to be this wild."

I tried my best not to blush. But when he rested his chin on my head, looking at me with those puppy-like eyes, my resolve wavered.

"Okay, okay! I won’t embarrass you anymore," he chuckled, sensing my struggle. "I understand… you’re only wild at night!" His smirk deepened. "But I must say, I really loved the nickname you gave me last night."

Uff! This man knew exactly what he was doing! Thank god he wasn’t making eye contact, or I’d have combusted on the spot.

Then an idea struck me. "You know what, Rooh? I can give you another nickname. Guess what?"

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"A huge MONSTER!" I declared dramatically.

He chuckled. "Why am I a monster, Lily? You were the one dominating me last night!" He pouted, his tone overly dramatic.

I sputtered, trying to recover. "Y-yeah, I mean… This nickname is for your hugeeeee arms!" I emphasized, hoping to divert his teasing.

His smirk widened. "Only arms, huh?"

I nearly choked. He started pondering something before breaking into a soft smile.

"I have a nickname for you too," he announced. "And it’s a cute one."

Curious, I leaned forward. "What is it?"

"Ash." His deep gaze met mine, his voice dripping with fondness.

Oh. My. God. Why was I blushing so hard?! I needed an escape—fast.

"I—I think I should take a bath now!" I stammered, pushing him away before he could see the heat creeping up my cheeks.

Somehow, I managed to flee into the bathroom, locking myself inside to recover from the embarrassment.

Later, I found myself sitting stiffly on the couch inside the walk-in closet.

That brat was still in the bathroom, and thanks to this brilliant interior design (which I now suspected he had arranged on purpose), the only exit led through the bathroom.

Just as I was contemplating my life choices, he walked in, freshly showered, water dripping from his messy hair, his towel hanging low on his waist.

God, why did he have to look so unfairly handsome?!

He caught sight of me sitting there like a porcelain doll and smirked. "What happened, Lily?" He leaned closer, clearly enjoying my predicament.

I clenched my fists, glaring at him. "I. JUST. CAN’T. WALK!" I threw a hanger at him in frustration.

His laughter boomed through the closet. "Aww, you should’ve prepared yourself before making out!" He teased, dodging the hanger effortlessly.

"Blah! Blah! Blah!" I huffed. "Who the hell knew you’d barge into the bathroom while I was bathing?!" My face burned as I recalled the incident.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "If you want, I can carry you in my arms all day, Ash…"

My breath hitched.

Nope! Nope! Mission Abort!

I shoved him away and stomped out of the closet—well, more like hobbled—while his laughter echoed behind me.

Sigh.

Bhagwan ji, kasam se, aapne mujhe Amazon forest se bhi zyada hara jungle de diya hai!!
(I swear God, you've given means a greener forest than the Amazon!!)
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End of the Chapter!! (6.2k words)

And please don't stop showering your love on the story during this time!!💕

And don't forget to tell me your views about #RohIka's spicy scenes!! I know I should've written a better smut, but it's their first time and also my first time!! I promise to write a better one next time!!😙

I promise to make you guys cry in the next chapter!!!❤️‍🔥Stay tuned!⚭☯

With regards,
Wings_Of_Passion
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