Hii lovely Readers 🎀 it's been a while we didn't talk Abouts the stroy. Currently I'm being busy of making new story so it's maybe possible that i change the MINE Yes! Submition timing, I having issues in my account so it's maybe i uploads Chapter's late or I'll upload them next day. Cus there is lot's of chapter are head to complete so maybe we should poll for vote on Instagram account. And let me know you thoughts..
Here is instagram account @psole23.words,
With love, PENOLA.S~~
_________@UTHOR 'S POV:~~
After the rituals of Karwa Chauth were completed, the atmosphere in the Singhaniya mansion turned into one of celebration. The long day of fasting had finally come to an end, and now the women gathered around the dining room for a well-deserved feast.
The table was set beautifully, adorned with silverware and traditional dishes prepared for the occasion. Komal, with her keen eye for detail, had made sure that nothing was missing. As the ladies sat down to eat, the mood was light, filled with laughter and conversations.
Anaya, still in her maroon saree, quietly observed the warmth and affection shared among the family members. It was strange—she had never imagined herself being part of such a grand, close-knit family. Despite all the complications with Rudra and her uncertainty about her place here, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of belonging.
Rudra, who had remained mostly silent throughout the evening, sat at the head of the table, occasionally glancing in Anaya's direction. His expression, though typically stoic, softened whenever their eyes met, though neither spoke. There was still so much unsaid between them, but there was also something else—a quiet understanding that had begun to form.
As everyone ate, Rakhi began to share stories about her own Karwa Chauth experiences over the years, entertaining the group with tales of her younger days. Misha and Ria were quick to tease her, and soon the entire table was filled with laughter.
"Mom, you mean to say Dad almost fainted when you told him you were fasting for him?" Misha asked, barely containing her laughter.
Rakhi smiled, shaking her head. "Yes, he couldn't believe it. He always acted so tough, but that day he was more nervous than I was!"
Komal, who was seated at the other end of the table, chuckled. "Your father always had a soft heart. He tried to hide it, but it was clear to everyone who knew him well."
The conversation then shifted, with each woman sharing her own experiences, some funny, some sentimental. It was a rare moment of openness that Anaya cherished, sitting silently and listening to the stories.
Suddenly, Ria piped up, her mischievous grin returning. "Speaking of fasting, what about you, Anaya? How was your first Karwa Chauth? Did my ice-cube brother melt a little tonight?"
Anaya blushed slightly at the teasing, unsure of how to respond. She glanced at Rudra, who seemed unbothered by Ria's comment, but his eyes were focused on her, waiting to hear what she would say.
"Well..." Anaya began, a small smile playing on her lips, "it was… definitely a new experience. But I think it went well."
Ria's grin widened. "Come on, don't be so vague! Did he at least say something romantic? Or are we still waiting for the moment when Rudra decides to express his feelings?"
Misha, always quick to join in on the teasing, added, "Knowing my brother, he probably just stood there in silence while you did all the talking!"
Anaya laughed softly, shaking her head. "Actually, he was... quite attentive tonight."
Her response caught everyone's attention, and even Komal raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Rudra, for his part, remained silent but didn't deny her words. Instead, he continued to watch her, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.
Rakhi, sensing the shift in the conversation, turned to Anaya with a gentle smile. "It's good to hear that, Anaya. Rudra may not be the most expressive, but he cares deeply in his own way. And in time, you'll see just how much."
Anaya nodded, her heart feeling lighter at Rakhi's reassuring words. It was true—Rudra was not the kind of man who openly shared his feelings, but she had begun to notice the small gestures, the moments of quiet understanding between them. And while they still had a long way to go, it was enough for now.
The night continued with light-hearted conversations, the tension between Anaya and Rudra seemingly easing with each passing minute. After dinner, the family gathered in the living room, where Komal, always the traditionalist, brought out a box filled with more jewelry and sarees.
"Now, ladies," Komal began, her voice commanding attention, "before the night ends, we have one last task. It's time to select the jewelry for the upcoming family functions. And, of course, Anaya, this will be your first time attending as part of our family, so we need to make sure you're well-prepared."
Anaya smiled politely but felt a bit overwhelmed by the attention. She wasn't used to being the center of such focus, especially when it came to matters like jewelry and fashion. But Komal wouldn't hear any objections, insisting that Anaya try on several pieces to find what suited her best.
As the women gathered around the jewelry, Misha couldn't resist making another teasing comment. "Anaya, you're going to look like a queen in all this. Maybe Rudra will finally realize what a catch you are!"
Ria, always quick to join in, added, "Yeah, and maybe he'll get you that engagement ring while he's at it."
Anaya laughed, shaking her head. "You two will never let that go, will you?"
Ria grinned. "Not a chance."
Komal, however, was more focused on the task at hand. She handed Anaya a pair of diamond earrings, her expression serious. "These were passed down from my mother to me, and now I'm passing them on to you, Anaya."
Anaya's eyes widened in surprise. "Grandma, I… I don't know what to say. Thank you."
Komal smiled warmly. "You're part of this family now, Anaya. These earrings are a symbol of that. Wear them with pride."
Anaya nodded, touched by the gesture. She carefully placed the earrings in her hand, admiring their beauty and the significance they held.
As the night drew to a close, the women finally began to retire to their rooms, their spirits high after a day filled with tradition, laughter, and love. Anaya, still wearing the earrings Komal had given her, made her way to the room she now shared with Rudra.
When she entered, she found him sitting by the window, his gaze focused on the moon outside. For a moment, she simply watched him, her thoughts swirling with everything that had happened that day.
"Rudra," she said softly, breaking the silence.
He turned to look at her, his expression unreadable as always. But there was something different in his eyes—something softer, more open.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said quietly.
Anaya's heart skipped a beat at his words. It wasn't much, but coming from Rudra, it felt like a monumental step forward.
"Thank you," she replied, moving closer to him. "And thank you for being there tonight. It meant a lot."
Rudra nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'll always be there, Anaya. Even if I don't always show it."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Anaya allowed herself to hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for them to build something real—something more than the cold, distant arrangement they had started with.
As she sat beside him, the moonlight casting a soft glow over them, Anaya realized that the journey ahead of them wouldn't be easy. But for the first time, she felt like they were on the same path, moving forward together.
And that, she thought, was enough.
_____________
The night had fallen into a soft, peaceful silence, broken only by the distant hum of the night breeze that occasionally fluttered through the curtains. Anaya sat next to Rudra by the window, feeling the weight of the day's events and the emotional whirlwind that had come with it. Her thoughts were still lingering on the warmth of the Singhaniya family, the laughter shared at the dinner table, and the way Rudra had quietly supported her through it all.
But now, there was something different in the air between them—an unspoken tension, a sense of something waiting just beneath the surface. Rudra, who was never one to speak unnecessarily, seemed more distant than usual, though she noticed the faint tremor in his hand as he reached into his pocket.
Without saying a word, Rudra pulled out a small red velvet box. He hesitated for a moment, his thumb brushing the edge of it, before he silently placed it in Anaya's hand. The softness of the velvet felt warm against her palm, but it was his silence that startled her the most. He didn't speak, didn't explain—just looked at her with those intense, dark eyes that seemed to hold a thousand unsaid words.
Her heartbeat quickened, a flush rising in her cheeks as her fingers slowly wrapped around the box. Her gaze flickered between Rudra's unreadable expression and the box now resting in her lap. She could sense something different in him tonight, something raw and vulnerable that he rarely let anyone see.
"Open it," he finally said, his voice quiet but steady.
Anaya swallowed, her pulse quickening as she slowly lifted the lid of the box. Her breath hitched as she caught sight of what was inside—a stunning red velvet diamond ring, the shimmering stone catching the faint light of the moon filtering through the window.
For a moment, she was speechless, her mind racing. Had he planned this? Or had he just overheard the teasing from Ria and Misha earlier, spurring him into action? Her thoughts spiraled, trying to make sense of the situation. This was Rudra, after all—the cold, calculating man who rarely showed emotion. But here he was, handing her a ring, not with his usual confidence, but with a nervousness she had never seen in him before.
She glanced up at him, searching his face for answers. He wasn't looking at her anymore; instead, his gaze was fixed on the floor, his jaw tight, as if he were waiting for her reaction with bated breath.
"Do you like it?" Rudra's voice was low, but there was something uncharacteristically soft about it, something almost… unsure.
Anaya's heart stuttered. She had never seen him like this—so vulnerable, so unlike the cold and distant man she had come to know. And in that moment, she realized just how much this simple gesture meant to him. He wasn't just buying her a ring; this was his way of trying to connect with her, of trying to give her something real.
"It's beautiful…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She lifted the ring out of the box, the diamond catching the moonlight, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Her fingers trembled slightly as she turned it in her hand, admiring its delicate beauty. It was exquisite, and for a moment, she felt overwhelmed by the thought that Rudra had chosen it for her.
But there was still a lingering doubt in her mind. Did he really buy this for her, or was it simply because of the conversation they had had earlier? Was this just an obligation, or was it something more?
"Did you... just buy this because of what they said earlier?" she asked softly, her voice hesitant as she met his gaze. Her eyes searched his face, looking for some sign, some indication of his true feelings.
Rudra's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite place—an emotion too complex to decipher. He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before he shook his head.
"No," he said simply. "I didn't buy it because of them."
Anaya felt her heart skip a beat at his words. There was something raw in the way he said it, something honest. She couldn't help but feel the weight of it, the sincerity behind his simple response.
"I've never… done this before," he admitted, his voice quieter now, as if he were confessing something that made him uncomfortable. "I've never bought a gift like this for anyone."
Anaya's breath caught in her throat. She had never seen him so vulnerable, so uncertain. It was as if the armor he always wore, the cold and calculating facade, had fallen away, leaving him exposed in a way that made her heart ache for him.
"I didn't know if you'd like it," he continued, his gaze dropping to the floor again. "But I thought… I wanted to give you something. Something that was just for you."
Anaya's heart swelled at his words. This wasn't about obligation or expectation. This was Rudra, in his own way, trying to show her that she mattered to him—that she was more than just an arrangement, more than just a convenience in his life.
Her eyes softened as she watched him, the man who had always seemed so distant and unreachable, now sitting before her, nervous and uncertain like any other man trying to impress the woman he cared about. It was such a stark contrast to the image of him she had built in her mind, and it made her realize just how little she really knew about him—about the man behind the cold exterior.
She reached out, placing her hand gently on his. The warmth of his skin surprised her, as did the way he seemed to relax slightly at her touch.
"I love it, Rudra," she said, her voice soft but steady. "It's beautiful. And it means a lot to me."
Rudra finally looked up, meeting her gaze, and for the first time that night, she saw the faintest hint of relief in his eyes. He nodded, his lips curving into the smallest of smiles—so subtle that if she hadn't been watching him so closely, she might have missed it.
There was a quietness between them then, a moment of understanding that didn't need words. Anaya slipped the ring onto her finger, admiring the way it fit so perfectly, as if it had always been meant for her.
She looked back up at him, her heart full. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rudra nodded again, his gaze lingering on her hand, on the ring now resting on her finger. His expression softened, and for a brief moment, she saw something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before—something tender, something real.
And in that moment, Anaya realized that maybe, just maybe, there was more to this marriage than she had ever imagined. Maybe there was something deeper between them, something worth fighting for.
As the night stretched on, they sat together in the quiet glow of the moonlight, the diamond on her finger shimmering in the darkness, a silent promise of what could be.
____________
Rudra took a deep breath, the tension still visible in the way his shoulders tensed. His hand reached out, brushing lightly against hers, his touch unexpectedly gentle. He opened his mouth, his voice low, almost a whisper, but there was an intensity behind his words that made her pulse quicken.
"I just want you to be mine," he said, his eyes locking onto hers with a seriousness that sent a shiver down her spine. "And for that, I bought you this ring. It's not just a piece of jewelry, Anaya. It's a sign… for me."
Anaya's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. There was something in the way he spoke, something raw and possessive, yet honest. Rudra had never been one for grand declarations or gestures, and she had never imagined him being the type to express his feelings in such a straightforward manner. But here he was, giving her something tangible, something that symbolized his desire to claim her as his own.
The words echoed in her mind. "I want you to be mine."
For a moment, Anaya couldn't move. She couldn't even speak. The vulnerability in his voice, the sincerity in his eyes—it was as if he had stripped away every layer of his cold, aloof persona to reveal the man beneath it all. A man who wanted her, not just as his wife in name, but as someone he could truly call his own.
Her fingers gently grazed the ring as it sparkled in the dim light. The diamond caught the reflection of the moon, casting a soft glow around them, and for the first time in a long time, she felt something stir inside her—something warm, something she hadn't expected.
She looked up at him, her voice soft but steady. "Rudra... This is more than I ever thought you would give me. I didn't expect... this."
His grip on her hand tightened slightly, but not with force—just a firm hold that reassured her. His eyes softened, the usual coldness melting away as he gazed at her.
"I know I haven't said much about how I feel, but I want you to know that you mean something to me," he said, his voice hoarse as if it was hard for him to say the words. "This ring, it's my way of telling you that you're not just here because of a deal, or because I needed you. You're here because I want you to stay. With me."
Anaya's breath caught at the weight of his confession. She had always wondered what his true intentions were—whether she was just a convenience, a tool in his larger plans. But now, hearing these words from him, seeing the effort he had put into buying the ring, she realized that maybe Rudra was trying in his own way, even if he wasn't great at expressing it.
A flicker of emotion crossed his face, something fleeting and vulnerable. "I'm not used to this, Anaya. I've never bought a ring for anyone. Never wanted to. But with you... it's different. You're different."
His words washed over her, a mixture of surprise and warmth flooding her chest. She hadn't expected this from him—not the ring, not the words, not the admission of how much he wanted her in his life.
Anaya's lips curved into a small, genuine smile, her fingers still resting on the cool surface of the ring. "It's beautiful, Rudra," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "And it means something to me too."
For the first time since their marriage, Anaya felt like they were breaking through the walls that had kept them apart. This moment, this ring, was more than just a gesture—it was the beginning of something real. Something they could build on.
Rudra's gaze softened even more as he reached out, gently cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed lightly across her skin, and for a moment, the world outside disappeared, leaving only the two of them in their quiet, intimate bubble.
"I don't know where we'll go from here," he said, his voice low and gravelly, "but I do know this—I won't let you go."
Anaya's heart fluttered at his words. There was no grand declaration of love, no promises of forever, but there didn't need to be. His actions, his nervousness, the way he had gone out of his way to buy the ring—these things spoke louder than words ever could.
She nodded softly, her hand reaching up to cover his. "I'm not going anywhere, Rudra," she whispered back, her voice filled with quiet determination. "We'll figure this out together."
And with that, the distance between them seemed to shrink, the weight of their past and all the unspoken words finally beginning to fade. The ring, now resting on her finger, wasn't just a symbol of their marriage—it was a sign of the future they could create together.
##To be continue...**