We were sitting in the hall for another ritual, surrounded by family members, when his mother placed a large plate filled with milk, water, and rose petals in front of us. The delicate fragrance of roses filled the air, adding to the already dreamy atmosphere of the day. I was curious about what would happen next until she asked me for my ring. I handed it over, and she dropped it into the plate, smiling mischievously.
"Achha, ab dekhenge kaun jeetega!" his mother said with a playful glint in her eyes. "Jo yeh ring pehle nikalega, uska ghar mein zyada raaj hoga."
Everyone chuckled at that, clearly entertained by this traditional game. Devyansh glanced at me with a teasing smirk before rolling up his sleeves. "Toh, ready hain aap?" he whispered, his voice dripping with challenge.
I nodded, determined to win, even if it was just a small game. "Of course! Dekhte hain kaun jeetta hai."
We both dipped our hands into the cool water and began searching for the ring among the rose petals. At first, I was focused entirely on finding it. But soon, I felt his fingers brushing against mine under the water. I thought it was unintentional, but then I realized he was holding my hand instead of letting me search properly!
"Devyansh, aap kya kar rahe hain?" I asked in a low voice, trying to hide my surprise.
"Main? Bas madad kar raha hoon," he said with a playful grin, not even bothering to hide his amusement. His grip on my hand tightened slightly, making it impossible for me to move freely. I could feel everyone watching us, and I tried not to blush too hard.
I struggled to focus and tried every trick I could think of to free my hand, but he was relentless. Meanwhile, he continued pretending like he was seriously searching for the ring. I shot him a glare, but it only made his smirk wider.
"Jaan, lagta hai aapko meri madad ki zaroorat hai," he teased, his voice full of fake concern.
I was determined to win, but it was clear Devyansh had other plans. With one smooth movement, he let go of my hand, reached deeper into the bowl, and effortlessly pulled out the ring. The room erupted into cheers and laughter, while I pouted, realizing I had been outplayed.
"Haan haan, aap hi jeetiye," I muttered under my breath, unable to hide my smile even as I tried to act annoyed.
He leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "Har baar aap hi toh jeetengi... kabhi kabhi mujhe bhi jeetne diya kijiye."
The warmth of his breath against my ear sent shivers down my spine. He slipped the ring onto my finger, and there was a round of applause from our family.
"Told you, Dev will win!" one of his cousins teased, making everyone laugh.
I couldn't help but smile, realizing how these little moments of playfulness and teasing were bringing us closer. Though I may have 'lost' this round, I couldn't deny that it was these small moments that were making this new chapter of my life even more special.
After the ritual ended, everyone was still buzzing with laughter and chatter. Just then, Devyansh's mother smiled at me and said, "Priya, tum Ananya ko Devyansh ke room tak le jao. Aur Ananya, beta, Devyansh ke room mein aaj ke baad tumhari hi command hogi."
Priya immediately jumped to her feet, grinning from ear to ear. "Chalo bhabhi, let me show you his room. I think you'll love it!"
As we walked through the grand hallways, I couldn't help but admire how luxurious everything was. Priya kept talking the entire way, her excitement contagious. "You know, bhabhi, Dev is very particular about his space. No one's allowed in his wing, let alone his room. But now that you're here, it's your kingdom as much as his."
I laughed at her energy and found myself getting more comfortable. "You're really talkative, Priya," I teased.
She giggled, "Haan, everyone says that. But don't worry, aap se bhi jaldi dosti kar loongi!"
Finally, we reached his wing. The door to his room was grand, almost like the entrance to a luxury suite. Priya winked at me and said, "Okay, bhabhi, yeh hai aapki nayi duniya. Dev ke room mein bas aapka haq hai ab se. Waise, it's more like a penthouse than just a room. Go ahead and see for yourself."
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. My eyes widened in disbelief. Priya was right-it wasn't just a room. It was massive, like an entire penthouse. The space was divided into different sections: a lavish living area, a huge king-size bed with the softest-looking sheets, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. Everything was so grand and elegant, designed with the perfect blend of comfort and luxury.
"How can they be so rich?" I whispered to myself in disbelief. The sheer scale of it all made me feel like I'd walked into a palace suite.
As I explored the room further, I noticed the small details that screamed Devyansh-his choice of books neatly arranged on a shelf, the modern art pieces hanging on the walls, and the subtle yet masculine decor that made the room uniquely his.
Before I could soak it all in, Priya chirped from the doorway, "Bhabhi, ab main chalu? Aap thoda rest kar lijiye. Kal toh full-on functions hain!"
I nodded, still a little overwhelmed by everything. "Thank you, Priya. And yes, I'll try to rest."
She gave me a quick hug before leaving, closing the door behind her. I was finally alone in this grand space, which was now mine too. I walked over to the huge bed and sat down, running my hand over the silky sheets.
This was going to be my new life. As I looked around the room, reality started sinking in-I wasn't just a girl from Raigarh anymore. I was now the wife of Yuvraj Devyansh Singh, living in a mansion that felt like something out of a dream.
Everything felt surreal, and I couldn't help but smile, thinking about how drastically life had changed in just a day.
"Ahh, his bed is so soft," I thought to myself as I sank into the mattress, feeling the plush comfort wrap around me. "I don't want to move; I could just sleep here forever." But then reality hit-this wasn't my room. I'm in Devyansh's room, and I couldn't let him think I'm lazy on the first night. With a sigh, I pushed myself up, reminding myself that I had to at least freshen up and change before I crashed into this tempting bed.
I started looking around for the closet, and when I finally opened a door, I froze. It was a huge walk-in closet, larger than most rooms I'd seen. "Wow," I whispered, taking in the neatly organized rows of clothes, shoes, and accessories. "Let's admire this tomorrow. Right now, I'm way too tired." I stepped inside and began removing my heavy jewelry, feeling the weight lift off my neck and ears. My fingers moved to undo my hair, and I sighed in relief as I let it cascade down my back.
Suddenly, I felt a shift in the air-a strong, familiar presence. I turned slightly and saw Devyansh entering the closet, his eyes locked on me as he moved closer. His aura was intense, almost overpowering, radiating that dominating energy he always carried. My heart skipped a beat as he closed the distance between us.
He didn't say a word, just kept walking toward me with a deliberate slowness that made the air thick with tension. I tried to focus on removing the last pin from my hair, but my hands started trembling slightly under his gaze. He stopped just a breath away from me, towering over me with that unreadable expression.
"Thak gayi ho?" His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.
I nodded slightly, unable to find my voice. His hand reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, and I felt a wave of warmth spread across my cheeks.
"Hmm, I can see that," he murmured, his eyes scanning my face with a softness that contrasted with his dominating presence. "But don't forget, yeh ab tumhara bhi room hai. Tumhe yahan apna hi samajhna hai."
His words made me feel a strange mix of comfort and nervousness. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just gave a small smile. But before I could step away, he gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer.
"You looked beautiful today, Ananya," he whispered, his voice husky and filled with something deeper, something that made my breath hitch. His fingers trailed down my arm slowly, making my skin tingle.
"Th-thank you," I stammered, trying to control the racing of my heart.
He leaned in, his lips almost brushing against my ear, and whispered, "But I think I like you like this even more-without all the jewelry, without the formalities. Just... you."
I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. His words, his proximity, everything was making me dizzy. But before I could get lost in those emotions, he pulled back slightly, giving me that trademark smirk. "Rest for now. We have plenty of time for everything else."
With that, he turned and walked out of the closet, leaving me standing there, flustered and breathless. It took me a few moments to gather myself before I quickly changed into something more comfortable.
As I finally crawled back into that ridiculously soft bed, I couldn't stop replaying his words in my mind. He was right-this room, this space, this life was now mine as much as his.