AUTHOR'S POV

Ruhanika's eyes fluttered open as she sat in bed, rubbing the sleep away. Her gaze instinctively swept across the room, searching for Dheer—but he was nowhere to be seen.

The memories of last night came rushing back, and for the first time in a long while, she felt... lighter. The weight she had carried for so long had eased, replaced by a strange sense of relief. There were no more secrets between them.

And then, her mind lingered on what she had done—what they had done.

A soft gasp left her lips as her fingers unconsciously traced them. She could still feel the ghost of his touch, the warmth of his breath against her skin. She remembered how she had kissed him, how her lips had wandered to his jawline, how he had hovered over her—how he had kissed her back.

Heat crept up her cheeks as she recalled the way his touch sent shivers down her spine. If only Ishan hadn't interrupted them... she might have—

Ruhanika let out a small, breathless giggle, covering her face with her hands. 

She stretched, feeling the emptiness beside her. Her fingers lazily ran over the sheets where Dheer had slept, but all she got was cold fabric instead of his warm, solid chest.

 She pouted.

His chest is hard but somehow soft at the same time... I swear, I had the best sleep of my life. A sly smile crept onto her lips. Tonight, I'm sleeping on his bicep. Hehe.

She let out a dreamy sigh, flipping onto her stomach as her mind replayed last night's moments. Uff, how much I miss his morning voice. That sleepy, husky "Where are you going?" last night... She shivered just thinking about it.

I swear, if I were his man, I would've kissed him right then and there.

And then, another thought hit her—one that made her heart race a little. She imagined pushing him against the wall, looking into those deep eyes, hearing his breath hitch as she—

She smacked her forehead. "Ugh, what the hell am I even thinking?"

(AUTHOR NOTE: Well it's me who is thinking of doing all that to Dheer not you(✿◡‿◡))

Shaking off her thoughts, she finally got out of bed, freshened up, and made her way downstairs. But the moment she stepped into the living room, whatever sleepy romance she had been feeling vanished.

Her eyes widened as she took in the scene before her.

The kitchen looked like a battlefield. Ruhanika's dad, father-in-law, Kiaan, Ishan, and Dheer were all crammed inside, while Mamta Ji and Sunamika Ji sat comfortably in the living room, deep in conversation.

Ruhanika made her way to them and sat beside Mamta Ji.

"Mom...  when did they come and what are they ALL doing in the kitchen?" she asked in a hushed voice, already sensing trouble.

"They're making breakfast for us," her mom replied casually.

Ruhanika blinked. "All of them?"

"Yes, all of them," Sunamika Ji said with a chuckle.

Mamta Ji suddenly reached out and touched Ruhanika's forehead. "Do you still have a fever?"

"I'm fine, Mom." Ruhanika sighed.

Mamta Ji continued with a warm smile, "Actually when we found out you were staying here and weren't feeling well, we thought of visiting last night. But then Avinash suggested that we should give you some time to rest and be with your family, so we decided to come today instead."

"Why are you emphasizing 'YOUR FAMILY' so much?" Sunamika Ji asked, her brows knitting together in mild curiosity.

Mamta Ji shrugged. "I mean the family she used to live with. Now she has us—her upgraded, premium family, lifetime subscription included. The subscription of the old family is over." She shot Ruhanika a playful grin who knows how much her mother in law liked to tease her mom?

Sunamika Ji raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "This is her real home. She's only been married for a few months; that house is still new to her." She patted the spot beside her, signaling Ruhanika to come to sit, but Mamta Ji tightened her grip on her hand.

"She lived with you for 24 years. I kept quiet all that time, but now? No chance—I'm not letting her out of my sight!" Mamta Ji declared dramatically. "If you want a daughter in your house, then hurry up and get Ishan married. Problem solved!"

Now, both women throwing daggers towards each other, while Ruhanika sat between them, thoroughly enjoying the drama.

And then—chaos erupted.

Suddenly, a chorus of coughing and panicked shouting came from the kitchen.

One by one, the men stumbled out, eyes watering.

Avinash Ji and Narendra Ji were coughing violently.

Ishan staggered out, rubbing his eyes. "I can't see anything!" he whined.

Dheer stormed out next, half choking, fully pissed. He turned to Kiaan, looking like he was this close to strangling him.

"You absolute idiot." Dheer took a step back, fanning his face. "Open the damn window before we all suffocate to death!"

Kiaan, still coughing like an old tractor, blindly reached for water—only to knock over a jar of flour.

PFFFT.

A thick white cloud exploded over his head.

Silence.

Kiaan stood frozen, completely covered in flour with smoke all around him, looking like a failed baking experiment. Only his wide, horrified eyes were visible.

Ishan, despite his suffering, took one look at him and collapsed, laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach.

Dheer let out a long, suffering sigh, rubbing his temples as if regretting every life choice that led to this moment.

Meanwhile, the women stood at a safe distance, covering their noses.

"What exactly were they even trying to make?" Ruhanika muttered.

After a while, once the exhaust fan had done its job and the kitchen was no longer a war zone, everything returned to normal—except for Kiaan, who still looked like a failed baking experiment.

Ruhanika was laughing along with Ishaan, clutching her stomach, but the moment Kiaan looked at her with those pitiful, flour-covered eyes, she cleared her throat, grabbed a towel, and started whacking him with it.

"Bhabhi! Why are you beating me?" Kiaan yelped, shielding his face with his hands.

"I'm not beating you; I'm just dusting the floor," Ruhanika said innocently, continuing to swat at him as if he were nothing more than a piece of furniture in need of cleaning.

Kiaan, now fully committed to the bit, slumped onto the floor in surrender. Ishaan grabbed the towel from Ruhanika's hands and gave Kiaan a dramatic swipe across the back.

"Ahh! What was that for?!" Kiaan whined, flinching.

Ruhanika gasped. "Bhai! " She immediately snatched the towel back.

Ishaan blinked between them, utterly betrayed. "But I didn't even—"

"Enough," Ruhanika cut him off, shoving the towel into Kiaan's hands. "Go freshen up."

Then, turning to Dheer, she added with a straight face, "Give him some clothes from bhai wardrobe."

"But what happened in the kitchen?" Sunamika Ji asked, curiosity lacing her tone.

Avinash Ji sighed, shaking his head. "We were just preparing breakfast. Kiaan insisted on helping, so we asked him to chop the vegetables and prepare the spices for seasoning. But instead of sticking to that, he decided to take his 'help' to the next level—he dumped the spices and chilies directly into hot oil." He let out a small chuckle.

Sunamika Ji and Mamta Ji exchanged knowing looks before heading toward the kitchen, while the others dispersed to freshen up.

A Few moments later......

Dheer was halfway through his breakfast when Ruhanika spoke.

"I'm participating from Dad's company," she announced, casually taking a bite of her toast.

The clinking of cutlery halted for a moment. Dheer looked up from his plate, his expression unreadable.

"Why?" His voice was dry, controlled.

Ruhanika frowned. "What do you mean why? I've made my decision. That's it."

Silence settled over the table, the air suddenly heavier.

Dheer placed his fork down, his jaw tightening. "You already know I made a public statement that Luxe Legacy is competing. You can't back out now." His tone was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.

Ruhanika sighed. " You don't ask me before making the statement. We'll talk about it later. Just eat first."

Dheer exhaled harshly, pushing his chair back abruptly. Without another word, he stood and walked away. The sound of his footsteps faded. The table remained still—except for Ruhanika and Ishaan, who continued eating as if nothing had happened.

When Ruhanika entered her room, she found Dheer pacing back and forth, running a hand down his face.

The moment he sensed her presence, he turned. His movements were swift—too swift. He shut the door behind her and stepped closer, caging her between the door and himself.

His dark eyes bore into hers. "What the...What was that Ruhi?" His voice was low but firm.

Ruhanika met his gaze with equal intensity. "You already heard me. I'm resigning from your company. I'll be competing from Dad's company instead."

Dheer inhaled deeply, his fingers flexing at his sides. "Why?" This time, his voice was quieter, almost pleading.

Ruhanika sighed, her shoulders relaxing. "Dheer, I know you want to help me fulfill Di's dream. But I don't want you to put your dream at stake for it. Luxe Legacy is yours—it belongs to the sixteen-year-old boy who wanted to build something for himself. You don't even know her, Dheer. This is my responsibility to carry, not yours."

She wrapped her arms around his waist looking down.

Dheer remained still, his breathing uneven. "And you are my responsibility." His voice was barely above a whisper, but there was no hesitation in it.

He leaned in, his chin on her head. "Ruhi, why can't you understand something so simple?" He exhaled, closing his eyes as if the conversation was draining him.

Ruhanika chuckled softly, making him open his eyes again. His lips curled into a small smile listening to her giggles. "Okay, don't make such a big deal out of it. Dad's company works with jewelry and stones—I'll be competing there. It's yours company too. And since you already announced Luxe Legacy's participation, let Shilpi compete instead. I saw her design it is really good."

She pulled away and walked towards the bed, flopping down comfortably.

Dheer narrowed his eyes. "Do you have some kind of obsession with Shilpi?" He followed, dropping onto the bed beside her.

Ruhanika smirked. "I won't lie—I used to have a kind of crush on her."

Dheer sat up straight, blinking rapidly. "Wait, what? I thought it was just... just admiration. Where this crush come from?"

She bit back a laugh, enjoying the way his entire body tensed.

His tone turned urgent. "Ruhi... are you hiding something from me?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Hiding what?"

Dheer swallowed, his voice dropping to a nervous whisper. "Are you... are you a lesbian? Or... bisexual?"

She tilted her head, smiling slyly. "Take a guess."

Dheer stared at her, his imagination running wild. Images formed in his head—how she always admired Shilpi, her protective nature toward Shruti... The puzzle pieces started fitting together in ways he hadn't considered before.

"Ruhi, my mind is going to dark places right now. Just tell me—are you into women? Men? Both?" His voice was strained, unsure.

Ruhanika's expression softened. "What if I am interested in women?" She leaned forward slightly, her voice serious. "Would you let me be with the love of my life?"

Dheer froze. He didn't know why, but his throat suddenly felt tight. He tried to piece together what she was saying, but for the first time in a long time, he felt completely unprepared for the conversation.

His silence stretched between them.

Ruhanika gently shook his shoulder. "Dheer, answer me."

He inhaled sharply, standing up abruptly. "I... I don't know."

As he was about to leave, Ruhanika grabbed his wrist. Dheer stopped but didn't look at her. She stepped in front of him, a teasing smile still playing on her lips.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan. He could feel the warmth of her hand on his skin, the way her fingers hesitated before letting go. His heart, already restless, knocked against his ribs.

"I was just teasing you."

Dheer's gaze flickered to her face, his expression unreadable. "Teasing?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. His mind was still reeling, trying to process everything that had just happened.

Ruhanika bit her lip, holding back another laugh. "Yes, teasing. You should've seen your face, Dheer!"

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Ruhi, I just went through every possible life scenario in ten seconds." He shook his head, still in disbelief. His pulse hadn't even steadied yet.

"How can you believe in it? I just admired Shilpi. I mean, she got that vibe. That's it. You believed that I am a lesbian or bi... oh, Dheer," she laughed again, her voice light, unbothered.

Dheer, on the other hand, felt his body finally catching up to reality. His shoulders relaxed, but something about her teasing unsettled him. He watched her, eyes dark, a different kind of emotion surfacing beneath his usual composure.

"You said you were just teasing me, right?" His voice dropped an octave as he took a step forward.

Ruhanika's laughter faded. There was something about the way he was looking at her now—intent, unreadable, charged. Her heartbeat stuttered. She nodded instinctively, stepping back.

"How can I believe you? You must be lying." Dheer reached out, fingers barely grazing a strand of her hair. His touch was feather-light, deliberate. He let the strand slip between his fingers, his eyes never leaving hers. The space between them grew smaller with every step he took, and suddenly, her back met the bed.

Trapped.

The air grew heavier, the mood shifting like the slow build of a storm.

"No," she whispered, her breath coming out in short, uneven bursts.

Dheer tilted his head slightly, studying her. "I think I need to confirm something."

Her fingers gripped the sheets behind her. "C...Confirm what?"

His lips twitched, just barely. "Let's see if you are really into men or not." His voice was just a murmur, but it sent a wave of heat down her spine. His breath fanned against her ear, slow and warm. And the touch of his lips on her ears.

Her fingers curled into the fabric. "I am not into women, I told you," she said, but even to her ears, her voice lacked conviction.

Dheer hummed, his hands finding her waist. His fingers grazed her bare skin where her short top had ridden up. The coolness of his touch against her warmth made her shudder, and he didn't miss it. His thumbs started moving, rubbing slow circles, testing.

Her breath hitched. Her body betrayed her, responding before she could even think.

Dheer watched her, observing every little reaction. The way her lashes fluttered. The way her lips parted ever so slightly. The soft sound she made when his fingers slowed down, only to start again.

His eyes flickered to her lips. He was close now—too close. His hold on her waist tightened just a little more, his grip both possessive and careful.

He leaned in, inching towards her face, his gaze heavy with something unreadable. Ruhanika could feel his breath on her lips now, warm and intoxicating. Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

Her eyelids fluttered shut as if giving him a silent signal.

Dheer took a deep breath, his lips parting as he leaned in further. Just a little more...

"AHHH-CHOO!"

Everything shattered in an instant.

 Dheer opened his eyes his face once getting heated because of sexual heat now started cooling down because of her well....

Everything slowed down—but not the menstrual flow of Ruhanika. She rushed to bathroom.

Dheer just stood there, frozen. Slowly, he wiped his face with the hem of his t-shirt, his jaw tightening.

He ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. Another failed, incomplete kiss.

Unbelievable.

How do you imagine their first deep, sensual kiss? Any ideas? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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I'm thinking of dropping a double update soon because things are about to get really intense 👀 But... only if we hit the target!

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