Shreya's POV

"I never told your family," I whispered, voice cracking like old glass. "About... my feet... about what happened before. They don't know."

Shauryaan said nothing.

I could feel his gaze pressing into me, but I couldn't look at him.

I couldn't face that sharp judgment again.

"The society still believes that flat feet in a bride is a bad omen. My family... they were humiliated once because of it. They used to say I'd ruin any house I entered. And I... I started believing them."

My voice died in my throat, but my eyes... they betrayed me.

I didn't want to cry. I hated crying.

But still, the tears rose like tides I couldn't hold back.

---

Shauryaan's POV

And in that moment... my world shattered.

Not because she was broken-

But because someone had made her believe she was.

She sat there in front of me, beautiful and trembling, fighting a storm in her chest alone.

And I hated the past.

I hated them. The ones who made her flinch at her own reflection.

I couldn't stay away.

I reached forward, wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into me.

She resisted for half a second-then collapsed against my chest like she had been waiting to fall.

Her breath hitched. Her fists clenched my shirt. And then...

She sobbed.

Raw, silent, aching sobs.

And I held her. No words. No promises. Just my arms around her like armor.

You are not a curse, little hurricane... You're the storm I never want to end.

Her breath slowed. Her lashes fluttered against my chest.

And slowly... she fell asleep in my arms.

---

Author's POV

Shauryaan smiled faintly, arms still around her. His eyes darkened, but not with lust-

With protectiveness.

He looked at the time. One hours had passed.

She was still sleeping.

Without waking her, he gently lifted her in his arms and walked to the attached secret apartment behind his cabin-

A luxury space few even knew existed.

Inside: an elegant living area with tall windows, a dining section, a designer kitchen, and a bedroom that opened to a balcony with the view of Udaipur's skyline.

He placed her on the bed softly, adjusting the pillow under her head.

But as he was about to move away... she shifted.

Her fingers reached out unconsciously and gripped his wrist.

He smiled. Sat beside her. And placed a hand over her head, patting it gently.

He didn't move.

Two hours later... her lashes lifted slowly. She blinked, adjusting to the golden lights in the room.

____

Shreya's POV

My head was heavy. My throat sore. I blinked and realized I wasn't in his office anymore.

My body was resting on soft sheets... in a bedroom I'd never seen before.

And next to me... him.

Shauryaan was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head tilted back against the headboard, eyes closed.

Our hands... were intertwined.

Why does he look so... peaceful?

His jaw was sharp. His brows slightly relaxed. And a few strands of his dark hair fell perfectly on his forehead.

Something fluttered in my chest.

I couldn't look away. My breath hitched.

Then...

"Done with your staring session, little hurricane?" he murmured, smirk tugging at his lips, eyes still closed.

I gasped, pulling my hand back. "I... I wasn't staring."

His eyes opened slowly, glinting with lazy mischief.

"Liar."

I looked away, flustered. "I should freshen up..."

"Yeah," he stretched, standing up with grace. "Do that. I'll be outside. Don't take too long... or I might come looking."

---

Shreya's POV -

When I stepped outside, I stopped mid-step.

He was standing at the dining table, sleeves rolled up, a full Chinese meal laid out-steaming noodles, Manchurian, fried rice, and even spring rolls.

My mouth watered instantly.

He looked up. "Hungry?"

I folded my arms. "No."

Then... my stomach betrayed me.

Grrrrowwlll.

His smirk widened into a grin. "Right. Not hungry at all."

I covered my face in embarrassment. "That was rude."

He chuckled. "It was adorable. Sit down. Eat."

I hesitated-then sat beside him.

He served me himself.

And I ate. Slowly at first... then like I hadn't eaten in days. Because honestly, the emotional drain had left me starving.

"Iss time agar koi mujhe dekhe toh kisi bhi Insan ko bhookh lag jaaye..."

He watched me silently, occasionally teasing me with fake seriousness like,

"eat slowly.Your food isn't going anywhere.You might bite the plate next, sweetheart."

When the meal ended, he stood, grabbed his keys, and said, "Time to go. I'll drop you."

---

Author's POV -

Shreya sat in the passenger seat, blushing every five minutes as Shauryaan teased her about the way she looked at him while he "slept."

Every joke, every smirk, made her cheeks darker.

As they reached her farmhouse, she got out slowly. He leaned against the car, arms folded, and watched her walk to the door.

She turned once, eyes meeting his.

He didn't say a word.

Just... watched.

And waited.

Waited until the lights in her room turned on.

Only then... he left. Back to the palace.

But tonight, the storm in her wasn't alone anymore.

---

Author's POV

The sun hadn't yet climbed fully into the sky, but the Kapoor's farmhouse was already awake, alive with the quiet chaos of packing. Kapoor's had decided to return to Jodhpur-after all, the wedding was still three months away, and life couldn't pause indefinitely for love, could it?

Suitcases clicked shut. Helpers rushed across marbled halls. Final hugs were exchanged between relatives.

And amidst it all, Shreya stood near the car... strangely quiet. Like something wasn't right.

Her body moved. But her heart?

Her heart... stayed behind.

---

Shreya's POV

Everything was packed. Every goodbye was said.

But I didn't feel done.

I stood at the airport now, surrounded by my family, yet feeling alone. My eyes kept wandering-searching, scanning the crowd like they were on autopilot. My heartbeat was anxious, like it knew something I didn't.

Why did it feel like something was missing? Or... someone?

Aditya, Karan, Aarav, Avni-they all came to meet me at the terminal. They smiled, cracked silly jokes, even Avni pulled my cheeks like a child. But none of them mattered right now.

Because my eyes were looking for only one person.

And he... wasn't here.

Or so I thought.

Someone tapped my shoulder from behind. I didn't even turn. My mind was too busy searching for that one pair of stormy eyes in the crowd.

"Dikh nahi raha? Main kisi ko dhoond rahi hoon. Baad mein aana..." I murmured distractedly, stepping slightly away.

But then... I heard a voice.

his voice.

---

Shauryaan's POV

There she stood-my soon-to-be wife.

Airport terminals had never looked this breathtaking before.



Cream wide-leg pants hugged her waist perfectly, paired with a rust-orange cardigan falling effortlessly over a white crop top. Casual... yet sinful. Like she knew exactly how to drive me crazy without trying.

And damn... it was working.

Today she's leaving for Jodhpur. And I hate it.

I should've threatened that pandit. I should've bought a temple and declared the wedding next day. But no-I'm here instead, watching her from a distance.

She was clearly looking for someone. Her eyes were desperate, scanning the entire terminal like she was searching for oxygen.

So I walked up. Tapped her shoulder.

She didn't turn.

"Dikh nahi raha? Main kisi ko dhoond rahi hoon. Baad mein aana..."

I chuckled under my breath.

"Kahi woh 'kisi ko' main hi toh nahi?"

She froze.

Her breath caught.

And then slowly-so slowly-she turned.

Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. Her entire face lit up like someone had just plugged her heart back into its power source.

She was about to jump into my arms. I saw it in her eyes, in the way her body leaned forward.

But halfway through-she paused. Realized what she was doing. And blushed so violently, her ears went crimson.

God.

If it wasn't an airport, I would've kissed that blush off her skin. Tasted the heat on her cheeks. Pressed her against the wall just to see how far I could make that blush spread.

Little doe-eyed liar.

She looked up at me again, her mouth half-curved in a smile, and my thoughts weren't even remotely pure.

I bet she doesn't even know how tight that top is... how good she looks when she's flustered... how badly I want to pull her into a corner and remind her exactly whose fiancée she is.

But I stayed quiet.

Because her family was there. Her mother waved from a distance. Aditya smirked knowingly.

Then the boarding call rang.

She turned to go... but not before stealing one last look at me.

Those big, beautiful eyes-still holding secrets.

She didn't say a word.

She didn't have to.

---

Author's POV

She disappeared through the security gate, but her eyes never stopped watching him until she turned the corner.

And Shauryaan... he stayed right there.

Not moving. Not blinking.

Until the very last glimpse of her vanished from sight.

But even then-her scent, her stare, her heartbeat-they stayed with him.

Because some storms don't pass

.

Some storms live in your bones.

---

                           𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🌷͙⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ

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