Ishita Sharma's Perspective

The car slowed, turning off the main road and onto a path hidden by high, dense trees. We stopped beside a shimmering, still body of water-a hidden lakeside I had **never seen before**.

"We are here, **Jaana**," Rudra announced, his voice low and pleased.

He opened my door, his presence immediately enveloping me. The air here was cool, clean, and quiet-a stark contrast to the cacophony of the city and the mansion.

I gasped, looking around. The area was **beautifully decorated**. It wasn't over-the-top, but it was perfectly romantic. Tiny, warm lights were strung through the overhanging branches, casting a soft, golden glow over a small wooden deck built right over the water. A lone violinist was playing softly in the distance, and the entire setting felt like a scene from a dream.

"Oh my God, **Ru**," I breathed, turning to him, my voice full of adoration. "You did all this?"

He simply smiled, that rare, breathtaking curve of his lips. "Only the best for my Princess on her Roka-Birthday."

I started to step out, ready to examine the incredible setting, but he stopped me.

"Not so fast, **Ishi**," he murmured, his hands settling on my **tiny waist**. "You wore those ridiculous **high heels** for me; I won't have you stumbling."

Before I could protest, he scooped me up into his arms, easily lifting my weight. The movement was so natural, so powerful.

He carried me effortlessly onto the wooden deck, navigating the few steps as if I weighed nothing.

He carried me to the center of the deck and slowly, reluctantly, put me down.

The moment my feet touched the deck, the soft, distant violin music shifted to a sweet, slow melody. Rudra didn't wait. He immediately pulled me back against his **muscular** frame, his arms wrapping tightly around me.

"No more talking," he murmured, his voice a deep, resonant rumble that made my heart flutter. "This is a mandatory birthday dance."

**Rudra**, the man who only danced for me, was leading us in a slow sway. I wound my arms around his neck, my bangles chiming softly.

We started moving, not just swaying, but truly connecting. He pulled me closer until our bodies were flush, **forehead to forehead**, and then his nose gently brushed against mine. I closed my eyes, completely lost in the moment. He smelled of expensive cologne, clean linen, and that unique scent of pure, possessive Rudra.

I smiled, unable to contain the sheer happiness, and instinctively bit my lower lip.

"**Mr. Rathore**," I whispered, the words breathy against his skin. "You are being too **romantic** today, hmmm? Where is the **cold, ruthless** CEO?"

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine.

"He's right here, **Jaana**," he confessed, pulling me even closer, eliminating the last millimeter of space between us. "But he only saves the coldness for the stock market. For you, **Ishi**, I am pure, unadulterated passion."

He pulled his head back just enough to look into my eyes, his **ocean blue gaze** burning with intense adoration.

"Every gift I give you, every kiss, every touch-it is an affirmation that you are the only one who matters. You are my only weakness, and you are my most treasured possession. Today, on your birthday, I want to worship the ground you walk on."

He lowered his head and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead.

"Now, dance with me," he commanded, his voice a deep, loving drawl. "Forget the Roka, forget the family. Tonight is only for **us**."

I settled my head back against his shoulder, letting him lead me in the soft dance under the glow of the fairy lights and the beautiful music. My heart swelled with a fierce, quiet love. This was my man. My Rudra. And this was the beginning of our forever.

👑Rudra's Perspective

The gentle sway of the dance was merely a prelude. With **Ishi** nestled in my arms, her head resting against my shoulder, the formal world of the Rathore Mansion completely vanished. All that remained was the heat of her body and the urgent, absolute truth of my love for her.

I tilted her head up slightly, my fingers tangling in the jasmine-scented curls. The smile on her face, the slight tremor in her lower lip-it was all the invitation I needed.

I **leaned in**, my gaze fixed on her mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she didn't move an inch to stop me. She was anticipation itself.

I captured her lips, the kiss starting soft, gentle-a confirmation of the love we had just celebrated. Her mouth tasted like the faint sweetness of the celebratory *mithai* and the rich warmth of her own unique flavor. I deepened the kiss, allowing the pure, overwhelming possession I felt to dictate the rhythm.

Her lips were soft, yielding perfectly to mine. We kissed many times, quick, hungry, consuming brushes of our mouths, each one lingering slightly longer than the last. These were not the tentative kisses of a couple getting to know each other; these were the long, **quite long kisses** of two people already bound by destiny, a silent, powerful conversation that stripped away all pretense.

I pulled back just enough to inhale sharply, my eyes drinking in her flushed face, the **soft, nude makeup** now slightly smudged, making her look utterly ravishing and completely *mine*.

"You are perfection, **Jaana**," I rasped, my voice thick, raw with desire.

I moved my attention from her lips to the delicate, smooth column of her neck, my favorite canvas. I had to mark her. The first hickey was a sign of our secret; this second one was a public announcement for anyone who dared to look.

I pressed my mouth to the sensitive skin just below her ear, my lips lingering, then sucking softly, deliberately.

A soft, broken **moan** escaped her throat. It was just a single sound, quiet and involuntary, but it was the most intoxicating music in the world.

*God, I love these sounds from her.*

It was the sound of her surrender, the sound of her pleasure, the sound that confirmed she was reacting only to me. It fueled the possessive beast inside me, the one I kept carefully locked away for the corporate world.

"That's mine," I murmured against her skin, my hand tightening possessively on her **tiny waist**, pulling her hips fiercely against my own. "Every single soft sound, **Ishi**. Every gasp."

I lifted my head just to press my forehead against hers, breathing deeply, pulling myself back from the brink of total loss of control. I knew I couldn't push this too far here, as much as I desperately wanted to.

I gently ran my large, calloused hand up her back, savoring the feeling of the expensive **ocean blue** fabric against her warm skin.

"You distracting me while I drive was unfair," I teased, my voice still husky. "This," I gestured to the fresh mark on her neck, "is my payback for all that distracting cuteness."

She smiled, her **brown eyes** shining brightly in the soft light. She was absolutely content, reveling in the possessive attention.

" she countered softly, her voice still breathy. "You've given me a beautiful mark to remember it."

I laughed, a low, satisfied sound. "And I will give you many more.

💖Ishita's Perspective

Car Bonnet ConfessionsRudra and I had finally moved away from the dance deck, not for dinner, but for deeper connection. He'd ignored the plush deck seating and instead led me toward the sleek black car parked discreetly nearby.

He opened the hood and, with surprising ease for such an expensive machine, lowered the bonnet, creating an impromptu, intimate seating area.

We settled down side-by-side on the smooth, cool metal, the lake lights twinkling behind us. The air was crisp, the silence broken only by the gentle music and our soft whispers. The formality of the **ocean blue Anarkali** and his expensive suit felt wonderfully out of place as we sat there, talking like two teenagers in love.

He was still leaning close, his fingers intermittently stroking the skin of my forearm, occasionally pausing to trace the outline of the fresh hickey he'd just given me-my birthday mark.

We talked about us. About how insane it was that the **Top 3 richest businessman** was sitting on a car bonnet with a makeup artist from **North Delhi**.

"It wasn't insane, **Jaana**," he corrected me, his voice a low, soothing murmur. "It was inevitable. You were always my destiny. I just tried to fight the inevitable for three years, and look where it got me-proposing to you on my knees."

I smiled, resting my head against his shoulder. "And me, proposing to you **Ru**," I reminded him playfully. "It's called balance. You are the **ruthless, emotionless** Prince, but I am your little firecracker. I keep you honest."

We talked about our future-the "Royal Roka-Birthday" was just the start. He spoke about the wedding plans, about merging our two lives, and the way he spoke-with such protective intensity-made me melt.

Then, his gaze dropped to my wrist, where the heavy gold bangles from the Rathore family gifts were piled high. He reached out and gently separated one bangle from the rest, his **ocean blue eyes** suddenly serious, intense.

"Did **Bebe** make you wear those bangles, **Ishi**?" he asked, his voice unexpectedly quiet.

The sudden shift in topic hit me with the force of an emotional punch. *Bebe.* His grandmother.

He wasn't talking about the new, glittering gold ones.

I swallowed hard, my fingers clutching the fabric of his suit. "No, **Ru**," I whispered, the name of his grandmother bringing back a flood of painful, beautiful memories. "She didn't. These are new."

His hand moved from the gold bangles to the bare skin of my other wrist. He rubbed his thumb over the exact spot where a particular set of bangles used to rest.

"The ones I bought you," he confirmed, his **ocean blue gaze** piercing mine. "Outside **Bangla Sahib Gurudwara**. The thin, silver ones. The ones Bebe insisted were auspicious."

A shudder ran through me. Four years. That was four years ago, before the separation, before the heartbreak. It was a secret, private Roka ceremony we had shared-just him, me, and his beloved grandmother, **Bebe**. Bebe had gifted me those simple, silver bangles and made us promise to stay together forever.

My heart ached with the memory.

"I gave them back to Bebe," I confessed, the words raw, soft. "When you... when you left for Canada. I couldn't keep them. They felt like a lie after our separation."

He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me, anchoring me to his side. His voice was a low, aching devotion in my ear.

"I know, **Jaana**. I know. Bebe told me. She kept them safe." He kissed my temple, a long, lingering press of his lips. "It broke my heart that you thought our love was a lie. It was real, **Ishi**. It was always real. We just needed the time apart to realize we can't exist without each other."

He paused, his voice turning husky with possessive adoration.

"But listen to me, my Princess. After tonight? You are never giving anything back. You are mine. **Unconditionally mine**. And I will make sure the silver bangles are on your wrist before we leave this spot."

The simplicity of his promise-to retrieve the past and secure our future-was the most romantic gift of the entire day. He was fixing our history.

👑Rudra's Perspective

I held **Isha** close, resting my chin on her soft, jasmine-scented hair. My hand, still on her bare wrist, gently caressed the spot where the silver bangles belonged.

"We need a to make out house beautifulfor you**Ishi**," I murmured, my voice heavy with planning. "Enough space for your studio, and a massive garden. And I want the nursery to have windows facing east, so our children get the morning light."

She tilted her head, her **brown eyes** shining with adoration. "Kids will be so cute, **Ru**," she whispered. "Imagine a little boy with your **ocean blue eyes** but my cheekbones."

"That little boy will be utterly spoiled, **Jaana**. But first, we need a little girl to boss him around." I paused, considering her fully. "But for all those future little Rathores to happen..."

I leaned in, my mouth close to her ear, letting the heat of my breath tickle her skin.

"Kids will be born, yes," I confirmed, my voice deepening to a low, seductive rumble. "But for that, **you have to handle me first**. Every night."

She pulled back slightly, her expression shifting from dreamy to confused. She looked up at me, those wide eyes blinking innocently.

"Handle you? **Ru**, you are the most disciplined man I know. You're the **health freak** who wakes up at 5 AM. What handling do you need? Do you want me to supervise your protein intake?"

I couldn't help but laugh-a genuine, amused sound. She was so pure, so focused on practicalities, even when I was trying to be shamelessly seductive.

I gently ran my finger along the curve of her jaw, my eyes darkening with playful intent.

"No, **Ishi**. Not protein. I said, **you and me, Jaana. At night. Husband-wife things**."

I let the implication hang in the cool night air. The innocent confusion instantly melted away, replaced by a deep blush that stained her neck and cheeks.

"**Rudra!**" she hissed, swatting my chest lightly with a sudden burst of shyness. "We are in public! And you are talking about... about *that* in an open car park! And on the night of our Roka!"

I loved the way her embarrassment turned her into a clumsy, adorable mess. It was the only time the formidable Ishita Sharma lost her composure.

"We are not in public, **Princess**," I countered, my voice laced with soft, possessive laughter. "We are in *my* private park, behind a heavily secured gate. No one can hear you except me. And it is my right to discuss future marital duties with my fiancé."

I lowered my head and pressed my lips against the fresh **hickey mark** on her neck, emphasizing my point.

"I need handling, **Ishi**. I am a **cold, ruthless** man all day for the world. But at night, for you, I need release. I need your warmth. I need your **tiny hands** running over my chest. I need you to wear me out, **Jaana**. You are the only one who can wear out the King."

I pulled back, giving her a slow, intensely possessive smile. "So, while I plan the wedding and the house, I want you to start planning how you're going to 'handle' your very demanding husband every night. It's a very important part of achieving those *ocean-blue-eyed babies* you want."

I reached for her hand and kissed the back of it, my eyes never leaving hers. "Think about it, my love. It's your homework."

💖Ishita's Perspective

I pressed my head against his shoulder, still tingling from his blatant, yet somehow deeply loving, teasing about our private life. He was relentless, turning every serious conversation into a moment of pure, focused romance.

"Stop it, **Ru**," I murmured, my voice a mixture of amusement and genuine nervousness. "You are being terrible. We just had our Roka, and you are already talking about... about *wearing me out*."

His fingers traced the line of my jaw again, his touch impossibly gentle despite the strength I knew lay behind it.

"I am simply planning for efficiency, **Ishi**," he countered, his voice a low, seductive rumble that made my pulse jump. "You are my entire focus now. Every aspect of our life needs to be perfect, including the private ones."

I took a deep breath, looking up at his magnificent, towering form silhouetted against the dark sky. The fear, the one he had helped me address at the hospital, resurfaced slightly-not of pain, but of the sheer physical *difference* between us.

"I think I'm going to **faint at the first night**," I admitted softly, a genuine worry clouding my excitement.

He stilled, his teasing smile fading as he sensed the real anxiety beneath my words.

"Why, **Jaana**?" he asked, his tone instantly shifting to that warm, protective concern that always melted me. "Tell me."

I reached out and placed my hand on his massive bicep, feeling the hard, **muscular** definition beneath the sleeve of his suit. The contrast was ridiculous.

"Because clearly, you are **6'3" tall**, Rudra," I explained, gesturing to his imposing figure. "And you are **muscular as hell**. Look at you! And look at me," I said, pinching the **tiny** amount of flesh on my arm. "I am thin, short, and tiny. I don't think I can handle you, **Ru**, even if you are gentle."

The vulnerability of my admission hung in the air. I was afraid of his strength, afraid of being overwhelmed by the sheer difference in our sizes.

His **ocean blue eyes** softened instantly, losing all their earlier intensity, replaced by pure, understanding devotion. He cupped my face with his large hand, his thumb gently wiping away a stray smudge of my **soft, nude makeup**.

"Oh, **Ishi**," he murmured, his voice heavy with tenderness. "My sweet, silly firecracker. You are worried about that?"

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the sensitive skin of my palm.

"You have absolutely nothing to worry about, **Princess**," he promised. "You think I earned the title of the **most ruthless** man by not being completely, utterly *controlled*? I have iron control, **Jaana**. And all that strength, all this muscle," he squeezed my hand gently against his arm, "it is yours to command. Always."

He leaned in, his gaze burning with a loving reassurance that banished all my fear.

"I know your every fragility, your every fear, and your every desire. I won't move an inch unless you tell me to," he vowed. "You are fire, **Ishi**. And I will be the most careful, the most gentle, and the most patient man you have ever known. You will never, ever feel overwhelmed or afraid with me. Understood?"

I nodded, the warmth of his love dissolving the last of my anxiety. He always knew exactly what to say, how to make the biggest, scariest things seem easy.

"Now," he said, his voice regaining its playful, possessive edge, "since we have established that I am gentle, and you are perfect, stop thinking about fainting and think about your birthday gift. I'm getting cold sitting on this car bonnet."

He stood up, pulling me effortlessly up with him. "Time to go inside, **Ishi**. The real celebration awaits."

👑 Rudra's Perspective

I jumped off the car bonnet, pulling **Ishi** up with me. The immediate fear about my size and strength was gone, replaced by the trusting light in her **brown eyes**. That was all the confirmation I needed: she was entirely, unequivocally mine, and she knew I would cherish her.

"My love," I said, kissing her forehead one last time. "You have distracted me perfectly. Now, let me finally execute the plan. Follow me."

I took her hand and led her off the wooden deck, away from the violinist and the beautiful lake. My goal wasn't a fancy meal; it was a deeply personal gift, connected directly to our conversation.

We walked toward a small, elegantly built glass structure nestled beneath the trees. Inside, the lights were warm, and I could hear the faint sound of classical music-Bebe's favorite.

"Where are we, **Ru**?" she asked, her voice hushed with anticipation.

"This is one of my family's old, forgotten hunting lodges," I explained, opening the heavy glass door and guiding her inside. "No one has been here in years. I had my team restore it just for us."

The room was stunning: a perfect blend of rustic stone walls and modern luxury, dominated by a central stone fireplace roaring softly. On a small table, bathed in the glow of the firelight, lay a single, velvet-lined mahogany box.

"The Roka was for the world, **Ishi**. This is for **us**. Happy Birthday, my **Jaana**."

I led her to the table and gently turned her to face the box. She looked at it, then back at me, her eyes wide.

"No more teasing," she pleaded softly.

I smiled, a rare, genuine expression of joy. I loved watching her anticipation.

"No more teasing," I confirmed. I reached out, my hand covering hers, and together we lifted the heavy lid of the box.

Inside, resting on black velvet, were the ** bangles**.

The same bangles I had bought for her outside **Bangla Sahib Gurudwara** four years ago. The ones **Bebe** had insisted were auspicious. The ones Ishita had sadly given back after our separation, believing the promise was broken.

"Bebe sent them to me this morning," I explained, my voice thick with emotion. "She said they are never to leave your wrist again. They are our true Roka, **Ishi**. The one only we knew about."

I reached into the box, carefully lifting one of the delicate bangles. I held her wrist-the small, slender one I had just been stroking on the car bonnet-and slowly, deliberately, slid the bangle onto her arm.

"The Roka is the promise of marriage," I murmured, my **ocean blue eyes** fixed on the silver circle settling around her wrist. "This is the **promise of forever**. I will never leave you again, **Jaana**. You are my only home."

I slid the second bangle onto her wrist, then kissed the spot, my lips lingering over the cold metal and the warm skin.

"They look perfect," I whispered, holding her hand up to admire them. "Now, they belong right where they were always meant to be."

She didn't speak. She just lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, clinging to me just like she did in the hospital corridor.

"Oh, **Ru**," she choked out, her voice muffled against my suit jacket. "They are beautiful. Thank you."

I held her close, tight against my **muscular** chest, anchoring her as I had done at the hospital.

"This is not all," I said, pulling back slightly. "Turn around, **Ishi**."

She looked at me, confused, but she obeyed. I reached into the box one last time, pulling out a small, plush leather case.

"The bangles is for our history," I stated, snapping open the case to reveal a spectacular diamond necklace that glittered fiercely in the firelight. "This is for our future."

The necklace was pure, uncompromising brilliance, the diamonds set in a design that resembled the stylized royal crest of the Rathores.

"This is the official engagement gift for the Roka, my **Princess**," I told her, my hands moving to sweep aside her **long, flowered hair**. "It cost more than your entire studio, but it is nothing compared to what you deserve."

I clasped the necklace around her slender neck, the cool weight of the diamonds settling against her skin.

"Now, we eat. And then, we go home," I commanded, pulling her back into my arms, giving her a possessive, final kiss on the lips. "Happy Birthday, my love. You are officially marked-inside, outside, and forever."

💖Ishita's Perspective:

"**Ru**, this is... it's too much," I stammered, my hands instinctively going to the heavy weight of the diamonds against my neck. "It must be so costly, and I-"

Before I could finish the sentence, before the logical, middle-class part of my brain could fully protest the extravagance, he stopped me.

He leaned in, his intent clear in his **ocean blue eyes**. He didn't capture my lips fiercely; he kissed me **softly**, gently, a deliberate, slow pressure that immediately silenced the turmoil in my mind.

I melted instantly. My hands, which had been clutching the necklace, reached up and **wrapped around his neck**, pulling his handsome face closer. The feel of his lips-firm, warm, and utterly captivating-made my entire world narrow down to this one perfect moment.

I **kissed him back**, pouring every ounce of my love, adoration, and gratitude into the embrace. The complexity of the Roka, the family, the wealth-it all dissolved into the simple, undeniable connection between our mouths.

When he finally pulled back, he didn't give me a chance to recover. I opened my mouth to renew my protest. "But **Ru**, I really need to say-"

*Peck.*

He gave me a quick, firm kiss, cutting off the words right on my tongue.

He smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "No objections, **Ishi**. Only adoration."

I tried again, determined to voice my feelings. "It's just that I don't feel right accepting-"

*Peck.* *Peck.*

He punctuated my sentence with two sharp, playful kisses.

"Discussions about market value are closed," he teased, his voice a low, throaty rumble, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine. "The only value that matters is how beautiful it looks on my **Jaana**."

I felt my cheeks heat up violently. I was **blushing harder** than I had all day, even harder than when he'd put that second hickey on my neck. He was **literally not letting me say anything**, replacing every serious word with a kiss.

I looked at his mouth-the powerful lips that had commanded boardrooms all day and were now entirely focused on making me speechless.

I giggled, completely overwhelmed and utterly smitten. My finger reached up and gently touched his lower lip.

"You have my **soft, nude lipstick** all over your mouth, **Mr. Rathore**," I whispered, the words finally winning the race against his kisses.

I carefully used my thumb to **wipe his lips**, tracing the outline of his mouth and cleaning off the faint pink tint. My stomach flipped over when I realized the intimacy of the gesture-cleaning my lipstick off the fierce mouth of the man who owned the world.

He let me do it, his **ocean blue eyes** fixed on my face, full of possessive heat and soft amusement.

"Good," he murmured, leaning in for one final, long kiss, sealing the deal and ensuring any lingering thoughts of cost were banished. "Now you can't complain, because you've kissed me and rubbed it in. Dinner first, **Ishi**, and then... we can talk about those 'husband-wife things' in a much more comfortable setting than a car bonnet."

I finally surrendered, resting my forehead against his chest, completely melting. I was speechless, surrounded by diamond light, my ** bangles** on one wrist, and the future King's love in my heart.