Author POV

Pratyaksh's men stood frozen because, for the first time, their boss's cold eyes softened.

The man who hardly looked at anyone for too long was now staring straight at Aastha, as if he were savoring every single detail about her.

Pratyaksh ignored every sound around him.

He was only looking at her.

Calculating her steps.

Her beauty... oh God, it was driving him insane.

Soon she came closer, and his heart skipped a beat.

For a moment, he lost himself in her.

But his face remained expressionless. No emotions at all.

Yet inside, something in his heart felt like it was slowly falling apart. Still, he stood there, controlling himself.

Shalini and Vikram stood behind her, wearing fake smiles. But he didn't even bother to glance at them.

His gaze never left her.

Aastha finally stopped beside him, her eyes lowered, clutching the edge of her lehenga tightly.

He stood towering over her small 5'2 frame, making her look even smaller than she already was.

His eyes stayed fixed on her, not blinking even once, his head slightly tilted as if studying her.

He was looking at her as though she were the most complicated puzzle in the world.

Everyone in the venue was watching them...watching him.

No one had ever seen Pratyaksh Singhania stare at someone like that.

But Pratyaksh watched her the way a starving man watches food.

Slowly.

Patiently.

Possessively.

And Aastha... that little thing kept her gaze down, refusing to lift her eyes to meet his or anyone else's.

Her lips trembled. The small hands clutching her lehenga were trembling too.

Pratyaksh suddenly grabbed the edge of her veil and turned her toward him.

The sudden movement made Aastha stumble forward, her body colliding with his broad chest.

Her eyes widened.

A soft gasp spread through the crowd.

But no one dared to say a word.

Everyone knew that one wrong word could make them disappear from places no one could imagine.

Aastha, who had kept her eyes down the entire time, finally looked up at him.

And God...

Those beautiful almond-shaped eyes were filled with unshed tears, red and overflowing with emotions.

Her heart started beating wildly.

The hands that had been clutching her lehenga now rested against his broad chest.

The contrast between them looked like beauty and the beast.

Her hands were so small against him. It felt as if ten hands like hers could fit across his chest.

Her breath became uneven.

Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink.

Her heart began racing even faster.

Her wide, innocent eyes looked up at him. Her small lips trembled-tempting and inviting without even trying.

Pratyaksh closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

He forced himself to control the urge to pull those trembling lips against his.

Not here.

Not in front of everyone.

He wouldn't have minded.

But his Rose would.

And he didn't want to embarrass her.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he realized the effect he was having on her.

He hadn't even touched her skin yet, and her heart was already racing like this.

One hand still held the edge of her veil while his other hand remained by his side, not touching her even once.

Yet just that small hold on her veil was slowly undoing his Rose.

Pratyaksh POV

I looked at her.

My poor little Rose.

I hadn't even touched her yet, and her heart was beating as if it would burst out of her chest.

A slight smirk appeared on my lips at the effect I was having on her.

Slowly, I let go of her veil.

She immediately stepped back as if I were something that could burn her without even touching her.

I stood in front of her when one of my men approached, holding a silver plate filled with bundles of money.

Everyone's eyes widened.

I smirked.

They still hadn't seen who the real Pratyaksh Singhania truly was.

I took the bundles of notes in my hand and bent down.

Gasps echoed in the hall as I circled the bundles from my Rose's feet up to her head.

I did it slowly.

Seven times.

Everyone watched in shock.

Because I never bent down in front of anyone.

But for my woman?

I would.

Even though I didn't believe in such rituals, I didn't want any evil eye to fall on my Rose.

After finishing, I stood up and handed the money back to my man.

"Distribute this money among the poor," I ordered calmly.

Then I looked down at her again.

She was so small.

So small that she barely reached my chest.

Her cheeks were flushed red.

A smirk curved my lips.

We both sat down as the priest began chanting the mantras.

But my entire focus remained on my Rose.

Her head stayed lowered. Her hands gripped her lehenga in her lap like she was trying to hold on to something.

I stared at her as if I could see straight through her soul.

Her small trembling body...

Her baby-like face.

Those delicate hands covered with red chooda and dark mehndi.

Her fragile neck decorated with the jewelry I had chosen myself.

And suddenly a thought crossed my mind.

How will I break her?

She was like a rose.

If I touched her with my filthy hands, I might bleed from her softness.

God...

Why was she like this?

She was the rose.

And I was the that thorn in rose meant to make people bleed.

Author POV

Soon the wedding venue echoed with the loud cries of a man.

"Praaatyaaakshhhh babyyyy!"

The man ran toward the mandap dramatically, fake tears flowing from his eyes.

"Oh my poor little man!" he cried loudly, grabbing Pratyaksh's face in both hands.

"You grew up so fast! Getting married already! I'm so happy for you, my pookie!"

Pratyaksh slowly lifted his eyes and looked at him with a deadly stare.

The man immediately smiled sheepishly.

Pratyaksh's face filled with irritation.

Everyone shut their mouth looking at the scene in front of them because no one could behave like this infront of pratyaksh singhania who is known as kaal himself.

Meanwhile Aastha lifted her head slightly and looked at the strange man.

He grinned widely at her.

"Bhabhi jiii."

Pratyaksh spoke through clenched teeth.

"Avyukt Thakur... are you done with your drama?"

Avyukt pouted dramatically.

"How can you say that to me? I'm just happy for you! No one appreciates my emotions."

Then he leaned closer to Pratyaksh and whispered quietly,

"Finish this wedding quickly, bastard. Her brother is on the way."

A slow grin appeared on Pratyaksh's lips.

He glanced at Aastha again.

Then he turned to the priest.

"Pandit mantra shuru kar."

The priest nodded and resumed the mantras

From a distance, Mrinalini Singhania watched her son with tears in her eyes.

Avyukt walked to her and touched her feet.

"Namaste, Maa."

A tear slipped from her eyes.

Her own son refused to call her mother.

Yet his friend treated her like one.

Avyukt gently wiped her tears.

"Don't cry, Maa. I told you before-these eyes look better when they shine, not when they cry. Look... your son is finally getting married."

Mrinalini smiled weakly and kissed his forehead.

Meanwhile Vikram and Shalini stood together smiling happily.

"Finally," Shalini whispered, "the stain of our life is leaving."

Despite Aastha being their daughter, they had never treated her like one. She had been like a slave to them.

To them, she had always been nothing more than a burden.

Soon Pratyaksh and Aastha stood up for the seven pheras.

With every step, Pratyaksh silently made promises to himself.

After the pheras, they sat down again for the remaining rituals.

He carefully tied the mangalsutra around her neck, making sure his fingers didn't brush against her skin.

Aastha felt goosebumps rise across her body.

Her breath became uneven.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her lehenga.

Pratyaksh picked up the sindoor placed on the silver coin.

Just as he lifted his hand-

The sound of a table crashing echoed across the hall.

A man had entered the venue in rage.

His veins bulged from anger as he kicked the nearest table aside, sending it crashing to the floor.

Everyone froze.

Pratyaksh smiled faintly.

Aastha's breath hitched as she looked toward the entrance.

Gasps spread through the hall.

No one dared to speak.

Pratyaksh signaled his men and Avyukt not to interfere.

Meanwhile Vikram and Shalini looked like their souls had left their bodies.

The man's fists clenched as he

stared at the scene before him.

His voice was calm... but filled with deadly rage.

" aapne bhai ko bina bataye shaadi kar rhi ho hmm, Aashu?"

Thankyou so much for reading this chapter.

I hope you'll like it and please do a vote so I can feel motivated.

Love you all......