Five days had already flown by in Singapore. Meetings, presentations, investor lunches — rinse and repeat. By now, the shine of luxury hotel life was starting to dull for Anaya.
That afternoon, she lay sprawled on the plush king-sized bed of their suite, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Her mind wandered, her thoughts refusing to stay in one place.
Almost without realizing, she murmured,"Main shaadi kyun ki thi…"[Why did I get married…]
Across the room, Janvi sat cross-legged on an armchair, her laptop balanced on her knees, fingers tapping rapidly over the keyboard. She paused just long enough to glance at Anaya's dreamy, half-lost expression.
"Haan, tum hi akeli ho jo shaadi kar chuki ho… vo bhi before twenty-one," Janvi said, smirking.[Yeah, you're the only one who's gotten married… and that too before turning twenty-one.]
Her words made Anaya tilt her head and look at her."I want a vacation… yaar, I'm getting bored here," she said, pouting slightly.
Janvi didn't look up. Her fingers kept moving, her attention locked on the laptop screen.
"Vacation?" she said absently, as though considering the thought but not committing to it. Then her eyes brightened with some sudden idea — though she didn't share it yet.
"What are you even looking at?" Anaya asked, curiosity piqued.
"Just work. Muje thoda time do… main kuch karti hoon," Janvi replied cryptically.[Just work. Give me a little time… I'll do something.]
Anaya groaned and rolled off the bed, padding over to stand behind Janvi."Mujhe bata bhi do kya chal raha hai?"[At least tell me what's going on?]
But before Anaya could peek at the screen, Janvi snapped the laptop shut and stood up.
"Go and get ready. We're going out… in the next thirty minutes," she announced with a sudden burst of energy.
"Abhi?!" Anaya blinked.
"Yes, abhi. It's already 3 pm," Janvi said, herding Anaya toward the bathroom like a mother pushing a reluctant child to school.
The bathroom door clicked shut behind her. Janvi, now alone, quickly pulled out her phone and began typing. Her thumbs moved fast, a little smile playing on her lips.
Meanwhile, across the hall on the same floor, Aarav was in his brother's room. He leaned casually against the dresser while Rudra buttoned up his shirt.
"Bhai, wear something according to the warm weather na… yeh Singapore ka garmi alag level ka hai," Aarav advised.[Bro, wear something for warm weather… this Singapore heat is on another level.]
Rudra looked at him through the mirror."Hum jaa kahan rahe hain?"[Where exactly are we going?]
"It's three p.m. We're going out, so wear something casual. Try this," Aarav said, tossing him a neatly folded casual T-shirt and a pair of comfortable trousers.
Rudra caught them without question and headed into the bathroom to change.
Inside, as he pulled the T-shirt over his head, his phone buzzed on the counter. He glanced at the screen — a message. Unlocking the phone, he tapped on the mic icon and recorded a short voice note.
"We are meeting in the lobby in the next thirty minutes."
He sent it off, the message disappearing into the chat thread.
Back in the bedroom, Aarav called through the half-open door,"Kisse baat kar raha hai? Thoda zor se bol!"[Who are you talking to? Speak a little louder!]
Rudra stepped out of the bathroom then, his tall frame now relaxed in the casual outfit. The deep navy T-shirt contrasted perfectly with his skin, the light trousers giving him a rare, off-duty vibe.
"No one important," he said simply, sliding his phone into his pocket with that unreadable expression he always wore when he didn't want to be questioned further.
Aarav eyed him suspiciously, but let it go.
"Chalo… let's see what surprise plan Janvi ne banaya hai," he said with a grin.[Come on… let's see what surprise plan Janvi's made.]
Rudra only smirked faintly, his mind already elsewhere.
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The hotel lobby was buzzing softly with the afternoon hum of conversations, clinking coffee cups, and the distant sound of the fountain in the atrium. Rudra Singhaniya stood near the grand marble pillar, phone in hand, his long fingers scrolling through contacts. Aarav, leaning casually beside him, glanced over and smirked.
"Bro, tum phone se zyada kisi aur ka wait kar rahe ho na?" Aarav teased.
Rudra didn't reply, just tapped his screen and brought it to his ear. But before the call could connect, the ding of the lift caught his attention.
Out stepped Janvi, followed by Anaya.
Janvi was wearing a pastel pink summer dress — flowy, soft, the kind that danced a little with every step. Anaya, on the other hand, wore a fitted blue slit dress, simple yet striking, the neckline framed by delicate gold chains glinting in the light.
The warm Singapore sun streaming through the glass doors caught on their hair and dresses, making them look like they'd just walked out of a vacation photoshoot.
For a second, both Singhaniya brothers froze.
Aarav's lips curved into a grin. "Bas… kaam ho gaya," he whispered, nudging Rudra's shoulder. "Main tumhara kaam easy bana deta hoon."
As Janvi and Anaya walked closer, Aarav moved forward with calculated ease, stopping right in front of them.
"Janvi," he said, his tone dripping with casual confidence, "tum mere saath chalo, mujhe ek urgent kaam hai."
Janvi raised a brow, playing along instantly. "Aur tumhe lagta hai main tumhare saath aise hi chal jaungi?" she teased, but her eyes flicked to Anaya and then back at Aarav — silent teamwork passing between them.
"Haan," Aarav said simply, holding out his hand. "Chalo."
Janvi smiled knowingly, took his hand, and as they turned away, she leaned closer to Anaya's ear, whispering with a mischievous wink, "Enjoy, behna…"
Before Anaya could even react, Janvi was already walking away with Aarav, the two of them grinning like they'd just pulled off a heist.
Anaya found herself standing in front of Rudra now. He wasn't saying anything, just watching her. That deep, unreadable gaze of his traced over her from head to toe — not in a crude way, but in that possessive, magnetic style of his that made her heartbeat thud in her ears.
She looked away, cheeks warming. "Tum…" she started, but the words died in her throat.
Before either of them could say more, a female staff member approached Rudra, holding a clipboard. She smiled just a little too much as she stepped closer. "Sir, I just wanted to—"
But before she could finish, Anaya stepped between them, her voice calm yet sharp enough to cut the air. "He's not interested in you. Leave him alone."
The staff member blinked, taken aback. "And you are…?"
Rudra, who had been watching the entire exchange with an amused smirk, stepped forward, placed his hand lightly on Anaya's shoulder, and said, "Future wife."
The words landed like a stone dropped in still water — the shock rippled instantly through the staffer's expression. She mumbled something about work and made a quick exit, heels clicking away on the polished marble.
Rudra's smirk deepened. He bent slightly, close enough for his breath to brush against her ear. "Kya baat hai, Velvet… possessive ho gayi tum?"
Anaya ignored the teasing, her hand already sliding down to grab his arm. "Chalo," she said simply, tugging him toward the hotel's glass doors.
"Where to?" he asked, letting her lead but never breaking that faint, smug smile.
"Away from here before kisi aur ka dimaag kharab ho," she muttered.
What they didn't notice was that the lobby wasn't just full of guests and staff — a few curious onlookers, including some hotel employees, had subtly pulled out their phones. A picture of Rudra Singhaniya walking hand-in-hand with a mystery woman was too tempting for gossip lovers to pass up.
Behind them, at the far end of the lobby, Aarav and Janvi were peeking from behind a pillar, their mission apparently a success.
Janvi bit back a laugh. "Pata hai, tum aur main team banaye toh poora pyaar ka department handle kar sakte hain."
Aarav chuckled. "Main toh bas itna chahta hoon ke in dono ko thoda akela time mile. Baaki ka kaam Rudra bhai khud sambhaal lenge."
Janvi folded her arms, leaning on the pillar. "Aur Anaya?"
Aarav shrugged. "Uska toh bas yeh hai… thoda sharmati hai, but tumhari dost hai, tum better jaanti ho. Bas mujhe yeh lagta hai ki jo bhi inke beech hai, usko thoda push dena padta hai."
Janvi smiled, eyes glinting. "Push toh mil gaya hai. Ab dekhte hain aage kya hota hai."
Outside, the humid warmth wrapped around them as Anaya and Rudra stepped into the golden evening light. The sea breeze carried the faint scent of salt and tropical flowers from the landscaped garden nearby.
Rudra slowed his steps, letting their hands stay linked. His thumb brushed over her knuckles, almost lazily. "Tumhein pata hai," he said quietly, "main kaam se zyada tumhein dekh raha tha lobby se."
Anaya rolled her eyes, trying to hide the way his words made her pulse race. "Tumhein har baat mein flirting karni hoti hai na?"
He chuckled, low and deep. "Flirting nahi, sach bol raha hoon."
She looked away, pretending to study the garden, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. And Rudra — Rudra noticed everything.
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Rudra and Anaya walked side by side down the sunlit street, the warmth of the late afternoon wrapping around them like a slow, lazy hug. It wasn't a planned outing — Rudra had simply said, "Chalo, kahin chalte hain," and she, without asking where, had nodded. With him, sometimes the destination didn't matter.
Ahead, a giant animatronic dinosaur roared, startling a group of kids. Anaya's eyes widened. "Jurassic Park?" she read the signboard aloud, tilting her head at the huge entrance gates painted to look like aged wood.
Rudra smirked at her reaction. "Kya hua, madam? Bachpan ki yaad aa gayi?"
"Haan… thoda," she admitted, her lips curving despite herself. Inside, the park was alive with moving dinosaurs, fake trees, and the sound of distant roars. They strolled past a towering T-Rex, and Anaya laughed — the sound light and free, the kind Rudra had noticed came only when she was relaxed.
She didn't see Aarav and Janvi a few steps behind, quietly slipping into the park too. Janvi's sunglasses hid her eyes, but the smirk playing on her lips was obvious. Aarav leaned toward her, whispering, "Lagta hai aaj ka plan successful hone wala hai."
Janvi didn't reply; her gaze was fixed on Anaya's smile — a smile she hadn't seen on her best friend's face in a long time.
By the time Rudra and Anaya exited Jurassic Park, the sun was sliding lower. Across the street, a large shopping mall stood with glass walls reflecting the orange sky. Rudra jerked his chin toward it. "Wahan chalein? Tumhare liye kuch dekhte hain."
She raised a brow. "Mere liye? Kis khushi mein?"
"Khushi? Velvet, tum mere saath ho, yeh hi kaafi hai," he said casually, his deep voice making the simple sentence sound almost sinful.
Anaya's heart thudded — dhak dhak, like a drum in her chest. Why does he say things like this so easily? she thought, trying to hide the blush that crept up her cheeks.
Inside the mall, Rudra's stride was confident, as if the place belonged to him. Anaya trailed a step behind, pretending to look at shop windows but secretly watching him. There was something different in his body language today — relaxed, playful, almost boyish.
They entered a boutique with soft lighting and racks of summer dresses. Rudra scanned the displays, his sharp eyes moving over fabrics and colors until he plucked out a soft peach dress with delicate embroidery at the waist. He held it up. "Yeh tumpe perfect lagegi."
"Perfect?" she teased. "Tumhe kaise pata?"
"Because I know what's mine," he replied simply, his tone so certain that she couldn't meet his eyes for a moment.
While she disappeared into the trial room with the dress, Janvi, hidden behind a shelf, peeked at Rudra's choice. The moment Anaya stepped out, Janvi's eyes watered dramatically. "Hayyye kitni pyaari dress hai," she whispered to herself, clutching her chest.
Aarav, standing beside her, smirked. "Tumko chahiye toh I can buy for you."
Janvi turned to him, surprised. "Dare you sure?"
"Of course. I have a card — anything you want," Aarav said, leaning against the wall with an easy charm.
It was the first time Janvi genuinely smiled at him — not a sarcastic smirk, not an eye-roll, but a soft, amused smile. Aarav noticed, and for some reason, it made his chest feel a little lighter.
Back near the mirror, Rudra's gaze lingered on Anaya as she adjusted the peach dress. His voice was low but teasing. "Tumhe pata hai, agar main tumhe iss dress mein le jaaun na, toh saare ladke apni girlfriend bhool jayenge."
Anaya turned, raising a brow. "Aur tum chaahte ho main aisi attention attract karun?"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice further. "Main chahta hoon tum sirf meri attention attract karo."
This man will be the death of me, she thought, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks again. She tried to brush past him, but he caught her wrist for a second, his thumb grazing her skin before letting go.
Meanwhile, Janvi had quietly dragged Aarav to another corner to avoid being caught spying. "Un dono ka alag hi romance chal raha hai," she murmured, shaking her head.
"Good. Waise yeh pehli baar hai tumne meri baat maani bina argue kiye," Aarav teased.
Janvi gave him a side glance. "Don't push your luck."
Over the next hour, Rudra and Anaya drifted from one store to another. Sometimes he picked clothes for her, sometimes she picked ties and shirts for him, pretending to be practical but secretly enjoying the way his eyes softened every time she fussed over him.
When she was in another trial room trying on a white floral maxi dress, Rudra waited outside, leaning against the wall. From inside, she called out, "Rudra, yeh thoda loose lag raha hai…"
His reply came with a chuckle. "Main dekh ke batata hoon."
The curtain swished open, and he stepped forward, adjusting the waist with his hands. For a few seconds, they were far too close — close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from his skin, close enough for him to catch the faint scent of her perfume.
Her heart was racing again — dhak dhak dhak — and she quickly stepped back. "Theek hai, main change karti hoon," she muttered, trying not to meet his amused gaze.
By the time they were done, Rudra had bought not one but three dresses for her, ignoring her protests. "Meri biwi ho tum. Mana mat karo," he'd said in that stubborn tone that ended all arguments.
As they walked out of the store, Anaya caught sight of Janvi and Aarav in the crowd, but before she could say anything, Janvi winked — a mischievous little signal that said, Enjoy. We'll stay out of the way.
They ended the day with coffee at a quiet café in the mall. Rudra sat across from her, stirring his drink slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. She sipped her latte, trying to pretend she didn't notice, but inside she was a mess of warmth and chaos. He's impossible… absolutely impossible.
Outside, Aarav and Janvi leaned against the railing, watching from afar. "Mission love birds — successful," Aarav declared.
Janvi didn't reply, but the small smile tugging at her lips said enough.