Simran

******

My bangles jingled every time, whether I was putting on my earrings, adjusting my saree pleats, or touching my hair. They chimed synchronously. And ever since my husband said they called his name, I could hear it too.

As insane as it sounded, it definitely felt like my bangles were calling my husband's name.

So I was trying hard not to let them jingle much, because if they did, he would come to me claiming I had called him. But to be honest, I needed a little more time with myself and my thoughts. A lot was going on in my mind, and my thoughts were in disarray.

I was draped in an elegant light pink saree studded with real diamonds. A mesmerizing diamond necklace rested against my collarbone, paired with matching earrings. I wasn't the bride, but I was definitely a spectacle to be watched. More eyes than I was prepared for would be on me tonight, and that made me nervous.

I could have worn the yellow Saree because I had two options to choose from: a lemon yellow elegant saree or a light pink captivating one. They were both from Kiaan. He did buy them himself, but he didn't get them to me; rather, he had them sent to me through Di. Everyone would surely have assumed I would choose yellow. But I didn't. I didn't choose myself by choosing yellow, instead, I opted for Pink and chose my husband.

He loved pink on me.

Though he had never said it, his eyes had several times in the past. Every time I wore pink, he would stare at me a little longer, go speechless, which was unusual for his demeanour. And he would keep tracking my movements if I was around him wearing pink.

So this time, I wanted him to watch me. To not let his eyes waver from me. To realize that just as he would choose me, I would choose him the same way.

Last night, I slept with Di and Saavi in Di's room, talking until late. And ever since I woke up, which, by the way, was in the afternoon, the entire house had been in chaos over the reception.

People were talking over calls, running here and there, and of course, makeup artists and hairstylists were already at home, dolling up the women.

Everyone got ready before me and gave me time to relax, eat something, and do everything at my own pace. While the whole house was rushing, they didn't let me rush even for a second. But I didn't eat anything. I was too anxious to let anything down my throat.

By now, some of the family members had already left for the venue. I was still here, along with my husband, who was getting ready somewhere, though I wasn't sure where.

Dhruv Bhaiya and Saavi were here too. They were to leave with us.

I twirled, feeling happy in the beautiful outfit, and my bangles jingled again. This time a little louder. Before I could even take a breath after stopping, I felt his presence. I guess I had had enough time alone with my thoughts. It was time for him to be here with me. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and then turned to look at him.

Big mistake!

The sight of him stole the air from my lungs.

He wore a three-piece black suit. The shiny Tom Ford shoes didn't increase his charm. It looked like he was the one increasing the value of the already expensive shoes simply by wearing them. He stared at me, dolled up in pink, and I felt him go speechless. His breath caught somewhere inside. He looked at me for a long moment before walking toward me. His eyes scanned my face as if he could already read my thoughts.

When he was close enough, he slowly raised his right hand, brushing his knuckles gently against my left cheek. My hands instinctively rose and rested against his chest to steady myself. If I hadn't, I might have fallen, as my knees were already weak.

"You made me wait quite long," he murmured.

"My bangles called you again?" I asked softly.

"They did," he replied, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

His lips lingered there longer than usual, and I closed my eyes. He had never been like this with me... this gentle, this soft... as if he had hidden this side of himself for years, only for me to witness it.

"You look exactly how I always picture you," he said, staring down into my eyes.

"How do you picture me?" I asked curiously.

"I picture you as mine," he said with quiet assertion, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Then he took my wrist and guided me toward the bed.

Gently pressing my shoulders, he made me sit down before kneeling in front of me. He held my ankle, his gaze locked with mine.

The air left my lungs again. My fingers tightened into the sheets.

"Kiaan, someone will see us," I murmured.

"Hm... someone will see us..." he repeated, his thumb slowly brushing over my ankle.

"Isn't it exciting, though? Filled with thrill..."

My eyes widened slightly.

"You don't mind if people find us... you know..." I paused, then gestured between us before adding, "...like this?"

"Like what?" he asked, pretending innocence as he continued brushing his thumb over my ankle.

I curled my toes, feeling my nerves catch fire.

"You know what I mean," I murmured.

"I am not a mind reader."

He gave me a sly smile.

Even being cocky, he looked devastating. The soft light of the setting sun cascaded over him completely. If beasts were that handsome and mesmerizing, why would anyone ever want a hero in their life?

"You always say you know me...everything about me, and now suddenly you are not a mind reader?" I teased softly.

I expected him to give me his dangerous look at least, if not agitated. Instead, a slow smile curved on his lips. It was dangerous, though...the kind that could trap anyone, and the captive would gladly surrender.

At least, I would.

If he kept looking at me like that... showing me a rawness the world had never seen and probably never would, I would willingly let him cuff me, just to stay in that moment a little longer.

"You know what I exactly am?" His tone carried a hidden danger, and I expected nothing less. If he ever stopped being a beast, that would concern me. I had gotten used to him being one now. I had gotten used to his darkness, his power, his untamed control, and his obsessiveness. I preferred him that way and no other way around.

He had turned the tables in such a way that I didn't want him to change at all. Instead, I found myself wanting to mold myself according to him.

"A threat... a dangerous enigma..." I replied to his question.

He was the kind of danger I would choose to face every single day of my life, and it would still not be enough.

"I am the storm people hear about but never survive," he said, a coy smile playing on his lips.

"The kind of danger that doesn't announce itself. The kind that waits."

He truly was a storm that never announced its arrival, and that was the beauty of it. The thrill of being found by him had always lived, beating wildly inside me.

"But for you..." His eyes darkened, fire flickering within them as he added, "I am the one who would burn the entire world down just to keep you warm."

I was scared. Not because of him, but because I was getting used to him more and more each day. The intensity of my obsession with him had begun to grow, and if one day he wasn't there, if somehow I had to take that fall, I knew I wouldn't survive it.

He was becoming my need, and that terrified me.

"So tell me, firefly, what's bothering you?"

His thumb stopped tracing lazy circles over my ankle.

Just like I had predicted, he had read me.

He always knew when something was brewing inside my head, even when I said nothing at all. And yet he had the audacity to pretend he wasn't a mind reader.

But he was more than that.

He didn't just read thoughts. He read every pause, silence, the spaces between breaths. He read the way my pulse shifted beneath his touch, the way my breath went erratic for him.

He wasn't a mind reader. Instead, he was a soul reader.

While I didn't want to start our night with doubts, uncertainties, and suspicions, I couldn't help but keep thinking about that one name. Tara. Even in my dream last night, that little Kiaan from the picture had chanted her name. My entire day, my head was filled with thoughts of her, and that wasn't fair.

I was worried and scared that the name occupied Kiaan's mind as well...or maybe it occupied more than that. My mind kept brewing things, which only escalated my worries. So even when I didn't wish to give power to just a name over our reception night, I had to clear things with Kiaan. So I ended up asking him, "Was there anyone else in your life before me?"

To clarify myself further, I added, "Am I someone's replacement?"

His expression remained the same, as if he was trying to read me like before. And I knew he could do that effortlessly. Before he could say something, I requested without pause, "And please, I want an answer...not a question in response."

He loved playing with words, and as much as I was used to it, I didn't want a confusing question to be his answer this time, not when I was anxious, thinking I was someone's replacement.

He didn't get angry, didn't question me about the source of my worries or the inception of my suspicions. He just confidently answered, "There is only one woman I ever wished to be with. That's you."

"Now, I have you..." he whispered darkly as he tightened his hold on my ankle, as if reminding me once again that I belonged to him.

"Not completely..." I mumbled.

"Yes, I do. You just don't realize it yet," he said with quiet determination, and it had my insides in knots.

"Starting tonight, I will be honest and sincere with you regarding everything," he claimed firmly. That was unexpected of him.

What changed suddenly?

"Why? Because I let you in?" I asked desperately.

"No," he said quietly. "Because you chose me when no one else in the world even looked at me."

That didn't make sense. The world feared him but also worshiped him. People wanted to be seen by him just once, and he claimed I was the one who saw him when no one else did. How could that be true?

"You could have anyone in your life. Why me?" If he had let anyone else come close to him, they would have seen the real him. But would they really have seen him the way I did?

"I could have any woman in my bed, but I am not that man. You know it."

Kiaan Chauhan was anything but a man who wanted different women in his bed. He was a twisted man with unknown desires, goals, and ambitions. He thrived in darkness while I preferred the light. I feared the dark, while he tended to diminish light wherever he went, but that didn't make him someone who wanted different women in his bed. It was never his goal, never his intention.

"I don't want you as an accessory. I don't want you as some trophy to parade around, not as a reward I won in a twisted game. I want you on my throne beside me... as my Queen. I want you to be the only soul that dares to stand next to mine."

It was difficult to believe what he said, but I could feel his honesty. He once hated me, and now he wanted me by his side, not as a mere wife, but as something more than one could even ask for.

"And when I rule this world, I want you to rule me."

"My Queen. My Equal."

Then he gently pulled my feet up.

"Kiaan... what are you...." My words faltered when he left a chaste kiss on my ankle.

He rested my feet on his knee.

"Kiaan... don't..." I tried pulling my feet back, but he held them firmly in place.

"Shh... just let me."

He pulled out a rectangular silver box from his pocket, handed it to me, and told me to open it. When I did, I found two shiny, jingling payals inside, small tinkling ghungroos attached to them with a melodious, soulful sound.

My eyes lit up, and my lips curved into a smile. My heart felt too full....almost heavy with happiness. They were similar to the ones I had wanted to buy two years ago when I saw them in a shop, but they had gone out of stock. I had cried so much over that.

"How did you... Where did you find them?" I asked.

He pulled one of the payals out, tied it around my ankle, and said while looking straight into my eyes, "They have been resting in my cupboard for two years. It was time I gave them to their rightful owner."

My smile dropped as I stared at him in shock, my vision turning slightly blurry. I blinked my tears away as he lifted my other foot onto his knee.

"You bought them," I said in realization.

"I did..." He flicked the ghungroos, and they responded with a soft silver melody.

"I want you to wear them every day," he commanded.

"Why?" I asked nervously.

"Because I want the whole world to hear what's mine."

"I am yours?" I asked, a hint of fear in my voice.

Even though he had said many times that I belonged to him, I still needed him to say it again. I needed him to be clear with his intentions. Maybe because this was the first time someone truly made me feel like I had a place in their life. Or maybe it was just my way of protecting my heart... in case it had to break again.

"Only mine. Don't make me prove it."

"Why not?"

"Because you will beg..." He kissed my ankle over the payal. I couldn't help but curl my toes again.

"...and I want to be the only thing you can think about when you do."

My heartbeat grew heavy with emotion, my breath ragged as if I had just run a sprint.

"And right now... You have a lot on your mind. Not just me. This night is ours, but I want you to talk to me tomorrow and tell me everything that's bothering you."

"It's not a request," he made clear.

He simply placed my feet back on the floor, picked up my heels, and slipped them onto my feet one by one while I sat there in shock, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions.

When he stood up, he extended his hand for me to take. When I did, he gently pulled me to my feet and held my waist.

"If only we didn't have to be somewhere else..."

I knew he would cancel the reception without a second thought if I asked. I could see it in his eyes, the restraint, the hunger, the quiet storm he was holding back just for me. He lowered his face, bringing it closer to my lips.

"I hate that I have to expose you to the world when all you will ever need is me," he said. It was need talking, the desperation, the raw desire meant only for me. My breath was still ragged, my heartbeat still racing.

"Say it, firefly. Tell me you want me. Just say the fucking word, and we won't step out of this room."

That was feral.

I closed my eyes, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heart thumping beneath my palms...the chained beast inside him roaring to be set free.

I was in a daze, and I knew I would say it. I knew I would give in.

But then, a sudden honking startled me, pulling me back to the present. I opened my eyes and realized what I was about to do.

Shit! How could I almost become a puppet to his words? It was our reception, for God's sake. I couldn't ruin that.

"We should go," I mumbled, staring anywhere but at him, forcing some distance between us, but his hand was still on my waist.

"We will go," he said softly, brushing his thumb against my waist. "But don't think this is over."

That was a clear warning. I couldn't run from him anymore. Not after he had already tasted me once, and not when I knew exactly how he made me feel beneath him.

The honking of the car came again. This time, it was louder, followed by Dhruv Bhaiya's voice yelling from outside.

"Come on, lovebirds! Keep your hormones in check for a while. We are getting late!"

"Fucker," Kiaan muttered under his breath, and I giggled. I quickly pressed my lips into a thin line when he shot me a dangerous, intensified glare.

Kiaan and I had to go in Dhruv Bhaiya's car. While Kiaan loved driving and hated being a passenger princess, tonight he had no choice. The tyre of his car had punctured at the worst possible moment, and now he was sitting in the passenger seat with Dhruv Bhaiya driving, while Saavi and I were in the backseat, chatting the entire way.

When the car stopped, everyone stepped out. Kiaan came around, opened the door for me, and held my hand as he gently helped me out. I had assumed we would be at a resort or something similar. Instead, I found myself at a port.

"Why are we at a port? Are we going to the venue by boat?" I asked my husband.

He pointed into the distance and said, "Look over there. That's the venue."

I gasped when I saw the massive cruise glowing under the moonlight.

"Really?" My eyes glistened with excitement.

He nodded, smiling at me, and it filled my heart with even more thrill. I had never wanted a conventional reception, and I couldn't help but feel elated at the thought of being on a cruise for the first time, especially for my own reception.

******

Kiaan

******

Before stepping inside the grand ballroom with my wife, I had to check the security and pass on a few final instructions to the team. While I was fairly confident nothing disastrous would happen, I refused to underestimate anyone or the situation.

My friends, on the other hand, were more alert than usual.

We stood in a private lounge from where we could monitor everything. Floor-to-ceiling glass overlooked the calm yet deceptively deadly ocean. Security screens displayed live CCTV footage of the ballroom.

Simran, on the other hand, was in the bridal suite with Saavi and Dhriti, touching up her makeup ...at least that's what Dhriti had told me while stealing my wife away from me.

I already missed her.

The taut posture of my friends made me realize they would hardly enjoy the night if they continued scanning every screen like eagles tracking their prey. I gave Enzo a few additional security instructions, and he headed out.

After that, I turned to the others, who were still examining each monitor with sharp precision.

"You all need to loosen up," I said.

Then my eyes settled on one of the screens. A few cars had just pulled up at the dock.

A slow smirk spread across my face as I recognized familiar men in grey suits stepping out of those vehicles, earpieces in place before they boarded the ship.

"You are well aware of our history with receptions," Arjun said, his tone unusually serious.

I agreed with him. But this time, it was going to be different.

When it came to us Aces, none of our receptions had ever gone smoothly except Namit's. There was an attack on Dhruv's reception, and at Arjun's Nitya got kidnapped. But nothing happened at Namit's reception. That jerk got lucky. But I don't believe in luck.

I make things happen my way. I bend situations to my advantage. I twist the universe's natural order to suit my convenience and then watch the world bleed.

That's how I function.

"Nothing will happen," I replied confidently.

"How are you so sure?" Hredhaan asked, his eyes still glued to the screen. He had surely noticed the men in grey suits, too, making sure they weren't a threat.

A playful smirk rested on my lips as I continued watching them. Everyone followed my gaze to the screen.

Then I heard Dhruv ask, "What did you do, Kiaan?"

They knew.

If I wasn't as tense as they were, especially when I was usually the most alert among us, and especially since it was my reception, it meant I had already done something outrageous to ensure things would unfold in my favor.

"Nothing. Just tightened the security," I replied coolly.

"Who are they?" Namit asked, watching the men in grey suits being led by Enzo toward the hallway that connected to our private security lounge.

"They are from one of the most prominent security firms in the world."

"Obsidian Shield," Hredhaan muttered once he recognized them. He slowly turned toward me, looking as if I had completely lost my mind. Arjun, Namit, and Dhruv wore the same expression.

We Aces worked against the mafia, not with them. And yet I had hired the men of Obsidian Shield: a firm known for protecting some of the most dangerous powers in the world. It was owned by one of the deadliest mafia.

As I said, I did nothing. Just tightened the security.

I made my enemies work for me.

******

Hi Lovelies,

I hope you all are doing well. ❤️

Obsidian Shield: Remember The Name

Kiaan broke the very first rule of being an ace: Never work with mafias. What would happen now? 🤔

But will Kiaan really be honest with Simran now? 🤔

I can't reveal much...all I can say is you guys are not ready for what's coming next in the few chapters 🥹

Also, do let me know what you want to read soon: their romance or the mystery unfolding? I will plan accordingly. 🤗

Do share your views about the chapter. It would mean a lot to me. ❤️

Thanks,

Shrishtee