I didn't know why I was feeling a little uncomfortable when his arm was around my waist and we were close to each other. Whatever happened in the Haldi ritual was enough to open my eyes. The arguments, I have heard regarding the wedding in the ritual were strong and forced me to doubt our relationship too. I didn't know that our relationship was pure or not but it always felt right, comfortable, and beautiful being with the Prince.

The moment he filled the vermillion in the partition of my hairs on the forehead, I accepted him as my husband, I accepted his family as mine and I accepted his parents as mine like any other woman. I respected the bond of vermillion irrespective of the emotion behind it. I knew that he did all that in anger but still I couldn't disrespect the Holy vermillion by not accepting it.

I was in a dilemma of right and wrong and somehow I couldn't comprehend what was right and what was wrong? I heard the royal ladies in Haldi function saying Wedding rituals are so pure and they should be fulfilled properly. No marriage was considered complete and fruitful if the vows, Mantras weren't chanted properly.

He Suddenly replied catching my attention.

"Means? Why can't you stay here forever? You are my wife now and this is your home, Palace, Empire, and these peoples are your now."

I could see the worries in those lines on his forehead, but I needed to calm my heart by telling what I was feeling.

I smiled fakely a little and looked down before saying softly.

"You know, It's all a lie. We are lying from everyone from the beginning."

He looked at me asked surprisingly. "What?... I mean what is the lie?"

I inhaled a breathe to collect myself and say what I was thinking at that moment.

"Prince, Our marriage is not real."

"What do you mean it's not real?" He replied quickly aligning my chin up with his index finger and forced me to look into his eyes.

I looked into his eyes, They were dark as usual but had a lightness of pain. The slight yellow-orangish sunlight that was falling on the side of his face was glowing his tanned skin beautifully. I diverted my gaze to the rays and I could see the big setting sun behind his shoulder that was hiding behind the great walls of the Palace slightly visible to me.

I diverted my gaze back to him as he cupped my cheek softly.

"Tell me Abhi, what's bothering you?" He asked softly.

I looked into his eyes and held his wrist as his hand was cupping my cheek. "The vows, All those promises that you made on our wedding... I don't know but I never thought that they are not the real ones until today. The marriage is considered complete only when all the rituals are fulfilled wholeheartedly. And our rituals didn't. So, The wedding is incomplete and so do our relationships. We never told anyone about this and hiding something is considered a lie. They think that we are married but actually, we are not. It's a lie, complete lie"

After saying all that in a breathe, I lowered my hand and took a few steps away from him. I was feeling as if something heavy was kept on my Heart.

Suddenly, He pulled me closer to his back and his hand roughly cupped my neck. His hand was much bigger, stronger, and rougher than mine as my head scared to move when my neck was in his prison. He wanted me to look at him and his face was closer to me when he said.

"The day, I entered in your chamber Abhi, I couldn't enter in anyone's else after that. The day, I married you irrespective of the fact that I was angry and it was a destructive misunderstanding, I MARRIED YOU. I knew before you that that how was that Surya dev and I didn't know... I hated you so much but still, my inner conscience didn't allow me to let you marry him. If that day, I didn't marry you then, Life would be much more different and dangerous for both of us."

He pulled me more closer and his voice became thicker, darker, rough, and painful that made every word of his pierce my heart like an arrow. Our lips were closer and I could see the possession he was holding for me. I could see the pain he felt when I said that Our marriage wasn't real. Somehow, the thought of separating made him say those words and it hurt my heart too.

"And you know Abhi, You know very well, That I couldn't fulfill even a single promise that I made that day. I regretted it but that doesn't mean you are not married to me, that doesn't mean We aren't married to each other. Our relationship is as pure as any others. You care for me and I care for you, I have seen how you accepted My family and this marriage. I never felt or doubted its purity."

He said while looking into my eyes, I realized that my words affected him a lot.

"Abhi," He called again and I looked a little down.

"Abhi, I am your husband, You have every right on me and maybe more than any other wife had on her husband ever. I don't know when, where, and how but I can't think of my life without you. And, if you still feel that our marriage is fake, not real or anything then I am ready to marry you aga-"

I placed my hand on his mouth to cut him off as he was lecturing me for a little longer.

"No, I don't want to marry an animal again," I said a little playfully as he was being emotional and I realized that true emotions were never told but felt through deeds.

"Animal, Really?" He asked thinning his eyebrows.

I raised my left eyebrow to confirm it with signs.

"You think, I am an animal?" He asked.

I nodded.

He went silent for a moment and then he tightened his grip around my waist and leaned into my ear and said in his thick tone.

"You know, That wild animal is the most dangerous to bear with" His warm breath fanned on my color bone and it felt even colder because of wet sandalwood and turmeric paste.

He moved his hand over my waist and I stood stunned as he feathered my bare waist with the backside of his fingers lightly. I felt a little sensation when his fingers touched my skin and I looked into his eyes.

I didn't know what came to mind by looking into his dark eyes and I said.

"But, I want to bear a dark, wild and angry animal for the rest of my life," I said.

He moved his fingers from my waist to neck and cupped my slim neck with both his palms softy. As his rough and big hand caged my neck, I feel frightened and my heartbeat raced. My neck was small enough to fit in his hand comfortably.

He aligned my face a little backward by stroking my neck with his thumb and he choked me very lightly and all I could do was blinking nervously.

"You haven't even seen my dark side yet, Abhi."

His thick and slow voice sent a shiver down my spine and I started feeling hot with the closeness.

"You don't even know how rough and bad I can be," He said while coming closer to my face as his thumb was still feathering my neck softly.

I was again feeling the same sensations that I used to think of as black magic and they made me weak in my knees to stand with.

"But, I trust that you will never hurt me," I said slowly and closed my eyes as I felt his lips closer to mine.

My body froze when his lips touched the corner of my lips softly. I could feel the coldness of my round nose ring when it touched my lips with the closeness.

I opened my eyes as he pulled his lips back.

I found myself lost in his gaze and he moved his one hand to my nose. He touched the corner of my round nose ring and I gave myself in. He slowly looking into my eyes took the nose ring out and I was amazed how he perfectly take the jewelry out.

"I will never and honestly I can't hurt you because it hurt me more when I see you and Gulaab in any pain."

I loved what he said and somehow I realized that he had the same place and love for me as he had for Princess.

He pulled me closer and because of his strong and rough hands that had my neck and cheek in prison, I had to stand on my toes to match his height as he was pulling me closer. He leaned and I felt his lips over mine. I closed my eyes as he was tasting my lower lip that somehow sent sensation and shivers down my spine.

I thinned my eyebrows as I felt a little roughness when he dangerously took my lower lip between his and tasted as I eat mangoes. I remembered eating the mangoes the way he was sucking my lip. His hand moved to my waist and my attention diverted from mangoes to the sensations. He pulled my veil down from behind that was still on my head and then he moved his lips from my lips to my neck but not before hearing a gasp as he bit my lip a little.

His hold was tight enough to freeze me in his possession and soon I felt cold and wet paste touching my back over the waistband of my lehnga and then slowly traveling to the nape. He was slowly applying it all over my back keeping me closer in a hug. I was looking over his shoulder when his hand was about to reach my nape, I closed my eyes.

"Ohh, Prince..."

I felt cold and hot at the same time, My heartbeat was beating faster but it was holding its calmness. This time his touch, embrace didn't scared or made me nervous but I realized this was where I belonged. This was where the waters of my river fell. He was my sea and the meaning of my life was somehow incomplete without him.

I snaked around his arm and rubbed his cheek with mine. His beard turned yellow in the paste and I said.

"Your Haldi didn't happen either"

I felt him smiling and I relaxed in his arm.

Suddenly a question struck my mind.

"Prince, Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"No," He replied quickly.

I got myself released from his hug and looked at him.

"What? Why?" I asked but he was seeming in a different playful mood as he held my hand and started walking into the bedroom.

"Because, whenever I want to spend some time with you. You spoil it with stupid things but not today." He said without looking at me.

I was trying to match his speed while saying.

"Ohh Really, You want to call me stupid?" I asked.

He stopped suddenly and looked at me. He looked at the entrance of the bedroom and then at me.

"Abhi, How much you trust me?" He asked softly looking at me.

I was quiet for a moment not understanding why was he asking such a question and moreover why standing outside the bedroom. But I needed to answer.

I looked down and then looked at him softly moving closer to him.

"I trust you this much that I can stay with you my whole life knowing the fact that I am not married to you properly. I trust you this much that I have accepted you as my husband even after seeing how much cruel you can be in anger. I trust you more than I trusted anyone in my whole life, Prince,"

He smiled looking at me and then I held his hand and made him enter in the bedroom.

Suddenly, He pulled me closer in a jerk and I banged with his strong chest. I tried to balance myself and then I looked into his eyes that had something playful and I could see the devilish smile on his face too.

"You know Abhi, You amaze me something with your sense of maturity but sometime you behave like a..." He stopped at the end word as I thinned my eyebrow showing a little fake anger.

"Come, I want to spend some time with you" He said while making me walk towards the bed.

He lied on the bed resting his back against the huge pillows and I sat in front of him.

He was holding my right hand with his and said.

"Now ask, what were you asking." He said after becoming comfortable enough.

I was sitting opposite him and I could see both of us colored in yellow turmeric paste. The room was lighting brightly with a good amount of light but as the sun was already set, there was darkness in some corners of the Room.

I diverted my gaze to him and asked.

"Didn't maa Saheb and King asked you about our marriage?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

He looked at me with surprise and then replied.

"This question came to your mind when I was trying to be a little romantic?" He asked with a straight and calm tone by showing his index finger.

I lowered my gaze as I first couldn't comprehend what he said and second I didn't know why the question was wrong.

"I don't know what to say" I replied.

"Hahahaa, I swear you are something at times" He replied laughing at me.

"By the way, come here," He said pulling me closer and he made me sit closer to him and I comforted my back against his chest. At first, I felt nervous as always but then calmed down.

He snaked my stomach from behind and I could feel his hand touching my bangles.

"You remember the day when you challenged me for a war," He asked softly.

I looked at him over my shoulder and replied softly too.

"Yes"

"Maa Saheb and Pita Saheb got really impressed with your fierceness and after that Gulaab tried to kill herself. Abhi, I couldn't have come or maybe you could have married suryadev but when I was with Gulaab looking after her. I received a letter, saying that something wrong is happening in the Palace and someone is planning against us. I didn't know who sent that letter, But I burnt it just after reading it. That's why I came running to you and ended up marrying you, to keep you in my control. And somehow I felt that Maa Saheb and Pita Saheb were involved in it that's why they weren't that much surprised."

He said and I connected all the dots whatever happened that night.

"But," He said and caught my attention again.

"But, Look I can't control you," he said moving my bangles a little impatiently.

He was nervously and Impatiently touching my bangles and I looked at him again. His eyes also seemed worried as he was hiding something and somehow I knew what was it. He just discussed Princess and I could understand him.

I touched his hand and he calmed but his next move made me have tears collected at the corner of my eyes.

He tightened the hug and hid his face in my neck while entangling our fingers tightly.

"What happened Prince?" I asked softly.

"Abhi, I don't trust Sultan Rafiq or maybe I am over-concerned about Gulaab but she will leave the Palace forever in next 4-5 days"

Honestly, I never saw him this weak or maybe no one would ever see him like that. I felt him and somehow I could understand what was he going through. The person who was ready to do anything for his sister and moreover who grown his sister like his own child had to see his sister's wedding or may be risking her life with something that no one might have the hint.

But, He needed to understand that she had to marry, and moreover things might have slipped from our hands. He needed to trust her destiny that she chose for herself.

I didn't know what to say and how to console him but I tightened my fingers around his hand and he inhaled a deep breath kissing my shoulder softly.

"You know Prince that nothing is in our hands, King already agreed and denying the alliance that Princess agreed herself will bring dangerous consequences to everyone," I said softly.

"I am not scared of consequences but misunderstandings. I don't know what's going on between them and I can't do anything just because I am suspicious. Proofs are needed for actions" He said while straightening his face again.

"Yeah, I know and understand Prince. " I replied softly.

Whatever he was saying was right and all I could do at that time was to stay with him and didn't let him being weak.

"You want me to talk to Princess?" I asked looking above my shoulder at him. He looked at me too and replied.

"Oh, Abhi. Please don't look at me like this, this affects me very badly" He said in a hoarse and dark voice slowly and I quickly lowered my gaze.

My mind registered what he just said and I asked again looking at him. "What do you mean by badly?"

He looked at me and then leaned in closer to peck his lips over mine softly while saying.

"You seduce me very badly." I blinked nervously and he pulled back. For a few moment I forgot what was I about to ask and I broke tha gaze.

I shyly replied. "Umm, I don't know what are you talking about but I don't do anything with you."

We both became silent for a moment but the curiosity was killing me to know what was he talking about? Somehow I guessed that it was related to the love but how I seduced him and what the seduces actually mean.

"By the way, What that means?" I asked softly without meeting our eyes.

I looked at our feet as he touched my anklet with his toe. I didn't know why it affected me but I felt something with that and I moved my feet away from his a little.

I felt him leaning closer to my ears and his hold around me tightened while he muttered something that made me shiver and I felt goosebumps around my ear and on my neck.

"Whenever you wear Red, Abhi. I feel like having you, I feel like making you sit over my lap and see you feeling me, Hear you feeling me and see you feeling the pleasure"

oh my God!!! Why he is talking like this and why it sending shivers.

He sucked below my ear and I ended up closing my eyes, His touch, lips sent shivers all across my nerves and I tried to move my ear away from his mouth but he surprised me by caging my neck in his hand. He held my neck to keep me still and sucked my skin below the ear initially softly and then the slight harshness took over it.

"Prince..."

He was not kissing the skin where the turmeric paste was still there and soon his hand moved to my shoulder pulling the sleeve of my blouse down.

I felt his rough fingers touching my skin and then adjusting them inside the shoulder side of my blouse. He pulled it down slowly while sucking my earlobe.

My mouth opened and my head falls back a little. I was feeling as if he was pleasing me by making me feel the sensations. I let myself feel his lips, mustache and a sharp drive of feeling trailed from my earlobe to the spine made me inhale a sharp breath and I heard a gasp from my mouth.

I had never felt such a thing before and somehow it was magical and new.

He shifted his lips from my earlobe to my shoulder and kissed there softly too. While feeling him sucking my earlobe I felt his toe touching my feet again. His rough finger holding my waist moved a little only to keep me still.

His hand started trying to pull the sleeve down but it was stopping in midway because of the golden Armlet. He was so much into the smell of my skin that he didn't realize that if he didn't stop the clothes would leave torn.

He tried once again to pull it lower and I could feel that he was getting impatient.

"Why the hell it's not going down?" He asked softly against my skin and It made me smile a little.

I touched the armlet and opened it for him. He smiled looking at me and I looked at him too calmly.

Suddenly, he pulled his face up and asked to me coming closer very slowly.