If one is fire, the other is not water. Here, both are fire.

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✿Prologue✿

After the heated argument in the drawing room, Ashwini shook her head in anger and irritation and walked straight into her room. The moment her eyes fell on the things laid out on the bed, her brows furrowed instantly. There lay a red Banarasi sari—one look at it was enough to soothe the eyes, a bridal sari. Beside it was a gajra. Ashwini picked it up the moment she noticed it.

As she lifted it, she saw that along with it were about nine to ten pieces of gold jewellery. Among them, one thing caught her attention—a waist chain. Putting the gajra down, Ashwini picked up that waist chain which had the power to draw one’s gaze instantly.

It was made with a thin, light chain that would sit very naturally around the waist. Attached to the chain were small star-shaped dangling charms, adding a delicate elegance to the design without making it heavy.

Running her fingers over the waist chain once, Ashwini placed it back on the bed. Turning her gaze away from a woman’s most cherished possessions, she looked to one side—towards the Banarasi sari. As she lifted it and gently ran her hand over the pallu, every word Anuraag had spoken echoed in her ears.

“Remember this—whether you want something or not makes no difference to me. Your fate has already been decided. And that too, by me. If you try to find a way out of our bond, you’ll find me standing as an obstacle on that very path. The place where you’re standing right now—I am the king of that place. So stop letting those clever thoughts spin in your head. From today, even they are no longer free. Just like you. From today onwards, everything you desire or achieve is bound to me.”

“Fate! My foot!! Dreaming is fine, Mr. Raghuvanshi. But one shouldn’t drown in dreams. Every word you said will come true—but only according to my will!” Ashwini said through clenched teeth, gripping the Banarasi sari tightly.

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“Your queen is in my hands. I’ve heard that when a king is separated from his queen, he loses even the power to walk. I’m hoping to see proof of that today.”

“A queen may fall into the wrong hands for a while. But a queen always belongs to the king.”

“Dialogues stick to your lips, don’t they? But let me tell you—whosever hands the queen is in, she remains the same queen,” Aaryan said, licking his lips.

“Speaking so much about the queen, that too standing in front of the king—this crime was uncalled for.”

“Crime? Then who will give the punishment for this crime? You?” Aaryan mocked, looking at Anuraag who was sitting bound right in front of him.

“When danger stands before the king, the queen is the first to step forward.”

“Very nice. Didn’t I tell you—you’re a master of dialogues? But maybe you’ve forgotten. Your queen is a captive.”

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Ishq mein jeene marne ko hum toh hai taiyaar

Goli maaro duniya ko khush raho na yaar

Aaila re ladki mast mast tu aaila re

Aaila re ladki mast mast tu aaila re

Phir se bol zara joh tu bola re

Dekhke tujhko dil aai-ga dola re......

After the event ends, the two of them return to their room. Exhausted, Anurag picks up his phone and sits down. On the other hand, Ashwini, still humming the song she had danced to earlier, goes and stands right by the window.

Everything would have been fine if she had just stood there quietly. But what Ashwini did next made Anuraag’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Anuraag exclaimed in shock as he saw Ashwini suddenly remove the pallu of her sari and drop it onto the floor.

“Why? What did I do that’s so shocking? Why are you shouting so much?”

“If you want to change, go to the closet. What’s the point of doing all this standing inside the room?”

“Why? As far as I know, this is my room too. I have every right to do whatever I want while standing here.”

“Yes, you do have the right. But that doesn’t mean you’ll change in front of me!”

“You’re uncomfortable? But as far as I know, you’re not interested in women!”

“I’m not interested in other women… but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in you,” Anuraag muttered under his breath.

“Did you say something?”

“As if I have the courage to say anything in front of you!”

******

She fell in love with quiet grace,

He wore a mask, a hidden face.

But when he fell, the world stood still,

Her gentle spark had bent his will.

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“Make a special place for this book in your personal collection.”

“Right after the conclusion of ‘His Innocent Bride’, a new chapter is about to begin—‘His Arranged Bride.’

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