Page 197 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

He slipped it over my head and let it fall around my waist. His fingers worked at the strings, and I adjusted the hem.

“Here,” I said.

He tied the first knot gently.“Tighter, Ranaji,” I instructed, and watched his long fingers tug the strings more firmly.

His naked chest was pressed to my back, his chin lightly resting on my shoulder. My breath caught, and my skin turned sensitive, nipples erect with desire, feeling an immense hunger for his rough touch. I held still as he secured it.

I picked up the blouse next and handed it to him. He looked at it with mild surprise.

The blouse had three-fourths sleeves and a small neck, and it wasn't backless.

“Seems like someone doesn’t like my backless blouses,” I said with a smirk

He gave a soft laugh.“Definitely,”

I raised a brow.“Why?”

He slid my arms through the sleeves, helping me adjust it over my chest.“I don’t like everyone seeing my beautiful wife,” he murmured, tying the knots under the side of my arms.

“But I like the way I dress,” I said gently.

“I like it too. But… why backless?” he asked, as if a baby were complaining.

I lifted my arms slightly so he could finish tying it.“Because it makes me feel beautiful. Confident,” I admitted.

He leaned in and kissed my arm.“That’s wonderful. And forme, you're beautiful no matter what you wear—or don’t wear. One day, when you're gone, the world won’t remember how you dressed. But they will remember Queen Nandani, the woman who built shelters and saved lives,”

I smiled softly at his words.“Wow,” I giggled a little, feeling its warmth.

“Where were all these lessons when you left me?” I asked quietly.

His smile faded. A beat of silence passed before he answered.“Coated in a selfish reason…”

The pause was heavy. Then he continued,“...Not everyone is born evil, Nandani. Circumstances make them. Children aren’t born thieves; poverty turns them. People don’t come into the world as liars; insecurity breeds that. What we become... isn’t about gender, caste, religion, or upbringing. It’s about what life throws at us. Even the strongest empires fall when faced with the storm,”

I slowly turned to look at him, his words sitting heavily between us.

My eyes gazed into his, and I gently raised my palm to his cheek. I brushed my thumb across his lips and whispered,“I know, Rudra. I know. That’s why I love you so much. Because you weren’t born that way,”

He nodded softly.“Remember, no one is. When it comes to asking, keep your expectations small. But when it comes to giving, make your heart the biggest, my love,”

I nodded, tears forming without reason I could understand. I couldn’t stop myself from lifting up, trying to reach his lips.

But the final few centimetres of distance remained, and I murmured, breathless,“Kiss me, please,” My breathing deepened.“Make me smell like you… Please,” I whispered, and he slowly leaned in.

His lips captured mine, sucking them softly. He pulled me closer, cupping my neck with care. After a moment, he pulled away and gazed into my eyes. His fingers traced my cheek, and I felt like crying.

“Kis maya se mohit kar diya hai aapne humein, Rudra?”(What spell have you cast on me, Rudra?) I said, as a tear escaped.

He wiped it away, his own eyes shining.“I may have done the magic… but you're the witch,”

I burst into laughter, even as more tears fell. Turning away, Itried to catch my breath.“Come on, finish what you started, Ranaji,”

He grinned.“Wow… a new nickname—witch,” I smiled back.

He picked up the lehenga, slipping it over my head and letting it fall around my waist. The moment I saw myself, I gasped—amazed, shocked, glowing with happiness.

“It’s extravagant, Rudra,”

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