Part 21

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The night after the exhausting but exhilarating day of preparations, Tejasswi found herself slipping into Karan's master bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been given her own room, of course, but the pull to be near him was too strong to resist. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn to keep out the Mumbai streetlights. Karan sat on the edge of the bed, his shirt unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

He looked up as she entered, a question in his gaze. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, patting the space beside him.

Tejasswi took a deep breath, her heart racing. She walked over and sat down, the soft fabric of his shirt enveloping her in his scent. She nodded, her eyes not meeting his.

Karan leaned back, his eyes dropping to her bare legs peeking out from under the hem of the shirt. He couldn't help but smile at her mischief. "Is that my shirt?" he teased, his voice playful.

Tejasswi looked down, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. "I-I couldn't find anything else to wear," she stuttered, tugging at the fabric self-consciously. "It was hanging in the cupboard."

Karan chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "It looks better on you than it ever did on me," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "But why are you wearing it like that?"

Tejasswi's blush deepened as she tugged at the oversized garment. "I didn't have anything to sleep in, and this was the closest thing," she murmured, her eyes downcast.

Karan's teasing smile grew as he took in her attire. "A bralet and shorts? Under my shirt?" He raised an eyebrow playfully. "I think we might have to go shopping tomorrow for some more appropriate nightwear," he said, his voice dropping an octave.

 "I think we might have to go shopping tomorrow for some more appropriate nightwear," he said, his voice dropping an octave

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Imagine tejasswi in this with Karan's shirt over it.

Tejasswi rolled her eyes, trying to hide her smile. "You're one to talk, Mr. No-Pajamas," she quipped, poking his bare chest.

Karan caught her hand, his grin widening. "I can see why you'd be distracted," he said, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "But, as your future husband, I have to make sure you're dressed appropriately for bed."

Tejasswi felt a blush creep up her neck. "I didn't have anything else," she murmured, feeling self-conscious. "I wasn't expecting..."

"I know," Karan said, his eyes filled with understanding. "But it's not every day a man gets to see his fiancée in his clothes," he added with a wink.

Tejasswi felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she pulled the shirt tighter around her. "You're just trying to make me blush," she accused, her voice light and teasing.

Karan chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. "Maybe I am," he admitted, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "But it's not every day I get to see you in my clothes." His gaze lingered on the way the oversized shirt fell off her shoulder, revealing the lacy strap of her bralet.

Tejasswi looked down, her cheeks aflame. "I couldn't sleep," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to..."

Karan's eyes softened, and he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. "Tejasswi," he said, his voice a gentle caress. "You can wear whatever you like. It's your home now, too."

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "Thank you," she whispered, feeling the tension in the room dissipate like a cloud of incense.

Karan leaned back into the pillows, pulling her closer to him. "What's on your mind?" he asked, his thumb tracing lazy circles on the back of her hand.

Tejasswi took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. "I just can't believe how fast everything is happening," she confessed, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Karan chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, it's not every day you get to marry the most beautiful woman in the world," he said, his voice low and teasing. He leaned in closer, his gaze lingering on the sliver of skin revealed by the gap between his shirt and her shorts.

Tejasswi felt a blush creep up her neck, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Karan," she chided, swatting his arm playfully. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just all so... sudden."

He pulled her closer, his laughter subsiding into a warm smile. "I know," he said, his voice soothing. "But sometimes, the universe has a way of knowing what we need before we do." His eyes searched hers, and she saw the truth in his words, the depth of his feelings reflected in the warm brown pools of his gaze.

Tejasswi felt a rush of emotions, a whirlwind of excitement and fear. She had never been in a situation like this before, never felt such a strong pull towards someone she had only just met. But here she was, in the arms of the man who was to be her husband, feeling like she had known him for a lifetime.

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