𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 ✓

-31-

As I leaned across the table, the soft glow of candlelight danced in her eyes. "You have a beautiful smile, Naaz," I murmured, reaching out to take her hand. Her skin was warm, her fingers soft and delicate in mine. "You should smile more often."

Her gaze met mine, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. "You really think so?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she wasn't sure she deserved such praise.

"Yes," I replied, my voice steady, sincere. "There are many times when a smile is the beginning of a love story." The words felt right, almost inevitable, as if they had been waiting to be spoken in this moment, in this intimate setting.

The air between us grew thick with unspoken emotions. I could feel the pull, the magnetic draw that had been building all night. Slowly, I leaned in, my gaze dropping to her lips. Naaz didn't move, her breath hitching slightly as I closed the distance. When our lips finally met, it was soft at first, almost tentative, but the connection was electric. Her lips were warm and tasted faintly of chocolate and vanilla, a sweetness that made me want more.

As the kiss deepened, everything else faded away. The world outside the restaurant ceased to exist. All that mattered was her, the way she responded to me, the way she melted into the kiss. My hand moved to cup her cheek, feeling the heat of her skin against my palm. This was right, this was real, and it was something I didn't want to let go of.

When we finally pulled away, both of us were breathless. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide with surprise, and something else-something that mirrored the emotions swirling inside me. Before she could speak, before the moment could slip away, I reached into my pocket, my fingers closing around the small velvet box that had been weighing heavily in my mind all evening.

"Naaz," I said, my voice thick with emotion as I opened the box, revealing a simple, elegant gold ring. "This is a promise ring. A promise that from now on, you belong to me, and I belong to you. Till death do us part."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stared at the ring, and then at me. "Siddique... I..."

Before she could finish, I slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, just as I had hoped. "It's also a promise," I continued, "that when you're ready, after your higher education, we'll get married. This is my way of claiming you as mine, and you claiming me as yours."

Her tears finally spilled over, but they were tears of happiness, of overwhelming emotion. She looked up at me, her lips trembling as she tried to find the right words, but none were needed. The look in her eyes said it all.

I pulled her close, our lips meeting again, but this time the kiss was different. It was passionate, a raw expression of the emotions coursing through both of us. My hands slid into her hair, pulling her closer as her fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt. The world seemed to slow down, the intensity of the kiss growing as we both poured everything we felt into it. The warmth of her body, the softness of her lips, the way she clung to me-it was perfect.