The morning sun streamed through the Deewan mansion, but today the atmosphere was charged with a different kind of energy — it was Veeresh’s birthday, and Poornima had been planning her surprise meticulously for weeks.

Poornima approached him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

> “Happy Birthday, Veeresh,” she said softly, smiling up at him.

Veeresh looked at her, a rare warmth softening his sharp features. A small, amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

> “Thank you, Ruby,” he murmured, his voice low and commanding as always, yet gentler for her.

She handed him a neatly wrapped box. Veeresh opened it to reveal a charcoal suit, tailored to perfection.

> “You will wear this. It’s my present,” she said, her tone playful but decisive.

Veeresh raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming as he ran his hand along the smooth fabric. Without another word, he wore it, adjusting the crisp fit with his usual precision.

When he glanced at himself in the mirror, his eyes fell on a sleek watch she had placed alongside the suit.

> “You look perfect… hot,” Poornima said, her voice teasing, eyes shining with admiration.

Veeresh’s smirk deepened, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

> “How did you get the exact measurements?” he asked, genuinely intrigued.

Poornima leaned close, whispering softly,

> “That… is a secret.”

He chuckled, a rare, dark laugh, and shook his head. “I should have known better than to ask a clever woman like you.”

Poornima giggled, then held up a small card.

> “Next… cake. We will cut it with your guards — the ones who are always with you. And one condition: you have to be on time, or else… 100 sit-ups and push-ups.”

Veeresh’s dark eyes flickered with amusement and slight mock annoyance.

> “100? You’re really going to punish the underworld don for being late?”

> “Yes,” she said firmly, her eyes sparkling with playful authority. “No exceptions.”

Veeresh laughed quietly, a low, dangerous sound, and shook his head in disbelief and admiration.

> “Ruby… you really do enjoy testing me.”

She smiled, tilting her head.

> “I know. But you like it too.”

Veeresh’s dark gaze softened ever so slightly as he looked at her, the woman who had stolen his obsession, challenged his dominance, and captured his heart.

> “Yes, Ruby… I do.”

And with that, the day began — a perfect mix of power, playfulness, teasing, and subtle romance, where even the feared Veeresh Deewan would bend, if only a little, to the clever, fearless woman who ruled his heart.