The Khan's Chosen Bride

Bedtime stories

Sidharth Khan stepped into the bustling office of Khan Steel and Mining Corporation. The morning sun filtered through the glass windows, casting a warm glow over the sleek, modern interior. Employees hurried past, focused on their tasks, while the distant sound of machinery hummed in the background.

Amir Ali, Sidharth's college friend and trusted advisor, spotted him from across the room. He rose from his desk with a nod of recognition, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Morning, Sid," Amir greeted warmly, extending a hand as Sidharth approached.

"Morning, Amir," Sidharth replied with a firm handshake. "What's on the agenda today?"

Amir glanced around, then leaned in slightly. "There's something you should know about that piece of land—the one owned by the Qureshi family. It's complicated."

Sidharth's brow furrowed with curiosity. "Complicated how?"

Amir hesitated briefly. "Let's just say, it might stir up more trouble than it's worth. The Qureshis don't take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs."

Sidharth's jaw set with determination. "We need that land for our expansion plans. Get me the details, Amir. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Amir nodded reluctantly. "Alright, I'll dig deeper. Just be cautious, Sid. This could get messy."

With a nod of understanding, Sidharth headed towards his office, ready to tackle the challenges of the day.

Meanwhile, after a grueling day at college, Shehnaaz and Zaira Khan finally returned home. The inviting aroma of ghar ka khana enveloped them as they stepped inside.

Zaira noticed Shehnaaz's distracted expression and teased, "Shehnaaz, what's with the long face? Koi masla hai?"

Shehnaaz managed a half-hearted grin. "You have no idea, Zaira," she replied with a sigh, her mind racing.

Zaira raised an eyebrow. "Well, brace yourself. Uncle is calling you," she added mischievously, her tone tinged with concern. "Lagta hai unke dimagh mein kuch important baat hai."

Shehnaaz groaned playfully, her distress evident. "Oh no, not another 'serious talk'," she muttered under her breath.

As Zaira chuckled, Shehnaaz rolled her eyes theatrically. *Ya Allah, ab kya karun?* With a dramatic sigh, she made her way towards her uncle's study, already dreading the impending conversation.

Shehnaaz opened the door to find her Chacha and Khala waiting for her. "Ao beta, baito yaha," her Khala beckoned warmly.

"I know the nikkah happened under unforeseen circumstances, but now that he's here, and he's your husband," Chacha began softly, "we will do the rukhsati, beta."

Shehnaaz stood there, her heart sinking at the mention of rukhsati. *Ya Allah, yeh sab kaise ho gaya?* She remembered Sidharth's intimidating stare earlier that day, the way he pinched her waist, and the commanding tone in his voice. Fear crept in as she thought of defying him.

Chacha's voice brought her back to the present. "Do you mind, beta?" he asked gently, concern etched in his face.

Shehnaaz hesitated, torn between her own wishes and the pressure of family expectations. With a heavy sigh, she nodded reluctantly, "no, Chacha , i don't mind."

Feeling her distress, her Khala enveloped her in a tight hug. "Beta, sab theek ho jayega," she murmured reassuringly, while silently cursing their fate and the circumstances that led to this situation.

"Chalo, ab tum dinner karo aur araam karo," Khala suggested softly, guiding Shehnaaz towards the dining room.

Shehnaaz sat on the couch after dinner, lost in her thoughts, as the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught her attention. "Sidharth ji agaye, mere pareshan ki wajah," she muttered, a hint of irritation in her voice. Determined to avoid his usual inquiries, she hurried to her room. Inside, she locked the door behind her and leisurely prepared for bed, taking her time with each step of her nightly routine: a relaxing shower, changing into comfortable shorts and a crop top, and then slowly beginning her skincare routine.