Bound by Fire

A Proposal Neither Wants

It had only been a week since Sanya and Aarav's fiery exchange at the wedding, but the encounter still lingered in Sanya's mind. She couldn't shake off the frustration she had felt after speaking with him. The way Aarav had dismissed her life's work, the way he'd smirked at her—everything about him rubbed her the wrong way. He was the epitome of everything she despised: wealth without responsibility, arrogance without reason.

Sanya sat at the dining table in her parents' modest Delhi home, sipping chai as she flipped through the newspaper. The sun poured in through the large window, casting a golden glow over the room. She was trying to focus on an article about government policies for NGOs when her phone rang, interrupting her concentration.

"Hello, beta," her mother's voice came through the line, sounding unusually cheerful. "I have some exciting news! You need to come home this weekend."

Sanya's brows furrowed. "What's going on, Maa?"

"There's a marriage proposal for you! A very good one."

Sanya almost dropped her tea. "Marriage? Maa, we've talked about this. I'm not ready. I have work to do, and I haven't even met anyone I'd consider marrying."

Her mother, undeterred, continued, "This is different, Sanya. It's a good family, and they're very well-respected. Just meet them. At least talk to them."

Sanya sighed, frustration bubbling up. She loved her parents dearly, but they always seemed to forget that she had her own plans, her own life. "Maa, I'm not interested in meeting anyone for marriage. Please, tell them I'm not ready."

But her mother wasn't listening. "Just come home this weekend, Sanya. We'll talk more when you get here."

With that, her mother hung up, leaving Sanya staring at the phone in disbelief. A marriage proposal? The idea felt foreign to her. She had always focused on her career, her NGO, and helping the underprivileged. Marriage had never been on her radar, especially not now.

---

Across town, Aarav sat in his plush office, surrounded by the sleek modern furniture of his company's headquarters. He stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the Mumbai skyline, but his mind was elsewhere. His father had called him earlier that day with news that had left him equally unsettled.

"Aarav, it's time you got married," his father had said firmly, the words striking like a command.

Aarav had scoffed at the idea. Marriage? He was too busy building his business empire to think about something so trivial. But his father had been insistent.

"We need to secure the merger with the Kapoors. A marriage between the families would solidify the deal. It's good for the business, and it's good for the family. Their daughter is intelligent, beautiful, and comes from a good background. You'll meet her this weekend."

Aarav knew better than to argue with his father. In the Mehra family, business always came first. Still, the idea of a marriage for convenience, for the sake of a deal, left a bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn't opposed to the idea of marriage—someday—but not like this, not under these circumstances.

He leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily. Whoever this Kapoor girl was, she had better be worth the trouble.

---

That Saturday, Sanya reluctantly made her way to her parents' house in Jaipur. She hadn't been home in months, and though she missed her family, the thought of meeting a potential husband filled her with dread. She stepped through the front door, greeted by the familiar warmth of her childhood home. Her mother was already bustling about in the kitchen, preparing an elaborate meal for their special guest.

"Maa," Sanya called, setting her bag down. "Who is this proposal from? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Her mother appeared in the doorway, beaming. "The Mehra family, beta. Very influential, very successful. Their son, Aarav, is a brilliant businessman."

Sanya froze. Aarav? She couldn't believe her ears. "Aarav Mehra? From the wedding?"

"Yes, you've met him! Isn't that wonderful?"

"Wonderful? Maa, we didn't exactly hit it off," Sanya said, exasperated. She remembered their heated argument all too well. How could her parents possibly think they were a good match?

Her mother waved off her concerns. "That was just a misunderstanding, I'm sure. Families like the Mehra's don't come around often. Just give it a chance."

Before Sanya could argue further, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the Mehra family.

---

Aarav walked into the Kapoor home with a forced smile on his face. He had no desire to be here, but he knew his duty. His parents walked ahead, exchanging pleasantries with Sanya's family. Aarav's eyes scanned the room, and then he saw her—Sanya. His mind flashed back to their argument at the wedding, and for a moment, he felt the same surge of irritation he had felt that night.

She looked different now, dressed in a simple pink kurta, her hair loosely tied back. But the fire in her eyes was still there. She wasn't thrilled about this meeting either—that much was clear.

Their parents exchanged introductions, making polite conversation, while Aarav and Sanya stood awkwardly to the side. Finally, Sanya's mother nudged her forward. "Why don't you two talk privately?"

Sanya shot her mother a glare but nodded, leading Aarav into the living room. As soon as they were alone, she rounded on him. "I can't believe this."

Aarav raised an eyebrow. "Trust me, I'm not thrilled about it either."

"Then why are we here? Why don't we just tell our parents this isn't going to work?"

Aarav shrugged. "Because, in my family, things aren't that simple. There's more at stake here than just a marriage. It's a business deal."

Sanya stared at him in disbelief. "A business deal? You're willing to marry someone just for a merger?"

Aarav's expression hardened. "It's not what I want, but it's what's expected. My family's company depends on this. I have to do what's best for the business."

Sanya shook her head, incredulous. "And what about me? Am I just supposed to go along with this because it's 'good for business'?"

"I don't expect you to do anything you don't want to," Aarav replied coolly. "But this is how things work in my world. If you're not interested, I'll tell my father, and we'll both walk away."

Sanya crossed her arms, her mind racing. This was insane. But there was another layer to the situation—her family's financial struggles. Her father's business had been struggling for months, and a marriage to a powerful family like the Mehra's could change everything for them. Could she really walk away, knowing what was at stake for her parents?

She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know. This isn't how I imagined my life would go."

Aarav softened slightly, sensing her inner conflict. "You're not the only one," he said quietly. "But if we do this, we'll set the terms. We don't have to like each other, but we can make it work."

Sanya looked up at him, torn between her principles and her sense of duty to her family. Could she really go through with this?

"I'll think about it," she said finally.

Aarav nodded. "That's all I'm asking"