Bound by Fire

The Weight of the Decision

Sanya's mind was a chaotic whirlpool of emotions as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling. The soft hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound in the room, but inside her head, there was nothing but noise. The conversation with Aarav replayed over and over, his deep voice, the seriousness in his eyes, the weight of his words.

A **temporary marriage**.

The thought was absurd, ridiculous even, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like the only possible solution. Sanya had always dreamed of a love story, not the grand fairy-tale kind, but something real. She had imagined meeting someone who would make her heart race, who would understand her, and whom she would slowly fall for. Yet here she was, contemplating marriage with a man she had barely known for a few weeks. And worse, one she didn't even **like**.

Her family didn't pressure her often, but she had seen the worry in her parents' eyes, the subtle hints about how "times were getting tough." It wasn't just about tradition or pride; it was about their livelihood, their future. Could she really turn her back on them when they needed her the most?

Sanya groaned, rolling onto her side, the weight of the decision pressing on her chest. Aarav was offering her an escape, a way to relieve the pressure from her family. But the cost? Her freedom. Her independence. Her heart.

Would it be worth it?

---

**The next morning**, Sanya woke up feeling groggy, her dreams filled with images of Aarav and the strange life she was being asked to step into. She dragged herself out of bed, wrapping her shawl tightly around her shoulders as she made her way to the kitchen, where her mother was already busy preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, beta," her mother greeted warmly, not turning from the stove.

Sanya managed a weak smile. "Morning, Ma."

She sat at the table, absentmindedly stirring her cup of tea, her thoughts still tangled in the conversation from the day before. Her mother's voice broke through the haze.

"You're quiet this morning. Is something on your mind?"

Sanya hesitated, not sure how to approach the subject. How could she explain to her mother the conflict she felt? How could she possibly tell her that she was considering a marriage of convenience, one devoid of love? Her heart ached at the thought, but she knew she couldn't keep this to herself.

"Ma..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "What would you say if... if I were to marry someone, but not for love?"

Her mother turned around, her brow furrowing slightly in confusion. "What do you mean, not for love?"

Sanya's fingers tightened around her teacup. "I mean... if the marriage was more for practical reasons. To help the family... and him."

Her mother's expression softened, but there was a knowing look in her eyes. She walked over to the table, sitting across from Sanya, her hands warm as they reached out to hold her daughter's.

"Sanya, marriage is more than just love," her mother said gently. "It's about partnership, respect, and sometimes, yes, about doing what's best for the people you care about. Your father and I... we didn't fall in love at first sight. We grew into it. And look at us now, after all these years."

Sanya swallowed hard, her throat tightening with emotion. "But, Ma, what if... what if it never grows? What if it's just... nothing?"

Her mother smiled softly, her eyes filled with warmth and wisdom. "Sometimes love comes in ways you don't expect. And sometimes, it doesn't come at all. But that doesn't mean a marriage can't be successful. If you choose to marry for reasons other than love, you just need to be sure that the person you're marrying is someone you can respect, someone you can trust."

Sanya's heart ached at her mother's words. Respect and trust. Did she even have that with Aarav? They barely knew each other, and when they did interact, it was more like a verbal sparring match than anything resembling trust or respect. But there had been that moment—the moment when his vulnerability had shown through, when he had admitted that he, too, felt trapped by his family's expectations.

Was that enough to build on?

---

**Later that day**, Sanya found herself walking through the bustling streets of the city, her thoughts still spinning. She didn't know where she was going, but she needed to clear her head, to escape the suffocating feeling that had settled over her since the proposal. She wandered aimlessly, passing through markets filled with the sound of vendors calling out and children running through the narrow streets.

As she walked, she heard her phone buzz in her bag. Pulling it out, she saw Aarav's name flashing on the screen. For a moment, she debated ignoring it, but something inside her urged her to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Sanya." Aarav's voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something—concern?—that caught her off guard. "I wasn't sure if you'd pick up."

"I almost didn't," she admitted, her voice tinged with hesitation.

There was a pause on the other end before Aarav spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I know this isn't easy. I've been thinking about it all night, and... I want you to know that if you say no, I'll understand. I won't pressure you."

Sanya's heart skipped a beat. The vulnerability in his voice was unexpected, and it stirred something inside her. For the first time, she realized that maybe Aarav wasn't the cold, calculating businessman she had pegged him to be. Maybe, just maybe, he was struggling with this decision as much as she was.

"I don't know what to do, Aarav," she said quietly, her voice breaking. "I feel like no matter what I choose, I'm going to lose something important."

Aarav's silence on the other end of the line was palpable, but when he finally spoke, there was a tenderness in his voice that surprised her. "I don't want you to feel like you're losing something. If we do this, Sanya, we'll do it together. We'll figure it out. And if it doesn't work... then we'll go our separate ways. But I won't let you go through this alone."

Sanya's breath caught in her throat, her heart suddenly heavy with emotion. She had expected Aarav to be indifferent, detached, but here he was, offering her something she hadn't anticipated—**understanding**.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them filled with the unspoken weight of their choices.

"I'll think about it," Sanya whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise of the city.

"I'll be waiting," Aarav replied softly, and with that, the line went dead.

As Sanya stood there, phone clutched in her hand, she felt the weight of her decision more than ever. But for the first time, she also felt a flicker of something else—something fragile and uncertain, but undeniably there.

Hope.

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