chance!?

124 10 2
                                    

As the plane ascended, the world below shrank into a patchwork of colors, a fleeting reminder of the life I was leaving behind

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

As the plane ascended, the world below shrank into a patchwork of colors, a fleeting reminder of the life I was leaving behind. Karachi’s twinkling nighttime skyline faded from view, and my heart raced, not from excitement, but from an overwhelming wave of uncertainty.

I stared out the window, clutching the armrest as if it could anchor me to the ground or provide some sense of comfort.

"Are you okay?" came Aayansh’s deep, resonant voice, breaking my reverie.

I turned to face him, the man many described as the king of Maharashtra—powerful, poised, and intimidatingly handsome.

A firm jawline, dark hair framing his steely gaze, and that charming smile all worked to create the kind of handsome that could silence a room. Yet it was the air of dominance he carried—the very essence of a lion prowling the jungle—that both captivated and terrified me.

"I’m fine," I replied, though my nerves were anything but calm.

This was it: our impending wedding, orchestrated by our families, and a life I had scarcely dared to imagine. I had spent many years building the Malhotra empire—brick by brick—striving to be the strong, fearless woman my childhood scars had forged me into.

And yet, when faced with the reality of marriage, a part of me was reluctant to surrender my freedom, to give him access to the sheltered heart I had put behind so many walls.

breaking through his confident facade. “I know we hardly know each other, but I want to get to know you. I want to be... with you.”

I swallowed hard, my heart fluctuating between disbelief and longing. But then, the memories of my childhood flooded in—those moments of betrayal and heartbreak that had carved deep scars into my very being.

A father who walked away, a mother who struggled to pick up the pieces—and as a result, I wore my shield like armor, refusing to allow anyone near. Love was a gamble I dared not take.

Yet here, in close proximity to Aayansh, I felt something stirring—a whisper of the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I could lower my walls, even if just a little.

He carried himself like a king, true, but there was also tenderness in the way he took notice of my feelings, in the way he sought to understand me rather than conquer.

“I don’t know, Aayansh,” I replied, the tremor in my voice betraying the conflict raging within.

“I’ve built my life around being independent. I don’t want to... lose myself.”

“You won’t lose yourself,” he assured me, moving a fraction closer. “I admire your strength. I’m not looking to change you; I want to support you. Businesses and empires can grow together, just like we can.”

The sincerity in his gaze stripped away some of my fear. Could this be real?

I caught a glimpse of a future, intertwined with a man who was, undeniably, more than the king of an industry; he was also a man grappling with his own complexities, just as I was.

The Arranged HeartWhere stories live. Discover now