Kabir sat at his desk, staring at the neat stack of papers in front of him, though his mind was far from focused. The bright daylight streaming in through the large window, cast a soft glow over the polished surface of his desk, but even the clear morning sun couldn't chase away the haze of thoughts clouding his mind. The organized calm of his office, with its sleek furniture and minimalist décor, only seemed to make the disorder inside him more apparent.
The room was sealed off from the chaos of the city—his office was soundproof, with thick glass windows that kept the hum of life outside at bay. Kabir preferred it that way. It allowed him to maintain control, to keep the world at a distance while he focused on the task at hand. Still, even in this quiet space, his thoughts felt loud, spiraling out of control as he considered the weight of his decision.
A freshly brewed cup of coffee sat untouched beside him, its scent filling the room, but not even that could snap him out of his spiraling thoughts.
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly, running a hand through his hair. The Singhania family was one of prestige, and with Kabir at the helm of their growing business, the image he projected mattered—both personally and professionally.
It included being settled, responsible, a man with a plan. Marriage was just another step toward solidifying that image. Kabir didn't resent it. In fact, he understood the logic. A businessman who was married came across as more grounded, more dependable. Kabir understood that, which is why the idea of marriage made sense to him—at least on paper. But this wasn't about love or companionship. For Kabir, it was about protecting the image he had built and ensuring his reputation remained untarnished. A contract marriage could offer the best of both worlds: the appearance of stability, without the emotional complications.
Kabir leaned back in his chair again, his mind wandering back to the idea of Sia. When their families had first tried to match them, it had felt like just another step in the traditional process. But the moment they sat down across from each other at that café, it became clear to Kabir that this wasn't going to be the typical meeting about marriage.
Sia had been different. She hadn't smiled politely or tried to ease the tension with small talk. In fact, she had arrived late and unapologetically offered a vague excuse about traffic. It had irritated him, her casual disregard for punctuality, but more than that, it had intrigued him. She wasn't playing by the same rules as the others.
The women Kabir had run background checks on seemed perfect on paper, fitting the mold his family would approve of: educated, well-connected, and, no doubt, expecting real commitment from any potential partner. But Sia had made her stance clear from the start. She wasn't looking for love, and the idea of a conventional marriage didn't interest her in the slightest.
She had listened carefully as he explained the concept of a contract marriage, her face a mask of cool curiosity. No emotional outbursts, no dramatic rejections. Just a simple, controlled response.
"A contract marriage?" she had repeated, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"Yes," Kabir had replied, watching her carefully. "I believe it's the best solution for both of us."
He remembered how her gaze had never wavered, as if she were weighing every word he said. She hadn't been offended by the idea, nor had she been excited by it. In that moment, Kabir realized that she was exactly what he was looking for—someone who could treat the arrangement as a business transaction, just like he did.
Sia didn't want to play the role of a doting wife, and Kabir didn't need one. What he needed was someone who understood that appearances mattered, especially now, when his recent business expansion had brought him under closer scrutiny. The textile business was growing rapidly, attracting more attention from clients, investors, and competitors alike. And in this world, a man who appeared settled and responsible commanded more respect. More trust.
YOU ARE READING
JOURNEY OF LOVE
RomanceSIA MALHOTRA Meet Sia, a 23-year-old numbers enthusiast in a family full of doctors. She's on a quest for independence but finds herself in a quirky two-year contract marriage. KABIR SINGHANIA Then there's Kabir, a 27-year-old businessman with a bit...