Meera’s POV
The day was quiet, almost deceptively so. Meera’s heart was anything but calm as she sat on the edge of her bed, hands twisting nervously in her lap. She knew her parents were meeting with Raghav, the mafia king himself, downstairs. And it was all because of a debt they couldn’t repay.
She tried to focus on her breathing, but it was useless. She had heard so many rumors about Raghav—cold, ruthless, and powerful beyond her imagination. The idea of being in his presence was terrifying. She had barely finished college, and her dreams had always been simple. The thought of them slipping away now, tied to someone she didn’t know, felt like a nightmare.
A sharp knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, making her heart skip a beat. Her mother peeked in, her face pale, eyes rimmed with anxiety.
A sharp knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, making her heart skip a beat. Her mother peeked in, her face pale, eyes rimmed with anxiety.
“Meera, come downstairs,” she said softly. “They… he wants to meet you.”
Meera’s heart felt like it was going to explode. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her hands were still trembling as she followed her mother down the winding staircase. The house was silent, tension thick in the air, as they made their way to the living room.
There he was. Raghav.
He stood by the large window, back straight, exuding a quiet, intimidating confidence. Dressed in a tailored suit, his sharp features were highlighted by the faint light filtering in. His gaze was dark and intense, and as he turned to look at her, she felt a chill run down her spine.
“Meera,” her father spoke up, gesturing nervously. “This is Raghav.”
Meera swallowed hard, feeling a surge of anger and fear mix in her chest. She didn’t want this, but her family had left her no choice. She lowered her gaze, unsure of what to say, but her silence didn’t last long.
Raghav’s gaze was piercing as he looked at her, taking in her discomfort, her hesitation, her defiance. His expression was unreadable, and it made her all the more uneasy.
“Are you… alright with this arrangement?” Raghav asked, his voice low, almost challenging.
Meera forced herself to meet his gaze, her jaw clenched. “I don’t think what I want really matters here, does it?”
Raghav raised an eyebrow, surprised by her boldness. He wasn’t used to people speaking to him like that. “You’re right. It doesn’t,” he replied, his tone cold but not unkind. “But I still wanted to hear it from you.”
Meera’s father intervened quickly, sensing the tension. “Raghav, please. Meera will do her best to… adjust.”
Raghav didn’t look at her father; his eyes were still fixed on Meera. “I’ll be clear, Meera,” he said, his voice firm. “I don’t want a wife who resents me, and I don’t expect you to fall in love overnight. This is an arrangement to settle a debt, and that’s all.”
Meera felt her heart sink at his words, though part of her was relieved he didn’t have any illusions about romance in this situation. She was simply a pawn in a business deal, a means to an end. Her voice was barely a whisper as she replied, “And what do you expect from me, then?”
“I expect loyalty and respect,” Raghav replied, his gaze unwavering. “In return, I’ll ensure your family is safe, and you’ll have every luxury at your disposal.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she digested his words. “So, I’m just supposed to sit around and look pretty?”
Raghav’s expression didn’t change. “You can spend your time as you please. Just remember, Meera, we both have roles to play.”
Her parents looked relieved by the exchange, clearly reassured by Raghav’s calm, composed demeanor. But Meera couldn’t shake the feeling of entrapment settling over her.
“I’ll have a car pick you up tomorrow morning,” Raghav said. “Be ready by nine. We’ll finalize everything then.”
Meera’s father nodded quickly, eager to please. “Of course. She’ll be ready, Raghav.”
Raghav glanced at Meera one last time, his expression softening, if only slightly. “Good night, Meera. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
And with that, he turned and walked out of the house, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake.
Raghav’s POV
As Raghav climbed into his car, he couldn’t shake the image of Meera from his mind. She was different from what he had expected—there was a fire in her that caught him off guard. Her defiance, her reluctance—it wasn’t something he encountered often. Most people cowered in his presence, but not her.
“Sir, are you sure about this?” his driver asked as they pulled away. “She seemed… hesitant.”
Raghav looked out the window, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “I don’t expect her to be enthusiastic,” he replied. “But she’ll adjust.”
The driver nodded, but Raghav continued to think about the way Meera had looked at him. There was something about her that he couldn’t quite place. This marriage was meant to be nothing more than a transaction, but Meera wasn’t the type to simply accept that.
He respected that, even admired it, but he couldn’t let it get in the way of his plans. This was business, and he couldn’t afford to let his emotions interfere. But somehow, he knew that with Meera, things wouldn’t be as straightforward as he’d hoped.
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Back in Meera’s Room
Once Raghav was gone, Meera returned to her room, slamming the door behind her as her emotions finally spilled over. She was angry at her parents, furious at Raghav, and terrified of the future she couldn’t escape.
Her mother entered the room a few minutes later, trying to console her. “Meera, please… we didn’t have a choice. If we didn’t accept, he could have hurt us.”
Meera turned to face her mother, her eyes filled with pain. “So I’m the price for our safety? Is that what my life is worth?”
Her mother sighed, tears brimming in her eyes. “We did this to protect you, Meera. I know it’s not fair, but Raghav is powerful. He promised he wouldn’t harm you.”
But Meera wasn’t convinced. She felt trapped, and she couldn’t see a way out. Tomorrow morning, her life would change forever, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
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