When Aarav Kapoor, a shrewd businessman born into wealth, and Aanya Mehra, an ambitious architect returning to India, are thrust into an arranged marriage, neither is prepared for the secrets beneath their union. What begins as a reluctant compromis...
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The tension in the car was suffocating. Aarav's jaw was clenched, his grip on the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white. I glanced at him, wanting to say something—anything—to ease the charged silence, but the sharp, warning look he shot me made me freeze. His eyes burned with anger, and I knew better than to push him further. Swallowing hard, I turned my gaze out the window and stayed quiet for the rest of the ride.
I fidgeted with my dupatta, the silence stretching unbearably. At one point, I opened my mouth to speak, but his sharp intake of breath stopped me. "Not a word, Aanya," he growled, his voice low but filled with warning. My throat went dry, and I nodded silently, resolving to stay as invisible as possible.
When we reached home, I didn't wait for him to say anything. The moment the car stopped, I pushed the door open and ran inside, my heart pounding. My emotions were a jumble of fear, guilt, and frustration. But as soon as I stepped into the living room, all of it melted away.
"Bittu! Chote!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with joy. The sight of my younger siblings standing there brought an immediate smile to my face. Without a second thought, I ran to them and hugged them tightly.
"Didi!" Bittu grinned, her face lighting up. "We missed you so much. You didn't come to see us, so we decided to come visit you instead!"
I laughed, feeling a warmth in my chest that I hadn't felt in days. "I missed you too! I'm so glad you're here."
"Didi, your house is so big!" Chote added, his eyes wide with wonder. "Do you really live here?"
I giggled. "Yes, silly. And now that you're here, it's your house too."
Aarav walked in behind me, his expression still unreadable. He greeted them briefly, his voice curt but polite. "Make yourselves comfortable," he said, before instructing the maids, "Take care of them and make sure they have everything they need."
I watched him closely, trying to decipher his mood. He seemed distant, but something in his gaze lingered on me for a second too long. I shook off the thought and focused on my siblings.
Maaji returned from the mandir shortly after, her face lighting up when she saw Bittu and Chote. "Arre, Tum log aaye ho?" she asked warmly, pulling them into a hug. "Welcome to Rahatgad, I hope you will love to stay here."
"Thank you, Maaji," Bittu said, smiling. "We've been waiting for Didi to visit, but she never came."
"We also missed her wedding. It was all so rushed, so we thought of giving her a surprise," Chote added with a smile.
I opened my mouth to explain, but Maaji waved it off. "Now you're here, that's all that matters. Come, sit with me."
The room quickly filled with chatter and laughter as everyone caught up. I felt a sense of normalcy return, the warmth of family overshadowing the tension from earlier.
