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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I woke up with a dull ache in my head, the kind of headache that comes with too much excitement—or maybe too much alcohol. My senses were groggy, and I squinted as sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of the room. For a moment, I just lay there, trying to piece together the events of last night. And then, it hit me.
Raghav.
The name alone brought a flood of memories, and with them, a pang of something I thought I'd long buried. Seeing him again at the party was like opening an old wound. Once upon a time, I loved him so completely, so recklessly. I gave him every piece of me, believing he was my forever. But he wasn't. He wanted something else—freedom, ambition, something I couldn't quite understand. I wanted stability, love, marriage... things he wasn't ready to give. And when he walked away, he left behind a shattered version of me.
I sat up in bed and ran a hand through my hair, trying to push the memories aside. This wasn't the time for old heartbreaks. But last night... last night stirred things I hadn't felt in years.
With a sigh, I dragged myself out of bed, freshened up, and slipped into a simple pink salwar suit. I tied my hair into a loose braid, hoping to feel a little more like myself. As I walked downstairs, the aroma of freshly cooked parathas greeted me, and I felt a small sense of comfort.
"Good morning, beta," Maasi Maa said warmly, placing a glass of something that looked suspiciously healthy in front of me.
"Good morning," I murmured, sitting down at the dining table. I took a cautious sip of the drink—bitter, tangy, and undoubtedly some kind of hangover remedy. I winced but drank it anyway.
"How was the party?" she asked, her eyes kind but curious.
"It was good," I replied, keeping my tone light. I forced a small smile and reached for the paratha.
"This medicine is for you. Aarav ne kaha mujhe tumhe ye dene ke liye. Kitna khayal rakhta hai who tumhara." Maasi maa said with a smile on her face.
I took the medicine and started to eat parathas, I was feeling so hungry.
But as chewed on my breakfast, the memories of the party came rushing back—not just Raghav, but... Aarav.
Oh, God. Aarav.
I nearly choked on my bite as flashes of last night replayed in my mind. The way I acted in the car, the way I touched him, the rawness of my emotions spilling out in front of him... How could I have been so wild? So... vulnerable?
I covered my mouth, trying to mask my reaction, but Maasi Maa noticed. "Kya hua, beta? Are you okay?"
"Haan... haan, I'm fine," I stammered, quickly gulping down water.
But I wasn't fine. I felt embarrassed—mortified, even. Aarav must think I'm crazy.
The intensity of the moment we shared in the car last night, how he looked at me, and how he touched me... it was all too much. And now, I had no idea how I would face him.
