Arranged in Sillicia

✦ ARRANGED IN SILICIA ✦

Aarohi Roy never believed in arranged marriages.

At seventeen, an astrologer predicted something her mother never forgot-

"Her marriage will be arranged by her family."

Years later, that prediction becomes reality.

Aarohi is introduced to Rishwat Verma, the man her family has chosen for her.

But there is one problem.

Aarohi once loved someone her family could never have accepted-a boy from another religion. Their relationship ended not because her feelings weren't real, but because she knew what her family would say.

She has moved on.

Or at least, she believes she has.

Rishwat, however, hasn't.

Before their marriage, when the two finally get a moment alone, Rishwat makes one thing painfully clear:

He is still in love with his ex.

He doesn't want Aarohi to expect love, affection, or some perfect married life from him.

And Aarohi's answer surprises him.

She isn't marrying him for love either.

She's doing it for her parents.

So they make an unspoken agreement-

A marriage for their families.
A life without expectations.
And absolutely no falling in love.

But promises are easy to make before feelings get involved.

Because slowly, something changes.

Rishwat begins noticing things he never intended to notice.

The way Aarohi can walk into a room and somehow change its atmosphere.
The way she stops trying to please him.
The way she becomes completely indifferent to his attention.

And then comes the moment he never expected-

jealousy.

When someone from Aarohi's past-or perhaps someone entirely new-starts getting her attention, Rishwat finds himself feeling something he has no right to feel.

He told her not to expect anything from him.

So why does it suddenly bother him when she stops expecting anything at all?

Maybe the real question isn't whether an arranged marriage can survive without love.

Maybe it's-

what happens when love arrives after both people have already decided they don't want it?

Some marriages are arran