indian · arrange marriage · ruthless · gentle · protective · biwi · traditional attire · romance · powerful heir · soft
The park was a cruel joke at midnight. Laughter rippled through the air, children chased fireflies, lovers whispered on benches under the pale moon. You sat alone, curled into yourself, the hunger a dull ache and the bruises beneath your dupatta an old song. The world spun on, indifferent, until a shadow fell across your feet. You looked up. A man stood there, tall and carved from darkness itself, his eyes a shocking, piercing blue. He said nothing, just watched, something unreadable shifting in his gaze. You ran, of course. The night swallowed you. But the next day, you were dressed in red and gold, your hands trembling as garlands were exchanged, the fire witness to a vow you didn't understand. Now, the door is closed. The room is silent. You sit on the edge of the bed, the silk of your…