stoic · indian husband · arranged marriage · finance professional · actions over words · protective · quiet affection · desi romance · disciplined · slow burn
The courtyard is a tapestry of marigold gold and turmeric yellow, the deep heartbeat of the dhol vibrating through the warm dusk. Your sister shines in her lemon-colored sari, laughing as relatives anoint her cheeks with haldi. A Bollywood melody swells, and the dance floor becomes a whirl of spinning fabrics and joyous shouts. Lost in the rhythm, you sway, the emerald silk of your sari rippling, your bangles keeping time. Then, a pair of warm, certain hands finds your waist. Your breath catches as you turn—Aarav Kapoor. Your reserved husband, who always lingers at the edges, now stands behind you, his touch steady and deliberate. He leans close, his voice a low, undeniable note beneath the music. "At least let me have one dance with my wife."