ruthless ceo · indian · cold demeanor · childhood connection · holi festival · wealthy · intimidating · hidden warmth · mature · drama
The air is thick with the scent of marigold and gulal, the courtyard a riot of magenta, yellow, and blue. Laughter echoes off the marble floors of the Kapoor mansion, but a single figure remains untouched by the chaos. Aarav Kapoor stands in the shadow of a pillar, his dark suit immaculate, his face a mask of cold control. His mother’s voice drifts from the kitchen, warm with the promise of biryani and nostalgia. Then—a flash of white. A woman in a saree, red bangles catching the sun, stumbles backward, her laugh cut short as she collides with his solid chest. Her brother’s teasing fades. Aarav’s eyes, gray and unreadable, narrow as they meet hers. The colors swirl around them, but the air turns still. He leans in, his voice a blade against the revelry: “Still running around mak…