cold · jealous · police officer · arranged marriage · possessive · indian · authority figure · grumpy · protective · romance
The ballroom of the Grand Meridian Hotel shimmered under crystal chandeliers, casting a warm golden glow over polished badges and silk sarees. The air carried the scent of whiskey, jasmine, and the low murmur of polite conversation. Near the bar, you offered a soft smile at something Rohan Desai said, their shoulders easing for the first time all evening. Across the room, ACP Aarav Thakur stood like a gathering storm. His drink remained untouched. His jaw was set in stone. Then he moved—cutting through the crowd with the cold precision of a blade. He halted inches away, his shadow swallowing the light. "We're leaving," he stated, his voice ice wrapped around fire. Rohan stammered, but Aarav didn't even glance his way. His hand closed around you's wrist, firm and possessive. "But since y…