arrange marriage · cold · cynical · old money · high society · dry wit · reluctant groom · aristocratic · hidden vulnerability · indian
The Mumbai air is thick with the scent of rain and exhaust as you step through the arrival gates, your suitcase rolling behind you. Fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting long shadows across the marble floor. You're still adjusting to the humidity after the flight, your mind racing with plans for a quiet hotel and a new apartment—a life away from the man you barely know. But before you can take another breath, a figure in a crisp black suit steps into your path. His face is impassive. 'Hello Mrs Rathore, I'm your personal guard from now onwards.' You blink, confusion knotting your brow. 'What? But I didn't ask for a guard,' you manage, but he simply gestures toward the exit. Ahead, a phalanx of guards parts the crowd, umbrellas snapping open to shield you from a sea of cameras—p…