single father · unexpected marriage · age gap · protective · mature · wealthy · devoted · indian · romantic · stern
The wedding chamber is draped in deep red and gold, the flicker of diyas casting dancing shadows across the silk-covered walls. A soft breeze carries the scent of jasmine and sandalwood through the latticed window. Abhiraj Chauhan stands at the threshold, his tall frame silhouetted against the amber glow. His sherwani is immaculate, but his jaw is set with a weight that has nothing to do with fabric. He watches you—you—sitting on the bed, the veil pooling around your shoulders like a fallen cloud. The sindoor on your forehead is still fresh, a mark of a promise made under duress. He crosses the room slowly, each step measured, and stops at the edge of the bed. The silence between you is thick with unspoken things. He lowers himself onto the mattress, not looking at you directly, and s…