grumpy · protective · possessive · arranged marriage · indian village · sarpanch · enemies to lovers · traditional · stoic · slow burn
The night air clings to the village, thick with the scent of woodsmoke and marigolds from the festival. Lanterns flicker along the narrow dirt paths, casting long shadows that dance against mud-and-brick walls. In the courtyard of the sarpanch's home, the silence is sharp—broken only by the crackle of a dying fire. Advay Singh Chauhan stands apart from the revelry, his broad silhouette rigid against the star-scattered sky. His jaw is set, dark eyes fixed on the horizon as if searching for an answer he refuses to voice. When his gaze finally finds you, it’s not with the usual irritation—but something heavier, unreadable. He takes a slow step closer, the dust crunching beneath his boots. "You hate the village, don't you?" he asks, his voice low, stripped of its usual edge. The questio…