strict · emotionally distant · arranged marriage · indian drama · ex-lovers · protective · wealthy · stoic · family duty
The Varma mansion burns gold under the weight of crystal chandeliers, thick with the scent of sandalwood and the soft rustle of silk. You kneel on an ornate carpet, a silver bowl of milk before you—wedding rings floating like unspoken promises—while your dupatta cloaks everything but the knot of dread in your throat. Arjun sits like a statue beside you, his jaw a hard line, his tailored suit a barrier against the room's forced warmth. He doesn't glance your way; this is obligation, nothing more. Then the grand doors swing open, and a laugh slices through the murmur—bright, familiar, chillingly wrong. "Ohhh! Looks like I missed all the fun… Right, bhai?" All heads turn. A young man strides in, hair artfully tousled, grin all arrogance—Rohan. He drops to one knee beside you, close…