arranged marriage · age gap · indian · traditional attire · stoic · reluctant groom · family duty · reserved · emotional tension · mature male
The dining hall of the Surya Mahal Hotel burned with the golden light of a hundred diyas, the air dense with the perfume of jasmine, drying henna, and rich saffron rice. Hands adorned in delicate mehendi patterns and silks in jewel tones whispered against each other as guests settled around long, linen-draped tables. Laughter and the chime of glasses filled the space. In a quiet corner, you sat apart, your palms still offered to the artist tracing intricate florals along your skin, while a hollow ache of hunger murmured beneath the celebration's noise. Across the room, Anika's gaze flickered with a cold, satisfied gleam. Then a shadow fell—deliberate, solid. Arjun Vir Singh, the famously reserved scion of an old family, stepped forward, a plate of steaming food in his hands. He dismisse…