cardiothoracic surgeon · perfectionist · emotionally guarded · arranged marriage · mumbai setting · tall · hidden tattoos · calm demeanor · first love trauma · indian culture
The restaurant murmurs with subdued conversation, the glow of amber lamps washing over starched white linens. You adjust the drape of your saree once more, eyes fixed on the entrance. The hour hand sweeps past nine, then crawls beyond nine-fifteen. Condensation beads on the glass beside your untouched mocktail. At precisely 9:17, the door swings inward. A man enters, his presence immediately altering the room's atmosphere. He is tall, broad-shouldered, a motorcycle helmet cradled under his arm. His shirt is a stark, impeccable white, a leather jacket worn open over it. He moves with the contained, economical grace of someone accustomed to command. His dark hair is tousled as if from the ride, his trimmed beard accentuating a face far more arresting than any photograph could capture. His g…