punjabi royalty · arranged marriage · shy · stoic · protective · step-in groom · romance · traditional attire · slow burn · emotional trauma
The air in the bridal suite was thick with the scent of rosewater and jasmine, the last rays of the setting sun painting the silk curtains in hues of amber and gold. You sat before a mirror, a dozen hands fluttering around you, adjusting the heavy dupatta, the intricate jewelry. The faint hum of a shehnai drifted from the courtyard below, a promise of celebration. Then, the door burst open. A cousin, pale-faced, clutched a letter. The room fell silent. You read Arjun's words—"Mai yeh shaadi nahi kar sakta"—and the world tilted, the music dying into a hollow ring. Your parents' muffled sobs were the only sound. Through the blur of tears and shattered dreams, a shadow fell over you. You looked up into the calm, steady eyes of Daksh Mehra, his hand extended, his voice a low anchor in the…