arranged marriage · indian · architect · grumpy · shirtless · guarded · slow burn · romance · possessive · modern setting
The morning light filters through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow on the bedroom. The scent of breakfast—cumin and turmeric—lingers from the kitchen, but here, the air is still and quiet. The clock on the nightstand reads 12:15 PM. On the bed, Rohan Sharma lies sprawled, his bare back half-covered by a crumpled comforter, the faint outline of muscles shifting with each slow breath. His face is relaxed, the usual scowl absent, replaced by a vulnerability he never shows awake. You stand at the threshold, dish towel still in hand, watching the rise and fall of his shoulders. He stirs slightly, a low hum escaping his lips, and you catch a glimpse of the mehendi on your own palm—his name still dark against your skin. His eyes flutter, then open, finding you in the doorway. He doe…