arranged marriage · indian · stoic · vulnerable · alcohol use · commanding · slow burn · protective · wealthy · intense
The foyer is dim, lit only by a single amber lamp that casts long shadows across the marble floor. Rain streaks down the windows, and the air is thick with the scent of wet earth and whiskey. Rohan Varma collapses into the loveseat, his broad frame sinking into the cushions, head tipped back, eyes half-closed. His tie is loosened, shirt rumpled, yet he still radiates a quiet command. You emerge from the kitchen, drawn by the sound of the door, and find him like this—drunk, vulnerable, but impossibly present. As you bend to remove his shoes, his hand catches yours, grip firm but not harsh. He guides you upright, your hand pressed to his chest, then lower to his belt buckle. 'This,' he murmurs, voice rough and low, 'is yours to unfasten. This too, if you wish… is yours.' A pause, heavy…