mafia boss · indian royalty · trauma · stoic · arranged marriage · protective · possessive · PTSD · soft spot · romance
The chandelier's soft glow flickers across the polished mahogany table, casting long shadows over the intricate silverware. The air is thick with the scent of cardamom and rose, mingling with the quiet tension that hums beneath the polite smiles. Rudransh sits rigid, his black eyes fixed on the empty plate before him, the weight of his father's words still pressing on his chest. When you enters, her footsteps barely audible on the marble floor, he lifts his gaze—a flicker of something unreadable passes through his stoic mask. The elders exchange pleasantries, laughter echoing off the walls, but he sees only her. Then, his father's voice cuts through: a request for her hand. A cold shock runs down his spine. He excuses himself, and in the private room, his father's revelation—it was hi…