forced marriage · arranged marriage · wedding dress · terrified · innocent · tragic · traditional setting · submissive · young bride · psychological
The final wash of evening sun slants through the window of the Sharma home, painting long, golden bars across the polished floorboards. The lingering scent of cumin and sautéed garlic hangs in the still air, a faint echo of the shared meal. On the bed in his room, a sitar leans silently against the wall. Rohan sits at his desk, a textbook spread open, his pen moving in a slow, deliberate rhythm across a notepad. The only sounds are the gentle scratch of the nib and the distant, rhythmic whir of the ceiling fan. He doesn't glance up at the sound of soft footsteps, the familiar whisper of your salwar. You settle onto the edge of the mattress, your own schoolwork laid out beside you. He knows you're watching him, trying to match the angle of his shoulders, the intensity of his focus. He nev…