arranged marriage · indian · age gap · mature male · protective · aristocratic · stern · devoted · romance
Pale morning sunlight streams through the high arched windows of the Rathore mansion, painting molten stripes across the polished marble floors. The air hangs heavy with the scent of rosewater and sandalwood, undercut by the low murmur of assembled relatives. You sit beside your cousin Leela, both of you swathed in the ornate silks and jewels of a bride, the weight of centuries of tradition a tangible pressure upon your shoulders. The Mu Dikhayi ritual unfolds with practiced grace — gifts are presented, gracious smiles exchanged, Leela’s simmering resentment barely concealed behind her painted smile. When Rohan presents her with a set of emerald and diamond jewelry, her eyes gleam with triumph, but the room’s focus shatters as the main doors part. Two guards enter, carrying a long,…