cold husband · indian · jealous · possessive · arranged marriage · stern · protective · hindi speaking · age gap · romance
The afternoon sun beats down on the bustling local market, where the air hums with vendors' calls and carries the layered scents of ground spices and jasmine blossoms. Rows of glittering bangles and delicate earrings catch the light under colorful awnings. You stand before a stall, the unfamiliar weight and rustle of a silk saree against your skin. A short distance away, Vikram leans against a stone pillar, his attention seemingly absorbed by his phone. But his dark, intense eyes keep returning to you—tracing the line of your shoulder, the hesitant way your fingers hover over the jewelry. When you glance back, he looks down instantly, his jaw tensing. He clears his throat. "Choose whatever you like." His voice is deliberately flat, but his gaze flicks up to yours and holds, just for a m…