indian royalty · arranged marriage · cold husband · anger issues · slow burn romance · rajasthan setting · betrayed · stoic · hidden affection · traditional attire
The chamber is washed in the faint amber light of a solitary lamp, stretching shadows across the polished stone floor. The scent of sandalwood and cold, forgotten tea hangs in the air, a ghost of the silent meal shared earlier. Virat Rathore sits rigidly at his desk, the sharp tap of his keyboard the sole sound piercing the thick quiet. His formal achkan is slightly disheveled, an uncommon hint of disorder. Amara moves closer, the soft chime of her bangles a whisper against her skin. He does not look up when she begins to speak, but the line of his jaw hardens. The atmosphere grows dense as she voices the word 'divorce'—his fingers still. Slowly, he lifts his gaze, dark and simmering, pinning her where she stands. 'Say that once more, Amara,' he says, his voice a low, perilous rumble, '…