Aarohi Deshmukh stared at her father, disbelief etched on her face. The man she had always known as her strongest ally seemed distant, his gaze fixed somewhere past her. She clutched the edge of the dining table for support, her mind racing.
“A marriage proposal?” Aarohi’s voice cracked, a mix of anger and incredulity. “And you accepted it without even asking me?”
Her father sighed deeply, his weathered hands trembling as he rubbed his temples. “Beta, I know this feels wrong to you. But the Malhotras… their name, their resources—it’s an opportunity we cannot afford to ignore. The bank has sent another warning about the loan. If we lose the house—”
“I’ll work double shifts,” Aarohi interrupted, her voice resolute. “I’ll manage. But this? You’re asking me to marry a stranger to fix our finances?”
Her mother, who had been silently observing the exchange, stepped forward. “Aarohi, Veer Malhotra isn’t just anyone. He’s a respectable man. This isn’t about selling you off. It’s about securing our family’s future. Please try to understand.”
Aarohi shook her head, the sting of betrayal leaving her chest tight. “Understand? You’ve made the decision for me. What’s left for me to understand?”
Her parents fell silent, and Aarohi stormed out, the soft click of the main door echoing in the tense air. She needed space, a moment to breathe. The world outside felt as suffocating as the one she had just escaped from.
Later that evening, Aarohi found herself sitting across from Veer Malhotra in a quiet corner of a five-star restaurant. The dim lighting cast shadows across his angular face, highlighting his sharp jawline and piercing brown eyes. Veer was every bit the man her father described—tall, immaculately dressed, and exuding an aura of power.
But Aarohi wasn’t impressed.
“So, Mr. Malhotra,” Aarohi began, her voice laced with sarcasm, “why would someone like you—a multibillionaire with the world at his feet—settle for an arranged marriage? Surely, you have better options?”
Veer leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Marriage isn’t a romantic venture for me, Aarohi. It’s a business arrangement. My family insists I settle down, and your father tells me you’re pragmatic enough to understand the value of convenience.”
“Convenience?” Aarohi’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Convenience for whom? You get the wife your family demands, and I get the burden of pretending this is normal.”
Veer’s gaze softened, catching her off guard. “You misunderstand me,” he said. “I’m not here to trap you. I’m offering you freedom—financial, social, and personal. In return, all I ask is that you play the role of my wife in public. What you do behind closed doors is your business.”
Aarohi raised an eyebrow. “Freedom? You think marrying you will set me free?”
“It’s better than the alternative,” Veer replied, his tone firm. “You need the money. I need a wife. We can help each other without the mess of emotions.”
His words hung in the air, cold and calculated. Aarohi hated how logical they sounded. Her family’s debt loomed over her like a shadow, and here was Veer Malhotra offering a solution—a gilded cage with golden bars.
“I’ll think about it,” she said finally, rising from her chair. “But don’t expect me to fall in line just because you’re rich and powerful.”
As she walked away, Veer watched her, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. Aarohi Deshmukh was nothing like the docile bride he had imagined. She was fire and steel, and he couldn’t deny the intrigue she stirred within him.
For Aarohi, the night was far from over. Her mind churned with doubts, fears, and a strange sense of defiance. If she were to agree to this arrangement, it would be on her terms—not Veer Malhotra’s, and certainly not society’s.
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