Saudebaazi Ishq Ki
Family Crisis
The Sharma house, once alive with chatter and warmth, now feels heavy with silence. The old ceiling fan whirs above the dining table, where half-eaten plates of food lie untouched.
Vijay Sharma sits at the head of the table, his usually calm face buried in his palms. His shirt is wrinkled, tie loosened, and his eyes red with sleeplessness.
Beside him, Kavita Sharma paces restlessly, wringing the end of her dupatta in nervous circles.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
Betrayed… after all these years.. (Vijay mutters, voice cracked)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
He was like a brother to me, and he stabbed me in the back.
Meher, their eldest daughter, watches quietly, her spoon untouched.
She’s dressed in a simple kurta, hair loosely tied, but her sharp eyes take in everything.
Her younger sister Riya, usually bubbly, sits unusually still, glancing nervously between the adults.
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
(Kavita stops pacing, her voice trembling)
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
The factory papers are gone, Vijay. The money is gone. And tomorrow the lenders will come asking for their dues.
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
How will we face them?
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
What will people say?
The words “what will people say” hang in the air like a curse.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay slams his fist on the table, startling everyone)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
I trusted Deshmukh! He promised partnership, and now he’s run off with every rupee.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
If I don’t pay the debts, they’ll seize everything.. this house, the shop… our name.
Meher Sharma (FL)
(Meher straightens in her chair, her jaw tight. She’s been quiet too long)
Meher Sharma (FL)
Papa.. (she says softly but firmly)
Meher Sharma (FL)
Crying over betrayal won’t solve anything. We need to think of a way out.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay looks up at her, his eyes brimming with guilt)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
And what way do we have, Meher? We are finished.
For a moment, no one speaks. Even the fan seems to grow louder.
Meher grips the edge of the table, her mind racing. Somewhere deep inside, she knows this storm is only the beginning.. something bigger is coming for all of them.
Outside, the temple bells ring for evening aarti, but inside the Sharma home, it feels like a funeral.
Author
Literally, this story happened all of a sudden, writing at 2 am. and I know these names are common. In a hurry, I couldn't think of it anymore. So bear with me. This is going to be a simple, sweet and short story, maybe 50-60 episodes..
Author
If you enjoyed it then do like and comment… see you with lots of updates..
Proposal
The Malhotra office tower gleamed under the evening lights, all glass and steel, intimidating to anyone who entered. Inside, the atmosphere was colder than the marble floors.
Vijay Sharma sat nervously across a massive desk, sweat lining his forehead. The weight of his family’s crisis pressed on his shoulders.
He’d been waiting for over twenty minutes, his fingers clutching a worn-out file that held whatever scraps of his business reputation were left.
Finally, the glass door opened. Aarav Malhotra walked in.
Sharp suit, measured footsteps, and a gaze that could slice through stone. Everyone knew him as the man who built empires out of numbers and crushed rivals without blinking.
He didn’t bother with greetings. Dropping his phone on the desk, he scanned Vijay with a mix of boredom and calculation.
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
Mr. Sharma.. (Aarav said, his voice low and even)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
I hear you’re drowning..
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay shifted uncomfortably)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
I… I only need some time, Aarav beta. My factory can still run. If you could extend a loan…
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
(Aarav leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
A loan? (He almost smiled, but it was more of a smirk)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
Your reputation is in shreds. No bank, no investor will touch you. Why should I?
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay’s face crumbled)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
Because I trusted the wrong man. Because my family will be ruined.
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
(Aarav’s eyes narrowed. He stood, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling window, the city lights flickering behind him)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
I don’t deal in emotions, Mr. Sharma. I deal in guarantees. And you have nothing to offer me… except your DAUGHTER.
The room froze. Vijay’s mouth went dry.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
What.. what do you mean? (he stammered)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
(Aarav turned, his expression unreadable)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
Meher Sharma. Smart, well-spoken, respected in society. Marry her to me, and I’ll clear your debts.
Of course, as a businessman, he have all the information about the people he deals with..
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
I’ll restore your business under my name. Your family honour will remain intact. (have no emotions)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay stumbled to his feet)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
You… you want to buy my daughter?
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
(Aarav didn’t flinch)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
Not buy. Marry her. But under a contract. One year. After that, if she wishes, she can walk away. No questions asked.
The door creaked, and Meher’s voice broke the silence. She had come searching for her father, but now she stood frozen at the threshold, having heard enough.
Meher Sharma (FL)
(Her eyes met Aarav’s.. his gaze cold, hers burning with shock and fury)
Meher Sharma (FL)
You think love is a business deal? (she snapped)
Meher Sharma (FL)
You think marriage is some contract you can sign and throw away? 💢
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
(Aarav’s lips curved into the faintest shadow of a smile)
Aarav Malhotra (ML)
Love is an illusion, Ms. Sharma. But contracts… contracts never lie. ❄️
Meher Sharma (FL)
(Meher’s heart pounded)
Her father’s shoulders shook with helplessness.
And in that moment, she realised the truth.. Aarav Malhotra wasn’t offering help. He was demanding ownership of her fate.
Author
Do like and comments…
Yes For No Emotions
The Sharma house was no longer a home.. it felt like a courtroom.
Everyone was gathered in the living room, the air heavy with tension.
Kavita Sharma sat on the sofa, silently weeping into her dupatta.
Vijay stood near the window, his back turned, shoulders slumped.
Meher stood in the center, still reeling from Aarav’s words. Her face was pale, but her eyes burned with anger.
Meher Sharma (FL)
So this is what you call a solution, Papa? (she asked, her voice trembling)
Meher Sharma (FL)
You want me to marry a man who thinks love is just a… a contract? 💔
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay turned, his eyes glistening with guilt)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
Meher, beti, you don’t understand. If we refuse, we lose everything.. the house, the shop, our name.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
What will people say? What will happen to your mother, to Riya’s future?
Meher Sharma (FL)
Let them talk! (Meher snapped, her hands clenched)
Meher Sharma (FL)
Why should I sell myself to save their gossip?
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
(Her mother rushed to her, gripping her hand)
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
Meher, don’t say that. Your father’s health is already fragile. The shame will kill him.
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
We are not asking you to love him… just bear it for us. For one year. Then you’ll be free.
Her words stung, “Just one year. Just for honor.”
Riya Sharma (Meher’s Sister)
(Riya, sitting quietly in the corner, whispered)
Riya Sharma (Meher’s Sister)
Di, you always said we must protect our family, no matter what. Maybe… maybe this is that time.
Meher Sharma (FL)
(Meher closed her eyes)
Her chest felt tight, like invisible chains were wrapping around her. Aarav’s cold words echoed in her head: “Contracts never lie.”
She wanted to scream, to run, to fight. But when she opened her eyes again, she saw her father’s trembling hands, her mother’s tear-streaked face, her cousin’s hopeful gaze.
Meher Sharma (FL)
(Her voice cracked as she spoke)
Meher Sharma (FL)
Fine. If my sacrifice can protect this family’s honor, then I’ll do it. I’ll marry him.
Her mother broke down, clutching her daughter. Vijay turned away, ashamed, hiding his tears.
Meher stood frozen, her eyes hollow, her heart screaming in silence.
In that moment, she wasn’t just giving her hand in marriage.. she was signing away her freedom.
Outside, the temple bells rang again, as if the heavens themselves were marking her fate.
Author
Like and comments...
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
