Chapter 1 — The Deal
Aarav Malhotra had never been forced to do anything.
Not by his employees.
Not by his friends.
Not even by his family.
Until that evening.
He stood inside his father's study, his jaw clenched as he listened to the one thing he never expected to hear.
Aarav:You're asking me to marry a stranger?
His father remained calm.
Mr. Malhotra:I'm asking you to protect this family.
Aarav let out a humorless laugh.
Aarav: By getting married?
Mr. Malhotra: Yes.
Aarav:"No."
His father sighed.
Mr. Malhotra: You haven't even heard the entire reason.
Aarav: I don't need to.
His father finally looked at him.
Mr. Malhotra: Twenty-five years ago, the Malhotra Group was almost destroyed.
Aarav's expression changed slightly.
He knew the story.
His grandfather had died unexpectedly, leaving the company drowning in debt. His father had been young and inexperienced.
And it was the Sharma family who had stepped in.
Rajiv Sharma had invested his own money, protected the company from creditors, and helped rebuild it.
There had been only one promise between the two families.
One day, their families would become one.
Aarav had always believed that promise was nothing more than an old man's words.
Until now.
Aarav: So this is about some promise our fathers made twenty-five years ago?
Mr. Malhotra: It's more than that.
He placed a file on the table.
Mr. Malhotra:The Sharma company is being taken over by their biggest rival. If that happens, they'll lose almost everything.
Aarav opened the file.
His eyes moved across the documents.
Aarav: And you want to help them.
Mr. Malhotra: We owe them.
Aarav looked up.
Aarav: Then pay the debt.
His father shook his head.
Mr. Malhotra: It's not that simple.
Aarav's expression hardened.
Aarav:Then what exactly are you asking me to do?
His father answered quietly.
Mr. Malhotra: Marry Mira Sharma.
Silence.
Aarav slowly closed the file.
Aarav:No.
Mr. Malhotra:Aarav—
Aarav: I said no.
Mr. Malhotra: If this marriage doesn't happen, the agreement falls apart.
Aarav stood there silently.
He hated being cornered.
He hated being manipulated.
And most of all, he hated the fact that his father knew exactly which weakness to use against him.
Family.
---
The Sharma House
Three days later, Aarav arrived at the Sharma residence.
He expected a serious conversation.
A formal meeting.
A woman who understood exactly what was happening.
Instead—
He heard laughter.
Loud laughter.
A girl came running down the stairs with a phone in one hand and a piece of cake in the other.
She nearly slipped.
She caught the railing.
Mira:"That was close."
Then she looked up.
Her eyes met Aarav's.
She froze.
Mira: Oh.
Aarav stared at her.
Aarav: You're Mira?
She nodded.
Mira: You're Aarav.
Aarav: Yes.
She looked at the cake in her hand.
Then at him.
Mira: Do you want some?
Aarav: No.
Mira: Good.
He frowned.
Aarav: Good?
She smiled innocently.
Mira:I wasn't going to share anyway.
Aarav stared at her.
She laughed.
Mira: I'm joking.
Aarav:
I'm not here for jokes.
Her smile faded.
For a moment, she looked different.
More serious.
Mira: I know.
Aarav studied her.
So she understood.
She knew exactly why he was there.
---
Later, their families left them alone in the garden.
Mira sat opposite him.
Neither spoke for a few seconds.
Finally—
Mira: So...
Aarav:So.
She looked at him.
Mira:
"You don't want this either, do you?"
Aarav: No.
She smiled.
Mira: Great.
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
Aarav: Great?
Mira:At least we agree on something.
He leaned back.
Aarav: This marriage is necessary.
Her smile disappeared.
Mira: For our families.
Aarav: Yes.
She looked down at her hands.
Mira: My father says it will save the company.
Aarav: It will.
She looked back at him.
Mira: And your father says it will repay an old debt.
Aarav nodded.
Mira sighed.
Mira: So we're getting married for everyone except ourselves.
Aarav didn't answer.
She stared at him for a moment.
Then suddenly smiled.
Mira:You're very serious.
Aarav: You're very childish.
Her smile dropped.
Mira:You don't even know me.
Aarav: I've seen enough.
She narrowed her eyes.
Mira: And I've seen enough to know you have a huge ego.
Aarav's eyebrow lifted.
Aarav: You have quite an attitude.
Mira: You have quite an ego.
For the first time, the corner of his mouth almost lifted.
Almost.
Mira noticed.
Mira: Did you just smile?
His expression immediately became serious again.
Aarav: No.
She laughed.
Mira: You did.
Aarav: I didn't.
Mira: Okay, Mr. Serious.
He shook his head.
This girl is going to be a problem.
---
Three weeks later, they were married.
There were flowers.
Cameras,Guests,Smiles,Congratulations.
Everyone looked happy.
Except the bride and groom.
Inside the car after the wedding, Mira stared out the window.
Aarav sat beside her.
Silence filled the car.
Finally—
Mira: So...
Aarav: What?
She looked at him.
Mira: We're actually married.
He glanced at her.
Aarav: Apparently.
She sighed dramatically.
Mira: That's terrifying.
Aarav: Why?
She pointed at him.
Mira:Because I have to live with you.
Aarav looked at her.
Aarav:And I have to live with you.
She gasped.
Mira:Don't worry.
Aarav:About what?
She smiled.
Mira:I'll try not to annoy you too much.
Aarav looked out the window.
Aarav:You won't succeed.
Mira stared at him.
Mira: Wow.
Aarav: What?
Mira:We've been married for three hours and you're already insulting me.
Aarav said nothing.
Mira turned toward the window and crossed her arms.
Mira:I'm not talking to you.
Aarav looked at her.
Aarav:You're sulking already?
Mira: I'm not sulking.
Aarav: You are.
Mira: I'm emotionally processing.
Aarav sighed.
He had been married for three hours.
And already, he had a feeling this woman was going to destroy every peaceful part of his life.
He didn't know yet...
She would also become the only person who could make his life feel like home.
