Is this Business Proposal!

Meera was in her usual half-asleep state, shuffling around the house in mismatched slippers

and a slightly crumpled t-shirt. She was holding a knife, idly chopping veggies in the kitchen,

while Arya sat calmly at the dining table sipping her tea.

“I think Shiv’s here,” Arya said casually, glancing at her phone.

“What?!” Meera froze mid-chop, the knife still in her hand.

“He texted he’s outside,” Arya added, taking another sip.

Meera blinked, still trying to process this information. Then, with all the decisiveness of a

sleepy zombie, she marched toward the door, knife in hand.

“Meera!” Arya shouted, alarmed. “Put that knife down!”

But Meera was already at the door, muttering groggily, “Oh, great. The brooding billionaire

shows up unannounced. What kind of shady love potion did he spike Arya’s tea with?”

She flung the door open, revealing Shiv standing there, dressed impeccably as always, his

expression unreadable.

Without missing a beat, Meera squinted at him suspiciously, still holding the knife. “Alright,

Mr. Chaudhary, spill it. What’s in the tea? Some billionaire-grade love potion? Mind control

serum? Because something is making Arya lose her mind.”

Shiv’s gaze dropped to the knife in her hand, and for a split second, he looked genuinely

startled. Before Meera could say another word, he reached out and swiftly snatched the knife

from her hand with unnerving ease.

“Hey!” Meera yelped, stepping back, her sleepy haze evaporating in the face of Shiv’s speed.

“What gives? That’s my knife!”

Shiv examined the knife briefly, then placed it calmly on a nearby table. “I have a strict rule

about not being greeted with weapons,” he said, his voice laced with dry amusement.

Meera gawked at him, pointing accusingly. “You can’t just steal someone’s knife like that!

Who even does that?!”

Shiv smirked, stepping inside the house with his usual confidence. “Who answers the door

with a knife?”

Meera threw her hands up. “I wasn’t answering the door with it! I was chopping veggies,

thank you very much! Then Arya told me you were here, and my instincts kicked in.”

Shiv raised an eyebrow. “Your instincts told you to confront me with a weapon?”

Meera crossed her arms, huffing. “You’re not exactly subtle, you know. Arya’s suddenly

agreeing to marry you out of nowhere. If that doesn’t scream ‘love potion,’ I don’t know

what does.”

Arya appeared behind Meera, groaning. “Meera, for the last time, Stop behaving like a 90s

detective”

Meera turned to Arya, jabbing a finger in her direction. “Then how do you explain this?” She

gestured dramatically toward Shiv. “Prince Charming over here waltzing in like he owns the

place, you agreeing to marry him overnight, and now he’s disarming people left and right!

Oh that’s a rhyme” She mutters impressed by her creativity

Shiv smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I’m standing right here, you know.”

Meera ignored him, still ranting to Arya. “I mean, what’s next? Is he going to propose again,

this time with a unicorn and fireworks?”

Arya shook her head, half-exasperated, half-amused. “Can we just move on? Please?”

Shiv, clearly entertained, stepped closer to Arya. “I see mornings in this house are… lively.”

Meera threw her hands up. “Oh, sure, laugh it up! But I’m watching you, Chaudhary. And

just so you know, I have more knives.”

Shiv chuckled, his smirk never fading. “Noted.”

Meera sat curled up on the modest beige couch, clutching her floral cushion like it was a

lifeboat in the middle of a storm. Her wide eyes darted between Arya and Shiv, who were

seated across from each other on the slightly worn two-seater sofa. The small living room,

with its low ceiling and minimalist décor, felt even smaller under the weight of their

conversation. The sunlight streaming through the narrow window highlighted every sharp

feature of Shiv’s face and cast Arya’s profile in a soft glow.

The faint aroma of chai brewing on the stove teased her senses, but the increasingly loud

whistle of the pressure cooker clashed violently with the eerie silence in the room. Meera’s

mind raced. Were they really… discussing their marriage? Like it was some sort of corporate

merger?

Shiv sat with impeccable posture, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His tailored navy

blazer hugged his frame perfectly, exuding an air of authority. One leg rested casually over

the other, polished black shoes gleaming as if they’d been freshly buffed. His face was cleanshaven, jawline so sharp it could probably slice through the tension in the room. His dark,

neatly combed hair and piercing eyes completed the look of a man who never left anything to

chance. Shiv was the kind of guy you’d imagine running a boardroom meeting, not a

wedding discussion. Yet here he was, treating it as such.

Arya, on the other hand, leaned back on the sofa with one arm resting on the armrest, her

fingers lightly tapping against the fabric. The other hand rested delicately on her crossed

knee. She was calm and composed, dressed in a light blue kurta with silver embroidery, her

hair tied back in a sleek ponytail. Her expression was unreadable, but her sharp, almondshaped eyes carried a glint of calculation. She seemed like the kind of woman who could

navigate a battlefield or a family dinner withequal grace and precision.

Shiv leaned forward slightly, his voice even and matter-of-fact. “The pandit confirmed the

subh muhurat. Tomorrow is the most auspicious day.”

Arya nodded, her tone matching his. “Makes sense. The sooner, the better.”

“Agreed,” Shiv said, his gaze steady. “We’ll keep it small. No unnecessary guests.”

“Of course,” Arya replied, her voice devoid of any hesitation. “Logistics should be

straightforward.”

“Venue?” Arya asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The Malhotra estate. It’s already booked.”

Arya’s fingers stopped tapping. “What’s your preference? Day or night ceremony?”

Shiv adjusted his blazer, his tone as calm as his demeanor. “Day. It’s efficient’’.

Meera blinked rapidly, her jaw slowly dropping as the conversation continued. She clutched a

cushion like it was the only thing grounding her to reality. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in any

longer.

“Wait, WHAT?!” she burst out, her voice echoing through the room.

Arya turned her head toward her, her calm demeanor unwavering. “We’re getting married

tomorrow.”

“I got that much!” Meera snapped, throwing the cushion aside. “But what is this—some kind

of corporate merger? You two sound like you’re negotiating a business contract, not planning

a wedding!”

Shiv tilted his head slightly, his expression mildly amused. “Marriage is a contract, in a way.”

Meera threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, great! Now he’s quoting legal jargon! What’s next?

A PowerPoint presentation on why this marriage is a sound investment?”

Arya glanced at Meera with a raised eyebrow. “Would that help?”

The whistle of the pressure cooker hit its peak, and Meera shot up.

Meera stared at her, aghast. “No, Arya, that would not help! This isn’t a boardroom! It’s your

life! And why are you both so... so calm about this?!”

Shiv, unbothered, leaned back against the sofa. “Because there’s no need to overcomplicate

things.”

Meera clutched her head dramatically as if trying to process the sheer absurdity of the

situation. “Overcomplicate things?! You’re planning a wedding! Tomorrow! And you’re

discussing it like you’re ordering takeout!”

Arya shrugged. “It’s efficient.”

Meera gaped at her. “Efficient?! Oh my God, Arya, you’re marrying Shiv Chaudhary, not

launching a rocket!” She turned to Shiv, narrowing her eyes. “And you! What kind of mind

games are you playing here? Did you hypnotize her? Threaten her? Bribe her with shares in

your company?”

Shiv’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “She agreed of her own free will. No bribes, no

threats.”

Meera squinted at him suspiciously. “I’m still not convinced. You’re too... too Shiv-ish for

this to be normal.”

Arya sighed, standing up. “Meera, it’s done. We’ve decided. Let’s not make it a big deal.”

Meera threw up her hands. “Not a big deal?! You’re getting married tomorrow! What am I

supposed to do with this information?!”

Shiv, finally letting his amusement show, stood up as well. “You could start by

congratulating us.”

Meera glared at him. “Oh, sure. Congratulations, Mr. Chaudhary, for turning my best friend

into a robot!” She turned to Arya, shaking her head. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but

I’m going to need a full explanation. Preferably one that doesn’t make me feel like I’m in a

courtroom drama.”

Arya gave her a faint smile. “You’ll understand soon enough.DARLING”

Meera groaned, flopping back into her chair. “You two are unbelievable. Tomorrow, huh?

Fine. But don’t expect me to act normal about this. What’s next, hiring a project manager for

the honeymoon?”

Shiv glanced at Arya, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “She’s entertaining.”

“HEY!” Meera shouted, clutching another cushion to throw. But by the time she hurled it,

Shiv was already walking toward the door, his usual composed demeanor intact.

Shiv and Arya decided to go shopping for jewelry and asked Meera to join them. Meera, with

, affirmed dramatically, "Oh, I’d be delighted to accompany the most emotionally detached

couple in history!"

Outside, Shiv unlocked his sleek black Range Rover with a casual click of his key fob. The

vehicle, polished to perfection, gleamed under the sun. Meera had changed into casual jeans

and a cheerful yellow top, while Arya looked effortlessly elegant in her pastel pink kurta

paired with an organza dupatta. Her open hair framed her face delicately, and her simple

silver earrings glinted subtly in the sunlight.

As Arya approached the car, Shiv, ever the gentleman, opened the passenger door for her.

Placing his hand lightly on the top edge of the doorframe, he ensured she wouldn’t bump her

head as she got in. Once she was seated, he adjusted his blazer smoothly before taking his

seat behind the wheel. Meera slid into the backseat, her arms crossed, trying to suppress her

disbelief at the palpable silence that filled the car.

Shiv started the engine, the hum of the vehicle barely breaking the quiet. Meera squirmed, her

thoughts racing. How can they act so calm? They’re about to get married, for heaven’s sake!

Unable to endure the quiet much longer, she tapped her foot nervously against the car floor,

but neither Shiv nor Arya seemed to notice.

The car came to a halt in front of a luxurious jewelry boutique. The shop’s facade was a

vision of modern elegance, with large glass windows framed by polished gold trim. Inside,

the store radiated opulence. The soft, warm glow of ambient lighting highlighted the display

shelves, which were crafted from sleek ebony wood with inlaid gold accents. Each shelf

housed meticulously arranged pieces of jewelry, from intricately designed necklaces to

dazzling diamond earrings. The gemstones sparkled under the precise beam of overhead

spotlights, creating a mesmerizing play of light and color.

A plush red carpet stretched across the polished marble floor, and the subtle scent of fresh

lilies filled the air. Uniformed staff moved gracefully, their polished manners matching the

sophistication of the space. Meera’s eyes widened as she took it all in, whispering to herself,

“I feel like I’ve stepped into a movie set.”

Arya, calm and composed, stepped out of the car with a subtle smile. Shiv followed, his

commanding presence drawing glances from passersby. Meera trailed behind, still marveling

at the sheer extravagance of the store, wondering how she had ended up accompanying these

two enigma-like individuals on a trip that felt straight out of a high-budget Bollywood drama

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***