Advay's Pov :
The drive back from the engagement was supposed to be a moment of relief, a time to relax after an exhausting day filled with pleasantries, and the never-ending stream of congratulations from relatives who only seemed to care about the social event of the year. But as I maneuvered the car through the busy streets of Delhi, my mind kept drifting back to how I'd ended up in this situation in the first place.
How had I allowed myself to be cornered into agreeing to something as absurd as an engagement to Roohi Agrawal?
My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I recalled the conversation that had sealed my fate.
I had a meeting scheduled at one of the city's most exclusive hotels. It wasn't my usual choice for a business discussion, but the client insisted on the venue. As I stepped out of the elevator. I didn't even notice the woman walking towards me, her heels clicking against the marble.
Just as I rounded the corner, I collided with someone. Hard.
Before I could react, I found myself grabbing onto the first thing I could to steady us both. My hands gripped something soft and warm-her waist. I looked down and realized I had practically pulled her flush against me, her body pressed up against mine.
"What the-" I started, looking up to see who I had crashed into.
Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and her eyes widened in surprise. Roohi Agrawal. Of all the people to run into, it had to be her.
"Miss Agrawal?" I blurted out, my voice betraying my shock. Her hands were against my chest, and I could feel the tension radiating between us.
"Advay?" she whispered, her tone just as surprised, if not more so.
We were close-too close. Her hand was still splayed against my chest, and I could feel her rapid heartbeat under my palm. For a brief, maddening second, neither of us moved.
"You should really watch where you're going," I muttered, trying to mask the effect she had on me with irritation. I could still feel the warmth of her body against mine, and it was throwing me off balance.
"I could say the same to you," she retorted, a slight edge to her voice. But there was something in her eyes-confusion, maybe?-that softened the impact.
Without another word, we both took a step back, disentangling ourselves from the awkward position. She straightened her dress, avoiding my gaze.
"Let's just forget this ever happened," I said flatly, eager to put this behind me.
"It is not like I would love to remember it "She said, quickly turned walking away.
The meeting was still on my mind, but it was clouded now, the memory of our accidental encounter replaying in my head. I didn't notice the faint click of a camera or the knowing glances from a few onlookers nearby.
But as I entered the conference room, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wouldn't be the last I heard of what just happened.
I was right-hours later, my phone buzzed with a notification. My blood ran cold as I stared at the screen-a photograph of her and me, locked in that scandalous position, had gone viral. The headline screamed something ridiculous about a "secret affair."
"This can't be happening," I muttered, running a hand through my hair in frustration. The image stared back at me, and I could already see the storm that was about to hit.
I cursed under my breath, realizing that this so-called scandal was about to become a very big problem. "This is the last thing I need," I growled to myself, knowing full well that there was no way out of this mess now.
This thing will be big now because we were also shipped before on social media when our picture circulated of talking with each other, which wad not true her and my mother are bestfriends i just went at her house to pick up my mom and there she just greeted me and someone caught it, but that time It was suppressed because of my PR and connections but thus time it is in mainstream media, I don't care about it but I knew my family will not take it in good way, they care lot about reputation.
I was barely in the door when I was bombarded. My Mom, Dad , Chacha, Chachi, Dada, Dadi were all waiting in the living room, their expressions a mixture of concern and something else that put me on edge.
" We need to talk," my grandfather said, his tone serious. I knew what this was about even before I saw the newspaper spread out on the coffee table, with that damned picture splashed across the front page. The same picture that had been circulating on every social media platform for the past 24 hours.
"There's nothing to talk about," I replied curtly, shrugging off my jacket and throwing it over a chair. "It was an accident, a misunderstanding blown out of proportion, PR team will handle it."
My mother stepped forward, her eyes filled with worry. "Advay, this isn't just about you. This is about our family, our reputation. People are already talking."
"Let them talk," I snapped. "It doesn't change the fact that this whole thing is ridiculous."
My grandmother, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. Her voice was calm but firm, the voice of someone who had seen far more than I ever would. "Advay beta, we know it was a misunderstanding. But the media doesn't care about the truth-they care about the story. And right now, that story is about you and that girl."
I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check, i never get angry but this situation is cleary making me lose my temper. "So, what? You want me to release a statement? Tell them it was all a mistake?"
My mother shook her head. "It's not that simple. The damage is done. And considering both our families are well-known, this could escalate further if we don't take action."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You can't be serious. You're not actually suggesting..."
My Grandfather cut in, his voice more commanding. "Yes, we are. A marriage between you and Roohi would put an end to all this gossip. It would turn the scandal into something respectable and anyway you promised to your Dadi that you'll get married before end of this year."
"Marriage?" I repeated, incredulous. "Are you out of your minds? I'm not marrying anyone, especially not Miss. Agrawal, just to satisfy some rumors."
My mother's voice was softer, almost pleading. "Advay, this could be good for you. Roohi is a strong, independent woman-"
"Who I barely know," I interrupted. "You expect me to marry her just because she is you bestfriends daughter and some people are talking?"
My chachu sighed, as if he had expected this reaction. "You will have to get married Sooner or later and she is good girl and belongs to good family."
My grandmother's gaze met mine. "Advay, sometimes in life, things don't always go the way you want and don't forget you promised me that you'll try to give chance to marriage."
I hesitated, my resolve weakening. I respected my grandmother more than anyone else in this world. If she thought this was the right thing to do, how could I argue? But still, marriage?
She continued, "Think about it, beta. This is not just about avoiding a scandal. She is a good match for you, whether you want to admit it or not.
If Miss. Agrawal said no, then this whole issue would dissolve, and I wouldn't have to go through with this ridiculous idea and i was sure she'll deny it.
I sighed, feeling cornered. "Fine," I finally said, crossing my arms.
A small smile tugged at my grandmother's lips. "Thank you, Advay. That's all we're asking."
I left the room, feeling like I'd just agreed to walk into a trap. But what were the odds that She would agree to this absurd proposal? Slim to none, I told myself. She had her own life, her own ambitions. There was no way she'd agree to marry me just to satisfy some nosy society gossip.
As I headed to my room, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I was missing something. But I pushed it aside, convinced that this whole charade would be over as soon as Roohi gave her answer.
The next morning, the house was unusually loud. Laughter, giggles. I wasn't in the mood for whatever nonsense my cousins and sister were up to, but curiosity got the better of me. I threw on a shirt and headed downstairs.
As soon as I walked into the living room, I regretted it. My cousins, Shivansh and Vivaan, were snickering like schoolboys, while my sisters, Avya and Siddhi were practically glowing with mischief. The moment they saw me, they all fell silent, which only meant trouble.
"Good morning, Mr. Groom-to-Be!" Shivansh announced, smirking.
I frowned, not in the mood for their antics. "What are you talking about?"
Avya couldn't hold back her grin. "Oh, come on, bhaiya. We heard the big news! Bhabhi said yes!"
I stared at them, my mind struggling to process what they were saying. "She... agreed?"
Vivaan chuckled. "Yup! Looks like you're getting married after all. How's that for a surprise?"
This couldn't be happening. She was supposed to decline. The whole point of me agreeing was to let her refuse and put an end to this madness. Yet here they were, teasing me about something that was never supposed to happen.
The news hit me like a sucker punch. She had agreed to the marriage. I could barely process it as I watched my cousins and sister burst into laughter, teasing me relentlessly.
"Congrats, bhaiya!" Shivika giggled, clearly enjoying herself. "Looks like you're going to be a groom soon!"
I glared at them, my annoyance barely contained. "Cut it out," I said, my voice colder than I intended. But they just laughed harder, completely ignoring the warning in my tone.
Grabbing my keys, I headed straight for her office. There was no way this was happening without a conversation-a serious one.
When I arrived, I found her calmly sipping coffee from a paper cup, seemingly unbothered by the storm she had just unleashed in my life. She looked up as I walked in, her expression unreadable.
"Mr. Birla, Good morning" she greeted, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
I didn't waste any time. "Why did you agree to the marriage?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. "This was supposed to be a formality. You were supposed to say no."
She raised an eyebrow, her cool demeanor unwavering. "I had my reasons, and you could also say no ."
"Reasons?" I repeated, feeling a knot of frustration in my chest. "You realize what this means, right? This isn't just some business decision. You and I-this isn't going to work."
Roohi took another sip of her coffee, her eyes locked on mine. "And why not, Mr.Birla?"
"Because I won't be able to love or care for you," I said bluntly. "You'll just be a burden. We're both being pushed into something that makes no sense."
For a moment, She didn't say anything. Then, without warning, she stood up, her expression hardening. "A burden?" she echoed, her voice laced with anger. "You think so little of me that you're already labeling me as a burden?"
Before I could respond, she deliberately dropped the cup, spilling coffee all over my shoes. The hot liquid seeped into the leather, but I didn't flinch, even as the warmth spread through the fabric. I looked at her calmly, surprised but not shaken.
"That was unnecessary," I said quietly, meeting her gaze.
"And so was your assumption," she shot back, her voice cold.
"You don't know me, Mr.Birla . Don't presume to think you do. I agreed to this marriage for my family you clearly wouldn't understand. But don't you dare assume that I'm some damsel in distress who needs your love or care."
Her words were sharp, but I didn't react, letting her anger wash over me. If this was how she wanted to handle things, then so be it. I wasn't here to start a fight; I just needed to know where we stood.
"Fair enough," I replied, my voice steady.
"But just so you know, I'm not here to play the doting husband. If you agreed to this, then you'll have to deal with whatever comes next. I won't stand in your way, but don't expect anything more from me."
Roohi's eyes narrowed, her defiance still burning bright. "I don't need anything from you. I've always handled things on my own. This won't be any different."
We stood there, the tension between us thickening the air. For a moment, I thought she might say something more, but she didn't. Instead, she turned back to her desk, dismissing me without a word.
I took that as my cue to leave. As I walked out of her office, my shoes still wet from the coffee, I couldn't help but feel that this situation had just become a whole lot more complicated. She wasn't going to make this easy how can she agree to this just to please her parents, isn't she the one who is know are crazy shark in buisness world because of her not listening to anybody attitude.
Whatever happened next, we were in this together-like it or not.
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