Meera sat on the balcony of her small yet cozy home, sipping her evening tea while watching the sun dip into the horizon. Her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on the rim of her cup as she hummed a tune she had been working on for her next painting. Life was peaceful. Predictable. Just the way she liked it.

But peace never lasted long in the Sharma household.

"Meera!" her mother’s voice rang through the house, making her sigh. The urgency in her mother’s tone was never a good sign.

She placed her cup down, stretched her arms, and made her way inside. In the living room, her parents sat on the sofa, their faces beaming with an excitement that instantly put her on edge. Opposite them sat an elderly couple, well-dressed, with an air of affluence.

"Meera, beta, come sit," her mother said, patting the seat beside her.

Meera hesitated. Years of experience told her this was no ordinary visit. With a polite nod to the guests, she sat down, folding her hands in her lap.

"This is Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra," her father introduced them. "And they’ve come with a very special proposal for you."

Meera’s stomach clenched.

Mrs. Malhotra smiled warmly. "Our son, Aarav, is a wonderful young man. He’s hardworking, responsible, and comes from a good family. We believe he and Meera would make a perfect match."

There it was.

Meera’s fingers tightened around the edge of her dupatta. She knew this day would come, but she hadn’t expected it so soon. She was only twenty-four, still figuring out her career as an artist. Marriage had been the last thing on her mind.

"I… I don’t know what to say," Meera finally spoke, her voice unsure.

"There’s nothing to worry about," her father reassured her. "We’ve met Aarav and his family. They are good people. This is a golden opportunity, beta."

Meera wanted to protest. She wanted to say she wasn’t ready. But the hopeful gleam in her parents’ eyes stopped her.

"Would you be willing to meet him?" Mrs. Malhotra asked gently. "Just once? No pressure."

Meera sighed. Would one meeting really hurt? Maybe, just maybe, she could convince Aarav that they weren’t meant for each other.

"Okay," she said. "I’ll meet him."

Little did she know, this meeting would change her life forever.

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Do you like this style? If yes, I can continue writing the next chapters!