Meera woke up to the soft golden glow of the morning sun filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. For a brief moment, she forgot where she was, the warmth of the silk sheets and the unfamiliar ceiling making her feel displaced. Then it hit her.

She was in Aarav Malhotra’s house.

She turned to the side, half expecting to see Aarav beside her, but the space was empty. The couch, however, still had the faint impression of where he had slept last night.

Their wedding night had been nothing like the stories she had grown up hearing. No romantic gestures, no nervous small talk—just an awkward arrangement to sleep apart and a quiet agreement to take things slow. She appreciated his thoughtfulness, but the unfamiliarity of it all still made her stomach twist.

A soft knock at the door startled her.

"Meera bhabhi?"

It was Riya, Aarav’s younger sister.

"Uh, yes, come in," Meera called out, sitting up quickly and adjusting the dupatta draped over her shoulder.

Riya stepped in, her eyes bright with excitement. "Good morning, bhabhi! Mom sent me to check if you're awake. Breakfast is almost ready."

Meera forced a small smile. "Good morning. I’ll be down in a few minutes."

Riya grinned. "No rush. But be prepared—Mom has invited some relatives over. She’s very excited about showing off her new daughter-in-law."

Meera’s stomach churned. She wasn’t ready to be put on display, especially not when she was still processing her new life.

"I’ll be there soon," she said, hoping her voice didn’t betray her nerves.

As Riya left, Meera sighed and got up, heading toward the wardrobe where her wedding sarees and lehengas were neatly arranged. What was she supposed to wear?

Her mind flashed back to the carefree mornings at her parents’ house, where she’d throw on a comfortable kurti and sit with a cup of tea, chatting with her mother.

That life felt so distant now.

---

By the time she made her way downstairs, the house was already bustling with activity. Servants rushed about, carrying trays of food, while Aarav’s mother sat at the dining table, talking animatedly with two older women—relatives, no doubt.

Meera’s steps slowed. She felt every pair of eyes turn toward her the moment she entered.

"There she is!" Sunita Malhotra beamed. "Our bahu."

Meera forced a polite smile, feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on her.

One of the older women, dressed in an elaborate saree, gave Meera an appraising look. "Such a pretty girl. But so thin! Are you feeding her well, Sunita?"

Meera bit the inside of her cheek as the women laughed. Great.

"Come, sit," Sunita said, gesturing to the empty seat beside Aarav’s father.

Meera took her place carefully, feeling out of place among the older women who were effortlessly comfortable in this environment.

Aarav entered a moment later, dressed in a crisp shirt and trousers, looking as composed as ever. He greeted his family with a nod before taking his seat at the head of the table.

Meera found herself stealing glances at him. He hadn’t said much since their wedding, and she wondered what he was thinking about all this. Did he also feel the weight of expectation pressing down on him?

"So, Meera," one of the women said, making her snap out of her thoughts. "Do you know how to cook?"

Meera hesitated. "A little."

"A little?" The woman raised an eyebrow. "Cooking is the heart of a household. You must learn quickly. A wife should know how to take care of her husband’s needs."

Meera felt a flush creep up her neck. "I’ll try my best."

Aarav, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "That won’t be necessary."

The table went silent as everyone turned to look at him.

Aarav leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but firm. "We have a chef who prepares all our meals. Meera doesn’t need to cook unless she wants to."

Meera blinked. She hadn’t expected him to intervene.

Sunita gave her son a sharp look, but Aarav remained unfazed.

"Of course," Sunita said quickly, smoothing over the tension. "Meera can do whatever she is comfortable with."

Meera exhaled softly.

For the first time since the wedding, she felt like she wasn’t completely alone in this.

---

Later that evening, Meera wandered through the house, taking in her new surroundings. The mansion was beautiful, no doubt, but it felt more like a luxury hotel than a home.

She found herself in the garden, where the evening breeze was cool and the scent of jasmine lingered in the air.

"Not a fan of crowded breakfasts?"

Meera turned to see Aarav standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets.

She gave a small smile. "It was… overwhelming."

He walked closer, nodding. "I figured."

Meera hesitated before speaking again. "Thank you. For earlier. At the table."

Aarav shrugged. "You don’t have to thank me for that. You’re not here to prove yourself to anyone."

Meera studied him. "You really don’t care about all this, do you?"

He smirked slightly. "Not particularly."

There was something refreshing about his honesty.

"So why did you agree to this marriage?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Aarav was silent for a moment before replying. "Because it was the practical choice."

"Practical?"

He met her gaze. "My parents wanted it. Your parents wanted it. And in our world, marriage isn’t always about love—it’s about stability, partnership."

Meera frowned. "That sounds… cold."

Aarav exhaled. "Maybe. But it’s the truth."

She looked away, her thoughts swirling.

"Does that bother you?" Aarav asked, his tone softer now.

Meera hesitated. "I don’t know yet."

Aarav nodded, as if understanding something she hadn’t even said.

They stood in silence for a moment, the sound of rustling leaves filling the space between them.

"Would you have said no if you had a choice?" Aarav asked suddenly.

Meera looked up at him, surprised by the question.

For the first time, she didn’t know the answer.

She had always believed in love, in finding someone who made her heart race. But now, standing beside a man who was offering her space, patience, and understanding—wasn’t that a kind of love too?

"I don’t know," she admitted honestly.

Aarav gave her a thoughtful look before nodding.

"Fair enough," he said, and with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Meera with more questions than answers.