**Chapter 1: The Unlikely Vows**

Meera Sharma sat in her office, staring at the design blueprint for a new project. Her mind wasn’t fully focused on the task in front of her. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions, adjusting to a new life she never imagined. Her fingers absently traced the edges of the paper as her thoughts wandered to the man who had turned her world upside down—Aarav Kapoor.

Her husband. The man she had married under circumstances she had never imagined in her wildest dreams. A forced marriage, one she didn’t want, but couldn’t escape.

She had met Aarav only a few months ago, in a family gathering that seemed like any other. He was tall, imposing, with a cold demeanor that left no room for warmth. But it wasn’t just his exterior that intimidated her—it was the way his eyes seemed to pierce through everyone, a hint of disdain lingering behind the sharp gaze. The moment she had laid eyes on him, she had known her life would change, but not in the way it had. The arranged marriage had been nothing short of a shock.

Her family had hoped it would be a merger of two great families, an opportunity for status and wealth. But for Meera, it was a prison. Aarav had made it clear from the beginning that he didn’t want this marriage. He had a cold, unwavering resolve that seemed to reject any warmth that came his way, especially from her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the office door opened with a soft creak. She looked up to see her colleague, Rhea, walking in with a smile.

“Meera, there you are! The meeting with the clients has been rescheduled for this afternoon. You still in for it?” Rhea asked, glancing at the design sketches on Meera’s desk.

Meera nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes, I’m ready. I’ll finalize the details before then.”

As Rhea sat down opposite her, the conversation shifted, but Meera couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts about Aarav. The marriage, the way he treated her, the loneliness she felt even in a mansion full of people… It was all too much. The weight of the expectations of both families bore down on her, but the hardest part was dealing with Aarav’s coldness.

For the past few days, she had tried to make the best of things. She was polite, gentle, and always did her best to keep the peace. But nothing seemed to break through Aarav’s icy exterior. He never acknowledged her in private, and when they were with his family, he appeared cordial, even though she could sense the bitterness in his eyes.

Still, there were moments—tiny, fleeting instances—when his demeanor softened, almost imperceptibly. It was these moments that made her heart ache. Meera had fallen for him. The cold man who barely looked at her, who thought she was only after his wealth. But how could she make him understand that she didn’t want any of that? All she wanted was a chance to show him she wasn’t the person he thought she was.

The door creaked again, and this time, it was Aarav who entered, his presence commanding the room. Meera’s breath hitched at the sight of him, his dark eyes scanning her with the same cold, calculating gaze. His tall figure, draped in an expensive suit, seemed to take up all the space in the room. He didn’t speak immediately, just stood there, his expression unreadable.

“Meera,” he finally said, his voice clipped and cold, “we need to talk.”

Her heart skipped a beat. It had been days since he had directly spoken to her. A brief glance or a terse nod was all he ever gave her. The air in the room grew thick with tension.

“Yes?” she replied, trying to sound calm, though her pulse was racing.

“I’ve heard that you’ve been getting along with my family... too well,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Meera blinked, confused. “I—I'm just being polite. They’re kind to me, and I’m grateful.”

Aarav stepped closer, his gaze hardening. “I don’t want people getting the wrong idea. No one needs to know about our marriage. Understand?”

Meera’s stomach churned. “But—” she began, but was immediately cut off.

“No public announcements,” he snapped, his voice sharp. “We keep this between us and our families. No one else needs to know about this... arrangement.”

The word *arrangement* stung. It was the way he had always referred to their marriage. A business deal. Nothing more.

Meera nodded silently, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t the woman he thought she was. She wanted to explain that she had no desire for his wealth or status, that all she wanted was to live a peaceful life. But it seemed futile to try.

“Is that clear?” Aarav asked, his voice devoid of warmth.

“Yes,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

With a final glance, Aarav turned and walked out of the room, leaving Meera standing there, a whirlwind of emotions churning within her. She knew that in his eyes, she was just a gold-digger—a woman who had trapped him for his wealth. But what he didn’t know was that she had fallen in love with him, a love she had kept hidden behind the walls she had built to protect herself.

As she sat back down at her desk, Rhea’s voice broke through the silence. “Meera, are you okay?”

Meera forced a smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

But the truth was, she wasn’t just tired. She was heartbroken. And every day that passed, it felt like the distance between her and Aarav grew wider, like a chasm she could never bridge.

**Author's Note**:

The journey of Meera and Aarav is one of emotional distance, misunderstandings, and eventual healing. Their forced marriage is just the beginning of what will be a difficult but beautiful path toward love. What happens when two people who started as strangers, and who are forced together under challenging circumstances, start to uncover the depth of their emotions? Stay tuned for more as their story unfolds.

**Chapter 2: Unspoken Words**

The days following the conversation with Aarav were a blur for Meera. Every morning, she forced herself to put on a brave face, to walk into the office with the same professional demeanor she always had. But beneath the surface, there was a growing ache that was impossible to ignore. She had hoped that Aarav’s coldness was just a phase, that maybe, in time, he would come to see her for who she truly was. But each passing day only seemed to strengthen the wall he had built around himself, and she was left standing on the other side, yearning for something she knew she could never have.

Aarav’s behavior toward her never wavered. He was always distant, always aloof, like she was nothing more than a shadow in his world. Whenever their paths crossed at work, he barely acknowledged her presence, his eyes passing over her as if she were invisible. And when they were alone, it was even worse. The silence between them was suffocating, as though any attempt at conversation would be met with disdain.

Meera sighed as she sat at her desk, reviewing designs for an upcoming project. Her mind was elsewhere, as it often was these days. The echo of Aarav’s words—the ones he had spoken about keeping their marriage a secret—still lingered in her thoughts. She couldn’t understand why he wanted to hide everything. Why did it matter so much to him? Wasn’t she his wife, after all? Why couldn’t they just be open about their relationship?

“Meera, you okay?” Rhea’s voice broke through her thoughts. Meera looked up to see her friend standing at the doorway, concern etched on her face.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Meera replied, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

Rhea didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press further. “Well, I’m heading out for a quick coffee run. Want to come?”

Meera hesitated. She could use a break from the office, but the thought of running into Aarav, or anyone who might bring up the topic of her marriage, made her stomach churn. Still, she needed to clear her head.

“I’ll come,” Meera said, standing up from her desk. “I could use a change of scenery.”

As they walked toward the elevators, Meera tried to focus on the small talk that Rhea was making, but her mind kept drifting back to Aarav. The way he had spoken to her earlier, like she was a nuisance, had left a bitter taste in her mouth. What had she done to deserve that treatment? All she wanted was a chance to prove herself to him, to show him that she wasn’t after his money, that her feelings for him were genuine. But every time she tried, she was met with nothing but coldness and indifference.

The elevator doors opened, and the two women stepped inside. As the doors closed, Rhea glanced at Meera with a raised brow.

“You know, I’ve been thinking,” Rhea began, her tone casual but probing. “I know things haven’t been easy with Aarav... but have you tried talking to him? I mean, really talking to him? Maybe he doesn’t know how much this is hurting you.”

Meera bit her lip, unsure how to respond. The truth was, she had thought about it. Over and over again. But every time she tried to approach Aarav, she was met with rejection. It was as if he didn’t want to hear anything she had to say. The idea of confronting him, of laying her heart out and hoping for understanding, felt too risky. What if he didn’t care? What if he only despised her even more for showing vulnerability?

“I don’t think it would make a difference,” Meera finally replied, her voice soft. “Aarav... he’s just not interested in anything I have to say.”

Rhea’s eyes softened with sympathy. “He’s probably just confused, Meera. Sometimes people don’t realize what they have until it’s too late. You’ve got to be patient with him. He’ll come around.”

Meera nodded, but deep down, she wasn’t sure. Patience had never been her strong suit, and in this case, she wasn’t sure how much more patience she could muster. Every day felt like a struggle, like she was fighting a battle that she couldn’t win.

The elevator dinged as they reached the ground floor, and they stepped out into the lobby. The coffee shop was just a short walk away, and they chatted idly as they made their way there. When they arrived, they ordered their drinks and took a seat by the window, the bustle of the city passing by outside.

“So, tell me more about the project you’re working on,” Rhea said, changing the subject. “Is it a big one?”

Meera smiled, grateful for the distraction. “Yeah, it’s one of our biggest projects this quarter. We’re working on redesigning a luxury boutique. It’s been exciting, but also a lot of pressure. The client is... well, very particular.”

Rhea laughed. “I can only imagine. But if anyone can handle it, it’s you.”

Meera chuckled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks. I just hope I can pull it off.”

For the next few minutes, the conversation stayed light, with Rhea telling stories about her recent adventures in fashion. But despite her best efforts to focus on the conversation, Meera couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t stop thinking about Aarav.

After their coffee break, the two women returned to the office. As they walked into the building, Meera’s heart sank when she saw Aarav in the lobby, speaking with a group of clients. He was always so composed, always in control. But when his eyes flicked toward her, Meera could feel the invisible barrier between them tighten. She was just another person to him—someone to ignore, someone to resent.

But as he caught her gaze, something flickered in his eyes. A brief moment of uncertainty? Meera couldn’t tell. Before she could analyze it further, he turned his attention back to the clients and gave a short nod, dismissing her presence completely.

A wave of frustration hit her, and she quickly turned away, swallowing the bitter lump in her throat. She couldn’t keep doing this. She couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine when it was tearing her apart inside.

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**Author’s Note**:

In this chapter, we see the growing tension between Meera and Aarav, as she struggles to navigate her emotions and their strained marriage. While Meera is doing her best to stay strong, her internal conflict is becoming harder to hide. Aarav, on the other hand, remains distant, though there are hints of deeper feelings underneath his cold exterior. The journey ahead for these two is going to be challenging, but will they ever find common ground? Let’s keep going to discover what happens next.

The next few chapter will be on there meeting and how they got married.

**Chapter 3: The First Meeting**

Meera had never believed in love at first sight. Her life had always been about hard work, ambition, and family expectations. But the moment she met Aarav Kapoor, everything she thought she knew about herself was thrown into chaos.

It was a rainy afternoon, and Meera had been asked by her family to attend a business dinner to meet some potential partners. As a head designer in her company, she was accustomed to these high-profile events, but she never expected the evening to turn into a turning point in her life.

The dinner was hosted by none other than the Kapoor family, a name synonymous with wealth and influence in the city. Meera had heard about Aarav before, of course—his reputation preceded him. A cold, calculating billionaire, the heir to the Kapoor empire, and a man with no time for frivolities or relationships. He was known for being detached, aloof, and uninterested in the social scene. But that night, as she walked into the grand ballroom, she couldn’t help but notice him.

Aarav stood across the room, talking to a group of men. His sharp jawline, the tailored suit that fit him perfectly, and the air of confidence around him made him look almost unreachable. Yet, despite the crowd surrounding him, there was an undeniable sense of loneliness in his posture, as if he was just going through the motions. The cool indifference he wore like a second skin only made him more intriguing.

Their eyes met across the room, and for a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away. Meera wasn’t sure if it was his piercing gaze or the electric charge in the air, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away. He didn’t smile, didn’t acknowledge her presence with anything more than a casual glance before returning to his conversation. But for Meera, that fleeting connection was enough to leave her heart racing.

She didn’t know why it affected her so deeply. After all, she wasn’t one to get swept up in the allure of a handsome face or the power that came with a name like his. But there was something about Aarav that pulled at her, something enigmatic and alluring that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Later that evening, Meera found herself seated next to him at dinner. His gaze barely flickered in her direction, but every now and then, she would catch him watching her from the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable. She tried to focus on the conversation around her, trying not to let the tension between them affect her, but it was impossible to ignore the weight of his presence.

“Meera Sharma, right?” Aarav’s voice interrupted her thoughts. He spoke with such a directness that it was impossible to mistake it for anything else.

She turned to face him, surprised that he had finally addressed her. “Yes, that’s right,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.

Aarav gave a small nod, his lips curling into a faint, polite smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Your work is impressive.”

Meera blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thank you,” she said, managing a small smile.

The conversation between them remained brief and formal, but Meera couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface. He wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared, but he certainly wasn’t interested in her beyond the polite exchange of pleasantries.

As the evening wore on and the event came to a close, Meera found herself reflecting on the encounter. Aarav Kapoor was a man who commanded respect, yet there was something distant about him. Something that suggested he wasn’t just cold by choice, but perhaps because he had been hurt in the past.

Little did she know that this was only the beginning of a journey that would change her life forever.

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**Author's Note**:

The first meeting between Meera and Aarav sets the stage for what will become an intricate web of emotions, misunderstandings, and challenges. Meera’s curiosity about Aarav is sparked here, and it will only grow from this point onward. But this is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into their connection in the coming chapters.