Chapter 1: The Unlikely Vows

**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.

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