“Marry him.”

The words echoed in Aarohi’s ears like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

“…What?” she whispered.

Her father didn’t look at her.

“I’ve already signed the agreement.”

Agreement?

Aarohi’s hands trembled as she stared at the papers lying on the table.

A contract.

Her name.

Someone else’s name.

Kabir Malhotra.

“No.” She stepped back. “No, this is a joke, right?”

Silence.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

“It’s not a joke,” her father said coldly. “We’re in debt. This is the only way.”

Debt?

Her chest tightened.

“You’re… selling me?” Her voice cracked despite her trying to stay strong.

“I’m saving this family,” he snapped. “And you will do as you’re told.”

The room felt too small.

Too tight.

Too real.

“I won’t marry him,” Aarohi said, shaking her head. “I don’t even know him!”

“You don’t need to.”

A new voice entered the room.

Deep.

Calm.

Dangerous.

Aarohi froze.

She turned slowly—

And her heart stopped.

Kabir Malhotra.

Standing at the door like he already owned everything.

Like he already owned… her.

“You’re late,” her father muttered.

Kabir ignored him.

His eyes were on Aarohi.

Sharp.

Unreadable.

“Look at me,” he said.

Her body refused to move.

“I said—look at me.”

Something in his tone made her obey.

Their eyes met.

And for the first time… she felt fear.

Real fear.

“She doesn’t look happy,” Kabir said casually.

“This isn’t about happiness,” her father replied.

Kabir smirked slightly.

“No,” he said. “It’s about control.”

Aarohi’s breath hitched.

“What do you want from me?” she demanded, forcing her voice not to shake.

Kabir walked closer.

Step by step.

Until he stood right in front of her.

Too close.

Way too close.

He leaned down slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper only she could hear—

“I want everything.”

Her heart slammed against her chest.

“I’m not yours,” she said, even though her voice betrayed her.

Kabir smiled.

Not a warm smile.

Not a kind one.

Something far more dangerous.

“You already are.”

He picked up the contract.

Signed his name.

And placed the pen in her trembling hand.

“Sign it.”

“I won’t.”

His expression didn’t change.

But the air around them did.

Cold.

Heavy.

Threatening.

“You have two choices,” Kabir said quietly.

“Sign this…”

He stepped closer.

“…or watch your family lose everything.”

Tears burned her eyes.

This wasn’t a choice.

This was a trap.

Her fingers tightened around the pen.

Her vision blurred.

Her future…

Collapsing in front of her.

Slowly—

She signed.

Kabir took the paper, glanced at it once, and then looked at her.

Satisfied.

“Good girl.”

The words felt like chains wrapping around her.

As he turned to leave, he paused.

Without looking back, he said—

“Get ready.”

“For what?” she whispered.

A slight pause.

Then—

“For your wedding.”

Aarohi stood there, frozen.

Heartbroken.

Powerless.

And unknowingly…

walking straight into a life she could never escape.

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The room was too quiet.

Aarohi sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers tightly clutching the heavy fabric of her red wedding dress.

Everything felt unreal.

The lights.

The decorations.

The silence.

Just a few hours ago… her life had been normal.

Now—

She was married.

Married to a stranger.

Married to the man who had bought her life like it was nothing.

Kabir Malhotra.

Her heart pounded as she glanced at the door.

He hadn’t come yet.

But he would.

Any moment.

And she had no idea what would happen next.

“I need to calm down…” she whispered to herself, trying to steady her breathing.

But her thoughts wouldn’t stop.

Why did he do this?

What does he want from me?

Is this really my life now?

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but she quickly wiped them away.

“No,” she muttered. “I won’t cry.”

Not anymore.

The sound of the door opening made her freeze.

Her body went completely still.

Slow footsteps echoed in the room.

Measured.

Confident.

Dangerous.

He was here.

Kabir closed the door behind him without a word.

Aarohi didn’t turn.

She couldn’t.

Her fingers tightened even more, her knuckles turning white.

The silence stretched.

Heavy.

Unbearable.

“You’re still wearing that?” Kabir’s voice broke the silence.

Calm.

Cold.

Aarohi swallowed hard.

“What else should I wear?” she shot back, forcing herself to sound stronger than she felt.

A soft chuckle came from behind.

“Something more comfortable,” he said.

Her heart skipped.

“I’m fine.”

Another pause.

Then—

“Turn around.”

Her breath caught.

“No.”

The word came out before she could stop it.

Silence.

Thick.

Dangerous.

Kabir’s footsteps moved closer.

One step.

Two steps.

Until—

He was right behind her.

Too close.

She could feel his presence like a shadow.

“Did I ask you,” he said quietly, “or did I give you a command?”

A chill ran down her spine.

Slowly…

Reluctantly…

Aarohi turned.

Their eyes met.

And once again, she felt it—

That strange fear.

That pull she didn’t understand.

Kabir’s gaze moved over her face, unreadable.

Studying.

Calculating.

“You look terrified,” he said.

“I’m not,” she lied.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

“Liar.”

Anger flared inside her.

“Of course I’m scared!” she snapped. “You forced me into this marriage! What did you expect?”

Kabir didn’t react.

Didn’t even blink.

“I expected obedience,” he said simply.

Her breath hitched.

“I’m not your servant,” she shot back.

“No,” he agreed.

A step closer.

“But you are mine.”

The words hit harder this time.

Because now…

There was no one else around.

No escape.

No interruption.

Just him.

“I hate you,” Aarohi said, her voice trembling despite her effort.

Kabir’s expression didn’t change.

“Good.”

She froze.

“What?”

“It’ll make things easier,” he replied.

Easier?

“What does that even mean?”

Kabir didn’t answer.

Instead, he reached out—

And lifted her chin slightly.

Her breath caught instantly.

“Don’t touch me,” she whispered.

But she didn’t move.

Couldn’t move.

“Look at you,” he murmured. “So fragile… yet still trying to fight.”

His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek.

Her heart slammed violently.

“I said don’t—”

“You’ll get used to it,” he interrupted calmly.

Something inside her snapped.

“I will never get used to this!” she shouted, pushing his hand away.

“I will never accept you, this marriage, or anything about this!”

For the first time—

Kabir’s expression changed.

Just slightly.

His eyes darkened.

“You don’t have a choice,” he said quietly.

“I do,” she argued.

“No,” he corrected.

Another step closer.

“You lost that the moment you signed the contract.”

The room felt smaller.

The air heavier.

Aarohi’s chest rose and fell rapidly.

“I signed it for my family,” she said. “Not for you.”

Kabir leaned closer.

“So did I.”

Her brows furrowed.

“What?”

But he pulled back before she could question further.

“Get changed,” he said.

“I’m not staying in this room like this.”

She blinked.

“That’s it?”

Kabir looked at her.

“What were you expecting?”

Her cheeks flushed instantly.

“I wasn’t expecting anything!”

He smirked slightly.

“Relax,” he said. “I don’t touch what isn’t willing.”

The words should have comforted her.

But somehow…

They didn’t.

“Then why marry me?” she asked again.

This time—

Her voice softer.

More genuine.

Kabir paused.

For a second… it almost felt like he would answer.

But then—

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Frustration burned inside her.

“I’m not a game!”

“No,” he said.

“You’re the key.”

Her heart skipped.

“The key to what?”

Kabir walked toward the door.

His hand rested on the handle.

“A truth,” he said.

“That’s been buried for years.”

Before she could react—

Before she could ask anything else—

He opened the door.

And stopped.

“One more thing,” he added without turning back.

“If you try to run…”

Her breath caught.

“I will find you.”

The door closed.

Leaving Aarohi alone.

Again.

But this time…

Her fear wasn’t the only thing growing inside her.

Questions.

Doubts.

And something far more dangerous—

Curiosity.

“What truth…?” she whispered to herself.

Outside the door—

Kabir stood still.

His expression no longer calm.

No longer cold.

Instead—

Something darker.

Something hidden.

“They don’t remember…” he murmured.

His eyes hardened.

“But I do.”