Marrying the "Old Man"
bride ran away
🌸 The Female Lead: Niha (Nazneen Nahar Niha)
Full Name: Nazneen Nahar Niha
Education: BBA graduate in Marketing from a top-tier university in Dhaka.
Work/Status: A brilliant, fresh-faced creative consultant who was just about to start her dream career before her family forced her into a sudden wedding contract to save their sinking business.
💼 The Male Lead: Yash (Yash Rohan)
Full Name: Yashvardhan Chowdhury
Education: MBA from a prestigious Ivy League business school abroad.
Work/Status: The young, incredibly sharp, and sophisticated CEO of Renaissance Holdings—one of the biggest corporate conglomerates in Bangladesh.
hey bangladesh 🇧🇩🇧🇩 ummah
so lets start with niha x yash
I am running for my life.
Literally. Running.
Do you know how hard it is to sprint down a busy road in a heavy, red Benarasi saree with ten pounds of gold jewelry rattling against your chest? It’s a nightmare. My breath is burning in my throat, and my high heels are already sitting in a puddle somewhere three blocks behind me
...
Niha! Stop right there
I glance over my shoulder. My mother is chasing me, holding up her own saree, looking like a furious storm cloud. Behind her, my uncle and three cousins are sprinting like they're in an Olympic final
...
Niha, please! Come back!" my mother screams, her voice cracking. "If you do this, we will be on the road! We will be completely ruined! The Chowdhury family will doom us!"
niha(fl)
"I don't care!" I yell back, not stopping for a single second. I jump over a pile of bricks on the side of the street. "I would rather marry a street dog than marry that ancient, arrogant old man
...
"He is not ancient! He is a billionaire!" my uncle roars from behind.
niha(fl)
He is old enough to be my uncle! If you love his billions so much, you marry him!" I scream, turning a sharp corner into a narrow alleyway, praying I can lose them in the Dhaka traffic.
I adjust the collar of my heavy, embroidered groom’s sherwani. It’s stiff, uncomfortable, and suffocating. I look at my reflection in the full-length mirror of the luxury dressing room. I look like a perfect, traditional Bangladeshi groom.
Too bad this whole thing is a complete farce.
The door clicks open, and my best friend and assistant, Fahim, walks in. He takes one look at me and bursts out laughing.
...
Hey, bro," Fahim says, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "You’re seriously doing this? You’re marrying a girl without even knowing her? Seriously... that is so weird, man."
yash(ml)
"It’s not weird. It’s an arrangement," I reply coldly, fixing the gold buttons on my sleeves.
...
Bro, they haven't seen you. You haven't seen her. What kind of marriage is this?" Fahim shakes his head, genuinely amused. "You didn't even look at a single picture of her! What if she has three heads?
yash(ml)
"I don't care if she has four heads," I say, my voice flat. "This is business, Fahim. Her family needs our financial backing to save their company, and my grandfather needs me to be married to secure the chairmanship of Renaissance Holdings. It’s a transaction. Love has nothing to do with it."
...
Wow. You are cold as ice," Fahim mutters. "I feel bad for the poor girl
Suddenly, Fahim’s phone buzzes loudly in his pocket. He pulls it out, checking the screen
...
Oh, it’s the venue manager from her side."
...
He answers it, putting it on speaker. "Hello? Yes, we are almost ready on our end—"
...
Sir! Big problem!" a panicked voice screams through the phone. "The bride is gone!"
...
Fahim blinks, stunned. "What do you mean gone? Like, she’s in the restroom?"
...
No! She jumped out of the dressing room window! She ran away! On foot! In her full bridal attire!
Fahim stays quiet for a fraction of a second. Then, he looks at me, and a massive, uncontrollable grin spreads across his face. He bursts into hysterical laughter.
...
Hey, bro!" Fahim chokes out through his laughs, pointing at me. "Your bride ran away! Alone! Hahaha! The great Yash Rohan just got dumped before even reaching the stage!
I stand there, absolutely speechless.
My hands freeze on my sherwani collar. My jaw tightens as I stare at Fahim.
yash(ml)
She did what?" I ask, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
...
She ran!" Fahim laughs, wiping a tear from his eye. "Man, your business partner just broke the contract and bolted down the street!
I turn back to the mirror, my reflection staring back at me. A strange, burning sensation flares up in my chest. No one has ever dared to humiliate me like this.
yash(ml)
Find out which way she went," I say coldly, stripping off the heavy groom’s turban and tossing it onto the sofa. "If she thinks she can make a fool out of me in front of all of Dhaka, she has another thing coming
ml sees fl in a filmy way as a bride 😁😁😖😭
.
I dive straight into the back seat of a random luxury car parked in a dark alley, slamming the door shut behind me. My lungs are screaming for air
niha(fl)
"Drive! Please, just drive!" I gasp, ducking low behind the front seats
...
What the hell?!" a voice barks from the front.
I pop my head up and blink. Sitting in the driver’s seat is a guy staring at me like I’ve lost my mind, and next to him, in the passenger seat, is a guy dressed in a half-ruined, expensive-looking groom's outfit. Both of them look completely shocked.
yash(ml)
"Who the hell are you? Get out of my car!" the guy in the groom dress scolds me, his voice freezing cold.
...
Get out right now before we call the police!" his friend yells, glaring at me.
niha(fl)
Bro, please! Look at me, I ran away!" I plead, pointing frantically to my heavy red saree, my messy hair, and my bare, muddy feet. "My family is right outside! They’re chasing me
yash(ml)
The groom-dressed guy eyes my bridal outfit, entirely unimpressed. "So what can we do? Your family problems are none of our business. Get out."
niha(fl)
Just take me away from here! Please!" I beg, gripping the back of his seat. "Just drive out of this area!"
yash(ml)
And why should we do that?" he asks, narrowing his eyes at me through his glasses. He looks incredibly handsome, but his expression is pure ice.
niha(fl)
Because they want to make me marry a literal old man!" I cry out, exasperated. "An ancient, greedy billionaire! My life will be totally destroyed!"
Suddenly, the driver breaks into hysterical laughter. The cold guy next to him just stares at me, a strange, sarcastic smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. They both actually start laughing.
niha(fl)
What is so funny?!" I snap, offended
yash(ml)
Nothing," the cold guy says, adjusting his collar. He turns around fully in his seat to face me. "It’s just ironic. Because I was literally on my way to get married too. A forced marriage. A pure business deal."
niha(fl)
I blink, staring at his handsome face. "Wait... really?"
yash(ml)
Yes. And my bride just ran away on foot," he says, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a sudden, sharp intensity. He leans closer. "So... since you need to escape an old man, and I need a bride to finish a business contract... how about you marry me instead? A deal?"
niha(fl)
My jaw drops. "Are you insane? We don't even know each other!
yash(ml)
You want to get caught by your family and marry that old grandpa?" he asks smoothly.
niha(fl)
I look out the tinted window and see my uncle sprinting past the alleyway. I panic. "Fine! Deal! Let's go!"
Thirty minutes later, we are standing inside a quiet Qazi office in Dhaka.
Fahim is still snickering in the corner, acting as our official witness. The Qazi looks completely bewildered, staring at my rumpled sherwani and this random, breathless girl in a ruined Benarasi saree who keeps looking over her shoulder.
...
Sign here," the Qazi says, sliding the registry book toward us.
I sign my name smoothly: Yash Rohan Chowdhury. I cover the top page with my hand so she doesn't see my surname. I don't want her backing out until the paperwork is legally binding.
She grabs the pen with trembling fingers and signs right next to mine: Nazneen Nahar Niha.
The Qazi recites the prayers, and just like that, the legalities are over. We are officially husband and wife. A runaway bride and a jilted groom, tied together by a mutual escape plan.
As soon as we get back into the air-conditioned comfort of my car, the adrenaline finally leaves her body. Niha collapses against the leather seat, burying her face in her hands.
niha(fl)
Oh God..." she groans, her voice incredibly faint. "My head is paining so much. It feels like it's going to explode
yash(ml)
"Do you want me to stop at a pharmacy?" I ask, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
She doesn't even answer. Her eyes are already closed, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her pale cheeks. Exhausted from sprinting through the streets of Dhaka and getting married to a complete stranger, she slumps sideways against the door and falls fast asleep.
I look down at the marriage certificate in my hand, then back at my sleeping, chaotic new wife. A slow smile creeps onto my face.
nokol heera
The car drives smoothly through the wet streets of Gulshan. I unscrew a bottle of mineral water, taking a long sip to calm my racing thoughts. I look at Niha through the rearview mirror. She is awake now, rubbing her temples, looking thoroughly exhausted but slightly relieved.
yash(ml)
So," I clear my throat, keeping my voice casual. "What's your family name? Who are your parents?"
niha(fl)
My father is late, and my family owns Rahman Textiles," she mutters, sighing deeply. "Our family name is Rahman.
Cough! Cough!
I instantly choke on my water, splashing it all over my dashboard. I thump my chest, coughing violently as my mind starts spinning out of control. Shit, man! Rahman Textiles? She is the exact girl chosen for me! This is my actual bride!
niha(fl)
Hey, are you okay?" Niha asks, frowning at me.
yash(ml)
Yeah, yeah. Water went down the wrong pipe," I lie, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to keep a straight face. "So... why did you run away? I mean, why flee your own wedding?"
niha(fl)
Niha’s expression darkens. She looks out the rainy window. "Amar ammu holo amar choto ma. Amar bon-o step ammu’r motoi behave kore."
(My mom is my stepmom. My sister also acts like a step-sister.)
niha(fl)
She scoffs bitterly. "They completely changed after my father passed away. This whole marriage... it was just a business deal for them. I heard the groom is some ancient, arrogant old man. Allah jeno tare dhonsho kore dey!"
(May Allah curse him and destroy him!)
yash(ml)
I choke on my own saliva this time, hacking loudly. Did she just curse me? To my face?
niha(fl)
Wow, you cough a lot," Niha mutters, raising an eyebrow. "Anyway, what’s your story? Why are you in a groom's outfit?"
yash(ml)
I quickly compose myself, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "My bride also flew away. She bolted before I even reached the venue."
Niha blinks, and then she actually bursts out laughing. It’s a bright, beautiful sound that fills the tense car, making my heart skip a beat despite the situation
niha(fl)
Oh my god, really? What a disaster day for both of us!"
Suddenly, she looks around the luxurious leather interior of the vehicle, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Wait a minute... this car is not cheap. This is a Rolls-Royce. Who are you, exactly?"
I break into a cold sweat. If I tell her I am Yash Rohan Chowdhury, she will realize I am the "ancient old man" and probably jump out of the moving car.
yash(ml)
Myself... driver," I say smoothly, giving her a humble smile. "I'm just the chauffeur."
niha(fl)
Niha points toward the front passenger seat where Fahim usually sits. He is currently standing outside a roadside tea stall, busy talking on a phone call. "Then who is he? Isn't he the driver?"
yash(ml)
Oh, him? He is the assistant... and kind of a boss of mine," I lie flawlessly. "Today he drove the car because it was supposed to be my marriage day. We are actually going to stay at his house tonight. I just rented a small room from him."
The car pulls up to a massive, heavily guarded mansion in Gulshan. I frown. This assistant guy must be incredibly rich to own a palace like this. We walk inside the luxurious living room, my dirty, bare feet sinking into the plush, expensive carpets. Suddenly, an elegant middle-aged couple steps forward. They look shocked to see us.
Yash quickly pulls the older gentleman aside into the corridor, whispering urgently.
yash(ml)
Dad," Yash says, his voice low and frantic. "Did you not tell Mom that my original bride ran away from the venue?"
...
His father looks at him, totally confused. "Na, kokhono na. Ami bolbo kemne? I thought you went to track her down!"
(No, never. How can I say that?)
yash(ml)
Yash exhales a massive breath of relief. "Okay, good. Keep it that way. Look at the girl standing in the living room. She is the exact girl you guys chose for me. She is Niha Rahman."
...
His father’s jaw drops. "Torebhaire! Kemne?! What the hell... how?!"
(Holy crap! How?!)
yash(ml)
She fled her wedding, and I happened to pick her up in my car. We just got married at a Qazi office," Yash explains, a smirk playing on his lips. His father lets out a sudden, loud laugh, clapping Yash on the shoulder.
yash(ml)
"Do not tell her the truth, Dad," Yash warns quickly. "Never. I already told her that I am just a driver
We walk back into the main living room. Yash’s mother is staring at me with wide, emotional eyes. Without a word, she walks over, unclasps a stunning, heavily glittering diamond necklace from her own neck, and places it around mine.
niha(fl)
I freeze. The diamonds are blindingly bright. I look over at Yash, my eyes wide with sheer panic. How can a driver's family afford this?!
Yash steps closer, leaning down until his lips are right next to my ear. His warm breath sends a shiver down my spine.
yash(ml)
Arey low-quality nakol heera, naye nao," he whispers softly, a teasing glint in his eyes.
(It's just a cheap, fake diamond. Just take it.)
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