Chapter 1 The Question She Was Tired of Answering

If there was one thing Aanya Sharma hated more than unsolicited advice, it was being told she would "change her mind someday."

Especially when it came from people who barely knew her.

Or worse—

Relatives.

"Twenty-seven already?"

Aanya forced a polite smile as she balanced a paper plate in one hand and a glass of juice in the other.

Here we go again.

The wedding hall buzzed with laughter, music, and conversations. Fairy lights decorated every corner while distant cousins she hadn't seen in years wandered around pretending they recognized everyone.

Aanya had attended enough family functions to know exactly how the evening would go.

First, someone would ask about her job.

Then someone would praise her salary.

And finally, someone would ask the inevitable question.

"When are you getting married?"

Right on schedule, her aunt leaned closer.

"So, beta, any good news?"

Aanya blinked.

"What kind of good news?"

Her aunt laughed dramatically.

"You know exactly what I mean."

No, unfortunately, she did.

"I'm focusing on work right now."

The answer was simple.

Polite.

Practiced.

She had used it hundreds of times.

Unfortunately, it never worked.

"Work will always be there."

"Marriage should happen at the right age."

"Don't wait too long."

"Girls shouldn't be too picky."

The usual collection of unsolicited wisdom followed.

Aanya nodded at appropriate moments while mentally calculating how quickly she could escape.

Finally, her phone buzzed.

A blessing from the universe.

"Excuse me, work call."

It wasn't.

But nobody needed to know that.

She walked away before another lecture could begin.

---

The terrace was quiet.

Cool evening air replaced the suffocating atmosphere of the crowded hall.

Aanya leaned against the railing and exhaled.

Peace.

At last.

She unlocked her phone and opened her favorite travel page instead.

Photographs of mountains.

Cafes.

Hidden beaches.

Solo travelers.

Places she wanted to visit someday.

Places that didn't ask about marriage.

A small smile appeared on her face.

This was the life she wanted.

Freedom.

Choices.

Adventures.

The ability to decide her own future.

Not because she hated relationships.

Not because she was afraid of commitment.

She simply liked her life.

Why did that seem so difficult for people to understand?

"Escaping again?"

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

Aanya turned.

Her younger brother, Karan, walked onto the terrace carrying two cups of coffee.

"You're my favorite person."

"I know."

He handed her a cup.

"What did they say this time?"

She groaned.

"What don't they say?"

Karan laughed.

"The marriage interrogation?"

"The marriage interrogation."

They stood quietly for a moment.

Watching city lights flicker in the distance.

Unlike most people, Karan never pressured her.

Never judged her.

Never tried convincing her that happiness came with a husband attached.

"If it helps," he said, "I think you're doing fine."

Aanya smiled.

"You want something."

"I always want something."

"There it is."

He grinned.

"Can you review my presentation tomorrow?"

"There it is."

---

The drive home later that night was unusually quiet.

Their parents sat in the front seats.

Aanya and Karan occupied the back.

For a while, nobody spoke.

Then her mother cleared her throat.

Aanya instantly knew where this was going.

"Beta."

Here we go.

"Hm?"

"We met someone today."

Aanya closed her eyes.

Of course they did.

"A family friend."

"Maa..."

"Just listen."

Her mother turned around slightly.

"He seems like a nice boy."

Karan immediately buried his face behind his phone to hide his laughter.

Traitor.

Aanya stared out the window.

"Maa, I'm not interested."

"You haven't even met him."

"I don't want to meet him."

Her father finally joined the conversation.

"Nobody is forcing you."

Which usually meant they were absolutely going to try.

"We only want you to consider it."

Aanya softened slightly.

Because that was the problem.

Her parents weren't villains.

They weren't controlling.

They genuinely loved her.

Which made refusing them much harder.

"We'll talk later," she said quietly.

Her mother sighed.

But thankfully dropped the topic.

For now.

---

That night, Aanya lay awake in bed.

The city lights filtered through her curtains.

Her apartment was peaceful.

Comfortable.

Entirely hers.

No compromises.

No expectations.

No responsibilities she hadn't chosen for herself.

Exactly how she liked it.

Marriage had never been part of the picture.

Not because she thought it was wrong.

But because she had never found a reason strong enough to change a life she already loved.

With that thought, she switched off the lamp and closed her eyes.

Completely unaware that somewhere across the city, a man named Aarav Malhotra was putting a little boy to bed.

And that within a few weeks, both their carefully planned lives were about to collide in ways neither of them could imagine.

To be continued...

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