HIS UNWANTED QUEEN

Chapter 3: The Matchmakers

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The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Ehan's Manhattan penthouse, casting golden light across the marble floors. The city below was already buzzing with life, but inside the apartment, a different kind of chaos was unfolding.

Meram sat cross-legged on the living room floor, surrounded by toys, crayons, and three very energetic children.

Aryan was building a castle out of blocks, Sarah was coloring a picture of a princess, and Zayn was sitting in Meram's lap, playing with her hair.

"Bhabhi, look!" Aryan shouted, pointing at his lopsided block tower. "This is my castle! You can be the queen!"

Meram laughed softly. "A queen? I don't think I'm queen material."

"Yes, you are!" Sarah insisted, holding up her drawing. "See? I drew you! You're the most beautiful princess in the whole world!"

Meram looked at the drawing — a stick figure with a crown and a big smile. Her heart swelled. "It's beautiful, Sarah. Thank you."

Zayn tugged her hair gently. "Mama, play with me."

"Of course, sweetheart," Meram said, picking him up and spinning him around. Zayn giggled so hard that his little face turned red.

### Ehan Watches from Afar

Ehan stood at the kitchen doorway, a cup of coffee in his hand, watching the scene unfold.

He had come out of his room intending to grab his laptop and leave for work. Instead, he had been standing there for the past five minutes, completely frozen.

Meram was playing with his cousins like she had known them her whole life. She was patient, kind, and gentle — everything he was not.

He watched her laugh, her honey-colored eyes crinkling at the corners. He watched her twirl Zayn in the air, making the toddler shriek with joy. He watched her hug Sarah when the little girl showed her the drawing.

Something tugged at his chest. Something warm. Something unfamiliar.

He shook his head, forcing the feeling away.

She was just an orphan. A stranger. A temporary guest.

Nothing more.

"You're staring, bhai jan," Aryan's voice cut through his thoughts.

Ehan blinked. The little boy was grinning up at him, his eyes mischievous.

"I'm not staring," Ehan said flatly.

"Yes, you are," Sarah chimed in. "You've been standing there for five whole minutes!"

Zayn pointed a chubby finger at him. "Ehan bhai loves Mama!"

Ehan's jaw tightened. "Zayn, I don't love—"

"He does! He does!" Aryan started chanting. "Ehan bhai loves Bhabhi! Ehan bhai loves Bhabhi!"

Sarah joined in. "Ehan bhai loves Bhabhi! Ehan bhai loves Bhabhi!"

Even Zayn started clapping his hands and singing, "Love Bhabhi! Love Bhabhi!"

Meram's face turned bright red. She looked down, unable to meet Ehan's eyes. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it.

Ehan, for his part, felt his face heat up for the first time in years. He was a grown man — a billionaire, a businessman, someone who never showed weakness. But this tiny little monster had just exposed him.

"Aryan," Ehan growled. "That's enough."

"Make me!" Aryan challenged, sticking out his tongue.

Ehan pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are the most troublesome child I have ever met."

"Thank you!" Aryan beamed.

Meram couldn't help it. She laughed. It was a soft, beautiful sound that made Ehan's heart skip a beat.

### Ehan's Aunt Speaks

Ehan's aunt, Fatima, walked into the living room with a tray of tea. She was a warm, motherly woman in her early fifties, with kind eyes and a gentle smile.

"Ehan, dear, why are you standing there like a statue?" she asked, setting the tray down. "Sit down and have some tea with us."

"I have work," Ehan said stiffly.

"Nonsense," Fatima said, pushing him toward the sofa. "You work too much. Sit. Relax. Spend time with your cousins. And with Meram."

Ehan reluctantly sat down, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Aryan immediately climbed onto his lap. "Bhai jan, play with me!"

"I don't play with blocks, Aryan."

"Then play with Bhabhi!" Sarah suggested. "You two can be the king and queen of the castle!"

Ehan's eyes met Meram's. She was blushing furiously, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her dress.

He cleared his throat. "We're not—"

"Yes, you are!" Aryan interrupted. "You said she's your fiancée! Fiancées get married! Married people are kings and queens!"

Fatima chuckled softly. "The children have a point, Ehan. You did announce it to the media."

"That was a lie," Ehan said quickly. "A temporary measure."

Meram's smile faded slightly. She looked down at Zayn, who was still sitting in her lap, playing with her hair.

A temporary measure. That's all she was.

Fatima noticed the sadness in her eyes. She reached over and patted Meram's hand. "Sometimes, the best things in life start as temporary measures, dear. You never know."

### Mr. Khan's Call

The peaceful morning was shattered by the ringing of Ehan's phone. He looked at the screen and his expression darkened.

"Grandfather," he said, answering the call.

Mr. Khan's voice was sharp and commanding, even through the phone. "Ehan, I just received a call from your aunt. She told me the children are at your apartment. With that orphan girl."

Ehan glanced at Fatima, who looked away guiltily. "Yes, Grandfather. They came to visit."

"I told you to send that girl away," Mr. Khan said coldly. "Why is she still in your apartment?"

"Because I haven't sent her away yet."

"Then send her away now. Today. I don't want to hear any more excuses."

Ehan's jaw tightened. "Grandfather, this is my apartment and my decision."

"This is the Khan family's reputation, Ehan! Do not forget who you are! Do not forget the standards of this family! That girl is an orphan. A nobody. She does not belong in your life. She does not belong in our family. Send her away!"

The call ended abruptly.

Ehan stared at his phone, his knuckles white.

Meram had heard everything. The room had gone completely silent. Aryan, Sarah, and Zayn were looking at Ehan with wide eyes.

Meram slowly stood up, her face pale. "I'll go pack my things."

"No."

Everyone turned to look at Ehan.

His voice was cold, but there was steel behind it. "I said no. You're not going anywhere."

Meram blinked, her eyes filling with tears. "But your grandfather said—"

"I don't care what my grandfather said," Ehan said firmly. "This is my apartment. My life. My decision. And I say you stay."

### The Children's Reaction

Aryan threw his arms around Meram's legs. "Bhabhi can't leave! She's ours!"

Sarah started crying. "I don't want Bhabhi to go! She's the nicest person ever!"

Zayn toddled over to Meram and hugged her knees, his little face scrunched up. "Mama stay!"

Meram knelt down and hugged all three of them. "I don't want to leave you either," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Ehan watched the scene and felt something inside him crack. He had never seen his cousins so attached to anyone. He had never seen anyone care for them the way Meram did.

He made a decision.

"Meram," he said.

She looked up at him, her honey-colored eyes shimmering with tears.

"You're not going anywhere," he repeated. "I don't care who says otherwise. You're staying here. Under my protection."

Meram opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Ehan walked over and knelt down in front of her, his voice dropping low so only she could hear. "I don't know why I'm doing this. I don't know why I can't let you go. But I'm not letting you go. Not today. Not anytime soon."

He gently wiped a tear from her cheek. His thumb lingered on her skin for just a moment longer than necessary.

Meram's breath caught in her throat.

For the first time, she saw something other than coldness in his eyes. She saw confusion. She saw conflict. And she saw something else — something that looked almost like tenderness.

Aryan started jumping up and down. "Bhabhi is staying! Bhabhi is staying!"

Sarah joined him. "Yay! Bhabhi is staying forever!"

Zayn clapped his little hands. "Mama stay! Mama stay!"

Ehan stood up quickly, his face returning to its usual cold expression. But Meram had seen what she had seen.

And she couldn't unsee it.

### A Moment Alone

Later that evening, after the children had left, Meram sat on the balcony, looking out at the New York skyline. The city lights twinkled like a thousand stars below her.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned around.

Ehan was standing at the balcony door, his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a simple black sweater and grey pants, looking devastatingly handsome in the dim light.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

Meram nodded, her heart racing.

Ehan sat down beside her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For letting me stay."

Ehan didn't answer at first. He just stared out at the city lights.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked suddenly.

Meram blinked. "What?"

"Are you afraid of me?" he repeated, turning to look at her. "I'm rude. I'm cold. I'm everything you should be scared of. I could hurt you."

Meram looked into his eyes and saw something unexpected — vulnerability.

"No," she said honestly. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Why not?"

She thought for a moment. "Because I've seen you with your cousins. I've seen the way your aunt talks to you. There's goodness in you, Ehan. You just hide it very well."

Ehan stared at her, his expression unreadable.

"You see things no one else sees," he said quietly.

"Maybe I just choose to see them."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.

And then, for the first time, Ehan smiled — just a small, almost imperceptible curve of his lips. But it was there.

Meram's heart fluttered.

Maybe there was hope for him after all.

### End of Chapter 3

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