đź“– Chapter 2: Under the Same Roof
The car ride was silent.
Anaya sat stiffly in the back seat, her hands folded in her lap, staring out at the passing lights of the city. Mumbai at night usually felt alive to her—crowded, loud, comforting. Tonight, it felt distant, like she was watching someone else's life through a glass window.
In the front seat, Aarav scrolled through his phone, completely at ease.
No awkwardness.
No hesitation.
As if marrying a stranger was just another item on his schedule.
She wondered if he even remembered her name without looking at the contract.
The car slowed, then stopped.
Anaya looked up.
Before them stood a massive iron gate, sleek and black, opening silently as the car approached. Beyond it, a large estate came into view—modern, minimalistic, intimidatingly perfect.
Her throat tightened.
This was where she would live now.
The car pulled into the driveway, stopping in front of a tall glass-and-stone mansion glowing softly under warm lights. Everything about the place screamed control and precision.
Just like its owner.
Aarav stepped out first. "We're here."
Anaya followed, her feet feeling unsteady as they touched the polished stone ground. A man in uniform bowed slightly, opening the main door before they even reached it.
Inside, the house was quiet. Too quiet.
High ceilings, marble floors, carefully placed art pieces—nothing out of place, nothing personal.
"This doesn't feel like a home," Anaya thought.
"It feels like a headquarters."
A woman in her late forties approached them, her expression calm but curious. "Welcome back, sir."
Aarav nodded. "This is Mrs. Malhotra."
The words hit Anaya harder than she expected.
Mrs. Malhotra.
The woman's eyes softened slightly as she looked at Anaya. "I'm Nandini. I manage the household."
Anaya gave a small nod. "Nice to meet you."
Aarav handed his coat to another staff member. "Show her to her room."
Anaya blinked. "You're not—"
"I have work," he said simply. "Dinner will be served at eight. You don't have to wait for me."
Just like that.
No welcome.
No conversation.
No adjustment period.
She watched him walk away, his footsteps steady, unhurried.
Nandini gestured gently. "Please come with me, ma'am."
Anaya followed her up a wide staircase, each step making the situation feel more real. The room she was shown into was spacious, beautifully furnished, with large windows and a balcony overlooking a garden.
It was perfect.
And it wasn't hers.
"Your belongings will be brought in shortly," Nandini said. "If you need anything, just call."
"Thank you," Anaya replied.
The door closed softly behind her.
She stood still for a long moment.
Then she sat on the edge of the bed and let out a shaky breath she'd been holding since morning.
One year, she reminded herself.
Just one year.
________________________________________
Dinner was exactly at eight.
Anaya came down hesitantly, feeling like a guest who had overstayed her welcome. Aarav was already seated at the long dining table, reviewing something on his tablet.
He glanced up briefly. "Sit."
She did.
The food was exquisite, but the silence made it hard to swallow. The only sounds were cutlery and the faint hum of the air conditioner.
Finally, Anaya spoke. "About the rules…"
Aarav looked at her, expression unreadable. "They're simple."
He set the tablet aside.
"No questions about my work. No interference in my personal matters. You'll accompany me to events when needed and present yourself as my wife in public."
"And in private?" she asked softly.
"In private, we live separate lives," he replied without hesitation.
Her fingers tightened around her fork.
"What about… sharing a room?" she asked.
Aarav's gaze sharpened slightly. "No."
Relief and something else—disappointment?—washed over her, confusing her further.
"Our rooms are separate," he continued. "This marriage exists only on paper and in public."
She nodded. "Understood."
"There's one more thing," he added. "The media."
Her stomach clenched. "What about them?"
"There will be questions. Speculation. You say nothing unless I tell you to. Any statement comes through my team."
She hesitated. "And my family?"
"They're protected," he said calmly. "No one will bother them."
That alone made everything feel worth it.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
For a moment, he studied her—really studied her. Not as a contract. Not as an obligation.
As a person.
"You did this willingly?" he asked.
She met his gaze, surprising herself. "I did this because I had no choice."
Something flickered in his eyes. Regret? Guilt?
It disappeared just as quickly.
"Finish your dinner," he said, standing up. "We're registering the marriage tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow again.
Her life seemed to move on his schedule now.
As he walked away, Anaya realized something unsettling.
She had entered this house as part of a deal.
But she had no idea how she would leave it.