Rayaan's pov:

I leaned back in my chair, the city lights painting the glass walls of my office in a soft golden hue. The clock ticked in the background, but I wasn't really listening. My fingers drummed against the table as Riaan stood near the window, sipping his coffee like he had all the time in the world.

"You're awfully quiet for someone who's been dying to ask me a million questions," I said, finally breaking the silence.

Riaan turned, raising an eyebrow. "I was giving you a moment to confess before I interrogated you. So... what the hell, Rayaan? You said yes to the marriage? You? Voluntarily?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"I didn't do it for her," I said bluntly. "I said yes because of Mom."

Riaan blinked. "Wait-what?"

"She's been through enough," I muttered, voice low. "And when I saw the way she looked at Arvi... like she finally found something to hold on to, someone to care about. I couldn't say no. Not after everything."

Riaan walked over, perching on the edge of my desk. "So you're just... marrying her out of gratitude? Guilt?"

I looked at him. Dead in the eye.

"I don't love her, Riaan. She's just a girl who spilled a drink on me. Who somehow ended up in my house, in my life. And now, I'm marrying her because my mother thinks she belongs with us."

There was a silence between us. Heavy.

"And you think that's going to work out?" Riaan asked after a beat. "Living with someone you don't love?"

"I've seen worse arrangements survive," I replied coolly. "This... this isn't about me. It's about Mom. She's happy. That's what matters."

Riaan looked like he wanted to argue. But he didn't. He just exhaled slowly, giving me that look.

There was a soft knock on the door.

My jaw tightened.

"Come in," I said.

The door creaked open, and Arvi stepped inside, her eyes immediately lowering when she saw me. She held a file against her chest, like it was some kind of armor.

"I... I brought the finance report you asked for," she said quietly.

Before I could say anything, Riaan jumped to his feet. "Arvi!"

She looked surprised. "Hi... Riaan."

He grinned wide. "Still scared of this guy, huh?" He tilted his head toward me. "Don't worry. He just looks scary. Deep down, he's a teddy bear. A grumpy, emotionally constipated one, but still."

Arvi gave a small laugh barely a breath but it was the closest I'd seen to a real smile from her in days.

"You look tired," Riaan said, his tone softer now. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, avoiding my eyes again. "Just... a lot of work."

"Then sit for a minute," he offered, pointing to the chair near my desk. "Don't let Rayaan Oberoi boss you around too much."

I clenched my jaw. "Riaan."

He gave me a wink but didn't push further.

Arvi stepped forward and placed the file on my desk. "The report is complete, sir. Should I send it to legal as well?"

I stood slowly, walking around the desk, eyes fixed on her.

"You don't need to come to the office anymore."

Her entire face shifted confusion, shock, panic all flickered through in a split second. "W-What?"

"We're getting married," I said flatly. "You working here under me it's not professional anymore. It was temporary. And now, it's done."

"But... I-I didn't mean to be unprofessional-Sulekha aunty said I should keep-"

"I'm not Mom," I snapped, my voice colder than I meant.

Silence filled the room.

Riaan looked between us, his smile long gone.

Arvi slowly nodded, her voice barely audible. "I understand, sir."

And then she turned to leave.

Didn't argue. Didn't ask why.

She just walked out quietly, the same way she'd entered.

The door shut.

I didn't realize how loud the silence would feel after that.

Riaan looked at me for a long second, then said, "You're an idiot."

I didn't respond.

Arvi's pov:

I stepped out of Rayaan's office, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a heavy stone.

"You don't need to come to the office anymore."

It shouldn't have hurt as much as it did, but it did. The coldness in his voice echoed in my ears as I made my way back to my room, trying to shove aside the knot forming in my stomach.

The ride home had been long, but the silence I was lost in gave me no comfort. I just wanted to be alone, away from all the tension, to gather my thoughts and somehow make sense of the mess I'd found myself in.

I opened my bedroom door, expecting the usual quiet, but instead, I was met with a burst of energy.

"Arvi!"

I barely had time to react before I was enveloped in a hug, the warmth of familiar faces surrounding me.

Aleesha, Arekha, Vanisha Vivaan they were all here, grinning from ear to ear. I blinked, still stunned by the surprise.

"We missed you!" Arekha said, squeezing me tighter.

I couldn't help but laugh a little, even as the confusion bubbled up inside me. "What are you all doing here?"

Before anyone could answer, I felt a familiar presence step closer. Nia.

She pulled me into another hug, her arms wrapping around me tightly. "You didn't tell me the wedding was in three days!" she whispered.

I froze, pulling back slightly. "What?"

Vivaan grinned, pointing at me playfully. "You've got a big one coming up! Badi ma told us to bring you and Nia to the Oberoi mansion. We're all heading to Jaipur tomorrow for the wedding."

Jaipur?

I blinked, trying to process everything. "Wait, what? Why didn't anyone tell me? I thought the wedding was still a ways off..."

Vanisha laughed. "Well, surprise! It's happening now. In just three days."

I felt the realization hit me like a wave.

The wedding was happening now. In three days. And Sulekha aunty had made plans for me and Nia to head to the Oberoi mansion.

I looked around at the cousins, their faces full of excitement, and then at Nia, who gave me a soft smile. The rush of emotions started to flood in excitement, nervousness, confusion.

But one thing was clear.

This wedding was happening. Whether I was ready or not.

Rayaan's pov:

Jaipur.

The city was buzzing around me vibrant, loud, decorated in colors that screamed celebration. The Oberois don't do anything halfway, and this wedding... my wedding... was no exception.

The palace we were staying in looked like it had been plucked straight out of some royal era. Gold drapes, chandeliers, fresh mogra flowers hanging from every arch perfection in chaos.

Relatives moved in and out of rooms like clockwork. My mother was barking orders in three directions. My father was shaking hands, smiling like we weren't about to tie me to someone forever.

And me?

I stood at the balcony of my suite, watching the last rays of the Jaipur sun disappear behind the forts. Calm on the outside. But aware. Sharp. Focused.

I hadn't seen Arvi since we arrived.

Not because I didn't want to but because I couldn't. Rituals, traditions, haldi, mehendi, sangeet... one thing after another. She was kept separate, hidden away behind customs that demanded distance until the saat phere.

Convenient, in some ways.

I didn't know what I'd say if I saw her.

It wasn't love. It was obligation. A promise I didn't make, but was expected to fulfill. I wasn't the kind of man who ran from responsibility. If this was the path laid out in front of me, I'd walk it head high, spine straight.

But still... somewhere in the back of my mind, I wondered what she was thinking.

Was she nervous? Scared? Or did she feel nothing at all?

Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Not to me.

Tonight, we will become husband and wife.

Whether she likes it or not.