Aira stood in front of The Raghuvanshi Pharmaceuticals’ towering glass building, her heart pounding against her ribs. The skyscraper loomed over her, its reflective windows mirroring the overcast sky, making the structure seem even more intimidating. The air smelled of freshly polished floors and the faint scent of antiseptic drifting from inside, a constant reminder of the pharmaceutical empire within.

She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. You can do this, Aira. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her handbag as she cautiously stepped forward. Each footstep felt hesitant, almost reluctant, yet she pushed herself onward.

The reception area was pristine—marble floors gleamed under soft golden lighting, and the air-conditioning hummed in the background. The space exuded an aura of quiet efficiency, with employees moving about in crisp formals, their faces focused and professional. As she reached the reception desk, she swallowed hard before speaking.

“Umm, I'm Aira Deshmukh. I'm here to meet Mr. Yunay Singh Raghuvanshi,” she said, her voice betraying her nervousness.

Her lips instinctively curled inward as she bit them—a nervous habit she had never been able to shake. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly let go, but not before the receptionist caught on.

The young receptionist, dressed in a sleek uniform with the company’s emblem pinned to her chest, offered a polite smile. “Do you have an appointment, ma’am?” she asked in a professional yet cordial tone.

Aira shook her head. “No, I don’t,” she admitted, her voice softer this time. As if on cue, her teeth found her lower lip again, a telltale sign of her unease.

The receptionist’s expression turned apologetic. “I'm sorry, ma’am, but without an appointment, you can’t meet him.”

Aira's throat tightened. She had expected this, but hearing it outright still sent a wave of anxiety through her. Desperation crept into her tone as she tried again. “But… I really need to meet him. Please.”

Her voice was almost pleading now, making the receptionist hesitate. The woman opened her mouth to say something when a deep, familiar voice interrupted them.

“Aira?”

Both Aira and the receptionist turned toward the entrance, where a tall, authoritative figure had just stepped inside.

Samarth Raghuvanshi.

The commanding aura of Rajasthan’s Chief Minister was unmistakable, but unlike the cold, calculating politician the world knew, there was something softer in his eyes when they landed on her.

The receptionist immediately straightened, offering a bright smile. “Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning,” he responded, his tone firm and professional, before shifting his attention back to Aira. She stood there stiffly, fingers twitching at her sides, trying her hardest not to bite her lips again.

“What are you doing here, Aira?” Samarth asked, his sharp eyes scanning her face. Confusion flickered in his gaze before it shifted into concern. “Is everything okay, beta? Is something troubling you?”

Aira hesitated, suddenly feeling small under his scrutiny. “Uncle, actually… I wanted to meet Yunay ji,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She kept her gaze lowered, feeling awkward under his direct stare.

Samarth chuckled, surprising her enough to make her look up.

“You don’t have to call him ‘ji.’ But if you like it, I won’t stop you. It just sounds strange hearing someone address him so respectfully,” he said, shrugging as if it wasn’t a big deal.

Aira blinked at him. Huh?

This was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan? The same man known for his ruthless political strategies? She had expected a serious, stone-faced politician—not someone teasing her about honorifics.

Maybe the whole Raghuvanshi family has a loose screw, she mused, struggling to keep a straight face.

Samarth smiled slightly, as if sensing her thoughts. “He isn’t here yet, but he should arrive soon. You can wait in his office.”

Aira nodded, grateful for his help.

“I have some work to do, so I’ll take my leave,” he continued. “And don’t hesitate to ask the staff for anything. This company is yours too.”

The entire reception area went still. Employees who had been discreetly listening in barely masked their shock.

Samarth Singh Raghuvanshi—the man infamous for his unapproachable, ice-cold demeanor—had just smiled in front of someone. And not just anyone, but an outsider.

Aira returned his smile hesitantly, still a little thrown off by his unexpected warmth.

Before leaving, Samarth gestured for a staff member to escort her to Yunay’s office, and Aira followed, her heart still drumming against her ribs.

---

An hour had passed.

Aira sat stiffly in Yunay Singh Raghuvanshi’s office, her patience wearing thin. At first, nervousness had wrapped around her like a suffocating blanket, but as the minutes ticked by, her emotions shifted—first to restlessness, then irritation, and finally, full-blown frustration.

Seriously, isn’t he the CEO? she fumed internally, tapping her nails against the wooden desk. How can he be so irresponsible? Shouldn’t he be here on time?

Then again, who was she kidding? This was his company. He could do whatever he pleased.

Just as she was about to drown deeper in her complaints, a familiar, teasing voice shattered the silence.

"Haaye! Were you missing me so much that you couldn’t even wait till Friday?"

Aira’s head snapped toward the doorway, and there he stood—Yunay Singh Raghuvanshi—leaning against the doorframe with both hands dramatically placed on his chest. A mischievous yet shy smile played on his lips, making him look like he had just stepped out of some dramatic rom-com scene.

Aira’s eyes narrowed. I want to kick his dramatic ass.

If looks could kill, Yunay would have been six feet under by now.

But he only grinned wider, enjoying the irritation radiating off her.

"Why is my soon-to-be wifey so annoyed? Aww, are you angwy wit me, hmm?" he teased, pouting slightly while fiddling with his index fingers like a child caught in mischief.

Aira’s annoyance spiked as she watched him lock the door behind him, his behavior growing even more exasperating. Her nails dug into her palm. How can someone be this infuriating?

Yunay, on the other hand, was thoroughly entertained. Getting on Aira’s nerves had become his favorite pastime, especially since he hadn’t been able to see Ravya for a while.

But the moment that name crossed his mind, his amusement faded.

His playful smirk disappeared, his body tensed, and his heart clenched in an unfamiliar way. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, his entire demeanor shifting in seconds.

Aira, who had been fuming just a moment ago, instantly noticed the change. Her brows knitted in confusion. What just happened?

And then, his voice dropped, devoid of its earlier warmth.

“Why are you here?”

His sudden shift in tone caught her off guard. Is he bipolar? she wondered, scrunching her nose slightly in distaste.

Yunay had already turned his back to her, making his way to his chair. As he sat down, he exuded an air of authority, as if the teasing version of him had never even existed.

Aira swallowed, her lips instinctively curling inward, biting down as nervousness crept back in. But she forced herself to push forward.

“Actually, I wanted to tell you something before we get engaged,” she admitted hesitantly.

Yunay gestured for her to continue, his expression unreadable. Aira took a deep breath, steadying herself.

“I can't get pregnant. I can't bear a child.”

She forced the words out, each syllable heavy on her tongue. She didn’t dare look at him. Instead, her eyes darted anywhere but at Yunay.

Despite the cool air flowing from the AC, sweat beads formed on her forehead. The silence that followed was unbearable.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally gathered the courage to look up.

Yunay sat motionless, his face void of emotion. One hand rested on his lap while the other held a pen, which he twirled absentmindedly between his fingers. His piercing gaze bore into her, making her stomach twist in unease.

Aira swallowed hard, feeling an invisible weight press down on her chest.

Without a word, Yunay reached for a glass of water and passed it to her. She hesitated before accepting it, bringing it to her lips. But even gulping down that sip felt like the hardest thing to do.

Then, finally, he spoke.

“I'm not marrying you to get a child from you.”

His voice was calm—too calm. His words, however, carried a chilling weight.

“I'm marrying you because I want you to be under my mercy. I want to make you Raghuvanshi's daughter-in-law. I want you so that no one else can have you.”

He leaned forward, resting both elbows on the desk. His tone was firm, laced with something undecipherable. Something dark.

Aira’s breath hitched.

“And even if you were able to bear a child, it would have been your choice—” he continued, his voice unwavering, “—whether you wanted to or not. Because it's your body. You would be the one carrying it, suffering through all the pain. So that decision would always be yours. Not mine. Not anyone else's. Only yours.”

Aira's eyes widened slightly. She hadn’t expected that.

But then, just as she was beginning to process his words, his expression shifted again.

A smirk curled at his lips.

“But…”

He leaned back in his chair, twirling it slightly before leaning forward again. His eyes gleamed with something almost possessive.

“The only thing you don't have the right to decide is—” he paused, letting the words settle, “—whether you want to marry me or not.”

Aira’s stomach dropped.

He stood up from his seat, his strides slow yet deliberate as he approached her. The closer he got, the more suffocating the air around her felt.

And then, he stopped behind her.

Lowering his head slightly, he leaned close—so close that his warm breath ghosted against her ear.

“Whether you want to or not, this marriage will happen.”

His voice was deep, husky—absolute. There was no room for protest.

Aira felt her body tense. Her hands curled into fists, her breath shallow.

And just as she could no longer take the suffocating proximity, she shot up from her seat.

Yunay barely stepped back in time, narrowly avoiding getting hit as the chair scraped harshly against the floor from her sudden movement.

For the first time since she entered the office, Aira wasn’t nervous.

She was angry.

And Yunay, Yunay was enjoying every second of it.

For a moment, she just stared at him—her expression a mixture of anger, disbelief, and something unspoken. But then, without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of his office, slamming the door behind her.

Yunay sighed heavily, running a frustrated hand through his hair as he sank back into his chair.

---

“Just when I thought he wasn’t that kind of person, he had to open his damn mouth,” Aira muttered under her breath, her face still twisted in anger. She mumbled a string of curses, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Then, suddenly—her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the caller ID.

Her one and only best friend.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she swiped to answer, placing the phone near her ear—only to yank it away instantly.

“AHHHH!!!”

A piercing scream rang through the speaker, nearly rupturing Aira’s eardrums.

“What the hell?! Do you want me to go deaf?!” Aira yelled, rubbing her poor ear.

“Tsk! Stop ruining my mood!” her best friend snapped in annoyance. But before Aira could retort, her voice suddenly shifted from irritated to insanely excited.

“YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS—I got a new servant—”

“Why are you so hyped about it?” Aira cut her off, rolling her eyes. “Don’t you already have tons of servants?”

“YAH! Shut up, let me finish! And don’t you dare interrupt me again!” she scolded, her voice carrying the sternness of a dictator but the petulance of a grumpy child.

Aira bit her lip to suppress a giggle.

“So!” her best friend continued dramatically, “I got a new servant… and, Aira, listen—he is so damn handsome!”

Aira raised a brow but let her speak.

“I mean, not just handsome—he’s a whole freaking meal! His waist is perfectly slim, but his shoulders? Broad. His thighs? Thick. And his height?! Towering. And the best part? His eyes, Aira! They’re grey! Oh my God, I swear, every time I look at him, I feel like pouncing on him. He’s totally my type!”

Aira sighed, shaking her head at her friend’s hopeless thirsting.

“Okay, okay, but…” she paused, her voice suddenly turning serious.

“What about his abs?”

Aira's tone was deadly attentive, as if that was the real deal-breaker.

“I don't think he has abs. I haven’t seen him shirtless yet. And, for your information, Ms. Aira Deshmukh, I have a washing machine to clean my clothes, so there’s no need for abs,” her best friend said with a casual shrug.

Aira made a weird face at her reasoning.

“Abs are not for washing clothes!” she argued, exasperated.

“Well, they look like that,” her best friend countered, rolling her eyes. “And like you said, they’re just useless. You know I don’t care about abs and all. You are the one obsessed with them.”

Her tone dripped with mockery, making Aira sigh in defeat.

“Anyway,” she continued, her voice suddenly laced with mischief, “does your Mr. YSR have all that—abs, big muscular biceps, veiny hands, a built up back?”

Aira let out a deep sigh from the other end.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. But today, I told him about my condition.”

Her tone had shifted—serious, a little vulnerable.

Then, she recounted everything—her conversation with Yunay, his reaction, the way she had left without another word.

A silence followed.

“Those Raghuvanshi's are really weird,” her best friend finally muttered, her voice thick with disdain.

“At least he knows that it’s your right to decide whether you want to have a baby or not. But Aira, I swear, if it were up to me, I’d have broken this marriage and taken you to my house instead of letting you stay with that messed-up family of yours. But nooo, you just have to be the goody, obedient daughter.”

She huffed dramatically, then added, “Whatever. I still think he’s not that bad. But if he tries anything, just tell me. I’ll show him what real hell looks like.”

Aira chuckled softly at her best friend’s dramatic protectiveness.

“Also,” she continued, “I’m thankful you’re marrying Yunay Singh Raghuvanshi and not his brother, Nirvigh Singh Raghuvanshi. I’ve heard that guy is a spoiled brat. I even met his ex once—she told me what a shitty person he is.”

Aira frowned slightly.

“But… he didn’t seem like that,” she said, her voice thoughtful.

Her best friend immediately rolled her eyes.

“Whatever. So… where are you right now?”

Her tone shifted again—from irritated to excited in mere seconds, as if hope had bloomed in her chest.

“I’m heading home, wh—”

Before Aira could finish, a loud squeal from the other end made her pull the phone away from her ear, her jaw clenching in irritation.

“COME TO MY PLACE!” her best friend practically screamed.

Aira shut her eyes and took a deep breath, her grip tightening on the phone.

“Stop screaming! I’m not deaf!” she yelled back, rubbing her temples.

A small pout formed on her best friend’s lips as she frowned, her cheeks puffing out like a scolded child.

Aira sighed, but this time, her voice softened.

“I’ll be there soon.”

A bright smile tugged at her best friend’s lips, her excitement returning in full force.

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