Title: The Sultan's Devotion: Hukumat aur Ibadat
Prologue: The Vow of Fire and Silk
Location: A Grand Estate overlooking the Bosphorus, Istanbul
Time: One Year Later
The moon hung low over the Turkish sea, but inside the Sarsalmaj mansion, the air was burning.
Lavnya stood at the edge of the marble balcony, her red bridal lehenga contrasting sharply against the white stone. The gold embroidery caught the light of the chandeliers, but it was the tears in her eyes that shone the brightest.
"You said this was just a contract," she whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at the man standing in the shadows. "You said you didn't have a heart, Emir."
Emir Sarsalmaj stepped into the light. He didn't look like the cold businessman she had met in Mumbai. He looked like a man possessed. His tuxedo jacket was gone, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and his amber eyes were no longer cold—they were a storm of possessiveness and pain.
"I lied," Emir growled, his voice a low, dangerous vibration.
He moved with the speed of a predator, closing the distance between them until her back hit the railing. He slammed his hands on either side of her, trapping her. The scent of his Oud mingled with the jasmine in her hair—a collision of two worlds that should never have met.
"In my world, Hukumat is everything. I was born to rule," he said, his face inches from hers. "But you... with your prayers and your stubborn light... you did the impossible."
He reached out, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw, lingering on her trembling lip.
"You didn't just break my rules, Lavnya. You broke me."
Lavnya's breath hitched. "And now?"
Emir leaned down, his forehead resting against hers, his voice dropping to a whisper that felt like a vow. "Now, I don't want your consultancy. I don't want your logic. I want your Ibadat. I want you to belong to me, as I belong to you."
Outside, the call to prayer echoed from a distant mosque, and for a moment, the 'Sultan' of Istanbul bowed his head to the girl from Mumbai.
...........
"In his world, love is a weakness. In her world, it is a prayer."
Emir Sarsalmaj is a man of iron. A 32-year-old Turkish tycoon, he rules his shipping empire with 'Hukumat'—absolute control. He has no time for the colors of India, until he meets Lavnya Mishra.
At 24, Lavnya is a whirlwind of tradition and fire. She is a cultural consultant who refuses to bow to his arrogance. To her, life is 'Ibadat'—a devotion to one's roots and soul.
When a multi-million dollar deal forces Emir to hire Lavnya as his personal liaison, the clash is inevitable. He wants to own her spirit; she wants to teach him how to feel. From the chaotic streets of Mumbai to the majestic landscapes of Istanbul, can a cold Sultan learn the language of a devotee's heart?
What to expect:
• Forced Proximity (They have to travel together!)
• Grumpy x Sunshine Trope
• Turkish Billionaire x Indian Heroine
• Cultural Clash & Intense Romance