Arjun Malhotra did not believe in hesitation.
Every decision in his life had been taken with logic, not emotion. Deals were signed after calculation. Risks were taken only when outcomes were clear. Feelings had no place in his world.
That was how he had survived.
That was how he had built everything he owned.
And yet, that morning, something felt… unsettled.
He stood in front of the large glass window of his study, adjusting his cufflinks. The city stretched below him—busy, loud, alive. Normally, the sight calmed him. Today, it did not.
His reflection stared back at him from the glass.
Calm. Controlled. Unmoved.
At least, that was what the world saw.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Sir, breakfast is ready," the housekeeper said politely.
"I'm not hungry," Arjun replied without turning.
The door closed again.
Silence returned.
His mind, however, refused to stay quiet.
For reasons he did not want to admit, his thoughts drifted back to the night before.
The wedding room.
The door he had not opened.
The decision he had made—to stay away.
It had been necessary.
That was what he told himself.
He had warned her clearly. This marriage was a deal. A formality. Nothing more. Getting involved emotionally would only complicate things.
And complications were dangerous.
Still, an image surfaced in his mind without permission.
Anaya.
Standing quietly. Eyes lowered. Saying "yes" in a voice so soft it had almost disappeared into the noise of the hall.
Arjun clenched his jaw.
He pushed the thought away and picked up his briefcase.
The drive to the office was silent.
Usually, Arjun used this time to go through reports, emails, and meeting schedules. Today, the screen of his tablet remained untouched.
His driver glanced at him once through the rearview mirror, then looked away.
Something about his employer felt different today. Not angry. Not distracted.
Just… distant.
At the office, everything moved as it always did.
Meetings.
Decisions.
Signatures.
His voice remained steady. His expressions unreadable. His authority unquestioned.
No one would ever guess that anything in his personal life had changed.
That was how he preferred it.
During a meeting, one of the board members smiled and said, "Congratulations on your marriage, Arjun. Must feel good to finally settle down."
Arjun gave a brief nod. "Thank you."
Nothing more.
No smile.
No explanation.
As the meeting continued, his phone vibrated once on the table.
A message notification.
He glanced at the screen before he could stop himself.
It was from the housekeeper.
Sir, Madam has woken up and is moving around the house.
Arjun stared at the message for a moment longer than necessary.
Then he locked the screen.
He did not reply.
He told himself it did not matter.
She had staff.
She had comfort.
That was enough.
By the time Arjun returned home that evening, the house was quiet again.
Lights glowed softly in the corridors. Everything looked exactly the same as it always had.
And yet, the air felt different.
He removed his coat and handed it to a servant.
"Dinner?" the servant asked.
"No," Arjun replied. "I'll eat later."
As he walked down the hallway, his steps slowed near one particular door.
Her door.
He stopped.
Just for a second.
He did not knock.
He did not open it.
He simply stood there, listening.
There was no sound from inside.
No movement.
No voice.
He told himself she was probably asleep.
That she was fine.
That this was what both of them had agreed to.
Still, his hand lingered near the door handle before he pulled it back.
He turned away and walked to his own room.
Closing the door firmly behind him.
Later that night, Arjun sat at his desk, files spread in front of him. Numbers stared back at him, but his mind refused to focus.
Against his will, his thoughts returned to her again.
He remembered the way she had looked that morning at the dining table.
Quiet.
Composed.
Too composed.
She had not argued.
Had not protested.
Had not demanded anything.
She had simply listened.
Accepted.
That bothered him more than tears would have.
Most people reacted when pushed.
She endured.
Why?
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
This marriage had been the safest option.
No emotional expectations.
No past attachments.
No complications.
So why did he feel like something was slipping out of his control?
Arjun closed his eyes briefly.
He had learned long ago what emotions did to people.
He had watched trust turn into betrayal.
Care turn into weakness.
Love turn into a weapon.
He had promised himself he would never allow that again.
Not with anyone.
Especially not with a woman who had entered his life because of a contract.
The next morning, Arjun left early.
As he stepped out of his room, he noticed her at the end of the corridor.
Anaya stood near a window, looking outside. She was wearing a simple saree, her hair tied neatly back. No jewelry. No attempt to impress.
She looked… small.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Something flickered in her expression—surprise, perhaps. Or uncertainty.
She lowered her gaze immediately.
"Good morning," she said softly.
Arjun nodded. "Morning."
Nothing more.
He walked past her, careful not to slow his steps.
But even as he continued down the corridor, he was aware of her presence behind him.
Silent.
Unassuming.
Existing without demanding anything.
That, somehow, unsettled him the most.
As he drove away, Arjun tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
He had built walls for a reason.
Walls kept things under control.
And yet, without realizing it, he found himself thinking of her again.
Not as a wife.
Not as a responsibility.
But as a quiet presence that refused to disappear from his thoughts.
He pushed the feeling aside.
This marriage was temporary.
A deal.
Nothing more.
He reminded himself of that over and over again.
But somewhere deep inside, a question formed—one he was not ready to answer.
How long could silence protect him from what he was slowly beginning to feel?