It was Sunday night, and everything still felt surreal. My heart wrestled with the reality of my decision, one that I never thought I'd make in my lifetime.

I had agreed to marry Araav Raghuvanshi.

If someone had told me a month ago that I would find myself standing on the precipice of marriage again, I would have laughed in their face. The thought seemed absurd, inconceivable even. My mind unwillingly drifted back to my first failed marriage-the one I had chosen, fought for, and defended against my entire family.

Rishi Rajvansh. The name alone was enough to twist the knife in old, unhealed wounds.

I had built my entire world around him. We had a five-year-long relationship that I once thought was unshakable. College sweethearts for three years, followed by two years of marital bliss or so I had believed. But all of it, every moment, turned out to be a cruel facade. I was so blinded by his charm and fake promises of love that I ignored the cracks forming beneath the surface. And when the truth finally emerged, it shattered me. He ruined everything I had built with him, leaving me with scars,both external and internal that I would carry for a lifetime.

My heart clenched painfully as I recalled the news article I'd read just the other day. There he was, parading his new relationship with a model, the perfect image of a man untouched by guilt or regret. While I struggled to rebuild the pieces of my life, he had moved on so effortlessly. It was like our relationship,our entire history meant absolutely nothing to him.

And now, here I was, contemplating a second marriage. When the proposal to marry Araav was first brought up, I refused outright. I couldn't fathom letting someone else into my life, into my carefully reconstructed walls. But even now, my father's voice echoed in my mind, sharp and filled with a mix of disappointment and resignation.

"We know what happened when we gave you a choice, Taanvi," he had said.

His words pierced me like daggers, striking every vulnerable corner of my soul. He wasn't wrong, and that hurt more than I cared to admit. Once upon a time, I had been his little princess,the apple of his eye.

But my decision to cut ties with my family and choose Rishi over them had broken that bond. For two long years, I had distanced myself from the people who loved me unconditionally, all because of a man who never deserved me.

Now, I was trying to find my way back into their hearts, trying to regain the trust I had lost. But agreeing to this marriage felt like I was surrendering a piece of myself, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for that.

Araav Raghuvanshi was a name that came with its own weight and expectations. He was respected, accomplished, and undeniably charming. But for me, he was a mystery, a man I barely knew but was expected to build a life with. It terrified me to think about letting someone else close again, about risking my heart when it was still fragile from the wreckage of my past.

And yet, here I was, standing at a crossroads, torn between the shadows of yesterday and the faint glimmer of hope that maybe just maybe this time could be different.

The weight of my decision bore down on me, making the quiet Sunday night feel suffocating. I had agreed to marry Araav Raghuvanshi, but the doubts clawed at my mind like restless shadows. Could I really go through with this? Could I hold up my end of this arrangement, even if it was for business?

What if I wasn't enough?

The thought struck me harder than I expected. Araav was perfect or at least, he seemed so. Accomplished, confident, and effortlessly charming, he had the kind of presence that turned heads wherever he went. And me? I was a mess. My past was a maze of broken dreams and scars that I wasn't sure anyone could navigate, least of all someone like him.

What if I failed again? What if this marriage left me even more shattered, more alone than before?

I swallowed hard, trying to push the doubts away, but they were relentless. I hated this uncertainty, this fear that gnawed at my resolve. A part of me wanted to believe that this time could be different, but I couldn't ignore the nagging voice in my head that whispered, What if it's not?

The sudden ping of my phone jolted me from my spiraling thoughts. My brows furrowed as I glanced at the screen, and my stomach flipped when I saw his name.

Araav Raghuvanshi.

What could he possibly want at this hour? Curiosity outweighed my hesitation, and I unlocked my phone to open the message.

"Can't sleep thinking about our engagement next week. Excited or nervous? Or both?"

My lips twitched despite myself. Was he seriously teasing me at 1 a.m.? I shook my head, already typing out a reply.

"Neither. Just thinking about how ridiculous you'll look in your sherwani."

His response was immediate.

"Ridiculous? Taanvi, you wound me. Don't worry, my charm will make up for it."

I smirked, my fingers flying over the keyboard. "Your 'charm' is overrated, Mr. Raghuvanshi."

The banter carried on for a few minutes, each message lightening the tension I hadn't even realized I'd been holding. For a brief moment, my doubts faded, replaced by a strange sense of comfort. He wasn't trying too hard or making grand gestures; he was just being himself. And oddly enough, it was enough to make me feel a little less suffocated by the enormity of what lay ahead.

Just as I was about to end the conversation, another text popped up.

"Go to sleep, Taanvi. Dream about my handsome face and that perfect body of mine. You're welcome."

I stared at the message, my mouth falling open before I burst into laughter. Was he for real? Taking a deep breath, I fired back a reply.

"Dream about you? Please, I'm more likely to have nightmares about your oversized ego."

His reply came seconds later. "Keep telling yourself that, future Mrs. Raghuvanshi. Good night."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that lingered as I placed my phone down. For the first time that night, the swirling chaos in my mind felt a little quieter. Maybe I wasn't ready to believe in happily ever afters just yet, but if nothing else, I could take it one step at a time.

And with Araav's teasing banter, maybe those steps wouldn't feel so heavy after all.

I woke up the next morning as the golden rays of the sun filtered through the curtains, warming my face. With a groan, I stretched my body, relishing the slight pull of my muscles, and reluctantly got out of bed. After a quick splash of cold water on my face, I moved through my usual morning routine, savoring the peaceful quiet that came with the early hours.

As I stood in the kitchen brewing my coffee, the rich aroma filling the air, the doorbell rang. My brow furrowed in curiosity, who could it be this early?. I made my way to the door.

When I opened it, I froze, Araav Raghuvanshi. His tailored three-piece black suit clung to him with effortless precision, exuding power and charisma. Meanwhile, I stood there in my Hello Kitty pajamas, my hair a disheveled mess, and my face devoid of makeup.

He leaned casually against the doorframe, his eyes taking in my appearance from head to toe. For a moment, he didn't say anything, but the amused twitch of his lips was a clear giveaway of what was coming.

And then it happened. A deep, hearty laugh erupted from him, echoing through the still morning air. His perfectly polished demeanor melted into pure amusement as he struggled to catch his breath.

"I never knew my fiancée had a secret obsession with Hello Kitty," he teased, his voice thick with laughter.

My cheeks flushed a furious red as I tried and failed to suppress a scowl. "Shut up," I muttered, crossing my arms defensively.

But Araav wasn't done. Oh no, he was just getting started. Straightening up, he wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye and grinned. "Who knew that beneath the cold, business-savvy, no-nonsense woman, there's a Hello Kitty fan in hiding?"

I groaned, tempted to slam the door in his face, but before I could, he stepped inside, still grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Don't worry, sweetheart," he said, his tone mockingly sweet. "Your secret is safe with me. Though I have to admit... this side of you is surprisingly adorable."

I rolled my eyes and turned on my heel, muttering something under my breath as I marched back into the kitchen. Araav's laughter followed me like a melody, and as annoying as he was being, I couldn't help the slight curve of my lips.

"A cup of coffee?" I asked, trying to maintain some semblance of calm despite his amused smirk.

"Of course," he replied, his tone dripping with mockery, "especially when it's being served by my fiancée in her iconic Hello Kitty pajamas. Truly, a rare sight."

I felt a sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to splash my freshly brewed coffee on his annoyingly smug face, but the thought of wasting my precious caffeine stopped me. Instead, I shot him a withering glare and turned back toward the counter to prepare his cup.

The sound of his faint chuckle behind me only fueled my irritation. As I brewed the coffee, I couldn't help but grumble under my breath, wondering how someone so infuriating could also look so maddeningly perfect at all times.

Once his coffee was ready, I placed the steaming mug in front of him with a little more force than necessary, the clink of ceramic against wood satisfying my petty irritation. I settled into the chair opposite him, crossing my arms before taking a sip of my own coffee.

"So," I began, my tone curt as I tried to hide my curiosity, "what brings you to my house at this ungodly hour?"

Araav leaned back, his long fingers curling around the mug as he studied me for a moment, clearly enjoying the tension he'd caused. "We have a meeting with the press at 10 a.m. to officially announce our marriage to the world," he said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

I nearly choked on my coffee. Press? Marriage announcement? Was this man allergic to giving advanced notice?

"Also," he continued, ignoring the panic likely flashing across my face, "this evening, we'll be shopping for your engagement dress. It's about time you looked the part of Mrs. Araav Raghuvanshi."

My grip on the coffee cup tightened as his words sunk in. An inexplicable fear began to creep into my mind, coiling itself around my thoughts. My name tied to his in front of the entire world? The weight of public scrutiny, the inevitable paparazzi frenzy, the labels and whispers-my head spun at the possibilities.

"What's wrong?" Araav asked, his voice softer now, though his gaze remained sharp, as if he could sense my unease.

I shook my head, trying to brush it off, but the truth was, a thousand questions stormed through my mind. How would the world react to our sudden engagement? What kind of rumors would swirl? How much of my life would be dissected, judged, and torn apart by strangers?

I sipped my coffee, letting its warmth ground me for a moment, before daring to glance back at him. Araav was watching me carefully now, his mocking amusement replaced by something unreadable.

"Don't overthink it," he said, his tone unexpectedly steady. "You'll handle it. You always do."

His confidence in me should have been reassuring, but it only added to the pressure building in my chest. I forced a nod, unwilling to show him just how rattled I felt.

"Finish your coffee," he said, his smirk making a brief reappearance. "We've got a long day ahead, Hello Kitty."

I groaned internally, already dreading what was to come.