A Week Later: The Meeting

The day of the meeting arrived faster than either Aarav or Ira anticipated. The venue was carefully chosen—a luxurious, private villa owned by the Malhotra family, nestled away from the public eye. Both families had agreed that the first meeting would be between Aarav and Ira alone, without the presence of their respective families, to allow them to speak freely.

Ira arrived first, escorted by a driver, her heart steady but her mind whirling with thoughts. She wore a deep emerald saree, traditional but stylish, reflecting her modern take on cultural values. Her long black hair was swept to one side, and her makeup was subtle, emphasizing her natural beauty. She was prepared for anything—except the uncertainty of how she would react to Aarav Malhotra.

The villa was breathtaking, surrounded by manicured gardens and fountains that gave it an air of timeless elegance. Ira took a deep breath as she entered, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She was shown to a large, open room with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a view of the sprawling gardens outside.

As she waited, she couldn’t help but wonder what Aarav Malhotra was like. She had heard of him, of course—who hadn’t? His name was synonymous with success and ruthlessness in the business world, and he had built a reputation for being cold, calculated, and unyielding. Ira wasn’t intimidated by powerful men—she dealt with them daily—but Aarav intrigued her. She wondered what lay beneath the surface of a man with such a formidable presence.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Ira turned, and there he was.

Aarav Malhotra.

Tall, imposing, and every bit as intimidating as she had imagined. He was dressed in a tailored black suit that fit him like a glove, exuding power and confidence. His dark eyes met hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, though she refused to let it show.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply sized each other up, the air between them thick with tension.

“You’re late,” Ira finally said, her voice calm but edged with irritation.

Aarav’s lips quirked into the faintest of smirks. “I didn’t realize we were on a schedule.”

Ira crossed her arms over her chest, unamused. “Punctuality is a sign of respect. I expected better from someone with your reputation.”

Aarav raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by her words. “And I expected less formality from someone who’s supposedly independent.”

Ira narrowed her eyes, the tension rising. “I don’t care for your assumptions, Mr. Malhotra.”

“And I don’t care for your expectations, Miss Mehra,” Aarav shot back, his voice steady and calm.

The room fell into a heavy silence as they stared each other down, neither willing to give an inch. Aarav studied her, intrigued by her boldness. Most people—especially women—were either intimidated by him or too eager to please. But Ira Mehra stood her ground, her gaze unwavering, her demeanor cool. She wasn’t like anyone he had ever met before.

Ira, on the other hand, was equally intrigued. She had expected arrogance, but Aarav’s confidence went beyond that. It was as if he was used to getting his way in every aspect of life. Yet, beneath his stoic exterior, she could sense something deeper—a hardness that came from years of building walls around himself.

“Well,” Aarav said, breaking the silence. “This is off to a fantastic start.”

Ira uncrossed her arms and took a seat on the plush sofa, gesturing for him to do the same. “We might as well get this over with.”

Aarav sat across from her, his posture relaxed, though his eyes never left hers. “Let’s be honest. Neither of us wants this.”

“Agreed,” Ira said, her tone clipped. “But we’re here because our families want us to consider it.”

“So, what do you propose?” Aarav asked, tilting his head slightly.

Ira leaned forward, meeting his gaze head-on. “I propose we make it clear to them that this isn’t going to work. We’re both too different, and frankly, I’m not interested in marrying a man who views me as a business asset.”

Aarav’s eyes darkened slightly, though his expression remained unreadable. “And I’m not interested in a woman who thinks she can control every aspect of her life without compromise.”

“Then we’re in agreement,” Ira said, standing up.

“We’ll tell our families that this is not going to work,” Ira concluded, smoothing the fabric of her saree as she prepared to leave.

Aarav stood as well, his posture stiff. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his eyes narrowing as if he were calculating something. Ira was already walking toward the door when his voice stopped her.

“Wait.”

Ira paused, turning slightly, her curiosity piqued. “What is it?”

Aarav’s expression was serious, the tension between them palpable. “You and I both know that walking away isn’t going to be as simple as we’d like. Our families aren’t going to accept ‘no’ that easily, especially after how long they’ve been planning this.”

Ira raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. “What are you suggesting?”

Aarav took a step closer, his presence commanding the room. “Let’s be smart about this. We’ll give it a chance—pretend to go along with it for a while. We’ll make sure our families are satisfied, and when the time is right, we’ll part ways. No one will be able to accuse us of not trying.”

Ira blinked, surprised by the proposal. “You want us to fake a relationship? To what end?”

“Think about it,” Aarav continued, his voice calm and measured. “You avoid disappointing your family, I avoid disappointing mine. We buy ourselves time, and when things inevitably don’t work out, we can walk away without anyone being the wiser. You go back to your life, I go back to mine.”

Ira stared at him, weighing the proposition. It was audacious, yes—but also practical. If she outright refused the marriage now, her father would undoubtedly push harder, and the pressure would only increase. And with her secret identity as the CEO of Arya Enterprises, the last thing she needed was more attention on her personal life.

But there was one glaring issue. “And what if our families don’t believe us when we eventually decide to call it off?”

Aarav gave her a half-smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “We’re both intelligent people. We’ll figure something out. Besides, with our egos, it’s not hard to believe we’ll clash eventually.”

Ira considered the offer carefully. It was risky, but it also offered her a way out of a situation she didn’t want to be in. And as much as she hated to admit it, Aarav had a point. If they went through the motions and gave the illusion of trying, it would be easier to walk away later.

After a long pause, Ira finally spoke. “Fine. We’ll play along. But we set boundaries. This is strictly business—no emotional entanglements, no misunderstandings.”

“Agreed,” Aarav said smoothly. “This is a partnership. Nothing more.”

Ira’s gaze held his for a moment longer before she turned to leave again. “I’ll see you at the next family gathering then,” she said over her shoulder, her tone cool.

“Looking forward to it,” Aarav replied, though his voice was laced with sarcasm.

As the door closed behind her, Aarav exhaled slowly, his mind racing. He hadn’t expected to make that offer, but it seemed like the only way to buy himself time. Marriage had always been the last thing on his mind, and if he could keep his family happy while maintaining his freedom, then the plan was worth it.

But something about Ira Mehra intrigued him. She was different. She challenged him in a way no one else had before. This temporary alliance might be convenient, but Aarav had a feeling it wouldn’t be simple.

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This is ir for this chapter hope you all like it. Do comment your views on it .

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What do you all think how will they control their ego, their business matters and maintain their relation ?