Chandigarh had always been home. The city, with its perfectly planned streets and lush green gardens, had been Ayesha Beniwal’s safe haven. She had grown up surrounded by love—her father’s unwavering support, her mother’s gentle warmth, and the laughter that filled their house during family gatherings.
Unlike many girls from influential families, Ayesha had never been treated as a pawn in power games. Her father, Raghav Beniwal, had raised her with freedom—the freedom to dream, to choose, to live life on her own terms.
But one evening changed everything.
---
Ayesha sat in the garden, swinging gently, her fingers wrapped around a cup of chai. The warm, familiar aroma should have comforted her, but something about her father’s silence made her uneasy.
Raghav Beniwal was not a man of many words, but he had never hesitated to speak his heart to her. Today, however, he looked weighed down, as if he was carrying a burden too heavy to bear alone.
“Papa?” she called softly. “What’s wrong?”
He exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple before meeting her gaze. “Ayesha, I need to talk to you about something important.”
Her brows furrowed. “What is it?”
Raghav took a moment before he spoke. “It’s about a promise.”
Ayesha frowned. “What promise?”
“Your Dadaji and his closest friend, Yusuf Demir, made a pact years ago.” His voice was laced with nostalgia. “They were like brothers, Ayesha. And they swore that one day, their families would be united by marriage.”
Ayesha’s fingers tightened around her cup. “You mean… my marriage?”
“Yes.” Raghav’s eyes held a silent plea. “To Emir Demir. Yusuf Demir’s grandson.”
The name rang unfamiliar in her ears.
“I don’t even know him,” she whispered.
Raghav sighed. “I know, beta. And I would never force you. But before your Dadaji passed away, he made me swear that I would fulfill this promise.”
Ayesha’s heart pounded in her chest. She had always believed her life was her own to shape. But now, she stood at a crossroads where her decision wouldn’t just affect her, but the legacy of two families.
“Does Emir even want this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“He is just as reluctant as you.” Raghav gave a small, sad smile. “But duty runs deep in the Demir family, just as it does in ours.”
Ayesha’s mind spun.
She knew how much her father loved her grandfather, how much honoring his word meant to him. He would never ask this of her unless it truly mattered.
“I need time,” she whispered.
Raghav squeezed her hand. “Take all the time you need, beta. Whatever you decide, I will stand by you.”
And that was when Ayesha realized—this was her decision.
Not an order. A choice.
A choice that would change her life forever.
---
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul was a city of contradictions—a blend of ancient history and ruthless modernity. It was a place that had shaped Emir Demir, molded him into the man he was today.
A man who did not believe in love.
His grandfather’s last words still echoed in his mind.
A man is only as good as his word, Emir. If you break this promise, you break everything we stand for.
He had always respected Yusuf Demir. He had built their empire from nothing, turning their name into one of the most powerful in Turkey. Emir owed him everything.
And yet…
Marriage?
To a girl he had never met?
It wasn’t that he despised the idea. He simply had no space for it in his life.
He had learned long ago that attachments were temporary.
He had once liked someone—a girl with soft brown eyes and laughter that had made Istanbul feel less suffocating. She had been different, someone who hadn’t cared about his last name or the weight it carried.
But she had left.
Not for another man, not out of betrayal.
She had left for herself.
For bigger dreams, a brighter future.
And that had been the moment Emir had understood—people always left when life offered them something better.
It hadn’t broken him. He had never been in love.
But it had been enough to teach him a lesson.
Since then, he had kept his distance. Women came and went, but none stayed—not because they didn’t want to, but because he never let them.
And now, duty was calling.
So, he did what was expected.
He agreed.
Not because he wanted to.
Not because he cared.
But because Emir Demir never broke a promise.
---
Istanbul, Turkey
The grand foyer of the Demir mansion buzzed with activity. Servants moved swiftly, preparing the house for the arrival of the bride, an event that had stirred both curiosity and gossip within the household.
Emir Demir stood at the edge of the marble staircase, his expression unreadable. His sister, Deniz, leaned against the railing beside him, her bright smile contrasting his cold demeanor.
“Nervous?” she teased, nudging his arm.
Emir’s gaze remained fixed on the front door. “This isn’t a wedding. It’s a transaction.”
Deniz’s smile faded. “Emir, she’s a person, not a business deal.”
He shot her a look, his gray eyes stormy. “I’m honoring Grandfather’s wish. That’s all.”
Before Deniz could respond, the heavy wooden doors swung open, and a soft breeze filled the room. Ayesha stepped inside, her petite frame wrapped in a simple but elegant pink salwar kameez. Her wide, dark eyes roamed the grand interior, a blend of awe and apprehension visible on her face.
Beside her stood Raghav Beniwal, his protective arm draped over his daughter’s shoulders. He exchanged polite greetings with Leyla and Faruk Demir, but Ayesha’s attention remained glued to the man at the top of the stairs—the man who would become her husband.
Emir descended slowly, each step echoing in the vastness of the hall. When he finally stood before her, an uneasy silence settled between them.
“Ayesha,” he greeted, his voice as measured as his expression.
“Emir,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Deniz stepped forward, breaking the ice. “You must be tired from the journey. Come, I’ll show you to your room.”
Ayesha offered a small, grateful smile. “Thank you.”
As she followed Deniz, Emir’s gaze remained on her back. She was nothing like he had imagined—not that he had allowed himself to imagine anything at all.
---
Later That Evening
Ayesha sat on the edge of the ornate bed in the guest room, her suitcase half-opened, revealing neatly packed clothes and trinkets from home. She clutched a small silver locket, her grandmother’s parting gift, and fought back tears.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.
“May I come in?” Leyla’s gentle voice preceded her entrance.
Ayesha stood, quickly wiping her eyes. “Of course, aunty—”
“Call me ‘Anne,’” Leyla insisted, closing the distance between them. “You are family now.”
Ayesha nodded, her lips curving into a timid smile. “Anne.”
Leyla sat beside her, her warm hand covering Ayesha’s. “I know this is not what you expected. But I promise you, my child, we will try our best to make you feel at home.”
“Thank you. I—I will do my best, too.”
Leyla’s eyes shimmered with emotion. “That’s all we ask.”
---
Emir’s Study
Emir sat behind his mahogany desk, staring at his laptop screen, though his mind was elsewhere. Hakan, his cousin, lounged on the leather couch, flipping through a magazine.
“So, what do you think of her?” Hakan asked, breaking the silence.
Emir’s fingers tightened around his pen. “I don’t think.”
Hakan chuckled. “You will have to, eventually. She’s going to be your wife.”
“Not by choice.”
“But a promise is a promise.”
Emir shot him a glare. “Do you have a point, Hakan?”
Hakan held up his hands in surrender. “Just wondering how long you plan to keep her as a stranger.”
Emir’s silence spoke volumes.
---
Nightfall
Ayesha stood by the window, the cool breeze ruffling the curtains. The Istanbul skyline glittered in the distance, a blend of old-world charm and modern beauty. She wrapped her arms around herself, seeking comfort.
Her phone vibrated with a message.
Pooja: How’s Turkey? And your Mr. Stone-Face?
Ayesha managed a small laugh and typed back.
Ayesha: Cold. Both the weather and the man.
Her friend’s response was immediate.
Pooja: You’ve got this! Show him that Indian warmth. He won’t stand a chance!
Ayesha set her phone aside, her friend’s words a balm to her frayed nerves. She didn’t know what awaited her in this foreign land or in this forced marriage, but if life had taught her anything, it was to find light in the darkest of places.
And somewhere beneath Emir’s icy exterior, she hoped to find a flicker of warmth—if only he would let her in.
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