The Unwanted Start

Muneeb had everything—wealth, power, and an arrogance that made him untouchable. His life was built on privilege, where emotions held no value. When his parents arranged his marriage to Aira, a girl from a struggling background, it was nothing more than a business deal. She was just another piece in the grand scheme of power and wealth, trapped in a world she never belonged to. Muneeb, cold and indifferent, saw her as an outsider. But fate had its own plans. Despite their resentment, their lives intertwined in ways they never expected. Forced to share a home, bound by a contract neither wanted, they found themselves caught between hatred, obligation, and an undeniable pull toward something they never believed in—each other.

The First Morning:

The early light of dawn filtered through the large windows of the luxurious bedroom, casting a soft glow on the intricate furniture. Muneeb stretched on the couch, feeling the stiff muscles from an uncomfortable sleep. Despite being in his own house, the weight of the night before lingered—a night spent on the couch, far from his new bride.

He hadn't pushed Aira into anything. That wasn't his way. He respected her, even if the idea of the arranged marriage felt more like a formality than something born out of love. Muneeb had always been a menace—no stranger to trouble and defying expectations. But there was a reason people loved him. His charm, his wit, his ability to make even the toughest situations seem effortless—those traits were hard to ignore, even if he had the tendency to walk a thin line between what was acceptable and what wasn't.

Aira, on the other hand, was different. Two years older, serious yet gentle, she was the kind of woman who upheld family honor and traditions, even if it meant marrying a man she barely knew. The wedding night had been full of formalities, no expectations, and certainly no romance. They'd exchanged polite words, and then she had gone to bed, while Muneeb settled on the couch, lost in thought.

As the clock ticked away, Muneeb stood up, straightening his shirt. His reflection in the mirror was that of a man who had everything—riches, power, and looks. But none of it mattered if his heart wasn't in it.

He walked into the kitchen, his movements purposeful yet calm, and poured himself a glass of juice. As he drank, he couldn't help but think about Aira. She had always been in the background—his cousin, someone he'd seen grow up. But now she was his wife, and despite the situation, he felt a strange weight in his chest.

Aira entered the kitchen, her steps quiet and graceful. She wore a simple, elegant robe, her hair tied back neatly. The space between them felt different now, charged with a new dynamic. They exchanged a brief, polite glance.

"Good morning," Aira said softly, her voice steady but not without a hint of awkwardness.

"Morning," Muneeb replied, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment longer than usual. "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded, but the distance in her eyes was evident. She wasn't sure what to expect from him. There was a gap between them, not just in age, but in how they lived their lives. Muneeb had been the center of attention for as long as she could remember, known for his troublemaking ways, but also for the way people flocked to him, drawn by his magnetism. She had always respected him, even admired him, but now, in this marriage, it was hard to decipher what their relationship would look like.

"You didn't sleep in the bed," she said after a brief silence, her gaze flicking to the couch.

Muneeb shrugged, "I thought it was better that way."

Aira hesitated before speaking again. "I don't expect anything from you, Muneeb. I just... I just want us to understand each other."

Her words felt like a challenge, a test of how this marriage would unfold. Muneeb looked at her, realizing that she wasn't like the others. She didn't want him to be perfect, didn't expect him to change, but she wanted honesty.

And that was something Muneeb could do.