CHAPTER 1

Author’s POV

As the sun slowly rose above the horizon, the city of Vizag awakened along with it.

Roads filled with rushing vehicles, shops lifted their shutters, and schools and offices slowly buzzed with life. The city moved in its usual chaos—busy, loud, restless.

But far from the noise, near the quiet stretch of Rushikonda Beach, stood the Solomon Mansion in its familiar silence.

A silence that had lived within those walls for a long time.

In the dining area, seated at the head of the table, was Arjun Solomon.

At thirty-three, his presence alone carried authority. Dressed in a crisp charcoal suit, with neatly combed hair and an unreadable expression, he looked every bit like the man people feared in business magazines and boardrooms alike.

The newspaper rested in one hand while the other lazily held a cup of black coffee.

Quiet. Controlled. Untouchable.

The soft sound of footsteps made him look up briefly.

Noor walked out of the kitchen with a cup of chai in her hands.

Her damp hair rested against her back in loose waves, and the simple cotton saree she wore only added to the softness she naturally carried. She looked calm—almost delicate—in the middle of the mansion’s cold atmosphere.

Arjun lowered his gaze back to the newspaper before she could notice him looking.

“What would you like for breakfast?” she asked softly after taking a seat beside him.

“Anything is fine,” he replied.

Noor nodded lightly and sipped her chai in silence.

That was how it always was between them.

Quiet mornings. Short conversations. Unspoken things.

Arjun tried to focus on the headlines in front of him, but her familiar jasmine scent lingered around him, making concentration nearly impossible.

Then he noticed it.

A droplet of water slipped from the ends of her damp hair, trailing slowly down her cheek before disappearing into the blouse near the curve of her neck.

His fingers tightened slightly around the newspaper.

He looked away immediately.

“Uh... I still have to finish my students’ project files,” Noor murmured to herself, standing up with her empty cup after a moment.

Arjun only gave a small nod.

And just like that, the warmth beside him disappeared again.

After breakfast, Noor headed upstairs to get ready for school while Arjun walked into the lounge, replying to emails on his phone.

A few minutes later, the sound of soft footsteps echoed down the staircase.

Arjun looked up.

Noor descended quietly in a deep red cotton saree, her hair now dry and flowing naturally behind her. A simple bracelet rested on one wrist while a watch adorned the other.

No heavy makeup.

Just kajal, lip gloss, and her naturally gentle presence.

For a moment, Arjun forgot to breathe.

“Veldama?” she asked softly.

(Shall we leave?)

His thoughts immediately scattered.

“After you,” he replied, stepping aside for her.

The drive through Vizag remained mostly silent.

Noor rested her head lightly against the window, watching the moving city outside while Arjun kept his attention on the road ahead.

Or at least, he tried to.

His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel before he finally spoke.

“Don’t wait for me at dinner tonight.”

A pause.

“The meeting with the new investors might go late.”

He looked up to see only for her already watching him.

He quickly turned his head towards the road not to make it too obvious.

“Okay,” she replied with a small nod.

That was all.

She never spoke much—not with him, not with anyone unless necessary.

Soon, the car stopped outside her school.

As Noor stepped out, several students immediately greeted her excitedly. A small smile appeared on her face as she responded to them warmly.

Arjun watched quietly from inside the car.

And for reasons he still refused to understand, seeing her smile at others always made something tighten painfully inside his chest.

He waited until she disappeared inside the building before finally driving away toward Solomon Empires.

But even then, the faint scent of jasmine still lingered inside the car.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ৎ⋆｡˚ ⋆ 🪷 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ৎ⋆｡˚ ⋆

Thank you for reading.

Do vote and share your thoughts in the comments.