Married to the Grumpy Billionaire

Ananya

The car ride from the mandap to Aarav's house felt like a dream. The soft hum of the engine, the passing lights, and the feeling of exhaustion—everything blurred together in a haze. The emotions of the day hadn't quite settled, and all I could think about was how everything had changed in such a short amount of time. One moment I was a student, focused on my studies, and the next, I was married to a man I barely knew, heading to his home.

I was beyond tired. The ceremony, the guests, the vows—it all felt like an overwhelming storm that had washed over me. And despite all the newness, all the intensity of it, there was a strange comfort in Aarav's presence beside me. I'd noticed how he hadn't let go of my hand the entire time, how his touch was firm but never overbearing. A constant.

I tried to stay awake, wanting to make sense of everything that was happening, but soon the weight of my eyelids became too heavy. Slowly, my head leaned toward Aarav's shoulder, and my body seemed to give in to the weariness I had been fighting all day.

I felt him stiffen at first, but as the car continued on its way, I noticed the way his posture softened. His shoulder felt warm and steady under my cheek, and soon, I couldn't fight it anymore. I fell asleep.

I don't know how much time had passed when I woke up. The soft sound of the car's engine lulled me into a deeper slumber, but something shifted in my sleep. I felt my body shift ever so slightly, and before I knew it, I found myself leaning into Aarav's lap, my head nestled against his thighs.

I froze for a second, horrified by how close we were. I had no idea how I got there, but my body didn't want to move. His presence, though usually so distant, was strangely comforting. The warmth of his touch, the way he didn't pull away from me, made me feel safe, despite everything else.

A soft chuckle from Aarav broke the silence. "Looks like Sleeping Beauty is quite the handful," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with amusement.

I could feel his hand resting lightly on my back, a steady presence as if trying to assure me everything was alright. I didn't move. Instead, I let myself be still, feeling his hand on me, and for a brief moment, I forgot everything—the wedding, the ceremony, the change in my life. It was just me and Aarav, and the peace I hadn't known I needed.

When the car finally stopped outside his house, I reluctantly sat up. But Aarav's hand gently held me in place for a moment longer. "We're here," he whispered, his voice low and soft, as if he didn't want to break the tranquility between us.

I blinked sleep from my eyes, feeling the warmth of his touch linger. I pulled myself away slowly, sitting up straighter, aware of how awkward I must have looked.

His smile was small, knowing. "You fell asleep in the most unexpected places," he said with a hint of teasing. But his eyes softened, the usual intensity replaced with something gentler.

I didn't respond, just nodded, unsure of how to handle the strange new closeness between us. I had barely known Aarav a few hours ago, and now... everything felt different. I couldn't put it into words, but the weight of his hand on my back, the tenderness in his touch—it was all new to me.

Aarav

I hadn't expected her to fall asleep so easily, but when she rested her head on my shoulder, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth, something I couldn't explain. I'd always been the one in control, the one who didn't let his guard down, but Ananya... there was something about her innocence, the way she trusted me without question, that made everything else feel irrelevant.

At first, I was stiff under her weight, unsure of how to handle the closeness. But as she drifted off, I let myself relax, letting her sleep peacefully beside me.

I'd always been the protector, the one who took care of things. But with Ananya, I wasn't sure where that instinct came from. It wasn't just the wedding or the promise I had made to her parents—it was something deeper. She had a way of pulling at me, of making me feel things I didn't want to feel.

When she shifted in her sleep and ended up leaning into my lap, I couldn't help but smile. I wasn't going to pull away. I could feel her tiny, soft breaths, her delicate weight resting against me. I hadn't expected this... intimacy. But it was there, unspoken, and I found myself taking comfort in it.

She stirred just before we arrived, and I chuckled softly when I saw her embarrassment. "Ananya, relax. It's okay," I whispered, hoping to ease her discomfort.

She looked up at me with wide eyes, clearly startled by where she had ended up. I kept my voice soft, not wanting to make her feel awkward. But the truth was, I was more amused than anything. I didn't know why, but I found her unpredictability charming.

When the car stopped in front of the house, I let her sit up, but I wasn't in a rush to break the silence. I wasn't sure how to explain the tenderness that had grown between us. How did I go from being a distant husband to wanting to keep her close, to wanting to protect her at every turn?

I watched as she straightened up, pulling herself away from me, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of something, a sharp ache in my chest. But I didn't say anything. I just let her move at her own pace.

I guided her out of the car, my hand resting lightly on her back, feeling the weight of the moment. This was our beginning. And though I didn't know where it would lead, I was certain of one thing: she would never have to face it alone.

Ananya

The house was even bigger than I had imagined, a sprawling mansion that seemed to breathe history and wealth. It was overwhelming, and I felt tiny in comparison. The housekeeper greeted us at the door, but I couldn't concentrate on her words. I was still processing everything—the wedding, the ride home, the strange feeling of being so close to Aarav.

I didn't know what to expect now, but I couldn't help but notice the way Aarav's family moved around us, how their presence filled the house with warmth. His younger siblings, aunts, uncles—they were all there, their voices filling the air as they greeted us, some teasing, others welcoming. It was so different from my quiet life.

Aarav, however, didn't seem to be affected by the chaos. He walked through the house with a quiet confidence, a certain command in his step. And though he was surrounded by his family, I noticed that his eyes were always on me, as if watching me, understanding my discomfort without a word.

When we finally reached our room, I was surprised to see that it was large, comfortable, and—strangely enough—feels like it could be home.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands folding nervously in my lap, the weight of the night catching up with me.

Aarav followed me in, his presence as strong as ever. "You're tired," he said softly, walking to the side of the room. "Get some rest. You'll need it tomorrow."

I nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling that everything had shifted tonight. The way he had held me in the car, the way his presence had calmed me—it was all so new, and I wasn't sure how to react.

As he left, closing the door behind him with a soft click, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Tomorrow, I thought. Tomorrow, maybe I would start to understand all of this.