Tanishka (pov)

The car pulled back and turned around, heading away. One last time, I looked back at my father, his face filled with helplessness. 

Rage boiled inside me at the sight of him like that. My fists clenched as I turned to the man sitting beside me. 

He gazed out of the window, utterly unbothered, as if nothing had happened—as if he hadn’t just torn me away from my wedding and threatened my family. 

"You," I spat, my voice sharp. 

He turned lazily to face me. "What?" His tone was cold, indifferent. 

"What?" I repeated, incredulous. "You just kidnapped me from my own wedding, threatened my family, and declared that you're going to marry me. And all you have to say is ‘what’?" The words tumbled out in one breath. 

"Yes, I did. Now what?" He sounded almost irritated, as if I were the one being unreasonable. 

I scoffed. "Excuse me? What right do you have? And do you really think I'm going to marry you?" 

He turned fully toward me, his dark gaze locking onto mine. "Who said I need your opinion or permission? Once I set my eyes on something, it’s mine—no matter what. I don’t care if it’s a person or not," he said, his voice low, dangerous. 

Fury coursed through me. "Listen, you arrogant bastard. I’m not like the others. Whatever you’re planning—it’s not going to happen. And I *will* find a way out of this." I jabbed a finger at his chest. 

His jaw tensed. In a flash, his hand shot out, gripping my chin tightly as he pulled me closer. 

"Listen, *Gulabi,*" he murmured, his breath brushing against my lips. "Don’t test my patience. Shut your mouth and sit quietly before I decide to put that mouth of yours to better use." His thumb traced my lips before he let go. 

I opened my mouth to snap back, but he pressed a finger against it, silencing me. 

I shoved his hand away and turned toward the window, crossing my arms as I tried to think of a way to escape. 

The car pulled up in front of a massive mansion—larger than my family’s estate, with guards stationed at every corner. 

He stepped out first, then walked around to my side, opening the door. He extended a hand, offering his help. 

I ignored it, stepping out on my own and slamming the door shut. I barely took a few steps before my foot caught on a rock. My breath hitched as I lost balance, bracing myself for the fall. 

Before I could hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a firm chest. 

My heart pounded. 

"You could’ve just told me you needed to be carried," he drawled, looking down at me with amusement. "No need for the dramatics." 

"In your dreams," I snapped, pushing him away and marching into the house. 

As I stepped inside, golden hues bathed my vision. The walls, the lights—everything shimmered in opulence. Even the glass decor reflected the glow, making the entire place look ethereal. 

I turned slowly, taking in the grandeur, stepping back to get a full view. 

And then I bumped into him. 

I spun around, startled. He was standing close—too close. His tall frame loomed over me, his piercing gaze holding mine. His eyes were sharp, but there was something else in them. Something distant. Something lonely. 

I stepped back, arms crossed. "Now what?" 

"You want to know?" He ran a hand through his dark hair, studying me. 

I said nothing, just raised an eyebrow. 

"Up the stairs, first door to the right. That’s your room," he said. 

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Wow. You even arranged a room for me in such a short time. How thoughtful." 

He muttered something under his breath. 

"What did you just say?" I asked. 

"Nothing," he replied quickly. 

I rolled my eyes and walked up the stairs. 

The room was larger than I expected. Inside, an entire wardrobe was already stocked with women’s clothing. I barely spared it a glance before heading straight to the bathroom to freshen up. 

When I emerged, towel-drying my hair, my jaw nearly dropped at the sight before me. 

---