He built an empire on his own terms.
Marriage… wasn’t one of them.
The morning sun filtered through the glass walls of Maheshwari Group headquarters.
Dev Maheshwari didn’t look up from his files.
“Bro,” Rohit groaned, leaning back, “don’t you ever get bored of this office?”
Dev smirked faintly.
“If I get bored, who’s going to run the company?”
Aditya chuckled.
“Oh, don’t worry. Soon you’ll have something more interesting to focus on.”
Dev finally looked up.
“And what exactly does that mean?”
Rohit and Aditya exchanged a glance.
Then—
“Congratulations,” Aditya said casually.
“You’re getting married.”
Dev froze.
“What?”
Rohit laughed.
“Your dad fixed it this morning.”
Silence.
Dev stood up so abruptly his chair scraped back.
“You’re joking.”
“We’re not.”
The next moment, Dev was already walking out.
Fast. Sharp. Furious.
He didn’t knock.
“Papa—”
But the words died in his throat.
His father wasn’t alone.
A middle-aged man in a grey suit stood beside him.
“Dev, come in,” his father said calmly.
Introductions were made. Polite smiles exchanged.
But Dev barely heard anything.
Because one question kept echoing—
Marriage?
Minutes later, the man left.
The door shut.
And the calm shattered.
“Papa… what is this?” Dev asked, voice tight.
“My marriage?”
“Oh yes,” his father said casually. “I forgot to tell you.”
Dev let out a disbelieving laugh.
“You forgot… to tell me I’m getting married?”
“I’ve fixed your alliance with Mr. Adhikari’s daughter.”
Dev stared at him.
“What? Why?”
His father’s answer was simple.
“Business deal.”
That was it.
A deal.
Dev leaned back, running a hand through his hair.
“So my life is part of a contract now?”
“It’s a hundred-billion-dollar deal.”
“And I’m the price?”
Silence filled the room.
“Cancel it,” Dev said finally.
His father slid an envelope toward him.
“At least see the girl.”
Dev pushed it away.
“I’m not getting married.”
His father’s voice hardened.
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m not asking, Dev. I’m telling you.”
The air turned heavy.
“The wedding is in two weeks.”
Dev’s eyes widened.
“Two weeks?! I haven’t even agreed!”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Something inside him snapped.
“PAPA!”
And the next second—
He walked out.
That night—
“Maa!” Dev called, frustration spilling over.
His mother walked in calmly.
“Yes, beta?”
“Did you know about this marriage?”
She smiled.
“I met the girl. She’s very nice.”
Dev closed his eyes.
“Mom… I’m not ready for this.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Dev had no answer.
And somehow… that made it worse.
Five days later.
Night.
A cigarette burned between Dev’s fingers as he sat on his car.
“Why are you agreeing to this?” Aditya asked.
Dev exhaled slowly.
“Because my father wants it.”
“That’s not a reason.”
Dev looked away.
“My parents gave me everything.”
A pause.
“If this makes them happy… then fine.”
Aditya shook his head.
“You’re sacrificing your life.”
Dev didn’t reply.
Because deep down—
He knew it was true.
He agreed to the marriage.
But what happens when the girl refuses to be just a deal?
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