Aarav finally found a moment to breathe as he watched his sister, Mira, marry her long-time boyfriend. The wedding had been exhausting. As the oldest child and brother, he carried the weight of his family's expectations—and now, his sister's wedding on top of that.

It was the typical grand Indian wedding, where each ceremony felt more like a festival. Yet, Aarav did his best to ensure everything went smoothly for Mira. From managing expenses and contractors to booking halls and organizing wardrobes, he took care of it all.

But the worst part was that he couldn’t tell anyone how drained he felt. His job, his life, his responsibilities—he bore them silently. He knew his parents wouldn’t understand. The pressure was like a never-ending chore that had become his life.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he turned to scan the guests. Of course, the extravagant wedding was more about impressing others than celebrating his sister’s happiness. With a scowl on his face, he tried to slip away when he bumped into someone. His head whipped around at the small "oof" to find a woman rubbing her head.

Embarrassment shot through him, and he quickly muttered an apology, eager to escape. But then, her soft voice stopped him.

"Your nose is bleeding."

A rush of dread hit him. Crap, he thought, realizing he had overdone it again. The nosebleed was his body's way of signaling that he’d pushed himself too far.

He nodded, gratefully accepting the handkerchief she offered, dabbing at his nose. He couldn’t believe he’d embarrassed himself in front of a stranger. He was the brother of the bride, for heaven’s sake! Yet, her concerned gaze stirred something within him.

He couldn’t even remember the last time someone had noticed a small detail about him, or made him feel seen. Not even his parents gave him the attention this woman gave her. She caught him off guard, she had him hooked.

"I'm sorry... I didn't notice that..." He mumbled quietly, unable to meet her gaze out of embarrassment. He has never been in such a peculiar position and being with a pretty woman here like this makes it worse.