Introduction
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Thank you for being here.
The roses & the thorns is a romance laced with hate, dripping with passion, and bloodied with a darker criminal universe.
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This book is a spin off to For you duology
(I burn for you & I live for you)
If you have read the two books then you know that this universe isn't kind to the ones who fall in love.
If you are new here then also its cool as it can be read as standalone. Though its advisable to read I burn for you (completed) for a better understanding of the Universe.
You don't need to have read the Ishq duology to understand this story.
This is Agastya Saxena and Shruti Bharadwaj's story.
Two law students.
Two academic rivals.
Two people who would rather lose a semester than admit the other is better.
And eventually—
Two people who get married for all the wrong reasons and fall in love for the one reason neither of them planned for.
♡ tropes ♡
Academic Rivals
Enemies to Lovers
Good girl x Bad boy
Minister's daughter x Bureaucrat's son
Campus romance
Sports romance
Marriage of Convenience
Two bedroom apartment and reluctant flatmates
She fell first, he fell harder
A four year marriage contract
Intellectual banter
but before you begin...
There will be banters, fights, sexual tension but this isn't a fluffy romcom. (no hate to romcoms. I love romcoms)
Nor it is a usual forced marriage driven story.
The story deals with political power, criminal network and a human trafficking ring (already established in Ishq Bedarda)
family loyalty and the uncomfortable question of what happens when the people you love are connected to something unforgivable.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction.
All characters, institutions, organisations, incidents and events are fictional or fictionalised for narrative purposes. Any resemblance to real people, organisations or events is coincidental.
The story contains mature themes including sexual content, substance use, political corruption, trafficking, exploitation, death, grief, family conflict and emotionally difficult situations.
The story does not romanticise trafficking, exploitation or abuse.
The characters' actions and beliefs do not necessarily represent the author's views.
The legal, political, bureaucratic and institutional elements are fictionalised and should not be treated as professional legal or political advice.
And finally:
Please don't expect everyone in this book to behave sensibly. It is a fiction and even in real life we make questionable decisions.
(AI is not used. Language is not perfect nor is my story. Please be patient)
