Chapter 1 "A Forced Beginning"
Meera’s POV
I was straightening my bed this morning, but my heart wasn’t in it. A month had passed since my marriage, yet today felt no different—dull, heavy, soaked in sadness.
Why sadness? Because the man I married disappeared the very next morning. And today, I heard he’s finally coming back.
Am I happy? Am I sad? I honestly don’t know. All I know is that his presence—or absence—changes nothing for me. He can never bring me happiness.
My name is Meera, 28, a government school teacher. My marriage was arranged six months ago. Like every girl in my society, I was told I wasn’t “settled” until I married. I had a good salary, I could take care of myself—but apparently, I was still “incomplete.”
Finally, the pressure won.
On the wedding day, my would-be groom never showed up. He only sent a message:
“I can’t marry you. I love someone else. I can’t live without her.”
Five months of engagement, and only on the wedding day did he remember he was in love? My father, a heart patient, collapsed. Mukesh Sharma, his closest friend, stepped in and saved the day—he arranged for me to marry his own son, Dr. Akash Sharma, a well-known cardiologist.
No one asked me what I wanted. The decision was made in minutes. I had no choice. I became Meera Sharma, Akash’s wife.
That night, I waited for him—not with excitement, but with hope. Maybe we could talk, maybe we could decide what to do with a marriage neither of us wanted.
At 2 a.m., he came. His eyes were swollen as if he’d been crying. Instead of understanding, he exploded.
“Listen, Meera. I will never accept you as my wife. This marriage was forced on me. I only agreed because your father is my patient. Otherwise, I would never have married a girl like you. Do you even know what you look like? No style, no beauty. You’re not even close to my standard.”
Then he showed me a photo on his phone.
“This is Neha Verma. We studied together. She’s beautiful. She loves me. She deserves to be my wife. Not you. Don’t even dream about it. I will never accept you.”
And with that, he stormed out, leaving me shattered on the floor.
If only my marriage hadn’t happened. I didn’t need him. I didn’t need anyone. But now I was trapped with a man who valued only appearances.
I cried myself to sleep on the cold floor.
The next morning, my sister-in-law, Shruti, comforted me:
“Bhabhi, don’t take bhaiya’s words to heart. Everything happened so suddenly. Just give him some time.”
A month passed. Surprisingly, his family—my in-laws—were warm and respectful. Slowly, I found a little comfort in that house.
This morning, everyone was talking about Akash’s return. But I wasn’t excited. I wasn’t planning anything special. For me, his return meant nothing. In fact, I was already thinking about divorce. As soon as Papa’s health stabilized, I would explain to him that I didn’t need a man to live my life—especially not a man like Akash.
I went downstairs to the breakfast table. My brother-in-law Rohan teased me, “Bhabhi, bhaiya is coming back today. Shouldn’t you wear some makeup and stay home instead of going to school?”
I ignored him.
My mother-in-law, Rekha Sharma, my biggest supporter in this house, spoke firmly, “Meera doesn’t need to stay back for anyone. Her job is important. Akash will be here, but her work won’t wait.”
I smiled faintly.
She handed me a lunchbox. “Eat properly, beta. You hardly eat these days. One paratha won’t keep you going.”
My father-in-law added, “Yes, Meera, you’ve been losing weight. Please take care.”
I just nodded.
Rohan smirked, “Bhabhi is losing weight for bhaiya, isn’t she?” Everyone laughed.
But Shruti defended me immediately, “Why should she? She’s already beautiful the way she is.”
“Ha! Says the one who really needs to lose weight!” Rohan shot back, and the two of them began their usual sibling quarrel.
At that moment, Akash’s uncle, Suresh Sharma, walked in. “Meera, I’m dropping Dugu to school,” he said, referring to his 10-year-old son. “I can drop you too.”
“Thank you, Uncle ji,” I replied softly. “But my school is in the opposite direction. I’ll take an auto—it’s more comfortable for me.”
,my mother-in-law—whom I had begun calling Mama because she understood me more than my own mother ever did—spoke up again. “Let her do what she’s comfortable with, Suresh.”
And so, after bidding goodbye to everyone, I left for school, carrying not just my books but also the heavy weight of a marriage I never chose.
Akash’s POV
I lit another cigarette, even though Neha hated it. My mind was chaotic. How the hell was I supposed to stay in that house—sharing the same room with her? With Meera?
I had left my last job thinking I’d escape her, but now I had no choice.
Neha’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Akash, we’re both cardiologists. You know smoking is dangerous for your heart.”
I sighed.
“You don’t understand, Neha. I’m stressed. That girl, Meera, she’s the most typical Indian girl you could imagine. Always traditional, never daring to try anything different. And now she’ll try everything to make me accept her. She’ll play the perfect wife—obedient, caring, waiting on my every word. I can literally picture her at my feet saying, ‘Whatever you say, Akash, I’ll do it. I’ll be loyal forever.’”
Neha smirked.
“So you’re scared she’ll care so much that you’ll actually fall for her?”
I scoffed.
“Fall for her? Never. She’s the last girl I’d ever love.”
Neha looked at me seriously.
“Akash, have you ever even loved anyone? You still haven’t said ‘I love you’ to me.”
I exhaled.
“Let me settle things first. I’ll say it, Neha. I’ll get rid of Meera from my life, then marry you. Honestly, I can’t find anyone better than you.”
She stayed silent. I changed the subject.
“Anyway, I can’t refuse City Hospital. It’s just five kilometers from home. I’ll join Monday. Too good an opportunity to pass.”
She smiled faintly.
“Then good luck. And Meera? Is she really like you imagine?”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t want to win me over? Look at me—handsome, charming. Even you fell for this face, didn’t you? Unfortunately, she’s my wife. She’ll try harder to impress me. Don’t worry, Neha. She won’t beat you.”
I smirked.
“Poor girl’s heart will break again today.”
When I reached home at 12 PM, everyone was there—everyone except Meera. My heart leapt. Could she have left for good? My plan worked?
But my mother seemed upset. Others talked warmly, hugged me. Yet I knew I could handle her. Always did.
In my room, everything smelled fresh, floral. My brows furrowed. She claimed my space. But none of my things had been touched—unusual.
I shook it away and prepped for Monday. Soon, I drifted to sleep.
At 7 PM, the door opened. Meera walked in. Glanced at me. Said nothing.
I smiled to myself. Now she’ll apologize, beg even. Perfect—time to remind her of her place.
But she went straight to the bathroom, changed, and walked out—no words. At dinner, she laughed, talked with my mother and Shruti, ignoring me. I ate silently.
At 10:30 PM, she entered. I pretended to sleep. My heart raced. She’d say sorry. She has to.
She came to my side and said,
“The pillow you’re holding? My book is under it. Can you pass it? And one pillow too.”
I blinked. That was it? Wordlessly, I handed her the items. She didn’t join me. She settled on the sofa, reading by phone light.
Unbelievable. She didn’t even care to be near me. Perfect.
The next morning, she woke at 6 AM, lit incense, left, and returned with two cups of coffee. I pretended to sleep.
“Meera, you don’t need to do all this.”
She looked briefly.
“Aunty gave me two cups. She said to give you one. From tomorrow, I won’t bring it.”
No sweetness, no act. For the first time, I wondered—maybe Meera isn’t the girl I imagined.
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CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
AKASH’S FAMILY..
Mukesh Sharma- father
Rekha Sharma- mother
Shruti Sharma- younger sister
Rohan Sharma -younger brother
Suresh Sharma - uncle
Geeta Sharma-aunty
Duggu ( Abhiraj Sharma) cousin brother
MEERA’S FAMILY
Amar Singh- father
Jaya Singh- mother
Rahul singh- younger brother
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✨️He lost his love to death. She lost her life to abandonment. Can two broken souls find home in each other?✨️
Read my new story BILLIONAIRE AMONG THE GRAVES on Inkitt.
#secondchance#slowburnromance
