A U T H O R

Everyone in the room fell silent. The air thickened with tension.Their blood ran cold seeing the person. Misha swallowed hard, her confidence faltering. Disha gulped, gripping the hem of her dress and Rohan stiffened, his senses becoming numb. And Noor….

Her breath hitched when a pair of hands caught her. Her body stiffened,Her heart pounded in an insane speed. She doesn't have to look at the person to say who it was, she just knew. Though it was the first time he touched her, still she can recognise him— Just by his touch.

Ironic, how she— her heart always had known who it was.

Noor turned slightly, from the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse of him— Ashrit, her boss. and now her husband.

Ashrit helped her stand, his touch firm but unreadable, his hands lingered on the waist a moment longer than necessary before he pulled away sensing the tension in the room. Noor stood straight, her posture stiff, her head hung low, eyes shut — bracing herself from whatever was coming.

Misha, Disha and Rohan blinked, not believing what they just saw. Their boss just handled a girl with care? Not anyone but Noor. The one who is the most clumsiest person in the entire office.

Samar’s lips curved up at the corner, as he observed the three in Amusement, then he glanced at the Boss whose eyes were struck on Noor. Ashrit was staring at her, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom for signs of any injuries and then settled on her face again. The moment he noticed her head down, A muscle in his jaw ticked,he fisted his left hand inside his pocket.

Ashrit exhaled, as if forcing himself to letting his shimmering anger go then in a voice, that neither was commanding nor a request — a tone which was enough for even brave people to tremble, he spoke

“ Everyone. out.”

A Shiver ran down their spines, hearing his sheer iciness. Without any hesitation, Misha, Disha and Rohan ran out with a speed of lighting with Samar following them behind with a smirk, as he expected nothing less from him.

As soon as the Soft click of the door echoed in the room.

Ashrit, took a step forward.

Noor's breath hitched . Her eyes widened, as she instinctively took a step back.

Ashrit's gaze darkened, as he watched her. His jaw clenched, a muscle in his temple twitched but he remained silent.

Noor's back hit the wall, her back pressing into the cold wall. Her fingers curled into fist on the sides . Her heart pounding in her chest that she was sure that he could hear it.

Ashrit took another step. Slow. Calculated.

Noor sucked a breath, “ S-Sirr…” her voice stammered, unsure if she was pleading or warning him to stop.

Ashrit titled his head slightly, his eyes never leaving her.

“ Look at me Noor,” he said, his voice calm, but carrying an unsaid weight.

Noor squeezed her eyes shut tight.

Ashrit exhaled, the next moment his finger, rough yet soft, gripped her chin — firm but not harsh. He lifted her chin up, forcing her to look up at him.

His green eyes stared into her honey brown ones, searching.

For something, she didn't know. But the intensity made her breath catch in throat.

“ You won't even look at me now,” he murmured, his voice low and calm.

Noor trembled, unable to form a response.

Ashrit waited for her to say something, his grip on her chin unwavering but she looked everywhere but him.

Ashrit jaw clenched, his eyes flashed with something — unreadable and he spoke,

“ Don't ever hang your head low,”

Noor breath hitched,

“ Not in front of me, not in front of anyone”,

There was no anger in his tone, there was something far more than intense — a command, laced with something deeper, which made her chest tightened.

Ashrit exhaled sharply, his thumb grazing her jaw for a second before he pulled away releasing her from his grip, as he stepped back.

Noor let out a shaky breath, as soon as his touch disappeared, but the weight of His words still pressed on her.

Ashrit ran a hand through his hair, his expression unreadable. He had seen the fear in her eyes, the hesitation and he hated it. Hated it the way he made her feel. He hated himself for making her feel it.

“ Do you understand Noor?” His voice softened, a tone he rarely used for the ladies of his house.

Noor hesitated, her fingers curling on the sides, as she slowly, slightly nodded.

Ashrit, however, wasn't satisfied. His eyes darkened as He took a step closer, stepping into her space, again “Say it,” he demanded.

Noor inhaled sharply, her heart pounding, “ I… i understand,” she whispered,

His gaze lingered on her for a moment, as if he was assessing whether she truly meant it or not. Then, with a sharp and curt nod, he stepped back.

But before she could fully process it, he spoke again, his voice calm yet carrying an underlying weight.

“ Good. Because I don't want my wife to hung her head in front of others, especially our employees.”

Noor swallowed hard, her fingers gripped her dress tightly.

Then, his eyes softened for a moment as he looked at her, he took a step forward, again closing the distance between them as he said,

“Remember you are a Queen, Noor…” he paused, his gaze locking into her's, “and a Queen never bows before anyone — not even her king .”

Noor's breath hitched, her fingers trembling but she curled them into fist, steading herself.

Ashrit's words echoed in her mind— unwavering and powerful. A Queen never bows. Not even to her King.

Noor swallowed, and finally looked up, meeting his gaze and for the first time since their marriage she truly looked at him — her husband, her boss. The man who just claimed her responsibility, which she hadn't expected.

A flicker of something flashed through Ashrit's eyes when he noticed her hesitation fading and changed into something stronger.

“ Good,” he murmured, satisfaction clear in his tone.

“ And, about the deal, don't worry. It's safe,”

Noor blinked, momentarily caught off guard. The deal. The thing that kept her sleep away last night. She had totally forgotten about it. She was so invested in Ashrit that she totally forgot about the deal.

Ashrit had handled it. Just like that.

She should have been revealed right?. Instead something strange and warm wrapped around her heart — a familiar feeling, which she felt after ages.

Her lips parted, to say something but she wasn't sure what to say. Thank you? Or question him further but before she could find words, Ashrit called Samar, and in a second the four were back in the room.

Misha, Disha and Rohan— their eyes darted between Noor and Ashrit, their curiosity peaking in, while on the other hand Samar smrinked, looking at his Bestfriend/ Boss.

“ The deal is secured, and Everything is taken care of,” Ashrit said, his voice firm.

The three were caught off guard, their heads snapped at Noor, as if asking her for the confirmation, she hesitated but nodded.

“ And Noor, come to my office to get your new macbook,”

with that Ashrit strode out followed by Samar closely behind him, Still smirking.

Misha, Disha and Rohan stood there frozen for a moment before turning to Noor.

“ What did he just say.. your new macbook?” Disha asked, her eyes widened.

“ Not just that,” Rohan murmured, rubbing his temples, “ did he just handled the crises and gifted her a new macbook,?”

Misha however, looked at her boss's fading figure, her brain struggling to accept the fact that Ashrit cleared Noor's mess. Because she thought that he would at least punish her or may be a harsh scolding or may be worse — fire her.

But instead… he protected her.

Misha's brows furrowed, as she turned to them and whispered “what the hell just happened?”

The three looked at Noor for an answer but she on the other hand stood rooted just like them, Stunned, confused. her mind struggled to process everything that just happened.

Did he just accept her as his wife? The question lingered on her mind,

Ashrit singh Raghuvanshi, the man who is known for his cold demeanor and ruthlessness. The man whose one glimpse was enough for Noor to get scared just accepted her as his wife? The man who didn't looked at her in her two years of working in this company, just accepted her as his wife?

This thing didn't settle in her.

Because the man who had seen her as nothing more than a replacement just a day ago—he couldn’t possibly accept her as his wife now.

Right?

Or… could he?

The thought sent a Shiver down her spine. No it's not possible. Ashrit singh Raghuvanshi wasn't a man who changed his mind so easily. He was cold, calm, calculated and most importantly Ruthless.

Then why did… his words felt different today..?. His eyes, his gaze, his touch — everything. It felt different. Why did his presence make her chest tightened?

Why?

If he really accepted her as his wife, then why did he said that she was Replacement that day?

Noor clenched her fists, her jaw clenching.

She needed answers for every question.

“ I need to talk to him,” she murmured to herself, Her eyes filled with determination and mind raced with questions.

Without hesitation, she strode out, leaving the three dumbfounded.

✵

AFTERNOON

📍 IN CANTEEN

Disha and Noor sat across each other in the corner of the canteen, away from the people. Noor was lost in her thoughts while thinking it was her opportunity Disha ordered some of their favourite food, so that she can much on later when Noor tells her ‘ something she said that she will tell here’.

“ Oye, kaha khoye ho?” Disha asked her, waving her hand in front of her. Noor came out of her thoughts with a jerk and looked at her, “ nowhere..” she replied, blinking her eyes and finally glanced at her.

“ Toh, kaha gayab thi,? Na koi call, na message,?” She asked. Noor signed, hearing her. Now she has to tell the same story again.

“ Bataaa!” Disha pushed, her curiosity peaking in.

“ Ha, bata rahi hu…” Disha nodded, leaning in.

Noor blinked as she took a deep breath, “ see, i am telling you earlier, don't shout,” she warned.

“ Haa, theek hai. Nahi chillaunga ab bolna,” Disha asked impatiently.

Noor took a deep breath again, she looked at her best friend who nodded her head waiting for her to say,

“ I am married!!!”

“ Oh, okay… Wait!!!! WHAT!!!???” Disha shouted, standing up gathering the attention of the other employees and staff, who looked at her weirdly. While Noor shushed her, “ sit down,”

Disha sat, shock written all over her face as she looked at Noor, “ What the fuck do you mean by I am married?” She asked,

Noor blinked, biting her lower lip, as she said, “ you know that Jiya di is getting married,”

“ Hmm,”

“ She ran away from the wedding and then sab ne milkar mujhe dulhan badiya,” she completed and Disha looked at her as if she had grown two horns on her head.

“ What do you mean by she ran away? And how the hell do you end up getting married?” she asked, shocked.

Noor wetted her bottom lip, blinking in hesitation,

“ You know, di hates me. So I was sitting for away from everyone and suddenly I got call from bhai, saying that papa called me and when I got there only to see everyone from groom's family is fuming and mine was looking devastated especially Indu bua, she was a crying mess,” she said, closing her eyes, waiting for her reaction.

Disha blinked at her words, her mind struggling to process the information, “ And you got married?” She asked in disbelief.

“ What else could I do? My father was standing his head hung low in shame, my grandparents were crying, mom looked stress, bua was crying, his family was fuming, and you know his grandmother was about to beg me, so I did what I think is right at moment,”

“ So you married because you think it was right at the moment,” Disha asked,

“ Come on yaar, both families' reputations were at stake, and everyone was pleading and I couldn't say no to them.” Noor said, and looked at the girl who bought their order.

“ Thankyou,” the girl left from there, keeping their food on the table.

Noor instantly grabbed her chocolate milkshake, and took a sip, a moan of satisfaction left her mouth as soon as she gulped it. Disha mirrored her as she took a sip of her own milkshake.

“ So, who did you even married,?” Disha asked as she took a bite of her pasta.

Noor gulped, looking down at her lap, as she said in low voice, “ Ashrit singh Raghuvanshi”

Disha choked on her milkshake, she coughed hard, Noor stood up instinctively, her hand reaching for the water bottle as she made Disha drink water while rubbing her back.

Disha stopped coughing, her eyes snapping at Noor in horror, “ what the actual fuck, Noor? You married Ashrit sir, as in our boss, the king of jodhpur, the cold, ruthless, arrogant, grumpy Ashrit singh Raghuvanshi,”

Noor nodded slightly, watching her, as she took a bite of her pasta.

“ Oh my god, oh my god, oh my freaking god,” Disha whispered, as she tried to calm herself. “ Noor do you know what have you done? You just walked into the lion's den!!”

Noor signed, setting her milkshake down, “ I know what I did, Di. But you tell me, do I have a choice,”

Disha ran a hand through her hair, her frustration bubbling up, “ Noor you married THE ASHRIT SINGH RAGHUVANSHI, our fucking boss, the man who is feared in board rooms, The man who is known for ruthless, the man whose one glance is enough to pee the strongest people. Do you have any idea what this means?”

Noor looked at her pasta as she stabbed her fork into it avoiding to look at her, “ i know, but now I am his wife,”

“ Exactly……” disha paused and suddenly her eyes widened as if she realised something. “ Tell me one thing, how did your sister rishta get fixed with sir?”

Noor looked up, her own mind thinking about it, “ I don't know, Bua said The royal family —themselves sent the rishta for di”.

Disha’s eyes widened, “ iska matlab, tu toh gayi!!” She muttered.

“ What?” Noor asked, not understanding.

“ Haa, if they chose your sister, they must have liked her, even Ashrit sir,” she said.

Noor felt something broken in her as she heard her words, she stiffened, her grip tightened around the fork.

“ Hmm..” she hummed, looking away.

“ Kya humm, Tell me how Ashrit sir reacted. I am sure that he said ‘ I will destroy your life for marrying me’ just like in Wattpad novels” She said, mimicking the dialogue.

Noor signed, as she put her elbow on the table resting her face on her hand as she thought about him.

“ Hmm.., i don't know disha he was calm all through the wedding, didn't say anything but yes, he was holding my hand all throughout the ceremony, jab palace aaye the na tabhi nahi choda”

Disha blinked her jaw dropping, “Wait !!! what— he held your half throughout the ceremony? Like really?”

Noor nodded, twirling her fork in her hand, “ hmm, from the moment we got up from mandap and until we reach the palace and you know he was not ready to leave my hand until I jerked it off myself,”

Disha gwanked at her with open mouth,

“ Don't you think it's weird,?”

Noor nodded. Yes, it was weird. Very weird. The Ashrit she knows and the Ashrit she saw that night were different, very far from each other. The Ashrit she knew was a man who was ruthless, emotionless and cold. Yet, that night he held her hand as if he was grounding himself, as if he needed to hold her hand.

Noor shook her head. “ I don't know Disha. He didn't do anything, didn't say, didn't threaten. Just hold my hand and after that this morning he talked to me that's it,” she said, of course hiding some details .

“ This morning?” Disha raised a brow.

“ Yay, when he told you all to get out,”

“ Ohhh…” Disha smrinked suddenly, making Noor look away, “ what?”

“ What happened? Tell me naa..” Disha asked, blinking her eyes innocently.

Noor looked down at her lap when she remembered Ashrit words from morning, heat rushed to her cheeks.

“ N.. nothing”

Disha smirk widened,

“ kuch toh hua hai, hmm.. bol na,?”

“ Kuch nahi, he just said that deal was taken care of,”

Noor said, making disha's smirk faltered,

“ Kyaa? Mujhe laga kuch romance hua hoga, jaise books mai hota hai na Vaise” she said dreamingly.

“ Shut up!”

Suddenly Disha gasped, her eyes widening again,

“ Vaise, romance se yaad aya, piyush ka kya?”

The question caught Noor off guard. She froze, her grip tightened around the fork as she stabbed the pasta harshly. The memories of his betrayal flashed in front of her, making her jaw clenched.

Disha observed the change in noor, her brows dipped together as she frowned, “ wha—”

Disha was about to ask her but she cut her off.

“ He cheated on me,”

Disha's mouth fell open, “ what??” she nearly screamed gathering everyone's attention present in the cafeteria.

Noor swallowed hard, trying to keep her face neutral but her fingers tightened around the fork gave her away.

She didn't want to talk about piyush. Didn't want to talk about the way she found out. She didn't want to remember the pain she felt when she saw him with her.

The pain, the betrayal — all of it was still fresh in her mind and in her heart too.

Disha stabbed at her pasta, as if she was killing piyush imagining him in the pasta. “ That bastard,” she muttered, “ how can he do this? You loved him a lot,”

Noor stayed silent, taking a sip of her milkshake,

“ Noor, why didn't you tell me? When did this happen?” she asked .

Noor exhaled sharply, “ the next morning after my wedding, I was here to say him the truth but instead i got the reality”

Disha's eyes widened further, “ you find out after your wedding,?” Noor nodded,

“ I came to the office that morning, thinking of telling him, Disha. that everything changed now, i married Ashrit sir, but even before i opened the door of his cabin, I saw it…..” she trailed off, gripping the glass tight.

The memory of Piyush standing with his upper body bare, while kissing a woman, his hands roaming on that woman's body and her hands were on his body. They were kissing without caring about the world.

She still remembers how her world shattered, how her heart felt heavy and broken at that moment.

She still remember how Misha looked at her after saying those words, “ how can a man stay in a relationship where there is no physical contact”

And his words “ I am a man with needs Noor,”

That day her heart broke into millions of pieces.

“ What??” Disha asked, even more shocked.

Noor clenched her fist, “ I saw him with another girl, they were kissing.” Disha stood up in a jerk and punched the near chair harshly while yelling, “ that son of bitch, how dare he ?” Noor's eyes widened as she instinctively got up and held her hand.

The other employees in the cafeteria looked at her in shock. The sound was so sudden that they all got startled. Noor nervously smiled at them while apologizing “ sorry for inconvenience, carry-on” saying that she glared at disha.

“ Are you out of your mind?” She whispery yelled at her.

Disha huffed, shaking her stinging hand. “Out of my mind? Noor, he deserves worse than a broken chair!”

Noor sighed, rubbing her temples. “I know, Disha. But I don’t want to create a scene. It’s over now.”

Disha scoffed. “Over? Noor, he cheated on you and then had the audacity to justify it. And you’re telling me it’s over?”

Noor looked away, biting her lip. “What else can I do? I married Ashrit sir, and whatever I felt for Piyush… it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Disha narrowed her eyes. “Doesn’t matter? Noor, betrayal isn’t something you just brush off!”

Noor exhaled sharply, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t have the luxury to dwell on it, Disha. My life changed overnight. I have bigger things to focus on now.”

Disha studied her for a long moment before sighing. “Fine, I won’t bring it up. But Noor…” She softened, placing a hand on her friend's arm. “You deserve better. So much better.”

Noor forced a smile, ignoring the strange tug in her heart. “I already have better, don’t I?”

Disha was taken aback, “ what… you are talking about Ashrit sir”

Noor's lips parted slightly, as she hesitated. Was she?

Before she could answer, the bell in the cafeteria rang, making everyone groan as the lunch break was completed and they now had to return back to their respective works.

Noor, seeking it as an opportunity , ran away leaving Disha there stunned.

“ Coward” she muttered with a smile as she followed her.

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩

To be continued.....