"If we get married, you'll have to quit your job and stay home. Take care of me and give me a healthy baby boy within a year! I don't want a girl—raising girls is too much trouble!"

Priya Mehta stared at her blind date, a balding, pot-bellied man in his mid-forties. Her stepmother, Trisha, must have been desperate to marry her off to someone—anyone—to get her out of the house. Why else would she set her up with this man?

The middle-aged man had initially criticized Priya's heavy makeup, but after noticing her slim figure and composed demeanor, he decided she might be worth his time.

He leaned forward and asked, "How tall are you?"

Priya, already bored out of her mind, stirred her chai lazily and replied, "5'6"."

The man nodded, pleased. "Not bad. I'm about 5'7". You might have to stand on your toes when we kiss, but don't worry, I can bend down a little for you!"

Priya's eye twitched. "Sir, I think you're misunderstanding. A man who needs a woman to stand on her toes to kiss him should ideally be taller than you."

The man frowned, clearly offended. "What do you mean by that?"

Just then, a tall, strikingly handsome man walked into the café. He carried an air of authority and confidence that made everyone turn their heads.

Priya glanced at him, then stood up and walked over. "Excuse me, handsome. Could you help me out for a second?"

The man's cold gaze met hers, but before he could refuse, Priya grabbed his tie, stood on her toes, and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

She turned back to her date. "See? This is the kind of height a man should have if he expects a woman to stand on her toes for a kiss."

The middle-aged man turned red with anger. "You—you shameless woman! Kissing a stranger like that! I'll make sure the matchmaker hears about this. You'll never find a decent match in this town again!"

Priya smirked. That was exactly what she wanted.

As the man stormed off, Priya turned to the tall stranger and gave him a quick nod. "Thanks for the help. If fate allows, we'll meet again. Bye!"

She turned to leave, but a strong hand gripped her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

A deep, icy voice spoke. "You kiss me and think you can just walk away?"

Priya looked up and finally got a good look at the man. He was stunning—sharp features, perfectly styled hair, and an aura of power and danger. She had been so focused on her plan that she hadn't noticed how ridiculously handsome he was.

Priya frowned. "What do you want? It was just a peck. I didn't even ask you to marry me!"

The man's lips twitched slightly. "Just a peck?"

Before Priya could respond, a man in a black suit approached them, looking panicked. "Mr. Rajput, there's a problem. Ms. Sanjana's flight has been delayed due to bad weather. She won't make it back in time for the engagement ceremony tonight. What should we do?"

The man—Mr. Rajput—frowned. This engagement was crucial. His grandfather, who had been pressuring him to marry, had recently suffered a heart attack. The doctors said he needed a transplant, but his grandfather had stubbornly declared he would only agree to the surgery if Mr. Rajput got engaged tonight and married within three days.

Sanjana was supposed to play the role of his fiancée, but now she was stuck elsewhere.

Priya, still held firmly by the man, tried to pull her arm free. "Hey, can you let go of me now? I've already thanked you."

Mr. Rajput's gaze shifted to her, his eyes narrowing as if considering something. Then, he smirked. "Since you've come to me yourself, you'll take Sanjana's place."

His assistant, Rohan, looked horrified. "Sir, this woman... she's...." He gestured at Priya's heavy makeup and messy hair, clearly unimpressed.

Mr. Rajput cut him off. "Her."

Rohan hesitated but nodded. "Yes, sir."

Priya's eyes widened. "Wait, what do you mean, 'take her place'? What are you planning?"

The man leaned closer, his voice low and commanding. "You're going to be my fiancée."

Priya blinked in disbelief. "Are you serious? I kissed you once, and now you want me to marry you? That was my first kiss, by the way! I didn't even ask you to be my boyfriend!"

The man raised an eyebrow. "First kiss?"

Priya sighed dramatically. "Yes! My first kiss in 22 years, and now you're dragging me into this?"

The man's expression didn't change. "Take her."

Before Priya could protest further, she was escorted by several men in suits and shoved into a sleek black car.

---

The Rajput Mansion, Delhi

The most luxurious mansion in the city was buzzing with activity. The engagement party of Arjun Rajput, the heir to the Rajput empire, was in full swing. The grand hall was filled with Delhi's elite, all curious about the woman who had captured the heart of the most eligible bachelor in the country.

"I wonder who the lucky girl is! She must be stunning to have won over Mr. Rajput."

"I heard she's from a very prestigious family. Only the best for the Rajput's, after all."

"Look, he's here! And... is that his fiancée? She looks... different."

Under the stunned gazes of the guests, Arjun Rajput led Priya to the center of the hall. The host stepped forward, microphone in hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the engagement ceremony of Mr. Arjun Rajput and his lovely fiancée!"

Priya stood on the stage, feeling completely out of place. She had only wanted to get rid of her obnoxious date, and now she was being forced into an engagement with a man she didn't even know!

Yes, she had kissed him without permission, and she was ready to face the consequences. But this? This was beyond anything she could have imagined.

As the crowd murmured in confusion, Priya leaned closer to Arjun and whispered, "You do realize this is insane, right?"

Arjun's lips curved into a faint smile. "Insane or not, you're mine now."

Priya groaned inwardly. What had she gotten herself into?

---