"What's there to hesitate? She'll come with us obviously." He announced like a natural thing after contemplating over the matter.

"No no. I am already burdening you. You.. just.. I mean please arrange some job for me. I'll look after her." She replied in hurry and immediately lowered her head seeing his glare.

"Dare you say it again." Warned he as if they're normal husband and wife who was very much fathomed. His conscience totally forgotten the fact that, he married only today and the marriage was not a planned one.

"Your warning is not going to change anything. Already you emptied your purse in this purchase. I don't want to burden you with her also. I would've worked in neighbour houses like earlier. But I don't want you to face  difficulties because of my job. I don't want you to be the center of subject to gossip. Moreover I am not highly educated, please arrange a job according to that. If you can't it's ok, I'll manage." She announced her clear stance remembering the gossips she heard about them in his apartment society.

He sat astonished by her maturity level and her determination. He didn't expected that, the tiny girl in the name of his wife would've so much of matureness within her. Her nervousness around him also helped him to believe that she's naive. That she's, but a lovely, strong determined girl.

"What's your age?" He asked in being trance.

"Er. Eighteen."

His eyes turned sympathetic. She isn't on the age to work. She's a tiny butterfly who has reached the age to fly and knew this world. He remembered her hard palms on his enclose, which had to be smooth owing to her age. Girls who're in this age are enjoying their life but this butterfly is standing on her feet to support her family crushing her dreams. She would've buried her wishes long back.

He further noticed her physic which looks more like a skeleton covered in a cloth. Her long hairs enhanced her look. But the darkness under her eyes and the emptiness in it told her life story. His moral didn't allow him to see her like that. He was always a believer of women's education.  Nothing but, one's knowledge will stand with you in all your steps even if the people around you betrays. He strongly believes that.

"Whatever... now she's our family and What's she doing?" Asked he shrugging her request after coming out of his monologue.

"She's studying ninth standard at Government school." She replied with lowered head.

He stretched his arm and lifted her chin "Never lower your head unless you did wrong. Always keep it high if your thoughts and actions are upright."

She shot a surprised look "My father always says not to held head high. He considers that act as immoral."

"Bullshit." He snapped instantly.

Her lips trembled "It was a dishonest act according to him."

"You'll hit yourself against a wall, if you walk with lowered head." He cracked a lame joke which didn't earn a laugh from her like he wished.

"Leave it... She can stay in your house until we find a new house right?"

"Er... She'll be alone. My.. father. He'll come home only after drunk upto neck." She replied ashamed to admit the sad reality of her life.

"Can we get her now?"

"She's in school. My father.. he didn't allowed her to come to temple fearing that she'll break the marriage.... How can we three stay in your friend house? Will they allow us?"

She begin to share her thoughts and worries not realising the fact of sharing a life with him will not be awkward like she thought earlier.

He smiled at her concern wondering umpteenth time on her way of tackling things. He's happy that she's sharing her worries with him. It makes him feel like a family even though they're still as two persons, who are on the way to make their own family. He didn't failed to notice the elevated level of comfort. Allowing him to take care of her sister was something he was proud of. He felt as if won the world. Her level of trust did sowed a seed of love on his heart. His mind easily forget the fact that he himself robbed that right from her, that too forcibly.

He looked at the time which was close to evening. He expelled a heavy sigh, following by. The school she said was few kilometres away from the mall and an instant headache occupied his head by the mere thought of the traffic. However his headache turned into sweet in milliseconds. Heck, who cannot love the traffic when the person you like or love is accompanying you?

"Come, it'll take an hour to reach the school. And we'll reach there on correct time only if we starts now." He announced standing up and his brain already put into work to find the lenthiest route.

He happily took the shopping bags as soon as she stood up. Her lips stretched into a grin. She started to enjoy his pampering, that she willingly held his arm while walking down to the parking lot.

.
.
.
.
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"Jiji..." A fair girl hopped forward on Khushi arms.

"Meera..." Khushi welcomed her warmly.

Meera, an early teen, the younger sister of Khushi who was on her late teens. They lost their mother four years back. Since then Meera was Khushi world and vice-versa. Meera was the second person from family who truly love and support Khushi in all her decisions. She often helps her sister in all chores, even do works if ever Khushi gets ill. Both sisters live for eachother.

"I am so sorry jiji. I couldn't save your life. You know na, I tried to stop your marriage. I fought with papa. He outrageously denied to hear my words. He said, he bought money and can't stop marriage. I am sorry jiji. I should've tried more. If only he's not drunk he would've stopped this marriage by my suicide drama. But better than never late. Throw this mangalsutra, we'll run away from here."

As if faucet was flipped, salty tears made it's way down khushi cheeks. However she showed herself strong and accepting everything infront of her husband, there's still fears curling at the corner which came out in the form of tears, the moment she heard her sister's apology. She can't believe she's saved from the man who was at her father age and married to a handsome man. She can't believe her husband accepted her. She can't believe Devimaiyya paired a highly educated guy with a girl like her who put shame to the status of his.

Meera hugged her instantly and drew soothing circles on her back.

"Hey, hello girls. I am here." Arnav had to clear his throat to bring these two from their siblings time.

Meera bore him with her scrutinizing gaze, running her vision up and down on his frame.

"Who's he?" She murmured on Khushi ears.

All the tears are sucked back instantly. A blush coated her silky cheeks which confused one soul whereas another soul was proud on seeing the change of colour.

"He's... He..." Khushi opened her mouth to answer but stuttered miserably. She felt exposed all of sudden. Something stirred in her stomach. All those painful past, long forgotten.

"I am your guardian."

Meera snapped her head up hearing an unknown stranger claiming himself as her guardian "Stop blabbering Mr."

"Hey Meera... He's your Jijaji. Don't speak with him on that tone." Khushi jumped inbetween clearing her husband identity.

Poor Arnav, he didn't even had the time to rejoice his wife's blush as Meera squealed next moment attracting his attention.

"I can't believe you married my jiji. Oh god, I'll die out of happiness it seems. Whole day I kept crying at intervals thinking about jiji marriage with old man but God, you... It's such a relief that she escaped from him. Thank you so much for marrying my jiji." She almost forgot that she's meeting him for first time and almost scared him out by her extra sound decibels.

'She's crazy but loves her sister a lot.' Mused he.

"I guess we shouldn't spend our whole evening at the entrance of school
Let us go home."

He announced whereas Meera looked at Khushi in uncertain. Her excitement and happiness drained out from her system.

"His home is ours from now on. I cannot leave you with papa knowing he'll marry you off for money."

Meera nodded trusting her sister words. The three silently reached his friend house, not before taking Meera things from her home.

He straightly denied to take any of Khushi things from there except her certificates. He didn't want his wife to hurt herself in memories seeing her old things again and again.

The sister duo sticked to eachother sharing their day worries, making him odd one out of their conversation. Being a gentleman, he let them on their own in a room and he settled himself in the sofa on living room as night falls.

After a peaceful night, it dawned making a new day for the couples. But will Meera presence make it a dawn or dusk?

____

A/N:

Till now, the story is moving in a slow pace. The slow pace may shrinks the curiosity. All I ask you is to be patient. Patience bear fruits, trust me. The story is slowly entering into the main theme. After two or three updates, we'll fully travel on their journey. As I promised, you'll love Everyone at the end.

Sorry if this update has mistakes. I wrote it in hurry to post it today. I didn't even proofreaded it. Hope you all forgive me if I made you read a horrible chapter.