"Do you like our new home?" Arnav questioned roaming his eyes around their new house. A small 2BHK separate villa in secular area.

Since Meera is with them, Arnav didn't took the chance of taking the siblings to roam around the city to locate a safe home. Lest, he let Meera stay in home taking only Khushi with him. So he himself finalized the house and now waiting for her approval.

Khushi smiled and bobbed her head as yes. Her throat clogged in happiness. Never once anyone asked her what she liked and what she wishes to have in her life. Everything looks like a fairy tale that she pinched herself to assure herself that indeed she's living in reality.

A whimper escaped out of her little stunt.

"What happened?" Arnav was near her in seconds poring her face with his scrutiny.

"Err.. I am fine." She bit her lips in embarassment. Arnav frowned uncertainly.

"If you say so." He shrugged in hurry and was about to move inside a room only to get stopped by her call.

"Ji..."

"Haan..." He spin back with her call.

"Didn't you slept last night? I.. I mean your eyes are red. Are you fine?"

"Even yours too." His reply knocked the breath out of her. Her insides danced in joy.

She grinned openly not able to control it "It's new place na.. I didn't get any sleep."

He smirked at her grinning form. He's already flying in air by her concern and her grinning form literally made his day.

"Is it?" He cocked his brows after jumping down from his dreamland. He's not satisfied with her answer. Because he did the same too. He smirked at her when the actual truth was altogether. Guess what, both hubby and wife are in perfect sync that they both lost their sleep worried on the same issue but on different perspective.

For Khushi, her future looks like a big Pandora box. Apart from her, she has to look after Meera along with him. She entombed her dreams to give a perfect life to her sister. She wants her sister to achieve what she can't and what she dreamed off. And now, he took up the responsibility of her, she feared one day he'll be bored of everything. Moreover it's not easy to accept everything just in a blink. Even though she feels so safe around her husband than being with her father, she feels opposite to it. Her inferiority complex overpowered her the moment which scared her to the core. And she didn't realised when sleep overtook her taking her to slumber.

Whereas, arnav's thoughts circled around his parents. Even he's shocked by his sudden marriage. Still, he can't find the perfect reason which urged him to tie that mangalsutra on her. But he trusted his parents. His parents who nurtured him with good values. From his childhood, he was taught to respect women and to help the needy. To say, the courage of tying the mangalsutra on her neck comes from them. He thought they'll understand him and guide him. However when it not happened, he felt helpless. With heavy heart he walked out on them. Adding to those worries khushi's wound also got him scared. As the exact wound was on her wrist he feared about the consequences. There's a lot of possibilities which made her to slit her wrists. This mere assumption itself stole his sleep. Only after tiptoed to the room where they're sleeping peacefully, he got his breath back. Yet, in a corner of his heart he's feeling guilty for tying the nuptial thread on her neck without asking her permission.

"Jiji..." They both averted their eyes in embarrassment. They didn't realised, they were staring into each other eyes trying to read one another.

"Err.. Meera, I'll drop on your school, it's on the way to my office. Wait for few minutes." He cleared his throat taking the situation in control.

"I'll go from here jiju. Don't worry." Said Meera. Arnav nodded helplessly feeling awkward to impose his rights on her, like a brother does to this sister.

.
.
.

"Wait... Eat something. Don't go with empty stomach." Khushi stopped him when he stepped out ready to start for his office.

"It's already late. I've to go now, I can't take leave today else I wouldn't left you here. I'll be back soon. And I'll eat something on office cafeteria. You eat something ok, take rest. Don't run around." He advised her hastily starting his bike.

"I am not one year who would run around and mess the whole house." Words slipped out from her mouth in ease. When she realised what she said, she lowered her head in embarassment. And in no time, his words rang on her ears which made her to raise her head.

He give a lopsided smile and patted her cheeks softly before rushing out of the gate.

She stood awestruck with the softness she felt on her cheeks. Her fingers shyly caressed her silky soft cheeks where he patted few seconds ago. Goosebumps erupted on her skin. Smiling shyly at the way he went, she rushed inside blushing to roots.

***

"Hurray... See who graced his presence at office." Aakash exclaimed as soon as Arnav entered.

"Shut up." Arnav growled at his scanning eyes.

"Arey, how can I?" Teased he controlling his fits of laughter.

"Shut up." Arnav snarled and was about to hit him playfully but lowered his hands seeing few of his colleagues making their way to him.

"Is it true Arnav? You married a illiterate girl? Why are you wasting your life like this?" Asked one from the group.

Arnav curled his fist in anger "SHUT UP! I didn't gave anyone the right to poke your nose on my life. I know what is best for me and my wife."

They felt humiliated and left from there with broken nose.

"What have you decided?"

"What?" Arnav scrunched his brows at Aakash question.

"Your parents are hell angry with you. They even gave your things to me." Saying this he lifted a bag.

Arnav sighed in denial "I don't know what to do. I called them today. They strictly told me to not call them until I agree to their condition. So I decided not to contact them for few days."

"What condition?"

"That I should divorce Khushi and marry a girl according to their choice."

Aakash stood up in shock. He can't believe arnav parents put this condition on Arnav. He and Arnav was childhood buddies. Like Arnav he too learned a lot from them and even opened a trust with Arnav to help the poors.

Advises are only for outsiders, it seems. Aakash thought bitterly.

"You took a good decision Arnav. Khushi is a nice girl. She excels in whatever she does. You know right, she's like a sister to me. I heard her father is a drunkard and many times I seen scars on her arms. He used to manhandle her, it seems. As far as I know, she's the only source of her family income. Keep her happy Arnav. She deserves it." Aakash spoke in concern.

Arnav felt an unknown agony. He couldn't digest the fact of her facing manhandling. He vowed himself to keep her away from tiniest scratch.

"Anyways, congratulations buddy. Happy married life." Aakash hugged him to cool his anger.

"So soon. You could've wished me on golden jubilee." Arnav thinned his lips sarcastically. Aakash smiled at him sheepishly.

"Leave it, come to register office tomorrow at sharp 10' A.M." Ordered Arnav.

Aakash narrowed his eyes "Why?"

"To marry you off with a donkey."

"WHAT????"

Arnav broke into fits of laughter, seeing the popped out eyes of Aakash and widespread mouth of his.

"Obviously, to register my and Khushi marriage man." Arnav answered pitying Aakash, controlling his laughter.

"Oh oh someone is in hurry."

"Shut up and come with me to shopping. There's nothing in our new home. We need to buy it."

"Oh hello man, it's you and your wife are going to live in that house, not me and you. So take your wife with you. Leave me Romeo." Aakash laughed and raised her arms in surrender.

Arnav throws a pen at him, twisting his lips and muttered under his breath "Jealous man."

"May I know, Why am I jealous?" Aakash lazily plopped himself on the nearby chair.

"You're still single." Arnav replied in annoyance.

"As if you married for years."

"I feel so." Arnav replied slipping into contemplating mode. Aakash words on Khushi brewed some possessiveness in him. He just wished to strangle her father who treated her like a shit. She should be treated as a princess not doormat.