Soham's Pov

I sat fidgeting my fingers. Her parents looked at me with serious expression and disappointed looks. Aahana sat beside them lost in her thoughts.

"I thought you would bring her the next day but you allowed my daughter to come home after a month??? I do not wish to return her, although she looks like she gained a few kgs. I will not allow you to take her back." Her dad spoke eyeing his daughter who was yawning as if she didn't care about this.

"Papa-" I tried to convince him but he showed his hand and left.

"She will stay here for a week, you guys spent way too much together. Since your honeymoon travel is over, I want my daughter to stay here with me for a week. After that, I will see if I want her back to you or not." I looked at my wife helplessly she did not care.

Reason?

I wanted to wait before we got pregnant but my wife wanted to start a family. It's been one heck of a month! And Dhruv still couldn't come to terms that Aahana is adopted and I am scared that she is trying to start a family because she thinks she might not live like her mother during birth. A thought that crossed her mind when we were ready to leave the house this morning.

"Soham, I want to talk with you, Aahu, go inside and talk with your dad before he applies for divorce on your behalf." Her mom said and my wife left us alone. I smiled at her and observed she was too nervous about the talk.

"Aahana is childish, she still needs to mature in many ways. I request you to be calm and accept her slowly. Although you both willingly decided to get married, she still needs to adjust to a new environment."She said and I nodded my head.

"What do you like about her? If I may ask? I did not get time to talk with you freely as we were cramped with work. I am excited to know how you felt before you decided to ask her for marriage." Her mom asked me and I chuckled. Aahana looks exactly like her.

Even though she is not her biological daughter.

"I...I met her at our orphanage during Children's Day. We were planning to celebrate in a grand way as my.. sister's who is no more turned 5 years old." I started and saw her dad sitting near the dining area looking at me angrily.

"I am sorry, Aahana told me she left us due to some health complications. I am very sorry about your mom too. I can understand how difficult it is, to lose our loved ones." Maa said with sad eyes. We were silent for a minute as if we all are mourning for our loved ones in our way. Aahana cleared her throat trying to stabilize the situation.

"I saw her smile, her way of interacting with kids, and mostly my mom always talked about how brilliant she was. Nidhi, my sister loved her. As we were trying to gather children, I saw how childish she was. When we met later at a place where we both were serving society, I saw her almost every day. Her existence itself made me live after my loved ones' demise." I said last part looking at her dad whose expression softened. Aahana told him about the reason why I was in jail and how Nidhi expired. We decided to leave Maa alone as she went through enough.

"You met her at jail?" Maa asked with a shocked expression. I smiled looking at Aahana whose eyes came out. Dad tried to make an excuse.

"We were working on some program for the betterment of jail mates." I covered and she nodded her head in understanding.

"To tell you the truth,-" I started again but her dad came and sat beside Maa. I smiled at him.

"I fell in love with the way she treated everyone equally, I loved the way she lit up the hopes of everyone present there. Some were convicted as evidence was fabricated. I guess that's the reason the law has given chance to people to get a job when they come out. Aahana was beautiful in a way only I could feel it. She was a ray of hope for many there including me. Her kindness, love, and hopeful words made me believe in my future. " I said looking at her who stood at a distance listening to us.

"You seem to be there every single time my daughter visited there. I am happy to hear about her from you. Let's have lunch. Wait I will get dishes out. Come help me!." Maa pulled Dad with her. Aahana sat opposite me and looked at me with an emotion I couldn't understand.

"Tell me more." She said holding my hand.

"About?" I asked her.

"How you felt about me." She stated. I pulled Aahana close to me and made her sit on my lap. She tried to get out of my grip but I held her close.

"I fell in love the moment my sister Nidhi said she liked you. I was excited to meet someone who was as mischievous as her. Every day you visited jail and I assumed it was because of me. I wanted to see you as your warm presence made me feel at ease. I was ready to get convicted as long as I could see you in person till my last day in this world." I said kissing her cheek. Aahana had an unknown expression which was painful to look at.

"I don't know when I fell in love with you but when destiny made you meet me, I wanted to live for you, live to just look at you. That day, when you met someone to get married. My insides couldn't stay calm, I felt as if someone was taking away my life. Choking me without laying a finger on me. At that moment, I decided to take you as my wife. I realized I could no longer pretend that looking at you from afar would keep me calm. I needed you near me, as near as possible." I said and she smiled kissing my cheek. I felt as if waves of emotions burst through my body. Suddenly my heart felt light. All these days, I thought what I did portrayed me as a stalker to her family or obsession but it was pure love. A kind of love only I could feel.

"So...you are saying, you married in the name of love ?"" She whispered and I smiled. I liked how carefree she was with me.

"Yes, all in the name of love." I said. Aahana giggled while her parents looked at us with a happy smile.

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unedited.

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