Anay asked her the question he had been wanting to since long.

Pranshi took a deep breath and said.

"Hamare so called hone wali husband ke gunde the."

(Goons of my so called husband.)

Anay frowned and asked.

"Lekin wo tumhara peecha kyu kr rhe the?"

(But why were they following you?)

"Kyunki hum shaadi se bhaag aaye."

(Because i ran from marriage.)

"What!?"

"Haan. Long story. Hum abhi ye sab discuss nhi krna chahte. Aap please hume kisi safe jagah chhod denge?"

(Yes. Right now i don't want to discuss this. Can you please drop me to a safe place?)

Anay wanted to ask so many question but refrained from it and just nodded.

"Kaha chhod du?"

(Where?)

"Umm-yaha kisi hotel mai?"

(In some hotel here?)

He looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Wo gunde tumhara peecha kr rhe hai aur tumhe hotel sabse safe jagah lagti hai?"

(Those men are following you and you find a hotel the safest place?)

"Hume nhi pata."

(I don't know.)

She mumbled cutely with her head lowered. Anay sighed and asked her softly.

"Achha yaha koi friend ya relative ya koi known rehta hai?"

(Does any friend or relative lives here?)

She shook her head still looking down. 

"Hum yaha kisi ko nhi jaante. Hum bas apni jaan bachane ke liye yaha bhaag aaye. Suyash ko call bhi nhi kr skte warna uski jaan khatre mai aa jaayegi."

(I don't know anyone here. I just came here to save my life. Can't even call Suyash because then his life will be in danger.)

She was mumbling. She had never felt so helpless in her life ever.

Anay sensed that she was scared and was on the verge of crying and quickly said.

"No problem. Dekho hotel to bilkul bhi safe nhi hai. And since tum yaha kisi ko nhi jaanti -umm- if you want mai tumhe apne ghar le jaa skta hu. You'll be safe there."

(Hotel is not at all safe. Since you don't know anyone here-i can take you to my home.)

She looked at him wide-eyed and asked.

"Aapke ghar? Lekin hum kaise-"

(Your home? But how can i-)

"Relax! Mai akela nhi rehta. Meri puri family rehti hai mere saath. My parents, mera bada bhai aur bhabhi. Sab log hai."

(I don't live alone. My whole family stays with me. Everyone.)

He said sensing her hesitation. She might have thought that he lived alone. 

She seemed to be in deep thoughts.

"Hey listen! I don't know tumhare kya majburi hai jo tum iss tarah unse bhaag rhi ho. But those men looked dangerous. Agar itna trust krke apni help krni di hai toh thoda aur trust krlo aur ghar chalo."

(I don't know why you had to run like that. If you trusted me to help you and trust me a lot more and come home.)

He said softly looking into her eyes. Strangely the look in his eyes gave her a weird feeling of protection.

She nodded her head and he smiled. He started the car and drove towards his home.

"Waise tumhara naam kya hai?"

(What is your name?)

"Pranshi."

"Anay."

He introduced himself and she just smiled weekly. She was very tired from all the running.

They reached his home and Pranshi looked around everything. She opened the door and started to get out.

She felt a sharp pain in her legs and stumbled. He held her and stabled her.

"Careful."

He said looking at her. She nodded and stood straight. He could see how tired she was.

He held her hand and they went to the gate. He rang the doorbell. Dhriti opened the door.

She smiled seeing him but her smile fell as she saw him holding Pranshi's hand.

She looked at him as he had betrayed her. Anay looked confused. Pranshi too had the same expressions.

Anay looked at Pranshi and then at their joined hands and understood what his mother would be thinking.

Before he could say anything she shouted.

"UTKARSH! Utkarsh yaha aaiye!"

(Utkarsh come here.)

"Mumma! Mumma meri baat suno."

(Listen to me.)

He tried to talk to her but in vain. He first made Pranshi sit on the couch. She looked at him confused.

"Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Kuch nhi. Tum aaram se baitho. I'll handle."

(Nothing. You relax.)

He turned to his mother to say something but before he could Utkarsh came out of his room. Aadrik and Ditya too had come out hearing Dhriti's shouts.

"Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

Utkarsh asked cupping Dhriti's face who now had tears in her eyes.

"Shaadi krke aaya hai aapka beta."

(Your son came home getting married.)

She said sniffing and that's when everyone noticed Pranshi who was sitting on the couch looking at them wide eyed.

Anay face-palmed and this time Utkarsh asked him.

"Kya hai ye sab? Aur kaun hai ye?"

(What is all this? Who is this?)

Anay sighed in relief.

"Thank you. Atleast kisi ne puchha toh sahi. Mujhe toh laga aapko aap assumptions lagane mai bada mazza aata hai."

(Atleast someone asked. I thought you people ar eenjoying making assumptions.)

Dhriti glared at him and he smiled at her. He held her hands and said.

"Mai koi shaadi waadi krke nhi aaya hu. Aapke bina kuch karunga aisa mai?"

(I have not got married. Would i do something like this without you?)

He asked and kissed her head. He then told everyone what happened and everything that she told him.

Dhriti looked at Pranshi and said.

"I am sorry beta. Dara diya na maine tumhe."

(I scared you.)

She apologized sheepishly and Pranshi shook her head smiling.

"Tumhe yaha kisi se darne ki zarurat nhi hai. Koi tumhe yaha kuch nhi kr skta."

(You don't need to be scared of anyone here. No one can harm you here.)

Utkarsh said patting her head and she smiled thankfully.

Dhriti then turned to Anay.

"Tu iska haath pakadke kyu aa rha tha?"

(Why were you holding her hand?)

Pranshi looked down embarrassed while Anay answered.

"Uske pairon mai dard ho rha tha. She couldn't walk properly. Help kr rha tha mai."

(Her legs are hurting. I was helping her.)

Dhriti made an 'o' face and asked Pranshi.

"Thak gyi hogi bachhi. Itna heavy dress hai. Kuch comfortable pehan lo."

(She must be tired. The dress is so heavy. Change into something comfortable.)

Pranshi looked down feeling embarrassed.

"Wo-umm-actually-hamare paas koi kapde nhi hai."

(I don't have any clothes.)

She mumbled making Dhriti smile. She caressed her head softly and said.

"Koi baat nhi. Mai de dungi. Aao."

(No problem. I'll give. Come.)

She and Ditya helped Pranshi to Ditya's room and gave her some confortable clothes.

She was then given a guest room where she could stay comfortably.

She came out of the washroom limping due to the pain. Ditya made her sit on the bed and put her feet on her lap. She started massaging her legs with hot oil.

"Arre! Aap ye kya kr rhi hai? Please ye mat kijiye. Aap hamari badi behen jaisi hai. Please aap-"

(What are you doing? Please don't do this. You are like my elder sister. Please-)

She tried to get her legs out of Ditya's grip but she scolded her.

"Badi behen jaisi hu na. Toh badi behen ki baat sunte hai. Bilkul chup. Let me do my work."

(I am like an elder sister. Then listen to elder sister. Keep quite.)

She said with fake anger. Pranshi felt tears pool in her eyes. She missed her Swara di.

Ditya noticed and said.

"Arre! Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

Pranshi wiped her tears and said.

"Hume di ki yaad aa gyi. Wo bhi hume aise hi daant ti thi."

(I remembered di. She also scolded me like this.)

Ditya smiled and kept massaging her legs.

"Agar tum bura na maano toh ek baat pucchu?"

(If you don't mind shall i ask something?)

Ditya asked after some time. Pranshi got serious knowing it was something related to her running away.

"Tum shaadi se bhaagi kyu?"

(Why did you run from marriage?)

"Hume wo aadmi pasand nhi tha."

(I didn't like that man.)

She gave a short answer making Ditya confused. She wanted to tell them everything but could not reveal her identity. It could be harmful for her tauji's image.

Ditya noticed her discomfort as she answered her question and didn't bother her for more.

Pranshi thanked Ditya as she felt much better after the massage. They had their dinner and Pranshi slept thanking God for saving her from the vile man and her so called buaji.
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