Rahul's parents came back two days later and were shocked when they saw Maya in their house.

They were even more shocked when Rahul told them about their marriage.

"Lekin aise achanak kyu? Maya abhi kitni chhoti hai. Uski padhai bhi complete nhi hui."

(But why suddenly? Maya is young right now. Herr studies are also not complete.)

"I know mumma. Reason mat puchho. I know its sudden but it is what it is."

(Don't ask the reason.)

Rahul said not knowing what to tell them.

"Beta kuch baat hai kya?"

(Has something happened?)

His mother asked indicating if something happened.

"Nhi mumma aisa kuch nhi hai. Please forget this and just agree to what is happening."

(No it is not like that.)

Rahul said understanding what his mother meant.

His parents agreed knowing that they actually have no option and in fact they liked Maya since always. The little girl was like their own daughter to them.

Seeing them all loving with Maya increased Rahul's anger.

Varun was still not talking to him. He had tried apologizing but he seemed too hurt.

Rahul sighed. He couldn't even tell him the truth. That would break his heart.

Since two days Maya was not going to college but today she can't miss because she had an important assignment to submit.

Rahul was getting ready to go to his office when she entered their room.

She was fidgeting with her fingers nervously.

"Kya kaam hai?"

(What is it?)

He asked in a cold tone.

"Umm-mujhe college jaana tha. Aap chhod denge?"

(I have to go to college. Will you drop me?)

She asked nervously fearing that he would shout at her again.

"Chalo."

(Come.)

She heard his cold voice again. She looked up at him to see him taking his car keys.

He went out and she followed behind with her bag.

They settled in the car and he drove towards her college. They sat in silence with Maya fidgeting her fingers.

She was not wearing sindur and had hidden her mangalsutra inside her high neck top. He particularly denied to let anyone else know about this right now.

They reached her college and she quickly went out mumbling a small thank you.

Coming back from college Maya had no other work to do so she sat down sketching.

Almost a month passed by since Rahul and Maya's forced marriage.

Rahul has been ignoring her. Never once did he sleep in their room. He used to sleep in his study in the pretext of his work.

Every night after he slept Maya crept into his study and sat beside him admiring him. Her guilt was eating her from inside but she could not talk to anyone about this.

Every night she used to just admire him for hours and then leave after kissing his head and mumbling a small 'I love you'.

Rahul had heard her once or twice and truth be told he felt his heart flutter every time she kissed him and said this.

But he was still angry because of how everything has happened. He knew he would forgive her if she apologized even once.

He came back from work and had just had his dinner with his family when his mother said.

"Jaao Maya aur tu ek walk pr ho aao. Bachi sirf college jaati hai aur pura din ghar mai bathi rehti hai. Bilkul soom (dull) gyi hai bechari. Mai nhi jaanti kya baat hai tum dono ke beech lekin aaj usse sultake (sort) aao. Mujhe meri bachi wapas hasti hui dekhni hai."

(You and Maya go and have a walk. She only goes to college and keeps sitting in home whole day. She has become so dull. I don't know what is the matter between you two. Sort it out. I want my cheerful daughter back.)

Rahul clenched his jaw and closed his eye.

"Mumma-"

"Nhi. Mai kuch nhi sunna. Tujhe kya lag rha hai mujhe pata nhi chal rha. Mai bol nhi rhi iska matlab ye nhi ki kuch jaanti nhi. Jaao abhi."

(No. I don't want to listen anything. What do you think I can see anything. I am not saying anything doesn't mean that I don't know. Now go.)

Rahul knew he had no choice. He got up and went to his room where she was sitting sketching something yet again.

"Get up! Hum walk pr jaa rhe hai."

(We are going on a walk.)

Maya looked up at him shocked. This is the first time during the whole month that he talked to her himself.

"Huh!?"

"Chalo."

(Move.)

"Hum matlab?"

(We means?)

"Tum aur mai. Mumma ke orders hai nothing else."

(You and me. Mumma's orders.)

He said and moved out leaving a hurt Maya behind.

Obviously, apne aap thodi na jaayenge. He hates me.

She sighed and got up. She wore her slippers and took her sketching stuff with her.

As she had expected, Rahul did not talk to during their walk. He did not even look at her.

After one two rounds she sat on the bench and began sketching while Rahul continued to walk busy in his thoughts.

He realised that during the whole month, he thought he would be heartbroken because of Nitya but it was nothing like that.

It was as if Nitya was just another random person he met and that's it. All during the month the only person who was constantly on his mind was Maya and her smiling face.

He missed her smile, her cute laughter, her mischievous giggles, her. He was even more frustrated with himself as he realised that the girl who supposedly destroyed his life was the one on his mind 24/7.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw Maya with a little girl. The girl was crying and was trying to say something.

"Shh stop crying. Aap yaha mumma ke saath aaye the? Kaha hai wo?"

(You came here with your mother? Where is she?)

Maya asked softly to which the girl cried more.

"Pata nhi. Mujhe mumma chahiye."

(I don't know. I want mumma.)

Maya bit her lip thinking how to console the little girl who was sobbing hysterically.

"Achha. Aapko mumma ka number yaad hai. Phone number?"

(Do you remember you mumma's number.)

To her relief the little girl nodded.

"Ok. Aap mujhe mumma ka number batao mai unhe abhi call krke yaha bula leti hu. Ok. But first rona band. Good girl."

(You tell me her number and I will call her here. First stop crying.)

She wiped the girls tears and then called her mother. She instructed her mother where they were and in another ten minutes her parents came running to her.

She ran to them and hugged them tightly making Maya smile.

"Thank you so much."

"Its ok. Please dhyan rakhiye. Bhut late ho rha hai aur safe bhi nhi hai. Ab mumma ka haath mat chhodna."

(Take care. Its very late and not safe. Don't leave mumma's hand now.)

Maya said ruffling the girl's head.

She smiled seeing the little girl now smiling and going with her parents.

I wish I could parents like that. Who loved me. Actually cared for me.
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