"And I want you to promise me one thing. Before being her husband, you'll be her friend. The person in whom she confides everything. And yes, you'll never, and I repeat never force her into doing anything against her wishes. You understand what I am saying?"

He said with a stern and strict look and Rajiv froze.

"I-I would never do that bhaiya. Never force myself on her or any other woman. Never again bhaiya."

He whispered and Karan nodded. Will his past actions ever leave him? Or will he always live with this guilt and constant reminder of what he had done. Rajiv knew Karan still didn't trust him around Saira.

Honestly, he was surprised Saira even forgave him. He couldn't have done that if he were at her place. She truly is an angel. And he is a monster who had tried to force himself on his own sister-in-law.

His addiction to drugs and influence of the bad company he was in made him do a lot of unforgivable things. But he was a changed man now. And he was trying to make his identity apart from his past.

They reached home and Asha did their aarti at the entry gate. Rajiv smiled and touched her feet.

"Mandir mai sahi se mil nhi paaye the. Welcome home beta."

She welcomed Parul and Rajiv leaned towards Parul.

"Inhe maa hi kehna. Ye hamari maa hi hai. Hamari Asha Maa."

Rajiv told Parul who nodded and bend down to touch her feet. Asha stopped her and held her shoulders.

"Maa ke paer nhi chhute. Gale lagte hai."

With that she took the girl in her embrace. Parul, who was experiencing the warmth of a mother after so many days, burst into tears when Asha hugged her and hugged her back tightly while crying in her arms.

Asha'a heart went out to the girl who was suffering so much at such a young age. She kissed her head and shook her head indicating her not to cry.

"Welcome home devrani ji. Baaki sab se toh aap mil li. Lekin hamare shehzaade se nhi mili abhi tak. Ye hai iss ghar ke sabse chhote member, Krishav Ahuja."

Saira said, introducing her to Krishav. He looked at Parul curiously and then at his mother as if asking her who she was.

"Krishu! Ye chachi hai. Hello bolo."

Krishav was a very jolly baby and immediately lunched towards Parul. His way of saying a hello was smothering her face with kisses. Parul giggled and held him close.

"Hello Krishav!"

Krishav kicked his legs in happiness and everyone laughed at his excitement.

After all the post wedding rituals and dinner, Rajiv entered his room feeling a little reluctant because now he wasn't going to be alone in his room. His wife was going to stay with him. A wife who hates him.

He knocked on the door to make sure she wasn't changing or anything and entered after he got her permission.

She had changed into a simple cotton kurti with a pajama underneath. She looked all ready to hit the bed and a mischievous smile formed on his face. He thought about teasing her a little.

He sauntered towards her with a flirty gait making her look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"We're finally alone. Aur aaj hamari shaadi ki pehli raat bhi hai. So?"

"So?"

She asked in a bored tone.

"So...suhaagraat manate hai."

He bit his lip anticipating her reaction. She scowled and asked.

"Isme manana kya hai? Ek toh mujhe aaj tak ye suhaagraat ka concept hi samajh nhi aaya. Matlab farak kya padta hai? Haan, pehle akele sote the ab husband bed share krega. Toh isme celebrate kya krna hai?"

He looked at her blinking in disbelief. Was she kidding with him?

"Tum-tum mazak kr rhi ho na?"

He asked chuckling nervously.

"Isme mazak wali kaunsi baat lagi aapko?"

"Tumhe sach mai nhi pata suhaagraat pr kya hota hai?"

She looked so clueless that he cursed himself and his fate. First, she was too young for him. Second, she was too innocent and naive. And now, she didn't even know what happened on a wedding night.

Did she even what sex was? God he hoped yes. Should he ask her? It would be awkward if she knew but atleast he'll be sure she is aware about it.

"You know what sex is right?"

She scowled as if he was asking her such a basic question and said.

"Ofcourse! Bachi thodi na hoon mai. It is another term for gender."

She said and he opened his mouth in disbelief.

"You know couples have sex right?"

She made a face as if not understanding what gibberish he was talking.

"Obviously! Sirf couples hi kyu? Everyone has sex. Mera female hai aur aapka male hai."

Rajiv wanted to smack his head somewhere. Where did he land himself? Not that he was actually looking forward to sleeping with her. But he hasn't expected this.

"You know what? Forget it. So jaao!"

He said and went into the washroom to change his clothes. He remembered when her mother had cursed at him and told him that how because of his actions, Parul couldn't attend school.

After her father was falsely accused of murder, the kids and people in school started bullying her and she had stopped going to school. She would have been hardly 11 or 12 back then. Which explains why she wasn't aware about anything. She was locked up in her house when it was time for her to learn about the world.

All because of him.

It was the second day of their marriage when Rajiv asked her about her cooking classes.

"Tumhari classes kis kis din hoti hai?"

She looked at him confused.

"Kaunsi classes?"

"Tum cooking classes jaati ho na. Your mother told me tumhe shauk hai."

Parul got quiet and bowed her head and he knew something was wrong.

"Form bharwaya tha maa ne lekin..."

"Lekin?"

"...lekin mai gyi nhi."

She said quietly and he frowned.

"Kyu? Pasand nhi kya ab?"

"Pasand hai lekin...agar waha pr bhi kisi ne kuch kaha toh?"

She spoke in a scared whisper looking at him with fearful eyes. It took him a minute to realise what she meant and when he did, his heart ached with guilt. She was bullied in school because of everything and she scared the same might happen here.

"Tumhara mann hai na? Bas tum uspr focus kro. Koi kuch nhi kahega. Aur agar kaha bhi toh mai hoon na. Main handle kr lunga."

He spoke and she bit her lip still feeling scared and reluctant.

"Idhar aao! Let's fill the forms for the best cooking institutes."

He said and fetched his laptop. He motioned her to join him and she sat beside him at a distance not to touch him.

"Ye wala nhi."

She said when he started filling the form of the most prestigious one.

"Kyu? Sabse best hai ye. Masterchef sikhayega directly."

"Haan lekin...ye bhut mehanga hai...I mean iski fees...lakhs mai hai."

She whispered as if telling a secret and he chuckled. He wanted to pinch her cheeks at how cute she looked. Controlling his hands and emotions, not wanting to get hit by her instead, he said.

"Toh kya hua? Tumhare pati ka bhai millionaire hai. Aur tumhara pati bhi thik thak kama hi leta hai. Tum ye batao, masterchef se sikhna hai?"

She nodded and he started filling the form asking her details.

"Your classes are going to be on weekends, 10 am to 2 pm."

She nodded at his words now feeling a little excited. She was going to fulfill her and her baba's dream. Maybe she could even become a chef in a restaurant one day.

"Achhe se sikhna sab. Be a good student. Phir agar tum thik thak banane lag gyi toh ek cafe khulwa denge. Apna kaam krna."

Rajiv said making her eyes widen in shock. Here she was thinking of a job and he was talking about her own cafe? Was he crazy? Why would he do that for her? Before she could say something be spoke again while browsing through his laptop.

"Lekin usse pehle tumhare liye ek phone order krna padega. Ab classes aaya jaaya karogi toh zarurat padegi."

He mumbled while going through the specifications of various brands.

"Nhi, uski zarurat nhi hai-"

"Zarurat hai. Kabhi kuch emergency aa gayi. Ya kuch bhi toh atleast tum kisi ko contact toh kr sko na."

She opened her mouth to counter again but he gave her a stern glare and she got quiet, letting him do whatever he wanted.

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