The sky was veiled with grey and black clouds , the air was thick and smelled faintly of rain approaching. The trees were swaying in the cool breeze while the world awaits downpour.
A car was moving on the empty lane passing through the hills that were covered in light mist.
Inside sat Arjun and Maithili , Arjun was driving the car and Maithili was sitting on the passenger seat , hands tight on her lap , eyes gazing out of the window wondering where this roads would take her .
After the wedding was done , Maithili's aunt and uncle faked their tears but Maithili she didn't cried even when she had every reason to . And Arjun nodded once at them , placed her bag in the trunk and then they left the place.
Arjun's colleague also left before them after his insistence . He didn't wanted Maithili to feel unease with their presence.
Now they both were alone together .
The ride was silent except for the jingle of her bangles and anklets whenever she moved in her seat .
Both of them were quite.
Too quiet to be a newly wedded couple , no teasings , no smile , no shy glances and no joy.
Arjun was focused on driving , but his eyes keep on drifting on her every now and then.
He wanted to reach out to her , make her feel safe , but he don't know how to initiate , so after thinking for a moment , he quietly passed a bottle of water to her.
Maithili jerked in her place seeing his hand so suddenly , her gaze first went to his hand holding the bottle and then at him , their eyes met but she quickly lowered her eyes and took the bottle.
" Are you okay ?" Arjun asked gently after seeing her scared.
" Ji " she replied in her soft and timid voice.
Arjun just nodded , not knowing what to say.
He had many questions to ask , many things to say but if a simple gesture of passing water is making her scared so he didn't trust his words .
And chose to keep quiet .
But he promised to himself that he will keep her safe , he will build her trust on him.
Slowly.
Gently.
____
After some time , the low hum of the engine went quiet when they pulled in front of his house .
The house was a traditional yet a modern building of two story , painted in soft blue colour , surrounded by walls and in the middle stood a wooden gate.
The streetlight glimmed softly casting a golden light on the road and the houses. The street was quiet as it was already past evening , only the sound of wind was there.
Arjun opened the gate and they entered into the front yard where a huge neem tree was swaying along with beautiful flowers and grass that acted as carpet beneath their feet.
Beautiful.
That's what came into Maithili's mind after taking the details of his house.
For a moment she allowed herself to breath without any fear but also bracing herself for what comes ahead.
Arjun took a deep breath and knocked on the door and his father Omkar opened it with a small knowing smile as if he knew who is on the door but his smile disappeared after seeing the person beside Arjun.
He didn't believe his eyes . He was shocked , confused or both. He couldn't name .
Still his father composed himself and let them enter inside .
Maithili become stiff beside Arjun , but with hesitant steps she followed him.
From the kitchen Arjun's mother Sumitra came while wiping her hands on her saree pallu , a smile on her lips . She lifted her gaze and her eyes widened seeing the young girl dressed in red standing beside her son.
" What is this Arjun?" His mother asked in disbelief.
Maithili still covered in veil standing beside Arjun , head down cast , flinched hearing Sumitra's voice even though the voice wasn't that loud.
Arjun sensing her fear stepped forward , held Sumitra's hands and said " Maa I will explain you everything but not now."
He knew his father was composed but his mother was sensitive. He saw it coming and was ready to brace it.
But not Maithili.
She has been through so much .
But not now when she was standing under his roof .
He has promised to keep her safe and he would do it.
So he took her bag , held her trembling hand in his for the first time and led her to his room.
For Maithili his touch was unexpectedly warm and gentle that she was not use to.
He saw his parents watching them he signed them with his eyes.
To trust him.
After reaching his bedroom he made her sit on the bed " Make yourself comfortable " he said while passing a glass of water to her .
After a moment he pointed towards the bathroom " there is bathroom you can change your clothes I am keeping your bag here, I will be back in a moment ." He said keeping her bag beside her and then left.
Maithili was still scared but after sometime she stood up , took a cotton saree from her bag and went in the bathroom to change .
Outside the room , Arjun and his parents were sitting on the sofa in the living room.
Arjun had told them all the things from beginning to end .
Suicide , the chaos , the forced wedding and Villagers cruelty.
And now all of them were silent still processing the unexpected occurrings.
His father was the first one to break the silence " you did right Arjun , there's no need to feel guilty. You save an innocent life twice." The old man said with a hint of proudness.
But his mother interrupted his father , her voice thick from fury " I agree Arjun you did good , but it doesn't mean you will marry a stranger , what if she is mean , she is greedy , you don't know anything about her and you didn't even think about Aarav ."
" Sumitra sometimes you should believe your eyes and not heart . You have seen she is young and innocent. She doesn't mean any harm ."
" But how are you so sure ?" His mother asked raising her brows.
" Yeh baal dhoop me nhi safed huye hai ." his Father said proudly with a hint of mischief.
" But what if - " his mother was about to say when a loud cry pierced through the room.
" See even Aarav doesn't want you to speak ." Arjun's father said while laughing. Sumitra glared at Omkar and left the room murmuring to herself.
And a small smile tugged at Arjun's lips and eyes twinkling despite everything.
This chaos.
This family , he loved every bit of it .
And now there is a addition to this chaos.
Will he able to embrace it?
______
Thank you.
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