Saisha's POV

For the first time in my life, I woke up with anticipation rather than dread. There were no harsh commands, no endless chores waiting for me. Instead, there was a lingering excitement - a promise Pranay ji had made to show me something new.

I got ready carefully, choosing a simple cotton salwar. As I adjusted my dupatta over my shoulder instead of pulling it over my head, I hesitated. My entire life, covering my head had been a rule, an unspoken law I never dared to question. But here, in this house, no one had forced me to.

I swallowed the nervousness bubbling inside me and stepped out of the room.

Pranay ji was already by the door, twirling his bike keys between his fingers. "Ready?"

I nodded.

As soon as we stepped out, my breath hitched. The world outside was louder, faster, so different from the quiet, caged life I had always known. Cars sped past in a blur, people walked with confidence, talking into their phones, laughing freely. No one stopped to watch me. No one told me to walk with my eyes lowered.

I clutched my dupatta tighter and hurried to match his pace.

"Where are we going?" I asked softly.

His lips twitched into a small smile. "You'll see."

Pranay's POV

I could feel Saisha's hesitance with every step she took. But beneath that uncertainty, there was something else - curiosity.

She was drinking in the world around her, even if she wasn't ready to admit it yet.

After a short ride, I pulled up in front of a building. She read the signboard slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Library?" She looked at me in confusion.

I nodded. "You said you wanted to know what the world outside is like. I figured this would be a good place to start."

She hesitated, glancing at the entrance like stepping inside might be some sort of crime. "I don't know if I can..."

I smiled. "Of course, you can. Come on."

I walked ahead, giving her the space to make her own choice. A few seconds later, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Her eyes widened as she took in the towering shelves, the neatly arranged books, the quiet hum of people lost in their own worlds. Her fingers twitched at her sides as if itching to touch the spines of the books.

"You can take any book you want," I said gently.

She turned to look at me, her brown eyes shimmering with something raw and unspoken. Then, before I could react, she reached for my hand - hesitant, uncertain, but willing to trust.

"Thank you, Pranay ji," she whispered.

Hmm...pranay ji...i guess it would so good to hear just my name without ji from her.

And at that moment, I knew - this wasn't just a visit to a library. This was her first step into a life she never knew she could have. And I was going to make sure she never had to take another step alone.

Saisha's POV

I ran my fingers over the book cover, tracing the golden letters of the title. A Journey Beyond Boundaries. The irony wasn't lost on me. Until today, I hadn't even stepped beyond the boundaries of my home unless absolutely necessary.

I flipped open the pages carefully, inhaling the scent of ink and paper. It smelled like possibilities - like stories of people who had seen the world I only dared to dream of.

Pranay watched me from across the table, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Do you like it?"

I nodded. "I didn't know places like this existed."

"They do. And now, you know."

It felt like a small sentence, but it meant so much more.

For a while, we sat in comfortable silence - me lost in the book, Pranay lost in his phone. It wasn't until my stomach let out an embarrassing growl that I realized how much time had passed.

I quickly shut the book and placed it back, standing up. "We should go."

He raised a brow but said nothing, leading me outside. The sun had softened, casting a golden glow over the streets. As we walked, my eyes kept darting toward the food stalls lining the road. The aroma of fresh samosas, sweet jalebis, and sizzling chaat filled the air.

Pranay must have noticed because he suddenly stopped. "Are you hungry?"

I hesitated. "A little."

"Have you ever had street food before?"

I shook my head. In my village, women didn't stand at street stalls. If we wanted something, it was always brought home for us.

Pranay's eyes darkened for a moment, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he took my hand - just for a second - and led me to a chaat stall. "Two plates of pav bhaji, bhaiya."

I watched as the vendor worked quickly,  plating them

"Here." Pranay ji handed me one.

I picked it up hesitantly, watching him pop one into his mouth effortlessly. Taking a deep breath, I did the same.

The explosion of flavors - sweet, spicy, tangy,  - hit me all at once. My eyes widened in surprise. "It's... good."

Pranay chuckled. "You look like you just discovered magic."

I swallowed, looking around at people laughing, talking and enjoying their food. For the first time, I wasn't just watching life happen around me—I was part of it.

I turned to him, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Maybe I did."

Pranay's POV

I had seen hundreds of expressions as a photographer - joy, sorrow, anger, hope. But the look on Saisha's face as she tried street food for the first time? Pure wonder.

It was such a small thing, something I had taken for granted. But for her, it was a moment of freedom.

As we walked back to the bike, she wiped her hands on a napkin and glanced at me. "Thank you, Pranay ji. For today."

I shrugged. "You don't have to thank me."

She hesitated. "I do. No one has ever..." Her voice trailed off, but I understood. No one had ever asked her what she wanted.

I looked at her, at the way the city lights reflected in her wide, curious eyes. And I made a silent promise to myself.

"I won't cage you, Saisha. I'll protect you. But more than that, I'll make you feel the wings you never knew you had."

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