Saisha's POV

It had been a week since our marriage. A week since I left behind everything I had known—the village, the house, the routines I had followed all my life. Now, I was here, in a world so different that it felt like a dream. Or maybe a test.

Pranay ji's house was nothing like my home. It was bigger, brighter, filled with things I had never seen before. A television that switched on with a remote, lights that could be dimmed with a button, a kitchen where cooking seemed effortless with the help of machines. Everything here was modern, efficient. But to me, it was unfamiliar, intimidating.

Even the simplest things felt difficult.

I stood in front of the wardrobe, staring at the rows of clothes Pranay ji had gotten for me. Soft fabrics, vibrant colors, different from the simple outfits I was used to. I hesitated, fingers brushing over a light blue salwar. Was this okay to wear?

Back home, my choices were limited. Clothes were meant to be traditional, modest, chosen by my mother. But here... I had to decide for myself.

Taking a deep breath, I picked the blue one. But even after wearing it, I wasn't sure. I found myself glancing at Pranay ji, waiting for some kind of approval.

He noticed. "You don't have to look at me for permission, Saisha," he said gently. "Wear what you like."

I nodded but wasn't sure what I liked. I had never been given the choice before.

At breakfast, he sat across from me, sipping his tea while scrolling through his phone. I watched him, unsure if I should say something. Back home, meals were quiet unless spoken to. Here, he didn't seem to mind conversation, but I didn't know what to talk about.

"Do you want tea?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded quickly. "Yes."

He gestured toward the kettle and poured the tea from the kettle into the cup and handed it over to me."here you go."

I hesitated. Serve myself? That wasn't how things were done in my home. Women served first, ate later. The idea of taking food without waiting felt... wrong.

"You don't have to wait for me, Saisha," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "You can do things for yourself here."

I swallowed. It was such a small thing, but it felt like a big step. Slowly, I reached for the cup and took a sip.

He smiled slightly but didn't say anything.

______________________________________________________________________________

The hardest part was being alone during the day. Back home, there were always people around—my mother, my younger brother, neighbors dropping by. Here, the house was silent once he left for work.

I wandered from room to room, not knowing what to do. There was no long list of chores waiting for me. No mother assigning me tasks. No rules dictating how I should spend my time.

For the first time, my day was mine.

And I didn't know what to do with it.

I tried to keep myself busy—folding clothes, arranging shelves, even wiping down furniture that wasn't really dirty. But it didn't feel the same. The work wasn't an obligation. No one was watching over my shoulder.

Was this what freedom felt like? Then why did it feel so unsettling?

Pranay's POV

Every day, I watched Saisha struggle with the smallest things. She was used to being told what to do, how to live. Here, she had choices, but she wasn't sure how to handle them.

She hesitated before taking food, before speaking, before stepping out of the house.

She was still caged—just in a different way.

I didn't want to push her, but I also didn't want her to stay trapped in the mindset she grew up with.

One evening, as we sat in the living room, I decided to ask. "Saisha, do you want to go out somewhere?"

She looked at me, surprised. "Where?"

"Anywhere. Just outside. For a walk, or maybe to a bookstore. Or a café."

She hesitated. "I... don't know."

"You can think about it," I said gently. "You don't have to stay inside all the time."

She nodded, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

I made a silent promise to myself.

I won't cage her. I'll protect her. But I'll also show her that the world outside isn't something to fear.

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