Saisha's POV

The morning after we return home, I find a letter waiting for me. The familiar handwriting makes my heart race - it's from my mother.

I hesitate before opening it. A part of me longs for warmth, for a sign that she misses me. But as my eyes scan the words, that hope fades.

"I hope you are behaving properly in your new home. Don't bring shame to our family. A woman's place is to serve, not to roam around like men. Don't forget that."

I feel a lump in my throat. No how are you? No do you miss us? Just the same rigid expectations. I can almost hear her voice in my head, sharp and distant, like it always was.

Pranay enters the room and notices the paper trembling in my hands. He kneels beside me, concern in his eyes. "Saisha, what happened?"

I swallow hard and shake my head. "Nothing... Just a letter from home."

But he doesn't look convinced. Gently, he takes the letter from me and reads it. His jaw clenches. "This isn't right."

I try to smile, but it feels weak. "It's normal for them."

Pranay looks at me for a long moment before speaking. "That doesn't mean it should be normal for you."

I don't know why, but his words bring a sting of tears to my eyes.

He places a hand over mine. "You are more than just someone's daughter or someone's wife, Saisha. You are you. And you get to decide who you are."

His words stay with me long after he leaves the room. Maybe he's right. Maybe I get to choose who I want to be.

And for the first time, I wonder—who is Saisha, beyond everything she has been told to be?

Pranay's pov:

Two days. I had only been away for two days from home due to work,I couldn't wait to finish all this work and rush to saisha.  The moment my phone rang with an unfamiliar number, a strange unease settled in my chest.

"Pranay beta, your wife - she fainted."

The words hit like a punch.

"What? What happened?" My voice comes out sharper than I intend, panic creeping in.

"We don't know, beta. She was talking with us, and suddenly, she swayed and collapsed. We called a doctor - he's checking her now."

I don't hear anything else.

My mind goes blank, my body already moving. I don't even remember how I got back - whether I drove too fast or whether I breathed at all during the journey. All I know is that I need to reach her.

When I finally burst through the door, the sight of her lying on the bed nearly stops my heart.

She looks too pale, too still. My hands clench into fists at my sides as I turn to the doctor. "What happened?"

"She's exhausted." The doctor's voice is calm, but mine isn't. "She hasn't been eating properly, and stress isn't helping. You mentioned she recently traveled?"

I nod stiffly.

"She needs rest, proper food, and care. It's nothing serious for now, but if she keeps neglecting herself like this, it will be -."

Neglecting herself?

I exhale sharply, running fingers through my hair. When the doctor leaves, I finally sit beside her.

Her lashes flutter, her lips part slightly, and then - finally - she opens her eyes.

Relief rushes through me so intensely that I don't think before I move.

I just pull her into my arms.

I hold her tightly, feeling the warmth of her against me, reassuring myself that she's here, she's okay.

"Aishu..."

The name slips out as naturally as breath, as if it was always meant for her.

She stiffens for a second, then slowly, hesitantly, leans into my embrace.

I close my eyes, tightening my hold just a little.

"You scared me." My voice is quiet, but the weight of my emotions is anything but.

She doesn't say anything at first. And then, softly, "I'm sorry."

I shake my head. "No more apologies. Just... take care of yourself."

I pull back slightly to look at her, only to find her staring at me with wide eyes.

"You called me... Aishu."

I blink, then smirk despite myself. "Yeah. And?"

She swallows, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. "It's just... no one's ever called me that before."

Something inside me aches at that.

"Then let me be the first."

She lowers her gaze, and for the first time since I walked in, a small, shy smile plays at her lips.

And just like that, Aishu is here to stay.

Saisha's pov

I blink in surprise. Aishu? No one has ever called me like  that before. The warmth of the nickname, the concern in his voice - it makes my heart ache in a way she can't quite describe.

I try to brush it off with a weak smile, but the way he holds onto me, the way he gently scolds me for skipping meals, makes me realize something.

I am not alone anymore. Someone cares for me, worries for me.

And for the first time, being cared for doesn't feel like a burden - it feels safe.

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