Author's POV
A whole week passed.
Preeti had not left her room even once.
And Ansh... he had not visited her either.
Only the servant came quietly, three times a day, placing food by her bedside and leaving without questions.
But today felt different.
Preeti sat on her bed for a long time, staring at nothing. Then slowly, she stood up and walked toward the dressing mirror. Her reflection looked tired... but not broken.
She picked up her comb and gently brushed her hair. She tied it into a neat ponytail.
She applied a little moisturizer, then her usual light pink gloss.
For the first time in days... she looked like herself again.
She slipped into a soft pink sweatshirt with blue jeans. Simple. Comfortable. Calm.
She walked to the door, took a long, steady breath and opened it.
Her face showed peace. Fragile, but real.
In the corridor, Yasmin, the older maid, was dusting the picture frames. The moment she saw Preeti step out, her eyes widened in shock. This child hadn't left her room or spoken to anyone since she came.
Yasmin quickly hurried toward her.
"Daughter... you're here? Do you need anything?" she asked, almost emotional.
Preeti nodded softly. "Can you tell me... where is he?"
"Yes, Ansh sir is in the study. Just down this hallway. Go straight and then right," Yasmin said while smiling.
Preeti lowered her lashes and walked toward the study.
At the door, she paused. Her heart thudded nervously.
Then she knocked.
Inside, Ansh was typing fast on his laptop. Without looking up, he said, "Come in."
Preeti took slow, small steps inside.
"I... I wanted to talk to you," she said, her voice low but clear.
Ansh's fingers froze.
Her voice, after one whole week.
He looked up.
Preeti stood there, looking delicate yet beautiful in her pink sweatshirt. Her hair tied up. Light gloss making her look like a little princess...
Something soft stirred in him.
"Yes. Please sit," he said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.
Preeti sat down quietly. She kept her gaze lowered, playing with her fingers it is her habit whenever she didn't know how to express something.
Ansh waited patiently, giving her all the time she needed.
Finally, she raised her eyes.
"I wanted to continue my studies," she said gently.
Ansh nodded. "It's good. I'm glad you're trying to get back to normal life. You can join from tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" she blinked. "But... my name must have been struck off because I didn't attend."
"It's not a big issue," he replied calmly. "You should be ready by 7 a.m."
"Okay..." she whispered.
Then she stood and quietly walked back to her room.
There, she opened her cupboard, searching for something to wear for her first day back. Her eyes paused on a sky-blue frock, the one Baba gifted her on her last birthday.
She pressed it to her chest for a moment... then placed it carefully on the bed.
After dinner, she changed into nightwear and went to sleep early, her heart beating with a strange mix of fear and hope.
--------
Her alarm rang at 6 a.m.
Preeti woke up instantly. She went to the washroom, changed into the sky-blue frock, applied her lip gloss, and left her hair open today tying just a small part with a blue ribbon bow.
She looked innocent... graceful... like spring after a long winter.
Just then, Yasmin knocked.
"Ma'am? Sir asked you to please come to the dining hall for breakfast."
"Okay," Preeti replied softly.
It felt strange—eating breakfast with him.
But she knew she couldn't eat alone forever.
She walked to the dining area.
Ansh was already seated. He looked up as she entered, and something unreadable passed through his eyes.
"Hello. Good morning," he said calmly.
"Good morning," she replied, sitting down.
"Ready, princess? For your first day?"
His voice held a small, warm smile.
Her hand stopped mid-air.
Princess.
Baba's name for her.
His princess?
Would Ansh really take care of her the way Baba did?
Too many questions filled her chest.
"What happened, princess?" he asked gently.
"N-no, nothing... Yes, I'm ready," she said quickly, gathering herself.
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After reaching the school, Ansh got out first and opened the car door for her.
"Come," he said.
They walked straight to the principal's office.
"Oh, Mr. Ansh Raj! Good morning, sir. Please sit," the principal said respectfully.
Ansh gestured for Preeti to sit first, then sat beside her. He discussed her admission calmly but firmly.
The principal nodded. "No issue at all, sir. Come, dear, I'll show you your class."
He escorted Preeti to her classroom, then returned.
Ansh's eyes hardened as he spoke, "She should not face any problem here. Understood?"
The principal swallowed. "Y-yes sir. I will personally take care."
Ansh left the office.
The principal wiped his sweat the moment the door closed.
--------
When the teacher left, a cheerful girl sitting beside Preeti smiled at her.
"Hi! I'm Alia."
"I'm Preeti," she replied softly.
"Nice name! You came with the principal... Are you from some special family? Like, any big businessman? Or mafia?" Alia whispered dramatically.
"What?" Preeti blinked, shocked.
"Sorry!" Alia laughed. "It's just our principal never talks nicely to anyone. But he treated you so special, so I wondered..."
Preeti didn't know what Ansh really did.
So she simply smiled and said, "No, nothing like that. I think my guardian is a friend of his."
Guardian... or husband? She thought
She couldn't tell anyone she was married.
--------
When she walked out, Ansh was already waiting.
The moment he saw her, he stepped out and opened the car door.
Preeti sat inside quietly.
"So... how was your day?" he asked casually.
"It was a good day," she replied.
"Good. Then we're going for lunch."
He stopped the car in front of a restaurant.
He didn't even know why he was doing all this.
He just... wanted her to be happy.
"Come, princess," he said, opening the door and offering his hand.
Preeti hesitated. But then softly placed her hand in his.
They walked inside. He ordered food, and soon the plates were served.
"Let's eat," he said with a small smile.
"Hm," she nodded.
They ate quietly for a while.
Then Ansh spoke again.
"So... are you an introvert? I mean, you don't talk much. Or you don't want to talk to me?"
"No... it's not like that," she said softly. "We just don't have anything in common to talk about."
"We can share our daily routines... our hobbies... there's lots we can talk about," he said gently.
"Yes," she nodded.
A thought suddenly struck her Alia's curiosity.
So she looked up at him.
"So... what do you do? I mean, what's your work?"
"I have a small company," he replied calmly. "Its name is Ansh Global Holdings."
"Oh... okay," she said.
Many people ran small businesses.
Maybe he was just a friend of the principal... that's why he treated her well.
Ansh's POV
I watched her from across the table.
Preeti...
Soft-spoken. Gentle. Trembling like a leaf the world had shaken too hard.
But she was trying.
She came out of her room. She went to school. She spoke to me.
That itself was courage.
I wasn't like this.
I wasn't the man who cared.
But for her... I did.
I opened car doors.
I waited outside her school.
I spoke softly.
I took her to lunch.
Why?
I didn't know.
Maybe because she looked too breakable.
Maybe because I promised her father.
Maybe because something about her innocence stirred a part of me I never knew existed.
Whatever the reason... I knew one thing:
I would protect her.
Guide her.
Stand by her.
Not because I was her husband on paper.
But because fate had placed her in my life...
and signed my name beside hers.
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