Author's POV
Preeti was sitting at her study table, busy writing her assignment, when Yasmin knocked on the door.
"Come in," Preeti said without looking up.
Yasmin walked in with a glass of milk.
"Here, ma'am... sir asked me to give this to you."
"Okay, put it here," Preeti replied softly.
Yasmin placed the glass on the table. She hesitated, then finally spoke.
"Preeti beti... why are you living here? I mean, Ansh is very strict. He doesn't like anyone in his house... especially women. But he allowed you to stay. Are you his relative?"
Preeti froze.
Who was she to him... publicly?
Why hadn't he told anyone?
Was he planning to leave her one day, once she became independent?
A hundred questions hit her heart at once.
"Preeti ma'am?" Yasmin asked again. "I just don't want people to think wrong about you. A girl living in a man's house... log baatein banate hain. Samajh rahi ho na?"
"I... I am..." Preeti stopped.
She didn't know whether she should tell the truth.
Before she could answer, Yasmin sighed and turned to leave, thinking Preeti didn't want to talk.
Preeti sat still for a moment.
Then she stood up and went straight to the study.
She knocked.
Ansh was working on his laptop. As always.
"Come in," he said.
Preeti stepped inside and quietly sat on the chair in front of him.
"You don't want anybody to know about our relation?" she asked softly.
Ansh stopped typing.
He closed the laptop and looked at her.
"Yes," he said simply.
"But... why?" she whispered.
For a moment, she truly feared the worst.
Maybe he didn't want her in his life.
Maybe he would leave her one day.
Maybe she would be alone again.
"Because you are only sixteen," he said gently. "This is your age to study, to grow, to enjoy your life. I don't want to snatch this golden time from you."
His answer hit her heart unexpectedly.
Relief flooded her chest, and her eyes filled with tears.
"Why are you crying, princess?" Ansh stood up quickly.
He came to her, knelt in front of her chair, and wiped her tears with his thumb.
"Kya hua? Why are you crying? Kisi ne kuch kaha tumhe?"
His voice was soft... like he was talking to a little child.
[what happened? Why are you crying? Anyone said something?]
"Y-Yasmin asked... why I am living with you," Preeti whispered.
"She said... girl living in man's house is not considered good.
So it means... I am a bad girl."
"Princess, no," he said firmly.
"You are not bad. And this is your own home. No one has the right to say anything to you. I will tell Yasmin the truth. But for others... you don't need to worry. We will tell everyone when the right time comes."
"Y-yes," she murmured.
She stood up to leave.
"Wait, we are going somewhere" he said, picking up his coat.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"For ice-cream. Your favourite one."
He smiled warmly and held her hand.
They stepped out of the study, still holding hands.
Ansh stopped in front of her.
"Yasmin kaki," he said calmly but firmly, "I respect that you work here, but I won't allow you to interfere in my personal matters. And about her I won't hear anything bad."
"I was just—" Yasmin began.
But Ansh cut her off.
"Biwi hai yeh meri. Aur uske khilaf main kuch nahi suno ga.
Aur haan... yeh baat hum teeno ke ilawa kisi ko nahi pata chalni chahiye."
"Jee, Ansh babu," Yasmin said quietly and walked away.
————————
Time passed...
Preeti cleared her 12th exams.
She was finally free and busy applying for her bachelor's degree.
One day, Alia convinced her to go to a bar with their classmates.
"Preeti, we will come back on time. No one will know! Don't worry yaar," Alia insisted.
"Okay... okay," Preeti said finally.
It was her first time going to a bar.
Ansh had clearly told her she wasn't allowed to go to bars or stay out late.
But Alia kept pushing, and Preeti agreed.
Inside the bar, the music was loud.
Lights were bright.
Everyone was dancing.
Preeti slowly relaxed and started enjoying.
For a moment, she completely forgot her fear of Ansh.
But then a drunken boy came close.
"Hey sweetie! Come with me... we'll enjoy together," he said, slurring.
"No... no thank you. I'm fine," Preeti said, grabbing Alia's hand.
"Let's go from here..."
But the boy grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Wait, baby. Where are you going?"
He started dragging her
When suddenly—
SMASH!
A wine bottle broke on the boy's head.
Everyone gasped.
Preeti looked up
And her breath stopped.
It was Ansh.
He stood there like a storm... eyes full of anger.
The boy fell back, holding his bleeding head.
Preeti's whole body shook in fear.
Ansh's eyes met hers.
Burning.
Furious.
Hurt.
"I didn't..." Preeti tried to speak, but her voice died.
Ansh walked to her, jaw clenched.
He grabbed her hand.
"Come. We're going home."
Alia stood frozen, shocked beyond words.
————————
Ansh opened the car door sharply.
"Sit," he said, his voice cold and emotionless.
Preeti quietly sat inside.
He went to the driver's side, sat, and started the car.
There was nothing but silence.
Ansh didn't speak.
Preeti didn't dare to speak.
The air itself felt heavy... tight... suffocating.
When they reached home, Ansh stepped out immediately.
He opened her door and grabbed her wrist—so tightly she winced in pain.
"P-please... it's hurting..." Preeti whispered, her voice shaking.
But Ansh didn't stop.
His anger was burning too strong.
He pulled her with him, walked straight to his room, opened the door, and pushed her inside not hard enough to make her fall, but enough to show his fury.
Then he slammed the door shut behind him.
"What were you doing there?" he shouted.
His voice echoed in the room.
Preeti's heart jumped in fear.
He had never shouted at her before.
"A-Alia forced me... I swear, I didn't want to go," she said, trembling.
"So you go there without even telling me? Huh?" he yelled again.
"S-sorry... I will"
"What if I wasn't there?!" he roared.
"What if something happened to you? Tumhe pata bhi hai kya ho sakta tha?! You didn't even think before going without telling me!"
"I-I will not go again... sorry... please don't be angry..."
Her voice broke, and tears streamed down her face.
When Ansh saw those tears... something twisted painfully inside him.
His anger melted into guilt.
He took a slow breath and stepped toward her.
"Princess... I shouldn't have shouted," he said softly.
"I was just... afraid. Bohot darr gaya tha. What if something happened to you?"
He gently cupped her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs.
"Maaf kar do mujhe... sorry," he whispered.
Preeti looked at him through her tears... confused, scared, and relieved all at once.
Then Ansh pulled her into a hug.
A tight, protective, desperate hug.
Her small frame disappeared in his arms.
For a moment, the world went still.
She felt his heartbeat against her ear.
Strong. Fast. Worried.
He held her like he could lose her at any second.
Preeti's POV
I knew I had made a mistake.
I came here without telling Ansh.
I knew he wouldn't allow it.
But Alia pushed so much... I thought it would be okay.
For a while, I forgot everything and enjoyed the music.
But then that drunk boy...
He scared me so much.
His hand on my wrist...
His dirty smile...
I wanted to run away.
I regretted coming here.
I regretted not listening to Ansh.
I felt like crying.
And then Ansh came.
He appeared like he was made of fire.
One moment that boy was touching me...
And the next, Ansh smashed a bottle on his head.
He saved me.
But his eyes...
They were angry.
His anger had scared me so much.
The way he shouted...
The way he held my wrist...
For a moment, I felt like he hated me.
But when he wiped my tears...
When he hugged me...
I felt something different.
His chest was warm.
His arms were strong.
Maybe he wasn't angry at me.
I didn't know why... but in his arms, I felt safe again.
Ansh's POV
I was in the private hall upstairs for a business meeting.
When the meeting ended and I stepped out, I saw a group of students laughing.
One girl caught my eye.
In one second... I knew it was her.
Preeti.
She was wearing a short black frock.
Her hair was open, flowing on her shoulders.
She was smiling... laughing... looking beautiful, glowing.
For a moment, I just stared.
But then that boy came.
Drunk.
Lust in his eyes.
And when he held her wrist
Something snapped inside me.
How dare he touch her?
Before I even thought, I walked forward
And smashed the bottle on his head.
He deserved worse.
After dealing with him, I looked at Preeti.
She was standing there... scared... shaking.
My Preeti.
I didn't say anything else.
I just grabbed her hand.
I didn't want to think.
I didn't want to shout. But I shouted
When I saw her crying... everything inside me broke.
But the thought of her in danger... with some drunk fool touching her...
It made my blood boil.
And when she said "sorry" in that small voice...
It hit me like a knife.
She didn't deserve my anger she deserved protection.
Princess...
She doesn't understand what she means to me.
I hugged her tighter.
I wanted to tell her I was scared.
But instead, I said softly:
"I'm sorry."
Because I was.
I just wanted her safe.
Because she is mine.
And no one...
No one can touch what's mine.
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