*******

front of her feeling her husband hand wrapping tightly around her.

"Who is it?". He asked her

Her eyes narrow at the man who smirks at her leaning closer to her as he speaks, "I see you have managed to trap a big man now it will be more fun".

She remains stiffen in his arms leaning more into him watching that man leaving from the venue. She relaxes after a moment before her husband can question her she starts to run away from his grip towards the other side.

He frowns standing there alone wondering who that might be that shakes her that bad. He chooses not to ruin her day and let it be since there is no harm done. After mingling and trying to find his runaway bride which he is failing in miserably he finds her small warm hands holding his rough hands and the usual warmth spread through him.

"Ji, fursat mil gayi apko?".

"Apke liye toh fursat he fursat hai, Janaab".

(So you got time for me now?)

(For you, I have all the time, my master)

He rolls his eyes at her dramatic reply but as she starts to pull him somewhere he asks her where to which she didn't reply anything asking him to simply follow. He hears the loud chattering and noises that were making him anxious ending when they enter somewhere.

She brings him into a room that is soundproof to have him rest a little before they have to go back to that place.

"I have all our wedding food here". She said excitedly as he inhales the different aroma

"How did you manage to do that?".

"Well, I am the bride so I use that card".

He shakes his head as she giggles which is a new sound he is trying to acquaint himself with but the sounds remain foreign to him but he seems to like it. She starts to go on and on as usual about the various food handing him the one he says he likes to eat. His shoulder relaxes and the stress leaving him body as he leans back on the comfortable couch listening to her every word attentively.

"You know we have to go now. Everyone will wonder if the bride and groom elope". He said smiling lightly

"That will be so much fun". She gushed making him chuckle, "But fine, let's go entertain 300 people we don't even care enough for and probably never meet in our lives again".

"That is something I never understand". He said holding her hand which seems natural as they start to walk out, "Why do we have to entertain people's for no reason?".

"Some do it for reputation, show off and others do it because of pressure. In between a simple wedding are now discourage or in a year we have one simple marriage which everyone does talk about and go crazy over and in the end, they want all those unnecessary functions and people like their favourite celebrities who by the way earn on their own and they have nothing better to do in their lives". She replied entering back inside the venue groaning, "Wait until the food is open and these people will go crazy over it then later complain how bad it was".

He sighs, "Marriage is stressful".

"No, we made them hard".

The next hour they spent greeting more strangers from his family. Yumna thankfully left before they leave probably to drink and she looks at the people around waiting for them to leave.

"Looks like it's time". He said holding onto her hand, "Let's get out of this place before either of us pass out".

She laughs, "I am sure it will be you".

They leave the venue in his car reaching this palace yet again. His driver parks the car in front of the gate when his mother invites them in. She feels him tense beside her and his hold tightening.

"You should have worn red. It was embarrassing that your dress wasn't to our family standard". His mother commented looking at her disapproving, "You need to learn how we live in elite class".

"Ammi, there is no such thing as a class and she doesn't need to learn or change herself for anyone". He said sighing

"You are already starting to talk back to me?. It hasn't been a day that she came to your life. I can only imagine what she will feed you next maybe throw me out as well while you at it". His mother started to cry

"Woah!". She said with a low whistle, "So much drama over a simple dress?. It is my wedding so I think I have a right to choose what I can wear and how I can look".

"You do not speak to me that way". His mother snapped angrily, "Are you going to let her insult me that way?".

He shrugged, "She didn't say anything wrong. You wanted us to marry and we are married now. Besides that we were forced in this, everything else will be our mutual choice and I don't think there is anything wrong in choosing what she feels comfortable to wear. I never followed any of these so-called standards neither will my bride. If you will excuse us it's been a long day".

Once they reach his room it is the most beautiful room she has seen. Obviously, she had seen his study that's it but she didn't imagine his room to be this good. There is a bed in the middle and couches on the side. A big window that leads to a terrace and a walk-in closet with a wider bathroom.

"It's like a mini house in here". She said in awe

He chuckles, "I remember when the designer asks for my bedroom ideas from me I told him kind of the same thing".

"I take it you don't like leaving your room". She said sitting on the couch while he sits on the bed

"Not really a fan of leaving my bed. It's like--".

"You feel safe when you are hidden away. I get it".

"Yes".

"I will go ahead and change. Good thing my things are already in the closet".

She takes her nightgown walking inside the bathroom taking off tons of makeup and pins from her head. Finally, after a good hour and a half where he keeps knocking to have her come out, she manages to prepare herself for bed.

As she walks outside she expected him to be awake to change however she finds him lightly snoring laying on the bed. His clothes changed so she knows he changes them outside. She walks closer to him looking at him sleeping for a good minute as she wonders about what he is actually. He did appear rude at first, no doubt, she really thought she will have a hard time having him convinced that day. However, after they accepted each other he seems different.

Just how many shades does he have?.

It made her curious to know her husband not that she ever was a curious girl because curiosity really do kills a cat. However, she finds herself drifting, no, she is literally falling towards him, spilling into him. The way he held her hand still makes her inside warm. The way his scent wraps around her and the way he speaks to her casually.

She feels everything.

She didn't realise when she went to sleep but she did remember that she close her eyes watching his face and the last thought were of him too.

The next few days they try to make their own routine around work and themselves. Though they didn't find much time in the month they lived together and she tries to understand him but her new project takes tolls on her.

She copes in his study at 3 AM trying to do the new project. Her eyes feel heavy as she wishes she is in bed and in his arms which is her new safe haven and a new boundary with him. The first day after the wedding night she opens her eyes in his arms and she never felt more peace in her life. Then on, she always goes to sleep after him and then crawls towards him slowly sleeping in his arms.

He opens the door to his study walking inside because in this past month she seems so busy that she didn't even pay attention to him and the last few days she simply disappeared. Appearing only when she was sleepy and into his arms. Yes, he knows. How can he not know when a body crawls towards him?. The heat from her body and just how well she fits in his arms. Just how small she is compared to him and just how much he is glad she lays in his amrs. He loves feeling her coming towards him and laying in his arms. He always waits for her at night and this new feeling that blossom in his heart is unstoppable. It keeps going and that seed was going faster than ever. However, he waited for hours for her to come crawling to him and she didn't.

Frowning he enters inside his study towards her standing in front of her with his hand on his chest.

"Why are you not sleeping?". His voice boomed through the silence making her jolt falling down from his chair

His eyes widen as he tries to find her on the floor until he did so he places his hand on her face bringing it closer to him and both their breathing hitched.

"I am sorry. Are you hurt?. I didn't find you in bed and you are lost from the past few days so I was worried". He rambles on because he was freaking out from inside

She holds his hand that are on her face bringing them down as she stands from the floor. She takes his hand walking over towards the couch as he sits down she lays down on the couch placing her head on his leg.

"I am sorry. My new project is taking a toll on me and I am anxious. I always lock myself when the deadline is near". She explained and her voice heavy from the sleep

He runs his hands through her hair going to kiss her forehead but end up kissing her nose making her giggle.

"Arey pagal, that's my nose".

He laughs kissing her forehead lovingly, "What is your job again?".

"Software engineer". She mumbles sleepily from his hand working on her head manage to have her eyes close, "Please wake me in an hour....".

She didn't even get to complete her sentence as she falls into her deep sleep. He shakes his head with a smile as he continues to massage her head then went to her shoulder as she releases a sigh of contentment. He smiles moving his hand over her face as he tries to make some of her features and imagine just how his wife looks. Sharp nose, thin eyebrows, plumped lips and his finger gaze her lower lip for a long time as he felt the need inside of him that he pushes away. But his hand stops on her right cheek when he feels the disfigurement just below her eyes to her chin.

Like a scar.

From a knife.

He had once in his university done a project over the scar and the way they feel on different parts of the body. He leant about the scars one can have from different weapons as well. He takes a moment to go back to her left cheek that is soft, smooth and chubby while her right remains soft but with a scar.

What in the world happened to her?.

Surely she cannot hurt on her face with a knife. Someone must have done it.

That's when for the second time he felt the anger deep inside of him. He wasn't an angry man, no, but he felt his inside turning in pure fury as he imagines her being in pain while someone had fun creating that mark on her. Just how much she must have screamed in agony, how much she fought and how did she manage to handle it.

His fist clench as he feels the need to track down the person to rip him to shred. Being a lawyer he strongly believes in law however he realises that in some cases it's not the law one needs but the need to take law in their hand.

"Why do you look angry?". She asked googly as she rubs her eyes to remove the sleep from them

"Nothing".

She looks at the time and it is already 8 AM. Her eyes widen looking at him.

"Why didn't you wake me?. I am late".

She didn't even wait for his reply dashing out of the room.

"Because you feel peaceful". He said leaning back on the couch closing his eyes feeling headache forming in his head

She came back home from work feeling like she is on cloud nine because her project went well. She has the giant smile on her face as she cannot wait to find him and ramble on with him. He is a good listener which she found soon enough. He listens to her every word intently never disturbing in between unless she asks and just stays there as she pours nonsense.

Still, today tired her.

She enters inside bouncing around as she hears his voice from the living room and she enters inside her eyes solely looking at him which she finds just a few days back that her eyes could simply find him even in the crowd.

She grins walking towards him throwing herself on the couch placing her head on his leg.

"I am so damn tired". She said sighing

"Um, we have guest". He said and his voice sounds anxious and scared

She frowns looking at a beautiful woman sitting opposite to them looking directly at her with a smirk.

"Who is she?".

"He didn't tell you?". The woman asked and she shakes her head, "I am his first love".