The whole atmosphere was looking tensed with whatever happened. Shree was made to sit beside Rishiraj who was doing all the rituals with a hard face. She got scared staring at his features which were looking so murderous right now. She gulped her saliva and slowly placed her palm over his as instructed by the priest.

All the while, Bhupinder Singh was watching them with anger and jealousy. That master just claimed his share on her before him, got the chance to sleep with her before him, got the chance to touch her before him. Now even if he tried he would only get the leftovers of that master and he hated to taste the leftovers. Without saying anything further, he left the place angrily.

Finally, after all the steps it was the time for the vermilion. The plate of vermilion was brought near Rishiraj who clenched his jaw seeing the red powder. He didn't know what the hell he was doing, Why the hell he was doing this.

He never wanted to marry. He had other commitments in his life but here he was sitting beside a little girl who was now going to be his wife. Wife? No, she was just a little kid to be specific.

Taking a pinch of Sindoor, in between his thumb and index finger he filled her hairline without even looking at her once.

The priest announced to the villagers that the marriage was completed as they started leaving the place after all the drama.

Rishiraj got up from his place with a jerk and entered inside angrily. His life had become a complete mess now. To save her he destroyed his own life.

Getting up from the place, Shree also started to go inside when her aunt called her.

"Now, don't try to create any problem for us and don't come in our house. I don't want a curse like you in my home" Saying so, Lata started going from there with Mahendra.

The little girl remained looking at their disappearing figure with tears in her eyes.

After sometime, Shree slowly entered inside and went towards his room. She peeped her head inside to see what he was doing. Her eyes fell on him who was sitting on the couch with a blank face.

'Now what should I do?' She was in her own thoughts when the sudden rough voice made her nervous.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in a rough tone as she came forward with slow steps.

"W_Woh hum soch re the ki hum apko kya bulaye. Abh to aap hamare pati bhi haina" (I was thinking what should I call you. You are my husband now)

Hearing her question, Rishiraj took the wooden scale from the table and stood in front of her.

"Don't you dare call me anything other than Master"

Shree got scared hearing his tone and immediately nodded.

"Now just go to your room" He ordered making her flinch. Without uttering a word she was going to make a run when he stopped her.

"I gave you some problems in the morning before going to the market, did you complete those?"

She widened her eyes realising she didn't complete any of it.

"Par hum kiyun padhai kare abh? Hamara to vyah ho chuka hai na?" (Why should I study? I'm married now)

Shree just said innocently what she had seen in these years. All the girls used to get married early because of their family pressure and after that they never ever opened the books again.

"Shut up!" Rishiraj scolded her as she lowered her head.

"This marriage doesn't have any importance for both of us. We don't consider this marriage. From now on, your whole focus will be on your studies. You'll complete your education staying here. The day you will turn eighteen years and will start going to college I will leave you. After that we won't be having any relationship between us. You are just my responsibility till then" He announced making her nod a little.

Didn't know why Shree didn't like his words a bit. They are married now then why would he leave her after sometime? She had seen her uncle - aunt and many other people to stay together forever after their marriage then why would he leave her? So many things were going on in her little mind which were making her confused.

"Now tell me what punishment should I give you for not completing your tasks" Rishiraj raised his scale making her step back a little.

"I_I will complete it tomorrow" She gulped her saliva seeing him playing with the wooden scale.

"I don't like those students who neglect their studies for other unnecessary things. Now, I'll only leave you when you complete a hundred sit ups"

Shree felt like she would faint any moment hearing the punishment.

"Hundred?"

"Yes, now start"

"Par hum_" (But I_)

"You want me to increase your punishment?" He raised his eyebrows as she shook her head negatively.

"Then, start" Rishiraj commanded and sat on the couch as she started doing sit ups.

Somehow she completed forty sit ups. After that, she finally gave up and sat on the floor making him huff.

"Did I tell you to stop?"

"Humse nehi ho ra aur, Master Ji. Hamare pair dukh re" (I can't do this anymore. My legs are hurting)

Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes as she was ready to cry her heart out.

"Come and sit here" He called her near him as she got up from the floor and sat beside him on the couch.

"Do you know how much education is important for us?" He asked her calmly and then continued when she didn't respond.

"Education helps us to learn about ourselves, develop our talents and weaknesses. It helps people to make better decisions, fight injustice and solve problems" Rishiraj tried to make her understand in simple words.

"Girls should never study much; they bring destruction to the families, girls should stay inside the four walls of the houses, girls are only born to get married and produce children, girls are a burden to their families, Why this discrimination?" He uttered whatever he heard from childhood, whatever discrimination he had seen between a girl and a body in his whole thirty years of life.

"You're born to be a woman, it's not your fault but it's your strength"

Shree heard his words carefully and tried to understand them.

"Agar tum nehi padhogi, apne pairo pe khadi nehi ho paogi to aj jo annyay tumhare sath ho raha tha woh age bhi hota rahega, Shree. Ye samaj tumhe apne pairo ke niche kuchalta rahega" (If you don't study and become independent, then whatever happened today, it'll happen again. This cruel society will remain crushing you under it's feet)

His words somehow knocked her senses a little but not much. She understood that she had to study because her husband wanted it, her husband demanded it.

Her aunt already told her before her marriage with Bhupinder Singh that, 'Always hear your husband's words. Whatever he says, whatever he asks; do it. Serving your husband is the only duty of the wives. Never try to disobey him. Your husband is your only God' and now when Rishiraj was her husband, she had to obey whatever he said.

"I will study hard, Master Ji"

A miniscule smile appeared on his lips hearing her as he nodded.

"Now come to the kitchen and help me to make something for us to eat"

Shree immediately nodded and followed him behind.

After the dinner, they slept in his room as she was scared to sleep alone. She took the bed and he slept on the floor. Just like that they started their new journey.

••••