Do not forget to read the previous chapter in case you have not read it.

This chapter is dedicated to kirthimaheshnagpal.

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Ashutosh's Flat

The doorbell rang. The only person who was ready to get up leaving Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was Ashutosh. The other two were extremely busy with the movie. Ashutosh takes the ordered pizzas and chocolate cakes and makes payment for them. He joins the other two and all of them start filling their tummies. Ayushi continued repeating the dialougues.

Ayushi - "He was their friend... and he betrayed them...HE WAS THIER FRIEND! I hope he finds me. 'Cause when he does, I'm gonna be ready! When he does, I'm gonna kill him!

Mysterious thing, time. Powerful, and when meddled with, dangerous. Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the dark tower. You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen. And you would do well, I feel, to return before this last chime. If not, the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. If you succeed tonight, more than one innocent life may be spared. Three turns, should do it, I think. Oh, and by the way. When in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck."

Shefali could not help but love the movie. She admired Dumbledore for his knowledge, Harry Potter for his bravery. She felt happy. But a part of her was afraid. Afraid that her parents might find out and punish her. She knew that they will not approve her behaviour. Taking her husband's name, eating with him, behaving as his equal. As the movie ended, she stood up and hurried to her room. 

Ashutosh and Ayushi looked at each other. They could not understand the reason for her behaviour.

Ashutosh - "Ayu, we will watch the movie later. We need to rest. Tomorrow I have to take Shefali to college for admission."

Ayushi nodded and went to her room. Ashutosh switched off the TV and went to his room.

Ashutosh-Shefali's Room, 10 PM

Ashutosh enters the room to find Shefali sitting on the bed, holding her legs close to her body. She was shivering with fear. Ashutosh went and sat on the bed.

Ashutosh - "Shefali, look at me."

Shefali looks at him. Fear was evident in her eyes. 

Ashutosh - "What happened? Tell me."

Shefali - "They won't like my behaviour....they will punish me....I should no behave like this."

Ashutosh - "Who?"

Shefali - "My parents...Wife is supposed to serve her husband and...I behave as your equal. I should not do this. They will punish me...they will hit me....please save me...please. I don't want to be punished."

Ashutosh - "No one will punish you, Shefali. And you are doing nothing wrong. Keep this in your mind. You are my wife, my better half. You are behaving as my equal because you are equal to me. We are equal and you need to understand this. Nobody has the right to interfere between us. And no one is going to hurt you. Remember this, always."

Shefali stares at Ashutosh. He gets up and helps her lay down. 

Ashutosh - "Sleep. We have to go to college tomorrow. Sleep."

Shefali closes her eyes. Ashutosh pats her head till she sleeps. 

Ashutosh (whispering) - "No one will hurt you till I am with you. Not even your so called family. I will protect you till my last breath."

He too lays down on his bed and sleeps.

Morning, 5 AM

Ashutosh, dressed up in his track suit, moves towards Shefali's bed. He shakes her up. She wakes up and looks at him. 

Ashutosh - "Good morning, go and get fresh."

Shefali looks at the clock and then back at Ashutosh.

Ashutosh - "From today, I will teach you self defense. So, get up and get fresh. And wear a suit."

Shefali gives him a weak smile and leaves the bed.

Half-an-hour later

Ashutosh and Shefali were sitting on the dining table, eating cornflakes with milk. They finished eating and went to the balcony to start practicing.

The practice continued for about an hour. Ashutosh taught Shefali many tricks of self defense. He made her do a lot of workout. After an hour, both of them were covered in sweat and were panting.

Ashutosh - "You did well. Every morning, we will be practicing like this."

Shefali - "Can I ask you something?"

Ashutosh - "Of course."

Shefali - "Yesterday, I told you so many things. Still you don't want to leave me?"

Ashutosh - "Of course, I want to leave you. I want to leave at your college during your graduation and post graduation. I want to leave you at your workplace when you start working..."

Shefali - "Ashutosh, you don't mind that I am not pure. People might raise a question..."

Ashutosh - "Does that matter. I don't think so. And remember one thing. You are as pure as a new born's heart. What happened was against your wish. And therefore, it does not matter."

Shefali stares him for sometime and then hugs him.

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~Purnima