"How can you marry a girl like her?". His mother screamed as they all stand in their lounge

"Ammi-". He started

"Don't even try to say a thing like it doesn't matter because it does". His mother said angrily as she glared at Maria, "She is nothing but sin and she shouldn't have entered in our holy house".

Maria clench her hand on her side.

"Ammi, she is my wife". He said not liking at the way things turn out

"So?. You can divorce her right now. Do it and kick her out of our house". His mother said

He stilled.

"No, he won't do anything like that". His father said angrily, "He is married to her and he will not be doing any such thing".

"But-". His mother started

"It's final. Go to your room". His father ordered them

He nodded taking her fisted hand walking into their room. He turns around to look at her but her face remains blank.

"Are you ok?". He asked softly

She gulped her emotions and look at him smiling, "Of course. I am fine".

He frowns nodding asking her to change while he waited.

She walks inside with her clothes standing in front of the mirror looking at the girl who stands in front. 

She smiles a broken smile that no one can see.

He heard the door opening and immediately stands from his position waiting for her to come out. These past few minutes he had been frustrated thinking that she might have cried or done something after hearing those kinds of words.

She walks outside and her eyes look at him frowning, "What's wrong?".

She places her dress at the side turning to him as he speaks, "Are you ok?".

She smiles, "I am absolutely amazing". Then she turns to remove her bangles as she mumbles, "It's not the first time".

"What?". He asked when he heard her clearly making him clench his fist, "What do you mean?".

"I will tell you someday". She grins at him, "I am tired and sleepy. Can we just sleep?".

He nodded stiffly moving aside as she lays down on the left side immediately closing her eyes. He stayed there looking at her for a moment longer before he went to close the lights and laying at the right side.

*****
"How can you not tell us about your daughter?". His mother screamed early in the morning at her adopted mother

"I am not her mother". She replied, "I adopted her".

His mother gasped, "Not only she is dirty she is always not your daughter?".

"Yes". She replied, "But should it matter?".

His mother frowns, "What?".

"I have seen her for so many years look down by every person who came to know about her. Does it matter?. How does anything change because of what her parents had done?. Shouldn't they be ashamed instead of a child who was born and thrown unknown?". She said angrily

Maria looks at her wide eyes because she had never spoken like this before. If anything she has only spoken once to her in her life and never again. She watches her taking steps out of this house and she runs after her.

"Ammi". She shouts watching her stop immediately, "Ammi".

She takes slow steps towards her as she turns around looking at her.

"What did you just say?". Her mother asked shocked

"Ammi". Maria said smiling at her

She looks her eyes fill with tears, "I waited for this for so long".

Maria hugs her tightly, "Me too".

She pushes back holding her hands, "Beta, you have started a new life but past always catches up. You know what I taught you right?".

"Everyone wants to take your smile away because that is a treasure of a person. Not everyone can hold onto it so when someone curse smile at them it will only make them agitated". She repeated each word as she was told

Her mother patted her head lovingly, "I am sorry that I wasn't exactly a mother to you but in this new life I wish you happiness. Please work your way to find what you wanted. Work hard for this wedding and your future".

She nodded waving her off as she leaves.

She turns around with a smile looking at her husband who stands there looking back at her forwarding his hand waiting for her to take it.

They walk inside.

She sits on the table knowing his mother is mad at them. Just as she was about to eat his mother pushing her hand making the tea fall on her. She winces standing from her seat as she tries to take the burning sensation away.

"Ammi". He said angrily watching his wife pained face

He quickly held her hand taking her to the kitchen sink placing her hand under the water to cool it off. She closes her eyes waiting for the pain to subside.

He closes the tap watching her open her eyes looking at him, "Is it ok?".

She smiles at him biting the inside of her cheek to ignore the sensation on her hand, "I am perfect".

"Don't lie". He said frowning

She just smiles.

"I will look at it". His father said who is actually a doctor

"Please Baba, she will not speak about it". He said forwarding her hand to his father who had the first aid kit with him

His father watches her red hand knowing she is controlling the pain.

"Arey (oh), you are just worrying for nothing. I said I am fine". She said grinning at them

They both sighs.

"Done". His father said wrapping gauze around her hand

"Thank you, uncle and Sameera". She said softly

He groans while his father laughs patting her head walking away.

"Stop calling me that". He said irritated

She giggles making him smile, "Never".

He just chuckles.

"You cannot do these kinds of things to her. She is our responsibility and our daughter". His father said not happy with his wife behaviour

"She is nothing but dirt". His mother said angrily walking away

They both stand behind watching them quarrel. His father turns to her guilty about to speak.

She smiles widely at him, "Please don't fight with her because of me. I am fine. Look".

She moves her hand hiding the pain behind her smile and his father nodded walking away.

"I am sorry". Sameer said from behind

She turns to him frowning, "Arey yaar, please don't be sad. I am perfectly fine".

He just nodded meekly.

******
A month.

It's been a month into the marriage she is trying her best to do everything and understand everything since she had never spoken or seen marriages or it's responsibilities.

She opens her eyes at 5 AM because his mother said to be awake before everyone to work. She freshens herself before she can walk outside she moves to find him sleeping peacefully. She watches him for a moment smiling walking downstairs.

She starts her work and soon his parents walk inside and she places their breakfast.

"I will come back". She said smiling walking upstairs

She enters her room to find him still sleeping. She walks towards him slowly thinking of away when she finds her feather pen on the table. She grins holding the pen as she walks towards him sitting on his side using the feather to tickle his ear. He slaps his ear making her giggle lowly then she did it again and he groans making her laugh.

She places a hand over her mouth not wanting him to open his eyes to see her. But his eyes immediately open landing on her.

She hides the pen behind her smiling innocently at him, "It's time to wake up".

"What did you do?". He asked suspiciously knowing she was doing something

She shrugged giving him her best innocent face but he didn't buy it. He holds her wrist pulling her making her bump into his chest. She tries to move away but he wraps his hands around her tightly.

"Now now, meri naughty biwi, what did you do?". He said gazing at her beautiful face smiling

"I didn't do anything". She said stubbornly

He pulls the pen from her hand making her gasp trying to push him but he holds her tightly from one hand holding the pen in the other.

"This pen has nothing to do with it, right?". He asked hiding his smile at her shocked but sulky face

"Fine, I did it". She said huffing

He chuckles making her smile at him, "Go on, I will come in a few minutes".

She nodded ready to run away but she heard him calling.

"I already prepared your clothes and everything else is on the table". She informed confused

He shakes his head, "You didn't forget anything I did".

With that, he steps closer to her kissing her forehead, "You look beautiful".

She blushes smiling at him shyly and he looking at her admiring the beauty in front of him.

"Go". He whispers and she smiles walking outside

He shakes his head thinking about being married he never thought it would be this exciting. He never used to look forward to opening his eyes but now he always does and mostly he is awake- like today waiting for her mischief, he didn't like coming come early around 11 PM when his parents were sleeping even on weekends. Now, he comes home at 8 and on weekends he stays home all day admiring her. It's never dull when it's her.

Today he is taking her to a party to introduce her to everyone.

He is more excited than her.

He walks downstairs looking at his parents already eating and her running around working. She stops when she sees him placing his food he holds her hand stopping her from moving and she smiles sitting beside him.

That was something they developed.

They always eat together. Never separately.

He finishes eating and she turns around holding his bag from the table running after him as he steps outside.

"Sameera". He heard her calling making him smile

He turns around keeping a straight face watching her running outside almost bumping into him when she tries to stop.

"You forgot your bag". She said grinning at him forwarding his bag

"You know you call me Sameera in front of everyone, CM?". He said softly watching her eyes twinkle at the name

She shrugged happily, "That's your name na?".

He smiles, "I will come at 6 today".

She nodded. He kissed her forehead entering inside his car driving when he finds her waving her hand enthusiastically.

He smiles driving to his work.

She walks inside greeting her father-in-law before he leaves for work cleaning everything that was on the table. She gets to work which she understands over the month.

"My friends are coming I need you to do everything and be presentable". His mother said

She nodded eagerly.

She started to cook all the food that her mother-in-law asked her to which consisted of 5 main dishes, 3 desserts and some more.

She quickly went to the room when she arranged everything wearing a beautiful dress.

Usually, she doesn't wear dresses but she starts to do so because she finds that her husband seems to like her in it not that he ever asked her not to wear what she usually does but the way his shine lights when she wears dresses, is something that excites her.

She walks downstairs before the guests arrive looking at everything once again. She heard the bell ringing and waited for the guest to enter inside.

She finds 4 woman who was the same age as her mother-in-law coming in talking to each other. She greets them and they hardly reply to her and she didn't miss the disgusted expression on their faces. She still manages to smile bringing them some snacks and drinks.

"What?. You want us to get cold in this weather?". One of the aunts said

She frowns, "No. I am sorry. You want something hot?".

"I don't like hot". Aunt replied

"Oh. What can I get you?". She asked politely

"This girl has no brain". Aunt said irritated, "She offered me cold drinks just to make me sick. Poor my son (Sameer) he didn't deserve such a wife".

She remains quiet.

"I am sorry. You can tell me what you-". She started when the woman place the glass with a little more force startling her

"She has no manner either". Another aunt said, "Can't you see you already placed her in a bad mood?. We came here even after knowing what kind of girl you are to bless you and this is how you treat your guest?. Have your parents never taught you anything?".

"She doesn't have one, that's why. She has no parents just a mother who had an affair obviously she doesn't know anything". The last aunt said

She gulped.

"I-I-". She started

"Go and prepare the food". Her mother in law said

She nodded quickly walking inside the kitchen leaning on the wall taking a deep breath.

"Ma'am". The worker said

She opens her eyes to find the old worker she has started to like here looking at her with tears in her eyes.

"I am fine. Don't worry". She assured

"It's so bad. They are mean to you". The worker said holding her hand as tears fall down her face, "You are so pure, beautiful and amazing. You don't deserve this".

She smiles at her, "This is nothing I can't handle. Come on, we need to arrange things".

She gets to her work of serving everyone food listening to them saying words about her on her every move which she ignores. Once they ate they went back to the lounge as she brings all the deserts out for them serving them again.

"This is so disgusting". Aunt said as she spilled all her desert she worked so hard on

"Oh no, is something wrong?". She asked worriedly

"You have no sense of making deserts". Aunt screamed making her flinch back

She looks at the ground not saying anything.

"My daughter was such a better choice than this stupid woman. She was more educated, mannered and not unhallowed like her". Aunt said smiling at the thought of her daughter

"Who is she?". She asked confused

Just then a woman enters and her eyes widen when she realises she is the same woman she met at the wedding of her friend.

Who claimed her husband.

"My beautiful daughter Saba". Aunt said patting her head

"Go bring me water". Another aunt ordered her

She nodded walking inside when she heard the bell ringing. Her mother-in-law watches her son entering inside who greeted everyone kissing her forehead looking around frowning.

"Where is my wife?". He asked confused

"You just came in and you are already asking about her. It's not a good manner. You should be talking to us instead". Saba's mother said," My daughter-".

"Maria". He said loudly not paying attention to anyone

He heard her hurried steps echo as her figure emerges from the kitchen with a glass of water as his voice. She quickly places the water in front of the aunt turning around to find her husband frowning but she smiles widely at him jumping to stand in front of him.

"Sameer". She said softly

His eyes soften looking down at her and his lips turn into a smile as he watches her.

"Where were you?. You always outside waiting for me". He complained sadly

She grins sheepishly, "Sorry. I was working-".

"So now you are going to complain that we made you forget?. You will tell him that we asked you to work so much and how cruel we are". Aunt said

Sameer frowns not liking the way they spoke to his wife, "Aunt, you are my mother's friend and I respect you but she is my wife and you need to respect her too".

They all gasped.

"Sameer, you go". She said knowing everyone is now more angry not wanting him to be here

He shakes his head but when she pleaded he went to the room.

"I cannot believe she already bewitched him with her magic. These low life girls are always good at this anyway. These take advantage of our precious good son and take control of their mind. Is this the girl you selected for your son?. I knew your judgement was weak-". Saba's mother screamed angrily

"Aunt". She said stern watching how upset her mother-in-law gets after hearing that she holds her hand which she pushes away, "It's all my fault. Why are you accusing her?. She is an amazing woman who raised an amazing son. She didn't know about who or what I am. She is a very strong and good woman. Don't say mean things to her, please".

Another round of gasped. This time though they all started to leave beside Saba.

"I am sorry". She said to her mother-in-law who walked away

She sighs.

She walks upstairs entering the room to find her husband sitting there angrily.

"Sam-". She started

"Don't. Is this been happening since the day you came here?". He asked trying to control his rage

"Arey nahi (oh no), forget about it". She said smiling

"Don't lie to me, Maria". He said firm

She smiles sweetly at him looking at him adorably, "Please. We have a party to be at".

He didn't want to give up and decided to deal with this later.

He nodded.

She grins and he chuckles placing his hand on her cheek caressing her cheeks, "Go and get ready".

******
"Did I tell you that you look beautiful?". He whispers to her as they exit their room

She giggles, "Many times".

He shrugged, "You look beautiful what can I do?".

She laughs.

She stops when she finds Saba glaring at them. He turns to find his ex-finance standing there. His hand tightened around his wife pulling her closer for comfort.

"What is she doing here?". He asked as anger sweep through his veins