Hi, I just found your stories by recommendation from a writer who I really like on IF. Just caught up to ALS and simply looove this one. I love that era when India was fighting for independence as I watched too many Movies about this as a kid. Your characters are amazing and you depict their feelings so well. I loved the conflicted young man who even though is diagonally opposite to his father still needs to stay in the haveli with him until his studies are done. I love the the little girl losing her family and simply accepting her husband even though she has no clue what it means to be a wife. I have a feeling she is about to grow up really fast in the coming updates having made up her mind to become a woman. Funny how he is noticing the changes in her and how he has to fight his demons. It is the painful reality of being a human, we have needs and we feel. It is how we control it is what differentiate us from each other. Even though it sounds totally unreasonable for a 14 year old to consume her marriage (who can imagine a 14 year old to be married as well nowadays right?), it was fairly common in those days. Let's face it, it is still happening in remote areas illegally. So I hope that instead of turning to the courtesans, he takes the time to get to know her. Of course it does not help that he is rightfully against the concept of child bride. You are doing a great job at depicting the issues, the conflicts and how each one are reacting to this. No one is right or wrong, so it is hard to be mad at any of these characters. They are what they are due to their situation and upbringing. What is nice though, is how Kushi is still given some space to have somewhat a breathing room to ease into the life that is expected from her. I love her relationships with his brother and her Nani.