Hours of wait had passed as the well lit house with fancy decorations welcomed the newlyweds. The swollen eyes of its residents filled with excitement upon seeing the cars. The commotion in the front of the Mehra house was a bit too much for 5 in the morning but neighbours didn’t mind instead they were also waiting with the Mehra family for the newest member of the family: the bride, the eldest daughter-in-law.

The structure was old probably 60-70 years old, had small windows and metal doors. The area was surrounded with trees, so many of trees. It must have been built when the area wasn’t all that developed and got upgrades with time: ‘New body with old bones’.

Vardhaan hopped out of the car as soon as the engine turned off, stretched his long limbs.

“Lieutenant Sir, you shouldn’t get tired so easily. It might shed bad light on your capabilities”. A hoarse voice commented from the crowd. Vardhaan teased the person with throwing a punch from the distance. Everyone laughed.

This woke Rati up; she rubbed her eyes a little soaking in the surrounding. “Not many houses in the neighbourhood just 6 to 7 big houses which suggested good relations among them, which means many special guests close enough to be considered like family. I hate it!” she sighed.

She took a deep breath and got out of the car getting stares from the family. Some smiled, some were in awe and she was awkward. The ladies came forward to greet the couple. Rati was tired and wanted to sleep instead she was surrounded by a bunch women asking “Are you okay?"

“Did you sleep well?”

“How was the journey?”

“Do you miss your home already?”

“How about bonding with our handsome boy”

“did you guys get to know each other” All these questions made her annoyed and the thing that she couldn’t tell or show how annoyed she was made her even more annoyed.

An elderly woman came to their rescue “why not go and haunt someone else with your questions. You all have started going crazy due to lack of sleep… Just leave my kids alone.” She was short in height and walked fast taking small steps, wrinkled eyes, her lips smiled upon seeing Vardhaan and Rati.

“What granny… we were just asking to let her know we care…” A woman complained.

“That isn’t Caring, that’s Scaring! Now move and let them in.”

“Ah! You look so pretty.” She said holding Rati’s hand, with affectionate look in her eyes. She performed the welcome rituals along with other ladies of the family. Rati was exhausted emotionally and physically but so was everyone. The Mehras had prepared for the rituals the whole night and the way it was performed she could tell everyone wanted to be done with it as fast as they could. It was about an hour and all the rituals were finally over. Grandma patted Rati’s cheeks and told Vardhaan to show her the room. Vardhaan winked at the grandmother and accompanied Rati into his room. The room was neat and well kept; decorated with flowers, 6-7 luggage sitting in the corner, king size bed with peach coloured sheets. It smelled like sandalwood and roses. She sat on the bed with slumped shoulders and sighed deeply looking at the lug gages: Her lug gages, which she’d have to unpack soon. She felt like screaming in anger.

“That is going to be a lot of work.” Vardhaan said pointing at the luggage with his eyes.

Rati’s shoulders stiffened hearing this; for a moment she forgot she wasn’t alone here. She was in his room, on his bed, sharing his space.”What have I done! “She thought to herself. “now we will be sharing a bed” her mind screamed at this point. She was tired so she put the thoughts to sleep and tried to act normal.

“Where is the bathroom?” she asked.

Vardhaan’s heart fluttered to the sound of her voice. “Right end of the corridor.” This was the first time she had talked after their first meeting which a few months ago.

“Thanks. And where’s the kitchen?”

”What do you want? I‘ll get it.”

“No, it’s...”

“I’ll bring it. What do you want? Also there might be someone waiting with questions and you look too tired for that.” He was right. She was tired and wanted to be left alone.

“Water… Cold water “ Vardhaan left after he got the answer; she again relaxed her shoulders and lowered herself on the bed feeling the soft mattress press against her back. The sweet moment of calm and peace after a crazy week made lips curl in a smile.

---------------------------------

Vardhaan really liked that she asked him something, it wasn’t a big thing though but still made him feel good. It was silly and he knew it but again it wasn’t something he got to experience often. He found himself to be a complete different version of himself than he thought he would be when with her; or maybe he never knew how he would act around a girl. “Gift of the boy’s boarding school” he scoffed.

He took a bottle from the fridge and some fruits.

“What are you doing here?” Payal asked seeing him in the kitchen.

“Oh Aunty! I came to get water and something to eat”

“This fool! That’s all you give to your bride: an apple and water. That’s all you have to offer? You want her to think we don’t have manners or we don’t care if she eats well? Huh...” she scolded him briefly and gave a glass of juice.

“Then…what do you suggest?”

“She must be hungry. It was a long journey and there are few more rituals to be performed in the evening. You take this and that kheer, make sure she eats it: Its prashaad* and I’ll bring the rest.”

(Prashaad*- devotional offerings made to god (typically edibles like fruit, sweets, sweet dishes) later on shared among devotees)