Vardhaan came back in the room only to find Rati sleeping in foetal position. He knocked on the door making her aware of his presence, she sat upright, startled.

"I didn’t mean to scare you! Sorry. Aunty sent this for you; it’s prashaad. Did you freshen up?" He asked placing the tray on the bed carefully.

"I fell asleep. A minute please" She answered removing her jewellery one by one and placing on the side table.

“Yeah, sure” he replied, a bit in daze witnessing the site before his eyes. Not to come off as a creep, he averted his eyes by looking for his clothes in the almirah.

Rati was removing the mangtika* (a kind of jewellery for forehead) letting rogue strands of hair fall on the oval shaped face. She freed her ears from heavy gold earrings, then removed the nose ring followed by her heavy embroidered deep red dupatta* (*a piece of cloth approximately 2 to 2.5 metres used as head cover or stole). Then one by one her necklaces, hand jewellery and then waistband. She took out a small bottle and cotton from a small carry bag stacked in the pile of luggage and started removing her makeup.

After a little struggle Vardhaan found his comfy sweat pants and tees. He pulled the t-shirt without much thought and all the clothes stacked over it fell to the ground. Rati turned to the sound of the soft thud and found a grown up man trying to fix the mess by brushing it under the almirah. She thought to herself “Is this how he works when on duty: Brushing things under.”

"Those were all ironed" said Payal entering the room with a tray full of food. Vardhaan, startled, greeted her with an awkward smile.

"I've told you not to put too much clothes in it." He said in a failed attempt to defend his actions.

"Those are all yours. Where else should I put them?"

"I... ll go get changed." he escaped further embarrassment.

"He likes his things all clean and organised, but acts lazy sometimes. Let me help you". Payal said to Rati.

"I'm almost done. It's okay. Thank you".

"Come on don’t be shy. Enjoy all the attention and help while you can. You must let people pamper you while you are in limelight…you know.” She suggested. “Here is food, eat and sleep for a while there is a few post marriage rituals to perform then there will be a small party. If you need help or anything come to the room in the left to the kitchen. Eat well."

Payal was the aunt of Vardhaan and only daughter of his grandma. She had a round face with deep set round eyes, average height around 5 feet. She had a warm air around her and a calm resting face, she seemed grounded and kind.

"Yes ...Aunty”.

She smiled and said holding Rati's hand, "God bless you pretty one.” Smiling at her she continued “You see we all have been there and felt the same what you are feeling now. ; Left our house to be with someone... a stranger and his family. It’s alright to feel weird, don’t try too hard. Just give it time. You will settle and find your place here and in his life.”

Rati felt a sense of familiarity listening to this, but not too much, just enough to not panic at the thought of new life. “I think you wouldn’t even need to try for the latter, Vardhaan seems so happy since the day he met you, I bet he would carry you around in his arms not letting you do a thing, if you let him.” She teased Rati lifting off the serious atmosphere.

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

Vardhaan jumped on his cousin’s bed taking up all the space.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your wife in your room doing things a couple should be doing when they are together?” Nitin said smirking at Vardhaan. A big mahawar* painted foot kicked Nitin lightly in the stomach.

( Mahawar*-deep red colour liquid used to colour feet of bride and groom)

“Jerk! Have some manners. We are older than you, Son!” “And I was told to sleep here for a few days. Is there a problem?”

“Of course, I have a problem… I don’t approve of that”

“Really… but it doesn’t matter…’cause no one cares.”

“This is my room… and you are not sleeping here.” Nitin said firmly.

“Like I said… I don’t care” Vardhaan mocked.

Nitin frustrated, tried pushing him out of the bed and failed. He said after another failed attempt “Okay! I’ll let this one go…But just because it’s your wedding.”

Vardhaan looked at the 19 year old boy, whose eyes were squinted with disagreement; his eyes shone with an idea, he said “O no, no! You shouldn’t let people get away that easily…that too, after kicking you and barging in your room, newlywed or not.”

Nitin now knew he was in trouble. Not wanting to show he was nervous he said “I don’t. It’s just that you are family and older than me and also a soldier…you can be excused. And you were just joking around… I know.”

“Oh really? “ Vardhaan said teasing him and in a swift motion wrapped his hand around Nitin’s neck pretending to choke him.

“Maa*, Vidhu* is….” Nitin opened his mouth to scream for help which was immediately closed shut by a big hand.

(Maa*- mother)

“sshhh… stop screaming I wasn’t going to kill you. What a coward? How long are you going to run to your mother? Tsk tsk idiot. Grow up” Vardhaan said hitting him on the head.

“Why? You scared that Maa will scold you” Nitin triumply said.

“A soldier is never scared.” “Have some balls! Either stop messing around or be a man and face the mess you’ve created.” He replied in a serious tone and went to his side of the bed trying to sleep.

Nitin, irritated, went back to playing on this phone, mumbling something under his breath.