It was past 8 in the morning. The residents and guests at the Mehra house were somewhere between sleeping and half awake. Some were in the hall, some in the living room, a few in corridors or any place that seemed fine enough to snooze; waited for a cup of strong tea to wake them up. A few chatted while others waited for their turn to freshen up.

“All hail the tea.” Vardhaan said as he and Nitin came with huge kettles and kulhads*.

(Kulhad* – clay cup.)

“Aha! I already feel fresh.” One of the guests said. “I’ll have his then since he already feels fresh.” Another guest teased and like that the mood went from lazy and dull to cheerful and fun.

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“Tea, anyone?” Vardhaan asked peeking into grandmother’s room. The room full of ladies turned to the voice. His eyes unconsciously travelled from face to face in search of the person whose voice pulled him in when he was serving tea in the living room.

“She is taking shower. Wanna join her?” A woman said from the group making everyone laugh. “Yeah… give him ideas and he might.” Another woman teased. “Can’t do that in his granny’s bathroom... he’ll need to build a bathroom attached to his room.” A young woman said.

“What?” He said absent minded. The women laughed even more.

“I’ve heard love is blind but no one said it is deaf too.” Mrs. Mehra said teasing him.

“Everyone having fun. Huh…” He said with a smug face. “I’ll have mine, once you all are gone.” All laughed.

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Rati, a little annoyed, was in her room looking through the luggage for hair drier when she heard familiar soft knock on the door.

“Need help.” Vardhaan asked eyeing the opened bags.

“Thanks, but No.” she said. “You need something?”

“No no. this. I came to give this.” He said handing her the cup of hot tea.

“Isn’t it little late for tea.” She said taking the cup from his hand. Her hand grazed over his.

“Your Father… Papa* called. Where is your phone? Your mo… Maa* wanted to talk but your number is out of reach.” He said subtly cupping his hand that touched hers with the other like he was holding something fragile.

“Yeah… it’s dead, I guess. It had low battery.” She said resuming her search, blowing on the tea.

“Take mine. They must be worried.” He said pulling out his phone from the pocket

“It’s okay. I’ll talk later.” She said moving to the next bag. She gathered her wet hair to one side. His eyes devoured at the sight of profound beauty of simplicity. She wore a blue saare, bangles and toe-rings being the only jewellery on her and her hair still wet. She raised an eyebrow at him, she had caught him looking at her. He quickly averted his eyes and turned to leave then stopped and turned back.

“You are beautiful.”

“Thanks. You too.” She said making it a formal exchange of compliments. “Is he flirting?” she thought.

“Keeping things formal are we?” he thought. “I’ve wanted to say that for a long time…” he said.

“Long time? I came here just yesterday.” She smirked.

“I mean since we meet.”

“Umhmm. Well you could’ve.” She said.

“Yeah…” he said nodding his head.

“Could you ask Aunty to come here?”

“You need something? Maybe I can help.”

“Is she not at home?” she asked.

“No, she is home, but if I can help since I am already here.” He suggested.

“I need her to apply the sindoor*.” She said gesturing at her middle parted hair.

(Sindoor*- is a traditional vermillion red or orange-red coloured cosmetic powder from India, usually worn by married women along the part of their hair.)

“Can’t you do that yourself, it isn’t that hard to apply.” He said not understanding why she needed help with such simple task.

“I was told not to apply it myself, for like 21 days or so.” She cleared his confusion.

“Oh… and you sure I can’t help with that?” he asked considering that he was the one to do it for the first time at the weeding.

“It must be applied by an older married woman of the family and I don’t think you fit the requirements, do you?” she taunted him controlling her laughter.

“Yeah… I’ll call her.” He had made a fool of himself. “I was going out with cousins. You want something…” he said scratching back of his neck.

“No. I’m good.”

“Yes…you are.” He said under his breath and left.

“Well, you could’ve…. That didn’t sound flirty at all. Idiot” she muttered sarcastically once he had left. “Did he really have no idea about the 21days thing or was he acting dumb… ‘Cause if it was an act then… he is annoying but… if not ‘that was cute’.

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Mr. and Mrs. Mehra, grandmother, Payal and Nitin were sending off the guests. Rati and Vardhaan sat on the couch receiving money, gifts and such from the relatives. She had been sitting and smiling for what felt like a really long time. The guests were gone after saying their goodbyes and blessing the couple. Finally the house was quite.

“It feels so nice. Eating peacefully. That Uncle from Patna kept nagging at me whenever I ate. I think he kept looking for the opportunity to do so.” Nitin complained while eating.

“You must’ve done something to make him mad.” Payal said.

“No, I didn’t. Maa…see, Payal aunty keeps making me the wrong one.” He complained to Mrs. Mehra.

“Just eat. Now you are the one nagging.” Mr. Mehra silenced him.

“Rati, Did you talked to your parents? They called but with all the guests leaving I forgot to tell you.” Grandmother asked.

Rati was about to answer when Payal said “she too was busy, Maa. With all the guests hovering over her.”

“Sister-in-law, do you like our house?” Nitin asked.

“It’s nice.” Rati replied.

“Have you seen the mango tree in the back garden? Its mangoes are very sweet. I planted it.” He said with enthusiasm.

“No, I haven’t.”

“She just came. Let her take it all in. OK.” Payal said. “Eat and let her eat too.”

“Thanks Aunty, I kind of like you already.” Rati thought, remembering her assuring words and warm nature from the last night.

Everyone ate in silence enjoying the peace after months. Finally it was all back to normal in the Mehra house.