Sanyukta shook Ranvijay lightly, and he groaned, opening his eyes groggily.
“Ghar aa gaya... chaliye,” she said softly but firmly.
He sighed, sitting up and taking a moment to return to his senses.
He stepped out of the car, glanced back at Sanyukta, and held out his hand, making her smile faintly.
Inside the house, everyone had gathered to welcome the new bride. Pushpa performed their aarti with a warm smile, followed by the customary rituals to welcome them home.
“It’s time for the post-wedding games!” Anushka chirped excitedly, her energy lighting up the room.
Ranvijay looked at her as though she had lost her mind. “Main nahi khel raha... tum log khel lo,” he said nonchalantly, yawning as if he hadn’t heard a word she said.
“Bhaiiii! It’s a part of the rituals!” Anushka whined, trying to persuade him.
“Chahe ab yeh Olympics ka part kyun na ho… main toh sohne jaa raha hoon,” Ranvijay quipped, ignoring her protests as he gently took a sleeping Avu from Ranveer’s arms and made his way upstairs.
“Maa, aap rok lo na unko!” Anushka pleaded, turning to Pushpa in frustration.
Pushpa shook her head, smiling. “Beta, ab woh kuch nahi karega. Let him rest. Kal kar lenge baaki ki rasmein. Waise bhi, sab log thake hue hain, and it’s already past midnight.”
She turned to Kirti and Anushka. “Tum dono Sanyukta ko uske kamre tak chhod do aur thodi madad bhi kar dena,” she instructed, looking at Sanyukta with a kind smile. Sanyukta nodded softly, acknowledging her mother-in-law’s care.
As they entered the room, they found Ranvijay already sprawled on the bed in just his shorts. Avu, his clothes discarded on the floor, lay curled up beside him.
Sanyukta sighed and shook her head. Anushka, rolling her eyes, turned to escort Sanyukta to the dressing room connected to the walk-in wardrobe.
Sanyukta observed her surroundings keenly, noting every detail of her new space. Anushka and Kirti helped her remove her heavy jewelry and undo her bun.
Sanyukta sighed in relief. “Thank you for your help... ab main kar lungi. Tum dono bhi jaake so jao,” she said warmly.
Anushka and Kirti hugged her before leaving. Left alone, Sanyukta pulled out a simple pair of clothes from her suitcase, neatly placed in the room. She removed her heavy lehenga, muttering to herself, “Finally, I can breathe.”
She wiped off her makeup and freshened up, letting her skin breathe. When she returned to the bedroom, she chuckled at the sight of blown-out candles and scattered flowers on the floor.
He must’ve dusted the bed before sleeping, she thought with a shake of her head.
Noticing Avu lying in just his diaper, she groaned in frustration. “Typical Ranvijay,” she muttered. Retrieving a set of clothes, she dressed Avu carefully, ensuring he wouldn’t catch a cold at night.
Avu stirred slightly but calmed, snuggling closer to his mother’s warmth. She lay beside him, pulling him close, their usual sleeping arrangement.
The unfamiliarity of her surroundings made sleep elusive, but exhaustion soon took over.
---
Sanyukta woke early, as usual, smiling at the sight of Avu snuggled into her. She kissed his chubby cheeks gently before glancing over at Ranvijay, who was fast asleep.
Her lips curved in amusement. The same man who looks so innocent while sleeping is full of mischief and wit when awake, she thought, shaking her head.
Rising carefully, she left Avu sleeping with his father and got ready in a soft anarkali. She adorned herself with matching bangles, a pendant bearing Avu’s name, her mangalsutra, and anklets. As she looked in the mirror, she smiled at her reflection.
God has been kind to give me a second chance at life—a new beginning with Ranvijay. He has unknowingly become the light in my once-cloudy life, she thought with gratitude.
Downstairs, the house was still quiet, with only cleaners moving around. Taking advantage of the time, Sanyukta explored the mansion. Passing a room, she heard Dadi coughing and knocked softly.
“Come in,” Dadi called.
“Good morning, Dadi,” Sanyukta greeted, stepping inside and touching her feet.
Dadi smiled warmly. “Arey, Sanyukta! Itni jaldi uth gayi beta?”
Sanyukta nodded with a small smile. “Dadi , main toh ek ghante se uthi hui hoon. Akela pura ghar bhi dekh liya,” she informed with a hint of pride.
Dadi chuckled. “Idhar koi itna jaldi nahi uthta. Aur tera nalayak pati toh dopehar tak soya rahega,” she teased.
Sanyukta laughed softly, helping Dadi to the main hall where Pushpa was instructing the staff. Sanyukta greeted her mother-in-law respectfully, who patted her head with a small smile.
"Itna jaldi uthne ki zaroorat nahi thi, Sanyukta... aaram kar leti," Pushpa said, her voice soft with concern.
"Vo Maa, mujhe aadat hai jaldi uthne ki," Sanyukta replied with a small, polite smile.
The two shared a quiet moment over tea while Dadi narrated stories about the family’s history and traditions. Meanwhile, Pushpa kept herself busy instructing the workers bustling around the house.
"Morning, Bhabhiiiii!" Anushka greeted Sanyukta cheerfully, her hair disheveled and still in her pajamas, making Sanyukta chuckle at her carefree appearance.
Soon, Ranveer, Anjali, little Aarvi, and the rest of the family joined them in the hall.
"Aaj games khelenge!" Anushka declared with enthusiasm, sitting beside Sanyukta with a wide grin.
"Pehle sab nashta karenge aur tum jaake apna huliya sudharo! Uthte hi games!" Pushpa chided softly, shaking her head, which made Anushka pout like a child.
"Arey, sab karenge," Dadi interjected with a chuckle, "par aaj Sanyukta ki pehli rasoi bhi toh hai. Aur uske haath se diya bhi toh lagwana hai mandir mein."
"Ji Maa," Pushpa nodded in agreement before turning to Sanyukta with an encouraging look. Sanyukta, ever eager to fulfill her new responsibilities, quickly got to her feet and followed her mother-in-law silently, ready to perform the traditional rituals.
"Kuch meetha bana lo jo bhi tumhe aata hai, bas yaad rakhna kuch alag se nikal lena Prasad ke liye," Pushpa instructed gently and asked one of the helpers to assist Sanyukta with anything she might need.
Sanyukta thought for a moment before deciding to prepare moong dal halwa, a dish her mother always praised. A small smile appeared on her face as she got busy with the preparations, pouring her heart into the task.
Anjali peeked into the kitchen midway and asked, "Koi madad chahiye, Sanyukta?"
Sanyukta shook her head with a polite smile. "Nahi, Bhabhi , helpers hain yahan. Main kar lungi."
Satisfied, Anjali left, leaving Sanyukta fully immersed in her task. The aroma of roasted lentils and ghee soon filled the kitchen as she worked methodically. She carefully ladled some of the halwa into a separate bowl for the Prasad, but just as she was about to place it aside—
"Sanyukta!" Ranvijay’s voice boomed through the kitchen, startling her so much that the bowl slipped from her hands. The halwa spilled across the floor, and Sanyukta froze, staring at the mess in shock.
Ranvijay stood at the doorway, ruffling his hair and looking half-asleep, oblivious to the chaos he had just caused.
Pushpa entered the kitchen at that exact moment, her sharp eyes taking in the scattered halwa on the floor. Sanyukta gulped nervously, her heart racing as she feared her mother-in-law’s reaction.
"M-Maa, inhone giraya hai!" she blurted out, pointing accusingly at Ranvijay, who was still standing at the doorway in his sleepy state.
Ranvijay, now fully alert, stared at her in shock, his brows furrowing in disbelief. Sanyukta, desperate to avoid Pushpa’s wrath on her first day in the house, pleaded with her eyes for him to play along.
"Avu uth gaya hai... go and check on him," Ranvijay said nonchalantly, recovering quickly. He waved toward the remaining halwa in the pan. "Aur yeh lo, halwa toh aur bhi hai."
Grateful for his quick thinking, Sanyukta hurriedly left the kitchen, sparing him a small, thankful glance. Ranvijay watched her go and then turned to his mother with a sheepish smile.
Pushpa folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Suna tha bete badal jaate hain shaadi ke baad, par mera beta toh shaadi ke agle din hi jhooth bolne laga apni biwi ke liye!" she remarked, gesturing toward the mess on the floor.
Ranvijay shrugged with an innocent expression and teased, "Ab kya karoon, Maa? Meri pyari Maa ne meri biwi ko itna dara diya hai ki ek bowl halwa ke liye jhooth bolna pad raha hai." He leaned forward, pinching her cheek playfully.
"Mene kuch nahi kaha hai usse!" Pushpa defended herself, clearly caught off guard.
Ranvijay chuckled, his eyes glinting with humor. "Dekh lo! Bina kahe hi itni dari hui hai aapse. Kya hi image hogi aapki uski nazar mein, Maa."
Pushpa narrowed her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched upward. "Apni chhavi sudharo, Pushpaaaa," Ranvijay added dramatically, faking mock seriousness.
Pushpa slapped his hand lightly, unable to hold back a smile. Ranvijay laughed at her reaction and leaned in to kiss her cheek affectionately.
Ranvijay entered the room, narrowing his eyes at Sanyukta, who was busy getting Avu dressed.
"Subah-subah jhooth... Bhagwan se dar, ladki! Shaadi ke agle din hi apne brand-new pati ki jaan ki dushman ban gayi ho!" he declared dramatically, flopping onto the bed beside Avu and tickling the little one, who burst into giggles.
Sanyukta glanced at him, her lips twitching into a smile. "Chor ke ghar chori karna koi crime nahi hai, vaise hi jhoothe ko jhootha fasana bhi galat nahi hona chahiye," she retorted, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Shuru kar diya apna asli roop dikhana!" Ranvijay exclaimed theatrically, clutching his chest as if mortally wounded, making her laugh softly.
"And this, from someone who blamed me for watching TV serials!" Sanyukta shot back, her tone laced with humor.
Ranvijay gasped, putting on an exaggerated display of fake tears. "Look, Mumma is making fun of Daddy, Avu!" he cried out, pretending to be hurt.
Avu, ever the peacekeeper, turned to his mother with wide, innocent eyes. "Mumaaaa no! Say sry to Daddy!" he scolded, his chubby arms wrapping protectively around Ranvijay as he planted a kiss on his cheek.
Sanyukta rolled her eyes at her husband’s antics but melted at Avu’s sweet demand. Smiling helplessly, she sighed and leaned in closer. "Sorry ," she said, her tone playful, knowing it was for her baby’s happiness.
Ranvijay gave a victorious grin, looking at her smugly. "Aur kuch seekho mere bacche se," he teased, pulling Avu closer as if to gloat over his win.
Aarvi came to their room with Kirti to call them for breakfast. Avu excitedly followed them out, leaving Sanyukta and Ranvijay alone in the room.
Ranvijay lazily flopped onto the bed, burying his face into the pillow. Sanyukta sighed, crossing her arms as she watched him.
"Fresh ho jaaiye, sabse pehle soye the aap... aur ab phir se sona hai," she remarked, shaking her head.
He didn’t bother to respond, simply shutting his eyes tighter, as if to ignore her completely.
"Waise, sone se yaad aaya... koi rituals ki baat kar raha tha, specially suhagraat ki,” Sanyukta teased, folding her dupatta neatly. “Aur phir khud hi so gaye.”
Ranvijay’s eyes opened instantly, and a smirk crept onto his lips. "I see, kuch rituals pending hain... and being an obedient husband, how could I ignore my wife's favorite ritual, that too on the first day?" he said, propping himself on his elbow with a teasing grin.
Sanyukta raised her brows and decided to play along. "Bad luck, ab toh time gaya suhagraat ka. It’s over already," she quipped, biting back a smile.
Ranvijay smirked and, without warning, grabbed her arm, pulling her onto the mattress beside him. She let out a shriek at his sudden move.
"Suhagraat ke liye husband aur wife chahiye... day or time doesn’t really matter," he whispered huskily, his deep gaze locking onto hers. Sanyukta’s cheeks flushed crimson.
"Main mazaak kar rahi thi..." she muttered, trying to calm her racing heartbeat as she looked away.
Ranvijay chuckled, his tone cheeky. "Kuch mazaak mehngay pad jaate hain, biwi, lene ke dene pad jaate hain," he teased, enjoying her embarrassment.
Her eyes widened at his boldness, and she quickly tried to get up, but he held her back gently, making her face him.
"By the way," he added, his tone turning playful again, "agar tumhara mann badle suhagraat ke baare mein, toh bata dena... I’m always ready." He winked shamelessly, making her gasp in disbelief.
"Besharam!" she muttered, shoving him back onto the mattress. He laughed heartily, clearly enjoying her flustered state as her face turned a deep shade of red.
Embarrassed, Sanyukta quickly left the room to join the others at the breakfast table, leaving Ranvijay grinning behind her.
At the table, everyone was savoring the halwa. The compliments kept coming, but the one that mattered most was from Ranvijay.
“Halwa is super tasty !” he praised with a smile, earning a shy but happy glance from Sanyukta.
Write a comment ...