Sanyukta carefully arranged Ranvijay's belongings on the cot as he went to the bathroom to freshen up. Her gaze softened as it fell on her henna design, lovingly made by him. A small, determined smile graced her lips as she thought, "I know you’re hurt, but I’ll make it up to you."
“Mummaaaa!” A cheerful voice broke her train of thought as little Avu entered the room, dressed adorably in a bright yellow kurta. His curious eyes scanned the room. “Whr izz Dadyyy?” he asked, looking around, his tone impatient yet endearing.
Sanyukta let out a sigh, feigning annoyance. “Why is it always Daddy, Daddy, Daddy? You’ve completely forgotten me, haven’t you?” she pouted dramatically, narrowing her eyes at him.
Avu grinned, his innocent face lighting up as he blinked up at her cutely. “Of cous nottt,” he said, dragging out the word in his sweet, playful tone, making her chuckle.
“Ohhh, so now you’ve started talking just like your Daddy, huh?” she teased, raising an eyebrow before launching a surprise tickle attack. Avu’s melodious giggles filled the room, a sound so pure and joyful it made Sanyukta’s heart swell.
She showered his little face with kisses, holding him snugly in her arms as he squirmed. “Ahhh, nooo, Mummaaa! Mela hair styl gandaa ho jayegaaa !” he protested in his tiny, dramatic voice, making Sanyukta sigh in mock exasperation.
“My cutieee pie,” she cooed, chuckling as she pinched his soft, round cheeks.
“Nottt cuteeeee!” Avu corrected her with a determined frown. “Hansom!”
Sanyukta rolled her eyes, unable to hold back a laugh at his insistence. Her heart brimmed with affection for her little charmer, whose innocence and confidence were enough to brighten her world.
Ranvijay stepped out of the bathroom, clad only in a towel, his damp hair dripping slightly. Spotting him, Avu ran toward him with uncontainable excitement.
“Daddyyy! Look at my clothes!” Avu exclaimed, spinning a little to show off his bright yellow kurta. His big, hopeful eyes waited for the reaction he knew would come.
Ranvijay didn’t disappoint, his face lighting up with exaggerated surprise. “Wowwwww! You look so smart and handsome, Avuuu!” he praised, making Avu’s grin stretch ear to ear.
“Thankuuu Dadyyyy!” Avu replied sweetly, leaning in as Ranvijay kissed his chubby cheek.
“Now you also get ready fasttt and commm... okayyyyy?” Avu instructed in his cutest tone, pointing his tiny finger at him for emphasis. Ranvijay nodded obediently, and Avu happily waved at his parents before running off.
“Uhhhrrmmm…” Sanyukta cleared her throat, drawing Ranvijay’s attention. “Jii, what will you wear? The white kurta with the yellow jacket or the yellow kurta with the white jacket?” she asked with a smile, holding up both options.
Without saying a word, Ranvijay reached for the white pair and began putting it on.
“Jutey pehnenge ya sandals?” she asked again, trying to coax him into speaking, but he ignored her, busy drying his hair.
Her patience waned, and she stepped closer. “Ab aap baat bhi nahi karenge mujhse?” she asked softly, standing beside him.
He finally glanced at her, though only for a brief moment, before continuing to adjust his outfit. “Kuch important nahi laga mujhe baat karne jaisa,” he said curtly, fastening his watch.
Ranvijay moved to the vanity, searching for his perfume but coming up empty-handed. Sanyukta, always attentive, stepped forward and handed it to him without a word.
His gaze fell on her hand, where his name was beautifully inscribed in her henna design. For a second, he paused, taking it in.
“Maine likha tha,” she said softly, her eyes blinking innocently, just like Avu’s.
Ranvijay simply nodded, taking the perfume from her and applying it.
“Aap ready hoke aa jaiyega… main neeche ja rahi hoon,” she said, her tone steady yet tinged with hope. Turning, she walked out of the room and headed downstairs.
Pausing at the top of the staircase, she murmured to herself, “Thoda mushkil hai, par maan jaayenge.” With a determined smile, she joined the other ladies, silently cheering herself on.
Roshini called out to Sanyukta with a warm request, “Beta, kuch copper ke bartan hai… ussi mei haldi rakhni hai. Ek baar zara unhe achhe se dho do, raakh aur nimbu se.”
Sanyukta nodded with a polite smile and went to gather ash from the clay stove, mixing it with lemon to clean the copper utensils. The kitchen bustled with activity—Sonam was busy preparing the haldi paste, while Anjali fed little Avu and Aarvi.
“Beta, zara ye baaki ke bartan bhi dho do… haldi ke baad sab nashta bhi karege,” Roshini’s devarani chimed in, motioning toward the pile of used utensils.
“Jii… main kar deti hoon,” Sanyukta replied softly, glancing at the mountain of dirty dishes before rolling up her sleeves.
She began scrubbing diligently, her hands working tirelessly over the large, heavy kadais that took extra effort to clean. Outside, the Haldi function was in full swing. Laughter and joy echoed as Ranvijay smeared haldi all over Arnav’s face, with Ranveer and the others joining in the fun.
“Arey, Sanyukta kahan hai?” Anjali asked, her gaze scanning the crowd.
“Hona toh yahi chahiye tha,” Roshini replied, frowning in confusion.
Ranvijay’s eyes darted around, searching for her. When he finally found her, standing alone in the kitchen, scrubbing utensils while everyone else celebrated, an intense wave of anger surged through him.
He stormed into the kitchen, his voice sharp with frustration. “Yaha kya kar rahi ho?”
The suddenness of his tone startled her, making her jump. Before she could answer, he grabbed the plate from her hand and slammed it down onto the slab, the loud clatter echoing through the room.
“Sab log vaha enjoy kar rahe hai, and you’re here doing dishes?!” he demanded, his teeth clenched tightly in anger. His voice grew more biting. “Majdoori karne ka itna shauk hai toh bata deti mujhe pehle hi!”
Sanyukta tried to explain in a small voice. “Mujhe kaha tha, toh main kar rahi thi…” She fidgeted, wiping her wet hands on her dupatta.
“Koi kuch bhi kahega, aur tum karne lag jaogi?” he asked in disbelief, his eyes narrowing at her.
“I was just trying to help, Ranvijay… aap please gussa mat kariye,” she said, reaching out to hold his arm in an effort to calm him.
“Help? Kiski help?” he shot back, his voice rising. “Ye konsi help hai, jaha sab log haldi laga rahe hain aur tum yaha sabke juthe bartan dho rahi ho!”
Sanyukta sighed, her voice soft but steady. “Kaam karne se koi chota ho jata hai kya?”
Ranvijay groaned, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. “Nahi! Par akele sab kaam karne se ghada zaroor ho jata hai, aur tu hai Gadhi!”
Sanyukta looked down, biting her lip as he continued his tirade. “Akal naam ki cheez hai ya nahi? Kya karne aayi thi yaha? Logo ke taane sunne aur gadho ki tarah kaam karne?”
Pausing for a moment, he shook his head in disbelief. “Help them when everyone is doing it,” he said sharply, his voice softening just slightly when he saw her faint smile.
“Daant mat dikha ab,” he muttered, his annoyance flaring again.
“Sorry,” she whispered, her voice almost inaudible.
Ranvijay let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “Tujhe samjhana hi bekaar hai. Sorry? Like seriously? Hadh hoti hai!” He threw up his hands in frustration. “Kar, yaar, tu! Dho bartan!” he snapped, walking out of the kitchen in exasperation.
Sanyukta stomped her foot in frustration, muttering under her breath. “Bhagwan ji, ye kya ho raha hai mere saath? Har baat pe gussa ho rahe hai mujhse…” She looked upward, her tone almost pleading. “Please make him normal again.”
Murmuring to herself, she quickly followed him out of the kitchen, determined to diffuse his anger once again.
Ranvijay called out to Roshini, who was chatting with a group of women. His voice was calm but carried a sharp undertone. “Bua, aap isse ache se pay kar dena kal humare jaane se pehle,” he said, gesturing toward Sanyukta.
Sanyukta instinctively looked away, knowing the storm in his words and that he would not take the situation lightly.
“Asa kyu bol raha hai, Ranvijay?” Pushpa Ji asked, stepping into the conversation, her tone concerned.
“Toh aur kya bolu, Maa? Sab enjoy kar rahe hai aur ye juthe bartan dho rahi hai!” Ranvijay snapped, his frustration boiling over.
He didn’t stop there. “Kabhi koi isse taane de raha hai for being a single mother, toh kabhi koi Avu ko sautela bol raha hai. Ye kin faltu ke logo ko invite kiya hai aapne, Bua?” His voice was laced with indignation, his piercing gaze scanning the crowd.
“And if these are your relatives, then please don’t invite me or my wife to any family functions in the future,” he added sharply. “I won’t tolerate anyone saying anything to her or pointing a finger at my son. We don’t interfere in anyone’s life, and I expect the same from others.” His words were final and firm, making the surrounding women exchange uneasy glances.
“Beta, mujhe kuch nahi pata is baare mein… aur maine toh sirf ek copper bowl dhone ko kaha tha,” Roshini defended herself, her voice laced with guilt. She turned to Sanyukta, seeking her reassurance.
“Jiii, Bua Ji, aapki koi galti nahi hai… aap pareshan mat ho, please,” Sanyukta said softly, feeling bad for Roshini’s discomfort. Her response earned her a sharp glare from Ranvijay.
Ranvijay’s voice turned even colder. “Koi kuch bhi kahega aur tum chup rahogi? Tum samajhti ho yeh theek hai?” His frustration was evident, but Pushpa Ji intervened to calm the situation.
“Ranvijay, you know we can’t shut everyone’s mouth. Kitne logo se jagda karoge tum? It’s best to ignore such people,” Pushpa Ji tried reasoning.
Ranvijay turned to her, his anger simmering. “When they can open their mouths to spit out their garbage, I know how to shut them up, Maa. Ignorance might be a better tool sometimes, but not always.” His tone was resolute, and his words carried weight.
“Silence is often taken as submissiveness, and people try to put you down when you don’t answer them in their language. What they say behind our backs doesn’t matter to me. But if someone has the audacity to say it to our faces, I won’t take it lightly. Because I know how to take a stand for my wife and my son,” he declared angrily. His protectiveness was palpable, leaving Pushpa Ji with no choice but to nod in agreement.
“Aap please shaant ho jaaye,” Sanyukta whispered, her soft plea attempting to soothe his anger.
Ranvijay closed his eyes for a moment, trying to regain control of his emotions. Pushpa Ji and Roshini quietly left, sensing his volatile mood. He then turned to Sanyukta, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
“You better not tell me kya bolna hai aur kya nahi,” he warned, his voice dangerously low. “Jaha bolna chahiye, waha tumhara mute button on ho jata hai. Aur baad mein tum phir mere saamne bakwas karti ho.” His words stung, making Sanyukta look down, unable to meet his eyes.
“Ek baar sun liya hai maine. You better think twice before talking to me like that again. I don’t allow disrespect in love, Mrs. Sanyukta Shekhawat,” he said firmly, leaving the room without waiting for her response.
Sanyukta blinked back tears, the weight of his words sinking in.
Anjali approached her, noticing her downcast expression. “Kya hua, Sanyukta? Tum itni pareshaan kyu lag rahi ho?”
Sanyukta hesitated but eventually narrated the recent incident, deliberately keeping Avu’s matter a secret.
Anjali smiled gently, trying to lighten her mood. “It’s okay, Sanyukta. This is Ranvijay’s way of showing care. Tumhe khush hona chahiye ki vo sabke saamne tumhara stand le raha hai. That’s just who he is—he doesn’t care who is standing in front of him. If he feels something is wrong, he’ll fight against it.”
She continued with a chuckle. “Ranveer is the complete opposite. He always says, ‘Families mein yeh sab hota hai,’ and tries to suppress everything. He won’t even talk back to elders, and I’ve fought with him over this so many times. But uska koi fayda nahi hai. No matter what I say, he keeps smiling and doesn’t fight back. Ab aise aadmi se main kitni der akele ladti rahoon?”
Anjali’s playful complaint made Sanyukta chuckle softly. “Aap aur Ranvijay kaafi similar hai, Bhabhi. Aur main Ranveer Bhai ki tarah hoon iss matter mein. Main nahi chahti meri wajah se koi ladai ho, aur Ranvijay isi baat se mujhse gussa ho jaate hain,” she admitted with a small pout.
“It’s okay. Relax karo, and come. Apply haldi to Arnav,” Anjali said, patting her shoulder. Sanyukta nodded, feeling a bit lighter.
After the Haldi ceremony, everyone left to rest for a while as preparations for the baraat were set to begin later in the afternoon.
Sanyukta entered the room carrying a sleepy Avu in her arms. She gently laid him on the cot beside her and started patting his back softly. Within minutes, Avu drifted off to sleep, his little face serene and angelic. Sanyukta smiled warmly at her innocent baby and planted a gentle kiss on his chubby cheeks.
“Daddy, Daddy shuru ho jaayega aankhein khulte hi,” she whispered to herself, chuckling softly as she kissed his tiny palm.
Ranvijay’s voice broke her thoughts. “Bache man ke sache. Jo pyar karega aur acha hoga, uska hi naam lenge, hai na?” he said from the door, making her look up in surprise.
“Aap kab aaye?” she asked, sitting up.
Ranvijay removed his watch and silently walked to the washroom to freshen up, completely ignoring her question. His lack of response made her sigh, but she decided to stay quiet for now. She lay down beside Avu, pulling the duvet over them and patting his back gently once more before closing her eyes.
In the evening...
The vibrant beats of the dhol filled the air as the band started playing energetic music. The entire wedding party danced with unrestrained joy as the baraat began its progression.
Ranveer, Ranvijay, Sanyukta, Anu, and Kirti joined the cousins and friends on the dance floor, moving with the rhythm and celebrating with full enthusiasm. Avu sat comfortably on Ranvijay’s strong shoulders, giggling and clapping along, while Aarvi was securely held in Ranveer’s arms, enjoying the lively atmosphere.
They danced for over an hour, letting loose and enjoying every moment, before settling into their respective cars. The baraat had to reach the wedding venue, which was a two-hour drive away.
Pushpa Ji and Dadi sat with Ranveer and Anjali, while Ranvijay’s car carried Avu, Aarvi, Anu, Kirti, and Sanyukta.
“Bhai, Arnav Bhai ki car se pehle jaana hai hume! Poorvi Bhabhi ko pehle dekhna hai!” Anu said excitedly, her enthusiasm making Sanyukta chuckle softly.
“Haan toh tu pehle dekh legi toh woh tujhse shaadi kar legi kya, Poorvi?” Ranvijay teased, smirking.
“Yrr Bhai! Aap nahi samajhte!” Anu groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. “I’m just too excited to see how Poorvi Bhabhi looks as a bride!”
“And I know you must have video-called her already,” Ranvijay quipped, making Kirti laugh.
“Bhai, you’re absolutely right! She’s already called Poorvi Bhabhi three times to see her outfit!” Kirti revealed, teasing Anu further.
“Haan toh real mein aur video call mein difference hota hai!” Anu tried defending herself, pouting.
“Silly!” Ranvijay commented, shaking his head in amusement.
“Bhaiiii! I am not silly! Stop calling me that!” Anu whined, making the whole car laugh.
“Bua, you’re silly,” Aarvi muttered innocently, and Avu nodded in agreement, earning a hearty laugh from Ranvijay.
“Nooo, baby. Aisa nahi bolte bua ko. Bad manners, bacha,” Sanyukta gently corrected them, and the kids nodded obediently.
Ranvijay, however, couldn’t resist muttering under his breath. “Log khud kuch bhi bakwas karte hain, par doosron ko manners sikhane nikal padte hain... Hypocrisy at its peak.”
His words caught Sanyukta off guard, and she glanced at him, feeling the sharpness in his tone.
“Ufff! Bura bhi lagta hai kya? Well, one should know how others feel because of their behavior. Taste your own medicine... kisi ne bohot sahi kaha hai,” he muttered again, his voice calm but laced with sarcasm.
Sanyukta looked away, choosing to stay silent as Anu and Kirti remained engrossed in their discussion about Poorvi’s lehenga. The air in the car felt slightly tense, but Sanyukta decided not to respond, focusing instead on the joyful anticipation of the wedding ahead.
She knew he was hurt, and this time, it was because of her words. Sanyukta could understand where he was coming from. She had tried to explain herself earlier, but in doing so, she had unknowingly said things that wounded him.
Her heart sank as she replayed the moments in her head—the way his eyes had flashed with disappointment, the way his voice carried that undertone of frustration masked as anger. It wasn’t just his usual annoyance; she could feel that her words had hit him deeper this time.
She knew Ranvijay wasn’t the type to express his hurt openly. Instead, he buried it under sarcasm or harsh remarks, shielding his vulnerability. But she also knew him well enough to recognize that behind his sharp retorts, there was pain—pain caused by her inability to understand him fully in that moment.
Sanyukta sighed, guilt settling in her chest like a heavy weight. She wanted to say something, to fix it, but the walls he had built around himself right now made it difficult. She glanced at him, noticing how he avoided looking her way, his jaw clenched, his focus deliberately elsewhere.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she whispered softly in her heart, hoping he would somehow feel her unspoken apology.
She decided to give him the space he needed, knowing she would have to make it right later. After all, she couldn’t bear the thought of being the reason for the sadness hidden behind his anger.
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