Abhishree's POV

Why does time pass by like bullet train when we want it to stop?

I still can't believe I am sitting in my newly married husband's room, on his bed, as his wife. We just got married a few hours ago and tonight is supposed to be our wedding night.

I remember the conversation I had with mumma a few days back.

I was doing the last minute packing. Almost all my stuff has been sent, only a few things remained.

I heard the door of my room open and mumma entered in with a smile.

She settled in front of me and held my hands.

"Do din mai shaadi hai teri. Phir tu hume chhod kr apne ghar chali jaayegi. Bhut miss karungi mai tujhe."

(You are getting married in two days. Then you will leave us. I will miss you a lot.)

"Toh kyu bhej rhe ho?"

(Then why are you sending me?)

I tried one last time but she smiled sadly.

"Kyunki ye jag ki reet hai. Betiya parayi hoti hai. Ab Raunak ji ka ghar hi tera ghar hai. Unki khushiyan hi teri khushiyan hai. Aaj toh mai tujhe samjha rhi hu usse hamesha yaad rakhio beta."

(Because this is society's custom. Daughters are to be married off. Now Raunak ji's house is your house. His happiness is your happiness. What I am telling you today remember it always.)

She said seriously and I nodded.

"Ab wo sasural hoga tera. Waha tu aise nhi reh skti jaise yaha rehti thi. Thoda achhe se, saj sawar ke rehna. Disha ji saas hongi teri. Unki baatein manna aur unki seva karna. Agar kabhi tujhe unki koi baat galat lage toh ek dum se react mat karna. Pehle unhe samajhne ki koshish krna. Aur phir bhi tujhe galat lage toh aaram se bolna apni baat. Lekin zid nhi."

(That will be your home. You cannot live there like you lived here. Be nice, and dress up properly. Disha ji will be your mother-in-law. Obey her and serve her well. If you ever feel she is wrong somewhere don't react immediately. Try and understand her first. If you still feel she is wrong then keep your feelings politely. Don't be stubborn.)

I nod and she continued.

"Koi aisa kaam mat krna jisse unko bura lage. Ab tere upar do gharo ki izzat hai beta. Dono ko bana kr rakhna hai tujhe. Samajh rhi hai na?"

(Don't do any such thing which hurts them. Now you have two families honour on you. You have to maintain both. Are you understanding?)

I nod again. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped. She repeated this process a few times and then finally spoke after taking a deep breath.

"Beta ek pati patni ka rishta bhut sundar hota hai. Isme pyaar, gussa, understanding, jhagde sab hote hai lekin phir bhi ye rishta har mod ke saath majhboot hota hai. Mai jaanti hu tu bhut mature aur samajhdaar hai aur tu impulsively decisions nhi legi. Lekin beta ek pati patni ke beech bhut si cheeze hoti hai. Tu samajh rhi hai na."

(The relationship of a husband and wife is very beautiful. There is love, anger, understanding, fights but still the relationship remains strong at every ups and downs. I know you are very mature and understanding and you will not take impulsive decisions. But there are a lot of things that happen between a husband and a wife. Are you understanding?)

Oh God! I can't believe I am having this conversation with my mother right now. I look down and nod.

"Beta ab tera pati aur unki khushiyan tere liye sabse important hongi. Unki har baat manna. Agar wo paas aaye toh unhe rokna nhi-"

(For you your husband's happiness will be the most important now. Obey him. If you comes close don't stop him-)

"Mumma!"

I look at her wide eyed. Is she asking me to- even if I don't want to?

"Meri baat sun. Apne pati ko khush rakhna ab teri zimmedari hai. Unhe kabhi shikayat ka mauka mat dena. Aadmi ki fitrat hoti hai ki agar usse wo cheez na mile jo wo chahta hai toh usse kahi aur jaane mai der nhi lagti. Raunak ji bhut hi achhe insaan hai. Wo aisa nhi karenge. Lekin beta hai toh wo bhi mard hi. Tu apni taraf se unhe puri tarah khush rakhna. Samajh rhi hai na mai kya keh rhi hu?"

(Listen to me. Keeping your husband happy is your responsibility. Don't give him chance to look down at you. It is a man's nature that he would go somewhere else if he doesn't get what he wants. Raunak ji is a nice man. He won't do this. But a man is always a man. You keep him happy as much as you can. You are getting what I am saying right?)

I nod as I tried to blink my tears away.

I came out of my thoughts hearing the door of the room open and I clutch my lehanga in nervousness.

I could feel his scent as he locks the room.

He is here! Oh God!

I felt him sit in front of me. He held my hand in his and caressed it softly.

My chest heaved my heartbeat fastened due to nervousness.

"Kya mai ghunghat utha skta hu?"

(Can I remove the veil?)

I heard his voice and I gulped. Closing my eyes I nodded and felt my veil being removed from my head.

I felt him caress my face and I gulped again.

"Abhishree! Look at me. Into my eyes."

I heard his whisper and I recalled mumma's words.

Unki har baat manna.

I opened my eyes and slowly looked up into his eyes.

He has beautiful eyes! He smiled and cupped my face.

"Abse I want you to look into my eyes jab bhi hum saath mai ho ya when we are talking. Mai chahta hu ki hum ek dusre ki aankhon ko padh ske."

(From now I want you to look into my eyes whenever we are together or I am talking to you. I want that we can read each other's emotions from our eyes.)

I nodded and he smiled.

He kissed my head and I clutched my lehanga even tighter. This is the first time he is touching more than just holding hands.

He then held my hand and took me near the dressing table. I looked at us through the mirror. I almost couldn't recognise myself.

All dolled up and looking like a -woman.

"Iss lehange mai bhut uncomfortable hogi na. Change into something comfortable. Tumhare kapde left almirah mai hai. Agar meri help chahiye ho toh mai yahi hu. I'll wait outside."

(You must be very uncomfortable in the lehanga. Your clothes are in left almirah. If you need any help call me.)

He said and kissed the top of my head. He left the room closing the door behind him.

I exhaled sharply and sat on the stool with a thud.

I looked at myself in the mirror for some time.

I then started removing the jewellery leaving only my Mangalsutra and the bangles that mummyji gave me.

I undid my jooda. I massaged my scalp a bit and then removed my makeup.

I removed the lehanga there only as I was wearing a legging under it.

I took my nightgown from the almirah.

I went into the bathroom and changed my clothes.

As I came out I saw Raunak ji looking around.

"Umm-wo maine knock kia tha but tumne reply nhi dia toh mai-"

(Umm-I knocked but you didn't reply so I-)

He said rubbing his neck nervously and I smiled.

"Its ok. Mai change krne gyi thi."

(I went to change.)

He nodded and then looked at the clothes and stuff scattered.

"Let me help you with that."

"Nhi. Its ok. Mai kr lungi. Aap aaram kijiye."

(No. I will do it. You rest.)

"Come on. Its not like apni biwi ki help krne se mai kam mard reh jaaunga."

(Its not like if I help my wife I will become less of a man.)

He said with a smile and started folding my dupatta.

A smile involuntarily formed on my face.

Together we both kept my stuff in their proper places and then we looked at each other not knowing what next to do.

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.

He cleared his throat and quickly climbed on the bed.

"I am really tired. Mujhe bhut neend aa rhi hai. Baaki baatein baad mai krte hai. Pehle let's sleep."

(I am very sleepy. We will do rest of the talking later.)

He said getting inside the sheets and I looked at him.

"Aao. What are you waiting for?"

(Come.)

He said when I didn't budge. I nodded and quickly got inside the sheets on the other end of the bed maintaining a good distance between us. I was actually really tired and didn't even realise when we fell asleep.
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