The first morning of a new life is rarely as loud as the celebrations that precede it. For Avni, it began with the soft, rhythmic rustle of silk. Standing before the vanity mirror, she fussed with the pleats of her deep crimson saree, her fingers trembling slightly as she tucked the fabric into place.
The wedding chaos—the blinding flashbulbs, the heavy scent of marigolds, and the endless shor-sharaba—had finally receded, leaving behind a silence that felt heavy with expectation. Her mind was a mess of "what-ifs."
Will I ever truly fit into this tapestry of a family? Can I be the wife Divyansh deserves? Every scenario she conjured ended in a clumsy mistake. She wanted this—more than she had ever dared to admit. In the few months she had known Divyansh, he had managed to dismantle every defense she possessed. He was sincere, deeply emotional, and had a kind of handsomeness that felt grounded. She felt pulled toward him by a thread she couldn’t see, a connection that felt like it had existed for an eternity.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the pair of eyes watching her from the bed, hidden behind a facade of sleep.
Divyansh lay still, his breath hitched. I am a married man, he thought, the words echoing like a sacred mantra. That woman, reflecting in the glass like a living goddess, is my wife. Meri biwi.
Watching her get ready felt like witnessing a private ritual. The way her wedding bangles chimed—a sweet, honeyed melody—and the grace with which she applied the vermilion to her parting made his heart do a slow, dizzying roll. He wanted to reach out and pull her back into the warmth of the blankets, but he checked himself.
Control, Divu, he scolded himself internally. Zyada bawara mat ban. Don't act like a creep on day one. Apni izzat nahi utarni pehle hi din. Act natural.
Suppressing a grin, he sat up, stretching his arms and forcing a yawn that he hoped looked real.
Avni turned at the sound, her eyes landing on his messy morning hair and the faint trace of dimples. "Good morning, Divyansh," she said softly.
"Good morning," he replied, his voice dropping into that gravelly, deep register of a person who just woke up. He offered a lopsided smile. "You’re up already?"
The vibration of his voice sent a flurry of butterflies through Avni’s stomach. And those damn dimples. She gripped her pallu. "First day... I don’t want your family to think their new bahu is some alsi person who sleeps till noon."
Divyansh let out a genuine laugh. "Trust me, sab late uthenge aaj. The wedding wore everyone out. You’re the only overachiever here."
"Whatever. I’m ready now," she said, handing him a towel. "You should freshen up too. We’ll go to the living room together."
"As you say, Captain," he quipped, giving her a mock salute before heading toward the bathroom.
He hadn't made it three steps before a frantic scratching sounded at the door. He swung it open, and a blur of fur streaked past him. Scooby, his golden retriever, ignored his master entirely and ran straight to Avni.
"Unbelievable," Divyansh grumbled. "No hi, no hello? Dhokebaaz. I’m the one who fed you all these months, and the moment she arrives, you forget me?"
Avni laughed, scooping the dog into her arms and kissing his forehead. "He just has a favorite, right Scooby?"
"Tell me about it," Divyansh muttered, his gaze softening. "Hum dono ki pasand same hi hai." He retreated into the bathroom before she could see the blush creeping up her neck.
The atmosphere downstairs was one of quiet domesticity. Vinayak and Vivek were huddled over a legal brief on the sofa, while Dadi was in the pooja room, her prayers a soft hum in the background.
As Avni and Divyansh entered, Scooby leaped from Divyansh’s arms, racing toward Vinayak.
"Aww, good morning mere shere! Did you sleep well?" Vinayak exclaimed, catching the dog with a warmth he rarely showed his sons.
Divyansh sat beside Vivek, leaning back with a smirk. "He’s never spoken to me that sweetly in my entire life."
"Good morning to you too, Divu," Vinayak said, finally looking up. "And good morning, Avni."
"Good morning, Papa-ji," Avni replied, standing somewhat awkwardly. The transition from guest to family member felt like walking a tightrope.
Dadi emerged from the prayer room, distributing prasad. "It’s good you’re both down. Avni, beta, today is your pehli rasoi. Make something sweet, and afterward, you and Divu will do the Aarti together. Okay?"
"Ji, Dadi," Avni said, heading toward the kitchen with a racing heart.
Inside, the air was thick with the smell of breakfast. Ridha was there, flipping a paratha with sharp, efficient movements.
"Good morning, Mummy-ji," Avni ventured.
Ridha turned, handing a ladle to a maid. "Morning. It’s your pehli rasoi, so you need to make something sweet. You know that, right?"
"Ji Mummy-ji, Dadi told me."
"Do you even know how to cook?" Ridha asked bluntly.
The question made Avni's stomach drop, but she kept her voice steady. "I do. I was thinking of making halwa."
"Halwa is fine," Ridha said, turning to leave. "But don't put almonds. Vivek has an allergy. Shanta will show you where everything is."
As Ridha swept out of the kitchen, Avni stood alone in the center of the room. The weight of the family’s traditions, and their expectations, had finally begun to settle.
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Thanks for reading
How was the day one for both of them
I know this is a little small chapter but I try to writer longer in future
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