It hurts, but sometimes moving on with the rest of your life, starts with a goodbye. Bidding adieu to your family is painful but more painful than that is knowledge that you may never be the same person that you were till now. Saying farewell to your own self knowingly for a new chapter of your life is excruciating just like Nandini as weeped in her mother's embrace while bidding adieu to her family members.

As Nandini straightened up, her Chachi wiped the tears lining her eyes, her own eyes filled with unshed tears, overwhelmed with the emotions surrounding them. As Nandini hugged her, Pinky pressed a kiss on the side of her head, whispering to her to take care of herself. Though she may not be the best aunt Nandini could ask for, they still had their share of moments and despite her irritation towards the fatherless girl, Pinky never wished any harm to her.

Gradually, parting away, her Bua held the tray of rice mixed with coins and Nandini cupped them in her hands while her mother held her dupatta behind Nandini to collect them. With her eyes lined with unshed tears, without turning back, Nandini threw them behind her while walking towards the exit as her attempt to repay her dues to everyone for raising her while wishing for wealth and prosperity to spread in every corner of her maternal home despite the departure of a form of Goddess Laxmi, a daughter, from their home.

After throwing five handfuls of rice, she was escorted towards the car, decorated with roses, by his mother and sister while her elder cousin brother sat in the front seat as per the tradition that required him to leave her till her husband's home. Everyone blessed the couple before she was ushered in, Manik following her behind. As the engine of the car whirred, her cousins pushed the vehicle, symbolising their help to start her new life before the car started to drive off.

For every new beginning, their is often an end of a beginning and as Nandini stared at the mirror, watching her family fade away slowly, she was set free as Nandini and bounded for a new phase of her life as Nandini Manik Malhotra.

*****

The tinkling of the bangles and anklets resonated in the silence of the wee morning hours as Nandini was helped by her cousin to climb out of the car. Carefully picking up the edges of her lehenga to avoid it from getting dirty, Nandini looked up at the apartment complex while following Manik close behind.

The building looked furnished but had the old style of balconies protruding out of every house. Lights of a few houses were turned on as the mothers prepared breakfast for their families, while other flats were still camouflaged in darkness, everyone sleeping peacefully, getting ready to face the challenges of the world in a few hours.

A guard was dozing off at the entrance as Manik led her brother and her towards the elevator. Silence engulfed around in the closed space while the number quickly hiked up to fifteen on the screen before the gates parted away. The moment she stepped out, loud laughter and chatting could be heard and Nandini confronted her mother in law, Neyonika, who was standing at the entrance of an apartment, decorated with flowers and lights, with a thalli in her hands, accompanied by some of their relatives.

A beautiful smile adorned her face as she saw her son coming along with her daughter in law towards her. Nandini stared at the floor conscious about the eyes staring at her while Neyonika circled the plate around them. After offering Nandini and Manik a piece of sweet, the couple took her blessing before she moved aside.

"Nandini beta, ab apne daye pau se is kalash ko girana aur fir ye doodh alte ki thaal main step kar ke ghar main enter karna," Neyonika instructed and Nandini nodded. After tilting the kalash laden with rice gently with her right foot before she could step into the dish filled with doodh alta, she smiled gratefully at her sister in law as she helped her with her attire while moving in.

She stepped out of the dish, walking on the white cloth, leaving behind her footprints. And just like that, with every step she took, Nandini left behind her innocence that she brought with her, and entered her new house with her hopes and dreams intact, ready to make it a home as she took in her new responsibilities.

*****

"Le beta, paani," one of the aunts offered, holding a tray with glasses, as she sat in the living room beside Manik, who was busy talking with one of his cousins. She took it and thanked her while her eyes casually ran around the house. It was simple but freshly furnished with a kitchen and living area adjoining each other and a hall, which had mattresses spread around for guests, leading to rooms.

Nandini nervously fiddled with the glass as she was suddenly surrounded by a bunch of kids. Manik watched in amusement as his wife nodded, though confused, as was evident through the frown on her forehead, as one by one all of the children started to introduce themselves while calling her with different names as per their relations with him.

"Baaki ki rituals aur jo bhi games hain kal kar lenge. Abhi sab bahut thak gaye hain. Subah bhi jaldi uthna hai. Abhi rest karlo," Neyonika said to Sidharth's siblings and cousins. Nodding in understanding, they walked away while she held Mukti's arm and continued, "Aur, Neetu, room ki arrangement ek baar dekh aa fir Nandini ko leja. Uske bags almirah main rakh va diye the lekin fir bhi puch lena agar kisi cheez ki zaroorat pade toh."

"Jee Maa," Mukti replied before walking away. A few minutes later, Mukti saved Nandini as she was being bombarded with questions regarding the gifts she had brought for all of them by helping her get up to escort her to the room.

Nandini was aghast, her eyes roaming around, not knowing where to look and wished to disappear as she looked at decorations in the room. The room was dimly lit as fragrance candles flickered around, giving it a cozy feel. The bed in the middle of the room was decorated with the rose petals stewed across it while the bails of jasmine flower twined the bedpost, giving it an ethereal look.

Mukti led her in, showing her the way in the room and helping her on bed, before leaving her alone, closing the door behind her.

Nandini looked around herself to the room that will be shared by them. There was a bathroom attached to the room with a cupboard at one corner of the room, while moonlight shone through the small window.

Nandini snapped out of her reverie as she heard some commotion outside the room, as her sister in laws asked for money from Manik before allowing him entry as per the tradition. The fight lasted for about five minutes before they all agreed to a price.

Breathing deeply, she stared at the door as the knob twisted and the door opened. She managed to smile as Manik entered, closing the door behind him. She fidgeted with her fingers nervously, staring down as he closed the distance between them and his hand covered hers, stalling her movement.

With a squeeze on his hand around hers, she snapped her gaze to his, their eyes clashing and the only thing Nandini could think of was if he was the right person.

"Relax. How about we change first and then maybe we can sit and talk if you're not too tired? This dress might not be really comfortable to be in," Manik remarked, his gaze wandering over her. Not uncomfortably, just appreciatively.

Nandini nodded and said, "Maybe you should change first. I'll just take off this jewellery."

Humming, Manik walked to the washroom with his black lower and a shirt while Nandini sat on the settee in front of the mirror, carefully taking off the jewellery. A few minutes later, when Manik came out, he watched, confused as Nandini was mumbling something under her breath while taking off the hairpins.

Manik cleared his throat to bring himself to her notice and pointed to her hair while asking, "Do you need any help with those?"

Nandini didn't reply, contemplating for a moment and said, "Yeah. These hairpins. Can you help me remove them? They're–they're just too much."

"Sure," Manik said, walking towards her. As he towered over her from behind, she stared at him through the mirror, observing, as a frown marred his forehead while he gently and meticulously removed the hairpins one by one, handing them over to her. Her mind suddenly wandered to the weird first time she talked to her husband prior to their wedding, who worked in the sales department and had sent the rishta after his family saw her at a relative's wedding.

"Do you have any aunt? Or Uncle?" Nandini frowned, turning around as Manik, was climbing up the stairs while asking. Seeing her clueless, he repeated, "Do you have any aunt? I mean your mother's uncle?"

Nandini breathed out. First, he sent his mother, who agreed to the marriage only if she wouldn't pursue a career after marrying. Then, he came as a guest to her Dada ji's house and didn't even meet her. Third time he rushed in with his entire family two days before the scheduled meeting. Met her like an emergency meeting. Then, the first thing he asks her is this!

As they reached upstairs in the balcony, Nandini started thinking about her maternal aunt, wondering if he is interested in marrying any one of their daughters as she saw this twist in many South Indian movies. Great!

Once they stood facing each other and he impatiently awaited for her reply while staring at her, she stared back, making his frown deepen and he said, "You didn't answer me."

"I have three maternal uncle. One paternal aunt, Reema Aunty, that you know of. You just met one of my uncle in the hall downstairs," Nandini replied.

"Children?" Manik enquired.

"Each has one girl and a boy. In school," Nandini said, her own brows furrowed in confusion as his frown vanished.

"And your cousins?" Manik asked while realization dawned on her. He was grilling about her family to know if there's any aunt or her son who is interested in marrying Nandini.

Controlling her smile as he stared at her for answer, she tried to act as innocent as she could while seriously saying, "Paternal aunt's son or maternal aunt's son? I love to have them!"

That was it. Pulling out a chair, he sat while pointing to the seat opposite his for her to take a seat. Didn't give Nandini a chance to speak. No chivalry. No ladies first. He plainly said, "I want to ask and talk to you first. I don't have much time right now. You can ask your doubts later."

And that's how their first meeting went.

Nandini winced, holding her hair and he passed her an apologetic look while jerking off the pin. She looked at him in the mirror and questioned, "Why did you ask if I have any cousins or not when we met?"

"Woh actually, I didn't want some useless fellow standing in front of the stage and crying while I am tying your mangalsutra. I hate those scenes," Manik joked, trying to make her comfortable and it worked as Nandini let out a laugh seeing his scrunched nose in disapproval. Too possessive, Nandini wondered but didn't say aloud.

Shaking his head, he stepped back, finished with his task and said, "Think whatever you may want to." As she moved towards the almirah, taking out her clothes for the night, knowing himself, he added under his breath, "It's better you don't have."

While Nandini entered the washroom and latched the door behind her to change, Manik went to the bed, rolling his eyes at the decoration wondering what his family was thinking. He dusted off the rose petals from the bed to the floor before comfortably sitting down on his side of the bed, leaning against the headboard, finally relieved from all the marriage rituals.

A few minutes later, Nandini stepped out, her makeup wiped off and dressed in a plain cotton salwar suit while her hair was braided. She walked towards the empty side of the bed and sat down, feeling awkward in the new room and the prospect that they will be sharing it together.

"Here," Manik said softly, pulling her out of her reverie and she looked at his hand, holding out a jewellery box for her. She took it from him. "Your muh dikhai."

"Thank you. They're beautiful," Nandini murmured, looking at the two beautiful gold bangles. However, the smile that graced Nandini's face didn't imply that she cared about the materialistic worth behind them but the fact that it was the most valuable gift for her because it was the first gift that she got from her husband.

Breathing out, Nandini stared at her as she sat quietly, her gaze roaming around anxiously and assured, "I know the situation we married in and may not even be sure about your decision since we're strangers. But, just relax, okay? Like you, I'm also getting married for the first time and hopefully the last. I'm not perfect and neither do I expect you to be. But, I promise as your husband that you'll be respected and loved. But, for that I want you to respect my family and allow me as well as them a chance to cherish, care and maybe even love you.
This journey will definitely not have unicorns or glitters every time and mistakes can be made. But, they can be from both ends. So, we will just gradually find a way to work this out together. Don't fret over the situation too much. Alright?"

Despite many doubts and questions running around in her mind, she nodded, slightly relieved because she knew he was right and they could only take it one day at a time.

"Are you comfortable sharing the bed?" Manik asked, quite apprehensive because he didn't like the idea of sleeping on the floor.

"Yeah. It's fine. As long as you don't snore," Nandini remarked, remembering the times she wanted to throw her mother out when she used to snore as if she had slept after ages.

"Well, I don't really know that. But, if I do, you can always move out," Manik joked, comfortably laying down, switching off the lights while Nandini huffed at her not so chivalrous husband.

She laid down beside him, maintaining a certain distance. She stared at the ceiling but sleep was far away despite the tiredness and she lost herself in her thoughts. Reminiscing about the wedding and about how this room, bounded by the four walls, which seemed strange to her now, will be the only witness of their journey.

As the dogs barked in the streets with occasional honking of the car while the clock ticked and Manik breathed deeply as he slept, the last few days fatigue put an end to her thinking lulled her into a comfortable slumber gradually.

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