As Shraddha and Dhruv entered the sprawling electronics and furniture store, Shraddha felt her nerves tighten again. The home appliances had been overwhelming enough, but now they were looking at everything else they would need for their new home—television sets, sound systems, furniture, and even more gadgets she hadn't known existed. Dhruv, of course, seemed entirely in his element, walking through the aisles like a kid in a candy store.

They started with televisions. Dhruv immediately went for the largest model on display, a state-of-the-art 85-inch screen with all the latest smart features. He didn't even glance at the price tag. Shraddha, on the other hand, couldn't keep her jaw from dropping.

"Dhruv, that thing is huge! Do we even have a wall big enough for that?" She asked, trying to inject some logic into the situation.

"We'll make space," Dhruv replied with a grin. "It's perfect for movie nights."

Shraddha's eyes widened in disbelief as Dhruv added a top-tier home theatre system to the cart, complete with surround sound speakers.

"What are you planning, Dhruv? Are we hosting a film festival or something?"

"I just want everything to be perfect for us. You'll love it, trust me." He chuckled.

She couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and exasperation at his enthusiasm. Shraddha had grown up in a small orphanage where basic furniture and a single television were all they had. Watching Dhruv shop with abandon made her feel like they were living in completely different worlds.

Next, they moved to the furniture section. Dhruv quickly zeroed in on a plush, oversized sectional couch that looked like it belonged in a luxury hotel suite.

"This one," he said confidently, running his hand over the fabric. "It's perfect for the living room."

"Dhruv, I don't think we need something this extravagant." Shraddha bit her lip, glancing at the price tag, and once again felt a sinking feeling.

"We'll be spending a lot of time here. Might as well be comfortable," he said with a shrug.

Shraddha watched as Dhruv continued adding items to their list—a sleek entertainment unit, a pair of designer armchairs, and even custom blinds for the windows. Her heart was racing with every additional purchase, her head swimming with the sheer amount of money Dhruv was spending without a second thought.

As they moved to the next section, Dhruv began looking at air conditioners. He picked out one for the bedroom and then pointed to another for the living room. Shraddha nodded, thinking they were done with it, but then he started selecting air conditioners for the kitchen and all the other rooms as well.

"Wait a minute," she said, stopping in her tracks. "You are buying air conditioners for every room? Even the kitchen?"

"Yeah, it's important to keep things cool, especially in the summers. Why not be comfortable everywhere?" Dhruv said, still scanning the options. Shraddha gawked at him, her irritation building.

"Why don't you buy one for the bathrooms too?" She asked sarcastically, crossing her arms.

To her shock, Dhruv paused, actually looking thoughtful for a moment.

"You know, that's not a bad idea—"

"Dhruv!" Shraddha cut him off, staring at him in disbelief. "You cannot be serious."

"What? It's not like we can't afford it." He turned to her, his expression innocent but genuinely confused. Shraddha shook her head, her patience wearing thin.

"Dhruv, stop being ridiculous. I get it, you are rich, but that doesn't mean you have to spend money like it's tissue paper. You are being such a spendthrift right now."

"Shraddha—" Dhruv blinked at her, clearly taken aback.

"There's no guarantee for anything in life, Dhruv. Just because we have money now doesn't mean we can keep throwing it away on unnecessary things. What's the point of all this if we are not being thoughtful about it?" She sighed, her voice softening but still firm.

"I am not trying to throw money away, Shraddha. We have enough. I just want us to be comfortable." Dhruv frowned, trying to understand.

"I understand that, Dhruv," she said, her frustration giving way to a deeper worry. "But I grew up saving every penny, and I can't just stand by and watch you spend like this. I know you are used to it, but I am not. It makes me uncomfortable. Can we please just focus on what's necessary?"

Dhruv looked at her for a long moment, processing her words. He wasn't being arrogant or trying to show off, Shraddha realised. He was simply being honest—this was how he had always lived, with the security of wealth behind him. But he had never considered how foreign this world was to her.

"Okay," Dhruv said finally, his tone gentler now. "We will just get what we need. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Thank you." Shraddha let out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding, her shoulders relaxing a little.

"I just want to make you happy, Shraddha. That's all." He smiled softly.

"I know," she said, her heart softening as she looked at him. "I am happy, Dhruv. I just... need time to adjust to all of this."

"We will take it slow. One step at a time." Dhruv nodded, his hand finding hers.

They continued shopping, this time with more restraint. Dhruv listened to her concerns and picked out what was necessary—a washing machine, a couple of air conditioners for the bedroom and living room, a few simple cupboards for storage, and a comfortable couch that Shraddha actually liked.

By the time they were done, Shraddha felt a sense of relief. The shopping spree had been overwhelming, but Dhruv had listened to her, and they had compromised on what they needed for their home.

As they loaded everything into the delivery schedule, Shraddha leaned against Dhruv, her exhaustion finally catching up to her.

"Tired?" He asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Exhausted," she admitted with a small smile. "But I am glad we are done."

"We are not done yet, sweetheart. Now comes the grocery shopping," Dhruv announced with a playful grin, glancing at Shraddha, whose groan echoed in response.

"Dhruv, I don't think I can take any more shopping today," Shraddha mumbled, leaning into him, her energy completely drained after the hours spent picking out everything for their home.

"Alright, alright. We will do it tomorrow. Let's just order some food tonight and relax." He chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Shraddha smiled in relief.

"That sounds perfect," she said, already imagining the cosy night they'd have after all this. Her stomach rumbled at the mention of food, reminding her they hadn't eaten anything in hours.

"Do we need anything else before we head home?" Dhruv asked, already mentally ticking off the long list they'd managed to conquer today.

Shraddha thought for a moment before looking up at him.

"I want a Lord Krishna sculpture, Dhruv. I want to set up a small pooja room. It'll make the house feel complete."

They made their way to a store that sold religious idols and artefacts. As they entered, Shraddha's eyes scanned the shelves filled with various deities and sculptures, her gaze settling on a Lord Krishna idol in a serene posture, playing his flute. The craftsmanship was exquisite—the intricate details of his face, the gentle curve of his body, and the peacock feather adorning his crown were all flawlessly captured.

"This one," Shraddha said softly, pointing to the idol. "It's perfect."

Dhruv picked up the idol and gently placed it in the cart.

"Anything else you would like to add? Some incense holders, candles, maybe some diya lamps for the pooja room?" He asked..

With the Lord Krishna idol secured and their shopping finally complete, they headed to the checkout.

Shraddha was exhausted, but as they walked out of the store, hand in hand, she couldn't help but feel a sense of fulfilment. This was the beginning of their life together, and despite the overwhelming day, it felt like they were building something truly special — something that was theirs.

A/N

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SF❤️