Neither Dev nor Sonakshi spoke a word to each other nor even looked at each other throughout the ride to the Dixit Manor.

It looked really beautiful. It had been decorated really well on the occasion of the wedding. The mansion had a well-manicured lawn around it. There were many flower plants. Sonakshi could even see a few benches and swings on the lawn.

The driveway was filled with many parked cars. Sonakshi could see people near the door and could also see the flashes of cameras from afar.

Sonakshi once again looked at the mansion. Sonakshi had mostly stayed in a hostel after her mother's death. The Saxenas lived in a penthouse in a posh locality of Delhi. They used to stay in a bungalow when her mother was alive. But after her death, they moved to the penthouse.

The car stopped in front of the Dixit mansion.

Dev got off the car and pulled open the door for Sonakshi. Sonakshi was slightly pleased with this polite behavior of his and almost gave him a smile.

But sadly, Dev did not wait for her to get off. He started walking towards the door without her even next to him.

Such a jerk! Sonakshi thought and rolled her eyes at his figure moving towards the door and got off the car and sped to walk beside him.

At the doorstep, they were greeted by the sight of Ishwari and the other married women of the Dixit family. Ishwari was having a plate with all items to welcome the newly married couple.

She looked at her son and her daughter-in-law. She gave both of them a bright smile. Sonakshi smiled slightly while Dev just gave a neutral face.

"It is time for the Griha Pravesh," Ishwari said.

During the Griha Pravesh, the mother-in-law then applies a tilak to both the bride and groom, after which the couple seeks blessing from the elders present. After this, the bride has to tilt a Kalash (pot) laden with rice using her right foot and then step into a dish with Alta or vermilion water. After this, she has to walk into the home leaving behind auspicious red footprints which is symbolic of the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.

Ishwari applied a tilak on Dev's forehead and then Sonakshi's forehead. Both of them bent together to take her blessings.

"Push the Kalash with your right leg Sonakshi and enter the plate that is filled with vermilion water," Ishwari spoke to her new daughter-in-law.

Sonakshi pushed the Kalash filled with rice using her right leg and put both her feet into the plate of vermilion water.

"Now walk inside Sonakshi," Ishwari said.

Sonakshi walked inside the house her feet making red imprints on the floor. Ishwari went near Sonakshi and asked her to put her hands into the vermilion water and make an imprint of her hands on the wall. Sonakshi followed her mother-in-law's orders to the T.

Sonakshi was internally groaning How many more rituals are left? I am already exhausted.

"Now it is time for the post-wedding games," Ishwari announced and cheers arose in the room.

The arrival into a new home with new relatives and responsibilities is overwhelming for the bride. Hence, in order to break the ice and make her feel more comfortable, ritualistic post-wedding games are performed after the bride's entry.

The various games have their individual significance and also help the bride and groom to engage in the fun and frolic, wherein they are often pitted against one another. Each family has its own share of traditional post-wedding games, out of which include finding the ring from a bowl of water, milk, and rose petals.

"The first game is the ring game. Ok, so we put this ring in this bowl filled with milk and rose petals thrice. Each of the times you have to find the ring. It is believed whoever finds the rings first will have the upper hand in the marriage for life. While if the rings were found by both at the same time, it is believed that there will be a sense of balance, understanding, companionship, and decision-making capability will always be there in between the relationship of husband and wife as a couple." Ishwari explained.

"Are you both ready?" Vishal asked the newlyweds.

Both of them nodded their heads hesitantly.

Neha put the ring into the bowl. It always has to be the sister of the groom who does this.

After the ring fell in, both Dev and Sonakshi put their right hand in and started searching for the ring in the vessel.

"Dev! Win," Vishal urged his son.

"Sonakshi, you can do it. Girls are no less," Ishwari cheered her daughter-in-law.

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

And suddenly, Sonakshi pulls out her hand with the ring held by her fingers. Ishwari jumps in happiness and gives a grin to Vishal.

"Shoot Dev. She will dominate you," Vishal said dramatically to his son.

"There are still two more rounds left Dad," Dev retorted slightly glancing at his bride.

"OK. Now time for round two," Neha said ready to drop the ring into the vessel.

"Dev, win this time," Vishal threatened.

"Sonakshi, play calmly," Ishwari advised.

Neha dropped the ring into the vessel.

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

And then, smiling with a winning smirk at his wife, Dev pulled out the ring. Vishal patted his sone, "Well done."

"Next time we will win. Right, Sonakshi?" Ishwari asked Sonakshi with an encouraging smile.

"OK. Third and final round," Neha announced and dropped the ring.

There was a lot of suspense in the room. Both Dev and Sonakshi were searching for the ring with their full effort.

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

"Dev!"

"Sonakshi!"

And suddenly, both of them pulled out the ring together. Both of them looked at each other and got lost in each other's eyes. There were loud claps and cheers from everyone breaking their trance.

If the rings are found by both at the same time, it is believed that there will be a sense of balance, understanding, companionship, and decision-making capability that will always be there in between the relationship of husband and wife as a couple.

"Made for each other," Vishal said teasing his son.

"May all evil eyes stay away from my grandson and his lovely wife," An elderly lady who was Vishal's mother Meera said.

"Daadi, my dear grandma stop getting emotional," Dev said.

"The next game is the unknotting of the string," Ishwari announced.

Sonakshi internally grumbled at the amount of post-wedding rituals in the Dixits' house.

Unknotting the knotted string is another popular post-wedding game that is quite popular amongst households. In this, a knotted bracelet string is tied to both the bride and groom. Both are then to unknot the knots using one hand. This game is very delightful and humorous at the same time.

"Okay so in this game, a knotted bracelet string is tied to both of you. Both of you are then to unknot the knots using one hand. The bride uses her right hand and the groom uses his left hand," Ishwari announced.

"This is so unfair Mom," Dev whined.

"Shh..." Ishwari said "Nothing is unfair. It is the ritual Dev."

"Fine," Dev gave in.

First, the knotted bracelet was tied to Dev's wrist. Sonakshi unknotted the bracelet really fast using only her right hand.

It was now Dev's turn. The bracelet was tied to Sonakshi's wrist. Dev used all his effort to untie those knots. After ten minutes he was finally done.

"Done," Dev huffed and looked at Sonakshi's amused face.

Sonakshi was tired from all the activities that had taken place during the whole day. She was physically tired and mentally exhausted. She just wanted to fall onto her bed and go into a deep slumber.

But a thought crossed her mind,

TODAY IS THE FIRST NIGHT!

Neha and one of Dev's cousins escorted Sonakshi to his room. Their room. Neha did not speak much to Sonakshi at all. After a few minutes, Sonakshi was left alone in the room as her husband was nowhere in her line of sight.

Sonakshi looked around the room. It had dark-colored walls and hardly any décor around.

Cold and dull She thought Just like Devrath.

The room had a small area on the top too that could be accessed with stairs. Sonakshi climbed up the stairs with her heavy bridal dress. On reaching the top she saw two couches, a table and a glass door.

She pushed open the glass doors and stopped in her tracks as she took in the beautiful view that she could see.

There were beautiful trees all around. She walked into the balcony. A cool breeze was blowing tingling her ears.

Sonakshi started laughing. She had laughed so freely after so many days.

She came into the room from the balcony after what seemed like an hour. There was no sign of Dev. It was almost midnight but there was no sight of him.

Like she cared.

This was just a marriage that had been done to save her father's company.

She did not even know why she was waiting for him.

What would she do?

Talk to him?

Nah! Impossible.

Especially after the way he spoke to her at the wedding? No.

She wanted to sit. She looked at the bed. It had been decorated with flowers. There were scented candles placed around in the room too.

The first night She scoffed.

Her husband was nowhere to be found on the occasion of their first night.

Sonakshi started getting weird thoughts as the reason for her husband's disappearance just after their marriage.

"Does he love someone else? Is he with that woman now? Can't he at least promise me his loyalty if not the seven vows of marriage?" Sonakshi wondered aloud.

"Well, to be frank, your husband despises most women," A deep voice entered the room.

Sonakshi got scared. He had heard whatever she had blabbered.

"I am sorry," Sonakshi apologized.

"It's alright," Dev said and looked at her.

Sonakshi did not know how to break the ice.

"You look beautiful," Dev complimented her genuinely.

"Thank you," She said and gave Dev a smile.

"I will take the left side of the bed. You can take the right side," Dev said.

Sonakshi just nodded in agreement.

HI READERS 👋

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A BONUS CHAPTER FOR YOU ALL!!!

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OK! So was the chapter enjoyable? Did you find them exciting?

It was fun writing the post-wedding games as I was imagining them actually playing those games while writing the chapter. So, sadly the first night was not too memorable. Thankfully, Dev has been understanding enough to at least acknowledge Sonakshi at night. 

ALL MY READERS, I HAVE STARTED TWO NEW BOOKS, ONE IS A DEVAKSHI BOOK- BUSINESS DEAL AND THE SECOND ONE IS A HISTORICAL FICTION- HIS FIRST QUEEN.

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