Advika's POV

"Congratulations, you are now husband and wife"

The words of the lawyer are still ringing in my head. They might have been joyous for someone else, but for me, they felt like a life sentence.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I was married.

Like any other ordinary girl, I had dreams of a perfect wedding. I didn’t want riches or grandeur; I wanted a passionate partner who would understand and love me for who I am. But here I was, stuck with the man beside me, seated in the car with his eyes glued to his tablet as if I didn’t even exist.

The ceremony itself had been as dry and lifeless as the man I married. Apart from our families, Mr. Singhania’s best friend, Prem Uncle, and his wife had attended the court marriage. Shravan, however, seemed distracted throughout. I caught him looking around constantly, even asking Prem Uncle about Aditya—his best friend, who hadn’t shown up.

But that was not my matter of concern. I was already tense about my future with this devil. 

My mother had been in tears as I left with Shravan’s family. I promised her I’d visit frequently, though the truth I couldn’t share was that I’d be staying with her permanently after six months.

My thoughts came to a halt when the driver suddenly applied the brake. The driver stepped out to open the doors for us.

The first person I saw upon stepping out was Mr. Singhania. His piercing gaze rested on me, filled with suspicion. I could tell he still believed I was being forced into this marriage.

I thought back to yesterday when he had called me into his office. He had asked, point-blank, if Shravan was coercing me into this. The temptation to spill the truth had been overwhelming, knowing he could stop the wedding. But fear held me back—fear of Shravan. Even if Mr. Singhania had intervened, stopping this marriage Shravan would have found a way to ruin me. I couldn’t risk making my already messy life worse.

"Both of you stay here. Let me bring the pooja ki thali," Mrs. Singhania said warmly before disappearing inside with everyone else.

That left Shravan and me standing outside the grand mansion. My eyes wandered up and around the enormous structure, the sheer size of it overwhelming. It was the kind of house you could get lost in—much like I felt lost in my own life right now.

Distracted, I didn’t notice the step in front of me.

"Ahhh..." I winced as my ankle twisted painfully.

That was the first time that Shravan's head snapped to me, acknowledging that someone was walking beside him. His eyes moved down to my frame without any ounce of sympathy in them, not even a flicker.

"Smile and act like a happy Bride" he muttered

Damn you!

Mrs. Singhania returned with the pooja ki thali, her face glowing with joy. She began the welcoming ritual while I kept my gaze fixed on the ground, chanting silently in my head.

You can do this, Advika. You can do this!

"Welcome home, Advika," she said warmly, her charming smile so genuine it could make anyone feel at ease.

"Thank you, Mom," I replied, attempting to mirror her smile.

She had already asked me during the court ceremony to call her Mom from now on.

The moment the word left my lips, Shravan shot me a sharp look, as if I had stolen the last piece of his favorite candy.

"Come inside; you two must be tired," she said, her tone filled with affection. 

She made me dip my feet in alta*. As I stepped into the mansion, my eyes wandered, taking in the vast expanse and stunning beauty of the place that was to be my home for the next six months.

My home must have felt like a hut to them.

"I had always dreamed of giving my daughter-in-law a grand welcome," Mom said with a soft, bittersweet smile. "But I understand the circumstances under which this marriage happened. I promise, when you two get married with all the rituals, I won’t let you feel like you missed out on anything."

Her words were heartfelt, and I smiled back, appreciating her efforts.

"You’ve already done so much for me, Mom. I’m truly grateful and thankful to you," I said sincerely.

Cradling my head in her hand she kissed my forehead.

Just then, Shravan's phone rang. "Excuse me," he muttered, walking away to take the call without a second glance.

"Arya, show Advika to her room. She must be exhausted. We'll have the first rasoi ritual tomorrow," Mom instructed.

Arya nodded and motioned for me to follow her. I could feel my heartbeat quicken as I climbed the stairs. I knew she was taking me to Shravan's room, and the thought made my chest tighten with nervousness. Though Shravan has clearly said that he doesn't have anything to do with this wedding, given the circumstances, it's hard to trust a man in the same room.

Arya took me to the first floor, and I forgot where she turned before stopping in front of a room. She opened the door and let me in.

The room was breathtaking. The grandeur and elegance left me momentarily speechless. Everything—from the luxurious furnishings to the intricate décor—screamed wealth and sophistication.

"This is Shravan’s room, which from now on is yours as well," Arya said with a smile, her tone light and casual.

She showed me the adjoining bathroom and a spacious walk-in closet, making sure I felt comfortable.

"You can settle in. If you need anything, just let me know,"

I nodded, trying to mask my hesitation. As much as I wanted her to stay with me, I could see the tiredness in her eyes. I didn’t want to be a bother.

"Advika, if you don’t mind, can I make a request?" she asked tentatively.

"Sure, Arya. Give me orders," I replied with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"Mom had many dreams about Shravan's marriage. Due to certain circumstances, she couldn't have a proper marriage. She’s always wanted to see her daughter-in-law enter the house in a bridal lehenga, to live that part of her life she never got to," she said softly, her voice tinged with emotion. "Today you wore a suit, and I know it’s comfortable for you, but just for tomorrow, for the first rasoi ritual, could you wear a saree?"

A saree?

"But I haven’t brought any sarees with me," I told her truthfully, trying to mask the slight panic in my voice.

"You’ll find everything you need in your closet," she reassured me with a small smile.

I fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. I had never worn a saree before.

Arya noticed my hesitation and quickly added, "It’s completely fine if you’re not comfortable. I was just—"

"It’s fine, Arya," I interrupted, grabbing her hands gently. "Mom has done so much for my happiness. I’ll wear a saree for her."

She smiled and hugged me before leaving. Once alone, I walked over to the closet Arya had mentioned. When I opened it, I was left speechless. It was like stepping into a mini boutique. Rows of neatly arranged clothes—ranging from casual wear to elaborate traditional outfits—lined the space. There were shelves filled with shoes, accessories, and makeup.

My eyes widened as I took it all in. I had never seen so many luxurious things in one place.

As much as I was drawn to the beautiful sarees and dresses, I resolved to use as little as possible. This wasn’t my hard-earned money, and I couldn’t let myself get too comfortable in this temporary world.

But I promise myself to make the same walk-in closet as this one with my own hard-earned money.

Grabbing a random pair of night suits, I went inside the bathroom and took a shower. The bathroom in itself was equal to the size of my room. The sheer luxury was overwhelming, but I tried not to think too much about it.

When I came out, hair damp and dressed in the soft cotton nightwear, I found Shravan sprawled across the bed. He was already in his casuals—a plain t-shirt and pajama pants—and completely engrossed in his phone. I went into the closet to dry my hair and apply moisturizer.

When I came out Shravan was still in the same position. He didn’t even glance up as I stepped into the room.

"Where am I supposed to sleep?" I asked to grab his attention.

Locking his phone he put it away and looked at me for the first time.

"Oh, you" he blinked at me.

Why does it feel like he is pretending to notice me for the first time in this room?

I raised my eyebrows and placed my hands on my waist, expecting him to answer my previous question which I am sure he heard clearly.

He tilted his head toward the couch by the window.

“Over there. Your throne awaits"

I stared at him, unimpressed.

“The couch? Seriously? This bed is huge, Shravan. You just need to lie at one side"

He was lying on the bed diagonally, his beastly body occupying the whole bed, leaving no space for me to rest. I know he did it on purpose.

"I don’t know if I can trust you." He shrugged.

"What do you mean by you can't trust me?" I asked, "What do you think of yourself? God's gift to women?"

"For the first time, you are right; I am God's gift to women," he chuckled. "You don't know how many women are ready to throw themselves on me," he added.

"But I am not one among them. I don't want to even touch your hair so you can stay free and sleep on one side of the bed," I said, taking a step ahead.

"But what if you tried to suffocate me with a pillow in the middle of the night?” he asked "You are not sleeping with me on the same bed and that's final"

“Oh, trust me, if I wanted to suffocate you, it wouldn’t be with a pillow,” I muttered under my breath. 

“What was that?” he asked, leaning closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

“Nothing,” I said, grabbing a blanket from the bed. “Fine, I’ll take the couch. It’ll probably be quieter over there anyway, without you snoring in my ear.” 

“Snoring?” he repeated, mock-offended. “I do not snore.” 

I gave him a look.

“Oh, you definitely do.” 

“You’ve known me for what? Two days? And you’re suddenly a sleep expert?” 

“Just call it intuition,” I said, throwing the blanket over my shoulder and turning around to make my way to the couch.

"Don't stare!" I said as I felt a pair of eyes on my back.

"Oh, I have seen better!" Came his reply.

Ignoring him and his stares, I lay on the couch and hid myself with the blanket from head to toe.

I was so tired that I slept immediately, praying to God for these six months to pass quickly and without any more problems.

~~~~

It was just a glimpse of the cute banters between Shravan and Advika waiting for the upcoming chapters 😉 I hope you enjoyed it.

4 new followers for the next update.

~ dayyyyydreamerrr

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Vocabulary ~

"Alta" is a red dye used to tint the hands and feet of women during festivals and wedding ceremonies.

**

"First rasoi," also called "pehli rasoi," is a traditional Hindu ritual where a newly married bride cooks her first meal for her in-laws in her marital home, usually a sweet dish like halwa, symbolizing the sweetness and harmony she aims to bring to her new family and marking the beginning of her domestic life