VIREN POV

I stretch my limbs and bask in the fresh morning breeze coming from my opened balcony doors.

Open?

I never leave them open at night...

Seconds later when I gain my full consciousness, events from yesterday surface, and at the same time, I realize I'm cuddling a pillow. Throwing it away, I sit up and gaze around to find my wife but nothing,

Noticing her clothes sprawled on the couch from yesterday makes me a bit relaxed that at least I was not dreaming, I did get married.

Scooting off the bed, I walk out of the doors and down the stairs.

"Seems like you had a long night," just as I step into the lounge, I hear Shaurya's annoying voice.

The way he drawls long makes mom sputter out her tea.

I pass him a glare along the way to the seat next to mom.

"Did you sleep well?" Mom asks settling her tea down.

I lean towards her and place a kiss on her forehead.

She smiles and says, "Today, our relatives will be coming to meet the girls."

I lean back and nod, "where are the said girls?" I ask a second later.

She chuckles and says, "Arhaan took them to the gardens."

Just as she says that we hear multiple voices walking towards us.

Arhaan walks in with Maanya and Aditi follows behind.

Shaurys instantly sit up as Aditi takes a seat beside him.

"Ma, the garden is so beautiful." Maanya gushes.

Hearing her calling mom, Ma sounds weird but nice weird.

Standing up, I discreetly walked out of the main doors and towards the gardens.

The cobbled path seems way too long today.

Looking around the vast lands of greens, I set my gaze on pink, blue, and red flowers.

Everything other than my wife.

Relentlessly, I decided to walk inside the house when passing through the frontiers of daffodils I see my wife.

She looks so beautiful just like the flowers she's hiding behind.

"Hey," she smiles watching me walking towards her.

"Hey, you," I smile and pull her towards me.

She looks up and I lean down.

"Did you sleep well?" She asks with humor in her eyes.

"If you are talking about me cuddling that bloody pillow then my dear wife, I did not have a good morning," I confess placing a kiss on her temple.

She just chuckles.

"Why did you not come inside?" I ask her.

"I was engaged in a conversation with your Gardner." She answers leaning back and caressing a petal of the soft bloom.

"So you were busy chatting away, and I was looking for you," I fake groan.

She turns towards me and loops an arm around my neck.

"Oh I'm sorry, tell me what can I do for forgiveness?' She coos.

I uphold a glare.

"Why do you coo at me?" I ask irked.

"You are so cute that I can't control myself," she chuckles.

I want to hold my glare but her smile does something to me and I smile with her.

"You hungry?" I ask her.

"Ya," she nods.

I hold onto her hand and tug her towards the house.

Walking in we see everyone mingling.

"Namaste Chacha Ji," Paakhi greets Dev Uncle. He nods at her but his eyes show detest.

I feel odd but a tap on my shoulder gains my attention.

"So son, are you ready?" Dad asks with determination.

"Ready for what?" I ask curiously.

"Did you not receive the memo?" He asks slyly.

I look in my pocket for my phone but remember it's in my room.

"What's the memo dad?" I ask precipitously.

"Do you really want to know?" He asks seriously.

I'm irked now.

"Arhaan! What's the memo from office?"
I call for him.

Everyone stops their chatter and looks at me.

Arhaan looks at me and then retrieves his phone.

He skims over it and then looks up at me with uncertainty.

"What?!" I ask irritated now.

"It's a big as well as unsettling news." He lets out uncertainly.

"Tell me before I punch you," I assert.

He nods and says, "The investors you were bagging for your project, are in Delhi for an expo, and they have called in to set a meeting today."

I feel the gust of happiness hearing that news.

"I'm so proud of you son!" Dad pats me on my back and I see him smiling proudly at me.

"Will someone tell me what's happening?" Mom asks with a smile.

"I would but right now I have to go change." I rush off in the direction of my room.

_____________________

PAAKHI POV

Hearing the elation in Viren's voice makes me extremely happy.

"But today everyone is coming to meet the newlyweds," Ma complains.

Hearing that I skip a beat.

More relatives?

"It's okay Tanvi, this is a big deal for Viren and Paakhi can manage on her own, yes dear?" Dad asks me.

I feel nervous but still, nod with a smile.

"But it's really difficult to face everyone without your husband beside you, Manav..." Ma tries to help me but she doesn't realize that I'm getting nervous each second.

"Tanvi, please." Dad asserts and Ma nods.

"I will go check on Viren," I say and rush towards the room following the directions I memorized this morning.

Walking inside the room, I see him skimming through his wardrobe.

"Can I help?" I ask him.

He excitedly nods and says, "I need to look my best."

I chuckle at his excitement.

"Is this deal so important?" I make a small chat while selecting a tie for him.

"It's something I have been working on for two years now if I get this deal, Singh enterprises will gain accomplishment in hotelier sectors. We will be number one in Asia." He tells excitedly taking the tie from me.

I lean on the closet wall and observe him.

"Today guests are coming to meet us girls," I inform him.

"Oh I know, mom told me, " he shrugs.

"I'm scared," I confess. Sharing it with him makes me a bit relaxed.

"Oh, it's okay." He announces and walks out of the closet.

I'm appalled by his insensitivity. I thought he would motivate me.

I exit the closet and see him leaving the room without even a single glance at me.

Feeling overcome by emotions, I take a seat on the bed and feel tears brimming my eyes.

I don't know for how long I sit and cry because the next moment I feel my phone ring.

Looking at the caller id I pick it up instantly.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Paakhi, do me a favor, please. Tell ma I will be back in an hour because we are stuck in tràffic." Maanu says on the phone.

"Where are you?" I ask her.

"Oh, Arhaan took me out for breakfast, He's being extra sweet today because he says it's difficult to meet new people." She murmurs the last part elated.

"Okay, enjoy!" I say and hang up.

"Only my husband doesn't believe it," I scoff and get up to wash my face.

After doing my business in the washroom, and getting ready for the guests, I walk to the open balcony doors to gain some solace.

The glimmer of yellow flowers dancing with the wind gains my attention.

The yellow daffodils are one of my favorites, they're a symbol of spring and symbolize new beginnings.

Today is a day of new beginnings for Aditi, Me, and Maanu. Some of us are enjoying it like Maanu and some are whining like me.

With this thought in my mind, I walk back inside and out of my room.

Descending the stairs, I bump into Palak Aunty, she's talking on the phone with someone. She doesn't notice me and resumes her talk.

"I don't know what will I do about Dev, he's so adamant about Paakhi. He keeps blaming her for destroying Reshma Di's bond with her family." Hearing her, I halt in my steps.

He's blaming me?

I feel a pang of sadness and remorse.

"No no, Aditi and Maanya are sweet, but I'm a bit worried about Paakhi too, she's the one with brains." She continues her chatter and walks down the stairs and into the foyer.

I stand glued to my spot.

I thought my new family would love me, I will gain a family I never had but seems like I'm not worthy of a family. God will always punish me.

Tears brim for the second time today in my eyes.

Instinctively, I reach out to the bracelet I wore today, the one that Rags gave me. It seems to bring relief but I still feel sick.

I turn around to walk back to my room when, "oh dear, you look beautiful." I hear Ma's voice.

I take a deep breath to hold in my tears before turning around and facing her.

There she stood with a massive smile.

I feel a smile of my own coming through.

" Thank you, Ma." I descend the stairs towards her.

"Everyone will be here soon, Aditi is in the backroom, you go there." She instructs me.

"Maanu is stuck in traffic she'll be here soon," I Inform her.

"Oh okay," she nods and nudges towards the foyer opposite the lounge room.

"Ma?" I call for her attention.

"Huh?" She asks.

"Is Reshma Aunty coming today?" I see her sigh and realize what she means by that.

She walks into the lounge room and I walk outside the house instead of the backroom.

Looking around erratically, I spot a limping figure in distance.

As its view becomes clear I see Dhruv. Instantly I feel guilty looking at him.

"Mrs.Singh," he bows.

"Are you okay?" I ask remorsefully.

He stands straight and nods his head.

"Can I help you?!" He asks after a silent pause.

I think for a minute and ask, "I want to visit Mrs. Reshma."

His eyes widen for a fraction of a second.

"I'm sorry, did you say Mrs.Malhotra?" He asks again.

I nod and he stares curiously at me.

"I need to make a call," he excuses.

"No!" I yell.

He looks perplexed.

"I mean please don't disturb anyone. I want to go and come fast." I tell him.

"But I can't just-"

"Nobody will know you helped me," implore cutting him mid-sentence.

"Please..." I beg.

He takes a deep breath and looks at my disheveled self.

"I'll take you," he says and guides me to a car.

"Are you fit enough to drive?" I ask curiously.

"Yes ma'am, otherwise I won't risk your safety." He curtly replies.

I nod and lean back unnerved through the long ride.

I want to call Viren or girls to tell them but cease disturbing others.

The whole ride I kept chanting prayers to relax.

"We're here," Dhruv's curt voice brings me to look out the windows to a contemporary house.

It's unique, not big like Singh Mansion but it is beautiful nonetheless.

With a deep breath, I step out of the car and walk to the front doors.

Ringing the bell, I wait agitatedly.

A few minutes later, the door unlocks, and Maira's smiling face comes into view.

"Paakhi?" Her smile widens and she leaps forward to hug me.

I loosen up a bit seeing her cheerful mood.

"What are you doing here?" She asks ushering me inside.

Inside is as much modern as the exterior. Natural light pervades every corner of the duplex and reacts to the red and grey color palette to create a stark interior. The elegant steel and wood stair cantilevers out precariously from the grey textured wall.

"Who's there Mo?" I hear the most dreading voice.

"You! What are you doing at my house?" She yells as soon as she sees my face.

"Wasn't separating me from my family and destroying my Nephew's life enough?" Sue screech with hate.

What wrong did I do to her?

"Aunty-"

"Aunty? We are not related, call me Maam!" She scowls.

"Ma'am, I'm here to apologize for my doings. I never intended to separate you and your family. I just stood for what was right..." I try to explain.

"Right? Your best friend gets pregnant and then tells my nephew it's his, was right? Your other best friend eloped my Arhaan, was it right? And you! You don't even deserve Viren!" She glares.

"Ma..." Maira interjects when tears start tumbling down my face.

"You did not bring prosperity but doom to my family. They will soon regret having you," she smirks.

Hearing her I feel so humiliated, but then I remember the reason I'm here.

"I'm sorry for that, I will do anything for your forgiveness." I desperately try.

She looks at me with her cunning eyes, assessing me up and down.

Then suddenly a smile masks her face, a one that guarantees I will not like what she's going to say.

I hold my breath till she speaks.

"I want you three to leave my nephews!" She declares.

For a second everything stills.

"Will you do it? I will give you three so much money you won't be able to count." She asks.

"No!" I immediately declare.

She is taken aback by the ferocity in my voice.

"I was here to take you to your family, so that you can be there with them, in their happiness. What kind of Aunt are you? Selfish? Manipulative? You don't see that your nephews are happy with us. You just see something...something very irrelevant. We have always respected you, Ma'am. But today after saying this, I feel sorry for you. " words blurt out of my mouth.

"How dare you!" She growls glaring at me.

"I just want my family back!" She screams.

"Then what's stopping you?" I counter back.

"Why don't you like us? What wrong did we do to you?" I ask desperately.

"I-" she paused.

"I don't like that you girls are poor. You guys have a family!" She scoffs.

"Is money the solution? Do you think we married your nephews for money? If so then you ain't have to worry, because we have learned to live happily in little, money doesn't excite us, the family does. As you say, we don't have a family and therefore we yearn for one. We will always preserve it as it's something sacred to us. If it wasn't true, I would have not come here to take you to your family. " I reply.

Her glare persists.

"You're one manipulative girl. You are so good." She comments.

With a deep sigh, I turn around and leave the house. Enter the car and the whole ride, I hold my tears.

Reaching home, I intend to run up to my room and cry my heart out.

"Paakhi? Where were you?" I hear the disappointing voice of Ma.

She doesn't wait for my answer and pulls the free end of my saree over my head to cover my face.

She then pulls me towards the lounge.

I can hear numerous murmurs and chuckles.

But they all die down when we enter.

"Sorry everyone, Here is my eldest Daughter in law, Paakhi," Ma announces.

"Look, the eldest one has attitude, she wasn't even interested in meeting us." One of the ladies makes a snide remark.

I hear many chuckles and feel my heart sink.

"Oh please Rekha, she was a bit busy, " Palak Aunty comes to my rescue.

She comes beside me and whispers, "You should have been more careful, your little stunt may tarnish our reputation."

Holding back the tears becomes a lot more difficult.

I feel someone tugging me to the couch.

Seconds later I see a pair of hands lifting my veil.

"Whatsoever, the girl is indeed beautiful." The lady acknowledges blessing me.

The process continues and I keep hearing how beautiful I'm or how lucky I'm that Viren married me.

The process became agonizing.

"Now you have seen my daughter-in-laws, so let's proceed to lunch," Ma announces and ushers everyone to the dining area.

"Where were you Paakhi?" Maanu asks as soon as everyone departs.

"You should have been here, it was so embarrassing for mom and Aunty to tell that you are not home." Aditi chides.

I don't say a word, because I know, if I will open my mouth I will start wailing.

"Now she's giving us attitude," Maanu scoff and pulled Arhaan towards the dining area.

Aditi follows behind with Shaurya on her toe.

Wow, it seems like it's my lucky day today. I'm just getting humiliated again and again.

Sitting there I look at the foyer entrance, waiting for Viren. I just want to hug him. I want him to tell me that it's okay. He's not embarrassed by me. I did not fail him.

But to my dismay, he doesn't appear.

I don't know how long I'm sitting here because the next second I hear laughter and giggles nearing.

The ladies from earlier arrive again.

One of them instantly takes a seat beside me and smiles. I look down and smile.

"So how are you?" She asks.

"I'm good thank you," I reply and she smiles.

"Should I tell you a secret?" She whispers. Without my acknowledgment, she continues, "You hit a jackpot. Singh family is rich and now you don't have to worry about anything." She chuckles.

"I love Viren," I remark.

"Love is momentary, money is permanent." She comments. I feel the bile rise. Everyone here thinks I married Viren for his money.

The soft giggle a bit away from me gains my attention.

I see Maanu and Aditi talking to a group of ladies. They seem to adore both of them.

But as they meet eyes with me they frown.

Am I really that bad? None of the ladies in this room seems to like me. Even mom is disappointed with me.

My emotions seem too overbearing, without a word to anyone, I discreetly leave the room and dash to the stairs.

My breathing becomes erratic as I rush to my room.

Entering the room, I let my tears fall, every emotion, every jeer, vacate my heart with each sob.

I walk further into the room and tumble beside the bed.

_____________________

VIREN POV

"That went well," Dad exclaims delightedly.

"Yes, I hope they saw potential in my idea," I exclaim collecting my documents.

"The meeting went for 5 hours straight." Dad comments.

"Hmm," I reply distracted by my files.

"Do you wanna grab some food?" He asks.

I look at the time and realize I want to see Paakhi.
"Sorry dad, but I need to be at home." I apologize.

"I understand, young love!" He chuckled standing up and walking out of the room.

I collect my final document and leave the conference room.

Walking past some of my employees, I wish them a good night.

They look surprised but not much as I have started being more gentle nowadays.

Taking the elevator, I exit the office building and rush to my car.

Getting in the driver's side, I revive the engine. I miss Dhruv, I hope he gets better soon.

I only trust that man, he's more than a bodyguard and driver to me. He's like a friend.

Hearing a chime of my phone, I take a look and smile when Paakhi's photo pops up.

I miss her.

Driving through the driveway, I park my car and rush inside the house.

"Viren!" I hear mom's voice from the lounge room.

Taking a step into the lounge room I'm excited to see my wife.

But what greets me is the opposite of what I expected.

"Why do you all look so angry?" I quip.

"Ask your lovely wife," uncle scowl.

I feel apprehensive as he says those words.

I look at Maanya and Aditi but they both turn their head away.

"What did she do?" I ask.

"She was not here when guests arrived, even though I requested her to be and then everyone was humiliating you and our family. And then she left again without a word." Mom tells apprehensively.

It's weird for Paakhi to be doing things like these.

"I will talk to her," I say and exit thr room to go to my room.

I knock on my door a few times.

After a few minutes, the door unlocks.

I push it open and see Paakhi's back towards me.

I lock the door behind me walk further in.

"What happened today?" I ask her.

I did not expect what happened next.

She whirls around so fast and snuggles into me.

Her whole body jerks with each sob.

I caress her back.

"What happened Paakhi?" I ask scared now.

My heart is sinking.

"Please tell me..." I plea.

"I'm a bad person, no one likes me. I brought doom to this family. I'm so sorry. I promise I will change myself, I will do whatever you will tell me to do, but please don't leave me." Her muffled words were hard to decipher but when they registered in my brain.

I feel my blood boil.

I remember the day when she had a similar breakdown in front of her apartment.

"Hey, love, look at me." I inch her back and home her face in the palm of my hands.

"I love you, this You! I don't want you to change." I say each word looking into her eyes.

"And about that doom and all, I got the deal I have been working on for 2 years and today after I married you!" I tell her.

"Really?" She asks with a pout.

I kiss her pout and hug her.

"Really! Now tell me what happened today?" I ask her.

She starts fiddling with thr button of my shirt.

"Nothing," she murmurs.

"Tell me, I'm here for you," I pry.

"I don't want you to get angry..." She mumbles.

"I won't get angry..." I say holding onto my bubbling anger.

"Promise?" She asks looking up at me.

I nod and wait for her to say something,

She thinks for a second and then says, "I was late to the ceremony today, and some ladies taunted me. I saw them smiling and giggling with Maanya and Aditi but they would frown looking at me."

I don't know why but I feel like she's holding back.

"Why were you late?" I ask her.

"I was sad that you went to the office so I went into gardens and lost track of time," she tells.

I chuckle knowing, this is possible.

She smiles at me.

"Everyone is angry with me?" She asks with sadness in her eyes.

"A bit, but they'll get over it," I say.

She curls back into my arms.

I feel her placing kisses on my chest.

But the moment breaks as my stomach growls.

"Are you hungry?" She pulls back and asks concerned.

"A bit," I chuckle.

"I will get you food," she rushes to the door but halt in her steps.

I see uncertainty and fear cross her face.

"Love, I will call the kitchen and get them to bring some food." She looks uncertain, "no I will bring it myself,"

"You can help me in finding my nightclothes till then. Please..." I request.

She nods and walks to the closet.

I smile and call the kitchen staff.

After that, I collect my clothes from her and walk into the washroom.

Seeing her puffed eyes, I know she must have cried before my arrival too.

She was here alone, crying and suffering.

I feel anger spiking through me, so I set that water to cool and relax.

After changing my clothes, I hear multiple continuous knocks on the room door.

Walking out, I find Paakhi sprawled on the couch.

I attend to the person on the other side of thr door and take the food from them.

Settling it aside, I walk over to Paakhi and gently lift her and carry her to the bed.

I tuck her in and place a kiss on her temples.

She must have been tired of all the events of today.

Walking to the other side of the bed, I carry my food and settle in, I switch on the tv and enjoy my food.

After discarding the plate aside, I settle in bed and tug Paakhi towards me. She curls into me and I close my eyes with a smile resting on my face.

Having her in my arms at the end of the day feels like bliss.

_____________________

Hey, lovelies ❤️

How's the update?

Why did Paakhi not tell Viren everything? Did she do the right thing?

Please, guys, comment and let me know if you like my work or not, 🥺

Don't forget to Vote⭐, Comment💭 and Share.