"Bhai and Bhabhi arrived" i think it is anika voice. In no time we are surrounded by his family. Slowly we walked till the door. His mother circled pooja thali before them and she put thilak on each of us. I genuinely smiled at her, as i have no heart to hurt her, she has no fault in this and i feel close to her than my mother in just few interactions. My monologue came to halt by her,

"Kick the rice pot with your right foot betiya and dip your feet in red water and mark your entry in your home" his mother ratna affectionately said to me pointing the pot and red water in a plate.

I nodded and did what she did as that is the only option left for me. I really wished to feel like home in my new sasural like she said, but some things are never going to change, like this home will never be my home. I felt bad for this family, they are too nice people except arnav how dare he? Due to his one foolish decision they are all going to hurt. She is not planning to continue this marriage at any cost. She cannot give his place to arnav and not anyone too. Again my thought was broke by shout. I think i become too much into me from the time my marriage talk starts.

"Yey...Finally i got my bhabhi" anika shouted crazily like me. I was once like her, get pleasure and happiness in simple and small things and act crazily. But now all looks alien to me.

"Chup karo anika. Don't frighten my bahu by your craziness" ratna scolded her daughter for me. Unknowingly my lips stretch into a smile. But that does not last longer,

"Arnie pick her up and take her in" his mother ordered her son making my eyes widen. "What the?? What is this?" I thought.

"What is this mom?" my husband asked. I can't predict this time whether he asked in teasing tone or really he don't know about this, but how is this possible? He is living here then obviously he must know about this. I shrugged the thoughts which are unnecessary for me.

"Are you planning to stand outside whole night or any plan for performing wedding night my boy?" his father arvind teased him earning a slap from his wife.

"What the?? What is happening here? They are so bold. Arghh...Why i am feeling nervous suddenly? Be strong khushi, you are fighter, independent girl you cannot easily get nervous by this talks" i thought and promised myself to be strong.

"Hann..Hann..bhai, lift bhabhi fast or else you will end up spending your first night here in doorstep itself" anika also teased him. I did not expect this from her, for god sake she is his younger sister and he cannot smile at her teasing. I conclude that this family is too bold in their talks. I wonder how arnav will be? True he tried to talk to me some times after our marriage fixed but i did not talk to him, i thought atleast he'll cancel the marriage by my ignorance. But he???

After seemed like eternity my mother-in-law stopped their teasing session. She warned them not to tease.

Suddenly i felt i am in air and a cold sensation run in my back and waist making me gasped realising arnav picked me in his arms. I clutched his collar in fear of being lifted but i like his touch which is wondering me. I always keep distance from men after my heart break and i promised to not give anyone the chance of touching me even if it is a simple hug. I loved being only his but this equation starts changing the moment arnav married me. This is not good sign. I have to keep check on my emotions.

"Bhai you can put bhabhi down now" i heard anika's teasing voice and met an embarrassed arnav's face.

He slowly put me down carefully. Soon we are surrounded by his family, they are more than 10members. I guess i don't know any of them. They said some post marriage rituals to be performed by us. I was irritated, how many rituals are there. This family has more traditions. I am not the person who love and follow traditions after that incident. I left all my fantasy and dreams of happy life due to my past happenings.

In short time, we are made to sit opposite to each other and a big bowl containing milk is placed between us. They said to search a ring in that bowl. Sighed i put my hand on the bowl he too did the same. I have no interest to entertain people who are shouting as if world cup match is going on. I carelessly wandered my fingers with a fake smile plastered on my face. Abruptly my fingers are blocked by hand and i realised it is arnav's hand. He passed something to me, before i comprehend what it is he raised my hand along with him.

The group broke into cheers, at first i was frightened later calmed down and gasped hearing their words,

"See khushi betiya found the ring and she is the one who have upper hand in this marriage" someone said.

A cheeky smile adorned his face hearing this; i don't know why he did this. Why did he push the ring to my hand when he is the one who found it? Is he want to make me win, it is not a serious game. By any chance, did he want me to rule this marriage but anyway why would i care when i not want to continue this play.

"Ok enough of this rituals, ratna take khushi betiya upstairs, they are tired of these rituals" my father-in-law said.

Soon i was escorted to a room correction his room, ratna aunty made me sit in the decorated bed by spreading my lehenga. I must have to admit that the room was wonderful and it carries a serene atmosphere. Decoration was indeed beautiful. They put lot of effort and love in this marriage, which i felt guilty. I know surely one day i'll repent for hurting ratna aunty, but i can't help it. For her i cannot kill my heart to live with her son. It is against my principle, my heart beats only for him and now it died, i cannot make it beat again. I lost in my musings when anika entered the room.

"Bhabhi don't be nervous. My bhai is not vampire and he'll eat you up! But i am not sure how he is with his wife" anika ended with mischievous smile. Gosh...Shameless family, i thought.

"Chup anika, she is your bhabhi. Don't tease her; she is new to this family. You have to support her not to tease. Don't make her nervous by your talks. If you are in teasing mood then go downstairs i am sure arnie will restlessly walking here and there rubbing his palms, tease him to your heart content" ratna aunty scolded her. From the time my marriage rituals starts this is like this, anika is such a tease and she will get scold from ratna aunty. Today also no less but today anika teasing was in peak.

"I am sorry bhabhi. Don't take my words seriously. If you have problem in adjusting here and felt bore then give a shout i'll be here before you. Take care bhabhi, don't worry arnie bhai is not like i said he'll understand you" anika apologised to me, i can't help but smile at her words. "See now i asked sorry mom, bye" pouting herself anika left the room. Ratna aunty faced me,

"I know khushi betiya, it is not easy for a girl to leave her parents who nurtured you with love and care all these years. This marriage will be hard on you when it is a arranged one. I too have arranged marriage with your father-in-law so i know how it been feel. Don't look me as your mother-in-law consider me as your mother. You are no less than anika for me. This is your home. Feel free to tell me your problems even if it is related to arnav; i'll be always here for you. I'll send arnav in" ratna aunty cooed and kissed my forehead before leaving the room.

"Girls always dream their marriage life should be like fairy tale. I too had the dream but it ended before it started. Now i have no dreams and no expectations from life. I want a peaceful life with no one around unfortunately fate planned this marriage" i sighed and changed my dress, before he come i have to sleep. I am tired and don't have energy left in me to fight with him.

I lied in bed after pushing the flowers aside; before i close my eyes i heard door opening sound. I closed my eyes hurriedly, i felt him near me. He sat beside me, for some time i didn't felt any movement. I thought to open my eyes but before that i felt some kind of wetness in my forehead, i inhaled my breathe realising it's his lips pressing me. God he pecked me. I opened my eyes hearing door closing sound. He is in washroom; i touched my forehead where he pecked me. I rubbed the place to erase his touch. Again i closed my eyes hearing him coming. I didn't hear any sound after that, i felt the room light is dimmed. I guess he is going to sleep; slowly i opened one eye to see him lying in the green colour recliner with his back facing me.

I mentally thanked god for saving me from this situation. If he planned to start our marriage life then surely one world war could have happened here. No one has the right to touch me except him. I closed my eyes to sleep but my thoughts wandered into the past where and why i accepted this marriage.

..to be continued

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Next update will be arnav's POV. So cheers to all who wants his POV. How is this update?

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Priya..