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This chap is affectionately dedicated to -
🖤✨

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"Don't explain who you think I am to me.
Let me explain who I am to you................"

Shubhita sank into the plush armchair in her new living room, feeling the day's events weigh heavily on her shoulders. It wasn't just the exhaustion from the endless rituals and formalities that wore her down—it was the relentless pressure of meeting her in-laws' expectations.

Every glance, every word seemed to carry an unspoken judgment.

As a new bride, she understood the stakes. In this household, her every action was a reflection of her parents' upbringing. A single misstep could cast a shadow on the family's honor. She had prepared herself mentally for this scrutiny, but the reality was more daunting than she had imagined.

Shubhita was not one to indulge in fairy tale fantasies. She was pragmatic, grounded. She knew life wasn't a bed of roses, especially for a woman stepping into a traditional household.

Her mother had often reminded her, "In a new home, you must be like water—adaptable, but strong enough to carve your own path."

The day had started with a cacophony of sounds—the clang of utensils, the murmur of relatives, the insistent ringing of the temple bell. She had awoken before dawn, meticulously draping her saree, ensuring every pleat was perfect. Her mother-in-law's sharp eyes missed nothing, and Shubhita knew that any slip would be noted, perhaps even whispered about in the family's inner circles.

Breakfast was a test in itself. The kitchen felt like a battlefield, with her mother-in-law's instructions coming rapid-fire. "The parathas should be thin and crisp, not too oily," she had said, her tone leaving no room for error. Shubhita had nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she rolled out the dough. She knew her performance here would be the topic of conversation over the day's tea.

Despite her careful preparations, there were moments of near-failure. The tea had almost boiled over, and she had to quickly adjust the flame to avoid disaster. Her heart raced each time someone tasted her food, waiting for a verdict. Approval was often silent, but disapproval echoed loudly.

The evening brought a new set of challenges. She navigated conversations with relatives she had never met, each interaction a delicate balance of respect and assertiveness. She felt like she was constantly walking a tightrope, trying to find her footing in this new world.

As the day drew to a close, Shubhita finally found a moment of solitude. She looked around the living room, the unfamiliar surroundings still feeling alien. She knew it would take time to feel at home here, to carve out a space where she could breathe freely. Her thoughts drifted to her parents' home, a place where she could be herself without fear of judgment.

But she also felt a spark of determination. She would not let herself be defeated by the weight of expectations. She had always prided herself on her resilience, and she knew she would need every ounce of it in the days to come. Shubhita closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and whispered to herself, "One day at a time."

In this house, she would be like water—adaptable, resilient, and quietly powerful. And in her heart, she held on to the hope that one day, she would find her own place, not just in this household, but in the hearts of everyone.

Vatsal entered the room quietly, his eyes immediately falling on his newly wedded bride. Shubhita sat in the armchair, her posture slumped, exhaustion and a trace of defeat etched on her face. It was hard for him to reconcile this subdued woman with the confident, self-assured person who had intimidated him during their that meeting at the restaurant.

Back then, she had exuded an aura of assertiveness and passion, qualities that he both admired and felt overshadowed by. Now, that confidence seemed to have been stripped away, replaced by a vulnerable uncertainty. Vatsal couldn’t help but wonder if he was partly to blame, or if it was his family’s relentless scrutiny that had done this to her. He leaned towards the latter. After all, he was a product of the same environment—a place where self-confidence was constantly chipped away by sharp words and impossible expectations.

Despite their regular text exchanges leading up to the wedding, their conversations had always been about logistics and plans, never touching on deeper, emotional subjects. Vatsal knew Shubhita as someone deeply committed to her work and family, a stark contrast to his more reserved and passive nature. She was assertive and driven, qualities he respected but felt he lacked.

He didn’t particularly like her, but he didn’t dislike her either. What he felt was a deep respect for her strength and integrity. She treated everyone with respect, and he admired that about her. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she had no emotional expectations from him. Perhaps to her, he was just another part of the intricate puzzle of their new life together, a necessary presence but not someone she relied on for emotional support.

Their interactions in person had been minimal, often feeling more like a formal arrangement than a burgeoning relationship. Each conversation was functional, devoid of the warmth or intimacy that might foster a deeper connection.

“Shubhita,” he said softly, breaking the silence.

She looked up, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fatigue and surprise. He could see the struggle behind those eyes, the effort it took for her to keep everything together.

“Yes?” she responded, her voice carrying a hint of weariness.

“Can I sit here?” he asked gently.

“I believe it’s your room,” she replied, a faint smile playing on her lips despite her exhaustion.

A little taken back, he slightly shook his head moving closer and sat down across from her, his expression softening. “You look exhausted,” he said quietly.

She gave a small, tired smile taking a sigh. “It’s just... a lot to take in. Everything feels so overwhelming.”

He nodded, understanding all too well. “I get it. This family... I mean it’s really a lot to take in. But..." She met his eyes when he paused. Taking a breath, he continued looking away, "...you’re doing great, honestly.”

Her eyes widened slightly at his words, as if she hadn’t expected such an acknowledgment from him. “You think so?” She asked softly and he nodded.

There was a moment of silence, a tentative connection forming between them. Vatsal knew it wasn’t enough to erase the strain of the day, but it was a start. He wanted to let her know that he saw her struggles and respected her for enduring them.

She shifted slightly in her seat, and as she did, her knee accidentally brushed against his. They both pulled back quickly, the accidental touch amplifying the awkwardness between them.

“I’m sorry,” She muttered, her eyes avoiding his. “It’s fine,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. The silence stretched again, thicker this time.

Vatsal cleared his throat, glancing around the room for something to say. “Let me know if you need anything.” he offered, grasping at anything to ease the tension.

Shubhita shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Thank you.”

She shouldn’t have replied that, she mentally squeezed her eyes for coming out as rude. She needed to adapt to such sudden warmth from her legal husband.

Vatsal nodded, looking down at his hands. “Alright. Well, I’ll let you rest then.”

As he stood up, his foot caught on the edge of the rug, causing him to stumble slightly. He caught himself on the arm of her chair, his face flushing with embarrassment. Shubhita quickly looked away, pretending not to notice, but he caught a fleeting glimpse of amusement in her eyes. Regaining his balance, he mumbled, “Well, at least I made it to the chair without breaking anything.”

Shubhita couldn’t help but let out a small, embarrassed snort, remembering how she had accidentally broken his bottle of perfume that morning when her saree pleats got tangled.

This man has got some nerves, she thought. Why did he act so polite in the morning?

“High bar you’ve set there,” she said, her lips curving into a faint, sarcastic smile.

He chuckled softly, the tension between them easing just a bit. “Good night.”

“Good night,” she replied, her voice a touch lighter.

Vatsal moved towards his side of the bed, glancing back one last time. Shubhita was already settling in, pulling the covers up. He sighed quietly, feeling a mixture of frustration and hope.

It wasn’t that hard with her. Or maybe it was. Everything was still very new and strange.

As he lay down, Vatsal reflected on the day’s events and the brief interaction they had shared. It wasn’t much, but it felt like the beginning of an understanding, however slight. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for tonight, he was content with the fact nobody was mad at him. Neither his father, elder brother or his now legal wife.

On her side, Shubhita opened her eyes slightly, glancing at Vatsal’s back. Despite the awkwardness, there was a small sense of comfort in knowing that he understood her struggles. She closed her eyes again, hoping that in time, their minimal exchanges would grow into something more substantial. For now, it was enough to know they were both willing to try.

With a final, quiet sigh, they both settled into their sides of the bed, the distance between them feeling just a little bit smaller.

_

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_

The soft light of dawn filtered into the room, casting a gentle glow over the furniture. Shubhita was standing in front of the mirror, meticulously adjusting her dupatta over her shoulder. Her movements were careful and deliberate, each thing perfectly aligned.

She sighed, thinking about the day ahead and all the expectations she had to meet.

All of a sudden, the door creaked open slightly, and two tiny heads peeked in. Kuhu and Krish, Vatsal’s four-year-old twin niece and nephew, tiptoed into the room with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

They were still unsure about Shubhita, having not yet figured out how to interact with her. All they knew was that she was their brand new Auntie, whom they were supposed to call ‘Chachi’. They felt nervous in front of her, perhaps because she had very keenly enquired about their studies and grades in their very first meeting. She reminded them of their class teacher.

Shubhita caught sight of them in the mirror and turned around, offering a tentative smile. “Good morning, kids,” she said softly, trying to sound as welcoming as possible.

The twins hesitated, clutching each other's hands, their eyes darting nervously between Shubhita and the rest of the room. Then, spotting Vatsal still asleep in bed, they grinned at each other with a mischievous glint in their eyes.

Quietly, they crept closer to the bed. Shubhita watched in amusement as they climbed up, positioning themselves on either side of their sleeping uncle. In unison, they landed on Vatsal’s chest with a soft thud, giggling as he jolted awake.

“Chachu, wakey-wakey!” they exclaimed in unison, their faces beaming with excitement.

Vatsal groaned, rubbing his eyes. “Whoa, what’s this? A twin attack?” he asked, pretending to be surprised as he looked at the twins.

Kuhu and Krish laughed, nodding vigorously. “Yes, now wake up!” Krish said, hugging him tightly.

Vatsal smiled, ruffling their hair.“10 minutes more. You guys join in too.”

Kuhu glanced over at Shubhita, still unsure about her. Before opening her mouth, “But we wanted to take you to our room... and maybe play?”she said hesitantly.

Vatsal followed her gaze, noticing the slight unease swirling around. Shubhita instantly looked away arranging her stuff on the dressing table.

Vatsal sat up, gently setting the twins on the middle of the bed. “Alright then, I’ll be there. But first, let me wake up properly.” He stretched and yawned, then stood up and walked to the washroom, avoiding meeting Shubhita’s eyes.

Half an hour later, back in the room, the twins busied themselves with a cartoon video on Vatsal’s phone while Vatsal combed his hair and Shubhita moved around all of them sorting her unsorted stuff, the couple occasionally exchanging glances.

The children’s laughter filled the room, a stark contrast to the usual tension.

Not thinking too much about anything, Shubhita turned her attention back to the wardrobe, organizing her things on her side. She reached for her accessories box, but in her haste, it slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor, scattering jewellery everywhere.

“Great,” she muttered under her breath, crouching down to pick up the scattered pieces.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Kuhu approaching hesitantly. The little girl knelt down beside her, her wide eyes fixed on the array of jewelry, particularly the big, sparkling earrings.

“You like earrings, don’t you?” Shubhita asked softly, trying to make conversation.

Kuhu nodded with a beam, her tiny hands already reaching out to help gather the scattered items. She picked up a pair of large, colorful earrings and held them up, her eyes gleaming with fascination.

Shubhita smiled, taking the earrings from Kuhu and placing them back in the box. “Thank you, Kuhu.”

Vatsal leaned back on the couch, watching that scene. As Shubhita prepared to head outside, crossing the couch, she heard her husband mutter softly, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. “See? You’re not as scary as you think.”

Shubhita paused, glancing at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” He replied, his expression unreadable.

Shubhita shot him a mock glare. “Don’t push your luck, Mr Kashyap.”

Vatsal enunciated, raising an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

As she walked past him, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes with a hint of a smile. He watched her go, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. 

It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And sometimes, that was all one ever needed.

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This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.

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