VANYA'S pov

It was late, and the house was quiet, but my mind was racing. I sat on the edge of the bed in my light pink saree, feeling the weight of my new life.

I had dreamed of a loving marriage, but now I was here, married to Rudransh, a man I barely knew.

Leaving my parents behind was painful. They had always been my support, and now I felt like I was breaking their hearts. I needed to make this work, not just for me but for them, too.

As I lay on bed all kinds of questions hitting my mind would Rudransh accept me? Would I fit into his family? I felt nervous but also determined.

I reminded myself that this was my chance to start fresh. I would prove that I was worthy, not only to Rudransh but to everyone in this house.

No matter how difficult it might be, I promised to embrace this journey and find my place in his heart.

Somehow, even with the weight of everything, my eyes grew heavy, and before I knew it, sleep quietly took over, pulling me into its comforting embrace.

As I woke up, a sharp pain throbbed in my head-a mix of exhaustion and hunger.

Oh, I need food.

But then, reality hit me: I wasn't at home, and Mateshwari wasn't here to make breakfast.

It was just 6 a.m., but I knew I shouldn't sleep again.
I noticed Twisha still peacefully asleep beside me, so I quietly got up, careful not to disturb her, and headed to the washroom to start my first day in my new home.

I chose a deep red saree that Mateshwari had gifted me, perfect for this occasion.
Despite the saree's heaviness, I paired it with a simple choker and earrings, adding just a light touch of makeup.

I placed the nuptial chain around my neck and filled my hairline with sindoor.

Now, Ms. Vanya was truly Mrs. Vanya Rudransh Tanwar.

The thought made me blush slightly.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to see Maa sa smiling warmly.

As I bent to touch her feet, she stopped me midway, and said ," God bless u my child . You are looking like a goddess."

Her words brought a smile to my face.

She glanced around and asked, "Where is Twisha? Is she up and ready for the day?" I shook my head and replied, "No, Maa sa, she's still sleeping. She must be exhausted."

But Maa sa wasn't having it. "If you're up, she should be too," she said, moving past me to wake Twisha, who struggled to keep sleeping despite Maa sa's gentle prodding.

Their easy bond made me miss my Mateshwari even more.

Finally, Twisha hugged me good morning and dashed off to her room to get ready.

"Let's head downstairs, beta," Maa sa said, "we have many rituals to complete, and everyone is waiting."

When we reached downstairs, I touched Dadi sa's feet. She blessed me, wishing me a strong bond with Rudransh.

From under my veil, I stole a glance at him-he looked incredibly handsome in his cream-colored kurta, enough to make my heart flutter.

One by one, I touched everyone's feet and received blessings.

Dadi sa said ," Devika , take rudransh and vanya to entrace for ritual.

Maa saa nodded and guided us to the main entrance, explaining the rituals.

We placed red tikka and rice on four bricks and broke a coconut, as per tradition. Afterward, we visited the puja room, performing aarti together.

Maa sa explained the Ganga puja ritual, where we offered items like a coconut, a saree, raw milk, and other items to the symbolic Ganga.

Despite my efforts, it was challenging to do everything properly with the veil, but I managed.

When we returned to the hall, Rudransh turned to Dadi sa and said, "I hope my work here is done. I need to leave for the office-it's important."

Dadi sa protested, "But the mooh dikhai ceremony! And you haven't eaten anything yet."

He simply replied, "I'll eat at the office. Besides, she's not going anywhere-I'll see her this evening."

Dadi saa said ," Okay but try to come earlier I have something to announce.

He nodded.
And with that, he left for his room, barely waiting for anyone's response.

A pang of disappointment hit me, but I reminded myself that work comes first.

As I watched Rudransh's figure disappear down the hallway, a wave of sadness washed over me.

My gaze lingered where he had been, wishing he could stay a little longer, even though I knew work was important to him.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle hand rest on my shoulder. I turned to see Maa sa smiling at me with such warmth and understanding in her eyes.

"Don't be sad, dear," she said softly, her voice filled with affection. "He's just very dedicated to his work.
Give him some time. He'll be back before you know it. Come with me."

Her words reassured me, and I nodded, letting her guide me along.

We walked to a beautifully decorated room, and I felt a mix of nerves and excitement seeing it.

Maa sa led me to the center, where a soft, plush seat was arranged, surrounded by an array of women, all dressed elegantly and radiating warmth.

Familiar faces like Dadi sa, Tai sa, and Twisha smiled at me, but there were also many other ladies I didn't recognize yet.

Dadi sa approached me first, her face glowing with pride and happiness. Gently, she lifted my veil and beamed at me with a look that felt like pure love.

She took out a small pouch of money and began circling it around my head in a protective gesture, a traditional way to ward off the evil eye.

Her words were a blessing that touched my heart, "May no evil come near our precious daughter. You are our family's Laxmi."

Then, with a soft smile, she handed me a beautiful, intricate necklace, its gold shining brightly in the room's light.

I smiled back at her, feeling a deep warmth in my chest. Her blessing and this gift made me feel truly welcomed.

Next, Maa sa came forward, and with a similar warm look, she performed the same ritual with another bag of money.

She circled it around my head, muttering a prayer, then handed me an exquisite jewelry set.

Her eyes were filled with kindness, and her touch was as gentle as a mother's. "Thank you, Vanya, for bringing light to our home," she said, her voice soft yet full of meaning.

As I looked at her, I felt tears brimming in my eyes. I thanked her quietly, feeling overwhelmed by her warmth and acceptance.

Then it was Tai sa's turn. She walked over with a confident smile and, instead of money or jewelry, circled an empty pot over my head.

The gesture caught me off guard. I looked up at her, a bit surprised, and noticed the curious glances from others around us.

Tai sa seemed to revel in the attention, looking at everyone with a mischievous grin before turning back to me.

"What?" she said with a laugh, "My dear Vanya, you're Rudransh Tanwar's wife now. Anything you set your eyes on, you'll have.

I'm gifting you this empty pot, filled with my love and blessings." Her eyes twinkled as she said it, and her smile grew wider.

Though her gift felt a bit unusual, I managed a smile and thanked her.

The other ladies seemed amused, whispering among themselves, though Maa sa and Dadi sa exchanged glances that told me they may have had mixed feelings about Tai sa's choice.

Still, I could sense her good intentions, and I held the pot carefully, accepting her blessing with grace.

One by one, the other women stepped forward, each offering their own blessings, gifts, and smiles.

I received everything from jewelry to embroidered sarees, feeling like they were showering me with both love and expectations.

Maa sa introduced me to everyone. Some of the ladies were her friends, and some were wives of prominent businessmen and well-known figures.

WThey asked me questions, offered words of advice, and even shared stories of their own married lives.

Twisha hovered close, beaming with excitement and pride. Every now and then, she would whisper to me, "They all adore you, bhabhi sa," making me feel even more special and loved.

As I accepted each gift and blessing, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this family and the warm welcome they were extending to me.

Yet, in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the thought of Rudransh, wishing he could be part of this moment.

The kindness and support I was receiving from everyone made the uncertainty of my new life a little easier to bear.

The ceremony ended, and Maa sa looked at me, her eyes filled with pride and love. "Come, beta," she said softly.

"Let's take these gifts to your room. You must be tired, have some rest and I will send ur lunch in your room."

As soon as I reached my room, I rushed to the washroom to get out of the heavy saree and jewelry.

I changed into a maroon outfit-not too flashy, not too simple-perfect for my first day here.

"Why am I so brilliant?" I thought to myself, mentally patting myself on the back.

I sat on the couch, feeling completely worn out but happy. I loved my new family, and they seemed to really care about me. The only thing still on my mind was Rudransh.

"Well, he won't be able to resist my charm forever!" I smirked, thoroughly enjoying my own little pep talk.

Just then, a knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Twisha walked in with a lady carrying a tray full of food. I couldn't hide my excitement.

"Twisha, you have no idea how hungry I am! I can't go more than a few hours without eating."

Twisha laughed and hugged me. "I knew it, bhabhi sa! We're bond made in heaven !"
We both laughed, hugging and bouncing around like little kids.

The lady smiled at our act , kept our food at table , left, and we quickly uncovered the food-Shahi paneer, navratan korma, Rajasthani dal, rice, puris, gulab jamun, and more. We dived in, eating, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.

The food felt extra delicious because, for the first time in a while, I felt relaxed and happy.
I needed this joy after all the stress.

By the end, we had cleared every dish. Twisha laughed, holding her stomach. "Bhabhi sa, you hardly ate anything last night, and now you're eating like me!"

I smiled, sitting up. "You know, Twisha, marriage is such a big change. Leaving your home, your comfort zone, and your parents-it's overwhelming. But now that I feel everyone here genuinely cares, I feel much happier. The only thing that still worries me is your Bhai sa. I don't even know what he thinks of me."

Twisha gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I get it, bhabhi sa. But we're all thrilled to have you here. And as for my brother, just wait-he'll see how amazing , hot , stunning, adorable and cute you are."

Her words made me feel me blushed and I felt a little more at peace.

Twisha then got up and said, "Come on, bhabhi sa, let's take a nap. Maa sa said you should rest a bit."

I was so tired that I agreed. I lay down beside her, feeling lighter, and drifted off to sleep as we chatted quietly.

I woke up to the sound of Maa sa's voice. Startled, I ran to open the door and immediately apologized for oversleeping.

She simply smiled and said, "Relax, beta, it's alright. At least you got some rest. Now, get ready and come downstairs. Everyone's waiting for you. And don't forget to bring that sleeping beauty with you." She chuckled and left.

I checked the time-it was already 5 p.m.! I quickly woke up Twisha and hurried to freshen up and change.

After getting ready and covering myself with my veil as my patiparmeshwar hasn't lifted my veil , I went downstairs.

In the living room, I saw everyone gathered-Baapu sa, Maa sa, Dadi sa sitting at the center, Tai sa, Tejveer, and, of course, my oh-so-handsome husband, Rudransh.

Maa sa gestured for me to sit beside Rudransh. I took my seat nervously, not quite knowing what to expect.

Then Dadi sa looked at both of us and made an announcement that nearly made me faint.