Pehli Rasoi

"Love is patient,
love is kind,
love means
slowly losing your mind."

-27 Dresses
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In morning, the golden lights chime in through the curtains as Arohi stirs up, in her new bed.
She didn't knew when she had fallen asleep in this bed. Last thing she could recall was her crying till late in the same bed .
Her eyes were puffy now, so anyone who would see, could know.

When she looked around all over the room, he was nowhere.

Maybe in the bathroom ..?
But for a long time, their was no sound from their too.

A realisation hits her , he never came back yesterday.
Why...?
So where was he...?
She questioned herself. He was as upset as her , she knew. About this whole set up.
But where could he possibly spend the night then.
In guest bedroom.. ...?
But why would someone sleep in guest room in their own house...?

And why the hell was she so curious about him. It's none of her buisness. She said to herself.

Then she scrolled through her phone, 7 Am. The time said.

So she got up.
It was her first day in here, as the New Bahu. And their were definitely some rituals left. Like first Rasoi and Doing Pooja and whatever was left.

So she got ready,
Bathed.
Cleared the bed.
Her suitcase still half open.
Later on she would have to arrange her stuff in the now her 'supposed' room.

She draped herself in a beautiful Red Saree. Thin golden border to it .

It perfectly wrapped around her form, making her look like a goddess indeed.

Even though the storm in her mind wasn't the least settled , her body was almost on autopilot.
And then the new worry arose;
'where he must be...?'

She looked beautiful, as she looked at herself through the mirror.
Her hairs , washed sometime ago, still wet. They cascaded over her back.
Dark brown.

The red vermillion in her hairline, of his name. Stood out.
And the mangalsutra which rested on her chest.
The bangles in her hands, which made clinked sound.
They were all the symbols which now meant, she was a married woman now.

But even though their was everything in their, something was still
unknown.
Unapproached.
Missing.

Her smile. Something once brightend the entire room.
Now gone .

She would force it all downstairs. She knew she had to keep that mask on.

But right now as she stared at herself , she could see her vulnerability.

A replaced husband.
Moreover someone she didn't new a thing about.
It wasn't a tragedy right ..?

The household was same.
Family was same.

But what mattered the most...her husband
He was a complete different person.
A stranger to be precise.

Then the faint knock on the door came.
" Bahu Rani, are you up by now..?" The maid asked. Her voice was hesitant.

"Yes" she replied almost immediately, and then opened the door.

"Dadi Ji wants to see you in her room"
The maid informed. Her. With a quite bow.

Why would she summon her this early..? she felt something curious.

She walked towards the room.

When she was in, Dadi was already going through her cupboard.

"Did you sleep well beta..??" Dadi asked softly, peeking through the cupboard door. The old lady wrapped in a khadi saree.
she was always kind to her.
Most Dadi Saas would be toxic, tough, unbearable, but she was just kind. Pure.

"Yes. I did." She answers. It was truth. After long hours of crying, she indeed fell asleep soundly.
And then, her breath hitches as Dadi pulls out a red velvet box from inside.

"Good. Now I wanted to give you something and talk to you. It's alright right....?" Dadi asked, still in that soft tone of hers, her lips pressed in a thin line. Eyes hopeful.

"Yes ofcourse Dadiji" she confirmed. Her lips too perched in a faint smile.

Then Dadiji motioned her to sit on the bed beside her.
Dadi stared at her , for sometime. Maybe trying to find comforting words.or maybe, just maybe admiring her new pota bahu.
How ethereal she looked.

"These are our family Heirlooms. Passed down through generations." Dadi says as she opens the red velvet box with a soft clink.
Her wrinkled hands a little shaky. Roaming through the piece in it. And then tilting the box towards her.

She takes in the sight of a beautiful gold necklace set in the box. They were elegant. Beautifully crafted. And vintage.

"My Dadi saas had given me them when i married into this household. Now I pass it down to you. " Dadi says, handing down the box to her.
A silent acceptance.

Atleast someone was welcoming her in here.

She took it in her hold, heavy. Not by weight, but by the meaning it carried.
A responsibility.
Now that she was married.

And her eyes filled again, her throat heavy. Voice thick.

"They are gorgeous" was all she could say, as she desperately tried to look at the box and not at the old ladies face. Avoiding eye contact.
Like a plague.

"You will look good in them. " Dadi says, as her hand gently pats on her shoulder.

"Whatever had happened wasn't your Fault. Aditya has lost something precious." Dadi says again, this time she looks at dadi, the red eyes of hers, filled with tears now.
A slow inhale, trying to compose herself. Not to break down here .

"Na baccha. Do not cry" Dadi immediately wipes the corner of her eyes.
Hugging her, slowly moving her hand through her back.
Trying to calm her down.

Her heart felt heavy though.
Everything was so unexpected and she crumbled all the time even thinking of it.

She was being such a emotional mess.
But what she could even do...?
She had her whole life reduced to this one single moment.

"It's just very ....uns-et-lling. I had imagined a life with Aditya" she says finally, her words trembling. Voice shaky.

Dadi just stared at her, the once so lively happy face, now turned red.
Dadi softly caressed her face, and she leaned into that motherly touch.
Something she needed desperately.
To be held.
Seen.

Someone who could whisper in her ears that 'it wasn't your fault '.
Again and again. Until she could Fully trust herself.

"That boy was reckless. Idiot. He could have just considered telling us. Something. Anything." Dadi says, the words were full of rage. And maybe concern. Because everyone was unknown of his whereabouts.

But yet mostly, much of the anger. And questions.

For someone like Dadi who had worked so hard for the company, this family.
All it took was one fleeting moment, to burn down all the years of hardwork.
All life long respect they had earned.

Everything she and Dadaji had done to build this empire from Scratch.
It crumbled down like a piece of paper.

"But, you could stay assure. Advik is different from Aditya. He would never do anything to break you. You will be taken care of. Respected. "

But she couldn't be loved right...?

Dadi says, even though now she could hardly believe anything. Trust anything yet again. Anyone in here.

After whatever Aditya had done ,
She would doubt everyone in here.
Every single relation she had formed.
And that was only fair .

(⁠~⁠￣⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠~(⁠~⁠￣⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠~(⁠~⁠￣⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠~

As she walked downstairs, Aradhana called out her name.

Aradhana, the one sweet kind lady she was. Who was supposed to be her mother in law. Before. Before everything went south.

"Jii...?" She asked , hesitant .

"You look" Aradhana says looking at her , trying to form some word. Something that could describe her beauty.
"Mesmerizing"

Her lips twitch a little at that.
A small "Thanks" she muttered.

"It's your first day as an Oberoi. Also your First Rasoi Rasam. Excited..????" The kind lady asked, and she just nodded.

"I am" she lied through the gritted teeth, the last thing she wanted was to engage into yet another ritual. Which was yet another obligation.

It reminded her of the uncertainty.
The truth about her marriage.
And walking through that memory lane was dangerous. For now.
For ever.

But then she swallows in the thoughts of running away from here somewhere far, faking a warm smile .

She walked in the kitchen. The cook already there to assist her .

Her mind drove through several options. She wasn't clearly in the mood to show off her cooking skills.

She had practiced to perfectionate 'kheer' , something Aditya had loved . Dearly .
And she had wanted to make it for him.
At her first Rasoi.
See his reaction.

But now he wasn't here .
Everything has changed .
Yet another reminder.

So she settled on something else.
Yet another dish her mother had forced her down to learn. Just in case .
'Gajar Halwa' . Warm, sweet, closer to heart.

The cook helped her with ingredients and chopping.
And then muttered something like , "Advik baba loves Gajar Halwa"
But she had heard it.

And then , again her chest felt tighter.
Great. Just wow.

Why must I be punished over and over again....?
She questioned herself.

"Now everyone will think I knew it and choosed it. How romantic." She muttered the possibility. To herself.

And then again, where the hell was that bastard..?
He was not found yet.

(⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬⁠)⁠♡(⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬⁠)⁠♡(⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬⁠)⁠♡

The family gathered around on the breakfast table, the elder men discussing business and Politics.

Ladies chatting about the upcoming rituals, yet again. The muh dikhai ceremony to be held in evening.

Swarna, now her actual Saas had barely looked at her.
She was visibly disappointed.
And somehow she knew that the reason was totally valid .

And Adheera and Adesh...? The chaotic duo... They were trying to make sure their new Bhabhi was taken care of.

"Bhabhi , if you could have a pet.. what animal will you choose...?" Adheera asked, beaming with excitement. A smile that made Arohi smile. Genuine one.

"Such a silly question. Are you like 10 or something...?" Adesh steps in. With a smirk.
He looked so much like Aditya, the same dark eyes , reminding her of the betrayal.

"Am grown up okay. And I had take you as the family's pet instead...." Adheera says, back with a hint of sarcasm.

"Ohh..that's the best you could come up with....? " Adesh says, a hint of amusement and something else in his cocky attack.

"Guys can we discuss about me...? I must be the centre of attraction right..?" Arohi says, finally breaking in .
Then adds,
"If i could have a pet....it will definitely be a Golden retriever"

Then , Adheera dramatically coughs. Eyeing towards the entry,
And then her breath hitches, as everyone turns to look at now entering Advik.
Crisp white buttoned up shirt ,tucked precisely . Black pants.
Hairs set properly.
And his confident demeanor.
As usual.

And when he enters, he catches that, the slight hitching of her breath. A brief eye contact occurs.
His grey eyes roam over her. Taking in the sight of her.

And
Then he looks away , sharply.
Sitting beside his mother. Far from her.

She rolls her eyes, getting her focus fixed again upon now ongoing bickering of Adheera and Adesh.

About which dog breed is best .

Then, his father coughs, drawing the attention towards him.
"Where were you the entire night then..?"

He looks at his father, caught off guard by that question. Then after a second of composure.
He says in a low , muttered voice.
"My apartment" , and then quickly looks down .

That was everything they had expected.
As they all huffed together.

"Told you right....? Worrying always about him" Aradhana says to Swarna.

The two sister in laws having their own exchange of words.

"Do not forget you have a wife now. You should move in here. Their is no need to live alone anymore" Dadaji says then, his voice calm but sharp.
Not question, not a suggestion but a command.

Her eyes land upon him then, catching how he just nods .

"Sure" he says
no protest..? No questions asked..?
What's wrong with him.
How could everyone just boss him around and he never protest...?

If it would have been Aditya...

No. She is not going to think about that bastard. Never . Again.

She decides to focus on her paratha instead, rather than the grueling questioning session of her now wedded husband.

And then the servants bring the warm Gajar Halwa, she had made. In the tray to serve.
The faint aroma feeling the room .

"Wow. Just what I was craving" Advik beams like a kid, offered a candy.
Taking in the first bite.

It was perfectly sweet, warm and had that nostalgic feeling. Something which reminded him of his childhood.

Everyone appreciates the taste and then Aradhna slowly mumbled,"it was made by Arohi as her first Rasoi ritual"

That should not have been awkward right ..? Because the way everyones head snapped at her , she wanted to bury herself 10 feets down.

"Very delicious" Dadaji was the first one to break the silence, and then everyone followed in.
Except for Advik and Swarna.

Followed the gifts by everyone then.
Her father in law, Dadaji, Dadi, chacha ji.
Except for again, the mother son duo.

She had glanced at him, hoping for some reaction. But he just silently kept eating his halwa.
And she rolled her eyes, looked away.

Just my luck.

"Advik, don't you like it...? Your wife made it . Anything to say right. ..?" His father questioned him or rather mocked him, a little too rough, harsh.

"It's go-o-d" he said, then shoving in another spoonful in his mouth.

Swarna , his mother was glaring at his father now.
'how dare you point my son out' her sharp gaze said.

"Just dad being his usual self" Adheera had muttered under her breath, followed by a eye roll, while Adesh just hit on her shoulder at that. "Shut up bitch" he said .

She could not help but chuckle at that.
A little.
And when she looked up, he was staring at her.
And then turned his head away, yet again.

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