𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝕋ℝ𝕀ℕ𝔾 𝕆𝔽 𝔹𝔼𝕋ℝ𝔸𝕐𝔸𝕃

11. Rituals

As Armaan slowly blinked his eyes open, the gentle light filtering through the curtains greeted him. Stretching lazily, he turned his head to see Ashwini standing by the dresser, her long hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of silk as she towel-dried it. She looked like a modern-day Rapunzel.

To match the moment, Armaan played a song on his phone:

"Zatak Kar Zulf Jab Tum Tauliye Se Baarishein Azaad Karti Ho Achha Lagta Hai"

(Translation: When your hair strikes against the towel, it feels good.)

"You're awake?" she greeted, her hand resting on her hip as she brandished her comb playfully, almost threateningly. "Why did you sleep on the floor when I asked you not to? Why don't you ever listen to me? I'm not strong enough to carry you to your bed," she scolded, standing next to the makeshift bed on the floor where Armaan had spent the night. But as she spoke, her foot slipped, and she tumbled onto him, her wet hair drenching his face. Their eyes met in a moment of awkwardness, and Armaan gently moved a strand of her hair behind her ear, a silent reassurance. "I am sorry, I fell by mistake."

"It's not a mistake if it brings pleasure to someone," he murmured so softly that Ashwini couldn't hear, then moved to the dresser.

"Get ready; your parents might be waiting for us," she said, and Armaan felt a surge of happiness at the word 'us' coming from her lips. Heading to get dressed, he chose his usual tuxedo.

"I'm ready, my amore," he announced, but Ashwini seemed to ignore him. "Now you're behaving like a typical wife," he teased, a smile dancing on his lips as he admired her.

"Of course you would know, after all, you've had many wives, right?" she quipped, focusing on straightening her hair. "Jokes aside, you can go ahead, I need at least half an hour to wrestle with this darned saree," she muttered under her breath.

"Don't bother with it," he suggested, causing Ashwini's gaze to fix on him as if he were a vampire and she, his prey. "I mean, wear something simple like a suit, or just come down in that nightdress," he proposed, taking her hand to lead her downstairs.

"Are you sure? It's my first time cooking for everyone today," she hesitated, seeking reassurance from Armaan, who nodded in response. "Okay then, I'll wear a suit," she decided, disappearing into the bathroom to change while Armaan remained seated on the bed, engrossed in a call.

Armaan's heart skipped a beat as Ashwini emerged from the bathroom, clad in a teal sleeveless suit that accentuated her curves in all the right places. He couldn't help but admire the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders. "Shall we go now?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of eagerness.

"Aa gayi maharani, mujhe toh laga bahu hone ke baad bhi khud khana banana padega kyuki aajkal ki bahuye toh modern hai na bhyi," Ashwini's mother-in-law taunted as she entered.

(Translation : "The queen has arrived; I thought even after becoming a daughter-in-law, I'd still have to cook myself because nowadays daughters-in-law are so modern, aren't they, brother?" Ashwini's mother-in-law taunted as she entered.)

"Sorry, auntie, but -" Ashwini began, only to be interrupted.

"And not a single day wearing a saree? In our time, daughters-in-law used to wear sarees in front of their in-laws, with the pallu properly draped. Well, even if you don't want to drape the pallu, you could at least wear a saree today," the mother-in-law continued, her tone dripping with disapproval.

"Actually -" Ashwini tried again, her head bowed in discomfort.

"Mrs. Rajput, my wife will wear whatever she sees fit. And honestly, I find her gorgeous in this suit. I understand if it makes you uncomfortable, but it's not your place to tell her what to wear. So let's just keep things civil between us, okay?" Armaan intervened, his mother's eyes flaring with anger.

"It has not been a single day to your marriage and you have already become a joru ka gulam," she spat out.

"I am ready to forever be her pet. I will do whatever she tells me to. I will support her even if she tells me that she killed someone. I will do whatever I want. Who are you to speak, Mrs. Rajput? My mother? No, you are not, because your actions say otherwise. You don't deserve to be called my mother, and Ashwini, you don't need to be nice to her. Just don't apologize for the things you haven't done wrong," Armaan asserted firmly, causing his mother to storm out of the dining room and retreat to the kitchen. Ashwini, visibly shaken, covered her ears with her hands. "Are you okay?" Armaan asked, genuine concern lacing his voice.

"Armaan," she whispered, clutching a corner of his suit. "Please don't shout... I feel scared," tears welled up in her eyes, her vulnerability exposed.

"I'm sorry... I didn't know. I promise I'll never shout again," he said softly, wrapping her in a comforting embrace.

"It's okay. I should go to the kitchen for my pehli rasoi," she murmured, gently pulling away from his embrace, and he reluctantly let her go.

In the kitchen

"What will you make for everyone?" Ashwini's mother-in-law inquired as she entered the kitchen.

"Halwa," Ashwini responded confidently, and her mother-in-law nodded before leaving the kitchen.

As Ashwini set to work making halwa, she meticulously combined the semolina, ghee, and sugar, pouring her heart into the dish. Meanwhile, Armaan eagerly awaited the chance to taste something heavenly crafted by her beautiful hands.

Armaan couldn't help but murmur to himself, "If her hands are as gorgeous as they look, then the halwa made by them must be heavenly. I can't wait to taste it."

"Armaan, I know you don't usually have sweets, but today you'll have to make an exception. She's your wife, and you have the first right to taste whatever she makes," his father insisted, prompting Armaan to internally declare that he'd happily eat sweets all day if Ashwini had made them.

"Alright, if you insist," Armaan agreed calmly, though inside, his stomach was aflutter with excitement and anticipation.

As Ashwini busied herself in the kitchen, she received an unexpected call. "Yes sir... I'll be there in an hour... Definitely sir," she confirmed, her attention momentarily diverted. Unknowingly, she added a little extra sugar to the halwa as she conversed.

With the aroma of the halwa filling the air, Ashwini carefully ladled it into bowls. Though tempted to taste it herself, she refrained, knowing that the first portion must be offered to God before anyone else could partake.

She entered the hall and, after offering it to Bhagwan ji, placed the tray on the dining table. "I made halwa and already offered it to Bhagwan ji. Please taste it once," Ashwini invited, distributing bowls to everyone. Before she could reach Armaan, he eagerly reached out and took a bowl for himself.

"Armaan, taste it. She's your wife. You should taste it first," Armaan's father reminded him, urging him to take the first bite.

"Okay," Armaan acquiesced, taking a spoonful into his mouth. His lips sealed shut momentarily, overwhelmed by the too much sweetness, but he managed to mumble. It felt like she had used sugar from whole world in that halwa. "Most tasty halwa from most beautiful hands ever!" before swiftly devouring the entire bowl in less than 10 seconds.

"What did she make that you ate it in one gulp?" his mother queried, her tone tinged with jealousy, as she reached for her own bowl.

"No," Armaan protested, swiftly snatching the bowl from his mother's hand. "I'll eat it. I'll eat the whole halwa," he declared, even taking his parents' bowls. His mother's jealousy intensified, as Armaan rarely indulged in sweets otherwise, while his father beamed proudly.

Ashwini looked on at the scene in confusion, questioning herself, "What did I make?"

"Armaan, I'm glad you liked it so much. Uncle, aunty, there's more halwa; I'll get it for you," Ashwini said, her smile radiant, the first genuine one he had seen since yesterday's events.

"There's more?" he exclaimed, his disappointment palpable. "Pack it for me; only I will eat it. Nobody else will touch it," he declared, disappearing inside to retrieve the remaining halwa.

"Armaan, let everyone have a taste at least," Ashwini insisted, her gaze stern as they stood in the kitchen. She filled a bowl with halwa, intending to sample it herself. "And I think I should taste it too. I don't even know what I added," she mused, bringing the spoon close to her lips. Just as the spoon was about to touch her lips, he swiftly intercepted, preventing her from tasting it.

"It's only mine, and you won't taste it. Not even once. Make more for yourself if you want," he asserted, packing the halwa and stashing it away in a corner for himself. "Now come outside; Mrs. Rajput mentioned there's another ritual," he urged, leading her back to the main room where a large dish filled with milk and roses awaited them.

"Oh, this is the game in which we will find the ring. And you know what, my fictional wattpad boyfriends always let their better halves win this. This is so cute but the only problem is that I have to do this with you. They say that whoever wins has the upper hand in marriage" she said and Armaan's forehead nerve pricked at the word boyfriend. He knew that they didn't exist but he was still jealous.

"That's bullshit. Its not about who wins, in our marriage upper hand is always going to be yours" he said Ashwini once again got emotional as she blankly started Armaan's eyes but when he saw her, she moved her gaze away.

"Ashwini, give me your ring. I will put it inside this." said Armaan's mom and Ashwini looked at her hands in which she was wearing a ring given by Aarav. Ashwini took the ring off her hands and gave her. "This is ring given by someone else or should I say, your ex who cheated on you". Tears crept into Ashwini's eyes and she took the ring and kept back into the pocket of her suit.

Armaan held her hands and gave her mother his ring to put into it. He very well knew why she asked the ring from her but he didn't want to create a scene in front of Ashwini as she doesn't have the habit of seeing fights.

"Ashwini, don't cry. I am here." He said and Ashwini had always trusted him because of beautiful friendship they had earlier. "Also, I have arranged a reception for us today evening"

"You didn't even bother telling me?" She said and started at him in confusion

"Even we didn't know, beta" said Armaan's father to Ashwini and looked at Armaan for the explain.

"For business purpose. We have to do this." He said and sat down on the gaddi made for Ashwini and Armaan to seat. Ashwini also sat down still not convinced with idea of reception.

"Ok, we will be there on time. Now start with this ritual" Said Armaan's father and they started to find the ring.

As they prepared to begin, Ansh and Aarohi stepped into the room, injecting an air of enthusiasm.

"Bhabhi, you'll definitely win," Ansh encouraged, but Armaan noticed his quick change of allegiance, causing a smirk to flicker across his face.

"My Armaan is going to triumph," Aarohi declared confidently, earning a puzzled glance from Ashwini, who seemed taken aback by her fervor.

The first round concluded with Armaan's victory, and he couldn't resist teasing Ashwini with a playful smirk. Competitive by nature, Ashwini was determined not to let this slip away. Meanwhile, Armaan remained indifferent to the outcome; winning held no significance for him.

"It's just one round; I still have two more chances," Ashwini reassured herself, diving into the search for the ring with renewed determination, eventually finding it amidst the pile.

Ansh's jubilant cheers filled the room as he rooted for his sister-in-law, his antics likened to that of a playful monkey. Armaan, however, attempted to assert his dominance with a stern warning "Bhabhi ke chmche chup hojja" , only to be silenced by Ashwini's steely gaze.

"Armaan, you must win. Don't embarrass us," his mother chimed in, but he paid her no heed.

As the final round commenced, their hands clasped together around the ring, a moment of unity washed over them. Despite their competitive spirits, they were united in that moment, bound by love and the shared joy of triumph.