Two months later...

"Mala, aise dheere dheere kaam kyu kar rahi ho? Tum sab bhi," I sighed. The maids immediately began working faster. We were busy decorating Bhargav's room. The bed was scattered with rose petals, and one of the maids had heated jasmine oil. The vapors made the room smell heavenly.

(Mala, why are you working so slowly? All of you.)

I could hear the sounds of the shehnai and dhols outside, signifying that the Baarat had returned. Aradhya had arrived home.

"Jaldi karo... Sab theek hi lag raha hai. Zara ek achchi katori mein mithai bhi rakh dena. Agar unhe bhook lage toh..."

(Hurry up... Everything looks fine. Keep some sweets in a nice bowl as well. If they feel hungry...)

"Bhook toh bilkul hogi, Malkin," One of the younger maids commented, making the others giggle. Even I smiled at this before going back downstairs. I fixed my pallu in the reflection of a window. The loud cries of my children made me ascend the stairs more quickly.

(They'll definitely feel hungry, Madam.)

Dadi scooped Raghav into her arms from the floor. He was bawling his eyes out as his sister tried to pull his hair.

"Arey kya ho gaya?"

(Arey, what happened?)

Dadi snapped at me the next instant, "Dekho tumhari beti ne kya kiya hai! Bache ka baal ukhad liya! Neeche hi rehne do use." She carried Raghav outside to welcome the guests. I sighed. Dadi would never change her ways.

(Look at what your daughter has done! She ripped the child's hair! Let her stay on the floor.)

"Janu," I lifted my little angel into my arms. Janaki tried to reach for my naath, but I caught her hand right away. She could barely lift her head, and yet she was so mischievous.

"Dekho, bahut saare mehmaan aaye hai ghar mei... Tumhare Chacha bhi wapas aaye hai," I kissed her hand, and she giggled, smiling brightly at me. I took her to where the others were.

(Look, there are so many guests in the house now... Even your Chacha is back.)

Maa was busy guiding Aradhya and Bhargav towards the haveli. Bhairav Ji was right beside them, talking to his men about something regarding the guests' cars.

Aradhya's crimson bridal attire was definitely gorgeous. She looked like a dream, and I could see the happiness dancing in Bhargav's eyes whenever he looked at her. I smiled.

A maid handled Raghav while Dadi oversaw the rituals with Maa. I was struck with deja vu in an instant, but a part of me was relieved that I didn't have such a grand celebration. My marriage was quiet, less overwhelming. I couldn't imagine what Aradhya was feeling.

After the Griha Pravesh, Maa began introducing her to all the elders. I could see how Maa was glowing with pride. Even Bhargav was talking loudly with everyone, as though he were the happiest man in the house.

"Bhargav bhi ab phas gaya hai..." My husband whispered, leaning towards me in the commotion. There was a teasing smile on his face. I shot him a glare in return.

(Bhargav is now trapped as well...)

"Sabko pata hai kaun phasi hui hai," I shook my head.

(Everyone knows who's been trapped.)

He gazed at me without speaking for a while, and when Janaki reached for her father, he gladly took her into his arms. "Meri nanhi si pari ho," He hugged her firmly, "Jin aankho se aapki Maa ne meri jaan liya hai, wahi aankhe tumhe bhi mili hai."

(You're my little angel. The very eyes your mother stole my heart with... are the same ones you've been blessed with.)

My face reddened at his words. Even the maid standing next to me heard it, and she chuckled to herself. I immediately took Janaki back in my arms, "Kuch bhi keh dete ho aap..." I marched inside towards the guests. After leaving Janaki in another maid's care, I got busy guiding the elder women to their chambers.

(You keep talking nonsense...)

"Didi!" Saarang hugged my legs just as I left a bedroom, "Didi woh Bhargav Bhaiya ki biwi toh kitni sundar lag rahi hai!"

(Didi, Bhargav Bhaiya's wife looks so pretty!)

"Dara diya tumne..." I sighed and pushed him away, but Saarang continued following me like a happy puppy.

(You scared me...)

"Raghav aur Janaki kaha hai Didi?"

(Where's Raghav and Janaki, Didi?)

"Woh rasoi mei honge, beta jao."

(They must be in the kitchen, go on.)

"Aapne mere kapde dekhe? Keshav Bhaiya aur mai ek jaise kapde pehen rahe hai!" He grinned, squeezing my hand.

(Did you see my clothes? Keshav Bhaiya and I are wearing the same thing!)

I sighed, "Mujhe bahut se kaam hai. Tum jaakar Keshav Bhaiya ke paas jao."

(I have a lot of work to do. Go find Keshav Bhaiya, stay with him.)

"Woh bahar daru pee raha hai... Mai bhi jaa sakta hu, sach mei?" His little eyes twinkled, and I glared at him. He immediately pressed his palm over his mouth.

(He's getting drunk outside... Can I go as well? Really?)

"M-mera matlab... Mai bas unke paas jaakar baithunga-"

(I- I mean... I'll only sit near him-)

"Nahi," I replied firmly, "Jaakar mehmano ke saath baith jao. Tumhare liye khaana lagati hu. Phir jaakar so lena."

(No. Go sit with the guests. I'll bring dinner. Eat it and go to bed.)

He made a face, "Mere saath koi bhi khelna nahi chahta..." Saarang ran away. I let him be and resumed with my chores.

(Nobody wants to play with me...)

There were a lot of guests to feed, and my children began making a fuss as soon as I began serving them. "Tum jao," Maa turned to me, "Bacho ko bhi bhuk lagi hogi... Unhe doodh dekar aao, mai sambhal lungi."

(Go feed the children. They must be hungry as well. I'll take care of things here.)

"Ji Maa," I nodded and retired to my bedroom. In my heavy attire, it was hard to feed them, but the maids helped me. Almost an hour passed just like that, and by the time I returned downstairs, I realised that almost all the guests had returned to their rooms.

"Sanjana, beta, idhar aao. Yeh doodh jaakar Aradhya ko dekar aao. Woh Bhargav ke kamre mei baithi hai."

(Sanjana, beta, come here. Give this to Aradhya. She's in Bhargav's room.)

"Mai?" I blinked.

(Me?)

"Haan... Yeh lo," Maa placed the glass of saffron milk in my hands, "Aur haan... Use suhaagraat ke baare mein sab kuch sikha dena."

(Yes... Take it. And teach her everything about tonight.)

My eyes widened, and my embarrassment was obvious, "M-mujhe sikhana hai...?"

(I- I have to teach her...?)

"Badi bahu ho na. Tumhara farz hai. Aur bechari bahut dari hui hai... Use samjhao ki ab yeh uska ghar jaisa hai, darne ki koi zaroorat nahi. Uske liye sirf Bhabhi nahi, dost ban jao, beta. Aradhya ko bahut sukoon milegi, theek hai?" She smiled at me.

(You're the badi bahu. It's your duty. And the poor thing is already quite scared... Tell her that this is her home now, there's nothing to be afraid of. Don't just be her sister-in-law, be her friend. She'll be at ease if you go.)

I nodded, but my mind was blank while climbing up the stairs to Bhargav's room. What would I teach her anyway? What would I tell her? There was only one thing I could think of: Endurance was key.

As I pushed the bedroom door open, I could hear Aradhya's bangles jingle as she quickly adjusted her pallu.

"Daro math," I said quickly, "Sirf mai hu."

(Don't be frightened. It's just me.)

"Bhabhi?" She blinked as I sat beside her on the bed. "Maa ne dudh dene ko kaha tha..." I smiled and handed the glass to her. She nodded and gave me a polite thank you, but kept her eyes downcast.

(Maa asked me to bring you milk...)

"Mere samne aise ghunghat pehenne ki zaroorat nahi hai, Didi..." I said softly and lifted my own veil so that she could see my face a little better. Aradhya looked surprised, but she at least lifted her eyes to look at me and raised her pallu just a little. There was a shy, grateful smile on her lips that made me grin.

(There's no need to wear your veil in front of me, Didi...)

"Didi mat bulao... Bas ek saal ka antar hai humare beech. Bhabhi ko Didi bulate dekhkar acha nahi lagta," she whispered, blushing.

(Don't call me Didi... We're just apart by one year. Hearing your Bhabhi call you Didi doesn't sound very nice.)

"Theek hai," I smiled, "Agar mai naam se bula sakti hu, toh tum bhi mujhe naam se bula sakti ho Aradhya."

(Okay. If I can call you by name, you can do the same with me, Aradhya.)

She giggled, "Aur naam kya hai aapka, Thakurain?"

(And what is your name, Thakurain?)

"Sanjana," I replied proudly. "Sanjana Bhairav Chaudhary."

She fidgeted with her fingers while staring at the milk, "Kya yeh sach hai ki... Aapki byah terah saal par hui thi? Kya Thakur Ji ne aapse zabardasti shaadi ki hai?"

(Is it true that... You got married at 13? Did the Thakur Ji marry you forcefully?)

I didn't know what to say. But I thought about it for a while.

"Zabardasti hai ya nahi... Pata nahi... Mere Maa aur Pita Ji se puchkar shaadi hui thi... Sach batau toh mujhe utna kuch yaad nahi hai."

(He didn't force me... I don't know... My parents had agreed to it... To be honest, I don't remember it that much.)

She blinked at me, "Ek baat puchu toh aap bura mat manengi na?"

(Can I ask something? I mean no offense.)

"Kuch bhi puch sakti ho," I smiled.

(You can ask me anything.)

"Aapko... Dar nahi laga... Terah saal mein aapse itne bade aadmi se shaadi karte... Suhaagraat bitane?" She gulped.

(Weren't you scared... To marry someone so much older... While you were just thirteen? To spend your first night together...?)

"Uh... Er... Dar toh tha... Um..." Her question made me a little uncomfortable, "Par woh utne bure nahi the. Mai kabhi vidyalay nahi gayi... Magar shaadi karne ke baad unhone mujhe vidyalay bhejna shuru kar diya. Keshav aur Bhargav ke saath mai bhi roz jaati thi. Aur woh hamesha sheher mei rehte the... Pichle saal hi woh ghar wapas laut aaye hai."

(Uh... Er... It was scary at first... Um... But he wasn't so bad. I had never gone to school before... But after getting married, he started sending me to school. I used to go to school with Keshav and Bhargav while he stayed in the city... Only last year did he return home.)

She hummed in understanding, and I held her hand, "Daro mat. Bhargav toh tumse bahut pyar karta hai. Nazar na lage."

(Don't be scared. Bhargav loves you very much. Touchwood.)

She blushed at my words and stared down, "Mai... Mai jaanti hu... Suhaagraat ko kya hota hai... Dosto ne bola hai..." Her voice shook a little.

(I... I know what's supposed to happen on the wedding night... My friends told me...)

"Sach batau toh... Um... Dard toh zaroor hoga."

(If I'm being honest... Um... It's going to hurt a little.)

She looked at me in horror, tears in her eyes, but I immediately gave her confidence, "Par Bhargav bahut khayal rakhega tumhara. Isliye chinta mat karo... Agar kisi bhi cheez ke baare mei baat karni ho toh mai hu yaha."

(But Bhargav will take care of you really well. So don't worry... If you need to talk about anything at all, I'm here.)

Aradhya smiled, "Shukriya... Sanjana."

(Thank you... Sanjana.)

There was a knock on the door, "Kya mai andar aa sakta hu?" It was Bhargav and Aradhya immediately fixed her veil.

(Can I come inside?)

"Mai abhi jaa rahi hu... Kal pehli rasoi hai, isliye jaldi uthne ki koshish karna. Warna Dadi bahut dantengi."

(I'm leaving now... Tomorrow's your first day. Make sure to wake up early, or Dadi will scold you.)

She nodded, and I went to the door to open it. Bhargav was leaning against the wall, waiting for me.

"Mubarak ho Devar Ji," I smiled at him, and he rolled his eyes, "Aradhya se mere baare mei kya burai ki hai, Bhabhi?"

(Congratulations, Devar Ji.)

(What have you been saying about me to Aradhya, Bhabhi?)

I laughed, "Woh toh sirf hamare beech rahega. Jao, woh tumhari prateeksha kar rahi hai... Aur Bhargav..."

(That's going to be a secret between us. Go inside. She's waiting for you... And listen...)

"Ji?" He blinked.

(Yes?)

"Ache se peshana uske saath. Woh bhi insaan hai."

(Be kind to her. She's human as well.)

He was quiet as I walked back to my bedroom.

A/N - Please vote and comment guys...