Sarangi, full of excitement, was showing Savita Ji around the entire house, explaining each room and introducing her to her new family members. Savita Ji was observing everything carefully, but there was a certain seriousness on her face.
After a while, when they were seated in a quiet room, Savita Ji spoke with a serious tone, "Saru... you shouldn't behave that way with your husband… he's not your friend, he's your husband."
Sarangi smiled and replied, "He doesn't mind, Mom..."
"Whether he minds or not, dear, we must respect our relationships… Like today, you didn't serve him tea in front of everyone — such things don't look good, beta..." Savita Ji gently explained.
"Marriage is a big commitment, beta, and it needs love and respect from both sides. Vairagya might not say anything, thinking you're still a child… but surely he must have some expectations from his wife… and his family must have some from their daughter-in-law." Savita Ji explained with love.
"Mom, what are you saying… Am I not a good wife… not a good daughter-in-law…?" Sarangi looked sad.
"I'm not saying that, beta..." Just then, Shanti Devi called her, and she left.
"You called me, Mom...?" Sarangi asked softly.
"Why are you speaking so quietly, dear… is your throat sore?" Shanti Ji asked.
"No, but daughters-in-law don't speak loudly in the house, right..." Sarangi replied, making Shanti Devi look at her in surprise. Then she said, "Who taught you such backward ideas? Listen, dear, whether daughter or daughter-in-law… both are human beings, and they have full rights to live with dignity… they shouldn't need permission to sit, speak, eat or move."
"Yes..." Sarangi nodded.
"Here, this is Vairagya's breakfast… he hasn't eaten anything since morning, so take it to his room..." Shanti Devi handed her the plate.
"Okay..." Sarangi said, picking up the plate.
When Sarangi knocked on the room door, both Rajveer and Vairagya looked at her. Vairagya was working on his laptop, while Rajveer was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine.
"Come in, Didi..." Rajveer smiled.
"Here's your breakfast..." Sarangi said and started placing the tray on the table when Vairagya gave her a slight nod.
"Raj, would you like something?" Sarangi asked her brother.
"No Didi, I'm not hungry..." Rajveer smiled.
"But how can that be...?"
"Let it be, Sarangi, he'll eat with me..." Vairagya said and looked at her. Sarangi looked at him in return.
"What is it...?" Vairagya raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, and don't make lunch for Raj and me. We're going to the office in a while..." Vairagya said as she was leaving.
"Alright, I'll inform Mom..." Sarangi replied.
Vairagya picked up a sandwich and handed it to Rajveer. Rajveer didn't have the courage to refuse, so he silently accepted it and started eating.
"Raj, from now on, you'll live here..." Vairagya said while eating, and Rajveer was shocked.
"Sir, here…?" Rajveer couldn't believe it.
"I have both a personal and professional relationship with you, Raj. You're my assistant. If you don't stay with me, how will you work...?" Vairagya explained.
"Sir..." Rajveer still hesitated.
"Stop with the 'sir-sir' — it's giving me a headache. I have such a nice name, and yet you won't use it..."
"Sorry sir… I mean Vairagya… but earlier, you were just my boss. Now that you're my sister's husband, I can't live with you..."
"Oh, fine then. I'll move into your house with your sister..." Vairagya replied casually.
"Vairagya, you'll become a ghar-jamai?" Rajveer asked in disbelief.
"Well, you're not going to live here, and I can't get a new assistant for five years, so I'll have to, right..." Vairagya reasoned.
"I'll talk to Dad, Vairagya..." Rajveer said.
A while later, Rajveer and Vairagya left for the office, and Sarangi went to sit by her mother and asked, "Mom, please tell me, how do I become a good wife and daughter-in-law?"
Savita Ji took a deep breath and began explaining the subtleties and responsibilities of relationships.
A little later, Sarangi smiled and said, "Now you'll see, Mom… I'll prove I can be a good wife and daughter-in-law..."
"That's exactly what I expect from you, beta..." Savita said, caressing her head lovingly.
In the evening, at Shanti Devi's request, Sarangi prepared the entire dinner herself. Shanti Ji and Karnika offered to help, but she declined.
When Vairagya came home, he went straight to the room where Sarangi had already laid out his clothes. Before he could process it, Sarangi approached and knelt down to remove his shoes. Vairagya jumped back in shock and said, "What are you doing…?"
"I'm taking off your shoes..." Sarangi said calmly.
"I can see that, Sarangi… I'm asking why are you doing all this… there's no need for it..." Vairagya felt a little uncomfortable.
"But I want to..." Sarangi bent down again when Vairagya shouted, "Stop it!" Just then, Rajveer entered and stood at the door.
Sarangi looked at him in surprise. Vairagya's yelling had hurt her, and her eyes welled up. She quickly left the room.
Rajveer looked at Vairagya in surprise.
"Look Raj… I can explain..." Vairagya began, but Rajveer raised his hand to stop him. "I understand, Vairagya. This is between husband and wife, and no one should interfere… but I'll still say, you shouldn't have yelled at Didi like that." Rajveer's voice carried a hint of irritation.
"I'm sorry..." Vairagya's head dropped.
That night at the dinner table, Vairagya kept glancing at Sarangi, who was serving food to everyone but never looked at him. It was clear from her behavior that she hadn't forgotten his shouting.
"Looks like she took it badly… Vairagya, you need to control yourself… You could've explained with love… Now you'll have to make it up to her..." Vairagya thought to himself.
After serving everyone, Sarangi stood aside. Shanti Devi said, "Beta, come eat dinner with us..."
"No Mom, I'll eat after everyone else..." Sarangi replied softly.
Vairagya was shocked – so much anger over a small thing...
He got up, held Sarangi's hand, and brought her to the dinner table.
Sarangi's eyes widened – she hadn't expected Vairagya to bring her like that. He sat her in his chair and began serving her plate.
Vijay Ji, Savita Ji, and Rajveer were staring with open mouths, while Vairagya's family smiled quietly, enjoying the sweet and sour banter between the couple.
"You don't need to… I'll eat later..." Sarangi still felt uncomfortable.
"Will you eat yourself or should I feed you with my hands?" Vairagya stared at her. Without saying a word, Sarangi quietly began to eat.
After dinner, Sarangi started clearing the table, but Shanti Ji stopped her and said, "The servants will take care of it, beta… You've already worked a lot today, now take some rest..."
"No Mom..." she began, but Vairagya interrupted, "Mom, you know what, let her clean the entire house too — she's full of energy..." he said sarcastically.
"Why are you saying that...?" Sarangi asked slightly annoyed. Vairagya came close and whispered, "Let's go to the room… I'll take care of all your anger there..."
Then he said to Shanti Ji, "Mom, you go rest too… now it's my responsibility to make sure your daughter-in-law doesn't even step outside the room..." Shanti Ji smiled at that.
Sarangi looked up at Vairagya, who was staring at her intensely.
Vairagya shook his head and entered the room. He knew Sarangi must have gone to her mother, and he didn't want to disturb her. He understood she needed some time.
In the room, Sarangi asked Savita Ji, "Did I do everything right, Mom...?"
"Yes, beta… you did everything right. Now, you have to wake up at 5 a.m. tomorrow, so go sleep early..." Savita Ji said lovingly, patting her head.
To be continued...