Sarangi came out after getting ready. Shanti ji had her place handprints outside the house and then made offerings for the prayer ceremony. After that, she performed the rituals. Though this ceremony was supposed to be done as a couple, Vairagya was not there, so Sarangi had to sit alone for the prayer. She felt hurt that Vairagya had left her alone like that.
After a while, Vairagya returned. A smile lit up Shanti Devi's face. She signaled him to join the prayer, but he shook his head and quickly went into his room.
Moments later, he came out wearing a kurta and sat beside Sarangi, taking her hand in his.
Sarangi looked at him and softly asked, "Where were you...?" Her voice held a slight hint of complaint.
Hearing that, Vairagya replied, "Sorry… something urgent came up, otherwise I wouldn't have left."
Sarangi didn't ask any more questions. She simply focused on the prayer.
After the prayer, Shanti Devi carried out the ring ceremony, in which Vairagya intentionally let Sarangi win. After all, he had already lost his heart to her—what was one game in comparison? Sarangi was delighted by her win, and her smile was more than enough for Vairagya.
Next came the ritual of Sarangi cooking her first meal. Everyone praised her cooking and gave her gifts—everyone except Vairagya.
"Excuse me…" Sarangi said as she entered the room.
"Go ahead…" Vairagya responded with a smile.
"Ahem… Didn't you like the food?" Sarangi asked. Vairagya motioned for her to sit on the sofa while he walked toward the closet. A few moments later, he sat by her feet with a pair of anklets.
"What are you doing?" Sarangi asked and instinctively pulled her feet back.
Vairagya gave her a stern look, and she quickly extended her feet again. He put the anklets on her and said, "I didn't know my wife could cook so well… I honestly felt like kissing her hand."
Hearing him say "my wife" sent butterflies fluttering in Sarangi's stomach.
"Should I compliment you more?" Vairagya teased with a smile, making Sarangi blush. As he walked toward the door, he added, "Tonight you'll sleep here, I'll go to the guest room."
"Listen…" Sarangi called out to him.
"Yes?" Vairagya turned to her.
"You can stay here too. I don't have a problem."
"Are you sure?" Vairagya asked.
"Yes..." she replied.
Vairagya lay down on the sofa and, staring at the ceiling, said, "Turn off the lights..."
Sarangi got into bed and turned off the lights. She quickly fell into a deep sleep—fatigue and the emotional rollercoaster of the day had drained her.
But sleep had no place in Vairagya's eyes. Lying on the sofa, he stared at the ceiling, his mind entangled in the images that had been shown during the wedding. Those pictures might have led to Sarangi becoming his wife, but deep inside him raged anger and hatred for the man who had committed such a vile act. He wanted to know who had tried to disgrace Sarangi and her family so terribly—and what the real motive behind those pictures was.
The next morning, Sarangi woke up to find Vairagya gone from the room.
"He left for the office this early?" she murmured to herself as she stepped out of the room.
"Good morning, dear..." said Shanti Devi.
"Good morning, Mom. Am I late?" Sarangi asked.
"Oh, not at all! And don't worry—I'm not one of those wicked mothers-in-law from TV serials who make their daughters-in-law start chores at 5 AM. I'm the nice type. Honestly, most people here don't even wake up before 10 AM. You're already way more disciplined than them." Shanti Devi replied with a laugh.
"Mom, is it really necessary to tease every day?" Rudransh yawned as he entered, still half-asleep.
"Oh wow! What miracle is this? You're up so early? Did the sun rise from the west today?" Shanti Devi said dramatically.
"Mom, please… I thought the youngest son is supposed to be the most pampered, but here I feel like a side character…" Rudransh said theatrically, making everyone laugh.
"Today, your sister-in-law's family is coming over, so your brother ordered us all to get up early and get ready to welcome them." Karnika said as she entered the room.
"Are my mom and dad really coming?" Sarangi asked joyfully.
"Yes, bhabhi! I'm so excited!" Karnika said, dancing with glee.
"That's great, but where is your brother?" Shanti Devi asked.
"Where he always is at this time—at the gym," Rudransh replied, making a face.
"You should learn something from your brother," Shanti Devi said, playfully pulling Rudransh's ear.
"Mom, can't you stop them from coming?" Sarangi whispered, her voice filled with worry and fear. Everyone in the room turned to look at her in surprise.
"Why, bhabhi?" Karnika asked.
"How will I face them? They must be so angry..." Sarangi said, lowering her gaze.
"You haven't done anything to hang your head in shame..." came a voice from behind. It was Vairagya, entering the room.
"You are Vairagya Rajvansh's wife... You should be able to look anyone in the eye and respond with confidence."
"But I..." Sarangi began, tears brimming in her eyes again.
"I seriously need to find the tap to shut off this tank… You cry way too much," Vairagya said, irritated.
"I don't cry all the time!" Sarangi snapped.
"Mom, tell her! It's been just one day, and she's already shed a waterfall's worth of tears," Vairagya mock-complained to his mother.
"If I had saved all that water, we'd have had at least four buckets full!" Karnika joined in teasingly.
When Vairagya teased her, Sarangi punched his arm and said, "I don't cry that much, okay?"
"Alright, enough of teasing my daughter-in-law. Vairagya, even you? Well, what more can I expect—three children of the same father after all..." Shanti Devi said, scolding her kids but then gently turned to Sarangi, "Don't pay attention to them, dear. Go get ready quickly. They'll be here any moment."
Sarangi nodded and was about to leave when Vairagya's voice came from behind—
"If water runs out, just bathe in your tears..."
"Maaa!" Sarangi exclaimed in protest, stomping her foot.
Vairagya left the room, laughing.
"Mother, did you see that? It's been ages since Bhai (brother) laughed like that," Karnika said, resting her head on Shanti Devi's shoulder.
"May my child always stay this happy..." Shanti Devi said, holding Karnika's hand with affection, content seeing her son finally at peace.
A little while later, Sarangi came out dressed, and right in front of her sat her parents—and Rajveer. As soon as she saw them, her eyes filled with tears.