Author's Pov

The Raghuvanshi mansion buzzing with excitement. The grand hall was decked up with fresh marigold garlands, and the air was filled with the aroma of sweets and sandalwood incense. Women dressed in silk sarees and heavy jewelry sat on plush sofas, their bangles jingling as they whispered and giggled among themselves.

And in the middle of all this...

Ishita sat like a nervous student before a viva exam.

Dressed in a golden Banarasi saree, with delicate kundan jewelry adorning her, she looked every bit like a new bride. Her cheeks were already flushed-not because of shyness, but because of the heat of a hundred judgmental stares.

“Bhai yeh kaunsa test hai? Ghar ki bahu ko appoint kar rahe hain ya IAS officer?"

[Bhai, what kind of test is this? Are they appointing a daughter-in-law for the house or an IAS officer?]

she muttered under her breath, adjusting her pallu for the tenth time.

From the side, Meera Raghuvanshi, her mother-in-law, patted her hand reassuringly.

“Beta, bas thoda sa patience rakho. Sab tumhari tareef hi karenge."

[Beta, just have little patience. Everyone will praise you.]

Ishita forced a smile. “Mujhe toh aisa lag raha hai jaise school me teacher ne khada kar diya ho aur poora class mujhe dekh raha ho."

[I feel like a teacher has made me stand in school, and the whole class is staring at me.]

Meera chuckled.

Her eyes met with her dear husband, Ishita instinctively turned to look for him.

And there he was-Virendra Raghuvanshi, standing near a pillar, arms crossed, watching the proceedings with his usual cold, unreadable expression.

But his lips twitched slightly, betraying his amusement.

Ishita narrowed her eyes. Mujhe tension ho rahi hai aur yeh banda maze le raha hai!

[I'm feeling tense, and this guy is enjoying it!]

“Arey chalo shuru kare!" One of the elder women called out, breaking Ishita's silent glaring match with her husband.

[Oh, come on, let's get started!]

A group of elderly women surrounded Ishita, their eyes twinkling with excitement. Meera carefully lifted Ishita's pallu, revealing her face.

And then, as expected-

Gasps. Excited murmurs. Over-the-top reactions.

“Arey wah! Bahut hi sundar hai!" One lady declared dramatically, as if Ishita had just descended from heaven.

[Oh wow! She is very beautiful!]

“Chand jaisa chehra hai!" Another sighed.

[ She is Beautiful as the moon.]

“Bilkul pari lag rahi hai."

[She looks just like a fairy.]

Ishita, overwhelmed, bit the inside of her cheek. “Mujhe toh bas ek normal insaan samajh lo, bus." she muttered under her breath.

[Just consider me a normal person, that's all.]

But the actual fun began when they dragged Virendra into it.

An elderly aunt waved at Virendra. “Baba, idhar aaiye!"

[Baba, Come here!]

He raised an eyebrow but walked over, maintaining his usual composed look.

“Ab batao, kaisi lagi nayi dulhan?" she teased, nudging him.

[Now tell me, how does new bride look?]

The entire room went silent, waiting for his answer.

Virendra, as expected, stayed expressionless. His sharp eyes met Ishita's for a brief second before he turned to the elders and said, “Thik hi hai." [She's fine]

Gasps filled the room again.

Ishita's mouth fell open. “Theek hi hai?"

[Just,Fine?]

One of the women smacked Virendra's arm lightly. “Arey, aise koi kehta hai kya?"

[ Hey, does anyone say it like that?]

Another lady shook her head. “Ladki ki tareef karni chahiye, samjhe?"

[You should compliment the girl, got it?]

Virendra sighed and turned to Ishita again, as if analyzing her like a business deal. Then, in a deadpan tone, he said,

“Theek nahi, achhi lag rahi hai."

[Not just fine, she looks great.]

Ishita rolled her eyes. Wah, kya tareef hai!

[Wow, what a compliment!]

The women weren't satisfied.

“Beta, pyaar se bolo! Romantic tareeke se!" someone insisted.

[Son, say it with love! In a romantic way!]

Virendra's jaw tightened, clearly not used to public displays of affection. But before he could say anything-

“Agar romantic sunna hai toh aap log Shah Rukh Khan ki movie dekh lo." Ishita blurted out, making everyone burst into laughter.

[If you want to hear something romantic, go watch Shah Rukh Khan's movie.]

Virendra turned his head toward her slowly, his eyes narrowing in warning. “Bohot bol rahi ho." [You're talking too much.]

She smirked. “Haan, aur aap bohot kam bol rahe ho."

[Yes, and you're saying very little.]

The ladies giggled, loving their banter.

The compliments were followed by the gift-giving part.

Gold bangles. Silk sarees. Velvet boxes filled with cash envelopes.

Ishita's lap was overflowing with gifts. She smiled gratefully but whispered to Meera, “Maa, yeh sab mujhe ghar le jaane ke liye tempo book karna padega."

[Mom, I'll have to book a tempo to take all this home.]

Meera laughed. “Beta, ye toh bas shuruaat hai."

[Beta, this is just a beginning.]

And just when she thought it was finally over, a particularly nosy aunty leaned in close.

“Beta, batao, suhag raat kaisi rahi?" she asked in a hushed voice.

[Beta, tell me, how was the wedding night?]

Ishita nearly choked on her own breath. “J-ji?!" [Ye- yes?]

The other women perked up immediately, their faces filled with curiosity.

“Haan haan, batao na. Virendra ne tumhe raat bhar sone diya ki nahi?" Another one added playfully.

[Yes, yes, tell me. Did Virendra let you sleep the whole night or not?]

Ishita's entire face turned red. She desperately glanced at Virendra for help, but he just raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her misery.

“Ab batao bhi!" They prodded.

[ Now,tell me!]

Ishita, completely flustered, blurted out the first thing that came to her mind-

“Haan diya na sone! Poore 8 ghante, bina kisi disturbance ke!"

[Yes, he let me sleep! A full 8 hours, without any disturbance!]

Dead silence.

Then-hysterical laughter.

The women wiped their tears, shaking their heads. “Arre, yeh toh bilkul masoom nikli!"

[Oh, she turned out to be completely innocent!]

Meera patted Ishita's back, amused. “Chalo beta, bohot taang kheench li tumhari. Tum jaa sakti ho."

[Alright, beta, we've teased you enough. You can go now.]

She stood up so fast, she nearly tripped on her saree. Virendra instinctively held her arm.

_______

After the Muh Dikhai ceremony, She changed her saree and came to hall and Meera Raghuvanshi her mother in law's voice echoed through the hall.

“Ab sabko nayi bahu ki pehli rasoi ka swaad chakne ko milega!"

[Now everyone will get to taste the new bride's first meal!]

Ishita froze mid-step, her smile vanishing.

Wait... Pehli rasoi?! Mujhse cooking expect kar rahe hain?!

[Wait... First meal?! Are they expecting me to cook?!]

Her eyes widened in horror as she turned toward Virendra, who was casually sipping his chai, completely unfazed.

She leaned in close, whispering urgently. “Aapne pehle kyun nahi bataya mujhe yeh sab?!"

[Why didn't you tell me all this earlier?!]

He raised an eyebrow, enjoying her panic. “Mujhe zaroori nahi laga."

[I didn't think it was necessary.]

Ishita shot him a glare, her mind racing. Mujhe toh chai banana bhi dhang se nahi aata, aur yeh log mujhse kheer banwane ki baat kar rahe hain?!

[I don't even know how to make tea properly, and they're asking me to make kheer?!]

Seeing her panic, Payal (her sister-in-law) stifled a laugh. “Bhabhi, aapko kya banana hai, pata hai?"

[Bhabhi, do you know what you have to make?]

“Haan pata hai." Ishita nodded mechanically. “pata hai na?" She repeated, as if convincing herself.

[ "Yes,I know." Ishita nodded mechanically "You know , right?"]

Payal smirked. “Phir toh koi dikkat ki baat nahi. Hum sab baith ke wait kar rahe hain, jaldi se banaiye!"

[Then there's no problem. We're all sitting here waiting, make it quickly!]

The entire hall cheered in excitement. Ishita gulped.

Virendra, watching her misery, leaned in slightly and murmured in amusement, “Good luck."

Ishita's glare intensified. Ek toh problem khud create karte hain, upar se maze le rahe hain!

[First, they create the problem themselves, and then they're enjoying it!]

Taking a deep breath, she walked toward the enormous Raghuvanshi kitchen-ready to battle the biggest challenge of her married life: Cooking.

________

The grand Raghuvanshi kitchen was no less than a professional restaurant's setup. Huge marble counters, a double-door fridge, and an endless row of spices and condiments neatly arranged in glass jars.

Ishita stared at them, feeling like a science student trapped in a chemistry lab.

“Yeh jeera hai ya rai? Aur yeh toh same same dikhte hain! Haye Bhagwan, yeh sab toh mujhe periodic table lag raha hai!"

[Is this cumin or mustard seeds? They look exactly the same! Oh God, this all feels like a periodic table to me!]

Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her lifesaver-her phone-and quickly searched, “How to make kheer for beginners."

A YouTube video popped up. She pressed play.

“Okay, sugar, rice, milk... sounds easy," she muttered, rolling up her sleeves like a warrior preparing for battle.

Step 1: Boil the milk.

Easy.

She grabbed a large steel pot, poured in the milk, and placed it on the burner.

Step 2: Add rice.

“Bas itna hi? Yeh toh baccho ka khel hai!" She confidently sprinkled a handful of rice into the boiling milk.

[ That's it? This is a child's game!]

Feeling proud, she turned to grab a spoon when-

Psssshhhhh!

The milk boiled over, spilling onto the stove.

“Arre arre arre!"  Ishita panicked, rushing to lower the flame. In her haste, she grabbed a towel and fanned the stove like it was a fire accident.

“Bas Bhagwan ka naam leke sabko khilaungi."

[I'll just take God's name and serve everyone!]

She quickly wiped the mess and continued.

Step 3: Add sugar and dry fruits.

“Thoda sa elaichi powder..." She added a generous pinch.

[Just a little cardamom powder...]

“Aur dry fruits... okay, yeh bhi daal diye."

[ And dry fruits...okay, added this too.]

She glanced at the video again.

Step 4: Let it thicken.

Feeling confident, she crossed her arms.

“Waah, maine toh socha tha yeh bahut mushkil hoga. Yeh toh mujhe masterchef bana dega!"

[Wow, I thought this would be very difficult. This is going to make me a MasterChef!]

Just then, Payal walked in, smirking.

“Bhabhi, sab intezaar kar rahe hain. Kheer ready hai?"

[Bhabhi, everyone is waiting. Is kheer ready?]

Ishita flashed a nervous smile. “Haan haan, bas thoda aur gaadha hone do."

[Yes, yes, just let it thicken a little more.]

Payal peeked into the pot. “Accha... yeh kya special ingredient daala hai?"

[Okay... what special ingredient did you add?]

“Special ingredient?" Ishita frowned. “Maine toh normal cheezein daali hain."

[I've just added normal ingredients.]

Payal looked at her phone screen, then at the pot. “Bhabhi, video me likha hai one teaspoon elaichi powder, aapne yeh poora dabba daal diya?!"

[Bhabhi, the video says one teaspoon of cardamom powder, and you've added the whole box?]

Ishita paled.

“Matlab yeh kheer meetha nahi, elaichi ka factory ban gaya hai?!"

[So, does this kheer not taste sweet, but now it's a cardamom factory?]

Before she could react, Payal sniffed the kheer and burst into laughter. “Waise toh bhaiya aapke haath ka kuch bhi kha lenge, par yeh khaane ke baad shayad do din tak unka muh elaichi jaisa lage!"

[Normally, bhai eat anything made by you, but after this, his mouth will probably taste like cardamom for the next two days!]

Ishita facepalmed.

Virendra walked into the kitchen just then, hands in his pockets. “Sab wait kar rahe hain. Ho gaya?"

[Everyone is waiting. Is it done?]

Ishita bit her lip. “Haan... ho gaya."

[ Yes... it's done.]

Payal smirked. “Bhai, pehli rasoi special hai. Bahu ne extra special ingredient daala hai!"

[Bhai, the first meal is special. The bahu (daughter-in-law) added an extra special ingredient!]

Virendra narrowed his eyes, looking at the kheer suspiciously. “Extra special?"

Ishita shot Payal a glare before nervously smiling at her husband. “Bohot pyaar se banaya hai."

[It has been made with a lot of love.]

Virendra's lips twitched as if holding back a laugh. “Pyaar se ya YouTube se?"

[With love or from You Tube?]

Payal snorted. Ishita groaned.

_______

Back in the dining hall, everyone sat excitedly, waiting for the new bahu's pehli rasoi.

Ishita served Virendra first, watching him like a death-row prisoner watching the judge's final decision.

Virendra picked up the spoon, staring at the suspiciously aromatic kheer. He took a bite.

Silence.

The family members watched with bated breath.

Then, finally-

Virendra slowly chewed, swallowed... and smirked.

He turned to Ishita. “Bohot accha hai."

[It's tasty.]

Ishita gasped. Sach mein?![Really]

The elders cheered. Meera patted Ishita's head proudly.

“Nayi bahu ne kamaal kar diya!"

[The new bride has done wonders!]

As everyone dug into their bowls, Ishita relaxed-until she noticed Virendra subtly slide his bowl toward Payal.

She narrowed her eyes. Inhone bas formality ke liye tareef ki?!

[Did he just compliment out of formality?]

Virendra caught her staring, his smirk deepening. He leaned closer and whispered.

“Main jhoot nahi bolta... bas kuch sach chupata hoon."

[I don't lie... I just hide some truths.]

Ishita clenched her fists. Matlab ye kheer disaster bani hai?

[So, this kheer turned into disaster?]

But before she could react, Payal-who had just taken a big bite-suddenly coughed, her face twisting in horror.

“Bhabhi!" she gasped dramatically. “Itni elaichi?! Yeh kheer nahi, paan ban gaya hai!"

[All this cardamom?! This isn't kheer, it's turned into a betel leaf]

The entire family burst into laughter. Ishita, horrified yet embarrassed, turned to Virendra, who was enjoying the chaos with zero guilt.

He casually wiped his lips with a napkin and leaned back. “Tumhe kya laga, main sach bolunga?"

[What did you think, that I would speak the truth?]

Ishita groaned. “Aap bohot bure ho!"

[ You are so bad]

Virendra's smirk widened. “Aur tum bohot cute ho."

[And you are so cute]

And just like that, her irritation vanished.

Damn him. Damn his teasing.

----------

The wedding rituals had finally come to an end, and the Raghuvanshi mansion was quieter than it had been for days. The faint aroma of roses and sandalwood lingered in the air, reminding Ishita of the chaos that had just subsided. Dressed in her red bridal lehenga, the heavy jewelry weighing her down, she sat on the edge of the lavish king-size bed in their room.

Her lips pressed into a firm line as she noticed Virendra closing the door behind him. His sharp features held their usual intensity, and his tall frame cast a shadow across the room. He unbuttoned the top button of his kurta, his expression unreadable as always.

“Finally," he muttered, “Shaadi ka mela khatam hua."

[Finally The wedding celebrations are over]

Ishita glared at him. “Mela toh tab shuru hoga jab aapko pata chalega main yeh room akele rakhne waali hoon."

[The real fun will begin when you find out that I’m going to keep this room all to myself.]

Virendra raised an eyebrow. “Kya?" [ What?]

She didn't reply. Instead, she got up, fluffed the pillows dramatically, and sprawled across the entire bed, stretching her arms and legs as if claiming the space.

“Yeh kya kar rahi ho?" Virendra asked, folding his arms.

[What are you doing?]

“Yeh mera room hai," she declared smugly.

[ This is my room.]

“Aur yeh mera bed hai. Main akeli yahan soongi."

[And this is my bed. I'll sleep there all alone.]

Virendra's lips twitched in disbelief. “Aur main?"

[And me?]

Ishita pointed toward the small sofa in the corner. “Wahan."

[There]

Virendra glanced at the sofa and then back at her. “Main 6 feet ka hoon. Us chhoti si sofa pe kaise fit honga?"

[I'm 6 feet . How I'll fit in that small place?]

She shrugged nonchalantly. “Mujhe kya? Mera yahi faisla hai."

[Why do I care? This is my decision.]

Virendra sighed, rubbing his temple. “Buttercup, be reasonable."

“Maine toh kaafi reasonable baat ki," she said sweetly. “Ab aap jaaiye sofa pe."

[I made quite a reasonable point.

Now, you go to the sofa.]

Virendra stared at her stubborn expression and realized she wasn't budging. Defeated, he sat on the sofa, his long legs awkwardly hanging off the side. After five minutes of tossing and turning, he groaned in frustration.

“Buttercup," he called out, “Please thoda adjust kar lo. Main yahan nahi so sakta."

[Please, adjust a little. I can't sleep here.]

Ishita peeked from the covers, smirking. “Abhi toh bada attitude dikha rahe the."

[You were showing a lot of attitude just now.]

“Fine, kya karna hoga tumhare saath bed share karne ke liye?" he asked, exasperated.

[Fine, what do I have to do to share the bed with you?]

She lit up, sitting up straight. “Agreement sign karna padega."

[You have to sign an agreement]

“Agreement?" Virendra frowned.

“Haan!" She jumped off the bed, grabbed a notebook and pen, and began writing furiously.

[Yes]

Virendra leaned back, watching her with disbelief. “Ab kya likh rahi ho?"

[What are you writing now?]

"Rules!" she announced proudly, waving the notebook. “Aapko maanne padenge."

[You will have to agree.]

She cleared her throat dramatically and began reading aloud:

“Point number one: Roz ek chocolate deni padegi."

[You have to give me one chocolate daily.]

Virendra's lips twitched. “Theek hai." [Ok]

“Point number two: Har hafta laddoo laane padenge."

[You have to buy laddoo every week]

He narrowed his eyes. “Tumhe toh laddoo zyada pasand hain, phir sirf hafta mein ek baar kyun?"

[You love laddo most then why once only in week]

Ishita pouted. “Mumma kehti hain zyada laddoo khaungi toh daant kharab ho jaayenge, cavity ho jayegi. Lekin unhone chocolate pe koi restriction nahi diya."

[Mom says if I eat too many laddoos, my teeth will get ruined, and I'll get cavities. But she never put any restrictions on chocolate.]

Virendra couldn't suppress his laughter. “Logical baat hai."

“Point number three: Fridge mein hamesha ice cream aur chocolates honi chahiye."

[That's a logical point.]

“Done."

“Point number four: Mujhe subah mat uthana, mujhe sone do."

[He cDon't wake me up in the morning, let me sleep.]

huckled. “Noted."

“Point number five: Mujhse kaam mat karwana."

[Don't make me work.]

“Okay," he sighed, realizing he was at her mercy.

“Point number six: Mujhpe chillana mat."

[Don't shout at me]

“Hmm..."

“Point number seven:Mujhse kaam mat karwana."

[Don't make me work.]

“Mai apni jaan se kaam krane ka gunah kese kar sakta hu?" He said

[How can I commit the sin of making my jaan work?]

“Last and least: Night outs and outing ke liye le jaana padega."

[You’ll have to take me for night outs and outings.]

“Yeh toh zyada ho gaya." [This is too much.]

Ishita crossed her arms. “Agreement sign karna hai ya nahi?"

[Do you need to sign the agreement or not?]

Virendra sighed dramatically but nodded. “Thik hai, sab kuch maan liya."

[Alright, I accept everything.]

She grinned triumphantly, handing him the notebook. “Sign kijiye Mr." [ Sign it,Mr.]

With a shake of his head and an amused smile, Virendra signed the notebook.

“Happy?" he asked.

“Very!" she chirped.

“Ab bed pe adjust karogi?"

[Now you can adjust on bed?]

Ishita sighed theatrically. “Fine, thoda adjust kar leti hoon. Par yeh yaad rakhiye, agreement ka har point poora hona chahiye."

[Fine, I'll adjust a little. But remember, every point of the agreement must be followed.]

Virendra smirked as he finally lay beside her. “Tumse shaadi karke maine apne business deals se zyada bada risk le liya."

[By marrying you, I’ve taken a bigger risk than any of my business deals.]

Ishita giggled. “Aur yeh best investment hogi."

[And this will be the best investment.]

As they settled into the bed, an unusual warmth filled the room. Their first night, though unconventional, had already set the tone for a unique journey ahead-filled with laughter, mischief, and perhaps... love.

----------

The clock struck 2 a.m The moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a silvery glow over the room. The air was thick with silence, except for the soft hum of the ceiling fan. Ishita slept peacefully on her side of the bed, curled up like a kitten, hugging a pillow tightly. Virendra lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind far too restless for sleep.

His eyes drifted to Ishita, her face serene and innocent. He couldn't help but smile faintly. The girl had practically hijacked his bed and life in just a day.

Suddenly, a faint sound broke the silence-growl.

Virendra frowned, sitting up slightly. The sound came again. He realized it was Ishita's stomach rumbling in her sleep.

Seriously? Yeh ladki sapno mein bhi bhooki hai kya? he thought, shaking his head in disbelief.

[Seriously is this girl hungry even in her dreams?]

Unable to ignore it, he quietly got out of bed and tiptoed to the kitchen. The mansion was eerily quiet, the shadows stretching across the marble floors. He opened the fridge and found some leftover kheer.

“This should do," he muttered, grabbing a spoon.

As he returned to the room, he saw Ishita stirring awake, rubbing her eyes groggily.

“Aap kahaan gaye the?" she asked sleepily, her voice husky.

[Where did you go?]

“Kitchen."

“Kyun?" [Why]

He held up the bowl of kheer. “Tumhare bhooke pet ka intezaam karne."

[Arrangements for your hungry stomach.]

Ishita blinked in surprise, then laughed softly. “Mujhe toh khud nahi pata tha mujhe bhook lagi hai."

[I didn't even know myself that I was hungry.]

Virendra smirked. “Tumhare pet ne mujhe bata diya."

[Your stomach told me ]

She sat up, her hair messy but adorable. “Mujhe bhi do." [ Give me too]

He handed her the bowl, and she happily took a spoonful. “Mmm... yeh toh bohot achha hai."

[Mmm...this is so tasty]

“Obviously, Raghuvanshi mansion ka khaana hai," he teased.

[This is the food of Raghuvanshi Mansion]

As she continued eating, she suddenly paused. “Aap kyun jaage hue the?"

[Why were you awake?]

“Neend nahi aa rahi thi," he admitted.

[I couldn't sleep.]

“Toh hum kuch baat kar lein?" she suggested, her eyes sparkling mischievously despite the late hour.

[Shall we talk about something?]

“Ab tum neend ki jagah baat karwaogi?"

[Now, instead of sleep, you're making me talk?]

“Haan," she grinned. “Kyunki aap mere contract ke rules follow kar rahe ho, toh baat karna padega."

[Since you're following the rules of my contract, you'll have to talk.]

Virendra chuckled. “Theek hai. Bolo, kya baat karni hai?"

[ Okay, tell me, what you have to talk ]

Ishita thought for a moment. “Aapko ice cream pasand hai?"

[Do you love ice cream?]

Virendra raised an eyebrow. “Yeh kaisa sawaal hai?"

[What kind of question is this?]

“Important sawaal hai. Main usi ke basis pe judge karungi ki hum compatible hain ya nahi," she said dramatically.

[This is a important question. I'll judge whether we're compatible or not based on that.]

He laughed softly. “Haan, pasand hai."

[ Yes, I loved it ]

“Chocolate flavor?"

“Obviously."

Ishita grinned. “Okay, hum compatible hain."

[We are compatible]

Virendra shook his head, amused by her antics. “Tum sach mein ajeeb ho."

[You are really weird.]

“Aur aap boring ho," she teased, sticking her tongue out.

[And you are boring]

The playful banter continued as the night deepened, the air filling with warmth and laughter. What started as a midnight hunger pang turned into an unforgettable moment of connection-a bond forming between two unlikely souls.