Chapter 21: chapter 21

After completing the rituals, Vandana led her daughters-in-law to their designated rooms. The expansive mansion boasted four floors, with the top floor serving as a well-equipped gym and indoor sports area. On the third floor, there were four bedrooms—one for Atharv, another for Samrat, and two available for guests. The second floor held Adhiraj’s room, a spare room, a library, and a dedicated home office, perfect for days like work from home.The ground floor showcased a living room, a kitchen, and a puja room, accompanied by two bedrooms. Virender claimed one of the bedrooms, while the other was occupied by Jaidev and Vandana themselves.Ensuring the comfort of her newlywed daughters-in-law, Vandana came to check on Imara. As she gently opened the door, she saw Imara unpacking her belongings, though Adhiraj was nowhere in sight.“Where is Raj?” Vandana asked, causing Imara to look in her direction and repsond, “I don’t know…”Acknowledging Imara’s response, Vandana observed as she began sorting out her clothes, possibly intending to organise them in the wardrobe.With a gentle touch, Vandana held Imara’s hand and led her towards the wardrobe room, stating, “I have got your measurements from Suvika, and your entire wardrobe is set up in here...” She pointed inside while opening the wardrobe.Imara’s eyes widened, and she vehemently rejected the offer, firmly stating, “I cannot accept it... Please... I prefer to wear what I already have.’”“Imara, you are married now. The clothes you have are no doubt beautiful, but they lack the grace of a newly married woman.” Vandana insisted, but Imara was persistent. She had no desire to flaunt opulent clothing and accessories around the house or at her workplace. All she wanted was simplicity, as if she hadn’t got married. The mere thought of wearing those clothes would only serve as a constant reminder of her wedding to Adhiraj.Once again, she shook her head, but this time, Vandana gently cradled her face. “Just for a few days?” she suggested. “A month? Alright? Once we have fewer visitors, you can always return to wearing the clothes of your choice.”Imara experienced a sense of guilt as she witnessed Vandana’s almost pleading expression. The task at hand was to deliver the toys to Adhiraj’s company’s subsidiary within the next two weeks. Following that, the toys would undergo a thorough quality check, allowing the remaining payment to be released—a process that would take an additional two weeks. Understanding that everything could be resolved within a month, Imara wondered if this was a sign from god, indicating that her presence in this place was only necessary for a limited time. Encouraged by this thought, she nodded in agreement.On the other hand, Vandana was aware that she was placing unnecessary pressure on Imara. However, she believed that adorning herself as a newlywed bride every day would help Imara feel a sense of belonging and accept this new relationship.With a content smile, Vandana left her room, and Imara examined the array of clothes prepared for her. However, her face flushed with embarrassment upon spotting the nightclothes. No matter what, she would never wear such attire at night, particularly with Adhiraj around. She decided it was best to stick to her worn-out tees and pyjamas.—————An hour later, Imara received a call via the intercom, calling her downstairs for dinner. Adhiraj was still nowhere to be found, and Imara couldn’t help but feel relieved by his absence. It would bring her greater joy if he never returned for the duration of her stay. In fact, she hoped he would come back only to let her know that there was no need to pretend anymore, and she could leave. But deep down, she knew she was only fooling herself. This was his home, a place where reputation and respect held utmost importance. The notion of free will or choice didn’t seem to exist in his world.Her mood sank even further as he descended the stairs and took a seat beside her for dinner. The sight of the abundance of dishes laid out on the table made Imara feel as though she was compromising her self-respect. Throughout her life, she had lived like a princess, accustomed to the privilege of enjoying meals bought with her father’s money. However, under the current circumstances, accepting this free food troubled her deeply. Consequently, her appetite waned, and she could only manage to eat the bare minimum—a small bowl of rice and dal.She had to find a solution. Depending on Adhiraj’s money and leaving this home was not an option. It would be better for her to start going to her factory as soon as possible, so that she could have lunch and dinner at her workplace. As for breakfast, she would figure something out.“Imara...you hardly ate anything!” Vandana expressed her concern, her brow furrowed with worry.Imara shook her head. “I don’t feel hungry anymore.”Anika and Tarushi exchanged worried glances. Imara had always been someone who enjoyed eating without reservation. Not only that, but she couldn’t even stand the taste of the dal she had been eaten. To make matters worse, it was without any salad, which she normally preferred. The twins couldn’t help but wonder what Imara had been going through while living alone that had caused such a drastic change in her.Adhiraj had hardly known her, so he just assumed that his wife’s tendency to eat less was a normal trait. He noticed that she did the same thing during lunch as well. Consequently, he didn’t give much thought to what might be going on in Imara’s mind.On the other hand, Virender was genuinely concerned. He noticed how Imara carefully portioned her food after examining all the available dishes. Even though he wasn’t aware of Imara’s usual eating habits, he could perceive her hesitation. However, he chose to overlook it, understanding that it was her first day here.“Tomorrow…we will have a few neighbours coming for Muh Dikhai…” Vandana declared, managing to capture everyone’s undivided attention.“I have to be at the office!” Adhiraj blurted out, earning a cheeky comment from Virender, “Muh Dikhai dulhan ki hoti hai dulhe ki nahi… You won’t be missed, trust me.”Suppressing their laughter, the others struggled to keep a straight face. Adhiraj, of course, rolled his eyes, and poor Imara felt an overwhelming urge to smack her own forehead. This particular ritual was probably the only thing she despised with every fibre of her being. People would come, scrutinise the bride’s face, and unleash their unsolicited remarks. Well, she was mentally prepared to unleash her own witty comebacks if the need arose.—————That night, as Imara stepped out of the washroom after a refreshing bath and a change into her nightclothes, she instinctively nibbled on her lip as her eyes fixated on the bed. Surprisingly, she had failed to notice something earlier. There was no couch in the room! However, her disappointment was short-lived as her gaze shifted to the balcony, which thankfully boasted a splendid couch and two accompanying chairs. Determined to avoid any encounters with Adhiraj, Imara grabbed her laptop and settled on the cushioned balcony couch, eagerly diving into the reports that Isha had sent her earlier that day.When Adhiraj entered the room, he found the bed empty, instantly drawing his eyes towards the lone figure on the balcony. Peering from inside, he noticed Imara absorbed in her laptop. Proceeding to the washroom for a refreshing shower before settling in for the night, he was engulfed by the lingering aroma of sandalwood—reminiscent of the moment he secured the nuptial chain around Imara. This scent ignited his every sense, flooding his mind with memories of her expressions, her hesitations, her whimpers during the night, and the breathtaking sight of her donning a saree. He groaned. It was overwhelming, unlike anything he had ever felt for any woman.Summoning all his willpower, he focused on taking deep breaths and managed to complete his shower without allowing his thoughts to wander towards his newly wedded wife, who hadn’t spared him a second glance unless he cornered her or put his body on display in front of her.“What an irony!” he muttered as he stepped out of the washroom, donned in a bathrobe, and headed straight for the wardrobe, only to find Imara in there, searching for something in her wardrobe.