10. His Family

Meera was in her room wearing the saree her mother-in-law gave her. She had already draped the saree. She turned her back to the mirror only to notice her naked back. The blouse was backless, revealing almost half the back of hers. She made sure that all her blouses didn't reveal her back except this one which came with the saree. She was self-conscious about her acne-scar-filled back. Although they were not much visible it was one of her insecurities. She tried to cover it with the Saree's pallu but it dampened the look of the saree. And she sat on the chair with a thud. Her throat clogged thinking how disgusted everyone would be seeing her back. Although it might not matter to anyone , hearing bad about her body all her life made her self conscious.

She was deep in her thoughts when she heard Aashrit's voice suddenly making her turn back with a jerk making her hair fall freely from her bun.

Aashrit knocked at the door "Meera ji, we would be late for the breakfast." He said from outside the wardrobe.

Meera looked in the mirror and saw her straight long black hairs covering her back. She thought it's better than showing her naked back.

She took a breath and opened the door of the wardrobe only to see her husband all decked up for the day.

Aashrit turned as the wardrobe door opened. He looked at Meera clad in a maroon colored saree with red bangles in her hand making her look like a newly wedded girl. Not newly wedded just in the eyes of society but in reality. A newly wedded bride who is loved, devoured, worshipped, and cared for by her husband. He was curious to know from where she was getting all that glow on her face when he wasn't even trying to be a better man let alone be the best husband for her. He looked at her again and his eyes got stuck on the pendant he gifted her. He did not expect her to carry the pendant all the time but this little gesture of hers was fluttering his cold heart.

His staring stopped when he found her going toward the bedside table and taking her phone. Aashrit took a deep breath and shook his head to get rid of all the thoughts he was having. He turned back to look at Meera who was now looking at him. He moved towards the door while Meera followed him behind.

They both were climbing down the stairs in silence when Aashrit slowed down for Meera to match his pace which went unnoticed by Meera who was more worried about her look. He synced her pace with Meera as he walked forward while making sure she was beside him. He looked at her side and saw her long open hairs bouncing as she climbed down the stairs. Some strands of hair were blocking the view of his face from the side which was irritating Aashrit.

"I have to warn you about something!!" Aashrit said and looked at Meera only to find her looking back at him with curious eyes but still no words left her lips.

When he didn't get any verbal response from his wife, he continued "My bua ji Nalini Yaduvanshi still hasn't left. She will be here till my coronation which is in 4-5 days from today." He looked back at her again to find the curiosity still intact. "She doesn't like the daughter-in-law of this house whether it's my mother or aunt, don't know why. Also, she has a bitter tongue. So if she says something hurtful, don't take it to your heart." He looked back at her again to hear some response but she just nodded in return and he huffed. Before he could say something again, he was cut short by an overly enthusiastic voice.

"Oh My God!!!! Is it an Apsara walking down the stairs of heaven." It was none other than the annoying brother of Aashrit, The Great Shivansh Singh Yaduvanshi. (In Hinduism, Apsara are considered the most beautiful women. They reside in heaven as the musician in the court of the King of God.)

And with his words, the whole Yaduvanshi family looked at Meera and Aashrit climbing down the stairs with each other by their sides and a smile made its way to their faces.

"They are looking like Ram Sita," Rashmi said while taking all the evil eyes from them. (Ram Sita is the ideal husband and wife for every Indian.)

"You have to ward off the evil eyes from them daily because I am sure not many people can digest a beautiful couple like them," Anika said to Rashmi while giving a side look to Nalini who was not looking impressed.

"I am so jealous. Why I am not as pretty, charming, and classy as she is?" Revati said with a pout.

Aashrit looked at Meera only to find blush coating her cheeks and ears which had turned red.

"If only Bhabhi had a sister. I would have married her in the same mandap." Shivansh said putting his hand on his heart dreamily.

Abhishek slapped Shivansh on his head and Shivansh looked at him baffled and said "What ?? Ok, bro why are you jealous? I will correct my mistake, Bhabhi I meant if you had 2 sisters, we both brothers would get married." Abhishek looked at him baffled while Aashrit spoke "One more word Shiv and I'm gonna make you work part-time with studying."

Shivansh was not much shocked hearing his elder brother.

"He is just jealous that I'm admiring Bhabhi and not him." Shivansh said with a sulking face.

"You said something??" Aashrit asked while Shivansh shook his head in no.

All the chattering stopped as they heard the sound of the dragging of the wheelchair and everyone turned towards the noise.

Pratap Singh Yaduvanshi entered the hall with his nurse who was pushing his wheelchair.

Meera looked at the man who was the reason behind her marriage in this house. There he was sitting in a wheelchair with an IV still attached to him. He was looking scary with a bald head and amber eyes. Meera got goosebumps on seeing him. The blank look on his face matched Aashrit's blank look and it was much scarier than Aashrit's.

Aashrit hurriedly ran towards him "Why are you here dadu? I would have brought your breakfast in your room only." He said with worry clear on his face as he bent on his knees in front of him.

"I am here to welcome my granddaughter-in-law in this house and to taste the food of her and yours first rasoi." Pratap Singh said without any delay.

"But dad....." Rajveer tried to say but stopped as Pratap Singh raised his hand asking him to stop.

No one spoke a word as they knew it was the end of the talk. Everyone has to obey what he wants.

Aashrit shook his head and dismissed the nurse taking charge of his wheelchair.

Everyone was settled on the dining table and waited for the king of Malwa to start eating.

Rajveer Singh took a spoonful of kheer in his mouth and looked at everyone who was eagerly waiting for his words. More than anyone, Meera was nervous. She is a good cook but with the presence of Aashrit in the kitchen, she was distracted for most of the time and now she was worried that she might have forgotten to put sugar in Kheer.

"It's tasty beta," Rajveer said and nodded at everyone to start eating.

Meera released a deep breath and looked at everyone's faces and felt satisfied seeing the look on their face.

"Waah beta!! If I could, I would have just eaten this for the rest of my whole life." Pratap Singh said.

"My child is a human form of Annapurna Devi," Rashmi said giving her a flying chef kiss.

"I agree bhabhi. We go the best daughter-in-law." Anika said warding off evil eyes.

"Bhabhi, If some Kheer left, save it for me. I will also eat at night." Abhishek said smiling at Meera.

Everyone was busy complimenting her while Revati and Shivansh were busy gobbling the kheer without any worry about their surroundings.

Meera gave a small smile to everyone and nodded her head taking the compliments. Then Her face turned to her right side to her husband expecting some words from him. But he has no expression on his face. A small fake-lipped smile formed on her face thinking about how she should not have any kind of expectation from him as he warned her before marriage. She put a spoonful of kheer in her mouth and nodded with satisfaction.

But her mood got soured on hearing the next words.

"You all are so dramatic. It's not even that tasty." Nalini said making Meera look up at him.

Everyone looked up at her at her audacity to degrade the new member of the family.

"you just have a bad taste Bua ji," Revati said and again started gobbling up the Kheer making Nalini red in anger.

"Is that the way to talk to your elder ones? Bhabhi you should teach her some manners before her marriage, or else her in-laws will send her back in this house." Nalini spits out in anger.

"If yours didn't do it yet, then hers are much more liberal," Shivansh said in a low voice that was audible to siblings and Meera.

On hearing this, Abhishek choked on his kheer and Revati spit out the kheer which unfortunately fell on Nalini who was sitting in front of her making Nalini stand up instantly.

"You....you ..... ." Nalini shouted in anger.

"I am so sorry bua ji . Shiv bhaiya said something funny."

"Do you think I am a fool? Don't I know you did it intentionally?" Nalini shouted

"Enough" Pratap Singh raised his voice "Do you have to do all this on this auspicious day only?" He said with his eyes red in anger "Can't you see we have our new daughter-in-law in this house? What would she think?"

"But she started......" Nalini was again interrupted.

"Enough. Go and get changed. Your breakfast will be sent to your room." Pratap Singh said in his final voice making Nalini sulk and leave not before glaring at Revati while the latter one just smiled.

Soon, everyone started having their breakfast like nothing happened a moment ago. Meera was shocked not by Nalini's words but by the support she got from this new family and her heart fluttered.

Suddenly, Abhishek leaned towards her " Bhabhi, Shivansh asked me to give you a message." He said making Meera look at him with curious eyes when he continued "You don't need to worry about anyone, your......." He stopped and looked back at his siblings to confirm if he really had to say that word but to his dismay , he had to say it. He looked at Meera and continued " Your Vanar Sena is with you at every step from this moment onwards." He said and leaned back giving a clear view of Shivansh and Revati and all three of them giving her a thumbs up which made her smile, genuinely.

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