First day contd.

Aryan's face turned beet red as he shouted, "What the hell was that?"

His legs were still twisted in an awkward position, a testament to the assistants' haphazard methods.

Ishan held up his hands in a calming gesture. "I know that I am not medical professional, but it looked really amateurish to me."

"Correct!", Aryan's scowl deepened. "You're not a medical professional, Ishan. Your opinion doesn't matter."

"Chill put dude!", Ishan chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "I am your ardhangini remember. So technically, they were twisting my half leg as well."

Aryan's glare slowly gave way to a hint of amusement. "You're ridiculous"

"Hey, someone's got to bring some humor to this situation."

As he spoke, Ishan's eyes drifted to Aryan's twisted leg. He felt a pang of sympathy and reached out to help.

"Can I assist you with that?" ,asked, his voice low and husky.

Aryan nodded, his eyes locking onto Ishan's as he carefully straightened his leg. Ishan's hands moved with a gentle precision, his fingers wrapping around Aryan's calf as he guided his leg back into place.

The touch sent a jolt of electricity through both of them, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension.

Ishan's face flushed with embarrassment as he quickly withdrew his hands, trying to play it cool despite the awkwardness that had settled between them. Aryan's eyes never left his, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he seemed to savor the moment..

Just as he finished, Keerthika entered the room, clearing her throat discreetly.

"May I come in, Radhika ma'am?" Ishan's face flushed with embarrassment as he quickly stood up, trying to create some distance between himself and Aryan.

Aryan's cheeks were also slightly pink, and they exchanged a brief, awkward glance.

Keerthika's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "I can come later if you'd like?"

Ishan shook his head, trying to compose himself. "No, it's fine. The breakfast is ready, right?" Keerthika nodded.

"Yes, it's ready at the table for both you and Aryan sir." Ishan nodded, his eyes meeting Aryan for a brief moment.

"Yeah, I need your help with something, Keerthika."

Keerthika handed Ishan yet another lingerie set, along with a heavy Banarasi saree, and he exclaimed, "Can't we have more normal clothes instead of these...?"

Keerthika chuckled and said, "Newlyweds wait their entire life to have the chance to wear these, and you're complaining."

She helped Ishan wear the bra, but also said that he should learn to do it on his own. Then, she assisted him in wearing the blouse and saree, teaching him each intricate detail of the clothes.

"First, you need to tuck the pallu into your waist, then pleat the saree and secure it with a pin," she explained patiently.

Ishan's inner thoughts were a jumbled mix of frustration and amusement.

"Who knew wearing a saree was so complicated? I feel like I'm trying to solve a puzzle blindfolded."

As Keerthika finished selecting bangles and a new jhumka for Ishan, he coughed slightly and said, "I think I might be missing something."

Keerthika realized what it was and picked up the sindoor, joking, "You're truly embracing your bridal side, aren't you?"

She commented on Ishan's still-wet hair and helped him dry it. She also mentioned that only a bride's husband can put vermilion on her head, so only Ishan or Aryan should do it.

Finally, Ishan was ready, and as he looked at himself in the mirror, he couldn't help but think of the bahus from the Hindi serials his mother used to watch.

They always dressed up heavily, with expensive jewelry, even for daily activities. Ishan felt like he was one of them now.

As they walked to the dining hall, Ishan saw Mr. Harivansh and Aryan already having lunch. Harivansh's smile brightened as he looked at his new daughter-in-law. Ishan didn't know how to react to the wide smile, so he simply went towards Harivansh and touched his feet, just like he had seen in the serials.

Harivansh put his hand on Ishan's head and blessed him, saying,

"Sada suhagan raho bahu" (May you always be a suhagan, a married woman whose husband is alive).

"Enjoy this, old man. You definitely thought of this scenario before."

Ishan moved back and sat down beside Aryan, who was having his usual boiled, tasteless food.

The servant brought some salad and omelette and put some on Ishan's plate. Ishan hesitated for a moment before asking,

"Can we... can we get some parathas?"

The servant's eyes flickered towards Ishan, and for a brief moment, Ishan thought he saw a hint of surprise.

But it was quickly replaced by a neutral expression.

"Yes, ma'am," the servant said, his voice even. "I will check if we have any parathas available."

Ishan waited, his eyes fixed on the servant as he walked out of the dining hall. A few minutes later, the servant returned with a plate of steaming hot parathas.

Ishan's eyes lit up as he took a bite, the crispy exterior and soft interior a welcome change from the bland food Aryan was eating.

Aryan looked at Ishan's parathas, a hint of curiosity on his face. Ishan offered him a bite, but Aryan shook his head. "I'm good," he said, his voice low.

As the morning wore on, Ishan found himself succumbing to a creeping sense of boredom. With Aryan and Harivansh off to their respective offices, Ishan was left to his own devices, with nothing to do but stroll the gardens and admire the opulent surroundings.

He had never been one for idle pursuits, and the enforced leisure was starting to get to him.

He wandered aimlessly, his feet carrying him along the winding paths and manicured lawns, his mind drifting to all the things he would rather be doing.

Just as he was starting to feel like he was going to lose his mind from sheer boredom, Keerthika appeared at his side, a warm smile on her face.

"Shall I give you a tour of the mansion, Radhika ma'am?" she asked, and Ishan gratefully accepted.

As they walked, Keerthika pointed out various features of the estate, from the private sports complex, complete with tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a fully-equipped gym, to the state-of-the-art private theater, where the family could screen their favorite films in comfort and style.

They passed by the music room, where a beautiful grand piano sat waiting for someone to play it, and the library, which was lined floor-to-ceiling with books on every subject imaginable.

"Wait, how many square feet is this place?" Ishan asked, his voice filled with wonder.

"I mean, what's the point of having a private movie theater when you can just go to the cinema down the street?"

Keerthika laughed. "Well, when you're rich, you don't have to worry about things like 'down the street.'"

As they continued the tour, Ishan marveled at the music room, the library, and the indoor pool. He even spotted a few staff members scurrying about, and his eyes grew wide.

"How many people work here?"

Keerthika smiled. "We have a few staff members to keep things running smoothly"

"Few? It looks like an army marching left to right!"

Keerthika could not help but chuckle on ishan innocence.

Eventually, the tour ended at the indoor pool, where Ishan was surprised to see a private spa and wellness center, complete with a sauna, steam room, and massage tables.

Keerthika smiled and said, "This is where you can come to relax and unwind, Radhika ma'am. You deserve it after your big day yesterday."

"Wait! Let me be clear about one thing", Ishan cleared his throat, "There is nothing going on between me and Aryan. This is just a job For me and beside he is not gay"

"Do... you wish him to be gay?", Keethika joked.

"No!! I am also straight", Ishan quickly corrected her.

"Whatever you say ma'am",she winked making Ishan blush in embarrassment.