chapter 9

After Vaidehi fully recovered from her cold, life returned to its usual rhythm. To celebrate her return to health, she went out to a movie with her friends, followed by a spontaneous shopping spree. In her excitement, she spent 15,000 rupees on clothes, accessories, and gifts. When she got home and her mother found out about the expenditure, she received a lengthy lecture. But Vaidehi only smiled—she was used to her mother’s scolding. It was just another way her mother showed she cared.The end of the year brought wonderful news. Vaidehi received a bonus, a promotion, and was named "Employee of the Year." Overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude, she decided to share her success with her parents. She bought her father a branded wallet and a new cellphone and gifted her mother a beautiful Banarasi saree along with a set of traditional bangles. The look of pride and joy on their faces was priceless. That day, Vaidehi felt like she had achieved something truly meaningful. The sense of accomplishment and the approval from her parents made it one of the best days of her life.As she basked in the warmth of that moment, a soft, melodic sound began to intrude upon her thoughts. It grew louder until it became unmistakable—a voice calling her name.“Vaidehi, yaar, please turn off the alarm! Your alarm disturbs me every morning!” The voice was familiar, loving, and slightly groggy. As Vaidehi slowly opened her eyes, she realized it was her husband, Dev, who was speaking to her. She blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of her dream, the one where she was still her parents' little girl, enjoying the fruits of her hard work.Reluctantly, she reached out and silenced the alarm. It was 5:30 a.m., the start of another busy day. She sighed, pulling herself out of bed and heading to the bathroom. The warmth of the shower helped to wake her up, and as she stood under the water, she allowed herself a brief moment of peace, savoring the quiet before the storm of the day began.After getting dressed, she moved swiftly into her morning routine. First, she prepared breakfast and packed lunch for Dev and their son, Aarav. She worked efficiently, her hands moving almost automatically as she cooked, packed, and set the table. By the time she had sent Dev off to the office and Aarav to school, it was already 8 a.m.Next, she prepared breakfast for her in-laws. As they ate, she cleaned up the kitchen, started a load of laundry, and tidied up the house. It was a relentless cycle of chores that seemed never-ending. By the time she finished, it was already noon. She barely had time to catch her breath before she had to start preparing lunch.Vaidehi’s day was a whirlwind of activity. Even when she finally sat down for a short break in the afternoon, she could hardly relax, knowing that in just a couple of hours she’d be back on her feet again, preparing tea and snacks for her in-laws. Then, there was helping Aarav with his homework, followed by dinner preparations. The day seemed to blur into one long stretch of cooking, cleaning, and caretaking.Finally, at 11:30 p.m., after she had ensured everyone was fed, the kitchen was clean, and the house was locked up for the night, Vaidehi crawled into bed, utterly exhausted. As she lay there, staring up at the ceiling, she thought about how different her life was now compared to those carefree days before marriage. The dreams of her younger self seemed distant, like memories from another lifetime.Yet, despite the exhaustion and the endless demands, there was a sense of fulfillment. Her life was full—full of responsibilities, yes, but also full of love. She was no longer just a daughter but a wife, a mother, and a daughter-in-law. Each role came with its own set of challenges, but they also brought her a deep sense of belonging and purpose.In the quiet of the night, as Dev turned over in his sleep and draped an arm around her, Vaidehi smiled to herself. Her life might be hectic and demanding, but it was hers—filled with the people she loved most in the world. As she finally drifted off to sleep, she knew that no matter how tiring the days were, she wouldn’t trade them for anything.This was the life she had chosen, the life she had built with her own hands, and despite the fatigue, it was a life worth living.