Chapter 10: chapter 9- Family's kuldevi Visit

The morning was bathed in a golden hue as the Sehgal family buzzed with activity. It wasn’t every day that the entire family went on an outing together, and the preparations reflected that. Though the elders held a calm demeanor, the younger ones turned every moment into a chaotic blend of teasing, sarcasm, and laughter.

Siara, however, was a picture of quiet calm amidst the noise. Draped in a Dark red saree with a subtle golden border, she looked graceful like a newly married Girl with her nuptial chain and Vermilion adding extra glance but for her this means nothing, she looked detached. Her hair was tied back in a simple bun, and she wore the ancestral jewellery which made her look no less than a royal women. The minimal makeup only accentuated her stoic expression, making her appear more like a doll on display rather than a bride about to fulfill an age-old tradition.

Mahir, on the other hand, was in his signature style—sharp, tailored clothing that made him look effortlessly regal. A white kurta paired with white churidar pants gave him an understated elegance. His face, however, carried its usual cold indifference.

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The living room was loud, as always, with the youngsters taking every opportunity to make their presence felt.

“Why do we have to wake up at this unholy hour for a temple visit? It’s not like the kuldevi will bless me for leaving my beauty sleep behind.” divya said dramatically

Myra rolled her eyes “You need divine intervention more than anyone else. Maybe she’ll bless you with some sense.”

“Forget sense, she needs a miracle. Maybe the kuldevi can help her stop talking for five minutes” teased Kabir

The room burst into laughter as Divya threw a cushion at Kabir, missing him by an inch.

Dadi, who had just entered the room, clapped her hands to restore order.

“Enough of your nonsense, all of you. It’s a sacred visit, not a school picnic. Behave yourselves.”

“Dadi, we promise to behave—just not before lunch," avya grinned

The lighthearted banter continued as the three daughter in laws have not arrived yet.

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"It’s just another day. Another tradition. Nothing more, nothing less." siara thought

A knock at the door broke her reverie.

“Siara bhabhi, are you ready? We’re leaving soon,” Mahi asked while peeking in

“Yes. I’ll be down in a minute,” siara replied in her monotonous tone.

“You know, you don’t have to look so formal. It’s just the family. You can loosen up a bit,” Mahi entered inside the room

“This is fine.” Siara spoke with no expressions.

Mahi sensing the void in her voice, decided not to press further.

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Kavya, on the other hand, was in her usual modern yet traditional fusion attire—a navy blue kurta paired with palazzos. She was tying her earrings as she called out to her husband, Devansh. “Devansh, can you please stop scrolling on your phone and help me find my dupatta?”

Devansh from the other side of the room shouted “Which one? You have about a hundred!”

“The golden one, obviously! You know what, forget it—I’ll find it myself,” kavya sighed

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Mahir and Mahi crossed paths in the hallway.

“Well, well, look at you. Mr. Perfection as always. By the way I am still upset, you didn't came to my and Kabir's wedding"

"Sorry Mahi, I apologise but now I won't leave. That's a promise" he replied back

“It's okay bhaiya. By the way, Have you seen Siara bhabhi? She’s so quiet, I sometimes feel like she’s a ghost in this house” she asked

"Don't know" he replied and then left

_______________________________________

Siara descended the stairs, her steps light and unassuming. Her calm presence contrasted with the lively chatter of the younger siblings. Avya noticed her immediately.

“Doesn’t she look like she’s walking into a courtroom instead of a temple visit?” she whispered to myra

“But no one can disagree that she looks like she just came out from a ethereal painting” Myra admiringly replied

The family was gathered, waiting for the cars to be brought around. Divya and Shivay were already engaging in a playful argument.

“Shivay, I’m sitting in the window seat this time!”

“Like hell you are. I called dibs yesterday” said shivay

“Both of you can fight in the trunk for all I care" kabir grinned

Dadi clapping her hands told them,

“Enough! Everyone get ready. We don’t have all day"

Just then Kabir grinned wickedly “I think Mahir bhai and Siara bhabhi should ride together. After all, it’s their first kuldevi visit. Very romantic, don’t you think?”

Before Mahir could protest, Dadi intervened “Kabir is right. Let them travel together”

Mahir’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Siara, as usual, remained silent, her face giving away nothing.

As the family filed out, Mahir and Siara walked to their designated car without a word. Family watched them with a curious expression.

As they settled into the car, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. The drive was silent, save for the occasional sound of honking or the family’s caravan of cars moving along the road.

“Think they’ll actually talk during the ride?” kavya asked devansh

“Doubt it," devansh sighed

The Sehgal family's trip to the Kuldevi temple was nothing short of a lively, chaotic adventure. With multiple cars carrying a mix of excited youngsters and no-nonsense elders, the chatter and teasing never stopped.

“Everyone should behave properly when we reach the temple. This is not the time for jokes or unnecessary drama and make sure the security is tight,” dadi ordered strictly

“Don’t worry, Maa. I’ll keep an eye on the younger ones. But honestly, I think Divya is a lost cause” shalini replied to her

Abhimanyu sighed "The real challenge will be keeping Shivay and Kabir from provoking Mahir"

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“So, who’s betting on Mahir bhai saying even a single nice word to Siara bhabhi during this trip?” Kabir

smirked at Mahir and Siara’s car ahead

“Impossible. That man treats his words like gold—rare and hoarded and that woman, she doesn't deserve my bhai” avya smirked

“But he’ll carry her up those stairs. That’s romance enough, right?” divya said to change the topic

“Romance? Please! Mahir bhai is probably counting the exact number of steps he has to climb so he can calculate how many calories he’ll burn” shivay mocked

“You all are impossible. Can’t you let them be for one day?” Myra rolling her eyes told them

“Look at Myra di, defending Siara bhabhi!” divya gasped dramatically

Inside Mahir and Siara’s Car

The car was deathly silent, save for the hum of the engine. Mahir focused on driving, his jaw tight, while Siara stared out the window.

In stark contrast to the chatter in the other cars, this one felt like a vacuum of emotions. Neither spoke, and the air between them was heavy with unspoken words.

_______________________________________

Pit Stop at a Dhaba

The family stopped at a roadside dhaba for refreshments. The younger ones spilled out of their cars, stretching and complaining about the long journey.

“Move over! My legs are cramped because of you hogging all the space,” divya complained to shivay

“It’s not my fault you’re so dramatic. I barely touched you,” shivay loudly told her

Kabir joined in,“Divya, just admit you want to sit in Mahir bhai and Siara bhabhi’s car. We’ll let you swap”

“Never! That car feels like an exam hall—so silent and tense,” divya mocked horror

“Good point. I’d rather walk to the temple than sit with them” Myra laughed out

“Stop wasting time and eat quickly. We have a long way to go” dadi interrupted them

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Arrival at the Temple

The family gathered at the foot of the temple stairs. The kuldevi temple is located at a hilly area with beautiful scenery around.The sight of the steep, winding path left everyone slightly intimidated.

“Are you sure we can’t take an elevator? This is torture!” divya asked them while staring up

“Divya, stop embarrassing us. Even Dadi isn’t complaining!” avya said

“Don’t worry. Mahir bhai’s going to handle the real challenge today,” shivay grinned at the thought

“Yeah, carrying Siara bhabhi up 200 stairs. What a hero!” kabir smirked

“The first time a married couple visits the kuldevi, the husband must carry his wife up the stairs as a symbol of strength and devotion” dadi strictly informed mahir.

Mahir’s eyes widened, and he turned to Dadi, his voice flat. “Are you serious, Dadi?”

“Does it looks like I'm joking? It’s a tradition, Mahir. Devansh and Kabir both did it. Why should you be any different?” dadi gave him a look

“Don’t worry, bhai. It’s only 200 steps. You’ll survive” devansh smirked

“Just don’t drop her halfway. The kuldevi might take it as an insult” kabir teased him

The younger ones erupted into laughter, while Mahir glared at them. Siara, for her part, looked indifferent, though there was a flicker of discomfort in her eyes. "I can walk—”

“Nonsense! Mahir will carry you. It’s not just about strength; it’s about honoring tradition” dadi cut her off

With a resigned sigh, Mahir stepped forward and, in one fluid motion, lifted Siara into his arms. She was lighter than he expected, almost fragile, and the realization made him pause for a moment.

The younger ones, of course, seized the moment to add to the drama.

Divya clutching her heart “Oh, look! A real-life Bollywood moment. Mahir bhai carrying his dulhan up the stairs. Someone cue the romantic music!”

“Don’t forget to click pictures. We need proof of this miracle” kavya told devansh

“Mahir bhai, you should smile. It’ll look better for the family album,” Myra teased them

“I know, right? He looks like he’s carrying a sack of bricks instead of his wife!” shivay joined her

“Bhai, do you want some water? You look like you might drop any second,” kabir called out to mahir

Mahir shot them a glare that silenced their laughter—briefly.

As they climbed the stairs, Siara kept her gaze averted, her hands resting lightly on Mahir’s shoulders. After that incident she is not comfortable with physical touch. She felt awkward, aware of the curious stares and whispers from the family “You don’t have to do this. I can walk.”

“Just stay quiet” he gruffly told her.

The climb was steep, but Mahir’s stride was steady. By the time they reached the top, there was a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead, but he didn’t complain.

During the Rituals-

As the couple performed the rituals, the family stood behind them, watching quietly.

“Siara bhabhi looks so calm. I wonder what’s going on in her mind right now” divya whispered

“Probably wondering when all this ends” myra sighed

“And Mahir bhai is definitely thinking about his next business meeting,” kabir added

“Or calculating how much profit he could make if he turned these stairs into a fitness challenge” shivay laughed out

Priest informed Mahir “Beta, as per tradition, the husband must fill his wife’s hairline with sindoor in front of the goddess to seek her blessings for a long and prosperous married life.”

The words struck the family like a quiet storm. Conversations stilled, and the air grew tense. The elders exchanged glances, and the younger ones leaned in, anticipating the moment.

Mahir froze for a moment, his jaw tightening. He hadn’t anticipated this. His gaze shifted to Siara, who remained silent, her face unreadable. She didn’t look at him, didn’t react. It was as if she didn’t care whether the ritual happened or not. “This is ridiculous. Why do they have to involve rituals like this? It’s all just a formality, right?”

The priest extended the small silver box of sindoor toward Mahir,“Go on, beta. It is a blessing for both of you.”

Mahir reluctantly took the box, his fingers brushing against the cool metal. His movements were deliberate as he dipped his fingers into the vermillion powder.

"Moment h bhai, moment" shivay whispered in a low voice

The silence was deafening as Mahir turned to Siara. For a split second, his gaze met hers. Her eyes were calm, empty of any expectation or resistance. She simply tilted her head slightly, giving him access to her parting.

“It’s just a ritual. It doesn’t mean anything. Let’s get it over with.” siara thought

As Mahir’s hand moved closer, the younger ones couldn’t resist breaking the tension.

“Did he just hesitate? Never thought I’d see The Mahir Sehgal looking like a deer in headlights,” Kabir was shocked

“Forget that—look at Dadi’s face. She’s holding her breath!” divya said while stifling her giggle

“Careful, Mahir bhai. If you mess up the sindoor placement, Dadi might make you redo it,” kabir mocked him

Mahir ignored the teasing murmurs and completed the act. The vermillion streaked across Siara’s hairline, a vivid red against her pale skin. Most it fell on her nose. She didn’t flinch, didn’t blink.

The priest smiled and blessed the couple,“May the goddess bless you both with a happy and fulfilling married life”

The elders murmured their approval, though some, like Advitya and Rajeshwari, remained silent, their expressions unreadable.

“Well, that was... something. Did you see Mahir bhai's face? He looked like he was signing a business deal he didn’t want” Myra whispered to divya

“At least it’s done. Now we can move on to the prasad!” divya said happily

------

Mahir stepped back, his mind a whirlwind “It’s just a ritual. It doesn’t change anything. She’s still a stranger in every sense of the word. And yet... why does it feel like I crossed some invisible line?”

As he handed the sindoor box back to the priest, his hand brushed against his wife’s briefly. It was unintentional, but for a moment, it lingered in his mind.

Siara straightened her pallu, her face betraying nothing. "I don't believe in god so these things doesn't matter to me. That’s it. Another tradition ticked off the list. They can all relax now."

The family moved on to complete the rest of the rituals, the air lightened by the younger siblings' chatter, but for Mahir and Siara, the weight of the sindoor lingered, an unspoken reminder of the ties that bound them.

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On the way back to their cars, the younger ones continued their teasing while the elders tried to maintain some decorum.

“Mahir bhai, you’ve set a high bar. No one else carried their wife so gracefully. Maybe you’re not as cold as you seem,” divya praised him

The laughter that followed was infectious, but Siara remained quiet, her mind elsewhere. Mahir, too, stayed silent, though his mind was replaying the past 24 hours of his life.

The visit to the kuldevi temple had been both a reminder of tradition and a reflection of their fractured relationship. As the family returned to the cars, Siara and Mahir exchanged a brief glance—one that carried a thousand unspoken words but no promises.

For the family, it was another ritual completed and maybe something more. For Siara and Mahir, it was a journey neither of them fully understood yet.