As I slipped into my dress, the fabric cascading around me in a familiar embrace, I couldn't help but smile. It had been far too long since I last adorned myself in such attire, the demands of married life often dictating a wardrobe filled with sarees and kurtis.
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Covering the telltale marks of our earlier intimacy with a deft touch of concealer, I descended the stairs to find my husband and children already prepared for our departure. Adhvik's scrutinizing gaze lingered on my attire, silently assessing my choice, but I refused to meet his eyes, maintaining an air of indifference.
With Vihan cradled in my arms and Vrihanika nestled against Adhvik's chest, we formed a picture-perfect family unit, each child claimed by a devoted parent. Despite the underlying tensions that simmered beneath the surface, we presented a united front as we navigated our way through the throngs of paparazzi at the airport, their flashing cameras a constant reminder of the public scrutiny that accompanied our every move.
Settling into our seats aboard the plane, I ensured that both Vihan and Vrihanika were comfortable before coaxing them into slumber, their innocent faces softened by the gentle lull of the aircraft's engines. With a sigh of relief, I tucked them into their makeshift bed, the rhythmic hum of the plane serving as a soothing backdrop to our journey ahead.
As the air hostess signaled for us to fasten our seatbelts, I complied, my heart quickening with each passing minute of the flight. Sensing my unease, Adhvik's hand found mine, offering silent reassurance in the face of my lingering fear. I glanced at our intertwined fingers. How I envied my hands of getting attention from him
"Shit, when did I become this much creepy?" I questioned myself.
"Since you married Adhvik Singhania" subconscious taunted me.
The bitter truth ringing in my ears. With a chuckle, I shook off the unsettling thoughts, focusing instead on the approaching destination and the challenges it would inevitably bring.
After five long hours, the plane touched down in Mumbai, and we were soon whisked away in a car sent by Adhvik's family. The sprawling mansion loomed in the distance, a looming reminder of the expectations and judgments that awaited me.
As we neared the entrance, a wave of apprehension washed over me, my pulse quickening with each step closer to the impending confrontation with my mother-in-law. With a silent prayer for strength, I steeled myself for the inevitable onslaught of criticism and disdain.
In the car, Vrihanika slumbered peacefully in her father's arms, blissfully. Meanwhile, Vihan's excitement bubbled over, his eagerness to see his grandparents palpable in every enthusiastic gesture.
Despite the fraught relationship between myself and Adhvik's parents, one thing remained constant – their unwavering love for our children. They spoiled Vihan and Vrihanika , showering them with affection and gifts.
As Adhvik rang the doorbell, a wave of apprehension washed over me, knowing all too well the reception that awaited us within the confines of his family's mansion. The door creaked open, revealing a maid who wordlessly ushered us inside, granting us entry into the lion's den of familial expectations and judgments.
