Ayushree

11

Author's POV

Adrakansh left for his office after getting ready, and Siya was in her room. She already had her breakfast, which was brought in her room by a female servant.

She was feeling bored, so she decided to call her bhabhi. She called keerti, and after five rings, keerti picked the call.
She talked to her for some time. Keerti asked her about her new house, her in-laws, and her husband.

On the mention of Adrakansh, blush crept on Ayushree's face, remembering the kiss they had.

After talking to her, she decided to unpack her clothes from suitcases. She went to the closet and started unpacking her clothes and arranging them properly in the closet. After that, she safely folded and kept her wedding lehenga in the bag and all her jewelry in the almirah.

She decided to ask Adrakansh about the pass code of the locker so she could keep her jewelry there. After she was done, she went downstairs.

It was already 12 pm, so she decided to look at the preparations for lunch. Just when she was about to enter the kitchen. A hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned around and saw Karishma.

"What are you thinking you are going to do?" She asked.

"Maa, I was going to see the preparations for lunch. It's already 12." Ayushree answered.

Karishma lovingly caressed her cheeks and said.

"Beta, abhi to tumhari mehendi ka rang bhi nhi utara. Abhi se hi thodi nayi naveli dulhan ko kaam karne denge. Abhi to tum aaram karo, nayi cheezo ko samjho, Adrakansh ko samjho. Kaam ki koi tension mat lo. Aur aisa nhi hai, ki tumse baad mein kaam karvayenge. Ye tumhari zindagi hai, ache se jeeyo, jo karna hai karo."

Her soothing words gave peace and comfort to Ayushree. She instantly hugged Karishma, and she, in return, patted her back lovingly.

"Mera baccha, now go and remember at 4 pm it will your muh dikhai, and I will send your lunch in your room. Eat properly." Karishma said

On her way back to her room, she saw Siya taking many books to her room. The books seemed heavy to pick for her. Suddenly, she lost her balance, and books fell down from her hands.

She got panicked and started picking them again quickly. Ayushree went to her and bent down to help her.

When Siya saw her, she stopped her and said.

"Bh-Bhabhi aap jaiye yahan se, main kar lungi khud." She said, staking books properly.

"No, let me help you. These are so heavy for you." Ayushree said.

Siya wanted to protest, but she didn't say anything, and both of them took half-half books and took them inside Siya's room.

Ayushree kept them on the study table and saw the book shelf there was empty.

"Why didn't you take someone's help? You could have hurt yourself?" Ayushree asked.

"Umm, I-I didn't want to disturb anyone. That's why." She answered, picking the books and keeping them in the almirah in her room instead of the book shelf. The lines of worry were clearly visible on her face.

"Is something something you, you can tell me if you want?" Ayushree said

Siya didn't want to talk about this, but she thought it would be good for Ayushree to know all this before she faced the consequences.

"Actually, bhabhi, dadisa ordered the servants to take all the books from my room and throw them outside the mansion a few days back. But in the preparations for your wedding, maybe the servants forgot to do so. Today, after breakfast, I saw them in the store room, so I quietly brought them back." she said, fiddling with her fingers.

"But please don't tell this anyone, please bhabhi I beg, if anyone got to know, I will be in trouble." She continued kneeling in front of Ayushree, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Arre, why are you doing this?" Ayushree exclaimed, holding Siya by her shoulders and making her sit beside her.

"And why will you be in trouble, because of books, and why did dadisa take all your books?" She asked, frowning.

"Bhabhi, in our family, girls are not allowed to go outside to study and all. I haven't gone to school in my 11th and 12th standards. I was homeschooled, and now, when I want to study further, I am not allowed." Siya said with some tears pooling in her eyes.

Ayushree was astonished and saw a reflection of herself in Siya. The only difference was that she had at least done her graduation, but siya wasn't allowed to do even that.

"Bhabhi, these people don't understand that education is must, whether it is a boy or a girl. I am also warning you not to do anything that can cause you in trouble. Never defy dadi's and Adrakansh bhai's orders." Siya continued.

"I can understand, siya. I, myself, come from such family. My father also didn't allow me to continue my studies, and one day, he just told me that I was getting married." Ayushree said, remembering her time and mentally chuckling at herself.

"I will pray to God that you always remain happy with bhai, even when this marriage didn't happened with your choice, I hope bhai will never do anything that will hurt you in the- " Siya's words got interrupted by a knock on the door.

She stood up from the bed and opened the door and saw a female servant there, who brought lunch for siya.

Siya told her to bring Ayushree's lunch also. Both of them had their together, this also helped them to know each other in a better way. They talked about each other's lives and developed a good bond.

After having lunch, Siya helped Ayushree to get ready for muh dikhai. Ayushree wore a lightweight, dark maroon lehenga, with a dupatta of the same color.

She wore her nuptial chain, a gold necklace, a small maangtika, along with her bridal chuda. She kept the look minimal and elegant.

When guests started to arrive, Uma told siya to call ayushree. One by one, each lady saw Ayushree's face by lifting the veil over her face and praising her and her mother-in-law on getting such a beautiful and innocent daughter-in-law.

It was almost 8 pm, when Ayushree, still dressed up, was having dinner with her mother-in-law and siya. When Uma arrived there and spoke.

"Siya, you go, I want to have a talk with ayushree." Siya quickly left from there.

"Ayushree, today, every ritual of your marriage is done, except for one. You and Adrakansh have to consummate your marriage today itself." Uma spoke, to which Karishma opposed and said.

"But mummy ji, it is still too early. Let's give them time to know each other better. There is a lot of time for these things. Why so early."

"Karishma, you just stay silent if I am not in this house. No one will take responsibility for our family traditions." Uma said, taunting Karishma.

"But mummy - " Karishma was saying but got cut off by Uma.

"Enough Karishma, don't forget, I am the one who takes decisions in this house. And you Ayushree, remember, you and Adrakansh have to consummate your marriage today itself." Uma left saying this.

Here, Ayushree was so stunned to speak anything. She was not able to register uma's words.

"Does it mean we will have to do that today. But isn't it too early. Does he also want this? But he said he loves me, then he must want to do this. Then I should also accept it. All women do that after marriage." Ayushree thought.

"Beta, you don't have to do this. I will talk to Adrakansh. He will listen to me and never do this without your permission." Karishma said

"MAA YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS, I THINK I AM READY."
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