BOUND BY FATE

Aradhya's POV:

As I slowly opened my eyes, the warm sunlight streaming through the window danced across my face, illuminating the unfamiliar surroundings. I was not in my own room, but in a lavish bedroom that belonged to my husband, Rudransh Rathore. The red wedding lengha, adorned with intricate embroidery, still clung to my body, and the nuptial chain with his name gleamed on my neck.

Groggily, I sat up, my mind foggy from the previous night's events. I had waited for my husband Rudransh, but he never came to the room and waiting for him I drifted into sleep.... A mix of excitement and nervousness coursed through me as I realized this was my first day in my new home, where I would assume new roles - of a wife, daughter-in-law, & sister-in-law.

As I got out of bed, my eyes wandered to search for the suitcase in which I had packed my belongings...founding it near the dressing table quickly taking out one pair of dress I walked towards the washroom. The thought of shedding my carefree persona and taking on responsibilities as someone's wife and daughter-in-law was daunting.

While heading to the washroom, my gaze fell upon his picture frames adorning the walls, showcasing Rudransh's personality,his achievements. I had heard stories about his ruthless business acumen, his intimidating aura, and anger issues. People feared him, even his family...that was something sent shiver through my spine....was he really like what I have heard...or it were just rumours....shrugging my thoughts I entered inside washroom....

After a refreshing bath and dressing in the yellow saree, I stepped out of the washroom,drying my hairs with towel...walked towards the dressing table..... Looking at myself in the mirror my hands instinctively caressed the nuptial chain....a sign of me being married....a thought that I now belong to someone....that feeling was something so overwhelming....As I reached for the sindoor box, memories of our wedding ceremony flooded my mind - Rudransh's expressionless face, his emotionless eyes as he filled my hairline with vermilion...he was a tough man that I guessed it... I'm excited to experience this phase of marriage with him....but nervous as well....because I know this is his second marriage....means I'm not his first...that mere thought saddened me a little...but shrugging that thoughts aside I applied vermillion of his name on my hairline...and closed my eyes feeling completed....

Just then, a knock on the door broke my reverie. Expecting it to be Rudransh, I hurried to open it, but my smile faltered as I found my devar (husband's younger brother) Kartik and nanand (husband's sister) Kritika standing there, grinning at me.

Kartik/Kritika-"Good morning Bhabhi"...They wished me in uninson...

I forced a smile, trying to hide the disappointment ....I was desperate to see him but...shrugging of I wished my cute devar and nanand...
"Good Morning"..

Kartik-"Bhabhi we have come to call you downstairs...badi maa have asked us to call you.. everyone is waiting for you..."

Kritika-"Chaliye bhabhi"
(come sister-in-law)

As I entered the kitchen with my devar and nanand, I saw my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law busy instructing the cooks and servants.As soon as they felt our presence my mother in law asked them to leave...They turned to face me, and their faces lit up with warm smiles. I approached them with a mix of excitement and nervousness, feeling a sense of respect and gratitude towards these women who had welcomed me into their family.

I bent down to touch my mother-in-law's feet, a traditional gesture of respect and greeting in our culture. But she quickly stopped me by holding my shoulder and shaking her head. "Betiya, pair nahi chuti...gale lagti hai," she said with a warm smile, indicating that I shouldn't bow my head and touch their feet instead hug them...