Although Vaidehi had a pretty good idea of the family business, she asked Raghuveer to explain as they drove to lunch, and the passion and drive for his work was obvious. Akanksha had made a reservation on the top floor of a gorgeous hotel, built as a whimsical, open greenhouse. And even more, she had booked the entire floor for privacy. Perks of being rich. Slowly, throughout lunch, Raghuveer cajoled Vaidehi to open up to him, because for all intents and purposes, they were on their first date. Raghuveer realized that he couldn’t have asked for a better wife even if she was made to his every specification, and Vaidehi was glad to see that her intuition was once again proven right. Her husband was a decent guy.

Certainly, he had a few flaws, like anyone else, including her, but it was nothing they couldn’t work on. Raghuveer whipped out his phone, clicking a quick picture as Vaidehi was looking out at the view. She startled, hearing the click. “Aap mere picture le rahe the.”

(You were taking my picture.)

“Hmm, acchi lag rahi thi, toh le liya.”

(Hmm, you were looking good, so I did.)

He raised a brow, adding “Akanksha aur Priya bhi poochenge.”

(Akanksha and Priya will ask, too.)

Vaidehi flushed slightly, but nodded. The awkward moment was broken by the waiter. “Sir, ma’am, aap donon ka picture main loon?”

(Sir, ma’am, should I take a picture of you both?)

“Ji, thank you.” Vaidehi wanted to protest, but Raghuveer looked insistent, waiting with his hand extended. “Aap wahan arch ke paas pose kijiye, bohot accha lagega.”

(You can stand over there by the arch, it’ll look very good.)

Automatically, Raghuveer’s hand went around her waist, making Vaidehi stiffen and look at him with surprise. It was one thing when she stumbled and she didn’t notice his supporting touch, but an intentional touch was entirely different. Veer loosened his hand, setting a piece of her hair as he spoke. “Tumhe pictures lena acche nahi lagte na?”

(You don’t like taking pictures, right?)

“Hmm.” (Yes…)

“Hogaya.” (Done.)

He stepped away, the slight slide of his hand deliberate. He was diverting her attention onto him so she wouldn’t feel awkward in front of the camera. Vaidehi wasn’t sure what to do or say, suspended in time for a moment. She was going to flounder. No, Vaidehi. This is nothing significant. Nothing you can’t handle. Composure, Vaidehi. Maintain composure.

____

Vaidehi stepped out of the closet, giving the pleats of her saree a final flick before looking up. She was welcomed by the sight of her husband, dressed to the nines in a perfectly tailored pinstripe suit, leisurely looking her up and down. “You looked beautiful this morning; you look absolutely stunning now.” “Thank you. You’re looking quite spiffy yourself.” The office colleague metaphor she’d been using was working. It made it easier to take many of the things he said in stride. He was simply someone she maintained a polite and professional relationship with, but had no special relation to outside of work.

Vaidehi was dressed in a sheer organza saree with jewel embroidery work all along the hems. The blouse matched exactly, the same embroidery work along the sleeves. The only problem was the back. It was tied by a long, zig-zagging dori (string) from top to bottom, almost a backless blouse. It was slightly daring for Vaidehi, but Maa and Chachi had insisted on it, so she caved in and wore it. The saree was too pretty to refuse for long. As she stepped in front of Veer and headed towards the door, she heard him cough suddenly.

“Are you certain you want to wear that?” His voice had deepened. Vaidehi turned around, confused. “Is it not looking good? But, you just said…” “No! It’s gorgeous, but…” “But?” He clenched jaw once before shaking his head. “Nothing, let’s go downstairs.” Only Vaidehi’s family, Raghuveer’s best friend’s family, and Vaidehi’s best friends’ families had been invited. While their friends’ families didn’t come, because it was wedding season after all and they had other events to attend, their friends did arrive. The party had already started, and everyone gathered in the living room, with the doors to the patio open, making a walkway to the actual party set up in the backyard.

Descending the steps together, they looked like a power couple – ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Her in her mustard yellow saree contrasting the dark navy of his suit. Raghuveer, however, had a hand resting lightly around her waist, pushing the dangling end of her pallu in. He gestured for her to hold it around the front, his eyes dropping once to her back. Was he being considerate, or possessive because she was wearing a nearly backless blouse? ‘Khair, mujhe kya?’ she thought ‘Main thodi na pallu pakad ke ghoomungi pure waqt.’

(Whatever, what does it matter to me? It's not as if I’ll actually hold the pallu the whole time.)

They first went and took the blessings of the elders, including Vaidehi’s parents, before she was wrapped up by her older brother in a bear hug. “God, my baccha’s been married for six months! Time really flies. I missed you so much Vaidu!” “Bhai, maine bhi aapko bohot miss kiya! Thoda aur aaya kariye na. Hum har do din baat karte hain, lekin woh milne wali feeling nahi aati.”

(Bhai, I missed you so much, too! You should come by more often. We talk every few days, but it doesn’t feel the same.)

“I didn’t want to trouble you, but now that your in-laws have also insisted, you bet I’ll be coming by every few days.” The twins, her younger siblings, didn’t wait long before joining the group and jumping on their didi. “Oy! Judwaa langoor! Aaram se, behen hai meri.”

(Oy! Twin langoors! Carefully, she’s my sister.)

“Arey bhai, humari bhi toh badi behen hain! Didi, we misshed you!”

(Arey bhai, she’s our older sister, too! Didi, we missed you!)

They whined in baby-like voices. “I’m sorry, bacche. I’ll come to see you more often, and you come to see me, too! Drag bhai along with you, too. Otherwise, he’ll think he’s imposing.” She kissed their foreheads, hugging them close. 

Vaidehi’s family dynamic was not that of a typical middle-class Indian family. Her father was the older son, but the black sheep of the family. Instead of going into the family business, he chose to become a professor and researcher. He was also fairly ignored from childhood, compared to his younger brother, who was the favorite son and currently ran the family business.

Although Vaidehi’s parents had an arranged marriage, her mother and father soon became each other’s world. Vaidehi’s mother began working as her father’s assistant. After she became pregnant, however, she only worked part-time. Vaidehi’s parents did love her and her siblings, but only because they were an extension of their beloved spouse. They were very distant and never paid much attention to them. It was simply that they were so important to each other that they couldn’t spare much time or attention for anyone else. Because their father often got lost in his work, their mother would focus on taking care of him.

The situation became that it was Vaidehi and her older brother, Yash, who raised the twins. And for Vaidehi, her brother was more of a parental figure than her parents. It also didn’t help that in the most crucial time of their childhood, their Dadi had a turbulent relationship with her younger daughter-in-law and would often come and sulk at Vaidehi’s home. Which further leeched her parents’ attention. So, to get married into the Malhotra household, where the family atmosphere was far livelier and more cohesive, was truly a blessing. That was the reason why she had agreed to this marriage without even interacting once with her future husband.

She was brought out of her reverie with a smack on her shoulder. “Oy kamini, humara kya?”

(Oy witch, what about us?)

Vaidehi turned around and was engulfed by her best friends’ hug. Radhika and Shraddha were her only two good friends, a friendship formed and strengthened by the burdens of school. Radhika’s older brother Avinash, who was only a year and a half older than them and was almost as good of a friend as her other two besties, also showed up to the party. Radhika leaned in, “Ab che mahine ho gaye hain. Ab toh bata, tere aur jijaji ke beech kya chal raha hain?”

(It’s been six months now. At least tell us now, what’s happening between you and our brother-in-law?)

She wiggled her eyebrows as she said that, trying to tease Vaidehi and succeeding. Shraddha also leaned in and cupped her ear, as if waiting to hear a secret. Vaidehi pulled both of their ears, “Chup kar tum dono, thoda sharam kar lo.”

(Shut up, you two, have some shame.)

Avinash raised his hands, backing away a step. “Ok, that’s my cue to leave. But remember Vaidu, if that man ever troubles you, we’re always ready to beat him up.” He gave her one last hug, then walked away. From the corner of her eye, she could see her husband’s gaze on them as they hugged, even though he was in the midst of a conversation with her siblings.

Vaidehi turned to her two friends. “You’re teasing me because I’ve been married for six months, but what about you two, huh? How are you enjoying being engaged? You know, they call it the ‘honeymoon before marriage’.” Radhika flipped her hair, trying to act nonchalant but her blush was evident, while Shraddha awkwardly folded her hands and looked around the room. “Oho, the tables are turned now, mere doston! Waise, why didn’t my future jijus come with you guys?” (Mere doston- my friends)

“They’re both abroad for some business conference.” Her two friends were engaged to cousins, and businessmen like her husband. They were actually close acquaintances of the Malhotras, and it was at Vaidehi’s wedding that they saw Radhika and Shraddha (although they had heard of them before) and sent the proposals. Her friends were going to get married in two months, and she couldn’t control her excitement. 

“Excuse me, madam, may I wish you a happy sixth monthiversary?” A handsome man with an open and friendly smile extended his hand to Vaidehi. She placed her hand in his and smiled, but instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “Abhiram Bhaiya, kaise hain aap?”

(Abhiram Bhaiya, how are you?)

“Doing much better now, Bhabhi.” He winked at her, and she pursed her lips, trying to control her smile at his flirtatious manner. “Remember the plan, let’s drop the Bhaiya and Bhabhi now, ok?” Vaidehi had met Abhiram, her husband’s best friend, at their wedding, but only long enough for him to wish her. He had to leave immediately for an important project, but he returned a few weeks ago and came to visit with gifts, and apologies, for the whole family. Vaidehi instantly warmed to his courteous, yet friendly manner. It was then that he suggested calling each other by their names, rather than Bhaiya and Bhabhi, whenever Raghuveer was around, in a childish attempt to make him jealous.

However, until now, there was never a situation where Vaidehi interacted with Abhiram in front of her husband. In truth, he had become as close as Yagnik to her, and he had also confessed that he liked a certain younger sister of his best friend. While the private date the gang had planned was Phase 2 of Mission Milan, Abhiram’s interference at the party was Phase 3. Wrapping an arm around Vaidehi’s shoulders, Abhiram guided her towards the drinks table, where fruit punch and chilled badam (almond) milk with saffron were set out.

As they walked to the table, they passed by Raghuveer and Vaidehi’s siblings, close enough for them to hear what Abhiram and Vaidehi were saying. “Yaar Vaidu, apni beauty secrets mujhe bhi batado. Aaj toh tum kamaal lag rahi ho iss saree mein, ek dam Belle ki tarah.”

(Yaar Vaidu, tell me your beauty secrets. You’re looking amazing in this saree today, just like Belle.)

He leaned in closer, and Vaidehi dipped her head, letting her hair hide her smile. “Waise, ab toh bas che mahine ho gaye hain. Kyun na tum uss Beast ko chhod kar mere saath bhaag jao?”

(But it’s only been six months now. Why don’t you leave that beast and run away with me?)

Raghuveer frowned hearing Abhiram’s comments. Why was everyone so eager to run off with his wife? First, Yagnik, now Abhiram. Dhokebaaz! (Traitor!) “Excuse me.” He strode towards the drinks table and wrapped an arm around Vaidehi’s waist. Though his hand lay loosely on her, his fingers gently urged her closer, so that Abhiram’s hand slipped off her shoulder. Vaidehi looked up in bemusement at her husband, then bit her lip, hiding her smile as Abhiram winked at her conspiratorially. He was indicating the success of his plan to make Veer jealous, but Raghuveer thought his traitor of a best friend was still flirting with his wife. “Kya baatein chal rahe hain?”

(What’s going on?)

“Oh, main toh bas Vaidu se keh raha tha…”

(Oh, I was just telling Vaidu that…)

“Yeh Vaidu Vaidu kya laga rakha hain. Bhabhi hain teri, toh tu sirf Bhabhi bol,” Raghuveer said sternly.

(Why do you keep calling her Vaidu? She’s your Bhabhi, so address her that way.)

Before Abhiram could reply, Raghuveer turned to his wife. She was looking at him with curiosity, one eyebrow raised. Damn, she looked like a queen. His queen. Hell, he needed to get his mind back on track. “Vaidehi, it’s time to cut the cake. Let’s go.” His hand still around her waist, he guided her to the table where the cake was set up.

As Vaidehi set her saree, it shifted under Raghuveer’s hand. Suddenly, he gazed down, his fingers twitching before abruptly dropping from her waist. As if he’d just realized that he still had his hand around her. Everyone gathered around the table, cheering in excitement and pulling out phones and cameras to record. Raghuveer placed the knife in Vaidehi’s hands, then wrapped his arms around her and held her hands in his. Vaidehi turned and looked at him, narrowing her eyes slightly in suspicion. “Aap kya kar rahe hain?”

(What are you doing?)

Raghuveer returned the best deadpan look he could muster. “Cutting the cake.” As the family insisted on the couple feeding each other a piece of cake, Raghuveer lifted a piece to Vaidehi’s mouth, and she barely took a bite off the edge of the piece. He leaned close, whispering, “Despite my behavior, I hope it’s been a happy six months. I promise the rest of our life will be much sweeter.” His voice held regret, a certain wistfulness. But that promise sounded seductive, enticing.

Taking the piece from him, she lifted it to his mouth, expecting him to do the same. But he took the entire piece of cake in his mouth. Holding her hand and licking the bit of whipped cream stuck to it, his teeth scraped lightly against the pad of her finger. Vaidehi’s finger tingled as she jerked her hand back. “I like whipped cream; I would hate to see it go to waste.” Ok, it was obvious that he was playing with her. ‘Just you wait Mr. Malhotra, you’ll get your just desserts, with extra whipped cream on top,’ she thought. Raghuveer’s siblings were gleeful that Mission Milan was having an effect on their brother.