Vaidehi’s parents left immediately after the cake was cut. Everyone requested them to at least stay for dinner, but they had another Mehendi event to attend. Vaidehi smiled as her parents simply waved and left. The feeling of loneliness would never completely leave, but she had learned to manage it and didn’t take such things to heart anymore. It had become a companion that she didn’t try to overcome but accepted as a part of her and a part of her past. Her friends teased her throughout dinner about her husband’s antics at the cake cutting, and soon it was time for the presents.

Everyone gathered in the living room, leisurely enjoying their slices of cake as Vaidehi and Raghuveer opened their gifts. Actually, it was Vaidehi opening the gifts and Raghuveer watching with an unreadable expression on his face. Last was the gift given to them by Akshu, Priya, Shraddha, Radhika, and Maitreyi, Vaidehi’s younger sister and Nitesh’s twin. “Actually, Bhabhi, you may want to open that in private.” Snickers and giggles echoed throughout the room as Vaidehi blushed and discreetly set the box aside.

“Hey, don’t make fun of my sister!” “Oy, leave my daughter alone!” “Don’t tease your Bhabhi!” Three male voices rang out simultaneously, causing the ladies to laugh at their protectiveness. Priya whipped out a long, slim, wrapped box from behind her. “I lied Bhabhi, aur bhi gifts hain. Aapne mujhe yeh wrap karne ke liye diye the, par maine aapka room mein nahi rakhi. Yahan lekar aayi.”

(I lied Bhabhi, there are more gifts. You gave it to me to wrap, but I didn’t put it in your room. I brought it down here.)

“Priya.” Just hearing her name from her Bhai’s mouth in the dark tone was enough to scold her. “Priya, tumhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha. Room mein hi rakhna tha, agar who Raghuveer ko alag se dena chahthi thi toh?”

(Priya, you shouldn’t have done that. You should’ve kept it in the room, what if she wanted to give it to Raghuveer privately?)

“No, it’s ok this time, Chachi. Raghuveer-ji, I got this as a gift for you. Happy six months.” She handed him the box, her eyes slightly wary. Did she expect him to refuse? Raghuveer opened the box to find a slim gold bracelet that perfectly matched the gold chain his grandfather had given him before passing away, the chain that he wore every day. The world tilted around him, and Veer felt akimbo. He simply stared at the box in his hands as the world slowly righted itself. Except, everything didn’t feel right and normal again. There was static in the air, spreading a layer of warmth around him.

For a few years after he’d outgrown his bracelet, his parents had wanted to replace it. But Raghuveer had staunchly refused. After that, nobody had the thought apart from him. In the past few years, again, Raghuveer felt the wish to wear a bracelet again, but he never found the time to get one. It was a personal task, something he wouldn’t feel comfortable delegating to his team. And as for his parents – Veer couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually asked his parents to do something for him. He must have been a young child. Not that he blamed his family – how could they know his feelings if he never told them? They weren’t mind readers. But was Vaidehi? Does she know about Dadu, about the personal significance? Or did she notice the lack of one on my wrist and simply get me a bracelet?

As the static settled into his skin…Veer only felt pleasure. Pleasure that his wife had taken the time and effort to give him a gift. It looked nothing like his old bracelet, but he would wager it was exactly what he would’ve chosen had he been in the store. Raghuveer handed the box back to Vaidehi, and she felt the disappointment trickling in…until he stretched out his hand, gesturing for her to tie the bracelet on his wrist. “Will you do the honors?” She clicked the lock in place and looked up. “Thank you.” She smiled her most genuine smile that day.

“Ok Bhai, now you have to give your gift to Bhabhi. I’m sure you must have it hidden somewhere.” “No, I don’t have a gift hidden away.” Everyone gaped in shock and anger, especially Chandrika and Aparna. Vaidehi instantly jumped in to settle the situation. “Arey, rukhiye sab! Inhone mujhe already gift diya, issiliye aise keh rahe hain.”

(Everyone, wait a second! He already gave me my gift, that’s why said he didn’t have a gift hidden away.)

Chandrika looked suspiciously at her son. She couldn’t believe he got a gift without anyone reminding him. “Zara hume bhi batiye, kya laya hain meri bahu ke liye.”

(Please tell us, what you got for my daughter-in-law.)

Raghuveer smirked, pleased that he had the presence of mind to do something right for Vaidehi. “Penthouse suite mein mere liye ek special room banwaye the, mere pasand ke,” Vaidehi interjected.

(He had a room made for me in the penthouse suite, with everything I like.)

“Kyunki isne sab ke liye apne pasand ke kuch na kuch dala tha, par apne liye kuch nahi kiya.”

(Because she made sure there was something for everyone, but didn’t add anything for herself.)

Akanksha sighed in disappointment. “Bhai, yeh toh aapka farz banta hain. Bhabhi humara khayal rakhi thi, aur aapne unka. Yeh gift kaisa ho sakta hain? Please tell me aap kuch alag gift bhi diye the.”

(Bhai, that’s your responsibility. Bhabhi cared for our likes and dislikes, so you made sure she wasn’t ignored. How can that be a gift? Please tell me you got her some other gift, too.)

Raghuveer carefully held his face blank. Another mistake. But Priya was right. It didn’t matter how good his intentions were, and it wasn’t enough to notice what Vaidehi did for everyone else. He needed to notice her. Like she had done for him, with the bracelet. He would be a lost cause, a hopeless case, if he couldn’t get his shit together soon. Vaidehi deserves better, and you will make sure she doesn’t settle for less.

What a mess! As much as he might have ignored me, I’m not going to throw him under the bus. “Tum sab kyun humesha ghode pe sawaare rehthe hain? Yeh joh jewelry set pehni hain maine, yeh unhone mujhe gift diya.”

(Why are you guys always ready to pounce? The jewelry set I’m wearing, he gifted it to me.)

“Oh my god, Bhai, you’re really stepping up to the mark!”

“Maine aapko pehle hi compliment diya tha Bhabhi, lekin tab mujhe yeh nahi pata tha ki Bhai ki taste itna bhi accha ho saktha hain!”

(I complimented you on it already, Bhabhi, but I didn’t know then that Bhai’s taste could be this good!)

Vaidehi avoided looking at Raghuveer, not wanting to slip up and give away her ruse. Thankfully, he stayed quiet. As everyone was leaving after the party, Yash pulled Vaidehi to the corner. “Mujhe pata hain ki yeh jewelry set Jiju ne nahi diya tumhe. Jhooth kyun boli? Sab kuch theek hain kya?”

(I know that Jiju didn’t give you this jewelry set. Why did you lie? Is everything all right?)

He was right, Raghuveer had not gifted her the jewelry set. Vaidehi had bought it with her first salary as a gift for her mother, along with a watch for her father. However, her mother had given it to her as part of her wedding jewelry, since she had ‘never worn it anyway’. There was only one thing Vaidehi could now say to keep her Bhai from getting suspicious. “Bhai, agar main pura sach kehthi, toh sabko ehmiyat samajh nahi aata. Agar main yeh kehtha ki inhone jo gift diya, thoda personal hain, toh sab mere taang kheechte the. Sirf issiliye. Aur sab kuch sach mein theek hain.”

(Bhai, if I told the complete truth, nobody would have understood its importance. If I told them that the gift I got was personal, then they would’ve pulled my leg. That’s why. And everything between us is fine.)

He smirked, not believing a word she had said. If his brother-in-law was ignoring his sister, then he would need to do something about it. “Acha, toh asal mein kya gift diya jiju ne?”

(Oh, so what gift did Jiju actually give you?)

Vaidehi was no less- she knew when to cover up, and when to stay silent. Her brother wanted to push her into a corner? Fine, she’d turn the tables. “Actually…woh ling-” He immediately, shaking his head. “No, I take it back, I don’t want to know.” “But in all seriousness, kuch bhi pareshaani ho, don’t hesitate. Mujhe turant batana, hmmm? Apna khayal rakh, jaldi milte hain.”

(But in all seriousness, if there’s any problem, don’t hesitate. Tell me immediately, hmm? Take care of yourself, we’ll meet soon.)

Vaidehi hugged her siblings and friends one last time, seeing them off. Relaxing for a few minutes, the Malhotras wished each other good night and dispersed to their rooms.

____

Back in their bedroom…

“Thank you, again.” Before she could head into her closet, Veer stepped in front, stopping her. “Phirse kyun?”

(Why again?)

“Kyunki woh shukriyaa kaafi nahi tha. Shayad tumhe iss bracelet ka ehmiyat pata nahi hain.” He strode over to his nightstand, unlocking the top drawer and pulling out a small box.

(Because that thank you wasn’t enough. Maybe you don’t know the importance of this bracelet.)

“Mere Dadu ne mujhe diya. I didn’t initially want a new one, but in the past years, I’ve been looking for a replacement. It was a task I wanted to do myself, but I never found the time.”

(My grandfather gave it to me…)

Vaidehi’s brow furrowed slightly. What exactly did that mean? That he didn’t like her doing a personal task? Or…that he didn’t mind? “Agar aapko pasand nahi aaya…”

(If you don’t like it…)

“Bohot pasand aaya. Isse behthar main khud nahi chun sakta tha.” He interjected her, placing the box away and moving closer.

(I liked it a lot. I couldn’t have chosen better than this myself.)

The furrow in her brow smoothed as she heard his reassuring words. “Ab iss naya bracelet ka aur bhi maine hain. Mere Dadu ke yaadein, aur tumhari diya hua taufah.”

(Now this new bracelet has more meaning. My grandfather’s memories, and the gift that you gave me.)

Shrugging, his lips twitched as he looked away. “Mujhe dheere dheere yakeen bhi ho raha hain ki tum kuch bhi karo, mujhe pasand aayega hi.”

(I’m slowly starting to believe that whatever you do, I will like it.)

Was it just this morning that they had a proper conversation? And now he was giving such sweeping statements. Kahin inka dhimaak ka screw dheela nahi ho gaya? Yeh kaisa achanak itna badlav?

(Were one of his screws loose? So much sudden change?)

“In that case, you’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it.” She turned, cutting off the conversation and heading into the closet to change. But Raghuveer had one more question.

“Why did you lie to our family and to your brother?”

“Aapne suna humare baatein?”

(You heard us talking?)

“Hmm.”

“Chup chup ke baatein sunna acchi baat nahi hain.”

(It’s not good to eavesdrop.)

“Pehle tum yeh batao, jhooth kyun boli?”

(First, you tell me, why did you lie?)

“Kyunki sab bawaal khada kar dete agar pata chala ki aapne ne gift nahi diya. Lekin aapko kaise pata hota ki aapne joh room banwaya mere liye, woh sab ki nazron mein taufah nahi kehla sakte. Toh aap mujhe alag gift kaise dete?”

(Because everyone would’ve made a big deal out of it if they found out that you didn’t get me a gift. But how could you have known that the penthouse room wouldn’t be considered a gift in everyone’s eyes. So how would you have gotten me another gift?)

“Bura maan gayi tum?”

(Did you feel bad?)

“Pehle kabhi bura maani jo aaj maanungi? Nahi.”

(Did I ever feel bad before to feel bad today? No.)