While Radhika and Shraddha were being fed by their fiancés, as all the ladies’ hands were clad in mehendi, Vaidehi was being fed by Radhika’s dad. And every once in a while, Shraddha’s father would also sneak her a bite while feeding his wife.

Radhika’s mom was happily being fed by her ladla, mumma-ka-chamcha, beta.

(Ladla-favorite, Mumma ka chamcha- Mom’s sidekick)

“Wah bhai, abhi bhi favoritism. Mujhe aur Shraddha ko chhod kar aap log Vaidehi ko khila rahe hain?”

(Wow, the favoritism. Instead of feeding Shraddha or me, you people are feeding Vaidehi?)

Radhika’s mom immediately replied to her daughter. “Chup kar, nautanki! Tumhe toh tumhare pati itne pyaar se khila rahe hain, aur phir bhi jalan. Aur yahan, meri beti jaisi pyaari bacchi ka pati do hafte se abroad hain. Hum isse khilaye toh tumhe kya?”

(Be quiet, drama queen! Your husband is feeding you with such love and you’re still jealous. And here, my poor daughter’s husband has been abroad for the past two weeks. What’s your problem if we feed her?)

“Dekha Shraddha, hum shaadi karke in sab ko humesha ke liye chhod kar chale jaa rahe hain, aur inko koi fark nahi. Ek din pehle se hi pariah kar diya.”

(See Shraddha, we’re getting married and leaving them forever, and they don’t care at all. They’ve made us strangers one day early.)

“Humesha ke liye matlab? Agar tum har hafte humse milne nahi aayi na…toh…toh main tumse khud milne aungi.”

(What do you mean ‘forever’? If you don’t come every week to meet us…then I’ll come meet you myself.)

“Awww, love you Mumma!”

“Ji Maa, zaroor aayi. Apki iss jhalli beti ko aap hi sambhal sakte hain.”

(Of course, Maa, please come. Only you can handle this crazy daughter of yours.)

Radhika glared at her fiancé. “Kya matlab? Main jhalli hoon? Nahi khana hain mujhe.”

(What do you mean? I’m crazy? I don’t want to eat.)

She turned her head to the side, refusing to eat. “Maaf kariye mata rani. Aap jhalli nahi hain, devata hain! Iss khane ko humare prasad samajh kar sveekaar kijiye aur kha lijiye.”

(Forgive me, my queen. You’re not crazy, but a goddess! Accept this food as our holy offering and please eat it.)

Her fiancé bowed down, lifting the plate he was holding as an offering. “Yeh kuch zyaada nahi hua?”

(Aren’t you being a bit extra?)

“Zyaada toh tum ab tak dekhi nahi, sweetheart,” he drawled and winked, making Radhika blush.

(You haven’t seen extra until now, sweetheart.)

She lifted her hands to hit him, then realizing she had henna on, settled for scrunching her face at him. Shraddha couldn’t control her giggles, but when her fiancé whispered something in her ear, she also blushed, and her giggles died down. 

Vaidehi was helping her friends with the final touches as they got ready for the sangeet. “Abhi tak kuch khabar nahi?”

(No news until now?)

“Nahi, no calls and no messages. Thodi fikar ho rahi hain.”

(No, no calls or messages. I’m getting a bit worried.)

“Mujhe bhi. Tum dono ko sangeet mein dance karna tha. Agar Jiju nahi aaye toh schedule mess up ho jayega.”

(Me too. You both are supposed to dance during the sangeet. If Jiju doesn’t come, then the schedule will get messed up.)

“Seriously?” “Kya yaar, mazaak kar rahi thi. To lighten up the mood.”

(What? I was just joking, to lighten the mood.)

“Waise, since you brought up the topic, main Avi se baat karke aati hoon. Thoda performances ke order idhar udhar karlenge, and the flow of songs should work out fine. Tum dono chinta mat kar. Just focus on having fun, okay?”

(Anyway, since you brought up the topic, I’ll talk with Avi. We’ll switch up the order of the performances a bit and the flow of songs should work out fine. You both don’t worry. Just focus on having fun, okay?)

A knock sounded at the door. “Kaun hain?”

(Who is it?)

“May I come in?” Shraddha and Radhika looked at each other with wide eyes. “Kya maine sahi suna?”

(Did I hear that right?)

“Jiju?” Vaidehi sighed and planted her hands on her hips. “Shaitan ka naam liya, aur lo, prakat ho gaye saamne.”

(Speak of the devil, and look, he’s magically appeared.)

Shraddha looked at Vaidehi sternly. “Pati ko shaitan kehte hain kya?”

(You shouldn’t call your husband a devil.)

While Radhika smiled gleefully. “I’m definitely using this one.” Vaidehi opened the door to be greeted by the sight of her husband, decked out in a traditional kurta with a thin scarf draped around his neck.

Avinash popped out from behind him and grabbed Vaidehi’s hand, dragging her along with him. Vaidehi and Veer’s eyes met for a second before she was dragged forward, and he followed behind grumbling. She could feel his gaze on the hand that Avi had gripped in his. She smiled. Hmmph, let the man suffer a bit.

“Vaidu, I need you to confirm the order of the songs. Radhi and Shraddha made a whole bunch of last-minute changes to the last part, where we open up the floor, and for the life of me, I can’t remember what they were. I should’ve written them down when she was blurting them out at me, but I thought I’d remember. I’m 99% sure that it’s correct, but I don’t want to be the target of Radhi and Shraddha’s anger, especially Shraddha.” “Chill, yaar, I’m sure everything is correct. And I’m here to double-check.” 

The sangeet was an absolute hit, the performances quite entertaining. The performances started with the grooms-to-be dancing to ‘Mehendi Laga ke Rakhna and ‘Tenu Leke Main Jawanga’, joined by their younger brother and Avinash for ‘Cheez Badi’ and ‘Tamma Tamma.’

Then Vaidehi and Raghuveer performed a romantic dance to ‘Main Agar Kahoon’, which was quite difficult to synchronize with the many turns and lifts, but it came out beautifully. “So, ‘yaar’ is it?” “You want to talk about this now?” Veer met her eyes with a quirk of his brow. “You’ve never called me ‘yaar’ before.” Vaidehi simply stayed silent, giving him a look that this conversation would happen later. The pair didn’t realize how the song passed by as the music ended.

Then it transitioned to Radhika and Shraddha’s performances to ‘Maiyya Yashoda’ and ‘Dilbaro’. Vaidehi joined them for their girls' medley dance, which was a little out of the box. The crown quieted as the trio disappeared to put on sunglasses and sneakers, which were visible under their lehengas. They re-entered on ‘Kala Chashma’, transitioned to ‘Badtameez Dil’, then finished with ‘Desi Girl’. Then the couples-to-be performed ‘Bole Chudiyan’ and ‘Ishq wala Love’, garnering whistles and cheers from the audience.

Finally, all the families came together to perform to ‘Maahi Ve’, which led to an emotional moment between Radhika and Shraddha’s families as the ‘Chanda Mere Chanda’ stanza played. After several more hours of food and grooving to the brides’ carefully curated playlist, the event finally wrapped up. The plan was for Vaidehi to stay back until after the wedding the next day. But Raghuveer, unknown to Vaidehi, convinced Radhika and Shraddha’s parents to let him take Vaidehi home.

Before she knew it, she had been ushered into the car and they were driving home. “Will you not welcome me back?” Vaidehi thought about what Bhai had told her, about allowing herself to have expectations for the important people in their lives. Well, now seemed as good a time to start as any. “Should I be welcoming you back?” “I would like it if you did.” “Welcome back, then.” After a few moments, “Naraaz ho mujhse?”

(Are you angry at me?)

“Hona chahiye?”

(Should I be?)

“I would understand if you were. Explain karne ka mauka dogi?”

(Will you give me a chance to explain?)

“Kya, deni chahiye?”

(Should I?)

“Are you only going to answer my questions with questions?” “Should I not?”

Veer growled, irritated at her wordplay, while Vaidehi tried to control the smile creeping up her face. Suddenly Veer parked the car and turned to her, radiating controlled energy. He held her hand and tugged her close, as close as he could with the shift control in between them. Kissing up her palm to her wrist, he caressed her knuckles. Vaidehi’s fingers closed in, and she tried to pull away, turning her head. But he wouldn’t let her go.

“I’m not used to apologizing or giving explanations, but it’s important to me that you understand.” Vaidehi wasn’t truly mad in the first place, only hurt that he couldn’t even find a minute to respond to her messages for two entire weeks. She instantly forgave him after hearing his explanation, but perhaps he deserved some retribution as well. Rather than smiling acceptingly, she simply nodded and slid her hand away, successfully expressing her reluctant acceptance, and doubtful she could handle it if Veer continued to caress her hand through the rest of the ride.

Arriving home, Veer ordered her to stay while he opened her door. Vaidehi didn’t always allow this to happen, but it didn’t hurt to let yourself be pampered every once in a while. As she stepped out, Raghuveer said lowly in her ear, “Did I mention, you’re looking quite tempting today? Especially after two weeks without a sight.” Vaidehi tried to step forward and walk in front of him, but he held her wrist, intertwining their fingers, and walked beside her, smirking. 

After the Haldi that morning, Vaidehi and Veer had been given a guest room to relax and get ready before the wedding that evening. The rest of their family would be arriving closer to the time of the wedding. Vaidehi was dressed in a Kanjivaram saree with heavy gold filigree throughout. She was standing in front of the vanity, putting on her gold jewelry. She had done her hair in an intricate braid down her back.

While her grandmother, Nani, wasn’t Tamil, she had spent a majority of her childhood there. It was from her that Vaidehi had picked up a few cultural practices that she really liked, such as wearing Kanjivaram sarees for important occasions. Her husband knocked before entering the room, a long strand of tied jasmine flowers, or gajra, in his hand. “I had a feeling you would want these. If you’ll guide me, I can put these in your hair while you finish putting on your jewelry.”

She gave him a childish smile in the mirror and nodded. It truly humbled him how the smallest of gestures made her so happy. Not that his family and friends were snobs, but his wife was just different. “Yeh saree, tumne engagement ke din pehni thi.”

(This saree, you wore it at our engagement.)

Vaidehi turned around and gaped at him slightly. “Aapko saree yaad hain?”

(You remember this saree?)

“Nahi, mujhe saree mein tum yaad ho.”

(No, I remember you in this saree.)

God, would he always say something or another that made her speechless?

Suddenly, Vaidehi noticed his sherwani, the one he had worn at their engagement. “Issiliye aap yeh sherwani pehna?”

(Is that why you wore this suit?)

“Tumhe kya lagta hain?”

(What do you think?)

She gave him a gallic shrug and a sassy look. “Mujhe lagti hain…shayad sangathi ka asar ho raha hain.”

(I think…maybe you’re getting influenced by the people around you.)

Raghuveer smiled, turning on the charm. “Damn right.” I’m sorry, Sidharth Malhotra, but my husband could give you a run for your money, and I wager he’d win. Maybe it was just something in the Malhotra name. Vaidehi knew Maa and Chachi would agree.

“Um, ab mujhe chalna chahiye, Radhika aur Shraddha ko dekhne.”

(Umm, I should leave now, to see Radhika and Shraddha.)

Before she could leave, Veer wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, caressing the bit of bare skin. Lingeringly, he kissed both her cheeks, then her forehead. “Unke room tak drop karta hoon.”

(I’ll drop you at their room.)

The entire way to their room, he had his hand around her waist. “Can I take it to mean you’ve forgiven me, then?” “I’ll give you a proper answer after the wedding.” As she entered the suite the brides were getting ready in, Veer’s hand reluctantly slid from her waist, letting her go. But he held her wrist, making her turn back to look at him questioningly.

He kissed the back of her hand, then her palm, folding her fingers in as if telling her to hold onto his kiss. “Itni sundar lag rahi ho biwi, chodne ka mann hi nahi karta.”

(You’re looking so pretty, wife, that I don’t want to let you go.)

A chorus of ‘haye’s echoed through the room, while Radhika even whistled.

(Haye- Aww)

Raghuveer let go of her, dragging his fingertips against the back of her hand, and shut the door behind him. God, he really wasn’t letting the blush leave her cheeks today. 

Watching her best friends’ wedding, Vaidehi felt nostalgic, but also wistful. Her wedding had been perfect for her, as it was, but she did long for the love that was evident between the two couples. She could almost see flashes of what her life would look like if Raghuveer loved her. And although they had their ups and downs – maybe it was just the environment making her feel this way – but she truly felt hopeful. Unknown to her, Raghuveer was following her every emotion. He kissed her temple softly, promising to fulfill her longing.