SHRAVANI POV

Standing near the kitchen rack with a confused and anxious face. The pan on the stove filled with aromatic chai needed much of her attention.

" Shravani  kidhar dimag h chai gir jayegi"

( Shravani where are you lost the tea will fall )

" Maaf karna maa " ( sorry maa)

Hastily she serves the chai, clean the stove but as she moves her gazes to the rest of the kitchen it's messy just like her life she cleans it and sits near the lawn gazing at the sky.

Yesterday some strangers came to see me. I was not ready for it . Every time someone brings a proposal  it always triggers me because they comment on my skin, weight, financial stability and many more. But surprisingly the family from yesterday was decent they did not make any bad comments on my family and also accepted me. But it feels fishy the elders do not look happy also I have not seen my husband I hope he is not old and is considered towards me. My parents were very happy they  never expected to get an immaculate rishta for me. I wanted to back off but couldn't. I had no reason for it.

AFTER MARRIAGE

I was sitting on a king size bed decorated with rose petals and Jasmin flowers. The room is very big it has a big gate, windows almirah, dressings table and everything the person can dream about.

The door opened and dadiji with his mother walked in and they had a glass of kesar milk in their hand.

" Bahu ye lo jb Shaswat aaye to us ye pila dena "

( Daughter-in-law, take this, when Shaswat comes, give this to him to drink )

Shaswat that's his name Shaswat ji ....

" Ji maa " ( yes maa )

Maa ji sat near me she took my hand in her and with soft patting she stated   "Shravani  Aaj tumhari apne pati ke sath pehli raat h tumko pta h na kya karna hota h. Apne pati ki her baat maanna usse sikayat ka mauka mt dena aur shaswat garm mizaz ka h agar hath utha de to seh lena wo esa hi hai. Ab shadi ki hai to patni hone ka sara dharm nibana bhi padega haina?"

( Shravani, today is your first night with your husband, you know what to do. Listen to your husband's every word, never give him a chance to complain, and he is eternally hot-tempered, if he raises his hand then take it with no complaints, he is like that. Now that you are married, you will have to fulfill all the duties of being a wife, right? )

" Ji maa"  ( yes mom ) My maa has informed me about it and my friends are already married therefore they have shared their experience. Maa and dadi went back leaving me in my thoughts. In the wedding dadi was extremely nice to me but maa she  was very cold nevertheless now her warm words healed me hope she be the same .

The room is silent I am tired of sitting but I cannot sleep before him. The room opened and closed and a well built man in shervani came in. He... He seems to be my husband...is he my husband....yeah, he is my husband he stood near the dressing table removed his watch, came near and sat in front of me.

AUTHOR POV
Shaswat enters the room. He was irritated by relatives constant questions and friends teasing. Entering he saw a woman on her bed dressed in red. He stood near the dressing table removing his watch but his eyes all set on her. Her fingers are fidgeting her dupatta looking down He went near her and removed her veil.

SHRAVANI POV

"Adbhut"  he said as the unveiled women looked to him.

( Beautiful)

He held my chin to face him. My eyes met his, indeed beautiful. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen. His palm cupped my face and his thumb started caressing it.
Remembering the milk I took it  from the side table and forwarded it to him. He looks at me and then to the milk a smirk appears on his face. He takes the glass holding my hand in his other hand and gently strokes it with his thumb.

Shaswat drinks half of the glass and passes to shravani

" Mujhe dudh pasand nhi h "

( I don't like milk )

" Hmm.... pi ke dekho " his voice was deep as ocean

( Hmmm...try drinking it )

Shravani glanced at the glass then to him she did not want to drink it but unwilling she held the glass and started drinking the milk. Shaswats eyes were on her. He felt good He liked people being submissive in front of  him. As she finishes the milk he keeps it on the side table. He stood up and went near the gate to lock it, switched off the unwanted lights  creating a warm ambience, heated the sandalwood intense stick and grabbed a thing from the draw.

Shravani looked at everything and  felt different she knew what was coming next.