The morning came soon for Akshara as she didn't even blink an eye. The previous night after having her silent eye talk with the moon and the stars, she organized her dresses in the wardrobe and her boxes of books been ready to unbox once she find a place to arrange them.

At the earliest as how the new bride is expected to be awaken , freshened up and dressed in traditional attire, Akshara came downstairs to see it clear. Let's forget that she stumbled twice in that saree that she'd drapped around her.

She stood clueless for almost less than an hour when she saw Mrs Laxmi Malhotra or Arjun's mother walking down the stairs with a towel wrapped around her head.

“ You're awake so early, is it for today or you usually wake up early” Mrs Laxmi asked looking at her one day old daughter- in- law fidgeting with her saree's pallu.  “ I usually wake up at this time aunty” Akshara answered nervously.  Shaking her head at Akshara, Laxmi walked over to the kitchen and looked back to see her standing clueless. “ You can make tea or coffee for yourself Akshara and Arjun likes to have coffee when he returns from jog at 7 in the morning” Mrs Laxmi said while making her way out of the kitchen.

Once settled in the garden to enjoy her cup of tea , Laxmi Malhotra was certain that her daughter-in-law is no soon going to grace her presence. She questioned herself if she like Dharani said had gone wrong in choosing the prospective bride for her son.

Mrs Laxmi Malhotra is a sophisticated lady who retired as a professor from a highly notable university. Her strict behavior made her being the most respected and honoured professor. She is an epitome of perfection and raised her children to be one.

Akshara stood at the entrance of the walk in garden from dining room looking at her mother-in-law.

“ You're not supposed to stand and zone out always ” Akshara's thought broke and she sat,exactly opposite to Mrs Laxmi Malhotra. For her, this lady's aura screamed intimidation and she could somewhere see her own father in her.

The tea didn't taste that good or maybe the company ,she thought to herself.

“ You are here ” Mr Nandalal Malhotra asked his wife who in return gave him a questioning gaze “ I'm off to jog” he declared and his wife chided
“ What's the need? Did you forget the last time you ended up with a swollen knee?”
“ Maa, we're accompanying him and you don't have to fear. ” Jagan Singhania, Arya's husband said holding his two year old son.

Akshara looked at everyone and then her gaze landed on her husband who smiled at her which she returned. “ I won't say anything and Adwait should be left home ” Laxmi Malhotra said whilst standing up and going inside.

“Akshu baby is here and I'm gonna stay with her here, you guys buzz off ” Rudra said holding Akshara's hand who was intending to follow her mother-in-law. Akshara stood gaping at him and looked at Arjun. Arjun who was tying the lace of his shoe was about to answer when he heard
“ Oh my my , Chutki in a saree , who helped you drapping it and you didn't wait for me to help you”  Athira hugged Akshara and said in one go making the little Adwait drop his toy car down at her loud voice.

Seeing Athira hug Akshara, Rudra let go of her hand and wrapped his arms around the two sisters. Everyone kept looking at this. Arjun walked over to them and freed his wife saying
“ Let go of her ,you both are suffocating her” to which he received alot of “ohhh” and teasing glance.

Akshara and Athira stood aside and listened to the old Malhotra ladies. “Today itself we should conduct the pehli rasoi ritual didi ”  Said Mrs Ambika Malhotra to her elder sister and also elder daughter-in-law of the Malhotra mansion who just nodded at her.

“ Why not tomorrow,  are they being sent to their mother's home today itself?” asked Dharani Bua who made her presence along with her mother aka Dadi and her two daughters.

Before any one could answer someone shouted running down the stairs “ Where's my son ? ”
“ Arya , this is no way a Malhotra behaves , Preet and Priya are far better than you…” Arya cut her off " Bua please, my son's missing and you're giving me lecture.”

“ Adwait accompanied his grandpa for a walk along with other boys.” Mrs Laxmi said and Arya turned to her mother and nodded whilst shrieking “ Oh my gosh,  is that Akshara , who helped you wrap a saree , anyway you're looking stunning” she hugged Akshara and Athira
“ Athira see I told you pink really suits you well.”

The Malhotra ladies knew their elder daughter aka Arya is too loud and blabbers.

“ For pehli rasoi  , you both can make Kheer and Balushahi. Arjun likes kheer and Balushahi is Dev's favorite”  Laxmi informed them and Athira replied “ Aunty I don't know how to prepare Balushahi” “ It's okay beta , Dev will have kheer” Ambika said making others snicker. “ Maa, I'm not that good at cooking” Athira said and Dharani chuckled saying “Very well , I expected this coming,  you both sisters aren't taught basics of living ”  Arya held Athira's hand to make her stay quiet for she know Akshara wouldn't reply .

“ Badi bhabhi , sorry to burst your I-know-everything bubble. Your choice is not upto our standards. They aren't taught cooking and…” Ambika cut her off “ Dharani didi , she said not good at cooking,  she didn't refuse to cook.”

“ Enough, you both can make anything as you please and Arya help them” Dadi said stopping the bickering. “ I'll join you guys ” Priya too walked to the group who retired to the  kitchen.

Akshara could clearly understand that Dharani bua did not like both of them. “Don't please think about what my mother said ,she has a habit of creating a drama ”“ Priya uttered to them while Arya replied “ She herself is a drama , but it's okay.”

The four ladies were almost done cooking when Rudra  made a sudden entry making them all gasp . “ Grow up Rudra ” Arya hit him on his arm who wrapped his arm over Akshara's shoulder.

Rudra patted Akshara's head and said to Arya” your son has been bugging your husband.”“ “ Are they back , oh no , girls I should go otherwise Adwait will shake the whole home with his wailing ” Arya exited the door.

“ Akshu baby , give me your contact number I'll add you in the family what's app  group called
' Rocky Babies ' ”  Rudra said.
“ Rudra who the hell in the world keeps a name as such ” Priya couldn't just keep quiet .

He chuckled. “ Rudra , I'm afraid you're asking someone who don't even know what it is ”“ Athira said keeping the bowls in a tray.

“ What ” Rudra and Priya said in together and looked at Akshara who offered a smile to them.

“ Facebook , Instagram, Twitter , LinkedIn, Blog , Tinder……” 
“ Rudra she don't have any social media accounts ” Athira replied and both the cousins stood shocked.
“ How's life Akshu baby, without these ” Rudra asked Unbelievably.

“ Life's good bhaiya ” Akshara replied.

Breakfast was served and everyone settled down to have food leaving all the girls serve.

Akshara stood behind Arjun and Arjun had a small smile on his lips seeing his wife serving him food. Have he ever thought of it? No he didn't.

Everyone almost was done suddenly Rudra stood up gasping and shouting “ oh my oh my, I no longer is the youngest Malhotra.“
“ Why ? Are you planning to die this soon?” Dev hit Rudra and asked.
“ What happened Rudy?, you almost scared Adwait ” Jagan said making the little boy hug his father.

“ I'm sorry , it was not my intention. I was just honouring Akshu baby the youngest Malhotra Award .” Rudra uttered and hugged Akshara.

Everyone looked at them. “ Rudy , she's elder to you and should be respected. Call her choti bhabhi ” Dharani Bua said. “ No Bua, she's the youngest Malhotra until an infant will be born. Ajju bhai and Dev bhai ,no pressure on you guys , I'm not that eager to welcome any infant soon after this cranky baby of Jaggu bhai”  Rudra's words made Dev, Arjun and Athira blush and Arya anger . Jagan and the Malhotra elders laughed.
Akshara stood gaping as the entire attention was on her.

“ She's elder to you beta” Bua said again and Rudra took off his hands around Akshara and sat again in his seat and announced “ No Bua, she's just 23 and the youngest in the family , so I'm elder to her ” his words received gasping from his own Bua.

Arjun looked at his wife first and then at his mother. He was never informed the age. She's somewhat 5 or 6 years younger to him. Now her hesitations and nervousness made sense to him. But he thought the wrong way, he thought she was forced to marry him and that made his smile go off.

“ Maa , you didn't tell me her age.” Arjun said whilst taking a seat on the bed of his parents room. Mrs Laxmi Malhotra peered at him and uttered  “ What's with an age? Moreover if I had rejected her then she'd have been someone else's wife by now.” Arjun kind of didn't like that his mother thought of Akshara as someone's wife , it hurt him.

“ But Maa……”  Mrs Laxmi cut off Arjun saying
“ Ajju beta,  you can even ask her , she had herself accepted without any objections.”  He could only nod at this.

Akshara contemplated on packing bags , the question that bugged her since the announcement of her going home made her heart beat too fast.

“ Akshara”  Arjun called out to gain her attention since she's in her own land. She looked at him with a questioning gaze. “  If you are ready we can depart now.” She shook her head again and walked to the door.

“ Akshara , your phone” Arjun passed her phone to her. Taking it in her hands ,she uttered “ Can you keep it with you , I'll take it from you at home.”

Taking it back Arjun put it in his pocket along with his.
Reaching downstairs both of them stood awkwardly. A little later Athira and Dev joined them as well. They set off to Varma Mansion aka Akshara and Athira's home.

Signing off
Ashwani