Ignored and unseen. 

Once he was done with his shower, he walked out of the room fully dressed for the day, and I was still sitting. Not knowing what to do next. He left me all alone in the room once again. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I will never cry. I will be strong. 

If I get weak, who will look after my little sister? 

I took a deep breath and got down from the bed. My lehenga and jewellery were so heavy. Only good knows how I managed to walk to the bathroom with my stiff legs. It was already morning, and I knew I was late on my very first day of marriage. I took a quick shower and dressed in a soft pink saree. It had heavy zari, and I hated it. I love sarees, but heavy sarees are not my thing, but I have to wear them as a new bride. I did a little makeup, which I knew would only include kohl in my eyes and pink lip balm. Then, I wore some of my jewellery, including my nuptial chain, before going down. My hair is still wet from the shower. I went down to find that everyone was already present at the table except my little sister and her husband. I don't know where they are. My husband was sitting at the head of the table. His straight back was visible from where I was standing. His mother was beside him, and Dadi Ma was on the other end of the table, and beside her sat his uncle and aunt with their twelve-year-old son, Surayanch. It seemed like all the guests had left the house last night. No one was in the house except the family.

“Didi,” I heard my sister's timid voice behind me. She got down from the stairs with her slightly dishevelled saree and pallu. (Sister) 

“Hamen der hogae ky,” she asked with a scared look on her face. (Am I late)

“Tum pahale saans lo,” I said then. I corrected her saree and pallu. She is not used to it, nor am I, but it's our first day in the household. 

“Chote Thakur kha hain?” I asked her because he was not at the table and she came alone. Her brows furrowed, and then she moved her head in no. I exhaled deeply. So he also didn't show up in the room last night. 

“Didi humai bhook lagi hain,” she said with a pout. My little sister is a foodie. Anyone could tell that by looking at her chubby cheeks. I chuckled. She is cute and adorable. She is still a child forced into this marriage. 

“Chalo sab ko pranam karte hain pahele,” I said softly, and she nodded her head. 

“Didi, will these people accept us?” she asked doubtfully while holding my hand like she does whenever we walk together. Even I was doubtful about it. Our husbands have not accepted us. 

How will their family accept us? 

“Yes, of course they will,” I said with a smile. I don't want to scare her with the thoughts in my head. I know they hate us. They also see us as the daughter of a murderer. I took a deep breath to calm my scared heart. 

“See, they are here.” His chachi was the first one to notice us. I felt his eyes on me for mere seconds before he stuffed it back on his plate. 

“Please forgive us for being late,” I apologised while looking down at my hands. It didn't look good that the new brides were late in the morning. It was not our fault that we were late. No one woke us up but we can't argue. I was ready for a scolding from his grandma or mother. Verbal abuse is very common in traditional houses and especially even more when they hate you. 

“Don't worry, it's your first day.” His chachi said with a warm smile on her face. My eyes widened slightly in surprise. I blinked, immediately and smiled back at her, and we touched the elder's feet to take their blessing. We touched the feet of the women of the house, but his uncle stopped us, saying they don't let Laxmi touch their feet. His grandma had patted our heads with a stern blessing to be married for life. I had expected the same kind of treatment from his mother, but she surprised me when she moved her hand lovingly on our heads. She gave the same blessing but with a smile. 

“Both of you sit and have breakfast with us,” his mother said, surprising me again. I was expecting her to ask us to make breakfast and then serve it. It was expected, but she was asking us to eat with them. Urmila immediately nodded her head because she was hungry. I slowly nodded my head. Only three seats beside him were empty. I decided to sit one chair away from him. 

“Chandrika, apne pati ke baju mai bato.” His chachi said with a smile. (Chandrika sit beside your husband)

“You are his wife now. Your place is beside him,” she said further. I gave her a small nod and sat beside him. Urmila sat beside me a little nervously. I didn't take much on my plate. I had no appetite, but Urmila, being Urmila, was enjoying her food. 

“Maaji, yeah, halwa puri tho bhot acha bana hain,” she said with a smile, and I closed my eyes. It was too late for her to realise it. She bit on her lower lip to speak her mind as if she were talking to our mother. There were a few seconds of silence before everyone burst out laughing except him. Not only hers, but also my cheeks turned red. (Mother-in-law, this Halwa puri is very tasty)

“Your mother told me you both like halwa puri, and that's why I made it for you. Eat as much as you want,” his mother said with a smile. I nodded with a small smile. They were treating us well, but I couldn't help but feel nervous. Maybe not because of them but because of the man who was sitting beside me. His presence was very evident and even if I wanted to, I couldn't ignore it. His scent lingered in the air making it hard to swallow my food. 

“Badi bhau, tum ky nahi kha rahi ho?” Grandma asked in her strict voice when she noticed I had barely eaten anything. Once again I felt his eyes on me, but they were gone as soon as they came. (Chandrika why are you not eating)

“Khaa rehe hain dadi ma,” I said softly and started to eat with lowered eyes. I eat a small morsel. (I am eating grandma)

“Raghuveer, ky jaldi aan padi thi Viraj ko ki vo appni shadi ki raat hi chala gaya vapas Shahar?” Dadi ma asked with a disapproving tone in her words. (Raghuveer what emergency did Viray have that he had to leave on his wedding night)

“Dadi, usaki London ki flight thi subha ki. Usakee exams shuroo ho rahe hain,” he told her in his heavy voice, which made me hold my breath and curl my left-hand fingers on my saree. (Grandma, he had a flight to London in the morning. His exams are starting)

“Shuru hone wale hain. Shuru tho nahi huai hain,” Grandma said, using the same stern tone. She was not happy with Chote Thakur's departure. (It's going to start. It's not started yet)

“He just got married, and the first thing he does is run back to his college. Does he ever have time to give to his family rather than his books?” Grandma said. Clearly not happy. It was all over her face. She looked like the woman who likes to follow tradition. 

“He is studying business over there, and his studies are important. He was here on short notice, so he had to leave,” Raghuveer said in the same tone, but it was low. Respectful of his elder. Saying that he stood up. 

“Tu kha jaa raha hain,” Grandma asked him. He walked to her and then touched her feet. She blessed him. 

“Office,” he told her while getting up. Her brows furrowed when he said that. 

“It's your first day of marriage, and you are already going to the office. Both the brothers are the same,” she said, sounding even more displeased. 

“Son, so many rituals are still left to do,” his mother said, trying to stop him. 

“Jitane bhi rasmen hue kaafi hain,” he said in a firm tone, and for a second I felt his gaze on me. My body became stiff. His mother sighed as if she knew arguing with him would be of no use. 

“Acha, Beta, Ghar jaldi aana. Aaj bahoo ki pehli rasoi hai,” his mother told him before he could walk away. (Come home early. Today new brides are going to make dinner)

“Hum sham ko factory jane wale hain, ma. Don’t wait for me,” he said firmly and then walked away without sparing me a glance. I once again let go of the breath I was holding without realising it. Both brothers were not even a bit happy with this marriage, and they didn't shy away from telling us. (I am going to the factory in the evening)

Their every action showed how unwanted we were here. 

A/N
This story will have only 20 or 25 chapters. It's a short story.

It's my first time writing a desi mature story for first time so show me some love.

The next two chapters are available on stck.me for free.

It will be updated every day on stack.me and twice a week on wattpad. 

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