When Ragini woke up in next morning, it was to the sight of her new room. 

Sanskar, her husband, was still asleep on his side of the bed lying on his stomach. It felt odd to refer to this man as her husband. He sure as hell didn't see himself as one. 

They were just strangers; strangers forced to stay together in a relationship that should have been sacred–a relationship based on trust and love. Neither of which they had or would ever have.

It was still early, barely 6:30 in the morning, but she knew that morning aarti/prayers were likely to be the norm in the house, just like at her house. 

When it came down to it, she didn't want to create a bad impression in front of her in-laws. It wasn't out of any desire for her own sake, but it had everything to do with how her behaviour would reflect on her family–on her mother.

Nothing in the room felt welcome even though the room was supposed to be hers too. She stared at her bags that were still lying by the wardrobe. Wanting to create some space for herself, she decided to set-up her clothes in the wardrobe, only to realise that it was still filled with his clothes. There was no space for her things. 

After their interaction yesterday, she didn't want to create any ruckus just then. She decided to bring it up with him at a later time. 

Even if they would remain strangers, there was no reason not to keep this civil.

She quickly bathed and changed into a saree, not the easiest task for her–not being used to wearing one. By the time she stepped out, she saw that he had woken up and much like the night before, he swiftly went to the washroom without a word to her. Not that she minded it. 

She quickly got ready, but by the end of it she could hear the gentle bells ringing in the temple. She rushed downstairs finding only her mother-in-law Sujata and Sujata's elder sister-in-law, Annapurna, there. She touched their feet.

"Sorry I am late, aunty," she said, almost as she had been addressing them thus far.

"We didn't say anything before this, but now that you are married, you shouldn't be calling us aunty," Annapurna told her gently. Seeing Ragini's questioning look, she added, "Sanskar calls me Badi Maa or Maa and calls Sujata Mom. You can call us the same way." 

Ragini nodded

"Ragini, where is your sindoor (vermillion)?" Sujata asked her as Ragini bent down to take her blessings

Ragini's eyes widened in surprise and she touched her head, to check. "I was rushing downstairs after hearing the temple bells. I didnt realise I hadnt put it on. I am really sorry." She looked at the temple, seeing a small box filled with sindoor/vermillion, she went to the temple. "I will put it on just now."

"How could you forget something so important?" Sujata asked her, a bit firmly for her comfort.

"It is all new to her still Sujata. She will remember from tomorrow," Annapurna said kindly

"I am really sorry Mom. I will remember. I promise," Ragini assured her

As Ragini was about to put the sindoor, Annapurna called out, "Sanskar!"

Ragini saw Sanskar walking down the stairs. He walked towards them

"Yes Maa?" He asked warmly. 

After the display that she had seen yesterday, she had taken him to be perpetually angry man. He had been quiet during all of their wedding functions, from what she knew. Not that she had spoken much during that period. But this was a pleasant change from his behaviour so far.

"Put the sindoor in Ragini's maang (forehead hair parting). She forgot to, today," Annapurna told him

"I will put it myself Badi Maa," Ragini assured her

"Go ahead Sanskar," Annapurna told him again

"No need Badi Maa," Ragini countered again but by then Sanskar angrily snatched the box from her hand and swiftly put the sindoor on her forehead. 

He looked quite cross. He moved forward, making Ragini take a few steps back, as he put the box back in its place near the temple.

He touched the feet of Annapurna and then his own mother.

Annapurna spoke with a teasing smile, "Sujata do you know what it means when some of the sindoor falls on the nose will putting it on the forehead." She gently touched Ragini's nose wiping the sindoor off, but not before showing her finger to everyone.

"What jiji (elder sister)?" Sujata asked Annapurna, with a twinkle in her own eye

"It means that the husband really loves his wife very much," Annapurna added with a giggle

Ragini's eyes widened even as she saw Sanskar clench his fists and his jaw. "Mom, I am hungry. Can I get some breakfast?" he asked firmly before walking away towards the dining table.

Annapurna and Sujata giggled before walking towards the kitchen, Ragini following them.

"What can I help with?" she asked

"Don't worry about anything today. Just relax. We will do the rasoi rasam (post marriage cooking ritual) tomorrow. Once that is done, you and Parineeta can take over the kitchen duties and we can relax. Right, Sujata?"

"Of course jiji. There has to be some benefit of being the mother-in-law"

They went leaving Ragini to stand there–awkward and unsure about where to go. Sanskar seemed to be sitting at the dining table in his own off mood and she didnt want to encounter that this early in the day.

About half an hour later, everyone had gathered for breakfast.

"I spoke with Deendayalji a few minutes back. They are expecting us for the pag-phera* rasam/ritual in a couple of hour's time," Durga Prasad said.

Durga Prasad was the head of the Maheshwari family. He along with his young brother Ram Prasad were big names in the construction business world and for those who were in the know-how of the reality, also big names in the underworld, more preciously land mafia dealings. 

For years, there had been rivalry, between the Maheshwaris and the Gadodias, on both sides of the worlds. 

Ragini, while not complete unaware of the reality of her family and their background, had been kept away from it. But when some dealings did happen at the house, it was impossible not to feel wary and apprehensive about the world, despite being so closely linked to it, through the family. 

Women, in this world, needed to be resilient, especially more so if the husband was an active part of the world. Power struggles and vicious enmity were trademarks of the world.

Her first introduction to the Maheshwaries had been during the wedding functions. 

Had an outsider ventured into the functions, it would have been difficult for them to gauge whether it was any different from a normal business wedding, albeit with some added security. 

Her first impression of the family had been that they had been warm towards her. Yes, Durga Prasad was more restricted and reserved person, not quite unlike how her dadaji/grandfather, Deendayal Gadodia, was with those that weren't family, but other than that, they had all been nice to her. At least the ones she had had to interact with.

Durga Prasad's eldest son Adarsh had joined his father's footsteps and joined both worlds. Ragini guessed that he would be the heir to the business, much like her elder brother Ranveer was for theirs. 

Adarsh's wife Parineeta seemed nice to her. She hoped she would turn out like her sister-in-law, Aditi, but only time would reveal that.

Sanskar had a younger sister Uttara who had been friendly with her. She was aware of there being another brother, the youngest son of Durga Prasad, Laksh. His name had been mentioned by her brother on few occasions as he explained the family structure to her, but she had never met him.

As the entire family sat together for breakfast, he was missing from the table.

"Where is Laksh?" Durga Prasad's voice boomed across the table

"He is not up yet. He was out last night" Annapurna said tentatively

"Was he out with that boy again?" he asked

Annapurna gave him a helpless look.

"This boy...." Durga Prasad began

"Not now ji" Annapurna pleaded with him.

There was look that seemed to be flowing across the elders on the table as well as Adarsh; a look that she couldn't quite discern. 

But one thing was clear. There was more that was going on here than just late night boys parties. 

She wondered if they had been guarded because of her presence. She had after all been new to the family and the bonds of rivalry while muted–with the newly formed relation and truce–would probably take some time to calm down.

She decided not to think much about it just then. 

She had bigger problems to think about, like how Sanskar would react during the pag-phere* rasam when he was around her family. The last thing she wanted was for them to get a sense of the declaration made by him.

She hoped and prayed that the rasam would go well.

*Pag-phera/Pag-phere rasam: Post wedding ritual which involves the newly wed couple visiting the bride's family.

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