"Randhir, my brother, I bring good tidings! A courier just brought in a dispatch from Anokhi, you are to be blessed with a baby before the onset of the next spring!" Parth gave his brother a hug to congratulate him. Randhir's face glowed with happiness to hear the news. "Bhaisa, how is she? Is she keeping good health? Has Bhabhi sa written about her? " Randhir asked. "She is well, there is a little morning sickness but Anohki is making sure she eats healthy and takes adequate rest." Parth smiled reassuringly. "Bhaisa, please do not send news of this wedding, Sanyukta will be upset. And I do not want her stressed at such a time, I will tell her about it personally!" Randhir wanted to break the news to his pregnant wife as gently as possible.

"If you don't mind Bhaisa, I would like to meet Sanyukta. Please accompany Bapusa, Badi Bhabhisa, the baby and Ratnavali on the journey home. If possible I will arrange to bring along Chhoti Bhabhisa and Sanyukta if she is upto the journey." Randhir's request reflected his strong desire to meet his beloved and Parth could relate to how he felt. He had himself become a father recently, holding the baby in his arms was bliss indeed. "Let us have a word with Bapusa to see if he agrees with the plan." Parth and Randhir consulted their father who seemed unsure. "Randhir, we are taking the doli of Ratnavali home with us, how can you take a detour?." Harsh Shekhawat voiced his doubt.

"But father, Randhir just learnt that he is going to be a father. I think you should let him go. He can accompany Anokhi and Sanyukta home together. Let me have a word with Vidushi about it, then we can finalise our travel plans." Parth sounded reasonable and his father agreed to let him decide. Randhir's heart leapt at the prospect of meeting Sanyukta who was now carrying his child in her womb. The thought of telling her about his marriage to Ratnavali made him uneasy but he hoped to reason with her as soon as he got the opportunity. Meanwhile Parth went to Vidushi to discuss the travel plans. "It is an important moment for him, Vidushi! I think he should meet her!" Parth said softly. "He has just married my sister, is she not important?" Vidushi asked stubbornly. 

"In that case let Ratnavali accompany Randhir on his journey. That way the three brides can arrive together! For added security we can request Samsher Singh to join Randhir." Parth tried to offer a solution to the impasse, and Harsh consented immediately saying it would provide the new brides an opportunity to bond with each other. Although Randhir did not like the idea of taking Ratna along to meet Sanyukta, he said nothing, he did not want matters and tempers to escalate. Finally Vidushi and her parents were left with little choice. In any case, Ratnavali was now Randhir's wife and a Shekhawat herself. When the bride got wind of the change in plans she was visibly excited. "Ratna, behave yourself! Do you know he is taking you to meet your souten? Contain your excitement!" Vidushi chastised her. 

"Sorry Jiji, but you know I have never travelled so far before!" Ratna explained, unable to see what was objectionable in going to meet her co-wife, they would have to live under the same roof eventually. Their mother had other reasons to have a word with her before the bidaai. "Laadli, would you not cry even a bit, now that you are leaving your natal home behind to join your in-laws?" The mother asked the little child bride, who, after her nervousness had waned, was happy to play her "Princess for a day" role. "Majee sa, I will miss you, but I will be right next to Jiji and she is sure to look out for me. Plus Kunwarji sa is a great guy, I have always liked him. I am certain he will care for me well!" She replied. 

"Ratna, there are a few things you should observe very meticulously while assuming the role of a daughter-in-law of your new household. Always trust your Jiji, she may be your only friend there. Always keep purdah, it is the mark of a well brought up Rajput noblewoman. Show respect for those who you owe it to and always uphold the honour of your natal family, people will judge you based on your behaviour and attitude. Be loyal to your husband and be concerned about his family's well being. Stay within your maryaada, and ask Jiji for advice if you are unsure about anything. Also Laadli, you must know a few things about the personal relation between a man and his wife..." Her mother hesitated. 

"Please Majee sa, this is getting awkward, please stop! Jiji can advice me about any wifely matters when I am old enough!" Ratna put an end to the inept conversation. The family were served a farewell meal and the overseers got busy with the packing and loading of goods for the journey. The bidaai rituals were carried out as per tradition, and a coconut was broken symbolically as the Shekhawat family were seen off in style. This was an emotional moment for the women. Vidushi and Ratna hugged their mother tightly. Vidushi promised her parents that she would look after Ratna. Soon Randhir and Parth bid their in-laws farewell before going their separate ways. 

Harsh and Parth were accompanied by a team of guards and several carts carrying goods and provisin. In a centrally placed cart rode Vidushi with her baby and a couple of handmaids at her service. Randhir's team was much smaller, there were only a few carts for their luggage. The haveli guards accompanied them till the edge of the town before saying goodbye to them and wishing them luck for the journey. Randhir rode alongside Ratna's cart, struck by the irony of how just a few days ago he rode next to a cart that housed Sanyukta. 

Just then a head stuck out of the screen covering the cart. Randhir was surprised to see that Ratnavali had changed into a simple cotton kanchali kurti, a peasant outfit and had removed most of her jewellery, except for her obligatory ivory chooda and rakhdi in her hair parting, having handed her finery to her maid for safekeeping. "May I ride along on my own horse?" She asked Randhir earnestly. "Absolutely not!" He replied firmly and Ratna went back to her place in the cart, sulking until the time they had to pitch tents to stop for the night.