"It's for Ava," Jarek said, his voice breaking my gaze. I quickly looked away, feeling a bit awkward, and began strolling around the room.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself wandering over to the stairs, where a collection of photos hung on the wall. I knew it wasn't exactly polite to snoop around someone's home, but I couldn't help myself.

As I gazed at the photos, one particular picture caught my eye. It showed two teenagers, a boy and a girl, riding bicycles and laughing together. I assumed it was Jarek and Ava or Anisha, and smiled at the carefree moment captured in the frame.

But then, my eyes landed on another photo.

"Who are they?" I inquired of Jarek and Ava, who had just approached me.

"They're my uncle and aunt," Jarek responded nonchalantly.

"My parents," Ava added, her voice laced with a hint of nostalgia.

I felt a sudden jolt of curiosity. "I don't know why, but I have a feeling I know them!" I exclaimed.

Ava's expression turned casual and calm. "Ooh?"

"I just want to confirm if my parents are indeed them," I declared, my eyes fixed on the photo.

Jarek raised his brows. "Why?"

"I have a gut feeling, and I just want to be sure," I explained, my mind racing with possibilities.

Ava nodded understandingly. "Okay, take a photo of the picture. Maybe it'll help you figure things out."

I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of the picture.

"Ooh!!" Vritika exclaimed, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. "Did you really know them? It means you have known bhabhi too!!" She questioned, her eyes wide with excitement.

I nodded, still trying to process the revelation. "Yeah, I think I did," I uttered, my mind racing with memories.

But Adwait was already ushering us out. "Whatever, let's go now. We have lots of time to talk," he voiced, his voice firm but gentle.

"Yeah!!" Vritika agreed, and we left the penthouse, but my mind was still stuck on that one thing - where had I seen them before? The question echoed in my head like a mantra, refusing to let go.

.................

"Finally!!" Vritika exclaimed as we exited the airport.

The cars were waiting for us, and Janav was standing beside them, a warm smile on his face.

"Bhai!" Vritika squealed, launching herself into his arms. Janav laughed and scooped her up in a tight hug, spinning her around in a circle.

"Are you coming with me?" Janav inquired, looking between Vritika and Adwait.

"A long story," I interjected, "but you'll have plenty of time to hear it."

Just then, Janav's eyes landed on Ava, who was standing behind us. His eyes widened in surprise, and he stuttered a greeting. "Ummm... hello!"

Ava smiled and waved at him. "Hii!"

Janav looked flustered, but I intervened, chuckling. "Save your energy, bro! Let them tell it to everyone at once, rather than telling everyone one by one. I'm sure everyone will have the same questions!"

Janav nodded, still looking a bit dazed, and he and Vritika piled into the car.

"Let's go!" Adwait uttered, and my driver arrived promptly. "Aren't you coming with us?" Adwait inquired, eyeing me expectantly.

"No, bro, I need some peace of mind," I retorted, hoping to escape the chaos.

But Adwait was insistent. "You're not going to leave us alone, understand?" He pulled me into his car, despite my protests.

Janav and Vritika departed in another vehicle, while I was stuck traveling with this couple. I sighed, feeling like a third wheel.

As I settled into the backseat, Adwait took the driver's seat, and Ava sat in the front passenger seat, opposite him. "It's fine if you're taking me along, but don't make me feel more single than I already do," I stated, trying to set boundaries.

Ava turned to look at me, and Adwait gave me a teasing glance in the rearview mirror. "What, I'm just saying," I surrendered, throwing my hands up in the air.

"God knows what awaits us at the Randhawa Palace," I think feeling a sense of trepidation.

Adwait and Ava burst out laughing.

"Han! Han or hasso, single admi ki haye lagegi tumhe!" I teased.

(Yes! Yes, laugh, why feel sorry for this lonely man!)

I playfully accused them, "Ek toh jabardasti mujhe apne lafre main fasa rahe ho! Upar se haso bhi..!!"

(You're forcefully pulling me into your problems! And on top of that, laughing at me too..!!)

Adwait chuckled and asked, "Okh! But ab karenge kya?"

(Okh! But what are we gonna do now!!)

Ava and I looked at him in horror, and I exclaimed, "Did you have no idea what we're gonna do now? Literally!"

Adwait shrugged and said, "Yeah, I mean, I didn't think that much. I don't know... what are we gonna..."

"Are you drunk?" I asked Adwait, eyeing him suspiciously.

"No!!" he protested.

"Ahh, I mean, I know we have to tell them, but..." he trailed off, looking uncertain.

"But??" Ava prompted, curiosity etched on her face.

"Nothing!" he said gruffly and refocused on the road.

Ava turned to me, raising an eyebrow in inquiry, but I evaded her gaze, looking around awkwardly.

With a sigh, she returned to her original position, seeming to accept that we weren't going to divulge any further information.

However, I sensed a lingering doubt in Adwait's mind, and I suspected Ava noticed it too. The tension was palpable, and I wondered when we would finally address the elephant in the room.

"This is going to be a surprise for the whole family, and I can only imagine how they'll react. It's going to be a hassle!" I thought to myself. "Only God knows what's going to happen next. Oh, God, save us!" I prayed internally.

And in the midst of all this chaos, I was pulled in too. Before I knew it, we arrived at the palace. "Let's go!" Adwait exclaimed as we exited the car.

"Oh, God, just save me today!!" I prayed internally. "I'll pray daily if you just get me through this!"

I took a deep breath and followed Adwait and Ava into the palace, wondering what lay ahead. The uncertainty was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What would happen next? Only time would tell.

As we entered the palace, Janav and Vritika were already standing inside. We formed a procession of sorts, with Janav and Vritika leading the way, followed by me, then Adwait, and finally the lady of the house bringing up the rear.

"Badi maa!!" Vritika exclaimed, rushing to hug her aunt tightly.

"Ohh!! Mera baccha aagaya!!"

(Ohh! My child has come!)

Vritika continued, "Dekho na badi maa! Bhai jabardasti mere ko utha laye!!"

(Look, badi maa! Brother forcefully brought me back!)

Adwait ignored her playful ranting, and Aunty asked, "Tumlog sab sath main wapas aaye? Gaye toh alag alag gaye the!!"

(Did you all come back together? But you had left for different places!)

"Yeah, badi maa! We came together!" Vritika replied,

Aunty nodded, "Okh!"

Vritika tried to signal to Kaki, but she didn't seem to understand. Vritika elbowed her again, and Kaki raised her eyebrows in question.

We were all standing in the hall now, with Ava (or bhabhi) standing behind me and Adwait.

Chachi and chachu entered the hall, followed by Uncle. "You all came back?" they asked in unison.

Adwait replied casually, "Yeah!!" without even acknowledging the fact that he had brought his wife.

Vritika was still trying to communicate with Kaki, but she seemed puzzled. I could sense Vritika's frustration, wanting to say something but unable to do so because of Adwait.

I decided to intervene and gave voice to Vritika's unspoken words: "She's saying we have a new person!!"

I stepped aside, making sure to give the family a clear view of the lady standing behind us. The atmosphere was tense, and I could sense the unspoken questions hanging in the air.

Everyone's jaws dropped, and their mouths hung open in shock. The hall fell silent, with even the workers stopping their tasks to gaze at the new lady of the house. The silence was palpable, so much so that you could hear a pin drop.

Aunty broke the silence, her voice firm, "How did you enter this house?" Everyone's eyes turned to her, awaiting an answer.

Chachi chimed in, "Yes, how did you step inside?" The silence grew thicker, like a heavy fog.

Adwait attempted to explain, "Well, actually—" but Aunty cut him off.

"Go back!" she commanded.

Adwait tried to reason, "But Maa, listen to us—" only to be interrupted again.

"No buts! Just go back!" Aunty insisted.

Adwait stood firm, "No, she will not go anywhere!"

The argument escalated, with Uncle siding with Aunty, "No, your mom is right; she needs to take her steps back!"

"But why, dad? You agreed and you asked me to!" Adwait protested.

"I know that! But now your mom is right!" Uncle replied, his voice firm.

I was thinking, "What the hell is happening? Did they find out something? Oh my god, save us! Save them!"

Before anyone could say more, Aunty marched towards Bhabhi, grabbed her elbow, and started pulling her out of the palace. Adwait tried to intervene, holding Aunty's hand.

"What are you doing, Maa?" he asked, confusion etched on his face.

Aunty retorted, "And you, too, get out!"

Just then, Chachi appeared with an arti plate, and Aunty explained, "When the daughter-in-law comes home for the first time, we welcome her with an aarti..."

All of us released the breath we were holding, realizing the sudden drama was just a misunderstanding. The tension dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief and curiosity about the upcoming welcoming ritual.

Aunty scolded Adwait, "Or tu pehle nahi bata sakta tha? Meri Bahu ko lane gaya hai! Main sari tayari kar ke rakhti..huh!!"  while twisting his ears. Everyone chuckled at the playful scolding.

(And you can't inform us that you are going to take our daughter-in-law back. I would have been prepared...huh!!)

Adwait defended himself, "I just wanted to surprise you all!"

Aunty retorted sarcastically, "Bada aaya surprise Dene wala"

(What an amazing surprise!).

Adwait pleaded, "Aacha ab aarti utaro or andar toh aane do!!" while saving his ears from his mother's teasing.

(Well, do the aarti now and let us enter!!)

Aunty lovingly scolded, "Chal! Ja tu bhi kya yaad rakhega! Tujhe maaf Kiya!!"

(Go! What you will remember? I forgive you).

Then, Aunty performed the aarti and asked Bhabhi to cover her head with the white dupatta she was wearing with her red anarkali.

Bhabhi followed Aunty's instructions and covered her head with the dupatta. Aunty then applied a tilak on their foreheads and performed the aarti. Chachi joined in with another plate, this time with dried red chillies.

I tried to sound disapproving, "Chachi, ye mirchiyan bhabhi ko khilaugi!! Woh yahan thori rehti hai! Videshi log itti mirchi nahi kha payenge!! Rasam toh adhuri reh jayegi.."

(Aunty, she's a foreigner and won't be able to eat these chilli peppers!! Alas, she won't be able to complete the ritual...).

Vritika joined in the teasing, "Yeah! Yeah! Maa, she won't be able to eat so many chillies, and that in one go, impossible..".

Just then, Uncle asked, "Foreigner, what's that supposed to mean?"

Oh no, I thought, I've put my foot in my mouth! Adwait will kill me! He still hasn't told them...

Bhabhi explains, "My father was Indian, but my mother is from Italy. And I lived with my uncle and aunt after the death of my parents.."

Everyone's eyes widen in surprise, and some even show sympathy. But Bhabhi quickly proves she doesn't need it!

Ariv tries to lighten the mood, "Yeah!! For the first time in history, I can agree with you, Vritu!!"

"Ab itni bhi foreigner nahi hun ki ye samajh na aaye ki tumlog mazak kar rahe ho!!" Bhabhi retorts,  "I know that these chillies are used to scare evil eyes off!!"

(Now I am not such a foreigner that I cannot understand that you guys are joking!!)

We're all taken aback by her quick wit!

I tease, "And what is the percentage you didn't Google it?"

She confidently replies, "100.."

Aunty intervenes, "Bas bas ab bahut hua mazak! Or bhi rasmein baaki hai!! Aur tum teeno band karo meri Bahu ko satana"

(That's enough joking! There are more rituals left!! And you three stop harassing my daughter-in-law).

Adwait teases, "Yeah! Mom look at them!! Five-year-old kids!!"

I continue the teasing, "Wahh!! Wahh!! Joru k gulam!!"

Woah!! Woah!! Wife's slave)

Adwait grumbles, "Maine Aisa kya kiya? Or kiya bhi toh tujhe kya? Huh!!"

(What did I do? And even if I did, so how did it affect you? Hmm!!)

Chachi intervenes, "Okh! End it now and let me complete the rituals!!"

Aunty performs the nazar, then places an urn filled with rice in front of Bhabhi and instructs her to kick it gently with her right leg. Bhabhi follows the instructions.

Next, Aunty tells Bhabhi to place her legs in the plate filled with alta and enter the house on the white cloth.

She does so, with Adwait by her side, marking their entry into their new life together.