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After all the rituals were completed, Raha and Siddharth arrived at his house. Their car came to a stop at the gate. Siddharth's frustration was evident, and he had reached a point where he no longer wanted to be in Raha's presence. In a moment of decision, he opened the car door and abruptly left, disappearing into the distance, leaving Raha all alone.
Raha, in the wake of Siddharth's sudden departure, cautiously opened the car door and began to take hesitant steps forward. The mansion loomed large before her, and she was disoriented, uncertain of where to go in the vast estate.
As Raha stood there, she suddenly heard the sound of another car approaching. She turned to see her mother-in-law, Avantika, and her father-in-law, Yash, stepping out of the vehicle. Their arrival was unexpected, and they found Raha alone.
Avantika, with a concerned expression, approached Raha and inquired, "Where is Siddharth?"
Raha, feeling a surge of nervousness and confusion, contemplated her response. After gathering some courage, she finally spoke, "He... he had som.e ur.gent matters to atte.nd to, so he left for that."
Avantika, perceptive and aware of Siddharth's intentions, could see through the situation. She understood that Siddharth had intentionally left Raha alone, and her concern deepened.
Yash addressed Raha, saying, "You must be tired, Raha. Take some rest, and Siddharth will be back."
Following Yash's words, Avantika spoke gently, "Yes, come with me. I will show you to your room."
Yash proceeded to his own room, while Avantika guided Raha to Siddharth's room. Upon entering, Raha couldn't help but be awestruck by the room's sheer size and its exquisite beauty. The ambiance was captivating, leaving a lasting impression on her.
Avantika, noticing Raha's discomfort in her heavy lehenga, kindly suggested, "Change into something more comfortable. This lehenga seems quite heavy."
Raha nodded and replied, "Y..yes," as she contemplated the idea of changing into something lighter and more relaxed.
After Avantika left the room, Raha retrieved some comfortable clothes from her bag and changed into them. She then settled on Siddharth's luxurious king-size bed, her thoughts filled with a mix of uncertainty and anticipation.
Despite knowing Siddharth's apparent disdain for her, Raha found herself waiting for him. She couldn't quite comprehend this internal conflict and why she was still waiting for a man who seemed to resent her.
Time passed slowly, and yet Siddharth did not make an appearance. As hours went by, exhaustion overwhelmed Raha, and she eventually succumbed to sleep, still perched on the bed in Siddharth's room.
While Raha peacefully slumbered, the clock marked 2:45 when Siddharth finally returned to his room. His initial reaction was a surge of anger at the sight of her sleeping on his bed. But as he approached, the ire dissolved into a perplexing mix of emotions. Raha, in her slumber, looked ethereally beautiful, an unexpected sight that caught him off guard.
Uncertainty swirled within Siddharth as he considered how to wake her. Despite his disdain for her, he couldn't bring himself to disturb her rest. She appeared as delicate as a flower, and he struggled to hide his tumultuous feelings.
In a soft tone, he muttered, "Hey, wake up. This is my bed."
Raha stirred but remained in her peaceful slumber.
Growing impatient, Siddharth gently placed his hand on her shoulder and shook her, coaxing her to wake. "Wake up," he repeated.
Raha awoke, momentarily panicked, her eyes darting around until she focused on Siddharth's presence.
Siddharth, struggling to maintain his facade of indifference, finally let his irritation show. "Who gave you permission to sleep on my bed?"
Raha, at a loss for words, was unsure of how to respond.
Siddharth's tone turned colder as he continued, "Now, just leave. You're making my bed dirty by sleeping here."
Feeling hurt by his words, Raha reluctantly rose from his bed. She scanned the room for an alternative, her gaze landing on a large sofa nearby. Although it seemed enormous for her petite frame, it would have to suffice for her. She took a step towards it.
Siddharth's disdainful voice interrupted her, "Hey, don't even think about sleeping there. I don't want to see your ugly face. Just leave my room."
Raha's voice quivered as she stammered, "But... wh…ere c…an I g…o?"
Siddharth's cruelty showed no mercy as he responded, "In this vast mansion, you could sleep anywhere. You could even fit yourself in a cupboard, for all I care. Just get out of my room."
Raha took slow, cautious steps, leaving Siddharth's bedroom, all the while aware of his unwavering gaze upon her. As she ventured a little further, she discovered another bedroom, situated not too far from his own. Upon entering, she found the room to be inviting and comfortable.
There was a neatly made bed, but, influenced by Siddharth's harsh words, she chose to sleep on the spacious sofa. She couldn't shake the belief that she might truly sully the bed with her presence, given his disdain for her. So, she settled herself on the sofa, trying to make herself as comfortable as possible despite the tumultuous emotions stirred by Siddharth's actions and words.
In the early morning, Raha's habit of waking up promptly remained unchanged. She adorned herself in a beautiful dress, wearing her nuptial chain and vermilion with a regal grace that befit a queen. She was a vision of beauty and elegance, regardless of her circumstances.
As she stepped out of her room, Avantika, Siddharth's mother, noticed that Raha had come from a different room rather than Siddharth's. Her maternal instincts sensed the underlying tension and sadness in Raha's situation, and it weighed heavily on her heart.
Avantika sought out Yash,, and conveyed her observations, "Siddharth didn't allow Raha to sleep with him. She spent the night in another room."
Yash, who had also witnessed Siddharth's aloofness, commented, "Siddharth's behavior towards her is incredibly harsh."
Avantika defended her son, saying, "He may appear harsh, but I know him. He has a kind heart beneath that exterior."
Yash, considering the situation, suggested, "Perhaps we should give them some time alone."
Avantika agreed, "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. We also have some matters to attend to."
Yash made a plan, "I'll book a ticket for the afternoon. Is that acceptable?"
Avantika nodded, "Yes, that will work."
Their conversation concluded with an understanding that some time alone could potentially mend the strained relationship between Siddharth and Raha, and they had their own responsibilities to address.
As Raha descended the stairs, she made her way to the kitchen and was surprised to find the maids already busy with their tasks. She approached them with a kind and gentle demeanor, expressing her willingness to assist. The maids were taken aback by her striking beauty, and they couldn't refuse her offer.
Raha took charge of breakfast preparation, skillfully crafting a meal for everyone in the household. Her culinary skills left the maids astounded, as it was rare to see a 19-year-old cook so proficiently. Even Avantika, who wasn't proficient in the culinary arts, was surprised by Raha's culinary talents.
After a while, Avantika and Yash made their way to the kitchen, where they were taken aback to find Raha engaged in cooking.
Avantika, with a touch of concern, commented, "Raha, you don't have to do this. We have maids for that."
Raha hesitated but responded, "But I just want to help them."
Yash, appreciating Raha's initiative, chimed in, "It's alright. If she wants to, it's her house after all."
Raha, with a warm smile, insisted they take a seat, saying, "You both please sit here. I will serve you."
Avantika and Yash sat at the table as Raha served them, and they were pleasantly surprised by the delicious meal she had prepared. They couldn't help but wonder at her culinary talents, especially considering that Avantika herself was not skilled in the kitchen.
As Siddharth joined the breakfast table, his breath seemed to catch in his throat when he laid eyes on Raha. She appeared even more stunning than she had on their wedding day. Siddharth couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty, and it left him feeling conflicted. Her nuptial chain and vermilion only intensified his emotions, a mixture of happiness and resentment at how weak he felt for her.
He took his seat, his gaze lingering on Raha for a moment, and he greeted everyone with a simple "Good morning," ignoring raha.
Avantika noticed Siddharth's deliberate snub, and her heart went out to Raha. Raha, although willing to serve Siddharth, was well aware of his temperament and didn't want to provoke another confrontation. She remained in her own seat, silently enduring the situation.
Avantika, perceiving the tension, personally passed the breakfast to Siddharth. Once he was at the table, a suffocating silence descended, and the strained atmosphere persisted, leaving everyone deep in thought about the complex dynamics at play in the household.
After breakfast in the hall, Avantika initiated a conversation, "Sid, weneed to go to London now; we have a lot of pending work there."
Yash added, "Yes, we're leaving at 12:30."
Siddharth agreed, "Alright, I'll drop you."
Avantika, however, insisted, "No need. We have a car, and you should get some rest."
Siddharth nodded, accepting her suggestion.
Yash then mentioned, "And Abhay is coming."
Siddharth, frustrated,asked, "Why?"
Yash explained, "He just graduated, and you'll guide him in the business now."
Siddharth, clearly not thrilled with the prospect, rolled his eyes. He was well aware of Abhay's penchant for being mischievous and troublesome.
Avantika reached into her bag and handed a box to Raha, surprising her. Upon opening it, Raha discovered a valuable and intricate necklace that left her wide-eyed in astonishment.
Raha hesitated and said, "I can't accept this."
Avantika replied, "It's a small gift for my daughter-in-law."
Raha was overwhelmed, "But it's so expensive. How can I keep this?"
Avantika insisted, "You must. Anyway, we're leaving now. Take care of yourself."
With that, Avantika, Siddharth, and Yash left for London, leaving Raha in the grand mansion, holding the precious gift and pondering the events that had unfolded.
As soon as Avantika, and Yash departed for London, Siddharth turned to Raha with an accusatory tone and said, "Congratulations, you did this."
Raha, utterly confused by his statement, struggled to understand what he meant. Siddharth, his voice growing colder, continued, "Don't give me that innocent look of yours. I'm well aware of your ulterior motives."
Raha's confusion deepened, and she implored, "What are you talking about?"
Siddharth's tone was laced with sarcasm as he pointed at the expensive necklace, "Look at this necklace. It's so extravagant, just as you desired. Didn't you enter into this marriage solely for the money?"
Raha's eyes welled up with tears, but before she could respond, Siddharth taunted, "Aww... my little wifey is crying," raising his voice.
With a sudden, furious gesture, Siddharth snatched the necklace box from Raha's hands, his anger boiling over. He accused her, "You're nothing but a gold digger, only after my money and nothing else. You conniving woman."
Siddharth shouted these harsh words at Raha before abruptly leaving, leaving her alone and in tears. She sobbed silently, her heart aching, as she grappled with the emotional turmoil Siddharth's accusations had unleashed.
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