Imperfectly yours

Yashvi looked at the room in front of her as she gently sat on the sofa placed there. Taking a glass and filling it with water, she drank it in large sips. "So unnecessarily large." she commented in a low voice, looking at the mahogany table in front of her. As footsteps reached her ears, she straightened her back and nervously bit her lip, placing the glass back on the table. "Yashvi, do you need to change?" she heard her husband's voice, anger welling up inside her. She nodded, keeping her head down as he went to an attached door and opened it. "Bathroom and closet are attached, and your clothes and other necessities have already been placed. My mother will inform you about them tomorrow." Advik said, glancing at his watch on the dressing table and then grabbing her used glass, drinking the remaining water. "I will change and come." she mumbled and stood up, but her leg twisted, and she would have fallen if her husband hadn't quickly grabbed her arms, steadying her. "Be careful." he scolded her in a soft voice, then released her hand. "Thank you." she whispered with a heavy heart and gently held her skirt, walking towards the closet. Advik kept watching her retreating figure and sensed that something was amiss. Their marriage had been arranged swiftly, and he hadn't had enough time to get to know her. Their mothers were friends, and that's how he ended up marrying her. She was beautiful, confident, and respectful towards his family, which was enough to make him like her. Standing in front of the mirror, Yashvi splashed water on her face repeatedly and then looked at her nuptial chain and vermillion between her hair partitions. She was married. The realization hit her, and tears started streaming down her face. She despised marriage, relationships, and now she found herself married to a man who belonged to a large family. How could someone like her, raised by a single mother with virtually no extended family, with a lack of faith in men, be expected to adjust to a big joint family and her husband? Wiping away the tears with the back of her hand, she inhaled a deep breath and grabbed the white towel hanging nearby. Drying the water droplets from her face, she left the washroom and walked into the closet. Changing her clothes, she retrieved her makeup kit and began her nighttime skincare routine. After walking outside, she noticed her husband sitting by the bedside, a book in his hand, with reading glasses perched on his nose. Sensing a human presence nearby, Advik glanced up from his book and spotted her sitting on the opposite side of the bed, engrossed in her mobile phone. Nervousness tingled her skin as she felt him setting the book and glasses aside, rising to his feet. Though her attention was fixed on his footsteps, she managed to keep her eyes on her phone, replying to the congratulations coming from friends and colleagues. Once she finished, she gently set her phone aside and gracefully reached up, her slender fingers deftly gathering the strands of her lustrous black hair. With practiced precision, she twisted and twirled the tresses, elegantly securing them in a neat bun. From her wrist, she retrieved a black hair tie and expertly fastened it in place. As she prepared to lie down, a tantalizing aroma suddenly enveloped the air, captivating her senses. Her husband had thoughtfully placed a ceramic tray before her, sitting across from her. The tray showcased a traditional Indian dinner, a feast for the senses. Fragrant basmati rice, perfectly cooked, beckoned from one corner, while round flatbreads adorned another. A velvety spinach curry, vibrant with its deep green hue, nestled in one section, while a comforting lentil soup, rich with flavor, resided in another. The final section housed a medley of vegetables, lovingly cooked with an assortment of aromatic Indian spices. To complete the spread, a bowl of cool and creamy raita, made with yogurt and mixed with refreshing herbs and spices, sat invitingly alongside the other dishes. As she gazed at the enticing spread before her, a realization struck. It dawned upon her that the last time she had eaten was during the evening tea she had on her way back from the wedding venue. The hunger that had been momentarily forgotten amidst the tension of the first night now made itself known, reminding her of her need for nourishment. "You must be hungry. The last meal we had was at the roadside cafe. It was a tiring day all along," she heard his soothing voice as she glanced up at him, acknowledging his words with a small smile and a nod. Serving themselves the delicacy that awaited them, they found solace in the quietude that enveloped the space. The aroma of the food mingled with their anticipation, creating a moment of shared contentment and nourishment. As they stood on the threshold of their new journey, a mixture of trepidation and excitement coursed through their veins. The path ahead was brimming with untold possibilities and unforeseen twists, inviting them to embark on an adventure that would test their mettle. While they had yet to fully grasp the magnitude of the adventures that lay ahead—the friendships to be forged, the challenges to be overcome, and the lessons to be learned—they knew one thing for certain. Together, armed with love, trust, respect, companionship, and loyalty, they would weather any storm, conquer any obstacle, and ultimately triumph on this journey of life.