The way I used to live

Daksha's POV:-

I didn't know when but I drifted into sleep while leaning into his warm embrace. I woke up from my slumber after hearing the booming voice of someone. I opened my eyes to see that Arjun was throwing glares at his sister as she gave him a cheeky smile.

I gave them a confused glance and gestured Arjun with my eyes asking what happened there. He just shook his head, not revealing anything.

After that, he helped me in getting out of the car. I was immediately greeted by the beautiful sight of his house. The mansion loomed proudly behind the huge iron gates with a modern touch, flanked by the trees which were swaying gently to the cool breeze.

In the middle, there stood the delicate marble fountain, gurgling the clear water, melodic as it resonated in the surrounding silence.

"Wow!!" was the only word that left my mouth as it was truly an enthralling sight. "It is beautiful," I said to Arjun.

"Yeah. It is my dad's dream house.," he told me with a somewhat forlorn look on his face.

Understanding his feelings, I patted his shoulder in an assuring manner to which he gave me a full-blown smile, making my heart skip a beat.

Ammu immediately ushered us in. Sarada Aunty came to us and welcomed us inside, after doing the Aarti.

After that, she took me in front of a portrait and told me that he was my mamayya(father-in-law). She asked me to pay my respects and I did the same.

"Daksha, I think you might be hungry. Do you want to eat anything? " she asked me.

"No, Aunty. I am fine," I declined her offer politely.

"What Aunty? Call me ' Attayya'(MIL). I will be happier if you call me 'Amma' though," she told me and gave a teasing grin to Arjun.

"If she calls you " Amma", then what does it make me to you? A son-in-law..?" he asked this with a scoff.

"Yeah. Son-in-law. You better start calling me 'Attayya' from now onwards," she told him teasingly.

"You are not a good mother. How conveniently you kicked your son aside immediately after getting your daughter-in-law?" He said this like a sulking child.

"I am just teasing you, Ajju,” she laughed. ”But Daksha, consider me as your mother instead of your mother-in-law," she told me and I passed her a grateful smile.

"Ammu, take your vadina(SIL) to your room as she won't be comfortable being alone in a new house," she instructed Ammu.

"What?" Arjun exclaimed immediately after hearing his mother, making every one of us look at him. He realized his slip of tongue and gave us an awkward smile.

"I mean, what's the need for going to Ammu's room when she can stay in my room?" he asked his mother.

"Then where will you sleep? In the guest room.?" Instead of answering him, she asked him in return.

in the guest room.? We both can sleep in my room." After saying this, he looked at his mother as if he had

your wife but you both can't stay together until the completion of Satyanarayana pooja," she told him

me to go along with her and took

room, I took the nightwear from my duffel bag and went to freshen up. By the time I came outside, Ammu made the bed for us. We

me like that?" I asked her to which she

magic you have in you," she

to which she grinned

am asking about what magic you have that made my

did you think like that?" I asked her confusedly and she gave me another teasing

me earlier?"

knocked on the window to tell you guys to come out but my brother gestured to me to speak slowly. I didn't understand his gesture and asked him the same in my loud voice that woke you up from your sleep. That was why he was glaring at me like that. You know, it is unusual for him. I mean, it is unusual for him to care for a

him in every situation. He is a good guy and can be a good husband too. Another thing, just treat me as your sister. Will you do that?" After asking these, she

her from the side

I took in my heart the moment he tied this sacred thread around my neck. So, don't worry. I won't leave him even if

in the morning, we woke up due to the knocking at the door. I went to open the door and saw that

to do, you guys have to perform the pooja and after that, we have to visit the temple too as per our family tradition. So, please bear with me for today.

feel sorry for waking me up. I will get ready and meet you in 15 minutes. Is it okay?" I asked her to which she

giving me a saree and the jewelry, she asked me to wear them

sitting on the bed while looking at me with

any help with draping the saree?" she

I can manage Ammu,” I told her with

her if I needed any help. I nodded at her and went

that was given by my Attayya and stood in front of the mirror to wear the

filled my hairline with the sindoor and thought of going downstairs. When I went outside the room, Arjun came out of his room too while folding his sleeves. He wore a white shirt with checkered pants. He was looking so dashing that I

looking at me with eyes full

both for the pooja," she informed us with a teasing smile

say this, we both looked around the surroundings awkwardly

sit together for the pooja. She told us the procedure and made us complete the pooja together. After that, she took me

yes, can you bear with it for two or three more hours? You know that we have to go to the temple for another pooja, right? You have to perform that pooja without eating anything. If you are

not that hungry. Sometimes I have to stay without eating my breakfast because of my schedule. So, I am used to it already,"

today, that too because the situation demands. From tomorrow onwards, I won't even let you step out without

she ushered us both to start for the temple in the same car and informed

passenger seat. After igniting the engine, he started driving in the

there was a message from my

with that and kept

he suddenly complimented me out of nowhere,

tinge of rosiness