5.home.

POV: ARHA DEEWAN

The drive to his home is quiet but not uncomfortable. The car rolled past iron gates taller than any building i had ever stood beside. They swung open slowly, revealing a driveway that looked less like a path and more like a private road—lined with trimmed hedges, fountains glittering in the sun, and marble statues watching silently from either side.

My eyes widened as the house—no, the palace—came into view. A mansion sprawling across acres of land, walls of sandstone glowing golden under the evening light, with domes and arches that echoed the pride of Rajasthan’s royal past.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled through towering windows, and the carved wooden doors looked like they belonged in a museum rather than someone’s home. Every corner breathed luxury, the kind that spoke of generations of power and wealth.

While I was busy admiring the grand palace, the car came to a halt. Arjun stepped out and opened the door of my side, offering his hand. I placed my hand in his without any hesitation.

"Don't worry so much, I am right here with you" he whispered, leaning in.

As we reached the grand staircase, I saw them. His family.

They stood at the massive carved doorway, their silhouettes framed against the golden glow spilling from inside. At the center was a woman in her fifties his mother i guess, graceful in a silk saree with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, her expression warm. In her hands, she held a silver aarti plate, the flames of the diya flickering in the soft evening breeze.

My feet froze. For a moment, I wasn’t a wife stepping into her husband’s home, I was a stranger stepping into another world. The world of the Singh.

The sound of temple bells echoed faintly somewhere in the distance, mingling with the hum of my heartbeat. My throat felt dry, and my palms were damp. I didn’t know if her welcoming eyes would see me as her son’s bride or as an outsider.

"Welcomeeeee!!! Bhabhi" someone in the back shouted, I just stared at them. Lips parted, eyes wide with embarrassment and i guess my cheeks are already in the shade of tomato.

They all chuckled seeing my expressions and i lowered my head in embarrassment then arjun stepped in, saying "ok guys, enough now. Arha, she is my mother and this gentleman over here is father, this is my chachi and chachu, that idiot in the back is my brother and those monkeys are my cousins" he explained, pointing at each one of them.

"Namaste aunty and uncle" I say, leaning in to touch their feet but before I can, his mother stops me by holding my arm and his father says "no need for these things beta, you're like our daughter. How can I let my daughter touch my feet?" he completes, looking into my eyes with a fatherly warmness and tears prick at my eyelids but i blink them away before they can fall.

"Ok ok, fastly complete your rituals. We have so many things to do with bhabhi" one of his cousins says and aunty does the waving circles with the aarti plate in front of us, murmuring something in her breath. The tilak was pressed onto our foreheads, its red mark sealing a new reality—that I was no longer an outsider.

"Beta, kick that rice pot" his chachi says, indicating the pot of raw rice at the threshold of the door. I do as she says. "Now, step in with your right leg" aunty says and I am just about to— "WAITTTTT!!!" his brother shouts. "Bhabhi ji, first tell us your name and who you're coming with" he says, grinning and I can feel my face heating up.

"Come on bhabhi, it's so simple, isn't it?" His cousin says and they all laugh. "My name is arha and I am coming with my...hh husband" I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "What? dear, we didn't hear you properly" his chachu says, trying to control his laugh.

"my name is arha and I am coming with my HUSBAND" I say a little louder and "OHHHH YOUR COMING WITH UR HUSBANDDDD" they all shout, laughing and teasing me with their looks. I can't help but laugh too.

They all are so carefree. All my fears and worries go to a different continent after seeing their actions and words.

Both of us step inside, placing our right leg first and his hand instantly wraps my shoulder and I can feel a whole zoo running in my stomach.

I don't know why but i feel like my life is going to change and this time i don't regret my decision.

Just a few hours before, my heart had been a battlefield of doubts, fears, and questions i could never answer. I had stepped into this house expecting cold stares, sharp words, and the weight of judgment pressing down on me. Instead, what i found was warmth, gentle smiles, and laughter that felt unforced—it was nothing like the nightmares i had imagined.

My fears, the ones that had clung to me since the moment i agreed to this marriage, began to melt away, piece by piece. In the past, i had regretted so many of my choices, every wrong turn feeling like a chain around my neck. But here, in this moment, i realized—this decision was different. This marriage wasn’t a mistake i would carry, it was the one choice i didn’t regret.

The marble floor was so polished it almost reflected my face. Every corner of the mansion whispered luxury—chandeliers hanging like frozen stars, walls adorned with golden frames, and staircases that spiraled like something out of a palace.

Arjun held my hand and guided me to the couch. We all sat down and his cousin suddenly jumped to stand "first let me introduce myself to bhabhi ji, hi miss arha oops sorry Mrs arha arjun singh hehe." she says, hiding her face.

"Enough zara, how long are you gonna tease her" arjun says, shifting in his place. "Oh ho bhai, possessive enough for your wife" zara says. "Really arjun, i have never seen you supporting someone before" aunty says. Now they all laugh at both of us. Arjun covers his face with a pillow and i cover myself behind him.

"Ok ok we forgot the main thing. Zavian, now introduce urself" zara says. "Ahh... hi bhabhi ji iam zavian, arjun bhai's... younger brother" he finally says, looking at anything but me. "Oh come on zavian, we are not searching for a girl for you to marry. So, why all that shyness?" Zara says, making everyone laugh.

"Really zara, do we even have to search? There is a whole line waiting to marry me and let's see if any boy even tries to date a tomboy like you" he says, with confidence radiating off him and I can see that everyone is trying so hard to control their laughter. Including me. Hehe.

"Badi papa, see what he's telling" zara says, with a cute pout on her lips. Not being able to control anymore, we all burst out laughing aloud. Zara's pout widens and she sits back. Defeated.

Our conversation continues like that with laughter and teasing.

"Arjun and arha beta, both of you freshen up and come for dinner" aunty says and we make our way to the upstairs.

Arjun goes to the corner of the corridor and i just follow him. "This is our room" he says, opening a room door in a different chamber of the mansion. This side of the mansion is so much different like it's interior is same as his house in the outskirts of Hyderabad.

"This is a different chamber of this house. No one will come to here. Except you and me." He explains, leaning against the door flame and looking straight into my eyes.

"Oh ok" i say, nodding. He gestures me to come inside and as soon as i step inside, he closes the door behind me and my heart starts doing garba on its own. I don't even have the guts to turn back and look at his face which is way too handsome.

"I have already arranged your clothes and everything you need. So, don't worry about it." He says, and i just nod my head. There is a awkward silence between us for a few minutes before he breaks it "should I go first?" He asks, hesitantly. "Yeahhh, yess pls." I say, stepping away from there to sit on the couch in the corner of the room beside the balcony.

I look at him from the corner of my eyes and he practically runs into the bathroom. I can easily tell that he is as nervous as me. This is not easy for him too.

Feeling bored, i step into the balcony. It's large like the balcony itself feels like a room. There is a tiny sitting area at one corner. I place both my hands on the railing, chilly passing winds

falls on my body doing a little to calm my messed up mind. After a few minutes...

Arjun opens the balcony door but i didn't turn back. He clears his throat announcing his arrival, i turn my head just a little and he gives a tight lipped smile.

Standing beside me, facing the door and leaning against the railing. "Do you like this family? Like if you don't, we can move out from here." He asks and i chuckle. "Like?? I love this family" I say, looking at the vast garden.

Then again there is an awkward silence. This time i decided to break it. "Actually... Thank you. For giving me this life. A life i didn't even dreamt of and I don't regret saying yes to you" i complete, this time looking into eyes.

He shakes his head, smiling and OMG his dimples are surely going to the death of me. I quickly look away before he can catch me staring at him like a lovesick girl.

"Can i?" He suddenly asks, confused i look at his hands which are hovering in the air around my waist. "Yes, you can" i say. Heat instantly creeps up my neck.

He wraps his hands around my waist.Tightly. And hides his face in the crook of my neck. As in a reflex action i wrap my hands around his.

"I should thank you for coming into my life and choosing me" he says, his face still buried in my neck which is causing me tickles when he speaks.

How my life is changed in just two days but i like this change. It feels right and correct. And this change of life is so much better than my past life.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:-

Heyyyy darlings!!!!

HOW IS THE CHAPTER??

please ignore the grammatical mistakes and if there is any wrong procedure of tradition.

I don't know much about family relations so, please don't mind the wrong related person names.

Anyways lobbb u all 😘❤️

Byeeeeeeeee byeeeeee tata tc