The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of crisp white curtains moving against the tall window .The aroma of night-blooming jasmine drifted from the garden, a light, sweet perfume that hung in the quiet air.
After some time , the bathroom door swung open and Maithili came out , freshly bathed out of her heavy bridal attire , now draped in a cotton yellow saree that highlighted the subtle glow of her skin.
Her cheeks and nose were flushed from the shower , her long hair was left open and her wide curious eyes were roaming here and there.
She stood in a corner with a towel in her hands wiping her face , while her gaze wandered taking in the details of the room.
The walls were painted in the soft shade of sage green and white giving it a cheerful yet elegant look.
In the center was a double bed and across a cupboard, in the corner was a desk , neat and orderly with a few piles of paper stacked in the middle and a dressing table.
It was simple.
It was not showy or pretentious , yet you would look twice .
Just as she was about to head to the dressing table , the bedroom door creaked open , revealing Arjun but Maithili got startled from the noise .
Arjun noticed how she flinched but he turned around and gently closed the door behind him while she was still rooted to her place , eyes lowered , hand clutching the towel as if it was her lifeline.
He walked towards her and whispered her name " Maithili " in his soft voice .
She was still in her place , unmoving so he called her again " Maithili " a little louder than before yet gently.
This time she lifted her gaze but quickly lowered it again and whispered fumbling " j-ji" , her voice barely audible.
" You don't have to be scared ." He spoke looking at her and she again lifted her eyes to his words but this time she held the eye contact.
" no one will hurt you . You are safe here. " He whispered and then blinked his eyes as if assuring her .
She didn't answer.
But his words , they didn't feel like a lie. It felt ...
True .
Because for the first time in life someone had spoken this softly to her , about keeping her safe and she could sense the sincerity in his eyes.
Because words may lie but eyes never do.
But still a doubt lingered , she knew he was gentle and kind but it didn't change the fact that it was a forced marriage . He was forced to marry her and what if he changed his mind someday , what if he abandoned her like everyone else did.
" I am going to shower , till then you wait here " he murmured and then disappeared in the bathroom.
Maithili still lost just nodded and walked towards the dressing table and started combing her hair .
She braided her hair , wore her bangles and covered her head with her saree pallu .
Modestly.
Just then the bathroom door opened and Arjun came out dressed in a casual tshirt and lower .
He saw her standing in front of the dressing table , he didn't say anything but his eyes lingered just a little longer on her.
Maithili felt his gaze on her making her feel self conscious . But she didn't dare lift her eyes.
" Chalein ?" He asked while stepping towards her and Maithili nodded.
Together they went to the dining table where his father was already sitting and his mother was setting the dishes.
Omkar and Sumitra's head turned towards Arjun and Maithili when they saw them approaching .
Omkar smiled while Sumitra's face was neutral , her expression unreadable.
Arjun sat beside his father and asked Maithili to sit beside him .
Maithili hesitated first , she was going to help Sumitra when Omkar interrupted and said " sit beta . " And then slowly she sat beside Arjun .
Still unsure .
Sumitra didn't say anything , she didn't even acknowledge them. She was unusually quiet and everyone knew the reason.
Everyone served themselves but Maithili was still hesitant and shy , quietly sitting so Arjun served her.
The meal was simple of dal , rice , roti and sabzi but to Arjun it was home .
Arjun noticed Sumitra had made some extra dinner . He smiled internally even though she didn't like Maithili yet she cannot let anyone sleep on an empty stomach.
Everyone was eating quietly when Omkar spoke " what's your name beta ? " He asked while glancing at Maithili , his eyes soft , lips curved in a gentle smile.
Maithili looked up from her plate and answered " ji Maithili" she replied , her voice low .
Omkar nodded and resumed eating and after a moment he again asked " what's your village name ?"
" Govindgarh." She answered .
Omkar didn't ask these questions to make her uncomfortable but to make her feel involved.
And just like that dinner passed.
After dinner Arjun and Omkar left the room intentionally to give Sumitra and Maithili a moment.
Sumitra began collecting the plates without even acknowledging Maithili and moved to the kitchen to wash them and Maithili followed her.
Just as Sumitra was about to wash them a slow voice reached her ears " can I do it?"
She turned and there stood Maithili , Sumitra didn't answer and again started doing her work but Maithili again insisted " please let me do it ."
After her insistence finally Sumitra stepped aside with a huff , and seeing this Maithili felt at ease , Sumitra was not accepting her yet but not denying as well.
Maithili was still nervous and shy but she was trying to blend with them .
So Maithili started doing the dishes and Sumitra was just staring at her with arms folded , eyes following her every move.
Maithili at first became stiff under her eyes but then she relaxed and focused on her work.
Sumitra was staring at her and found Maithili beautiful but didn't say this to her.
But after a while she said " what's your full name?"
Maithili got caught off guard because she didn't expected Sumitra to talk with her.
This early.
So after a pause Maithili replied still doing dishes " Maithili singh "
Sumitra nodded .
And came another question "What's your age ?"
" Ji 19 " Maithili replied .
This made Sumitra's eyes widened because she is too young and had endured so much.
She felt sympathy towards her but she didn't show this on her face.
Then Sumitra again asked " do you know how to cook ?"
Maithili again answered without looking at her " ji "
" Hmm " Sumitra hummed.
After Maithili was done with her work Sumitra checked everything last time before exiting the kitchen and said " go and rest ."
Maithili nodded and she too left .
She was still scared but a little less than before because she didn't expect this kind of calmness and gentleness from them , she had expected resistance even denial but not this.
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Thank you.
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