I still feel like all this is a dream. I cannot believe it is actually me who is titling a rice-laden kalash and walking inside Rajat's house by leaving my red footprints on the floor. I see Ruhi excitedly jump as she walks next to me. I know Ruhi is the one who is most excited with our wedding. I see pure happiness reflecting in those innocent eyes of hers.

She is really tired by the end of all the functions tonight. She falls asleep as soon as Simmi takes her into her arms and tucks her in her room. Meanwhile, Rajat and I are being pushed into our nuptial night decorated room by our 'more excited than us' cousins. They keep on teasing us even after Rajat locks the door behind them. We wait for them to leave before we both go to sit on the bed.

"Rajat", I tell him after a long time, "I feel really tired, I'll go and take a quick bath, you also change till then." I open my suitcase and take a night dress and rush in the bathroom. My back aches so much by having to wear these heavy jewelleries and the saree all day long. I manage to take off all the jewelleries, but I find it difficult to undo a knot at the back of the blouse. I try hard twice but I find it too tight. I hesitate before thinking about asking Rajat to help me untangle it. I am only wearing my choli and my petticoat. What should I do?

After some time, I open the door and manage to peek in. He has already changed in his pyjamas. I hesitantly call out his name.

He turns around and is surprised at first before he starts laughing at me. "I thought you'd be done by now. I didn't know you took so long to take a bath", he says.

I jokingly roll my eyes at him. "Listen", I tell him, "I need your help with something. Please come in."

He raises an eyebrow and widens his mouth. "You already want me? And in the bathroom and all? So exciting! I didn't know you were this quick. You should have told me, I wouldn't have changed!", he winks at me and smirks.

I laugh and throw a towel at him. "Shut up you rascal. Come in nah, I'm so tired." I laugh when I see him leap towards me like an excited little child. I let him come inside and close the door.

In the mirror in front of me, I don't miss to notice how his expressions change when he sees what I am in. I can feel the goosebumps rising on my belly as I feel the intensity with which he was staring at me. We stand there in complete silence. I snap out when I realize I have been unconsciously biting my lower lips all this while.

"Rajat", I whisper and he snaps out. "There is a knot in the choli, could you please help me with it? I have been trying, but it's really tight."

He nervously smiles and takes the two strings in his hands. I can feel him trying hard not to let his fingers touch my skin. But, as soon as I feel his soft fingers brush against my cold back, my body stiffens. I close my eyes immediately and I know he sensed me do it because the touch of his fingers on my back only seemed to increase.

"Purvi", he manages to say after some time, "the knot is very tight Purvi. I'm afraid I'll have to use my teeth."

I have to take a deep breath before I nod. We both could sense the rising tension. It is our first few moments of physical intimacy as husband and wife. As soon as I can feel his warm breaths spreading on my back, I feel the need to clench the washbasin in front of me. I am sure he can feel the goosebumps on my skin as he tugs on the strings with his teeth. After some time, I feel my waist tighten as I feel him place his hands on my waist for some moments as he manages to undo the knot. He even opens the remaining knots on the choli, taking extra precautions that nothing falls off. I cannot face him as I thank him for his passionate help and close the door as leaves.

I let out a heavy sigh as soon as I lock the door. What just happened?

When I come out of the bathroom, I see him already tucked in and sleeping on the sofa. There is a strand of moonlight reflecting on his face from the window which makes him look more handsome and entrancing. I turn around to see that he already made the bed for me. He has gently moved all the rose petals to one side so I can comfortably sleep on the next.

Must Rajat have been expecting something when he must have seen our bedroom decorated like this? Am I being selfish? He has done all this for me, for Ruhi, for us, so selflessly, without asking anything in return from me. But what about his wants, wishes and desires? Am I disregarding him? Are there no wishes of his that I should be fulfilling? Why does he always seem to forget himself when he is with us?

But now, I am his wife, his companion and his friend. I'll do my best to fulfil his wishes and desires the same way he has been always fulfilling ours. Even if I haven't told him that I love him yet, I will leave no dearth in showing him that I do. Tomorrow, I will ask him about his feelings for me, about his expectations and his desires. I'll do everything for him. I will definitely have to ask him tomorrow, I think as I drift off to sleep.

School finally resumes on Monday. I wake up early to help Purvi prepare our breakfast and our lunches. I get Ruhi dressed while Purvi gets ready to go to work. Simmi walks in the kitchen and sees Purvi packing her lunchbox.

"Purvi, don't tell me you're going to work already. It's been only one day of your marriage", Simmi tells her.

"Oh yes Simmi. I have some appointments lined up for today. Both of them are already going to school, so I thought it's better that I go as well."

"Oh yes then you should definitely go. I simply asked because I thought you'd be tired and all from last night... I mean from all the functions."

I glower at her, "Simmi, shut up."

Purvi goes into the room and I follow her.

"Purvi, I'm sorry, you know she doesn't mean to."

"Rajat", she replies "obviously I know Rajat. She's only kidding. I understand. I don't get bothered by this easily. Don't worry Mr. Kumar", she smiles and winks at me.

I smile back and tell her, "have a nice day Purvi. Don't tire yourself too much. Don't worry about Ruhi, I'll always be here for her."

"I know Rajat. Thank you. Have a nice day as well. Ummm...actually Rajat... I wanted to talk to you about something...about us..."

At that right moment, we hear Ruhi shouting from the kitchen, "maa, papa, it's getting late. Let's go."

"Let us go Rajat. We'll talk tonight."

.

School has been really fun today. All the students are extremely excited to resume school after so long. Ruhi insists that she wants to keep our relationship a secret in class. She wants to tell her friends on some other special occasion. In the early afternoon, our headmaster, Mrs. Anjali holds a meeting to inform us that the parents of all the students have been called to attend a special parent-teacher's meeting in the afternoon. They need to be briefed about the new term and some new changes in the school legislation. I know that Purvi won't be here, she knows that I will be here for Ruhi.

The mothers of most of my students start arriving soon. They start encircling me while I brief them and explain the next term guidelines to them. Most of them are more busy staring and smiling at me instead of listening to what I'm actually saying. They have grown very comfortable with me over the months and sometimes they start to get extremely tactile as well. Today, they are more keen in telling me how much they have missed school and how much trouble their kids have made at home.

Two of them start to get extremely close to me while they are talking and I simply smile and nod at them. At one moment, I noticed murmurs start erupting in their group as they start making way for someone to join the group. I raise my eyebrows when I notice Purvi walking towards me with crossed arms. She keeps staring at me when suddenly Mrs Sharma hugs her and starts talking to her.

"Mrs. Purvi! What a pleasant surprise. Welcome, welcome. It is the first time that you're coming to any school meeting. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Everyone then starts greeting her. One of them takes her hand and starts pulling her towards me. "Mrs. Purvi, let me have the pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Rajat Kumar, the teacher of our children. Let me tell you, he is a gifted teacher. All of our kids love him. He is so nice and thoughtful. Why don't you greet him?"

I smile widely and extend a hand," pleasure to meet you Mrs. Purvi."

" Same Mr. Kumar", she says without batting an eyelid.

At that exact moment, Mrs. Shah, places a hand on my shoulder. I clearly see how Purvi's face tightens when she sees her doing so. I try hard to keep myself from laughing.

"Mrs. Purvi, let me tell you. It is such a pity, such a pity", Mrs. Shah continues, "despite being so young, handsome and dashing, he is still a bachelor."

"Oh really?", Purvi raises an eyebrow and asks her.

"Yes, Mrs. Purvi. He can be considered as one of the most eligible bachelors of the city. Sometimes we wonder, if we weren't married yet..." she says and most of the women start giggling.

"Oh no no Mrs. Shah", I interrupted them. If I let this continue, Putvi won't let me enter the house tonight. "Unfortunately Mrs. Shah, I am no longer a bachelor now."

"What? What?" Mrs. Shah exclaims and most of them gasp.

"But we were told..."

"Yes Mrs. Shah, I recently got married."

"Oh congratulations you chhupa rustam. You see Mrs. Purvi, do you realize how many hearts he has broken?"

"I am so sorry Mrs. Shah, maybe if I would have known, I could...you know", and they start laughing.

"But, Mr. Kumar, who is the lucky one? Will you ever introduce us to her?"

"Oh sure, I will. Do you want to meet her?"

I look at Purvi and she discreetly shakes her head. But, today I don't want to hide it from anyone that Purvi is my wife and that Ruhi is my daughter. I am proud of what I have.

"Oh my. Will you call her here for us?", Mrs Sharma asks.

"Yes indeed. Actually, she is already here."

All of them start to look around to try to spot someone who could potentially be my wife. They stop only when they see me advancing my hand towards her. Purvi hesitates for a moment before she places her hands tightly into mine. All of them stare open-mouthed as I draw her closer to me.

"Here she is, Mrs. Kumar. Mrs. Purvi Kumar. My wife."

"I hope you aren't kidding Mr. Kumar", Mrs. Sharma asks.

"Oh, no no, Mrs. Sharma. She is indeed my wife."

"But what about Ruhi?", Mrs. Shah interrupts us.

"Yes, Ruhi is my daughter obviously. Purvi and I were in love for a very long time. We were already legally married, and it is only this year that I got to marry her religiously and got to stay with them. You know how these transfers and all are. I hope you're happy to have met her. Would you please excuse me now, I have to go to the office. See you all and Mrs. Purvi, I'll see you outside in some time."

As I walk towards the office, I hear muffled 'I am sorry Mrs. Kumar in the background. I smile to myself. I won't turn around because I know that she is staring at me, wondering how I managed to say the thing that she was too scared to voice about.

.

Ruhi excitedly runs towards Purvi when she sees her in the parking lot. She asks Purvi to sit on the front seat next to me. Purvi doesn't talk to me at all during the trip. I drop Ruhi off at her dance tuitions and drive her to my favorite lake. I park the car under a tree and wait for her to talk to me, but she keeps looking ahead.

I move closer towards her and tilt her head using my fingers, "Purvi is everything alright? What's wrong? Why aren't you talking to me?"

After some time she looks at me and frowns. "Are you seriously asking what's wrong? Who do they think they are? Why do they have to get this close to you when they speak to you?! You allow them to place their hands on your shoulders. Who do they think you are? A hanger or what?!

And I could see how you were loving the attention from those women. "Oh Mrs. Sharma, Oh Mrs. Shah...", she imitates them.

I purse my lips trying hard to not laugh at her angry but very cute expressions. She notices me do it and asks, "oh you think I'm being funny. Yeah yeah, why don't you go and laugh with those ladies then. Why are you here with me..."

I put a finger to her lips and move closer to her. "Purvi", I tell her, "are you being jealous right now? Possessive and all? But why so? You said you don't feel anything for me? Then? " I smirk and keep on moving closer to her.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Hello guys. Here's the update. Please enjoy. Tell me how you find it. Please stay updated and keep showering your love. I hope everyone is happy