This is the story of Zen Malviya and the orphaned Dhani. On their wedding night itself, Zen made Dhani realize that this marriage was a deception for him. He neither acknowledges this marriage nor considers Dhani his wife. She is free to go wherever... This is the story of Zen Malviya and the orphaned Dhani. On their wedding night itself, Zen made Dhani realize that this marriage was a deception for him. He neither acknowledges this marriage nor considers Dhani his wife. She is free to go wherever she wants. The very next day after the wedding, Zen kicked Dhani out of the house. Dhani was completely shattered after hearing what Zen had said. How will she navigate this broken marriage, whose foundation was laid on deceit and lies? A relationship that ended on the first night of the wedding. Will Dhani bear the burden of this marriage alone, or will Zen ever realize the importance of their relationship? To find out, read "Trapped Marriage."<br />
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The room's door opened, and Dhani, with her henna-adorned feet, entered the room. The entire room was decorated with flowers and candles. Today was Dhani's wedding night.
She walked slowly into the room. She held her lehenga with both hands. Walking slowly, she reached the bed.
The bed was decorated with flowers on all sides. In the middle, a heart was made with red rose petals. Fragrant candles burning throughout the room made the atmosphere even more beautiful.
A shy smile played on Dhani's lips. She looked around the room with a smile. She had never imagined that this day would come in her life. She would also become a bride one day and have her wedding night like this.
Dhani, who had grown up in an orphanage since childhood, was now the daughter-in-law of the Malviya family, the wealthiest family in the city. But until a week ago, she had no idea how her life would suddenly change, nor did she realize what awaited her in her future life.
Wrapped in shyness, Dhani looked at herself in the mirror. Dark eyes, currently filled with kohl. Light pink lips, adorned with lipstick. Ready in bridal makeup, Dhani was waiting for her husband.
Just then, a sound was heard at the room's door. Dhani's heart began to pound, and she quickly adjusted her dupatta, looking towards the door, hoping her husband would be standing there.
But the sparkle on her face turned into slight disappointment when a maid, holding a glass of milk, stood at the door.
"Madam, the master asked me to keep this milk in the room! Where should I put it?" the maid said, looking at Dhani.
Dhani panicked. She looked around and then said to the maid,
"Put it anywhere, wherever you find space."
The maid smiled, nodded, and went inside, placing the milk on the side table next to the bed.
As the maid was about to leave, Dhani called out as she reached the door,
"Listen..."
The maid stopped and turned back to look at Dhani, saying,
"Yes, Madam, tell me, do you need something...?"
Dhani shyly lowered her eyelids and said in a soft voice, pulling her dupatta slightly towards her face,
"When will he arrive?"
A slight nervousness appeared on the maid's face. She quickly lowered her gaze and said indifferently,
"When will the master arrive? Even the master himself cannot say, so how can we tell? But for your own good, Madam, I am telling you, don't wait for the master. Your clothes are quite heavy; change and rest. And if you need anything, you can press this bell. This bell goes directly to my room. Hearing the bell, I will come." Saying this, the maid left.
But Dhani watched her go in astonishment. What did she mean that her husband would not come home tonight?
The maid had advised her to change her clothes and rest, but Dhani stood in the room, perplexed, thinking about all this.
She gently held her dupatta with both hands and walked towards the mirror. She stood dressed as a bride. With a mangalsutra around her neck, sindoor in her hair parting, and bangles on her hands, she had worn the lehenga. She had done this makeup for her wedding, and after the wedding, she was going to spend time alone with her husband for the first time. In such a situation, should she remove this makeup...?
No, no. How could she remove the makeup without showing it to her husband? Thinking this, Dhani again draped her dupatta properly over her head and sat on the edge of the bed.
She started looking around the room. All the things in the room represented a black lover. From paintings to statues, everything was in black and gray. How could anyone like so much black?
If the decorations were removed, everything in that room represented blackness.
Dhani sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the room. She was quite tired anyway. For the past week, her life had been swinging back and forth like a pendulum, and finally, she was finding some peace.
Sitting peacefully, her gaze was fixed only on the door, and she sat staring, waiting for her husband to arrive. The heavy dupatta on her head and the heavy lehenga on top of that, she was quite tired after the day's hustle.
Slowly, her eyes began to close, and she started feeling sleepy. Resting her head on the headboard, she drifted into a light sleep.
After so much exhaustion, she was sleeping peacefully when the door opened with a loud noise. Dhani was startled, but seeing the person standing at the door, Dhani's heart started pounding, and a slight nervousness appeared on her face.
She stood up from her place and, holding the dupatta in front with both hands, lowered her face. She didn't have the courage to lift her face and look at the person in front.
The person standing at the door entered the room. There was anger on his face and a blazing fire in his eyes. As he entered the room, he ran his hand through his hair and went directly towards the closet.
At this time, he was wearing a sherwani. Going into the closet, he started taking out his clothes.
Dhani watched as he searched for normal clothes. Perhaps just as Dhani was uncomfortable in the lehenga, her husband was also uncomfortable in the sherwani. That's why he was looking for comfortable clothes to wear.
She saw her husband pick up a normal shirt and trousers and head straight for the bathroom. Dhani kept watching him go.
Ten minutes later, when he returned from the bathroom, he had changed his clothes and then went in front of the mirror to set his hair.
Dhani was surprised. Changing clothes and setting hair so late at night, aren't they supposed to sleep? So, what's the need to do his hair? If I ask, he might get angry...!
Standing in front of the mirror, Dhani's husband was setting his hair when a glass of milk appeared in front of him. His eyes sharpened, and he stared at the glass with a glare.
He turned his face and saw Dhani standing there with a glass of milk in her hands.
She slowly extended the glass towards her husband and said,
"Please drink your milk."
The man's hands tightened on the comb, and he threw it on the dressing table. Dhani got scared by this. Her feet instinctively stepped back, and she looked at her husband fearfully, but when she saw his angry red eyes, she quickly lowered her face because she couldn't meet his eyes.
The man said to Dhani in anger,
"Who are you...? 🤨"
Dhani was taken aback. She raised her face in surprise and, looking at her husband, said,
"Yes, what are you saying? It's me, I just married you today; I am your wife."
Hearing Dhani's words, the man became so angry that the very next moment, he grabbed Dhani's arm tightly. Dhani's face suddenly filled with fear. The man was holding her arm so tightly that Dhani felt her arm would be separated from her body.
The man held Dhani's arm tightly in one hand and took the glass of milk from Dhani's hands with the other.
Looking into Dhani's eyes in anger, he said, "You don't have the status to be Jain Malviya's wife. Now tell me the truth, what magic have you done on my grandfather? That he forcefully tied you to my neck?"
Dhani was startled. She tried to free herself from Jain's grip.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she nervously looked at Jain and said in a trembling voice, "No, you are misunderstanding. I haven't done anything. Your grandfather himself proposed marriage to me."
Jain gritted his teeth in anger and said, "If my grandfather proposed marriage to you, then you should have refused. What was the need for you to say yes? How can you marry a person whom you have never even seen, nor know anything about him."
"Oh, now I understand why you said yes to marrying me, because you saw my wealth. You knew that I am a boy from a rich family and I have immense wealth. Wealth with which you will live like a queen your entire life. Now I understand your intentions very well. That's why you wore this mask of goodness in front of my grandfather, but I know that you are a greedy girl, number one."
"For money and wealth, you are ready to marry anyone. Tell me, how much money do you want? I will give it to you. Say, how much money do you want? To leave my life..!"
Dhani's entire face was filled with tears. Her heart was broken. She was looking at Jain with a disappointed face. She hadn't expected Jain to say such things to her.
At first, she thought Jain was angry about something, but from his words, Dhani realized that Jain hated her, but why? She hadn't done anything.
Dhani became even more disappointed thinking about how big a misunderstanding Jain had about her. She wanted to tell him that she didn't think anything like that. She didn't even know who she was going to marry. In such a situation, how could she deceive anyone? She didn't even know who grandfather actually was. She only found out on the wedding day.
Dhani looked at Jain and said, crying, "You are misunderstanding, sir! My intention was never to hurt you, and I have nothing like that in my heart! Nor did I marry you out of greed, nor do I desire money. I got married for grandfather's happiness."
"He himself asked me for marriage and said that you would also have no problem with the marriage! You are still marrying by your own will, if I had known that you did not want to marry, I would never have done this marriage, believe me..!"
Jain, in anger, tightened his grip on Dhani's arm and said, "Believe you? Believe you? Why should I believe you? Who are you to me? My wife? I don't consider you my wife, and I don't have the habit of trusting unknown girls."
Dhani's tears increased even more upon hearing Jain's words. She looked at Jain in surprise.
In the next moment, Jain threw the glass of milk he was holding to the ground, and the milk spilled all over the floor.
Jain angrily pulled Dhani's hand and dragged her towards the balcony. That hot milk, spilled on the floor below, Dhani's feet fell on that hot milk, and she felt a sharp burning sensation in her feet.
Dhani's entire face contorted in pain. Tears streamed from her eyes. What dreams had she built for the first night of her marriage? But all her dreams were shattered right there.
Jain dragged Dhani to the balcony, opened the balcony door, and pushed her onto the sofa in the balcony. Dhani couldn't steady herself and fell directly onto the sofa.
Jain looked at Dhani angrily and said, "This is your place, outside my life and my room. It's nighttime, so I can't throw you out of the house, but I can throw you out of the room, right."
"You lie down in the balcony quietly. And yes, don't start crying and wailing while sitting here! You see, my sleep is very light. My sleep breaks with a slight sound. I don't want to hear your crying and disturb my sleep. If you understood what I said, it's good, and if you didn't, it doesn't matter to me. I've said what I had to say."
Having said this, Jain went back into the room and closed the door.
Dhani watched the closed door with tears in her eyes. Cool breezes were blowing in the open balcony, and Dhani was feeling cold. She crossed her arms over her arms and huddled into herself.
There was nothing in the balcony. No blanket, no sheet, nothing she could use to feel warm. On top of that, she was sitting in such a heavy dress. Her gaze kept drifting towards that closed door. Tears were flowing from her eyes, but her lips were completely silent.
Because Jain had threatened her that he shouldn't hear her voice in his sleep, so Dhani didn't let out even a whimper, but the tears in her eyes showed how broken she was inside.
Sitting in the balcony in her bridal attire, embracing the cold, Dhani was thinking about the past week.
A week ago, everything in her life was fine. There was no problem. Her life was going on as it had been. But what did she know that one action of hers would change her entire life.
A week ago, Dhani was a caretaker at Malviya Orphanage. Yes, she was currently a caretaker there, but before that, she used to live in that orphanage as well.
Dhani is an orphan girl and has been raised in that orphanage since childhood. She knows everything in the orphanage very well. Every teacher, every mentor, as well as the guests who come every year, Dhani knows everyone, but after turning 18, Dhani had to leave the orphanage.
But she did not want to leave this place, which she called her home. That's why she started working as a caretaker in this orphanage. The salary was not high, but Dhani did not work there for money. Moreover, she took very good care of the children and everything else.
Flashback..
A week ago, Dhani was busy with the work of the orphanage. Today, the orphanage was celebrating its 50th anniversary. In this joy, all the children had organized a small program.
Dhani was also involved in the organization. She was preparing the stage with the children when her eyes fell on the head madam of the ashram, Pramila Ji.
There was a hint of worry on her face. Dhani went to her and said,
"What's the matter, Head Madam? Why are you so worried? Why isn't there any happiness on your face? It's been 50 years since the orphanage was established. Today is such a joyous day. Look how beautifully the children have prepared the stage."
Seeing Dhani's smile, Pramila Ji's face also lit up with a smile.
She smiled while looking at Dhani's face. After all, Dhani was so lovely. There was such a sweet sweetness in her words that anyone listening couldn't help but smile.
Pramila Ji nodded in agreement and said,
"Yes Dhani, you are right, and it is indeed a very happy day, but how can we celebrate this happiness alone? The owners of this orphanage are the chief guests here."
"We went to their office and gave them an invitation letter, and also told them that the children wanted to meet them once. But look, so much time has passed, they haven't come yet, nor has there been any news of their arrival. I don't think they will come."
Hearing Pramila Madam's words, Dhani became a little surprised and worried. Then, after thinking for a moment, she said,
"Madam, I have been here since childhood! In a way, this orphanage is my home. Today, such a big function is happening in my home, and I don't want to leave it incomplete."
"When I was little, I saw the person who built this ashram. He looked a bit young then, but he must be quite old now, right?"
Pramila Madam said with a laugh,
"Yes, he is 55 years old now. He also has a 27-year-old grandson. His son died in a plane crash a few years ago, and his daughter-in-law passed away years ago while giving birth to their grandson."
"Mr. Utkarsh Malviya, the owner of this orphanage, his name and prestige in this city are still the same as they were years ago, and that too, only because of his grandson. He never let his family's name falter. But due to having such a big business, they are never able to attend any social gatherings."
"Look at today! This orphanage is just a small part of their donation! They are such big people, why would they come to a small orphanage like ours?"
Dhani stood up and placed her hands on her hips and said,
"Why wouldn't they come? So what if it's small, there are 250 children in this orphanage, and the hope of these 250 children is to meet our chief guest."
"Don't you worry. I will bring them here. No matter how important they are, and even if they have been very busy, they will have to spare 5 minutes from their busy schedule for these children. You give me their address. Where is their office? I will bring them here."
Pramila Madam started laughing upon hearing Dhani's words, but she had faith in Dhani. So she gave Dhani the address of Malviya Industries. Dhani took an auto and reached Malviya Industries directly.
Seeing such a big company, Dhani started to feel nervous. She had spoken confidently there, but how would she find one person in such a big company?
Then she patted her own head and said,
"Dhani, you've gone mad. You're thinking about finding the person you came to find. Mr. Utkarsh Malviya is the owner of this company. It shouldn't be difficult to find him, just go and ask where he can be found! Everyone knows him. Wow Dhani, you are so smart."
Praising herself, Dhani walked towards the entrance. She noticed that the lift was taking time to arrive, and there were many people waiting for the lift.
Dhani also went and stood near the lift. She saw two girls standing on the other side of the lift, wearing very outlandish or, rather, revealing clothes.
The four men standing at the back probably worked in this company because they were wearing formal clothes, and their ID cards had the Malviya logo on them.
But in front of all of them stood an elderly man in a safari suit. He wore thick glasses and was standing with the support of a cane.
Dhani was looking at the elderly man with surprise. It seemed as if she had seen him before, but she couldn't recall.
When the elderly man looked at Dhani and found himself being looked at, he gave Dhani a slight smile, and in return, Dhani also smiled.
The two girls, who were wearing short dresses, were talking amongst themselves.
Dhani was a little surprised when she heard their conversation. What kind of thinking do girls have these days? One girl, wearing a red dress, said to her friend,
"Oh dear, I've dreamed of getting entry into this company for so long. I finally got the chance. What do you think, can we get lucky?"
The other girl, also excited, said,
"Oh, so what if he doesn't see us directly? We've got entry into this company, right? We'll get entry into his cabin, and after that, entry into his bed too."
Dhani was listening to their conversation with surprise. The elderly man was also listening to them, and all the other employees looked a bit surprised. Perhaps it was everyone's first day at this company.
The girl in the red dress said,
"I heard his cabin is on the top floor. Do one thing, while we are busy at the entrance meeting hall, you distract everyone so that I can slip away from behind and go to his cabin."
The other girl said,
"Why would you go first? I'll go first. A chance to meet such a handsome person, why would I give it to you first? I'll go first. He'll fall for me as soon as he sees me. Jain my love. You know, I follow him on Instagram, and seeing his fitness makes me forget my own diet."
"I sigh dreaming of him at night, I joined this business just for him. Otherwise, I wanted to do modeling."
A wry smile appeared on the elderly man's face.
But Dhani looked at them strangely after hearing their conversation. What crazy girls! Talking such dirty things so openly!
Just then, the lift arrived, and the lift door opened. There were already three people inside the lift. Everyone entered the lift.
Dhani also went inside the lift. The elderly man let everyone go first and then entered the lift last. But just then, the lift gave an overload signal.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. Now, who would get out of the lift? The two girls, seeing the elderly man, said,
"Old man, you get out of here."
Dhani was astonished and looked at the girls with surprise, who were telling the elderly man to get out of the lift.
The elderly man said,
"Daughter, you girls are young, right? You can go by the stairs. Don't you think the lift is for people who have difficulty walking and moving around?"
Hearing the elderly man's words, the two girls got angry.
The one in the red dress said angrily,
"You old man! Do you know who we are? We are the future owners of this company, and you are talking to us like this. If you talk too much nonsense, we'll push you out of the lift."
The other one said angrily,
"And why not? One foot in the grave, and you're worried about roaming around? I don't know why this old man came here? What work does he have in this office? What will he do at this age? Yes, sweeping and mopping work, he'll get that very well. What are you looking at? What's the point of talking, just push him out of here."
The girl in the red dress gave a devilish smile and said,
"You're absolutely right, he should be thrown out of here. Because of him, the lift is getting heavy. There's no life in his body, yet he's standing here, stopping the lift."
The girl grabbed the elderly man's arm and was about to push him when Dhani caught her hand and pushed it back angrily!
The girl couldn't regain her balance and hit the lift wall from behind.
The elderly man stared at Dhani in surprise, and everyone else just stood there watching the spectacle in surprise.
Dhani looked at them angrily and said,
"Your tongue indicates your upbringing is poor."
The girl shouted at Dhani angrily,
"How dare you..."
Dhani glared at her angrily and said,
"You haven't seen dare yet. If I show you, I swear by Radha Rani, I'll slap you so hard that you'll bounce twice and hit the ground."
The girl angrily pointed her finger at Dhani and said,
"Your cheap language shows what a low-class girl you are."
But in the next moment, Dhani caught her finger in her hands and in the next moment, twisting her wrist, she pushed her against her waist.
The girl kept screaming, and her friend stood there stunned. Her eyes widened, and she stared at Dhani. Dhani pushed her onto her friend, and both girls hit the lift wall.
Dhani looked at them angrily and said,
"Your tongue isn't good, at least keep your intentions good. At least see who you are talking to. Respect their age. They are much older than you, and as far as I know, no parents teach their children to respect their elders."
"And what were you saying, that this old man will do sweeping and mopping work here? Well, they might have the capability to do cleaning work here, but what about you? On what basis were you calling yourself the owner of this company? Forget owner, you aren't even worthy of being a servant here. Even the servants here would have a lot of decency."
"I don't know who you both are or with what intentions you have come here, but I do know that your intentions only seem good in your imagination. In real life, neither will they be fulfilled nor will you succeed."
Dhani was still arguing with the girls when some people in black clothes arrived.
They stood at the lift door and said, looking at the elderly man,
"Oh, boss, you are here? Why are you going from here? This is the public lift, the VIP lift is that way."
The bodyguards in black clothes pulled the elderly man out of the lift. The man smiled, glanced at Dhani, and then left.
Everyone watched him leave in surprise. Even Dhani was surprised. Who was this man, and how could people in uniform come to pick him up like this?
Just then, the lift closed and started going up to the upper floor. The two girls were looking at Dhani angrily, and Dhani also glared back at them angrily. Then one floor arrived, and some people got off, including those girls. After that, the lift directly reached the President's floor.
Dhani reached the President's floor and said to the receptionist standing there,
"Hello, my name is Dhani. I am from Malviya Orphanage. I want to meet Mr. Utkarsh Malviya."
The girl looked at Dhani and said,
"Do you have an appointment, Madam?"
Dhani thought for a moment and then shook her head, saying no,
"No, I don't have an appointment, but the orphanage I am from, that orphanage comes under the Malviya Trust."
The girl at the reception said with a smile,
"Yes Madam, you are correct, but our company's trust includes many such orphanages, NGOs, and organizations. We can't give everyone permission to meet the boss, can we? He is very busy at the moment."
"Moreover, the CEO of the company is out for a meeting. That's why the entire company's responsibility has fallen on the Big Boss. He doesn't have time. Please, if you want to meet him, come with an appointment. We cannot give you permission to meet him like this, and his schedule is completely full for this entire month. If you wish, I can give you an appointment for next month."
Dhani was surprised to hear the receptionist's words and started thinking. What would she do with an appointment for next month? She needed to meet Utkarsh Malviya today itself.
Thinking this, she was pacing around when she noticed an empty sofa and said to the receptionist,
"Can I sit there?"
The receptionist smiled and nodded yes, and Dhani sat on the sofa there. She started thinking about what she should do next.
Just then, some people in black clothes arrived. Dhani noticed that they were wearing the exact same clothes as the bodyguards outside the lift had worn a little while ago.
They looked at Dhani and said,
"Excuse me, Madam, the Big Boss wants to meet you."
Dhani looked at them in surprise and then started thinking. Big Boss means who? Mr. Utkarsh Malviya? He wants to meet Dhani. It seems he found out that Dhani is from the orphanage. That's why he wants to meet her.
Dhani smiled and nodded yes and said,
"Yes, yes, of course, I myself want to meet him, let's go, let's go."
Saying this, Dhani moved ahead of all the bodyguards. They all looked at each other in surprise and then started following Dhani.
Reaching the cabin door, Dhani took a deep breath and knocked on the cabin door. A man's voice came from inside, calling Dhani in.
Dhani smiled and entered the cabin, and saw a man standing near the window in a safari suit, his face towards the windowpane.
Dhani entered the room and said, standing near the door,
"Namaste Sir, my name is Dhani. I am from Malviya Orphanage. You might not even remember the orphanage you built, but it does come under your trust."
"And I am an employee living and working in that orphanage. Actually, I have come here to invite you. Although our Head Madam had invited you herself."
"Today, our orphanage has completed 50 years, and in its joy, the children have organized a small function. I know you are a very important person, and you don't have time for all this, but even then, if you could come there for just 5 minutes, it would make the children happy."
"You have been taking care of that orphanage for so long. The children there have no problems. They receive everything on time: food, clothes, toys on festivals, everything is sent by you on time. But still, people have a hope that they could at least see the person in whose name this orphanage is. Can you come to the orphanage for 5 minutes for the happiness of those children?"
"Why not, I have been waiting for this very thing." The elderly man said, and when Dhani looked at him, her eyes widened in surprise.
This person was none other than the elderly gentleman from the lift, for whom Dhani had fought with those girls.
Dhani clapped her hands and said to herself,
"Oh my goodness... Uncle? What are you doing here?"
In a safari suit with a simple personality, this was none other than the Board of Directors of this company, Mr. Utkarsh Malviya. And Utkarsh Malviya was none other than Zen's grandfather.
Grandfather looked at Dhani and smiled and said,
"Oh, I was thinking about your invitation. You have invited me to your orphanage just now, right? I am just thinking whether I should change clothes to go there, or will these clothes work."
Upon hearing Grandfather, Dhani was completely surprised, and now she understood that the person was indeed Utkarsh Malviya, whom she had come to pick up.
Dhani was now angry at her own foolishness and said with a slight regret,
"Sorry, I thought you were someone else. I didn't know it was you. Otherwise, I would never have done such a thing."
Utkarsh Malviya heard her and said,
"You haven't done anything wrong, you have done what is right, and you don't need to apologize to anyone for doing what is right. What did you say your name was, Dhani? Yes, Dhani. I was asking you. Children, are these clothes okay, or should I change into other clothes? If the children see me in these clothes, won't they be scared?"
A faint smile appeared on Dhani's face. Such an important person but with a completely simple personality.
She shook her head and said,
"No, Sir, you look very good just as you are. You don't need to change clothes."
Half an hour later...
Grandfather was sitting in the grounds of the orphanage where the function was going on. Little children were singing songs to welcome Grandfather, and everyone was very happy because, for the first time in so many years, Grandfather had come to the orphanage.
Pramila Ji smiled at Dhani. The work that couldn't be done despite her many requests, because they never got permission to meet Grandfather. They always used to send invitations to the receptionist and leave, but perhaps that invitation never reached Grandfather.
But today, Dhani had brought Grandfather with her. Seeing this, Madam Pramila was very happy. The security had made all the arrangements there. For Grandfather's safety, they had taken over the entire orphanage, and the little children were performing on stage.
Grandfather was very happy seeing this because Dhani was helping those children from behind the stage. A beautiful scene, from Radha-Krishna to Rama-Lakshmana and Sita's exile, was being depicted on stage.
Grandfather was watching that scene very well, but at the same time, he was noticing Dhani's efforts appearing in between. He had attended so many charity programs, so many events. There, girls used to dance in revealing clothes to vulgar songs, but in the orphanage, the children presented programs related to devotion and God.
Grandfather was very happy seeing this. When the program ended, Grandfather encouraged all the children by giving them gifts.
The program had ended. Madam Pramila was standing near Grandfather, thanking him for coming,
"Thank you very much, Sir, for joining our humble program."
Grandfather said with a laugh,
"Madam, if you want to say thank you, then thank Dhani. If she hadn't brought me here, I probably wouldn't have known that this orphanage has completed 50 years, and how many children have progressed in their lives from this orphanage."
"If you need anything for the orphanage, you can tell my secretary. That thing will be provided to you."
But then Grandfather's gaze fell on Dhani, who was distributing ladoos to the children.
Grandfather looked at Dhani intently and then said to Pramila Madam,
"Pramila Ji, can you tell me how long Dhani has been here?"
Pramila Madam was a bit surprised to hear his words, but then she said,
"Dhani, she has been here since childhood. Perhaps she was three or four months old when someone left her at our doorstep. Since then, Dhani has been in this orphanage, and she calls this orphanage her home. This orphanage isn't even as much our own as she has made it her own. She is a very dear child, very innocent. She doesn't know how to deceive or pretend; she is as she appears."
"This is exactly what is needed," Grandfather said softly. Pramila Madam asked in surprise,
"Yes, I didn't understand, what do you mean, Sir?"
Grandfather looked at Pramila Madam with a slight smile and said,
"Pramila Ji, this orphanage is Dhani's home, and the people here are Dhani's family. So, in that capacity, you are perhaps a part of Dhani's family. Therefore, I won't talk in circles. I want Dhani to be the daughter-in-law of my house. I want to get her married to my grandson, Zen. Do you accept this proposal?"
Pramila Madam was completely shocked to hear this. She didn't know what to say in response. Should she say yes or no? Because where did this proposal for Dhani come from? Directly from the Malviya family, whose name is taken with great respect in this entire city.
She herself didn't know how many other orphanages they had in this city, and in business, their name had always been in the number one position. In such a scenario, thinking of marrying an orphan girl like Dhani to Zen Malviya, Madam Pramila said in surprise,
"Sir, what are you saying? Where is your grandson and where is Dhani?"
A week later, the Malviya Orphanage was adorned with glittering lights and flowers. Today, there was a wedding. Dhani's wedding. Since this was Dhani's home, the entire orphanage had decided to hold Dhani's wedding in their own ashram.
Dhani was in her room, standing restlessly by the window. She was wearing the bridal attire and was all ready, yet a sense of unease filled her heart.
She remembered when Dada ji and Pramila Madam had told her about the wedding. Dhani had been completely stunned and didn't know how to respond.
Dada ji was talking to Dhani alone. He had told Dhani, "Dhani, my child, I am asking for your hand with great hope. If you refuse, it will be your rejection. But before you say anything, will you listen to this old man?"
Dhani and Dada ji were sitting on the bed. Dada ji looked at Dhani and said, "My son and daughter-in-law left me years ago. They were my only support for living, but after themselves, they left me a responsibility, in the form of their small child, Zen."
"I had only one support left for living, my grandson, but I couldn't manage the business and Zen alone. On one hand, I had to save the business from sinking, as it was my last legacy to give to Zen. And on the other hand, I had to take care of Zen."
"So, I focused more on the business and kept Zen away from me, but I tried to give him everything he deserved; a good education, a good upbringing. And for all this, I had sent Zen abroad, but I didn't know that the foreign air would affect him so much that he would completely forget our values and culture."
"When he returned from America after completing his studies, I handed over the business to him. He managed my business very well, but his attitude and behavior had completely changed. He was not the child in whom I could see a glimpse of my son."
"My child is lost in the ways of the world. Therefore, I am looking for a good life partner for him who will manage him with her love and trust. Dhani, I see that girl in you. Will you accept this last wish of this old man? Will you marry my grandson?"
"I want you to say yes, but before you do, let me tell you one thing. Zen is very stubborn and short-tempered, he is very difficult to handle. Sometimes he doesn't even come under my control. You will have to handle him with love and affection always."
"I believe that because of your simple nature, he will eventually be managed and become what I want to see him become. I just want to see my grandson happy before I die."
"I don't know how many days of my life are left, but if my last wish is fulfilled before I die, it will be to see Zen become a good man."
Dhani's heart became restless and her face filled with apprehension, as tears welled up in Dada ji's eyes while saying this.
Dhani quickly went to Dada ji and sat by his knees. Taking both of Dada ji's hands in her own, she said, "Dada ji, please stop crying. I can't bear to see you cry. You are everything to us. You gave us a home to live in."
"This orphanage is our home, and you are saying something that I cannot refuse even if I want to. But Dada ji, as you said, your grandson is very short-tempered. Will he agree to this marriage?"
Dada ji wiped his tears and said with a slight smile, "If I even mention marriage to Zen, he will leave India and flee abroad again for some business meeting. Therefore, I will not even tell him that he is getting married. I will just bring him to the wedding pavilion on the wedding day. I just need your 'yes'."
Dhani didn't know what to do. She couldn't bring herself to refuse Dada ji. Dada ji had proposed this alliance with such trust and hope in front of Dhani that Dhani, leaving everything to God, said yes to Dada ji.
After receiving Dhani's consent, Dada ji was very happy. He asked Pramila Madam to make wedding preparations and promised to come with the baraat in exactly one week. Today, that one week was completed.
Dhani's Haldi, Mehndi all took place in the orphanage. She didn't even know what the person she was marrying looked like. But she trusted Dada ji.
Today was Dhani's wedding. With Zen's name tattooed in mehndi on her hands, Dhani stood by the window. The wedding preparations were underway in the garden below. She was looking at the decorated mandap from the window. Everyone was so happy! The entire orphanage was decorated like a palace, and new clothes had arrived for all the children.
Dhani was happy seeing those children smile. Her own outfit was also very beautiful and quite expensive. It had come from Dada ji for Dhani.
But still, Dhani was nervous. There was a restlessness in her heart. What would Zen think about this? How would he react? Would Zen be with her at the wedding mandap? What would he say to her? Dhani was lost in her thoughts here.
Meanwhile, at Mumbai International Airport, Dada ji stood in the waiting area with his guards and security. He was waiting for Zen's flight to arrive. After completing his business trip, Zen was returning today after a full 2 months.
But he didn't know that Dada ji would come to the airport to pick him up. As soon as Zen saw his Dada ji in the waiting area, he was completely surprised.
Zen was in a business suit at this time, and his security was with him. The media had been kept separate. They were not allowed to go anywhere near Zen.
Zen quickly went to Dada ji and said happily, seeing his Dada ji, "Dadu, you are here? What a pleasant surprise!"
Zen happily hugged his Dada ji, who patted his back, separated him, and said with a smile, "No, my son, the surprise hasn't been revealed yet. The surprise is yet to come."
Zen didn't understand Dada ji's words, but he didn't pay much attention to it. He knew that Dada ji had a habit of joking.
Dada ji took Zen's hand and led him towards the exit, saying, "Come, your surprise is waiting."
But Zen stopped him and said, "Dadu, where are you taking me? My car is that way. In the parking lot with my security! Why are you taking me outside?"
Dada ji held Zen's hand and brought him out, saying, "Oh, you just come along, we are not going home. Before you ask the next question, let me tell you that we are not going to the office either. Actually, we are going to a wedding."
Zen was completely surprised. To a wedding?
He quickly said, "Dadu, please, I have no interest in going to any family function or any business partner's function. You know I don't like these things. Please let me go home. I want to freshen up quickly and go for a meeting."
But Dada ji didn't listen to him. He held his hand and brought him out, saying, "You can go wherever you want after the wedding. For now, you come with me."
Zen was surprised. His Dada ji had never been so insistent with him.
Dada ji's car stopped directly in front of the orphanage. Zen looked at the orphanage in surprise. This orphanage came under his trust... he didn't even know that!
Well, there were many organizations under his trust that he didn't know about. But seeing the orphanage so decorated, he looked at Dada ji in surprise and said, "What is this, Dadu?? You brought me to the orphanage, and why is it so decorated? Is it Diwali? I'm so late..."
Dada ji smiled and opened the car door, saying, "Son, you are very late, but before you get any later... it's important to get this work done! Come inside."
Zen didn't understand his words. He got out of the car in surprise, but as he stepped forward to go inside with Dada ji...
He was completely surprised. Drums started playing in front. Little children were dancing madly in front of the drums.
"What the hell..."
Zen said, looking at them with surprised eyes, and Dada ji put his hand on his shoulder and said, "It's not hell, it's heaven. You don't say such things at weddings. You say auspicious things, and it's a time of joy... if people are showing their happiness by dancing, you should be happy in their joy! Smile a little... you've come to a wedding."
Zen didn't understand Dada ji's roundabout talk. Dada ji took his hand and brought him inside the orphanage, and then Zen was surprised because a puja thali was brought to him.
Pramila Madam started performing Zen's aarti. Zen flinched back in surprise and looked at Dada ji.
Dada ji held his hand and moved him forward, saying, "Oh, why are you scared? It's just an aarti. Living abroad, you've become half-Westernized. You've forgotten Indian traditions. Look closely, this is how aarti is done."
Zen was getting irritated and annoyed, but he didn't say anything in front of Dada ji.
Pramila Madam offered sweets to Zen and said, "Son, taste something sweet."
But Zen stopped them by showing his hand and said with an irritating face, "I don't like sweets."
Pramila Madam and the other staff standing there were surprised. Dada ji burst into laughter.
Taking the sweets from Pramila Madam's hands, he said, "No problem, I'll eat it."
"You have diabetes, Dada ji..."
Zen said, looking at Dada ji in surprise, but before he could stop him, the piece of sweet had already gone into Dada ji's mouth.
Dada ji, chewing the sweet happily, looked at Zen and said, "On this happy occasion, I am ready to take two more injections and four more pills for this sweet."
Pramila Madam brought them all to the garden. Dada ji saw that a mandap was set up in the garden and it looked beautiful. The pandit ji was sitting there, managing all the puja items.
When Pramila Madam asked Zen and Dada ji to sit, Zen irritably said, "Dada ji, since we are here now... meet whoever you need to meet quickly... I told you I have to go somewhere. Look, the wedding preparations haven't even been made yet! Do one thing, go to the room and meet the groom."
Just then, a staff member from the orphanage arrived, carrying a tray with a sherwani and a wedding safa on it. Dada ji took the tray from his hands and offered it to Zen, saying, "Absolutely, son... I will definitely meet the groom, but only when the groom is ready."
And with that, he placed the tray in Zen's hands. Zen looked at the tray in surprise and said irritably to Dada ji, "Dada ji... please, don't make me do these things anymore. I'm not going to go and dress someone. Just because there are children in the orphanage... it doesn't mean children are getting married! If that's the case, I'll file a complaint about child marriage."
Pramila Madam and everyone else were looking at Dada ji in surprise. Dada ji reassured everyone and then, putting his hand on Zen's shoulder, brought him towards the ashram, saying, "No, son... you don't have to dress anyone, and children are not getting married here either. Rather, the groom hasn't gotten ready yet because he was out for work and has just returned. That's why it's important for him to get ready first, only then will the wedding rituals proceed."
"So, Dadu, why are we wasting time here? I don't have that much time! If you want to stay here, you stay... I'll call the girls and other people here, they will stay with you! Let me go."
"How can we let you go, Zen? If you leave, whose wedding will it be?"
By now, Dada ji and Zen had entered the room, but as soon as Zen heard Dada ji's words, his eyes widened, and his face filled with surprise. He froze in his place.
The thali of clothes in his hands tightened into a fist, and he looked at Dada ji in astonishment. His mouth was open so wide that a crocodile could crawl in.
Zen was completely stunned and looked at Dada ji. Dada ji smiled, took the thali from his hands, and placed it on the side table. Zen was still standing in his place... as still as a stone.
Dada ji gently placed his hand on Zen's shoulder and said, "Listen to me, Zen..."
But Zen did not let Dada ji's hand rest on his shoulder. He took two steps back and said in surprise, looking at Dada ji, "What did you just say... am I hearing things, or what you said... does it mean that my wedding is happening here."
Dada ji decided it was no longer advisable to beat around the bush. He took a deep breath and, putting the hand he had raised towards Zen's shoulder into his pocket, said, "You haven't heard anything wrong, and what you understood is also absolutely correct. Your wedding is happening here."
Suddenly, Zen started laughing. His laughter was not normal... he was laughing in a frightening way, but Dada ji didn't seem to mind at all!
Zen, laughing, looked at Dada ji and said, "You're joking, right... this is all a joke, a joke, really Dada ji... you did all this for a joke! Now that's enough... I've laughed enough, let's go from here."
As he was about to move forward, Dada ji grabbed his wrist. Zen's face hardened with anger, and he glared at Dada ji.
Dada ji came and stood next to Zen and said, "This is neither a joke nor have I joked with you. This is the truth, today you are getting married to Dhani."
"What? Dhani...? I don't want to marry any Dhani!"
Zen shouted in anger and kicked a table placed on the side.
Dada ji expected this reaction. He closed his eyes and sighed, saying, "Her name is Dhani... but she is a very good, lovely, and understanding girl."
Zen was getting angry. Before Dada ji could do what he had planned, Zen needed to get out of here. He quickly walked towards the door, but as soon as he reached for the handle... Dada ji's words stopped him.
"If you leave here without marrying Dhani, it will be an insult not to Dhani... but to me... girls whose wedding mandaps are decorated but the wedding doesn't happen die while they are alive... and I myself will be the one to commit this sin with my own hands... therefore, it is better to die than to live such a life. I had promised Dhani that her wedding would happen from this mandap today, and if her wedding doesn't happen... whether Dhani's doli rises or not... my funeral pyre will definitely rise."
"😡 You can't do this to me..." Zen said, boiling with anger, then...
Dada ji smiled and came towards him, saying, "I can do anything for your future... I know that what I am doing today is wrong. You haven't been told that you are getting married, or to whom, but believe me... tomorrow you will not find this decision of mine wrong, nor will you ever regret it. The decision is yours... the wedding mandap is ready outside, and there is a girl to whom I have made a promise... you have to decide what you want to do? Will you honor your Dada ji's words or not... I must have taught you at least this much: Raghukul reet sada chali aayi, pran jaaye par vachan na jaaye. Now you tell me?? I can even give my life to fulfill my words."
Half an hour later, Zen stood at the mandap wearing a sherwani. His face was red with anger. Standing right behind him was Dada ji, whose face was red with happiness.
Then, from inside the ashram, Pramila Madam and another orphan girl brought Dhani with them. When Zen's eyes fell on Dhani, his anger intensified.
Dhani was wearing a ghunghat at this time... a half-hand ghunghat in a beautiful lehenga... it was unable to reveal her face, but the mehndi on her hands, her bangles, and the sound of her chiming anklets created a different kind of radiance in the atmosphere. She was slowly walking towards the mandap.
Dada ji's face was beaming with joy seeing her, but on the other hand, Zen's hands were clenched into fists. He had only said yes to the wedding for Dada ji, but he would never accept his wedding happening like this.
Zen's angry gaze fell on Dhani, who was slowly walking towards him and stood beside him after a moment. Seeing her near him, Zen very indifferently turned his face away, his hands clenched into fists.
Dada ji took out a note from his pocket and circled it over both of them, giving it to Pramila Madam to distribute among the children.
And in this way, Zen and Dhani got married... where Zen did not see Dhani, nor did Dhani see Zen... how will this marital relationship find its place amidst the veil and hatred?
Flashback...
And the door opens. The maid says, coming onto the balcony, "Madam..."
With this, Dhani wakes up from her sleep. She saw she was in bridal attire and had been sleeping on the balcony. She remembered everything that had happened between her and Zen last night.
When the maid opened the door, Dhani woke up and looked at the maid in front of her with surprise. This was the same maid who had brought her a glass of milk in her room last night. Dhani stood up, adjusting her lehenga.
"Madam, please come into the room, it's morning," the maid told Dhani.
Dhani's face was filled with disappointment. Pramila Madam and the other women working at the orphanage had told Dhani that no matter how big the trouble in the house, no matter how big the fight between husband and wife, outsiders should not get any hint of it. But what could Dhani do here? On the very first day of her marriage, the maid who worked in the house had come to know about the fight between her and her husband.
"What must she be thinking?"
Dhani was lost in these thoughts when the maid opened the door fully and asked Dhani to come inside. Adjusting her lehenga, Dhani stepped into the room.
And as soon as she entered the room, she saw that the room had completely changed. Where there was decoration last night, where there was decoration, where flowers and candles had adorned the room, now there was nothing. All the decorations had been removed, all the flowers had been taken down. It looked as if no flowers had ever been in that room. The flowers were also removed from the bed. If there was anything, it was only the bedsheet on which Dhani had sat last night; it had light pink floral prints. Dhani recognized that bedsheet. As soon as she stepped further into the room, the bathroom door opened and Jain came out. Seeing Jain, Dhani's face filled with nervousness once again, and she quickly lowered her gaze.
But seeing Dhani, Jain's eyes hardened, and his fists clenched. Jain was wearing a normal shirt and trousers at this time. The maid was cleaning the room.
"Bela," Jain called out to the maid, looking at Dhani.
The maid quickly left her work and came towards him, stopping a few steps away and bowing her head, said, "Yes sir."
Jain was still looking at Dhani angrily, her face and eyelids both bowed towards the ground. Jain said to Bela,
"No one needs to come into my room, nor is anyone allowed to touch my belongings. It's better if the house's garbage stays outside; it shouldn't be brought inside the house. And when garbage is lying on our favorite spot, we have to clean that spot thoroughly as well. Clean this room thoroughly, and yes, change my bedsheets and mattresses if possible. You see, I don't like outsiders touching my things. Do you understand what I'm saying? What am I trying to say?"
Jain said this while glaring at Bela, and Bela got scared. She quickly nodded in agreement and said, "Yes sir, don't worry, I will clean your room thoroughly. And I will change the bedsheets and mattresses too. When you come back to the room after breakfast, you won't see anything old."
Jain cast a lingering glance at Dhani and then left. But Dhani, standing behind, understood the meaning of every word Jain had spoken; the outside garbage meant Dhani, and the dirt on his favorite things meant Dhani's touch.
Dhani's tears were flowing. She hadn't thought her life would change like this after marriage. She knew that after marriage, every girl's life undergoes minor changes, which she overcomes with her life partner. But Dhani's case was quite different.
How would she deal with this when her life partner himself was not standing with her, and on the very first night of their marriage, he had told her that he neither accepted the marriage nor considered Dhani his wife? In such a situation, how would Dhani uphold the sacred relationship of marriage? She was just thinking about this.
Dhani started looking around. Her suitcase was lying in the corner of the room. She quickly went to her suitcase and as soon as she picked it up, she found it very heavy. In fact, the entire orphanage had gifted Dhani something or the other, which is why her suitcase's weight had increased.
She brought her suitcase and placed it on the ground and opened it. From inside, she took out clothes to wear and thought, "It's her first day in her in-laws' house. She should wear a nice saree."
Dhani took out a pink saree with red flowers on it. The saree was very beautiful. Pramila Madam herself had given this saree to Dhani, thinking that Dhani would look very beautiful in it.
Taking the saree and all the other belongings, Dhani stood up. She was about to go towards the bathroom when the maid stopped her and said, "Madam, please don't go into sir's bathroom, he will be angry. You need to get ready, right? I'll take you to the guest room."
Hearing the maid's words, Dhani looked at her in surprise. But then she remembered what Jain had said before leaving the room. If what he said didn't happen, he would definitely scold Bela and be angry with her. Dhani nodded and silently followed the maid to the guest room, which was two rooms away.
Dhani was ready. She was wearing a pink-red sari, and the bridal makeup was still glowing on her. Red bangles in her hands, sindoor filling her parting, a red bindi on her forehead, and a mangalsutra around her neck... her face had such radiance that she didn't need makeup. With a touch of kohl in her eyes and a hint of color on her lips, Dhani stepped out of the guest room with her hair down.
Outside, her gaze fell upon the maid who was cleaning Zen's room. Perhaps the room was cleaned, as the maid was coming out. As she closed the door, she saw Dhani and said, "Madam, are you ready? I'll take you downstairs. Everyone must be waiting at the dining table..."
Dhani nodded in affirmation with a smile. She didn't know how to behave or what to do there, so she was doing as she was told. Dhani followed the maid to the dining table. As soon as she entered the hall downstairs, her eyes fell on Grandpa.
He was sitting on the sofa, holding a newspaper, and wearing his reading glasses. Seeing Grandpa, Dhani smiled. Hearing the tinkling of Dhani's anklets, Grandpa looked towards the stairs and saw Dhani approaching. After so many years, he heard the jingle of anklets in this house. Hearing it filled his heart with joy.
The only fear that plagued him was that Zen might bring home a foreign girl... and if that happened, he would never see Indian traditions in his home... because as soon as Dhani arrived, and as soon as Grandpa's eyes met hers, she covered her head with her sari's pallu, walked slowly towards Grandpa, and bowed to touch his feet.
Grandpa placed his hand on her head and blessed her, "May you always be a devoted wife..." Dhani's face brightened even more. All blessings aside, the significance of the blessing of always being a devoted wife for a woman was evident in the glow of her face.
Dhani's eyes were darting around. She was actually looking for Zen. She couldn't see Zen anywhere. Recognizing her gaze, Grandpa said, "He's in the study room. He's sitting there in anger. He's saying he doesn't wait for anyone to eat. But I've also told him clearly. Today, he will have to wait for food, and after the meal, he will have to give my daughter-in-law a nice shagun, because today is my daughter-in-law's first day in this house, and it's also the ritual of her first cooking..."
Dhani blushed slightly and nodded in affirmation. She knew how to cook, so she said to Grandpa, "Yes, Grandpa, don't you worry, I will make everything. You tell me what to make..."
"You are the Lakshmi of this house. We will eat whatever you make with love. Just make sure to make something sweet before the meal. Actually, Zen's grandmother had this ritual done by Zen's mother when she first came as a daughter-in-law, so I remember your mother-in-law made halwa on the first day, and it was very delicious... and Zen also likes halwa a lot."
Grandpa said this with a hint of mischief. Hearing him, Dhani's face turned even redder with shyness. Nodding, she said, "I will try to make good halwa."
Dhani did not reveal the conversation between her and Zen to Grandpa. She didn't want them to know anything about it... She could see the joy on their faces about his and her marriage, so she kept this matter to herself. After all, it's a matter between husband and wife, and it's better if it remains between them. No matter how many troubles they have between themselves, they should show the outside world that they are both very happy with each other...
Bela took Dhani to the kitchen and took out all the ingredients for the halwa. First, she worshipped the fire god, meaning the stove, placed the wok on it, and made the halwa... Dhani tried her best to make delicious halwa to please Zen... and then she had the maid help her cook the rest of the meal.
Once all the food was cooked, Dhani, with the help of the maid, set the table. Grandpa was sitting in the head of the family's chair, but Zen's chair was empty. Looking at Grandpa, Dhani's face also showed disappointment because she too had seen Zen's empty chair. She felt perhaps he wouldn't come for breakfast...
Considering his behavior with her last night and this morning, she had given up hope that Zen would come to eat breakfast made by her hands. Grandpa looked at Bela and said, "Go and call Zen. Tell him the breakfast is served, he should come and have breakfast first, then the rest of the work can be done..."
The maid nodded and walked towards the library. She went to the library door, knocked, and called out to Zen inside about breakfast. The library was at the very corner of the house. Dhani could see the maid standing at the library door... but after a short while, she heard Zen shouting from inside...
"I don't want to eat food made by anyone's hands... the food will be made for me as it's always been made... go away from here, I will order my own food..." Zen shouted so loudly that tears welled up in Dhani's eyes...
And seeing tears in her eyes, Grandpa's hands clenched. He got up from his seat in anger and, looking at Dhani, said, "Don't let these tears flow... they are very precious, and absolutely do not waste these tears on someone who doesn't value them... you wait two minutes, I'll be right back."
Grandpa then walked towards the library. Reaching the library, he saw Zen sitting on a chair inside, holding a file. He banged his cane on the door two or three times. Zen flinched and looked at Grandpa in surprise, and Grandpa, glaring at him, said...
"Today is my daughter-in-law's first cooking, and she has made breakfast for everyone with her own hands today. That's why I have come to fetch you myself so that you can eat the food prepared by my daughter-in-law's first cooking..." Zen was looking at Grandpa angrily. As he raised his hand to say something, Grandpa raised his cane in the air like a stick and said...
"And if anyone refuses to eat her food, remember that from today onwards in this house, forget about food, even a piece of bread will not be available to them..."
Grandpa left the library after saying this, and Zen watched him go, still angry. He tightly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, stood up from his place, and came out.
Outside, Dhani was standing near the dining table. Seeing her, Zen's anger flared up once again. He looked at Dhani in anger, and seeing Zen's eyes, Dhani also got scared. She quickly vacated the chair and stood a couple of steps back.
Zen walked with quick steps and sat on the chair next to Grandpa... Dhani was serving halwa in Grandpa's bowl. The aroma of the halwa made Grandpa's face light up, and he said to Dhani, "Oh wow! The aroma is very good. I'm sure this will be not just good, but excellent..."
But as soon as Dhani picked up the second bowl, Zen himself took some halwa in his bowl and placed it in front of him... Dhani was surprised and looked at Zen, and then she looked at Grandpa in surprise. Grandpa laughed and said, "No problem, son, after all, our country's Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Singh Modi, has said to be self-reliant, everyone should know how to do their own work."
Zen and Grandpa were sitting together at the dining table. It was Dhani's first time cooking, and she had prepared breakfast along with a sweet dish for everyone. The aroma of the halwa filled the air. Dhani placed a bowl of halwa in front of Grandpa, but Zen picked up his bowl himself and poured the halwa onto his plate. It looked as if he had slammed the bowl onto the plate.
Grandpa smiled and gestured for Dhani to be calm. Dhani also smiled and nodded. Grandpa took the first bite of the halwa, and it was so sweet that his eyes closed. He looked at Dhani with a smile and said, "Child, you've made excellent halwa, just like Zen's grandmother. Eating this sweet halwa made by your hands today reminded me of Sheila."
Dhani covered her mouth and exclaimed "Ooooh" in surprise, "Grandpa, what are you saying? At this age, you're reminiscing about Sheila's youth?"
Sheila was Grandma's name. Zen glared at Dhani, and she quickly shut her mouth, saying, "Sorry, I didn't know."
Grandpa laughed and said, "It's alright, there's no big deal. Anyway, when I first heard that song, I also laughed a lot. If your grandmother were alive, I would have definitely danced to this song with her."
Grandpa pushed the bowl of halwa aside and started his breakfast. He picked up the potato curry, puri, and kachori. But just then, with the first bite, he started coughing. Both Zen and Dhani looked at Grandpa in surprise. Zen got up from his seat and quickly handed Grandpa a glass of water. He said to Dhani angrily, "What did you put in the food? Tell me the truth, what did you do to Daddu's food that he started coughing? Remember one thing, if anything happens to Daddu, I won't spare you."
Dhani looked helplessly at Grandpa and said, "Sir, I haven't added anything. I swear by Radha Rani, it's the truth."
Grandpa drank the water and calmed down. He held Zen's hand and gently pushed him back towards the chair, saying, "What could be better than you not leaving Dhani? We all want you not to leave Dhani. Stay calm, nothing has happened to me."
Grandpa took a deep breath and said, "Oh, a pebble got into the food, it just got stuck in my throat suddenly. That's why I coughed. You've scolded the poor girl; it's her first time cooking. Instead of giving her a gift with love, you're scolding her."
Zen glanced angrily at Dhani and, sitting back down, said, "See, Daddu, your choice might just backfire on you. You've started coughing now, and the day is still young. I think I'll have to talk to Doctor Uncle and get your medical kit ready, because I have absolutely no faith in this girl."
Dhani's face fell with disappointment. She lowered her gaze and listened silently. But Grandpa placed his hand on Zen's shoulder and said, "Not another word. You will not say anything about my daughter-in-law. She is a very good girl, and as long as she is in this house, I don't need a doctor."
Then Grandpa took a deep breath and said, "I need to talk to you both. Dhani, my child, I know it's very soon, but what can I do? This work also needs to be finished as soon as possible. Actually, I have made a vow to visit Kedarnath. I had said that if Zen marries a good girl who can manage my household and take care of Zen, then I will go to Kedarnath for darshan. Now that the vow is fulfilled, I must repay my debt to God."
Dhani's heart trembled upon hearing that Grandpa was going on a trip to Kedarnath. Grandpa was her only support in this house. If he also left, who would be her support? While she was thinking this, Zen was sitting there with his hands folded. Hearing Grandpa's words, he quickly said, "Yes, Daddu, if it's your vow, you should go and fulfill it. Come, I'll help you pack. And after that, I'll tell Manav to accompany you. You will go for Kedarnath darshan in our private helicopter. If there's any trouble, you can return immediately. Nothing is more important than your well-being."
Grandpa nodded with a smile, placed a shagun envelope in Dhani's hand, and left. Zen was still sitting there, he hadn't tasted the food nor looked at Dhani. After Grandpa left, Zen stood up from his seat and said to Dhani, "Daddu is going on a journey, and I will try my best for him to go on a Chardham yatra from there. Once I send Daddu off from here, I'll think about what to do with you."
As Zen started walking towards Daddu's room, Dhani said, "Hey..."
Zen's steps stopped, and he turned back to look at Dhani with a stern gaze. Dhani gestured towards the breakfast plate and said, "At least have breakfast."
Zen glanced at the plate and then looked at Dhani. He picked up the plate, went to the house door, and threw it there, where dogs were tied for security. He poured all the breakfast into the dogs' bowls and threw the plate there.
Zen threw the food Dhani had prepared out to the dogs. Dhani was shocked to see this, and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked at Zen in surprise as he came back inside, smiling. He picked up a tissue paper from the dining table and wiped his hands, saying, "I don't like stale food. Whenever I want to eat, I want it new, fresh, and hot."
Dhani said softly, "But that food was fresh; I just made it."
Zen said, "You might have made the food just now, but it must have taken you half an hour to bring it from the kitchen to the dining table. In that much time, its taste must have gone. Never mind, I don't eat oily food anyway. My food is healthy and diet-conscious. You probably don't know how to make that. You only know how to fool people, like you fooled my grandfather."
Dhani's eyes welled up with tears, and her face turned red. She quickly controlled her emotions and, looking at Zen, said, "You are misunderstanding, Ji. I did not fool your grandfather. And it's also wrong to say I don't know how to do any work. I can do many things well."
Zen asked, "Like what?"
Dhani said with a little hesitation, "I can clean very well. I don't know about you, but I can cook well for others. I also know a little bit of sewing and embroidery."
Zen narrowed his eyes and stared at Dhani, saying, "Sewing and embroidery? I don't know what nonsense you are talking about, but none of this should happen in my house. Grandfather is packing; I'm going to help him. Once grandfather leaves for his trip, I'll deal with you."
Saying this, Zen left. Dhani watched him go, surprised, as if she hadn't understood half of what he said. In the same way, Zen hadn't understood half of what she said. She thought, "After grandfather leaves, he'll deal with me? What does that mean? I'm already standing in front of him."
Half an hour later, Dhani was hugging her grandfather. Grandfather was standing near the car, and Zen was loading all his luggage into the car, but his gaze was fixed on grandfather and Dhani.
Dhani tearfully told her grandfather, "Grandfather, you are leaving only after bringing me to this house. I don't know anyone here except you. If you leave me alone, how will I live? You know how difficult all this is for me."
Grandfather stroked Dhani's head and said, "Child, this is my compulsion too. If I hadn't kept the vow immediately after the wedding, I would have stayed a little longer, until your relationship with Zen stabilized a bit. But this must be done! We shouldn't owe anything to God. Since he heard our vow, we must fulfill it. Don't worry; I will return immediately after visiting Kedarnath. I won't leave you alone with this cruel person for too long. Just take care of everything until I return."
As soon as grandfather called Zen "cruel," Dhani let out a slight laugh. She pulled away from her grandfather and, wiping her tears, started smiling. She nodded. Grandfather affectionately placed his blessings on her head and said, "I am leaving the responsibility of this house and Zen to you. I know you will not disappoint me."
Dhani had a smile on her face, and she bent down and touched her grandfather's feet. Grandfather glanced at Zen and gestured something with his eyes, but Zen, irritated, turned his face away. Grandfather got into the car and drove away. Dhani watched the car until it disappeared from her sight.
After grandfather left, Dhani turned and looked at Zen, who was standing behind her, but when she turned, she saw that Zen was not there. She looked for him in the garden in surprise, but Zen was nowhere to be found. Thinking something, she came back inside the house. As soon as she reached the hall, her eyes widened suddenly—Zen was standing there, and right behind him stood Bela, carrying two suitcases. Seeing those suitcases, Dhani's eyes widened because both suitcases were hers, the ones she had brought here yesterday after the wedding, containing her clothes and essentials.
Looking at the suitcases in surprise, Dhani asked Zen, "What is it, Ji? Why did you have my luggage brought here?"
Zen had a sarcastic smile on his face. He said in a cold tone, "Your luggage is here so that you don't feel like you've left anything behind in this house. Anyway, this place is not worthy of you. You need something else to live here, which you probably don't have."
Dhani sensed the taunt hidden in his words and said softly, "What do you mean?"
Zen replied with a laugh, "To put it plainly, the sooner your relationship with this house ends, the better. You've got a place here at my Dada's insistence, but that doesn't mean I'll let you stay in this house."
Dhani was stunned by his words.
Tears welled up in Dhani's eyes when she heard that Zen wanted to kick her out of the house. She said in surprise, "What are you saying? How can you talk about throwing me out of the house? I am your wife. We just got married yesterday, and today you are throwing me out? You can't do this."
Zen replied with a cold laugh and a sarcastic tone, "Wife? You've charmed your way into this house by deceiving my grandfather, and now you're claiming to be a wife? This marriage means nothing to me. You've done all this by taking advantage of my grandfather's emotions, to secure a place for yourself in this house and my life. But let me tell you, you have no right here, neither to this house nor to my life."
Dhani said nervously, "How can you say that?"
Ignoring her, Zen said in a harsh tone, "You should understand that I don't want to see you in this house at all. You've managed to come here by misleading grandfather, but now you have to leave. I will handle grandfather's matter myself, but you have no future in this house."
Dhani was crushed by his harshness and hateful words, and tears began to stream from her eyes once again.
Dhani's tears showed no sign of stopping. She looked at Zen, crying with a dejected face, who showed no remorse in throwing his newlywed bride out of the house. Meanwhile, Bela, with the help of a guard, had the two suitcases placed outside the house and then came to Dhani and said, "Madam, please leave. Sir is very angry."
Dhani could only look at Zen in disbelief and shock, but Zen indifferently turned his face away, as if her condition didn't affect him at all. Bela took Dhani's hand and began to lead her outside.
Bela led Dhani out of the house and stood her near the car, placing some money in her hands and saying, "Madam, I can't do anything more for you. Please take care of yourself."
As she handed the money to Dhani, a hint of pain flickered in Bela's eyes, but she was powerless to do anything.
Dhani stood at the door. Bela had left Dhani's luggage near her and gone inside the house. Dhani stared at the closed door with bewildered eyes. Just a day ago, she had entered the house as a bride, but now she was being thrown out of the same house.
It was none other than her husband who had thrown her out. The ground slipped from beneath Dhani's feet. She clutched the little money in her hands tightly. Tears flowed from her eyes as if her world had ended right there.
Where would she go, what would she do? She couldn't go back to the orphanage either. Pramila Madam had gotten her married with great hope. If she went back the very next day after the wedding, she would have to face humiliation. Besides, she had nowhere else to go.
Dhani slowly picked up her suitcase and took a step forward. With every step, she remembered the wedding vows she had taken with Zen. With every round, she had made a promise that they would support each other, face every difficulty together, no matter how many obstacles came their way.
But those promises were meaningless, they were a sham. On their wedding night, Zen had said, "He does not accept this marriage nor does he consider Dhani his wife." If he didn't consider Dhani his wife, why would he let her stay in his house?
Dhani reached the door, wiping her tears. She placed her hand on the iron gate. Just as she was about to step out, Bela's voice came from behind.
"Dhani Madam, wait!"
Dhani pulled back her step and turned around. Bela was running towards her. Coming close, Bela panted and said quickly,
"Madam, you don't need to go anywhere. Sir has called you back."
Dhani was stunned. She asked nervously, "Are you telling the truth? He called me back, but why? He said he wouldn't let me stay in this house."
Bela smiled and said, "Madam, you come inside. I'll tell you everything."
Bela walked ahead with Dhani's bag. A faint smile appeared on Dhani's face, but her happiness did not last long. She entered the house, but seeing Zen in the hall, the color drained from her face.
Zen was flushed with anger. He angrily kicked the side table forcefully, breaking the table and causing the vase on it to fall. Dhani stood there, frightened. Zen grabbed the car keys in anger and went out of the house. He didn't even look back at Dhani. After Zen left, Dhani breathed a sigh of relief.
Bela placed Dhani's bag in the guest room. Dhani asked, "Bela, what is all this happening? He asked me to leave, then what happened suddenly?"
Bela smiled and said, "Madam, Sir asked you to leave, but as soon as you left the house, Big Sir called. After hearing what Big Sir said, Sir immediately asked to call you back. He told me, 'Go and stop Dhani. If she leaves, I won't spare you.' That's why I ran to get you."
Dhani was surprised to hear all this. She wondered what grandfather would have said that made Zen change his decision. Actually, something like this had happened...
Half an hour earlier:
As soon as Zen left his house, he became very happy. He sprawled on the sofa as if he were the king of the house and as if he had done a great deed by throwing Dhani out. In his happiness, he congratulated himself and announced a party in his group of friends. He was very happy today, so he decided to party with his friends at the club.
Zen put down the phone, stretched, and was heading towards his room to get ready when suddenly a message from his grandfather came on his phone. It was a voice note. Zen was surprised—grandfather had just left the house, he wouldn't even have reached the flight yet. In that case, why had he sent Zen a voice note? He quickly played the voice note, and grandfather's serious, stern voice was heard...
In which grandfather said, "Even though I am going out for a few days, Dhani is your responsibility. If anything happens to her, consider yourself out of the house. My daughter-in-law will stay in my house, and if you cause her any trouble, be prepared for the consequences."
Hearing grandfather's voice note, Zen had to quickly decide to bring Dhani back.
Dhani was in the guest room. Zen had refused to let her stay in his room, but she was happy that at least she could stay comfortably in the guest room. Staying in the same room with Zen made her feel quite uncomfortable.
Dhani sat in the hall from morning till evening waiting for Zen, but Zen did not return home. The way he had left the house in anger that morning had worried Dhani. She hadn't even eaten lunch because she was so worried about Zen that she didn't feel like eating. Evening turned into night, 10 o'clock, then 11, and then 12, but Zen had not returned yet.
Dhani started worrying that Zen might be in some trouble. She didn't have Zen's number nor her own phone to contact Zen. Pacing restlessly, Dhani's heart began to race. She could no longer bear the waiting, and went out of the house to the parking lot, where a driver was standing near a car.
As soon as the driver saw Dhani, he stood straight and saluted, saying, "Madam, do you need to go somewhere?"
Dhani quickly asked him, "Brother, do you know where he is?"
The driver looked a little flustered and said, "Madam, why are you calling me brother, my name is Bablu. Call me by my name, otherwise if someone hears, I'll be scolded."
Dhani was very upset and immediately asked, "Bablu brother, do you know where he is? It's very late and he hasn't come home yet. I'm very worried about him."
Bablu replied, "Zen Sir will be at the club right now. He's partying with his friends today. I myself dropped him off at the club. When we reached the club, he said he would come home on his own and sent me home. Madam, you go inside and relax. He will come home when his party is over."
But Dhani's heart was very restless. She quickly said to Bablu, "No brother, my heart is racing. I'm very worried about him. He's been out of the house since morning, and I don't know if he's even eaten anything. Please, take me to where you left him. Grandfather has given me the responsibility of him. In such a situation, how can I leave him alone? Please brother, take me where you left him."
Dhani stood at the club's entrance. Inside, there was a cacophony of noise, with people swaying under the influence of alcohol. She adjusted the pallu of her sari, draping it gently over her arm. Hesitantly, she stepped into the club. She had never seen a place like this before, nor had she ever been to one. As she entered, people turned and stared at her in surprise. A girl, wearing a sari, bangles on her wrists, sindoor in her hair parting, and an innocent expression on her face, was entering the club. The people present were even more surprised to see her than Dhani was to be there.
Dhani looked around, searching for Zen. Her gaze fell upon the VIP room on the first floor, which was entirely made of glass. People could be seen sitting on sofas, and Zen was also standing there, a bottle of champagne in his hand. Zen uncorked the champagne, spraying the escaping foam into the air as he celebrated.
Seeing Zen gave Dhani some relief. She quickly headed towards the stairs and walked briskly towards the VIP area. As she reached the VIP room, her eyes widened, and her steps faltered. Zen was sitting on the sofa, and next to him sat a girl. Zen had his arm around the girl's shoulder, as if holding her in his embrace.
The other people in the VIP room were also enjoying themselves, and no one was paying attention to Dhani. The smell of alcohol and intoxication in the air bothered Dhani. She slowly entered the VIP room and looked at Zen, saying,
"Hey ji..."
Zen had a glass of champagne at his lips, but his hand stopped when he heard Dhani's voice. Everyone present looked towards the door. As Zen glanced at the door, his eyes widened, and his face turned red with anger. The people sitting there looked at Dhani in astonishment.
Dhani was also looking at those people in amazement. Seeing Dhani, Zen slammed the glass down on the table and removed his hands from the girl's shoulder. He stood up in anger. Before he could say anything, his friends also looked at him in shock. Rocky, who was Zen's friend, said to him, "Zen, is this girl calling you?"
Dhani took another step forward and said to Zen, "Hey ji... it's quite late. Why haven't you come home yet? I was worried about you, so I came to pick you up. Come on, I'll take you home."
Zen was dumbfounded by Dhani's words. He couldn't believe that someone would come to a club so late just to pick him up. Hearing her, Zen's anger intensified. He shouted at Dhani in anger, "Are you crazy? Who told you to come here? Why are you worrying about me? Am I a child who will get lost somewhere? I'll come home whenever I feel like it. For now, I have no intention of going home."
Saying this, Zen sat back in his place, but his friends looked at him in surprise. Rocky again asked, "Zen, who is this girl?"
Just then, Rocky's girlfriend, Samaira, chimed in, "Rocky, how can you call her a girl? Look at her appearance, she looks like a typical housewife. How can such people come to a club? Who gave her entry, and how is she talking to Zen? Zen, who is she?"
At that moment, the girl sitting next to Zen, whose name was Komolika, swirled her wine glass and said in a sarcastic tone, looking at Dhani,
"Oh dear! What are you guys talking about? Clearly, she must be Zen's servant. Servants are usually accustomed to not taking their master's name when they are concerned. By the way, Zen, you pay your servants well. But what's this, you called her to work the very next day after your wedding? Looks like she must have gotten married yesterday, the poor thing is still here serving Zen after leaving her husband."
Hearing Komolika's words, the others burst into laughter, but Zen's face remained expressionless. Their laughter and Komolika's words filled Dhani's face with sadness. She looked at Zen, who was staring at her without any emotion. Looking at all of them, Dhani said, "You are right, I got married yesterday. And I haven't come leaving my husband, but to pick up my husband."
Upon hearing Dhani's words, Zen's fists clenched, and his angry gaze remained fixed on Dhani. Komolika, laughing, mocked Dhani and said, "You've come to pick up your husband? This is not a place for devotional songs. This is a club; people come here to have fun. Given your appearance, it's obvious what type of husband you would have. A driver, a gardener, or someone in service. Anyway, people like you don't get entry into clubs."
Hearing Komolika's words, the others also started laughing. Tears welled up in Dhani's eyes, and she looked at Zen in surprise, who was still saying nothing. Samaira, raising her drink, said, "Komolika, you're right. People like them sneak into clubs and create a scene here. I've heard that such people try to extort money by claiming a wealthy man as their husband."
With tears in her eyes, Dhani said to Zen,
"Hey ji, what are these people saying? Why aren't you saying anything?" Zen's face flushed with anger. But when everyone saw that Dhani was still talking to Zen, Komolika looked at Zen in surprise and said, "Zen, what is this girl saying to you? Do you know her?"
Zen said with a cold expression, "Yes, I know her. She is my wife. Mrs. Dhani Zen Malviya."
Hearing Zen's words, Komolika, Rocky, and Samaira were stunned. All three pairs of eyes were fixed on Zen, while Zen's attention was solely on Dhani, whose eyes now sparkled. When Zen announced in front of everyone that Dhani was his wife, Dhani felt an unknown joy and looked at Zen with a smile.
Samaira asked in surprise, "Zen, what are you saying? This girl is your wife? You got married and didn't tell us?"
Rocky, even more surprised, said, "We are all your friends, at least you should have told us. Are you joking?"
Zen had a mischievous smile on his face. Looking at Dhani, he said, "No, this is not a joke. Rather, I have been made a fool of, but I am not even laughing at this joke. This girl standing in front of you is my wife. I had to marry her at my grandfather's insistence. Otherwise, you know me, I don't believe in marriage."
Komolika placed a hand on Zen's shoulder and said, "If that's the case, then why are you forcing yourself to be in a relationship with this girl? Get him a divorce, give her some money, and she'll be out of your life."
Dhani's legs felt numb, and her eyes widened in astonishment. Someone else was saying such a big thing about their relationship, and Zen was completely silent. She looked at Zen in surprise. He said angrily, "No, I cannot divorce her. If I could, I would have given her the divorce papers on our wedding night itself. But I cannot go against my grandfather's decision. If he finds out I've left her, he'll adopt this girl permanently and cut me out of the property."
Tears welled up in Dhani's eyes. Everyone was silent, and Dhani, wiping her tears, said to Zen, "Why are you making a spectacle of our relationship? Let's go home."
Zen smiled and leaned back on the sofa. Picking up the wine bottle, he said sarcastically, "You can take me? Are you sure you can handle me?"
Dhani bravely said, "Yes, I can handle you. Come with me."
Zen's smile deepened. He finished the entire bottle, and his eyes turned red. Then, slamming the bottle down, he slurred to Dhani, "Alright then, handle me. That's what you're here for, to take care of me."
Stumbling, Zen got up from the sofa with heavy steps and, supporting himself against the sofa and the wall, slowly approached Dhani. The next moment, he dropped his entire body weight onto Dhani. The delicate and slender Dhani couldn't manage Zen and faltered in an instant. With great difficulty, she held Zen by the arm and supported him against the wall so he wouldn't fall to the ground. She looked at Zen in surprise, his face completely lost in intoxication. He glanced at everyone with longing eyes, and a playful smile was on his friends' faces, as if they were enjoying a comedy film.
Dhani was having a lot of trouble, as carrying Zen's heavy body to the parking lot was not easy for her. Zen's body was twice her size, and his weight was also immense. Rocky said laughingly, "What's up, Bhabhi Ji! You came to pick up your husband, so take him now."
Just then, the door to the private room opened, and a waiter came in, placing some bottles of wine in front of them. As he turned to leave, he was surprised to see Zen and Dhani. Seeing him, Dhani said very politely, "Brother, please help me. I need to take my husband to the parking lot."
The waiter saw Dhani supporting Zen, who was so unsteady from drinking that he would have fallen to the ground if Dhani hadn't held him. Dhani was barely managing Zen's strong body with her delicate hands. Seeing this, the waiter was surprised and quickly came to Dhani's side. Supporting Zen, he said, "Yes madam, I will help you."
With the waiter's help, Dhani took Zen out of the club, and all of Zen's friends started laughing as they watched them. Dhani brought Zen to the parking lot, where Bablu, the driver, was already waiting by the car. As soon as he saw Zen coming out of the club drunk, with one hand on the waiter's shoulder and the other on Dhani's shoulder, he immediately came to help them. Bablu went towards Dhani and started supporting Zen. The waiter and Bablu, together, took Zen to the car. As soon as Zen sat in the car, he lay down, as he couldn't even sit properly due to intoxication.
Dhani thanked the waiter and tried to give him money, but the waiter refused and returned to his work. Bablu also brought Dhani back to the mansion, where Dhani, with the help of the security guard at the mansion, brought Zen out of the car. As soon as they brought Zen into the hall, Zen started moving towards the sofa. They helped him sit on the sofa. Dhani was surprised as to why Zen was not being taken to his room. She started thinking that if Zen wasn't going to his room, how would she get him to his room. Meanwhile, security and Bablu had left. Just then, Bela quickly brought water and placed it in front of Zen. Zen picked up the glass and poured the water over his head.
This made his eyes open a bit, and he saw Dhani's face in front of his eyes. Angrily, looking at Dhani, he said drunk, "My party is ruined because of you, my friends made fun of me because of you, I had to come home against my will because of you. You are a dirty girl, a complete 'bad' girl. You are bad."
Dhani knew that Zen was saying all this while drunk. She said to him, "Look, if you have any complaints, you can tell me after going to the room. But please, don't say it here. Let's go to the room, I'll bring you food."
But Zen, with stumbling steps, got up and angrily said to Dhani, "I don't want dirty food from your hands. I am going to my room, but you cannot go to my room. There are servant quarters for you, go and stay there. If you are in front of me, my anger will go out of control. So it would be better if you stay as far away from me as possible."
Saying this, Zen began to move forward, leaning for support with stumbling steps. Suddenly, he stopped and looked towards Dhani. Dhani was looking at him in surprise. A mischievous smile appeared on Zen's face, and he said to Dhani, "This morning you told me that you are very good at household chores. You clean very well. If that's the case, then fine. You are in this house only because Dada Ji told you to be. But to stay here, you have to work; you won't get anything for free here. That's why today you will clean the entire hall, all by yourself."
Dhani was stunned to hear this, and her eyes widened. Zen looked at Dhani, laughing, and then, stumbling, he went upstairs, step by step, to his room and closed the door. Dhani watched him go and started to fear that Zen might lose his balance, but Zen climbed all the stairs firmly and went into his room, closing the door. Dhani's face filled with regret. What dreams she had seen after marriage, what expectations she had, but here, all her hopes were being shattered.
Dhani tied the pallu of her sari around her waist and started picking up a cloth from the nearby table. But Bela quickly said, "Madam, the master is drunk; he must have said that casually. You don't need to do all this. You go to your room and rest; I'll do all this."
Dhani said with a faint smile, "No, Bela, you do your work. He asked me to clean, so I will clean. Even if he is drunk, perhaps he won't forget this tomorrow morning."
The cleaning of the rest of the house was mostly done by the servants, but only Bela cleaned Zen's room. Zen did not like anyone entering his room and touching his belongings. That is why only Bela cleaned his room. But at that moment, it was 2:00 AM, and Dhani was cleaning the hall. After cleaning the entire hall, when Dhani looked at the clock, she realized that she had been cleaning the hall for the past hour and a half and was now very tired.
With her tired body, she wanted to take a bath first and then rest a little. Zen had asked her to stay in the servant's room, but Bela, considering the dignity of both the owner and the servant, had told Dhani to go to the guest room.
It was nighttime, and Dhani did not want to bother Bela at this time, but she herself was in a strange dilemma. In fact, she was standing in the bathroom, facing a smart bathtub, and above it, the shower and bathroom systems were connected with technology. When Dhani turned the water pipe with one hand inside the bathroom, the voice came again, "System starting..." Then suddenly, cold water started falling from the shower.
Dhani quickly pressed the button, expecting hot water, but instead, something like a remote control floated in the bathtub water. She panicked. "What is this?" she thought, "Is this a hidden refrigerator in the bathtub?"
Dhani remembered that at the orphanage, they only got an old bucket and water to bathe, while here there was a shower, buttons, and even a remote-controlled bathtub—a high-tech system even in the bathroom! Panicked, she decided to bathe in the bathtub, but as soon as she turned on the shower, a wave of bubbles flowed out instead of water.
She said nervously, "What new thing is this..."
Dhani said with a smile, "The system is amazing, but beyond my understanding. It seems I'll need another life to operate it!"
Finally, after bathing with cold water, Dhani slept comfortably in her bed at night. Anyway, this was not a big deal for Dhani. She often had to bathe with cold water at the orphanage, so she had become accustomed to all this.
No matter how late it was, no matter how tired Dhani was when she slept, she woke up early in the morning as usual. As soon as she got up, she bathed again with cold water. She still didn't know where the hot water came from, so she got ready with cold water and went to the kitchen. She saw that Bela was already preparing breakfast. But Bela had taken all the ingredients out of the fridge to make breakfast. Dhani did not understand the matter of the refrigerator. For her, the contents of the refrigerator were stale; only the items prepared fresh from the market were fresh. The rest of the vegetables and other items did not appear fresh to Dhani.
But since Bela had cooked everything, Dhani said nothing. Bela prepared Zen's breakfast and placed it on the table. Dhani was surprised when she saw Zen's breakfast. "Are these all just cucumbers, gourds, and raw vegetables?" she thought. "Don't they need bread, vegetables, or dal-rice to eat them?"
Just then, her gaze fell on the clock, and she saw that it was 11:00 AM, but Zen had not come down yet. Observing the atmosphere of the house, Dhani guessed that Zen had not gone to the office yet, so he must be at home, but why hadn't he come down yet?
The scene from last night flashed in Dhani's mind again. She remembered that Zen had gone to his room in a drunken state. She thought, "Has something happened to him, has he fallen somewhere or gotten hurt?" Thinking this, her heart started beating faster. She looked towards Zen's room fearfully and thought, "No, Radha Rani! Nothing like that must have happened, he must still be sleeping." But it had been so long, how could he still be sleeping? Had he fainted while sleeping?
Just at that moment, Dhani's eyes widened, and she got scared. She adjusted the anchal of her sari and quickly climbed the stairs towards Zen's room.
Reaching outside the room, Dhani looked at the door in surprise. She knocked on the door once or twice, but there was no response from inside. Upon this, fear spread across Dhani's face. She thought, "Has Zen really fainted, that's why he's not opening the door?" Thinking this, Dhani got scared and quickly opened the door and went inside.
But as soon as her eyes fell on Zen, who was sleeping, her eyes widened. Zen was sleeping without clothes, meaning only in boxers. Both Dhani's eyes and mouth widened. Even though she was looking at her husband, seeing Zen like this made her heart race uncontrollably for a moment.
Dhani was looking at her own husband with strange eyes, and why shouldn't she? Zen's body and his attractive face were capable of drawing anyone towards him at that moment.
He was sleeping in boxers, and the rays of the sun were falling on his body, as if nature had embraced every movement of his body with its love. His muscles were well-defined, as if every part possessed strength. Every part of his chest, the breadth of his shoulders, and the perfect lines of his six-pack abs, like a fitness model, showed his hard work. The radiance on his exposed body in the soft sunlight was as beautiful as a painting of art, making him even more attractive.
Walking slowly, Dhani had come quite close to him, and looking at Zen, her throat felt dry. Her gaze roamed over Zen's body structure, which she couldn't forget even if she wanted to.
Zen's eyes were still closed, but Dhani's fear remained; she was worried that Zen might have really fainted. Thinking this, she leaned slightly over Zen, but got entangled in the pleats of her sari and couldn't manage herself, and the next moment, she fell directly onto Zen.
Suddenly, Zen's sleep broke, and he was startled. He quickly pushed Dhani's body away from his chest and the next moment, he grabbed her by the neck with his hands. His face was filled with anger. Dhani was trying to remove his hands with her own, but Zen's eyes had turned fierce and red.
Dhani felt the pressure of Zen's fingers on her neck, and the next moment, she slapped him hard on the cheeks.
Dhani's hands were stuck in the air, her eyes filled with fear. On the other side, Zen's hand was also paused in mid-air. He slowly ran his fingers over his cheek, his face burning with anger. His eyes blazed with fury.
Dani quickly stepped back from Zen, who was still glaring at her with angry eyes. The next moment, Dani ran away as if her feet had wings. She flew out of the room - Fur-r-r-r!
For the next two hours, Dani hid in her room, too scared to come out. She didn't dare face Zen. She waited for Zen to leave the house so she could breathe a sigh of relief.
Dani sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands and thinking, "Oh God! How could I have slapped him? And with my own hands! I'll be sinful." She muttered to herself, "What will happen now? Maybe he'll even break my head. And these hands! I think I'll have to use them for sewing from now on, so they don't get into trouble again."
She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. A little while later, she glanced at the door and her breathing stopped. "What if Zen comes in? What will I do? I'll tell him I wasn't here, it was just a gust of wind."
"Yes, yes... just the wind! Will he believe me?" She got annoyed with her own thoughts, "What nonsense I think. "
Then she looked at herself in the mirror and said seriously, "Dani, you're not a movie heroine who can slap and hide. You've done this, and he won't forgive you that easily. You're done, sister!"
Now her anxiety increased, and she approached the door, as if checking if Zen was standing outside. She put her ear to the door and tried to listen, but she didn't hear anything. "Radha Rani's grace! He didn't come!"
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. But then she thought, "What if he's scared of me? I mean, the slap worked, and he understood that Dani is not someone to be messed with. Hmm, Dani, you have a different aura!"
But the next moment, her smile disappeared. "Oh! He's not someone who gets scared. What if he plans to take revenge? Dani, you're in big trouble!"
Bela's voice broke Dani's attention. She saw Bela coming towards her from the other side of the gallery, holding pressed clothes. Bela offered the clothes to Dani and said, "Madam, these are Sir's clothes. Can you keep them in his room?"
Dani looked at the clothes nervously and shook her head hastily, "No, I won't go..."
Bela looked at her in surprise and asked, "What's wrong, madam? Why won't you go to Sir's room? I just asked you to keep the clothes."
Dani tried to hide her nervousness and put her hand on Bela's shoulder, pushing her forward, "Yes, I know you just asked me to keep the clothes. But... but I'm begging you, take these ironed clothes and leave immediately and... 'O woman, come back tomorrow'."
Until noon, Dani stayed locked in her room, thinking about what to do. She couldn't hide like this all day. Finally, she decided to talk to Zen about it in the evening and apologize.
When she came out of her room, she saw everyone busy with their work. To feel a bit refreshed, she headed towards the garden area. There, she looked at the colorful flower beds, which gave her a strange sense of peace. Then her eyes fell on the wild grass growing in a corner of the garden. Among the beautiful and clean garden, this wild grass didn't look good at all.
Dani looked around, found a tool to dig the soil, and went straight to that wild grass. She pulled out all the wild grass, cleaned the soil, and planted ridge gourd seeds there.
After finishing, she brushed off her hands, looked at the place, and smiled, "Well, in a few days, there will be ridge gourd plants here. Then I'll make a vegetable dish with my hands and feed everyone."
When Dani returned home, she saw that the servants were still cleaning the entire hall. She thought to herself, "Wow! They clean so much. There isn't that much dirt here. But, anyway, it's their job. Good, someone is doing their job honestly."
Lost in her thoughts, she slowly moved towards her room. She felt that everyone here had their work, and they were doing it with dedication. But Dani? She had no work to do. Whenever she tried to do something, the servants immediately took over.
She thought, "I can't live like this in this house. Even though I came here as his wife, it doesn't mean I'll stay here as a burden. "
With her self-respecting attitude, she picked up her purse and stepped out of the house, thinking.
Bablu, the driver, wanted to accompany her, but Dani raised her hand and refused, saying, "No, I'm going to the nearby market, I'll walk."
At the market, Dani bought fresh and green vegetables for home. She liked to take only fresh things. After buying vegetables, her eyes fell on a small beauty parlour at the corner of the market, where the owner was sitting outside. The woman's face showed despair.
Dani approached her and said, "What's wrong, auntie? Why are you upset?"
The woman took a deep breath and said, "What to say, beta? I'm old now, and I don't have the strength in my hands. Girls come, but I can't service them properly. I can't even shape eyebrows or do facials. That's why my parlour is running in loss. This is my only livelihood, and if this closes, what will I do?"
Dani thought for a moment and said, "Auntie, if you say, can I work in your parlour? I know how to shape eyebrows, and I'll learn facial and other things from YouTube. If you give me a job, I'll be very grateful. I really need work right now. Whatever salary you give, I'll accept it."
The woman was very happy to hear Dani's words and said smiling, "If you want to work, I have no problem! We'll share the client's money equally. This way, both of us will manage. Let's do it, you can start working from tomorrow."
"Thank you, auntie, very much!" Dani said smiling and then both exchanged phone numbers. Returning home, Dani was very happy. She got a job. The size of the job didn't matter to her; for her, doing the job honestly was the most important thing.
On the way, she thought it was good that she got this job. The parlour was near her home, so she could take care of Zen while working.
When she entered home, she saw that the servants were still cleaning. She quickly took out the fresh vegetables and other items. As soon as Bela came to the kitchen, Dani stopped her and said she would cook today. She wanted to cook and apologize to Zen for his morning behavior.
She remembered how Zen had eaten half-cooked food the last few days. Dani thought she would feed him spicy and tasty food today. She made spicy vegetables and freshly ground chutney for Zen. After arranging all the food on the dining table, she waited for Zen to return.
She sat on the chair at the dining table, expecting Zen to come by 10 pm, as she had heard from Bela and other servants. But for the last two days, she had seen that Zen didn't have a fixed time to come home.
Still, like a good wife, she worried about Zen and couldn't eat without him. So she sat and waited.
It was quite late, and Dani's eyes drooped while waiting.
Outside, Zen's car stopped. Today, he had a business meeting and a dinner party, and he was quite tired. As he stepped out of the car and moved towards the house, his eyes fell on the garden area. The sight in front of him made his face stern.
He entered the house quickly. As he entered the hall, his eyes fell on the dining table, where Dani's face was visible in a dim light. The entire hall was dark, but in the emergency light, Dani's face glowed.
Zen's footsteps stopped, and his eyes stuck to Dani. Was someone waiting for him? Did anyone care about his arrival?
He slowly moved towards her, gazing at her face more deeply with every step. He felt a strange sensation within himself, with the feeling that Dani was waiting for him. The dinner set on the table confirmed that she was waiting to have dinner with him.
As Zen approached her, Dani's sleep was disturbed by the footsteps. She woke up hastily and saw Zen standing in front of her. She quickly got up, rubbing her sleepy face and speaking in a nervous tone, "You have arrived... Please sit down, I'll warm up the food."
But then Zen remembered something and said sternly, "What did you do with my bulbs?"
Dani's hands stopped on the dinner set, and she looked at Zen in surprise, "Bulbs? Which bulbs? I didn't touch any bulb."
Zen said angrily, "The bulbs I planted in the garden. What did you do with them? I know you did it. No one else would dare do it. So tell me, what did you do with my bulbs?"
Dani was shocked and said, "I'm telling you, sir, I didn't touch any bulb in the garden. See, all the bulbs are in their place and lit up. Am I crazy to touch electric bulbs? I won't get a shock?"
Zen held his head and said, "Oh, crazy girl, I'm not talking about electric bulbs. I'm talking about plant bulbs! I got special orchid bulbs from Germany and planted them in the garden. Now they're not there. You must have done something. Tell me, what did you do? You know how expensive they were?"
Dani's eyes widened in surprise, and she said, "What? Those weren't wild grasses but foreign plants? I'm telling you, sir, I didn't know. I uprooted them thinking they were wild grasses and planted ridge gourd seeds there."
Zen's face turned red with anger. He said, furious, "What? You planted ridge gourds in place of 5 lakh orchids? Daddu, where did you put me?"
He controlled his anger and moved towards his room. Dani called out nervously, "A G..."
Zen stopped, turned around, and glared at Dani. Dani pointed to the food and said, "At least eat..."
Zen was very angry, but he controlled himself. He quickly returned to the dining table, lifted the lid of the vessel, and saw ridge gourd curry.
He looked at Dani angrily and said, "If you can't cook, learn from Bela. I don't need such useless food. If you can make something decent, that's fine; otherwise, eat what is made. Don't waste food. Anyway, apart from wasting, what do you know! You ruined my 5 lakh plants."
Saying this, Zen left angrily, and Dani watched him go, feeling astonished. Tears welled up in her eyes. She ran to the garden area and saw that all the orchid plants were thrown in a corner like trash, dried up. There was nothing left to grow again.
Meanwhile, Zen entered his room, threw off his coat, and sat on the sofa. He took out a cigarette pack and went to the balcony. He lit a cigarette and glanced at the garden, where Dani sat in front of the dry plants, crying.
Seeing this, Zen's heart melted a bit. He put out the cigarette between his lips and thought, "What a crazy girl... she humiliated me in front of my friends, slapped me, and ruined my expensive plants... and is crying herself."
Zen stood on the balcony of his room, looking down at Dhani in the garden. Seeing Dhani's tear-filled face, Zen couldn't understand why the woman was crying. First, she had tricked his grandfather and forced him into marriage, then she had humiliated him in front of his friends, and the slap from this morning... well, he would settle that later. Yet, she was shedding tears as if the world's sorrows had fallen upon her.
Dhani had no idea anyone was watching her from the balcony. After crying for a while, she wiped her tears and composed herself. She focused on the small plants in the garden, which now looked like wild grass. She noticed that some plants were scorched by the sun from above and seemed beyond recovery. However, the plants that were lower down still had some greenery left. Dhani thought that perhaps if she replanted them, some of them might become lush and green again, and perhaps a beautiful orchid plant might even grow.
Dhani wiped her tears and began replanting the plants that still had some life left in them. She sat there, replanting each one where she had dug them up.
Zen watched Dhani from his balcony, and only her. Dhani was unaware that Zen was sitting on the balcony, taking drags from his cigarette, watching her intently. Zen could see how Dhani, with the end of her sari tucked into her waist and bangles adorning her hands, was replanting the plants.
After midnight, Zen threw his remaining cigarette away and went inside to lie down. Dhani's face was before his eyes, but sleep was miles away. He eventually drifted off to sleep while lying in bed.
With the first light of dawn, some sounds reached Zen's ears, breaking his sleep. Stretching, he came out onto the balcony. As usual, preparing for his exercise, he took off his vest, placed it on a chair nearby, and placed his hands on the balcony railing to do push-ups. Just then, his gaze fell upon the garden, and he saw Dhani lying there on the ground.
Seeing her, Zen's eyes widened, and he mumbled, "Why is she sleeping in the garden? Doesn't she have a bed in her room?"
As if a memory struck him, he rushed down into the garden without a second thought, wearing only his trousers. In fact, Dhani had been busy replanting the plants all night, which had taken a toll on her health. She had taken two cold showers yesterday, and working in the garden all night had given her a fever.
When Dhani was replanting the plants, she had realized she wasn't feeling well. But when Zen had mentioned the cost of those plants, her illness seemed insignificant. If Dhani had that much money, she could perhaps buy good food and clothes for the children at the orphanage. Understanding the value of money, she had tried her best to save the plants, disregarding her own health.
When Zen reached the garden, he saw that Dhani's face was flushed with fever, and her lips were trembling slightly. Zen was frightened by this sight. He quickly picked Dhani up in his arms and carried her to his room.
Zen held Dhani's small body in his arms. Her face was pressed against his chest, and the faint, warm breaths escaping her lips were felt near Zen's heart. Zen glanced at Dhani, and as he looked at her small, pink lips, he felt a strange unease. Dhani's cheek was nestled against Zen's chest, and in her unconscious state, she was rubbing her face gently against his chest, causing Zen's heartbeat to quicken and a warmth to spread through him.
But in the next moment, he regained control of his emotions and began to carry Dhani inside. However, a hint of fear was visible on his face.
Zen feared that if his grandfather found out Dhani was unwell, he would blame Zen. Therefore, instead of taking her to Dhani's room, he brought her into his own.
Zen laid Dhani on the bed and began searching the first-aid box for fever medicine. As soon as he found the medicine, he hurried over to Dhani. He took the medicine in one hand and, using his other hand, put it in Dhani's mouth, saying, "Wake up, take the medicine."
Dhani's lips were slightly parted, and she was in such a poor state that she had no strength to do anything. Zen lacked patience; he couldn't wait for anything. So, he directly shoved the medicine into her mouth.
As the medicine entered Dhani's mouth and its bitterness spread across her tongue and her entire mouth, her eyes fluttered open. Her face contorted, clearly indicating that she could feel the bitterness of the medicine. Lifting herself slightly on her back, she turned her face away, trying to spit out the medicine. But before she could do so, Zen picked up a glass of water and brought it directly to her lips, saying, "Don't you dare spit it out."
Dhani genuinely wanted to spit out the bitter medicine, but she didn't dare do so in front of Zen. Unwillingly, she swallowed the medicine.
After drinking the water, Dhani slumped back onto the bed, and Zen watched her. As his face showed a slight movement, Zen shook his head and covered her with a blanket.
Under the effect of the medicine, Dhani's eyes began to close slowly, and she needed rest. Sweat started to form on her face. Zen felt that her fever was subsiding with the medicine's effect, and she was sleeping peacefully on the bed like a small kitten. Seeing her sleep like that, Zen took a deep breath and closed his eyes. At that moment, no one looking at Zen could guess what was going on in his mind.
When Dhani woke up, she saw that it was 2 PM. This meant that she, who had fallen asleep due to the medicine's effect in the morning, was now waking up in the afternoon. She felt that her fever was gone. But she hadn't eaten anything last night and had slept all day, so she was now feeling hungry. The medicine Zen had given her was probably very effective, as her fever had completely gone down, and she didn't feel tired. But now her stomach was rumbling, and she felt the need to eat.
As soon as Dhani placed her feet on the floor, she realized she was in Zen's room. Along with that, she remembered the plants. Adjusting her sari, she quickly got up and ran straight to the garden. First, she looked at the orchid plants. She saw that some plants had become lush and green like before, but some still had withered leaves. Seeing these plants, Dhani felt very sad, but she prayed silently that these plants would bloom again in a day or two.
When Dhani returned to her room, she saw Bela standing at the door with a mobile phone in her hands. Dhani looked at Bela in surprise. Bela extended the phone towards her and said, "Madam, it's the elder master calling. You weren't picking up your phone, so he called my number."
Dhani smiled, nodded, and held Bela's phone to her ear, saying, "Hello, Grandpa. How are you? Have you reached Kedarnath?"
From the other end, Grandpa said, "Yes, dear. I'm fine. I just reached Kedarnath Dham a little while ago. How are you? And how is Zen? Has he troubled you? If he has done anything, tell me. You don't need to hide anything from me. If he has caused you any pain, I will give him a good scolding. No one has the right to trouble my daughter-in-law, especially not Zen. He should be taking care of you. If he causes you trouble there, then what can we expect from anyone else? Tell me, has he done anything?"
Feeling Grandpa's concern and love, a smile spread across Dhani's face. She had always lived in an orphanage, and no one had ever cared for or loved her so much. Seeing Grandpa's affection, tears welled up in her eyes, which she tried to hide as she said, "No, Grandpa, you don't need to worry. Everything is fine here. He hasn't done anything wrong to me. You can rest assured, everything is fine here, and he is also very good. You complete your journey peacefully."
Grandpa was very happy to hear Dhani's words. He had never thought anyone would say such good things about his grandson. He had always worried about Zen. Seeing his behavior and attitude, he was always afraid that Zen might ruin his own life. Due to his friends and company, Grandpa was always concerned.
But now, with Dhani in his life, Grandpa's worry had lessened to some extent because, for the first time, someone had said that Zen was good. Grandpa's wish was that Dhani and Zen's relationship would be like the unbreakable bond between body and soul. He wanted their bond to be so deep that they would feel incomplete without each other, like "Soulmates in Shadow," where they would merge into each other's existence and lose themselves in each other, far from the rest of the world.
Grandpa felt a lot of peace after hearing Dhani, but he also knew very well that they couldn't make their marriage public for now. If they did, the biggest impact would be on Dhani. Dhani was a girl from a different world, and she might not be comfortable with this sudden change in environment. Zen had seen this world before, but for Dhani, all this was very new. Therefore, Grandpa wanted Dhani to become a full part of this world first, and only then would he present her to everyone as Zen's wife.
After talking for a little longer, Dhani put down the phone and went to her room to think about what to do next. In the evening, Dhani came to the kitchen and started making something light for herself. She wasn't accustomed to extravagance and didn't have a taste for expensive food, so she made gram flour fritters to enjoy with her evening tea.
As soon as she came out of the kitchen after making the fritters, Zen entered the house. Seeing him, Dhani's eyes widened. Zen didn't have a fixed time to come home, so why had he come home in the evening today?
Zen was staring at Dhani, and nervousness was evident on Dhani's face. She had ruined his entire garden and had also slapped him. Despite this, Zen had taken care of her during her illness. Dhani realized that Zen's attitude was very harsh and painful for her, but even so, when needed, he wasn't such a bad person.
Zen began to walk towards the stairs, ignoring her, but then Dhani stopped him from behind and said, "Hey..."
Zen's steps halted, and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He was angry and was about to say something, when Dhani extended the plate of fritters she was holding towards him, saying, "I've made fritters... would you like to eat them?"
Zen thought for a moment, as he had just said yesterday that Dhani's cooking was not fit for him to eat. But the next moment, when she saw Zen sit down at the dining table, her eyes widened. What did this mean? Did Zen actually want to eat the fritters she had made? Just thinking about this brought a slight smile to Dhani's face.
Dhani quickly came to the dining table and placed a plate in front of Zen, with a few fritters and green and red chutney on the side.
Zen glanced at the plate and then looked at Dhani, who was standing beside him. Staring at her, Zen said, "Are you going to stand there and count how many fritters I'm eating?"
Dhani was in her room at that moment, pacing restlessly. Her body ached from everything that had happened all day. She already had a fever, and on top of that, the sticky, earthy grime from tending to the garden had coated her skin. This is why she had decided to bathe. But credit to the tech-savvy people who had designed a bathroom that was so intimidating, one felt afraid even to wash their face, let alone bathe.
Dhani went inside the bathroom and started examining the system again. Now, she was so scared that she didn't even dare to touch the shower or anything else. Last time, cold water had come out by mistake; this time, she was afraid she might have an experience like the North Pole and that ice shards would start coming out of the shower. Thinking this, Dhani decided not to bathe with cold water, though she wasn't afraid of falling sick. But the way Zen had taken care of her and given her medicine made her reluctant to be a burden to anyone.
After looking at the system for a long time, Dhani became frustrated. She had to bathe; she wouldn't be able to sleep without it. Thinking this, she went out of the room. It was around 10 PM, and she didn't want to disturb Bela so late at night. Dhani could see that Bela managed all the household chores and supervised the staff well throughout the day.
Dhani went towards the living room sofa, where Zen was scrolling through his phone. She quietly went near Zen, stood at a distance, and softly said, "Hey!"
Zen, who was watching reels on Instagram at that moment, suddenly stopped talking and stared at her. Dhani said in a nervous voice, "Will you come to the bathroom with me?"
"What?" Zen exclaimed, startled, and sat up. Staring at her, he asked, "What nonsense are you talking? I should come to the bathroom with you? Why?"
Dhani said innocently, "I need to bathe, and I need your help."
Staring at her, Zen said, "You need to bathe, so do you want me to come into the bathroom with you and apply soap to your body?"
"Ugh! What are you saying!" Dhani said shyly. "I'm not saying anything like that. I just need you to tell me how to get hot water in the bathroom. There's so much science installed that I don't understand where the water comes from. I'm having to bathe with cold water!"
Staring at her, Zen said, "Am I a cooker, that I'll heat water for you?"
Hearing his words, Dhani said with a strange expression, "Big people, big talk! They even heat water in a cooker!"
When Zen stared at her, Dhani quickly blinked her eyes, composed herself, and said, "Forget it, whatever I need to do, you people figure it out. Just tell me how to get hot water."
"I don't need to help you. Do I look helpless to you?" Zen said.
"Now go away, don't bother me. There was a good reel of 'Kacha Badam' coming, and I missed it because of you. Now go away!"
Zen lay back on the sofa and started scrolling through social media on his phone. Seeing him like this, Dhani pouted and glared at him, saying, "Your face looks like a peanut, but you like 'Kacha Badam'!"
Dhani left from there. Unwillingly, she had to call Bela for help so late at night. Bela was almost asleep, but when Dhani told her she needed help with the hot water, Bela said she should go to the bathroom, and she would be there in two minutes.
Dhani returned to her bathroom and started looking at all the devices once again. Her mind got confused again about where the hot water would come from. Dhani thought that instead of racking her brain, it would be better to heat water on the gas stove in the kitchen. But the kitchen was downstairs, and by the time she brought hot water from downstairs and came back up, it would cool down. Dhani's mind wasn't working about what she should and shouldn't do.
Just then, her hand accidentally touched the sensor, and cold water started filling the bathtub. Seeing this, Dhani hit her head.
"Oh God! When I tell you how many more troubles will come into my life, I'm not challenging you; I'm just sharing my feelings. I don't know why you take it as a challenge! As soon as one problem leaves my life, you bring in another. Are you trying to kill children? Please, just stop!"
Dhani came near the bathtub while saying this. She felt the water by touching it and found it to be cold, and the entire bathtub was filled with cold water. Seeing this, she closed her eyes tightly.
She was about to leave in anger when suddenly the door opened, and Zen entered the bathroom. Seeing Zen, Dhani's steps froze in place, and she looked at him in surprise.
Zen glanced at Dhani and then his gaze fell on the water filled in the bathtub. Staring at Dhani, he came inside the bathroom and said, "So you were fooling me? This is not surprising to me. It's so easy to fool you people. Just like you fooled Dada, you're trying to fool me! A little while ago, you came downstairs and told me you didn't know how to turn on the water in the bathroom, and here you are, sitting with a bathtub full of water. I must say, you're an expert at making up stories!"
Dhani looked at him and said, "You're misunderstanding, Ji. I just don't know how to turn on the hot water, otherwise, even I know how to turn on the cold water..."
Before Dhani could finish her words, Zen picked up the hand shower and turned it on, showering Dhani with water. Zen held the hand shower in his hands, and Dhani started getting drenched in the shower water.
She looked at Zen with frightened eyes and said, "What are you doing? I'm unwell, and you're drenching me in cold water! Please, don't do this. I'll get sicker."
But Zen had a mischievous smile on his face. He increased the shower water and said, "As far as I know, you've been in this house for three days, and you've been bathing with cold water for three days. So what's the problem now? Look how cold the water is, enjoy it!"
Dhani's pink saree clung to her body, and her face trembled from the cold. The drops of cold water on her pink lips and her closed eyes were drawing Zen's attention at that moment. Dhani couldn't give up like this. Composing herself, she tried to take the shower from Zen's hand, but due to her short height, she couldn't reach the shower properly. Seeing her come closer, Zen raised his hands further, increasing Dhani's struggle.
Dhani was pressed against Zen's body, and she was trying to reach the shower by stretching out her hands and jumping. In this tug-of-war, her balance was lost, and because the bathroom was wet, Zen also couldn't maintain his balance. Dhani supported him with both her hands, but in this tug-of-war, both of them fell directly into the bathtub, which was already filled with cold water.
Dhani and Zen fell into the bathtub, embracing each other. Dhani's saree pallu slipped from her shoulders and began to float, and when Dhani pulled Zen's shirt, all the buttons on his shirt broke, opening his shirt from the front.
Dhani looked at herself. She was drenched in cold water and remembered that she was ill. In such a condition, she wouldn't be able to tolerate more cold water. She looked at Zen in anger and said with a little annoyance, "What have you done? I'm trying to get better here, and you want to make me sicker? If I get sicker, who will take care of you?"
Zen was looking at Dhani in surprise. Was Dhani afraid of falling sick only because if she did, who would take care of her? His gaze was fixed on Dhani, and Dhani's eyes, which were squinted from the cold, were also fixed on Zen.
Their attention was broken when the door opened, and Bela walked in. Bela was stunned by the scene in front of her.
Bela quickly turned her face away. Seeing this sight, she was both flustered and a faint smile appeared on her face. Bela immediately left the bathroom. After she left, Dhani looked at Zen angrily and said, "Why are you doing this to me? What wrong have I done to you? I just want to take care of you, look after you. Tell me, what is my mistake in this?"
Zen kept looking at Dhani in surprise. His gaze was on Dhani's disheveled pallu, and a strange emotion was surfacing in his eyes. Even the cold water was giving Zen a feeling of molten lava erupting within him.
Zen's attention was broken when he saw that the same boiling lava was reflecting in Dhani's eyes. It seemed that Dhani was genuinely angry about today's mishap, which is why she was talking to Zen in the tone of an offended wife. Such a typical Indian wife.
Zen was taken aback by Dhani's words. Was she afraid of falling ill just because she had to take care of him? Dhani's face had a streak of anger, and Zen was watching her in surprise. He slowly stood up and exited WhatsApp. He picked up the towel placed beside him and put another towel by the bathtub, saying, "Little girl, get ready quickly and come to my room."
As he said this, Zen quickly exited the bathroom. He couldn't adjust to this atmosphere. Seeing Dhani's worsening condition in front of him made him feel uneasy. He wanted to get out of this discomfort.
But before he could leave, Dhani expressed her anger and said in a shaky voice, "Why would I come to your room? And, by the way, I'm not a little girl. Call me by my name."
Zen's face twisted, "Based on how you act, you're just like a little girl. So, from today, your name is Little Girl. Stop dramatizing and get ready to come to my room."
The moment he finished speaking, Zen quickly left.
Dhani watched Zen leave, still angry. Then she got out of the bathtub, but when she saw herself in the mirror, her eyes widened. Her sari's pallu had slipped from her chest, and she felt embarrassed. She quickly adjusted her pallu and covered herself.
She entered her room to find clothes and medicines prepared for her. Bela had arranged these. She quickly changed and took the medicine to prevent a fever from the cold. Remembering Zen's call to his room made her realize she had to go.
She walked slowly to Zen's room, feeling strange. Zen was lying on his bed, his eyes closed. He looked ideal and innocent when asleep, unlike when he was awake and intimidating.
Dhani entered Zen's room quietly, but her steps stopped. She looked at Zen in surprise. She recalled their previous encounter and Zen's slap. He hadn't said anything about it yet.
As she thought this, the room's light turned on, and Zen sat up. Dhani was scared and quickly said, "Don't hit...don't hit...I didn't do it on purpose..."
Zen's eyebrows furrowed, and he said angrily, "Am I hitting you? Don't say this to anyone; otherwise, it will seem like I'm a cruel person who hits my wife. And what are you doing in my room? You didn't let me sleep last night, and now again."
Dhani looked scared and said, "I wouldn't disturb you, sir. I came because you called me to your room from the bathroom."
Zen remembered and said, sighing deeply, "Yes, I called you. Come here."
Zen's call made Dhani surprised. She slowly backed away, saying, "Why, sir? Why should I come? Are you going to hit me?"
Zen's face filled with anger, and he controlled his temper. He said, "If you say that word once more, even if I didn't plan to hit you, I might end up doing so."
Scared but trying to be brave, Dhani slowly approached Zen. She stood by the bed, and Zen asked her to sit. Dhani sat down, fearfully. She had one leg near the door, ready to run if Zen threatened or hit her.
Zen looked at Dhani and said, "We're married."
"Pardon me, sir, but you don't seem to accept it," Dhani replied nervously.
Zen continued, "Yes, I know, but listen carefully. We're married; that means we're husband and wife. And a husband and wife should live together."
Dhani's eyes widened as she looked at Zen in confusion. "What are you saying? You threw me out of the room; now you want me to live with you in your room?"
Zen asked, "Don't you want that?"
Dhani thought about it, unsure why Zen had changed his mind. Was he still planning to avenge the slap? She didn't want to provoke him.
Zen added, "Fine, then return my money."
Dhani was shocked and asked, "What money? I didn't take any money from you. You're saying something wrong. I haven't taken a single rupee from you."
Zen replied, "You didn't take one rupee, but you ruined my $500,000. You destroyed my entire orchid garden. So you need to compensate me."
Dhani's face showed her confusion and fear. She had no idea how to get such a large sum.
The next morning...
Dhani sat on the sofa, thinking about Zen. She was still reeling from his proposal the previous night.
Just then, she heard Promila Mam's voice, "Dhani!"
Dhani was startled. When she looked, she saw Promila Mam standing with Suman, a friend from the orphanage. They were carrying big packets.
Dhani rushed to Promila Mam, who hugged her. Promila Mam was like a family to her.
Promila Mam said, "Dhani, why are you crying? We didn't come here to see your tears. Look, I brought Suman to meet you. You weren't at her wedding, so I brought her to meet you as soon as I returned to the orphanage."
Dhani tried to hold back her tears and smiled. She took Promila Mam and Suman inside.
Promila Mam placed the packets on the sofa and said, "Dhani, these are from everyone at the orphanage. It's a wedding gift for you and your husband."
Dhani was surprised and said, "Mam, please, there was no need to bring all this. You did so much at the wedding; there's no need for more. Please, Mam, don't bring any gifts from now on; otherwise, I'll get annoyed."
Promila Mam smiled and said, "Okay, I won't bring any gifts from now on. But we can't come empty-handed; tell me, where's your husband? I came here to talk to him from the orphanage."
Dhani replied, "Mam, he's probably sleeping. His morning starts at 10:00 am. Do you want me to wake him up?"
Promila Mam said, "No need; I'll see your house and go. We're in no hurry."
Bela arrived with tea then. As Bela put the tray on the table, Dhani said, "Bela didi, show Mam around the house; I'll talk to Suman."
Bela nodded and left with Promila Mam. Suman sat beside Dhani and asked, "So, what happened on your first night of marriage?"
Suman was sitting in front of Dhani and she was excitedly telling Dhani, "Arre yaar, there will be talks, but first of all, tell me, how was your Suhag Raat?"
As soon as the mention of Suhag Raat was heard, Dhani's hair stood on end. While recalling her and Jen's first night of marriage, Dhani's whole face again went into those memories, and she once again felt the nervousness she had felt when she had to meet Jen in his room and sleep on the balcony the whole night. As she recalled all this, everything seemed to be happening in front of her eyes again. Without saying anything, Suman shook her and said, "Arre, what's wrong? Why aren't you talking?"
Dhani suddenly came to her senses and looked at Suman. She shook her head and said, "No, I wasn't thinking about anything."
Suman pushed her shoulder with her own and said in a mischievous tone, "Okay, you are lying to me. Tell the truth, you were thinking about your Suhag Raat. How did Jija Ji come and disturb you the whole night? You must have been thinking about him again and again. Come on, tell me what happened that night?"
Dhani said nervously, "No, nothing like what you think happened."
Suman laughed at her words and said, "Arre yaar, I didn't think anything. My mind doesn't work in such matters. I was just waiting for you to tell me so that I can think about what could have happened. Tell me, where did it start?"
Dhani was panicked and looked at Suman with fear. She tried to recall. She remembered that Jen had come into the room. She looked at Suman and said, "That night, he came into the room first."
This time Suman exclaimed, "Yes, he must have come into the room first. Whatever happened would have happened after coming into the room. What happened next?"
Then Dhani went into lost thoughts and said in amazement, "After that, he came to me and held my wrist."
"Oh my God! Jiju held your wrist? What happened next?" Suman asked excitedly, and Dhani was just thinking about what to say next. After holding her wrist, Jen took her straight to the balcony and left her there. Dhani had spent the whole night under the cold sky. She looked at Suman in wonder, but before she could say anything else, a powerful and heart-stopping voice came from behind.
"What are you listening to, Sali Sahiba? If you want, I can show you practically."
Both Suman and Dhani's eyes widened as they saw Jen, and they stood up from their place. There was fear on both their faces. Although Suman had a slight fear, but Dhani... her condition was something else. Her face had turned pale. Jen looked at her with a piercing gaze.
Just then, Bela and Mrs. Pramila arrived. Mrs. Pramila said to Jen, "Jen, beta, you are up? I came to meet you. Actually, your grandfather called me. He asked me to talk to you about the ashram. Actually, we need some things in the ashram, for which I have brought a list."
Jen's piercing gaze was still on Dhani, but he nodded slightly and said, "Yes, of course. Whatever you need for the ashram, you can give the list to my assistant. He will arrange the things."
There was still fear on Dhani's face. Bela said to Mrs. Pramila, "Madam, breakfast is ready. You can have it and go."
Mrs. Pramila said, "No, Bela ji. We won't eat. We don't drink the water of the daughter-in-law's house."
Jen said, "These are all old things. I don't believe in them. And as far as I think, you have come here for the ashram's work. If you really consider this as the daughter-in-law's house, then you don't need to discuss the ashram here. You are representing the ashram, so I don't think this dialogue suits here. Breakfast is ready, so have it."
Then Dhani quickly held Suman's hand and took her to the dining table. She said, "Yes, Madam, let's have it together. It's been a long time since I have eaten and talked with you people. Come on, let's have breakfast. Bela, let's have it quickly."
Dhani's mind was to talk a lot at the dining table, but her attention was only on Jen. And seeing Jen's angry eyes, Dhani couldn't even swallow her food. But Suman was having a great time seeing them like this.
After breakfast, everyone was standing at the door. Actually, Mrs. Pramila and Suman were leaving. After meeting Mrs. Pramila, Dhani hugged Suman. While hugging, Suman said in her ear, "Today I didn't get a chance, but when you come to the ashram, tell me in detail what happened on your Suhag Raat."
Mrs. Pramila took Suman and left. After they left, only Jen and Dhani were there. Then Jen looked at Dhani with a piercing gaze. Dhani quickly adjusted her saree and ran towards the stairs.
Seeing her run like this, Jen said to himself, "Run wherever you want, but you can't escape from Jen Malviya."
Dhani had run away from there, and Zen was just staring at her. After that, Zen left for the office. Actually, he had planned something, for which he had to wait for the night. When he returned home at night, Dhani was not seen in the living room. A devilish smile spread across Zen's face. He glanced at Bela. Bela nodded nervously. Actually, what happened was that after Zen left for the office, Bela had gone into Dhani's room and handed her a list. This was the same list that Dhani was supposed to do at home all day.
When Dhani read the list, she was shocked. It included cleaning the curtains, cleaning the sofa cushion covers and table covers, cleaning the wardrobe and the clothes inside it, and separately cleaning the clothes in the laundry basket. Zen's coat, tie, pants, and socks also had to be cleaned properly and put back in their respective places.
The biggest surprise was that Dhani also had to clean Zen's wardrobe, dressing table, and the household items on the balcony. Dhani spent the entire day doing this. She had been cleaning Zen's room since morning, and despite so much cleaning, she was exhausted. But in the evening, her condition worsened when Bela told her that she had to cook for Zen. She looked at Bela in surprise because she knew Zen would never eat food cooked by her. He had already said that Dhani didn't cook well. Pakoras were an exception.
Zen liked pakoras. He would even eat roadside pakoras, so how could he refuse homemade ones? But he wanted food to eat. When Dhani saw the list, her eyes widened even further. The list stated that Zen should not be given fried food. He preferred boiled food. His meals should always be diet-conscious. He didn't eat high-calorie food, didn't like much sweetness, and absolutely couldn't tolerate spicy food. There should be no salt in his food, and he strictly hated oil.
Seeing the list of so many picky eating habits, Dhani banged her head in surprise and said, "What should I give this person to eat? Air? I won't add oil, won't add spices, won't add salt, so how will I cook? And will I temper it with water?"
Despite being surrounded by so many problems, she saw a ray of hope in her house—that was Bela. Seeing Bela, she gave her a pleading look. Bela burst into laughter. She nodded yes because she had been cooking for Zen for quite some time. That's why she helped Dhani with the cooking.
Dhani was surprised to see how Zen could eat all these boiled and raw vegetables. But still, the fact that Zen ate the food he liked and was satisfied with a full meal was the greatest satisfaction for Dhani. Despite not wanting to, she, along with Bela, made that strangely continental food and waited for Zen to arrive.
But then the landline in the living room started ringing. She knew who could be calling at this time. Smiling, she went to the landline, picked up the phone, and said, "Hello, Grandpa! Have you reached Kedarnath?"
Grandpa replied with a smile from the other end, "Dhani, dear, you knew I would call?"
"Yes, Grandpa, I knew you would definitely call. You didn't talk to me all day yesterday, and it's impossible for you to go more than two days without talking to me."
Grandpa laughed and said, "Well, that's good. My grandson hasn't understood me yet, but my daughter-in-law understood me two days after arriving. Yes, dear, I have reached Kedarnath and had a very good darshan. Okay, dear, I need to tell you something. Is Zen there?"
Dhani quickly replied, "No, Grandpa, he hasn't returned home from the office yet. I am waiting for him. Please tell me, what is it?"
Grandpa said, "Actually, the thing is, my cousin is coming home tomorrow. He wants to meet you and Zen. Actually, he was invited to the wedding, but due to some family issues, he couldn't make it. Since I will be here for another week, I want you to take good care of him. And yes, don't think of him as separate from me. He knows everything about Zen and about you. But still, Zen is a bit cold. I know he is a rascal, but my daughter-in-law is sensible. I know my Dhani will definitely handle this. Remember one thing, dear, any differences within the house should stay within the family. Outsiders should not get any news of this. Make sure my cousin doesn't find out about all this."
Dhani fell into thought. Zen's attitude towards her was already cold, and on top of that, Grandpa's cousin was coming home. This meant there should be no lapse in hospitality. But how would she hide the truth of their relationship from outsiders, given how Zen treated her?
But somehow, Grandpa had trusted her. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa. I will handle everything. You just complete your journey."
She thought she would talk to Zen about this calmly. But then she remembered that Zen had given her a one-day ultimatum: she had to tell him by tonight whether she would stay in his room with him or not. And thinking about this made Dhani's condition even worse.
It was a dilemma – caught between a rock and a hard place. She quickly went to her room. After changing her saree, she wore a light suit and plazo. Wrapping her dupatta around her neck, she paced around the room, thinking about what to tell Zen.
On one hand, Grandpa's cousin was coming home, and on the other, Zen's ultimatum. Dhani was going crazy. But then she heard the sound of Zen's car, and her heart started pounding. She quickly got onto her bed, closed her eyes, and lay down so that Zen would think she was asleep. She would get one more day. "We'll see what happens after Grandpa's cousin arrives tomorrow. But for now, I don't want to go to Zen's room," she thought to herself.
Just then, she heard the sound of shoes near the door, and she quickly closed her eyes tightly. Dhani heard the sound of the door opening, and as she expected, Zen was standing at the door.
Zen had come straight from the office to the living room and then to Dhani's room. When he saw Dhani like that, he understood that Dhani wasn't asleep but was pretending to sleep.
Dhani was no less of an actress. As soon as she lay down on the bed, she was reacting as if she had drunk a whole bottle of sleeping pills. There was no movement in her body, nor were her expressions changing.
Seeing all this, Zen chuckled. He slowly approached Dhani and sat right in front of her. He didn't make any noise. After two minutes, when Dhani thought Zen might have come into the room and left, she slowly opened one eye and looked towards the door.
Seeing no one at the door, she let out a sigh of relief and turned over, straightening up. But as soon as she saw Zen standing on the other side of the bed, she immediately closed her eyes tightly.
"I know you are not asleep, you are pretending to sleep. Open your eyes," Zen said sternly.
Dhani understood that she had been caught. She immediately opened her eyes, sat up, and looked at Zen with her shimmering eyes.
Zen stood before her like a grumpy old man. Folding his arms, he said, "What were you saying to your friend? What did I do to you on our wedding night?"
Dhani was flabbergasted. She felt as if she was sweating even in this room. She nervously said, "N... no, I wasn't saying anything to her. It was she who was talking. Believe me, I didn't say anything to her."
Zen stared at her and said, "So, what I heard was wrong? Weren't you telling your friend how I came into the room and held your hand?"
Dhani quickly replied, "Yes! What's wrong with that? You did come into the room, and you did hold my hand. But I didn't tell her anything beyond that. Nor did I intend to tell her anything. Anyway, what would I have told her when nothing happened between us?"
Hearing her, Zen took a deep breath and said with a little anger, "So you want something to happen between us?"
Dhani looked at him in surprise and asked innocently, "What will happen between us? What can happen? Ever since I came into this house, nothing has happened between us except fights."
Hearing her, Zen suddenly bent down and pulled her by the waist. Dhani didn't even get a chance to compose herself. Now she was very close to Zen, so close that she could feel his breath.
She looked at Zen with wide eyes. Her mouth was wide open. Zen had one arm wrapped around her waist. Looking deep into her eyes, he said, "A lot can happen between us if you want it to. But for that, your desire is necessary. Do you want that?"
Dhani's nervousness increased. She asked with a slight tremble, "Wh-what, sir?"
With his devilish smile, Zen looked into her eyes and replied, "Do you want to sleep with me?"
Hearing this, Dhani's face turned completely red. She didn't understand what to say. Her gaze lowered, and her voice became soft.
"What are you saying... I... I..." she stammered.
Zen gently lifted her chin and forced her to look at him, saying, "I asked a direct question. Yes or no?"
Dhani said with a tremble, "I... I don't know."
Zen looked at her for a moment after hearing her. Then, with a slight smile, he said, "Okay. You can think about it if you want, but first, come to my room. I have something important to discuss with you."
Saying this, he gently released her and left the room. Dhani remained seated on the bed. Her heart was pounding so hard that she felt it would jump out.
After Zen left, she took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart. But Zen's words echoed in her mind. "Do you want to sleep with me?"
Zen was sitting on the sofa in his room. Dhani stood in front of him, flustered. Zen had called her into the room. As soon as Dhani arrived, Zen asked again, "Will you stay with me in my room?" Dhani was troubled. She couldn't understand why Zen wanted her to stay. Just then, her expression changed. She looked at Zen with surprise.
Zen saw the expression on her face. He understood what must be going on in this foolish girl's small mind. He closed his eyes and said irritably, "No need to overthink. I have no interest in you."
"No interest...? When did I say you should show interest in me? I was just asking what you want? Where should I stay in your room? You don't like anyone touching your things, so how can I stay here?" Dhani said with surprise and innocence.
Zen said, "Yes, I absolutely cannot tolerate anyone touching my things. But for you, I can adjust. And as for staying, you can sleep on my bed."
Dhani looked at Zen's bed with surprise. How beautifully decorated it was with flowers on their wedding night, but now there was nothing on it except the sheet. She looked at the large bed in surprise and then said to Zen, "So will we both sleep on the bed?"
"Why, don't you want to sleep on the bed?" Zen said.
Dhani said nervously, "No, it's not like that. I have to sleep on the bed. But if you and I sleep on the bed, will we sleep together? But how can that happen? You just said you have no interest in me."
Zen held his head. "Where should I bang my head against the wall..." Zen thought to himself.
Dhani said, "Okay, okay. You don't need to worry. I understand. We both have to sleep on the bed, but we'll make a pillow wall in between so that we don't touch each other."
Zen let out a deep sigh, stood up from his place, and said, "Do whatever you want, just go and sleep quietly. Otherwise, I will definitely collect the money for the garden you ruined."
Dhani became instantly flustered and quickly climbed onto the bed. She had come from her room after taking medicine. So, as soon as she lay down on the bed, the effect of the medicine made her fall asleep quickly. Zen's eyes widened in surprise. The girl slept comfortably on his bed. And that too so quickly? Is she a girl or Kumbhakarna?
After having a drink, Zen went to the balcony. Leaning against the balcony railing, he started taking puffs of his cigarette. But his gaze was fixed on Dhani, sleeping on his bed. His gaze was hardening at that moment. He glanced towards the main door of his house, where security had just opened the door and a car had entered the house. Seeing the car, a devilish smile appeared on Zen's face.
He threw his cigarette there and quickly came inside the room. He lay down near the bed and first removed the pillow wall placed between them. Zen slowly slipped under Dhani's sheet and put one hand on Dhani's shoulder. After doing all this, Zen closed his eyes and prepared himself for what was about to happen.
After 2 minutes, the door to his room opened, and someone peered into the room. But when he saw the two people sleeping on the bed, a smile appeared on his face. He quickly took out his phone and took a picture of them with his phone camera.
He gently closed the room door so as not to disturb their sleep. As soon as the person came out, he sent the picture to a number and wrote, "Everything is fine, Grandfather."
As soon as the room door closed, Zen's eyes opened. He gave a devilish smile looking at the closed door. His face had mixed expressions. But the second time he looked at Dhani, all his expressions changed. He was looking at Dhani with
Zen was having breakfast. Dhani approached him with a bit of hesitation and said, "Dadaji called me. He told me that his cousin, that is, my grandfather, is coming to our house to eat today. So, can't we just pretend to be a good husband and wife in front of him?"
Zen replied while having his breakfast, "No."
Dhani's face filled with sadness. She said slowly, "But why? He's your grandfather, a part of your family."
Zen replied in a cold tone, "I don't care."
Dhani looked at him blankly. She was surprised that Zen could be so indifferent even with his family. She gathered her courage again and said, "You had promised Dadaji that the bitterness of our relationship wouldn't be visible to outsiders, and especially not to relatives. Grandfather is old. If he sees the truth about our relationship, it might affect his health."
Zen listened to her and said with a sarcastic smile on his face, "Alright, I can act like a normal couple with you for a day, but in return, you have to do something for me."
Dhani quickly said, "I'll do anything you say."
Zen looked at her with dangerous eyes and said, "Alright, you have to leave this house. Say it, is it okay?"
Dhani's eyes widened. She looked at him in disbelief. They had just got married a few days ago, and in that time, she had only faced difficulties. But she had never even thought of leaving Zen. She had accepted the marriage from the bottom of her heart. She said in surprise, "What are you saying? How can I leave you? I promised Dadaji that I would take care of you as your wife."
Zen laughed loudly after hearing her. "Do you think I need your care? Before you came, Bela used to manage this house. She was much more experienced than you. At least she didn't ruin my garden. This house was fine before and will be fine after.
Dhani realized that Zen really disliked her. He could go to any extent to get her out of his life. Zen said sarcastically, "Look, Dhani, I won't beat around the bush. This marriage happened against my will. I did it only for Dadaji's happiness. There is no happiness or my will in it. You have no importance in my life."
"If you agree to leave this house, I promise you - you won't have to live in an orphanage again. I will get you a house in Mumbai and send you money for your expenses every month."
Dhani looked at him in surprise. How could Zen say these things with so much confidence? Didn't he realize how his decision would affect Dadaji?
Tears came into Dhani's eyes, which she tried to control with great difficulty. She said while controlling her emotions, "Alright, I agree to your condition. But I also have a condition."
Zen said laughing, "I expected this from you. No one can beat you at earning money. Tell me, what's your condition?"
Dhani took a deep breath and said while composing herself, "I don't need your house. My only condition is - Grandfather shouldn't find out about our relationship. We will appear as a normal husband and wife in front of him. For him and Dadaji, I want you to agree to this one thing. If you're ready, I'll make my own arrangements. I don't need your money. I can take care of myself like I used to before."
Zen looked at her deeply and then shrugged and said, "Alright. If you have no problem, then I have no problem."
Dhani breathed a sigh of relief, but pain still reflected on her face.
By noon, the elderly grandfather had arrived. He was the elder brother of Dadaji and seemed much older than him. He walked with the support of a stick, and his face had deep wrinkles. Dadaji didn't look that old. Only his hair had turned white, but his face still had a special glow.
As soon as he entered the house, Dhani moved forward to touch his feet. Dadaji smiled seeing this. He thought, "Dhani is really a cultured girl. More than what my brother told me."
Dhani had covered her head with the pallu of her saree while touching his feet. Dadaji was very happy to see this.
Dhani said smiling to the elderly grandfather, "Namaste, Dadaji. I'm Dhani."
The elderly grandfather placed his hand on her head and said smiling, "You don't need to introduce yourself, beta. Utkarsh had sent your photo and told me about you. We're very happy to see that our house's daughter-in-law is so cultured."
Then the elderly grandfather's eyes fell on Zen, who stood nearby with no particular expression on his face. When Zen saw that the elderly grandfather was looking at him, he moved forward slightly irritated. He bowed slightly and touched his knees and said, "Namaste, Dadaji."
But the next moment, the elderly grandfather hit Zen's shoulder with the tip of his stick and said, "If you're touching feet, do it properly. You can't get blessings by showing off like this. If you can't touch feet, learn from our daughter-in-law."
Irritation was clearly visible on Zen's face, but he silently obeyed the elderly grandfather's words and bowed properly to touch his feet. Dhani stood silently watching all this, but inside she was smiling.
