~ You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~

~~~

The first rays of sunlight crept through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Aaradhya stirred in her sleep, her brows furrowing slightly as she slowly blinked awake.

For a brief moment, she was disoriented. The unfamiliar ceiling, the grand room, the soft scent of fresh flowers in the air—it all felt foreign.

And then, reality sank in.

She was married.

This was her new home now.

The thought made her chest feel tight, but she took a deep breath and sat up. He was still asleep beside her, his breathing even. She carefully got out of bed, trying not to make any noise. she looked into the bedside table and took her phone to look at the time, it was 5:45 A.M.

As she stood, she realized that last night, in her nervousness, she hadn't even properly looked around her new space. Now that she had time, she decided to explore.

The room was massive, decorated in neutral shades of black, Grey and gold , exuding elegance. A soft, warm glow from the morning light made it feel peaceful.

As she walked around, she found herself drawn to the large balcony. Pushing the glass doors open, she stepped outside, inhaling the crisp morning air.

A swing sat in one corner, surrounded by potted plants. The sight made her smile. She had always loved swings—there was something soothing about them.

She ran her fingers over the smooth wood and imagined sitting there with a book, lost in a world of her own.

Moving back inside, she saw the closet attached to the bathroom.

She let out a slow breath. She needed to get ready.

Stepping into the bathroom, she took a warm shower, letting the water wash away her exhaustion. She chose a soft light pink saree, simple yet elegant—something fitting for her first morning as a newlywed.

By the time Aaradhya stepped out, drying her hair with a towel, she heard a voice from the balcony.

She turned and saw her husband standing there, speaking on the phone, his expression serious. He looked completely different from the man who had reassured her last night.

This was the side of him the world saw—the businessman, the powerful man people feared.

Not wanting to disturb him, she sat down at the vanity and started applying her skincare. It was something she had done every day for years, a small habit that brought her comfort. She carefully dried her hair, making sure it didn't stay damp.

A few minutes later, she heard him walking back inside.

"Good morning," his deep voice greeted her.

She turned slightly, meeting his gaze in the mirror. "Good morning," she replied softly Giving him a soft almost unnoticeable smile.

He gave a small nod before grabbing his clothes and heading toward the bathroom. She stared at the closed door for a moment before shaking her head.

~

Once she was fully ready, Aaradhya made her way downstairs, feeling a bit nervous. It was already 8. This was her first proper morning in this house, as yesterday they had reached at afternoon and she didn't know what to expect.

As she reached the living area, she saw most of the family members already gathered, talking and laughing.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and greeted them with taking their blessings.

"Good morning," she said politely, in a soft voice.

The elders smiled warmly.

"Good morning, beta," Sushma, her grandmother-in-law, said. "Come here."

Aaradhya stepped closer, bending down to take blessings from her in-laws and the elders of the house.

"Always stay happy, dear," Meera, her mother-in-law, said with a kind smile. "How was your first night here? Did you sleep well?"

Aaradhya nodded. "Yes, Maa." The word felt foreign on her tongue, but Meera's smile grew at hearing it.

As she sat with the family, she felt more at ease. The younger members—Vihaan, Aarav, Abhir, and Abhira—were full of energy, cracking jokes and making the atmosphere lively.

She wasn't used to this.

A family that actually seemed happy.

For a moment, she let herself enjoy the warmth, the laughter.

After some time, Meera placed a gentle hand on Aaradhya's shoulder.

"Beta, one ritual is still left—Pehli Rasoi."

Aaradhya straightened, nodding as she listened.

"It's a tradition where the new bride cooks something sweet for the family," Meera explained. "It's just a small ritual, but it holds a lot of love and blessings."

Aaradhya smiled softly. "I would love to do it."

Cooking had always been something she enjoyed. It was one of the few things that brought her peace, she remembered while living alone during her college days, her friends used to come to her apartment every now and then demanding different types of dishes. And she, every time cooked them, not because she had to, but because she wanted to.

Meera's eyes lit up at her enthusiasm. "That's wonderful! Come, I'll show you where everything is."

As she followed her mother-in-law to the kitchen, she felt a little lighter.

Maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't be so bad here.

Maybe, in this new home, she could finally find a little piece of herself again.

As Aaradhya made her way to the kitchen, she walked beside her mother-in-law, who was very warm in nature as she had noticed in the past few days. It was different from what she had expected.

"You must be tired, beta," Meera said gently. "Yesterday was a long day."

Aaradhya smiled softly. "A little, but I'm fine, Maa."

Meera nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. I wanted to introduce you to the kitchen staff. They've been with us for years, and they'll always be here to help you."

When they stepped into the kitchen, a group of staff members greeted them with warm smiles.

"This is Aaradhya, my daughter-in-law," Meera introduced her proudly.

They greeted her with respect, calling her 'Mrs. Rajvansh' and 'Madam', but she quickly shook her head.

"Please, just call me Aaradhya, or maybe Aadhya, I don't mind" she said with a gentle smile. "I'd feel more comfortable that way."

The staff exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. She already felt a bit lighter.

Once Meera left, Aaradhya turned toward them with a shy but determined expression.

"Can you tell me everyone's favorite sweet dish?" she asked

The staff looked surprised at her question, but soon, they all started speaking at once, listing off different sweets loved by each member of the family.

Taking mental notes, she smiled and said, "Let's get started."

For the next hour and a half, Aaradhya worked in the kitchen, her hands moving gracefully as she prepared a variety of sweets and dishes with the help of the staff present there. The scent of warm sugar, saffron, and cardamom filled the air, making the kitchen feel even cozier.

As she stirred the final batch of kheer, she heard a voice behind her.

Avni and Abhira stood at the kitchen entrance, watching.

"Aadhya, nervous toh nahi ho?" Avni teased lightly.

(Aadhya, are you not nervous?)

Aaradhya shook her head, her focus on stirring the milk.

Abhira leaned closer. "Bhaiya ke liye kuch special bana rahi hain aap, bhabhi?"

(Sister-in-law, you are making something special for brother?)

Aaradhya's hand paused for a second before she continued stirring. But the red tint on her cheeks was noticed by both.

Avni smiled knowingly but didn't say anything.

"This smells heavenly," Meera said, stepping inside alongside Kavita while the rest two left

Aaradhya turned, slightly nervous. "I hope it tastes as good as it smells," she said shyly.

Kavita smiled. "I have no doubt it will."

"don't worry beta" Meera assured, patting Aaradhya's head affectionately. "Come, let's serve it."

The servers quickly took everything to the dining room, and soon, the entire family gathered for breakfast.

The dining hall was filled with the warm aroma of freshly cooked dishes, a perfect blend of spices and sweetness lingering in the air. The long wooden table was beautifully set, and as the family gathered, the light chatter and occasional bursts of laughter made the atmosphere feel surprisingly welcoming.

Aaradhya had made sure to prepare something special for everyone, carefully tailoring the menu to their tastes.

There were fluffy aloo puris and kesar badam milk for Dadu and Dadi, comforting methi parathas with curd and masala chai for her mother-in-law and father-in-law, crispy butter toast with paneer bhurji for her uncle and aunt, and a mix of both chocolate pancakes and cheese-stuffed parathas for her playful younger brothers, Vihaan and Aarav. The mischievous twins, Abhir and Abhira, had their favorite Nutella waffles and aloo tikki burgers, while Ishaan and Avni enjoyed a traditional South Indian breakfast of idli-sambar with a refreshing cold coffee. And then there was her husband. his favorite kheer and secretly hers too.

As the family began eating, the quiet morning quickly turned into a lively gathering.

Vihaan, after taking a bite of his pancakes, dramatically placed a hand over his heart and groaned, "Bhabhi, are you sure you're not a professional chef? Because this is heavenly!"

Aarav, nodding in agreement, smirked at his elder brother and said, "Bhai, where did you find such a talented wife? This is unfair. Now our expectations for our future wives have skyrocketed!"

Aaradhya couldn't help but shyly laugh at their antics. It felt nice—being included in their playful teasing, something she had never experienced in her own family.

Meanwhile, Abhir and Abhira, the youngest and most mischievous of the family, exchanged a knowing glance before Abhira pouted dramatically. "Bhabhi, I think I should start sitting next to you every day. That way, I can get extra food before everyone else does."

Her twin brother, Abhir, smirked. "Good idea, but I called dibs first!" Aaradhya chuckled at their competitiveness. Her mother-in-law and aunt looked on with amusement, while her grandparents shared a glance filled with warmth.

Despite the laughter and conversation surrounding her, Aaradhya couldn't help but glance at her husband. He was eating silently, sipping his coffee, his expression unreadable.

He neither complimented nor reacted to the food, and she couldn't shake off the growing unease inside her.

Did he not like it?

She had made an effort to make sure everything was perfect, but his silence made her feel as though she had done something wrong. Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on the family's banter, not wanting to let her emotions take over.

Abhir and Abhira exchanged a glance before Abhir teased, "Bas bhaiya ka reaction dekhna reh gaya hai."

Aaradhya hesitated before looking at Shivansh.

There was a pause. Then, he simply nodded at her.

Aaradhya didn't know why, but that one nod felt heavier than a hundred words.

Meera placed her hand over Aaradhya's. "Beta, humesha yaad rakhna, yeh tumhara ghar hai."

(Dear, always remember, this is your home.)

Aaradhya blinked, her grip tightening on the edge of her saree.

Home.

Something she had never truly had before.

---

Later, as the family dispersed, Shivansh watched as Aaradhya quietly began helping the staff clean up.

She wasn't doing it because she had to—but because she wasn't used to being served.

He stepped forward. "Tumhe karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, Aaradhya."

(You don't need to do it, Aaradhya.)

She paused, looking at him.

Before she could respond, Sushma Dadi called for her.

"I'll come. Dadi is calling me. " She added softly before walking away.

Shivansh exhaled, watching as she walked away—her presence quiet yet strong.

He had many questions, but he knew one thing for sure.

Aaradhya Thakur was gone.

And the woman standing before him—Aaradhya Shivansh Singh Rajvansh—was still learning what it meant to belong.

~~~