Sanjana's P.O.V.

"I swear to God, I'm so hungry," Monica whined.

"You shouldn't have fasted only na!" Mom said as she rolled her eyes.

We were all doing pooja and our husbands were still not here. Dad was here and apparently the guys were still stuck in traffic.

"They haven't even come home, I can't stay any longer, next time se I'm not doing karwa chauth," she said.

"Kyu?" Sunil asked as he and Rohan walked in.

"I can't control my hunger Sunil, I need food every second," she said with a pout.

"Too unfair because I'm willing to fast for you forever," he said and Monica blushed.

"Chalo, chand aa gaya hai!" Mom said as she looked at the moon and then started the ritual.

We all followed mom and did the whole ritual.

They all left after the ritual and I was sitting in the living room, tired beyond my imagination when I felt Rohan's hands on my ankle. I jerked awake and stared at him.

"I was supposed to fast today too, mom is very angry so I'm doing this other ritual that we follow, we Mehra men fast on karwa chauth as well as give a gift to their wives. I was passing a shop when I spotted these anklets and I thought of you, so can I put then on for you?" He asked softly.

I just nodded my head and stared at him as he clasped the anklets around my ankles and then with my left ankle still in his lap, he looked up at me.

"I'm sorry for not fasting today,"

"It's okay, I didn't really expect... I mean it's okay, forget it," I said with a small smile.

Rohan looked at me with a pained expression but still let go of my ankle and set in on the ground.

"I'm sorry I let you down,"

"No, don't be, it's really okay and thank you for the anklets, they're really pretty,"

"Sanjana,"

"Urm... I can't really wear them everyday because I don't really wear traditional dresses everyday but I guess it's the sentiment that counts and I'll always cherish them," I murmured as I stood up.

"Sanjana?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry,"

"Why are you sorry? Stop saying sorry otherwise I'll seriously get angry,"

"Can I hug you?"

"You don't need to ask Rohan, I'm comfortable with you touch now," I said as I wrapped my arms around him.

°

"Sanjana, come home early today,"

"Kyu? Kon aa raha hai?"

"My mother in law is coming," mom said grimly.

"I'll be home early don't worry,"

"Sweetheart, I told this to Monica and I'll this to you as well, don't mind anything that old lady will say, please, she will say somthing rude and I'm sorry in advance,"

"Don't worry ma, I'm sure it's not something I wouldn't be able to handle,"

"Nahi Sanjana, that's where you're mistaken, she is a witch, she drives me to tears even now so you should know what kind of a lady she is,"

"Koi ni mom, I'm strong,"

"I have no doubt you are sweetheart," she said.

I rushed to the firm and was not even surprised to find so many cases. I noticed two thick files on my table and I groaned at their sight. It was only 7.

I'm just like damn, it's 7 am

I completely understand Taylor now. I sipped my coffee from the thermos as I opened one of the file and started working.

°

"You don't need to worry," Rohan said as we both walked into the silent room.

I stilled inside the living room, an old woman was glaring at mom and dad while she shook her head. She must have heard us coming because she looked in our direction and gave me a stink eye. Well, that's an interesting impression. Truly promising.

"So you're not even going to great me, is that the manner--"

"Sanjana and Rohan, how was your day?" Mom interrupted.

The old lady, whom I was supposed to call Dadi but couldn't, pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes in mom's direction.

Rohan tugged me with him and we took her blessing and greeted her with a namaste.

"Is that what she wears inside this house?"

"Dinner is ready, let's eat!" Monica yelled from the kitchen.

Dad help the old lady into the dining room along with mom and I sighed in relief sagging my body against Rohan.

"It's going to be a tough few days," I murmured.

"I'm sorry Sanjana," he said as his arm came around me waist and he kissed my forehead.

"It's okay, I feel like I've seen your dadi somewhere,"

"She lives in Bathinda, how would you have seen her?"

I stilled at the name of Bhatinda, of course she had to be from that damned place.

"It happened there?" He asked me tentatively and I just nodded.

"Fuck,"

"No wonder she loved me so much," I said sarcastically as I stood still and then started walking to the dining room.

"It's too spicy,"

"It doesn't have salt,"

"Is this a roti?"

"Do you want to kill me with this much salt,"

I slammed my spoon on the plate, stunning everyone around me and stomped inside the kitchen, to get a glass of water for me. I knew Rohan was following me before I even turned around.

"She's getting on my nerves," I said as I leaned against the kitchen counter and gulped the cold water.

Monica was close to tears back in the dining room because of how that old lady was insulting her cooking, Monica cooked delicious food and nobody could deny that. She'd made tasy dal makhni and pulav and chapati.

"That makes the two of us,"

"If she continues like this, I'm going to murder someone," I groaned before biting the ice cubes.

"Let's just go back and eat yeah, I would very much like to argue but it's just her first day here and oh I hear Sunil arguing, she never liked Sunil," he said before rushing out of the kitchen.

I follow behind him and immediately cringe as I look at the sight. Monica had her arms wrapped around Sunil, her face hidden behind his back as she stopped him from arguing. Dad and dad's brother and his wife were trying to calm that old lady down.

"Sunil, chup raho na yaar, it's okay,"

"But--"

"Seriously Sunil," she said, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he murmured and then left the room.

"Shameless! Is that what your wife has been teaching your sons? Do you even see your daughter-in-laws, they're--"

"Ma," Vicky uncle said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Sanju and Rohan, go to your rooms you must be tired, we'll handle this," mom said and ushered us out of the dining room.

We walked towards our room and I could hear Monica crying. I stopped in front of their room and knocked.

"Hey," I said as I poked my head.

"Hi," Monica said as she quickly wiped her tears.

"Awe Monica, don't listen to that old lady, in fact I was going to bribe you into cooking for me everyday," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Shut up," she said as a small smile played on her lips.

"Arey sacchi! I really loved it, if only I could cook half as good as you Monica, I loved it a lot, trust me I was so close to snapping at that old lady but then I was like this is her first day, maybe she'll loosen up later,"

"Koi ni, it's okay Sanjana,"

"I swear if she says anything next time na fir toh I'll lose it!" Sunil grumbled.

"That makes the two of us,"

I was vexed by the idea that she was from Bhatinda and that she was an old lady which meant trouble was awaiting me. A rational part of me told me I was just being paranoid but I couldn't help with this feeling.

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Sorry for the long interval. I was again down this time😩

Also, is it me or does anyone else smell trouble now? Hmmm...