Aeee... Dimag Se Paidal Hai Kya!?"

(Are you out of your mind!?)

"Nahi, tumhari tarah toh bilkul nahi hu..." she replied back, staring into his eyes with a challenging look. She broke the eye contact just to pick up the dresses. One by one, she opened the dresses to show him the pieces of cloth he had bought for her.

(No, I am not like you!)

He was surprised too, like her, but didn’t feel the need to explain. It was a black, night-sexy dress—too revealing—and a few lingerie sets.

"Tumse raat ko kapde ke liye kya bola, janab? Toh armaan hi jag gaye..." she scoffed, taking a step closer to him, closing the gap between them.

(You asked me for clothes at night, sir? So you woke up some desires...)

"Shaadi jabardasti ki, par isse zyada kuch karne ka socha toh tumhari jaan le lungi..." she warned, holding his left hand and placing the dress in it before turning to leave. But he pulled her back by holding her wrist with his right hand.

(You married me forcefully, but if you try anything more, I will kill you.)

She landed on his chest, trying to push him away, but he stopped her on the spot by holding both her arms. She struggled, but his hold tightened, making it harder to move.

His eyes, which never left her face for a moment, scared her for a second. But she chose to stay and fight.

"Ye pehli aur aakhri baar tha... kyunki agar dobara aisa kuch hua toh apun se bura koi nahi hoga..." he whispered, leaning closer to her face. Anger dripped from his eyes; even his breath sounded dangerous as he dug his nails into her arms.

(This was the first and last time... because if it happens again, I won’t spare you.)

"Aur agar tu duniya ki aakhri ladki bhi hogi na, toh apun tujhe mudke na dekhe. Fir toh haath lagane ki baat bahut door hai." His hold started hurting her so badly she could no longer bear the pain. She tried to push him, but when it didn’t work, she stomped on his foot, loosening his grip. Taking advantage, she pushed him away.

(Even if you were the last girl in the world, I wouldn’t look at you, let alone touch you.)

"Ahem ahem..."

They both heard a sound. Holding her arm, she glared at Guru and, not wanting to see his face anymore, turned and walked inside the room. She closed the door on his face and locked it from inside. Pressing her back against the door, she looked at her arm, which bore his fingerprint in deep red.

On the other side, Guru was still staring at the closed door. He felt an urge to kill that shopkeeper for the misunderstanding—but killing him would only cause problems.

Raghu looked at the door, then at the dresses lying on the ground. He picked up the black night dress and walked near Guru, standing beside him.

"Kya hua? Mana kar diya kya pehnne se? Agar tu chahe toh main..." Raghu started but stopped when he got a glare from Guru.

(What happened? Did she refuse to wear it? If you want, I can make her...)

"Kya? Itne nakhre kaun jhelta hai? Woh bhi dushman ki beti ke nakhre? Bhai ko pata chala toh woh kya sochenge? Jisko dard dene ke liye yaha rakha hai, woh humare Guru ko ungli pe nacha rahi hai..." he mocked. Guru rolled his eyes, ignoring his nonsense.

(What? Who bears such tantrums? Especially from the enemy’s daughter? What if Bhai gets to know? That the girl kept here to hurt is making our Guru dance on her finger.)

"Tujhse nahi sambhal rahi hai toh mujhe bata de... Bas do raat mein seedha kar dunga." He showed his two fingers with a cheap smile. Guru looked at the fingers and, without thinking twice, twisted both, making Raghu groan in pain.

(If you can’t handle her, tell me... I’ll fix her in two nights.)

"Koi kaam tha?" Guru asked, still holding his fingers. Raghu winced and shook his head, finally feeling relief when Guru released him.

"Darwaza wahan hai..." Raghu clenched his other fist.

(Door is there.)

"Dekh lunga tujhe..." he warned Guru and with his twisted fingers, walked out of the house.

Guru scoffed and when his eyes fell on the clothes, he looked again at the closed door.

Taking out his phone, he called Soori.

"Woh Kamla Bai hai na? Usko bolne ka apne logo ke saath apun ke ghar aajaye... 15 minute mein."

(Kamla Bai, right? Tell her to come to my house with her people in 15 minutes.)

.

.

.

Soori knocked again on the door.

"Bhabhi, please bahar aaiye...!!" he called, but when she didn’t answer, he knocked louder.

The door opened suddenly.

"Kya hai!?" she blurted out angrily.

Hearing her angry voice and seeing her face, which gave serious 'Chandramukhi' vibes, he gulped. He moved aside, giving her a view of the women standing near the table and one sitting on the sofa staring at her.

"Kya hai yeh sab?" she asked, looking at the bags.

(Who are they?)

"Aap khud dekh lijiye..." Soori answered but got only a glare in return.

"Mujhe nahi dekhna!!!" She gritted her teeth and was about to close the door again but stopped hearing a loud and tough voice.

(I don’t want to see.)

"Aeee ladki!! Guru ne hume bola hai yaha ane ko uski biwi ke liye..." That lady, called Kamla Bai, stood up and faced Avni. She looked at Avni from head to toe.

(Guru asked us to come here for his wife.)

"Dulhan sundar toh hai..." Kamla Bai commented, ignoring Avni’s spoiled makeup. Holding Avni’s hand, she dragged her near the bags and made her sit on a chair.

(She is indeed pretty.)

She gestured to the other women to open the bags and show everything to Avni.

"Kya chahiye tumko, batao?" She asked, showing all the items. Avni’s eyes roamed around and seeing the pretty sarees, her heart filled with joy.

(Tell me what you want.)

She actually wanted something else, but sarees weren’t a bad idea.

"Mujhe sab chahiye..." she finally said, surprising everyone.

(I want all of these.)

"Sab? 250 saree?" Kamla Bai asked.

Avni nodded in a big “yes.” Kamla Bai smiled and gestured her helper to take Avni’s measurements to stitch blouses for the sarees.

"Mujhe Pallavi di ke kapde kaise aayenge? Unka blouse toh mujhe aayega bhi nahi."

She shook the thought of her wedding day and looked at Kamla Bai again.

"Yeh tumhe kal tak mil jayenge... Guru ki biwi hai, zyada intezaar nahi karvayenge."

(You will get them by tomorrow. She is Guru’s wife, so we won’t make her wait.)

"Waise Bhabhi ji, aapko saree pehnna aata hai na?" one of Kamla’s helpers asked.

(By the way sister-in-law, do you know how to wear a saree?)

"Are nahi aati, toh kya hua? Guru se madad le lena..." they all laughed, making Avni blush and look down in embarrassment.

(If you don’t know, then take help from Guru.)

"Aee ladkiyon, chup karo...!!" Kamla Bai ordered and everyone went silent.

"Ye lo, abhi ke liye yeh pehen lo..." Kamla Bai handed her a saree with a ready-made stretchable blouse.

Avni looked at Kamla Bai, surprised at how well she understood her real problem. Seeing the genuine smile on her face, Avni felt good.

"Thank you..."