This chapter is dedicated to sanavibhore
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Mrs. Samayra Ambar Deol.

I look through the shelves of clothing in the clothing store for traditional wear.

I've been here for a while now. I have two anarkali's finalized. Both of them are light colored and will absolutely go with my red and ivory bangles that I'm stuck with for the next 45 days or even more..

My mother-in-law had told me before we had set off for my house, "Ayra, get three traditional dresses for yourself on your way to your dad's house. It's a ritual to give two dresses when the daughter-in-law goes to her father's house for the first time and wear the third."

"But mom.. I just wore this for the first time.." I said pointing to the maroon heavily embroided suit I was wearing since breakfast this morning.

"You have to wear your in-laws given clothes while going to your house for the first time.. I didn't know what you'd like or not and there was so less time for all the shopping before you're wedding .. I gave Ambar the cash.. he should pay for those, or it's not good luck to wear anything bought with your own money." She had said before I had sat in the Audi with Ambar driving and we drove for the market.

Now we were here and I couldn't chose.

"Can you help me a little? I'm confused.." I turn to look at where Ambar was supposed to be standing and following me around the designer store as we went through numerous hangers.

But he wasn't here. Instead he stood near the window talking on his phone.
I had just spoken to basically no one and the salesman gave me wierd stares.
Fûck, this is embarrassing.

"Asshole.." I murmured and went about looking for something I can change into and directly wear it to my parent's.

With the hope to find something unique and classy, my eyes land on a perfect pair of a 'stitched' white saree.

The ones that came with an inbuilt elastic and you don't need to go through the hassle of instilling the plaids within to form ruffles.

I love Sarees, but I don't know how to tie them so this was a dream come true. It looked liked my length and size..

"Excuse me.. Do you have a stitched blouse for this one.. my size.." I say to the salesman passing by.

"We can get it altered for you mam, it'll take ten minutes.." he says and I turn to see if Ambar was here and could give his opinion but he was still on the phone. I looked back and ran my hand on the soft lacy fabric of the saree.

"I'd love that.." I said and he took my measurements and then what followed was the next few minutes of scrolling through instagram siting alone.

Ambar joined me a few minutes later and sat beside me.

"You didn't change yet.. What are we waiting for?" he says putting his phone in his pocket.

"I was waiting for your majesty, Ambar singh to finish his important phone call, so I can take the suggestion of his highness before settling on a dress." I say sarcastically seething at having to shop alone.

I never shop alone.

I hate shopping.

It's mom or Saby shopping for me, or with me. If not, it's online shopping for me.

"Mam.. It's ready.." I heard someone say and looked up at a salesman as Ambar looked at me and then the salesman.. and then the salesman gave Ambar a pity look, very much aware of our fight.

Seriously?

Men and their bro-hood.. I tell you.. Pathetic.

"Excuse me?" I say looking at the salesman and he knew he was caught.

"Mam.. The Saree.."

"I heard that.. and don't you dare think he is the victim here.." I say and take the whole set from him walking towards the try room.

I wear the blouse and petticoat before slipping on the saree and look at myself in the mirror.

I loved it.

I walk out towards Ambar as he looks up from his phone absentmindedly and then back down and then up again, his mouth wide open and his jaw ready to unhinge and fall on the ground.

"It's okay.. right?" I ask setting the edge on the back and smoothing the crease in the fabric that was draped over my arm.

I looked up and he was sitting there astonished.

Ofcourse, I look that good.
I know I am beautiful.

I click my fingers before his face, and he snaps back to reality.

"How do I look?" I ask.

"Umm.. you look good, Ayra.. but.."

"But, what.." I look at him annoyed.

"I don't know how to say this..um.. but.. mom said no white or light coloured clothes are allowed for newly weds.. atleast an year"

What..

When did she even say that?

I look at him puzzled.

"You were in the washroom.. I think, when she said that.." he explains himself.

Can I kill him?

Like.. Please?

"Mam.. the other two dresses are packed and ready to.." the salesman came around and I turned to look at him.

"Cancel them.." I say.

"Mam.." he starts to talk and I intervene.

"Sir here will select three dresses for me, guide him since you know my size.." I tell the salesman pointing towards Ambar when I had said 'sir'.

I go to Ambar and pick up where the car key was kept along with his phone, near to where we were sitting earlier.

"I'll text you the address, take a cab." I told Ambar and walked out of the store going towards the Audi unlocking it and driving it to what I consider my 'real' home. The traffic was bizarre and I took my time, since I didn't want to scratch my father-in-law's car.

I honk twice as Gina's husband Shyam comes running to open the door. The door opens and I park the car walking inside.

"Ahh.. My daughter is here.." mom says walking out and.. stops.

"Where's our son-in-law?" She says worried and looked at the parked car behind me, at the cemented floor parking on the side of the garden.

"Don't worry too much. He's alive. Hopefully. " I say and hug her tight kissing her cheek. She doesn't respond to my hug, looking at me shocked.

"What did you do to him?" Sabina asks as she walks out and hugs me with Danish running behind her.

"He's fine.. But what's wrong with you all? You didn't even ask me, If I am okay or not? Whose mom and sister are you?" I frown and pick up Danish kissing his cheek. He kisses me back.

" Maasi.. Chocolate?" he asks.

(Maasi means mom's sister.)

"I have some stocked and hidden for you.. Let's go inside" I say and take him inside as my worried mom goes towards where my dad was lying in his bed room, the living room visible from his doorway.

"Are you listening Jeet.. She just walked in wearing a white saree, driving the car and isn't telling where our son-in-law is..? Look.. How you've spoiled this brat.." mom says to dad.

"That guy made me go to the clothing store and I had to choose the dresses all by myself.. I made the decision with all the people in the store looking at me.. ALL ALONE, because he was on the phone and then when everything was finalized he had the guts to tell me that I.. I.. SAMAYRA GILL daughter of JEET GILL can't wear light clothes.."

"Sammy.. No one's actually looking at you at a store, it's in all your mind.. that everyone's staring.. what if this happens.. what if that.." She pauses little.
"and white and light colors are for widows and some cultures still adhere to the primitive rules.." Sabina says and mom intervenes.

"For the love of God, Ayra.. What did you do to my son-in-law?" Mom asks sitting on the bed near dad, worried as hell.

"Stop worrying yourself, Mom.. I told him to take a cab and buy an extra dress since I can't wear this white one to my in-laws.. and I know I was in the shop and should have exchanged but I had got it altered and returning it would have been embarrassing." I say and go towards the kitchen digging in the drawers to find chocolates for Danish.

"Sammy.. You cannot tell him to take a cab.. He's the son-in-law of this house, he needs to be respected.. Sabby.. call him from Jeet's phone and ask where he is. Go bring him in your car if he is still at the store.." Mom says.

"Oh.. That reminds me... my mother-in-law doesn't call her husband by his name.. She says 'Dr. sahab', instead." I say and Sabina's mouth bends in an O shape.

"Even in 2020?" Saby asks shocked and I nod as Shyam runs in.

"Mam.. There's a guy saying he is Samayra mam's husband and he's stuck at our society's main gate with the security guards." He says as Mom facepalms herself while I and Sabina burst out laughing.

"Shyam.. tell them to let him enter..Sabby Bring him from the main gate to our house in the car with respect.." mom says as I hold my stomach laughing hard.

"Gina.. get my aarti thali, ready.." mom says looking at me with her eyes open to scare me and I keep a hand on my mouth to control my laughter.

(aarti thali is a plate used to lighten an earthen candle, along with other things for a kind of prayer.)

"Jeet.. I'll disown your daughter if she doesn't change her behavior." Mom tells dad sternly pointing her index finger at me and he frowns.

"If she tops the class or looks beautiful at her wedding, she's your daughter and if she does something like this, she becomes my daughter." Dad murmurs and I ruffle Danish's hair before walking to where dad lay in his bedroom and hugged him tight.

"I missed you.." I say, cherishing his comfort and sit by his side.

"Ayra.. You promised to be mature enough.." he says in a low voice.

"Dad.. Even you are blaming me?" I say looking shocked.

"It's not about blaming.. It's about compromising and trying to adjust, that's what marriage is all about.." He says and like a dam unable to contain any longer , I broke in tears.

"I've been adjusting dad.. More than I want to.. Everything's changed so much.." I say and sob trying to control my tears and not upset dad.

But he is my father.

When have I ever succeeded at hiding things from him.

"The least he can do is be supportive instead of making thing's more difficult.." I say and I immediately hear a voice.

"Oh.. I'm sorry.. when I went about the city at 1 am looking for instant breakfast mix, was I not supportive enough?" Ambar's booming loud voice speaks as I turn to look at him standing at the main door to the house, leading to the living room where Mom was doing his Aarti.

+++Author's note+++
What would you have done in Samayra's place ?
Please vote and comment.
Thank you.
Reet