Gowri glared at Avni and turned to the opposite side, sighing heavily, "You're a big disappointment, Avni."

Avni ducked her head, feeling guilty. She is at her in-laws' house, and her single fault might lead to a black mark on her parents' upbringing. The last thing she wanted was her parents to bear consequences for her mistakes.

Avni woke up yawning in a dark room and picked her phone, feeling fully awake. She was confused and blank until she gasped, realizing the time -10:00 am as her phone indicated. She pulled the curtains letting the hot sun rays peep in.

Avni muttered, frustrated, grabbing a dress from the closet, "Siddharth is such a monster! He shouldn't have closed the curtains letting me sleep. He doesn't even have common sense." Her mind is not working, and she feared the worst.

Avni mentally hit her head and rushed into the washroom, hurrying. She got dressed in a salwar kameez with her hair still damp from the shower. She marched downstairs and tip-toed into the kitchen, sending quick prayers to the Lord.

Avni clearly remembered the rule list dictated by her mother before marriage -'Always wake up early. A woman waking up late does no good to the house'. It's not that she feared her mother, but it's not justified on her part to act all lazy and reckless in her in-laws' house.

"You're a big disappointment, Avni."

Avni's face paled as her mother's emotionless voice greeted her. She held Gowri's shoulder, pestering to face her, and mumbled in a low whisper, "I'm extremely sorry Amma. I will never repeat this."

Avni pleaded, "Please forgive me, Amma," but her mother was stern. Gowri ordered Avni to start cooking, indicating the essentials neatly arranged on the kitchen counter. Avni is supposed to cook a sweet dish for her in-laws today, and Gowri kept everything ready for her to cook faster.

Gowri knocked on Avni's door multiple times since morning, but there was no response. Avni was in a deep slumber. She was furious at her daughter's irresponsible behavior but arranged everything to ease her task -Maybe that's what Mother's Love is...

A Mother might be stern and rude when children commit mistakes, but she'll always be there to help.

Avni laughed as she irritated her mother and pestered her constantly for forgiveness. Gowri smiled, hitting her gently with her anger vanishing in thin air. She warned Avni in a serious tone before behaving normally again, "Never repeat this, Avni!"

Avni cooked kheer and lunch as per her mother's instructions. She offered the sweet to God first and carried it to the dining table as it's almost lunchtime.

Renuka inhaled the aroma as she paced to the kitchen. "Avni, It smells amazing! I can't wait anymore," Renuka announced, setting the plates for lunch.

Renuka and Kishore gifted her bangles after tasting the sweet according to the ritual. They blessed her as she touched their feet, "Stay happy with Siddharth forever!" Avni smiled as they praised her throughout lunch as she served them.

Gowri and Shankar were delighted to hear Avni's in-laws praising her and kept quiet, feeling emotional and content.

They insisted she has lunch with them, but she politely refused, waiting for Siddharth. Her parents were surprised as she loved hot food and her in-laws giggled understanding.

Siddharth arrived as their parents were halfway through lunch and removed his shoes. He paced confusedly to the dining hall inhaling the aroma, and exclaimed loudly, "Ma, What have you cooked? I am starving!"

Siddharth grabbed a chair wiping his hands, taking in the potato fry, green sorrel dal, tomato pickle, white rice, kheer, lemon rice, Vada, and fryums. He was about to serve himself when Avni stopped him and arranged his plate with every item.

Siddharth observed her every movement and smiled, feeling strange yet happy. He adored her doing it for him like a typical wife.

Siddharth took a bite of kheer as instructed by his mother to start with sweet, and his face glowed in delight, indicating his love for the dish.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Avni observed his minute expressions as he savored the taste before putting on an expressionless face moments later and smiled in victory. She prepared every item keeping his likes in mind from what she understood in the past two weeks. She indulged in cooking, hoping he would appreciate it.

Avni stood disappointed as Siddharth ate in silence. Everyone praised her culinary skills, but the one man she cooked for didn't utter a word. It's her way of thanking him for everything he did when she fell sick.

Their parents spoke on random topics as they ate, and Renuka questioned out of the blue, getting up, "How's the food, Kanna?" and added in a teasing tone, "Everything is your favorite."

Siddharth answered in one word in a flat voice, glancing at his mother and putting on a smile, "Good." Renuka frowned at his flat tone but kept quiet.

"Good?"

"Damn it!"

"Pearls won't fall off your mouth if you compliment a little more, Mr. Siddharth Malhotra!"

Avni glared at him with her nostrils flared. She worked hard for three hours to hear his comment or compliment or whatever, and all he has to say is Good! She also recalled how she was angry with him about the morning. She sulked and stomped her feet as their parents walked away.

Siddharth chuckled, turning to the other side at her antics. The moment he tasted the sweet, he knew it's her who cooked it as it tasted different. This is the first time he ate her handmade food and fell in love with it instantly.

Siddharth understood her efforts in cooking his favorites, but her anticipating face took him by pleasant surprise. She behaved exactly like a newlywed waiting for his compliments. He couldn't understand why his compliments mattered so much.

Siddharth pulled a chair, indicating her to sit as everyone left, and served her one by one. She has no say in that matter. Her eyes widened, taking in the amount of each item -The ones she liked were a little more than the ones she disapproved. Avni smiled at his perfect analysis of her tastes.

"Why God!"

Avni ate, struggling with dal, and cursed herself for making it. She cooked it for him, who didn't care to acknowledge!

Siddharth glared at her, noting the time on his watch, and she gulped it down like a kid fearing him as usual. Avni got up, carrying her plate along with his. She has no problem fulfilling her wifely duties.

Siddharth couldn't comprehend her behavior -She is usually peaceful and happy but suddenly becomes pale. She behaves like a typical wife, with these small acts showing her care. He concluded last night carrying her inside that she is trying to mend their relationship into a beautiful one.

Gowri smiled in content from a distance, understanding his way of insisting her to eat! She recalled how she accidentally told Siddharth that Avni eats as her taste buds desire.

Gowri observed that Avni put on a little weight and appeared better both physically and mentally. She concluded that her son-in-law is the perfect match as he knew how to take care of Avni.

Siddharth carrying her to bed when she dozed off in the car last night, his way of taking her out when she was anxious, and many more confirmed that he is indeed the best match for Avni.

Siddharth followed Avni to the washbasin, where she was wiping her hands. She turned around and took a step ahead when he held her hand, halting her.

Avni looked behind in surprise as he whispered in his deep husky voice, "The food tasted delicious and homely just the way I prefer!" Avni's heart skipped a beat at his compliment, and she ran away to the kitchen, leaving him in smiles.

Gowri walked away carrying a water bottle to the seating area, where everyone discussed random topics. The men discussed politics, and the women talked about some photos on their phones.

Siddharth held Avni's hand as they strolled to the seating area. Avni suddenly stopped him and questioned him in an accusing tone, "How could you do that, Siddharth?"

Siddharth frowned in confusion, unable to comprehend what she was indicating.

Avni continued moments later with hands on her hips, "Why did you close the curtains? I woke up late, and Amma was very angry with me! I had to pester her for half an hour" and added in a childish tone, "You don't even care..."

Siddharth smiled when she dramatically explained her difficulties but was furious hearing her last sentence. He muttered in a low voice, cutting her off with an angry face, "Don't dare go there, Avni! You very well know if I care or not!" and marched upstairs to his room. Avni was taken aback by his stern tone, but he was at fault, according to her.

Avni joined the women and was about to lay down in Gowri's lap when she hit Avni's head, gently muttering, "Why don't you ever listen, Avni? Go get a towel and comb now!" Gowri pushed a lazy Avni, who sulked like a kid.

Renuka smiled, witnessing her childish behavior. A regular mother-in-law would've usually been irritated by such an attitude. But Renuka understood Avni well -Her attachment to people, caring nature, slight anger, genuine concern about loved ones, and most importantly, kindness. Avni is everything she ever wanted in her daughter-in-law.

Gowri grabbed a newspaper in the meanwhile placed in front and chuckled, explaining to Renuka, "Avni has literally zero general knowledge, Renu. You ask her India's PM, and she'll stare at you blankly!" Renuka cracked up instantly hearing that.

Avni entered just then and defended herself, "Ma, Amma keeps propagating the same news! I know India's PM is that Narendra Modi!" She sat on the floor with her legs folded, tossing the towel and comb into Gowri's lap.

Gowri started wiping her damp hair and questioned, "Okay, Let's assume you know! Who's the Union Home Minister then?"

Avni giggled, answering, "Amit Shah!" and continued turning to Renuka, "See Ma, I know! My GK is not zero." Renuka nodded, smiling at her while Gowri was flabbergasted.

Gowri was about to comb her long hair when Renuka offered to do it. Avni obliged and admired herself in the floor-length mirror propped against the wall in front as Renu tied her hair in a new style. Her mother always tied her hair in the same old fashion.

Gowri continued reading the newspaper and gasped all of a sudden, opening the business page. She was glad that there were no pictures. The heading read, 'Billionaire Siddharth Malhotra is no longer single!'

Gowri handed over the newspaper to Avni, asking her to read it aloud as Renuka was curious too.

'Billionaire Siddharth Malhotra is no longer single!

The young businessman, the owner of SM Automation, a leading tech company, arranged a grand reception in Mumbai last night and introduced his wife, Avni Malhotra, to the society.'

Avni's hands trembled as she read further. 'The highlight of the reception is their wedding cake. It cost around two million. Yes, You read it right - A whopping two million rupees. It's one of the world's most expensive cakes too! The cake is designed in intricate patterns and roses. It was arranged between diamonds hanging from platinum and gold threads! This is another proof of how incredibly rich our SM is!'

Avni's eyes widened, taking in the information. It was way too much for her to handle. She knew Siddharth's family is wealthy, but the newspaper made it more clear.

Renuka's voice brought her out of the trance, "We adore you already but what you did yesterday was a very lovable act, Avni. We're so proud of you!"

Avni frowned in confusion before Renuka continued, "Siddharth explained how you both came home late from the orphanage and told me to let you sleep as you were too tired!"

Avni's face lost its color as reality seeped in. She recalled accusing Siddharth when she should've thanked him instead! She realized the damage she had done. She is usually not the woman who spoke without thought, but it's become different around Siddharth. She started being carefree and comfortable with him.

Siddharth was typing away on his laptop disappointedly. He was pissed off that she couldn't control what she was declaring without knowledge. He knew she wasn't serious, but her playful words touched the wrong nerve.

It took him a while to cool down and become calm again. He realized that he lashed out at her for no reason.

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Thank you for reading,

Love,
AishuPurple

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