The Hidden Chapters -24

 

I shook my head and left the room before he could protest. While leaving the room I could sense that he was looking at my ass, so immediately I pulled my pallu, covered my ass and tucked it to waist. I also felt its difficult for me to walk fast due to things happened yesterday night and I am swaying my ass naturally.

A few minutes later, after discussing lunch with the cook, I prepared a cup of tea and carried it to the bedroom I bolted the door.

Manoj was sitting on the bed, waiting and watching me as I am walking. I can sense he is looking at my saree pleats and specifically looking at the safety pin. Immediately, I covered it with edge of saree pallu.

"Finally," he said dramatically. “It’s only been ten minutes." "Felt much longer."

I handed him the cup, but instead of taking it completely, he held the handle and gestured for me to sit beside him.

We ended up sharing the same cup, taking turns sipping the tea while talking about nothing important and he casually keeping his hand on saree pleats and feeling the softness of saree rubbing over it and occasionally keeping his hand between my saree pleats and asked me what is there beneath saree pleats. I softly hit him on his hands and told him “you know very well”. And now he started counting saree pleats. I looked into his eyes and pleaded him to stop it.

Then, Manoj placed cup on the side table, and placed kiss on my lips. My eyes are becoming heavy and this time he bit my lower lip and I could only let out small moan out of pain.

I literally begging him to stop as I my body is aching so much but in unknowingly playing along with his actions. I just told him, “Manoj you are shameless and you don’t have any mercy on me”

This made him further excited, and he pulled me and made me lie on bed and removed my pallu.

While kissing me passionately, Manoj started removing the blouse hooks one by one. He started kissing my neck and tried to remove bra. My eyes were becoming heavy and moaning. And at the same time requesting him to stop. But all my requests went to thin air. But unfortunately, he could not remove bra and he kept kissing my neck and biting my lips. After 5 mins, when he could not remove bra, he looked at me and we both smiled at each other. I just took my hand back and some small sound of click sound came and bra got unhooked.

Manoj could see my breasts and told him it has sweat. But Manoj mentioned it does not matter as I can enjoy it only for couple of more hours and after 5.00 PM it might become normal. Manoj could not control and pounced on it like a hungry lion. I am not sure how to respond or how to react as I am getting both the pleasure and severe pain. He is literally biting and sucking. He is taking turns. While sucking right boob, playing with the left and while sucking left, playing with the right. I am just controlling his head. I covered him with my saree pallu and started tapping his back,when-ever he is biting badly. He is acting like as hungry baby who got breasts after waiting for long time. After some time, he looked at my face and observed that I have sweat all over forehead. He looked into my eyes and softly mentioned “ I love you Bala”, with that I again pulled him close to my right boob and this time I kept it in his mouth & kissed him on his forehead.

Manoj started rubbing my bare back and slowly moved his hand till the ass crack and poking me harshly over the layers of saree. Later, he started pressing my butt very badly. This is really giving me goosebumps and I pushed him away. But Manoj pulled me back. Manoj took my hand and made me to put it on his penis. I quickly try to pull my hand back. I took the long breath and pulled down his track pant. With that Manoj took a small breath of relief as his track pant was making it uncomfortable for him. I looked at Manoj’s face and really surprised at his stamina.

Manoj took my hand and placed it again on his penis. This time, I have not pulled my hand back. I could feel heat coming from his dick. I felt its too big and I remembered how painful it was yesterday night when he inserted his hot flesh in my body. I started playing with it like a wife and suddenly I can feel some smell and I realised its his precum. With a firm grip on his big dick, I started stroke slowly and he is really enjoying it. He pulled me closer.

Manoj asked me to stand up and I did as per his request. He undraped my saree and asked me to remove petticoat. And I requested him not remove it as I told him that I don’t want you to see my penis when I am your dressed. He gave big laugh and I closed his mouth with one hand.

He gave me a kiss where I tied petticoat knot. And he lifted my petticoat and lowered down panty and observed that I am wearing sanitary pad over it. He asked me what is this for. I again told him “girly things and why you want to know?’. Later he kept his hands on my ass-crack and he poked my ass with his finger.

He gestured me to kneel down and I understood his intentions. So kneeled down as he is my husband. I roughly spread his legs in mocking anger & now it became easier for me to access his penis and balls. I started kissing his thighs but he is pushing my head towards his penis. Without any choice, I took his balls into my mouth. i kept one side of ball into mouth and other side later, kept rotating the way he played with my breast. But I am very gentle. I can feel that he started breathing very hard when I tried to put both balls at once. Slowly I moved my hand from his thigh to penis.

He kept saying “ Bala Darling” and it kept encouraging me.

I removed his balls from mouth and started licking his penis with tip of my tongue like we check the taste of cone ice cream. Manoj completely held his head high and closed his eyes. I felt that he is really enjoying, and I realised that I should not stop. Finally my lips around his penis and started to gently suck and holding his balls with my hand. He is moaning heavily and slowly lowered my mouth so get it completely in my mouth. I can feel his heavy breathing and I also knew that he is enjoying my first ever blow job.

I stopped it asked him, let me know when you are feeling to release sperm. But without answering my question, he pulled my head towards his penis and invited me to start sucking it again. Now his penis is completely in my mouth and he is pressing my cheek with his thighs. As I am doing for the first time, felt like throwing up as I am unable to breath.

With that, I stopped it and got up again. His eyes clearly states he is very horny and he is not done yet. As my petticoat knot became loose, I tightened it again and he is staring at me as to how easily I tied the knot and adjusted it. As I am moving towards my clothes, he pulled me back and made me lie on bed. He lifted petticoat and stated playing with my shrunken penis. I am totally with shame as I compared my penis with his size. I am ashamed and he is loving it.

The Hidden Chapters -23

 

After Sindhu left, the house felt unusually quiet. Manoj went to take a phone call in the balcony while I slowly walked back toward the bedroom, adjusting the edge of my saree carefully as I moved.

The bed was still messy from the night before. The crumpled bedsheet. The scattered pillows. The faint scent of perfume, sandalwood, and warmth still lingering in the air. Observed car keys that Manoj has given me as a gift also on corner of bed. And I kept it neatly on the side table.

For a few seconds, I simply stood there looking at it. I quickly began fixing the bedsheet, trying to distract myself. As I bent slightly to straighten one corner, the saree loosened a little at my waist. After adjusting the bed, started walking towards the dining table and cleaned. Felt lot of work to do and really started doing the lady of the house.

The vegetable basket needed sorting. A few grocery items had to be checked and completed the same.

 The washed clothes on the balcony had to be folded. So I took them to the bedroom and started folding. At one point, while folding the clothes, I picked up a bra that had been mixed into the laundry basket. The sight of it immediately brought back memories of Friday evening and everything that had changed since then.

Just then, Manoj also came to bedroom and noticed the expression on my face.

"What?" he asked, trying to look innocent. Instead of answering, I rolled my eyes and tossed the bra directly at him.

He caught it effortlessly. For a second, he looked at it, then at me.

A slow smile appeared on his face."You're mischievous," I muttered. "Me?" he laughed.With a teasing grin, he tossed bra back toward me.

As I continued folding the laundry, I came across the soft blue cotton petticoat I had worn with the cotton Mangalagiri saree the previous day.

For a moment, my hands paused. The sight of it immediately brought back memories of Saturday afternoon—learning to manage the saree properly, adjusting the pleats again and again, Sindhu's constant instructions, and the strange feeling of seeing myself dressed so differently.

I began folding the petticoat neatly and started feeling the softness of fabric. Unfortunately, Manoj noticed.

"Oh..." he said immediately with a knowing smile. "I remember that one."

I looked up cautiously."What?". He pointed toward the blue petticoat in my hands. "That one. I remember seeing it yesterday afternoon."

My cheeks warmed at once."Manoj!" He laughed."What? I'm only saying I remember it."

"You don't need to comment on every single thing."

"I disagree," he replied confidently. "Some things deserve appreciation."

I shook my head and continued folding the petticoat, refusing to encourage him further.

Manoj leaned back against the sofa and watched me for another moment.

"Honestly," he said, "it feels strange.""What does?"

"Yesterday afternoon you were trying so hard to figure out those saree pleats."

I smiled despite myself."I remember and now I know more about you.”

"And now look at you," he continued. "You're walking around the house like you've been wearing sarees your entire life."I folded the blue petticoat and placed it neatly on the stack.

"That's because Sindhu made me practice." "Maybe," Manoj replied softly.

"But I think you learned much faster." His tone had become gentler now.

For a brief moment, both of us remembered how much had changed. Then Manoj immediately ruined the serious mood.

"Still," he added with a grin, "I definitely recognized the famous blue petticoat."

I picked up a small hand towel and threw it directly at him.He burst out laughing.

"See? I knew that comment would get a reaction."

"You shouldn't be looking at a lady's innerwear."Manoj immediately raised an eyebrow.

"A lady's innerwear?" "Yes," I replied, trying to sound serious.

"That's not proper."He folded his arms dramatically and pretended to think about it.

"Maybe." Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"But I think husbands get an exception.""Oh really?" I asked.

Manoj stepped a little closer."Besides," he added softly, "you're my wife."

My face immediately grew warm.He laughed at my reaction."What? I'm just stating a fact."

I looked away and continued folding the clothes. And in a softer tone, I responded, you literally troubled me yesterday night”

"And anyway," he continued teasingly, "after everything we've been through this weekend, I don't think you're allowed to be shy around me anymore."

"Who made that rule?"

"Me."

"That doesn't count."

He grinned.

"It counts for me."

I picked up another piece of laundry to hide my smile.

Manoj watched me for a moment before speaking again, this time more gently.

"You know, my favourite part isn't the saree."

I looked up.

"Then what?"

His expression softened."Watching you make this place feel like home."

The teasing disappeared for a moment.And suddenly, standing there surrounded by folded clothes and ordinary household chores, the compliment felt far more intimate than any joke he had made all morning.

I gathered the neatly folded clothes into my arms and stood up carefully to arrange them in the cupboard. After finishing, observed myself in the mirror and checked my reflection.

First, I smoothed the saree pleats, running my palm over them to make sure they were aligned properly. Then I adjusted the safety pin near the pleats and tucked in a loose fold that had come out while doing chores. Next, I straightened the pallu over my shoulder, letting it fall neatly across the front before arranging its border so it sat evenly.

Finally, I checked the mangalya chain resting over my blouse and made sure it was visible and sitting properly, just the way Sindhu had instructed earlier.

Manoj stepped closer."You know what's funny?"

"What?"

"Yesterday you were asking Sindhu if the pleats looked right."

I laughed softly."And today?""Today you're correcting them without even looking."That observation made me pause.

Because he was right.Without realizing it, I had adjusted the pleats twice already.

The pallu too.The habits were becoming natural.

For a moment, I looked at my reflection in the wardrobe mirror.The cotton saree.The neatly arranged pleats.The mangalya chain resting over my chest.

The small red bindi.The woman in the reflection looked calm.

Manoj stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my newly formed breast slightly caressing them. His chin rested on my shoulder as he admired our reflection in the mirror.

"You've been avoiding me all morning," he whispered.

I smiled softly. "I've been doing housework."

He laughed and held me a little closer.

"You're still tired, aren't you?"

I nodded and looked at him through the mirror.

"You were very rough yesterday and you know you literally tore my body and on top of that you tore both nighty and petticoat. you were like hungry lion" I said quietly. "I'm still feeling it today."

Manoj's teasing expression immediately softened,but i can feel he is feeling proud of himself.

"I know," he admitted. "I got little carried away."

"A little?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I was not aware of this side of your part ".

He laughed softly. "Okay... more than a little."

I turned slightly toward him and said, "I'm your wife. Why are you in such a hurry?"

His smile faded into something warmer. "I don't know," he replied honestly. "Maybe because I still can't believe you're here." 

I shook my head with a shy smile.

"We have plenty of weekends ahead of us."

For a moment, he simply looked at me, his eyes full of affection.

"I think that's exactly what I needed to hear," he said.

Standing there together in the quiet afternoon, neither of us felt any need to rush. The house was peaceful, and for the first time that day, we simply enjoyed being close to each other.

Just as Manoj pulled me closer and the conversation between us began turning more intimate, the cook's voice suddenly came from outside the room.

"Bhabhi?"

I immediately got alert and swiftly stepped away and adjusted my pallu.

Looking back once, I couldn't help smiling, because Manoj trying to hide his erected penis.

Manoj was clearly disappointed by the interruption.

His expression practically said that the cook had arrived at exactly the wrong moment.

I shook my head and left the room before he could protest.

The Hidden Chapters -22

 

Manoj was still lying on the bed, half awake. I quietly stepped inside and touched his feet gently. The moment I did, he opened his eyes. A soft smile immediately appeared on his face.

“Good morning,” he said warmly. Before I could move back, he slightly lifted his arm, silently asking me to come closer.I instantly glanced toward the door and stepped back instead.

“The door is open,” I whispered quickly, trying not to smile too much. “Freshen up first.”Manoj laughed softly under his breath, still looking at me with sleepy affection.

“Alright,” he said. I shook my head and walked out before he could tease me more. However I can feel that he is staring at my hips the way I am swaying my hips.

The moment I stepped outside, Sindhu noticed the confused smile on my face immediately.

“What happened?” she asked, though the amusement in her eyes suggested she already knew.

“Nothing,” I replied too quickly. That only made her smile wider.Just then, the cook arrived.

Sindhu shifted back into her practical tone and instructed him to prepare coffee for both of us.

Then she turned toward me again.“One more ritual is left,” she said. I looked at her curiously. “As the new bride of the house, you have to prepare something sweet and offer it to God as prasad.”

For a second, the words stirred an old memory inside me.I remembered the same ritual from years ago… the way my wife had once stood in a kitchen early in the morning, nervous and smiling, preparing sweet prasad after our marriage rituals.

Her voice softened slightly. “What happened?”I took a slow breath and gave a small smile.

“Nothing,” I said quietly. “I just remembered something.”She looked at me carefully for a moment… but didn’t ask further.

Instead, she touched my arm. “Come,” she said gently. “Let’s make the prasad together.” And she instructed me put some bangles as my hand looks very boring. After that ,Sindhu led me into the kitchen, the soft sound of her bangles mixing with the quiet clatter of utensils already arranged by the cook.

“Today you’ll make it,” Sindhu said, leaning lightly against the counter. “I’ll just help.”

I smiled nervously. “What if I spoil it?” “You won’t,” she replied immediately. “Not with me standing here.”. Her confidence made me relax a little.

I adjusted the edge of my saree properly at my waist and began roasting the rice slowly while the milk heated beside it. As I moved around the kitchen, the soft cotton saree shifted lightly, and the orange petticoat beneath became faintly visible near whenever I stepped forward.

Sindhu noticed and walked closer without saying anything at first, standing just behind me while I stirred the rice carefully.

“Careful,” she murmured softly near my ear. “The flame is too high.”

Before I could react, her hands reached around me to lower it slightly. Instead of moving away, she stayed there, close enough for me to feel the warmth of her body behind mine.

Her arms around my waist in a brief, playful hug, making my hands pause over the spoon. A second later, she pressed a soft kiss near the side of my neck—gentle, teasing, just enough to send a quiet shiver through me.

“You’re doing well,” she whispered. “Add the Jaggery slowly,” she instructed softly, her hand settling over mine for a moment. “Like this.”

I followed quietly.  Now, Sindhu stayed close to me. Her fingers lingered around my waist and occasionally smoothing pleats and touching my penis over the saree pleats.

“You really look comfortable in a saree now,” she said softly. “You taught me,” I replied with a shy smile.“Hm,” she murmured. “Maybe I taught you too well.”Her fingertips briefly brushed one of the faint marks near my neck again. She smiled knowingly when I immediately lowered my gaze.

“And these…” she whispered teasingly, “make you look even more like a newlywed bride.”

“Sindhu…” I said softly, embarrassed.“What?” she asked innocently.

Then she leaned closer once more and placed another light kiss near the same spot before finally stepping back.

“Now focus,” she laughed quietly. “Or the payasam will burn because of me.”

The kitchen slowly filled with the sweet smell of milk, ghee, and cardamom.

The quiet intimacy of the kitchen no longer startled me the way it had earlier. I still felt shy under her touches and teasing, but I no longer moved away from them either. Somewhere between the cooking, the soft morning light, and her constant closeness, I had slowly stopped resisting the comfort of her presence.

Finally, I switched off the stove. Sindhu smiled with satisfaction and handed me a small silver bowl.“One last thing before offering it,” she said.

I looked at her curiously.“Go to the garden and pluck a few tulsi leaves,” she instructed softly. “Fresh ones.”

I nodded and stepped outside toward the small garden near the courtyard. The morning air felt cool against my skin. My saree moved lightly around my ankles as I bent carefully near the tulsi plant.

I gently plucked a few fresh leaves and placed them carefully into the silver bowl before returning inside.

Sindhu was already arranging the pooja plate by the time I came back.“Good,” she said approvingly when she saw the leaves. She guided me toward the pooja room and motioned for me to place the tulsi before the idols.“Now put a little into the payasam too,” she instructed quietly. “It becomes complete only then.” I followed carefully while she watched beside me.The diya flame flickered softly in the still room.Sindhu then handed me the aarthi plate..

“Do the aarthi,” she said gently. “Slowly.”I lifted the plate with both hands and circled it before the idols while the small bells nearby chimed softly. The warm light from the diya reflected against the gold of my mangalya chain resting visibly over my saree, just the way Sindhu had instructed earlier.

As I finished, Sindhu stood beside me silently for a moment, watching.

Then she smiled softly. “Now,” she whispered, “it truly feels like a home.”

As I completed the aarthi, Manoj entered quietly, freshly dressed in a simple white t-shirt and loose track pants, his hair still slightly damp after his bath.

His eyes slowly moved from the pooja plate in my hands to the orange saree draped around me.

“So the new bride has already completed all the rituals?” he asked softly.

Before I could answer, Sindhu replied proudly from beside me.“Bala even made the payasam.” Manoj looked genuinely impressed.

“Really?” he asked, stepping closer.

The calm Sunday morning made everything feel slower and more relaxed than usual. After finishing the prayers, all three of us moved toward the dining table where the cook had already arranged breakfast.The smell of fresh dosa, chutney, and coffee filled the room.

Sindhu served the payasam into small silver bowls while Manoj sat across from me, still unusually quiet.

But slowly I began noticing Manoj’s gaze drifting toward me again and again.

At first I ignored it.Then I realized what exactly he was watching. While eating, the saree had loosened slightly near my waist. Every time I leaned forward for the coffee or reached toward the serving bowls, a small glimpse of my waist and navel became visible before the pallu slipped back naturally into place.

Manoj noticed every single time. Once, when I adjusted the plate near him, I caught him staring for a second too long. After breakfast, I slowly got up to help clear the table, still walking carefully.

Sindhu immediately noticed.“Sit,” she instructed softly. “You’re still tired.”

Just then, her phone rang.The relaxed mood shifted the moment she answered.

“Hello?”Her expression changed almost immediately.“What happened?”Both Manoj and I looked toward her. She listened silently for a few moments before speaking again, calmer this time.

“Okay… don’t panic. I’ll come. ”The call ended.“What happened?” Manoj asked.

Sindhu exhaled slowly and rubbed her forehead lightly.

“My mother slipped while taking bath,” she said. “They admitted her to the hospital.”

I immediately stood up straighter.“Is she alright?” I asked.“Yes,” Sindhu replied quickly. “My brother said there’s no danger. It’s just a small fracture probably… but I can’t stay here now.”

The warmth of the morning suddenly felt interrupted.“I’ll come with you,” Manoj offered immediately.

Sindhu shook her head.“No, stay here,” she said softly. “There’s already enough people at the hospital.”

Then she turned toward me.“And you,” she added gently, stepping closer, “Can you finish all the pending household work.”Her fingers instinctively adjusted my pallu and covered my bra which is slightly coming from the blouse.

“And be safe.” At the door, she turned once more. “Call me if you need anything,” she said to both of us.

After Sindhu left, the house felt unusually quiet. Manoj went to take a phone call in the balcony while I slowly walked back toward the bedroom, adjusting the edge of my saree carefully as I moved.

The Hidden Chapters -21

 

Sindhu sat closer now. “You’re shaking,” she said softly. “And you haven’t looked at me once.” That’s when it hit me—how badly I wanted to cry. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel,” I admitted at last. My voice came out thin. Sindhu exhaled slowly. “You’re allowed to be confused,” she said. “You’re allowed to feel more than one thing. Marriage doesn’t erase your body… or your fear.”

“What if this is just how it is now?” I whispered. “What if this is what I have to get used to?”

From the other room came the faint sound of movement—Manoj turning in his sleep.

Sindhu squeezed my hand once, gently. “You don’t have to decide everything today,” she said. “But don’t lie to yourself. That’s the only thing that really breaks you.”

After a moment she lifted her other hand and gently touched the mangalya chain which is falling in between the breast. “In this house, you are not just a guest anymore.” Then she stood up and helped me get off the bed.

Now Sindhu kept her another hand on my neck and showed me mangalya indicating that I am the lady of the house and reminded me that I will be as lady and as a wife to both Manoj & Sindhu when I am in this house.

Then she stood up and helped me get off the bed.

“As a newly married woman, there are some morning rituals,” she said with a playful tone. “Come.” She guided me toward the washroom. Inside, she asked me gently to remove my clothes  and asked me to tie the petticoat tie covering my breasts. Before tying the knot, first she checked the size of the breasts and she mentioned that injection is working fine and breasts are intact. And her fingers are continue to hover on my breasts and gave teasing smile. With out further teasing, she adjusted the petticoat & mentioned that first nights with real man are always like this.

Her eyes slowly moved over me, noticing every little detail I had tried to ignore. The faint marks on my neck. And she asked me “was it really too intense?”

She reached for a small towel and dipped it in cool water from the sink. Then she gently pressed it against my neck where the marks were. The coolness made me shiver.

“Relax,” she murmured.

Her hand rested lightly on my shoulder while she held the cloth in place. The touch was simple, almost caring, but the closeness between us suddenly felt different.

“You really are soft, No wonder he couldn’t leave you alone.”

My face immediately grew warm.“Sindhu…” I said quietly. She looked at me and smiled.

She walked to a small wooden shelf near the sink and took out a small bowl. Inside it was a mixture of turmeric and sandal paste prepared earlier.

I frowned slightly. “You were planning this?” Sindhu laughed under her breath. “Of course. First morning rituals are important.”

She dipped her fingers into the turmeric paste. The paste was cool against my skin. Slowly, carefully, she spread it along my forearm and shoulder. She applied across all over my body, lifting the petticoat applied at anal as well. Her touch was gentle, and she studying every reaction on my face.

“First night is not always easy, but the body learns. He really did not show any mercy, did he?” she whispered playfully.

she added gently. “Turmeric helps with everything.” Sindhu finally stepped back and washed her hands lightly. “Alright,” she said with a satisfied nod.

She turned the shower on slightly, letting warm water flow.“Careful,” she said, placing a steady hand on my arm as I stepped under the water.

The warm water ran over my shoulders, slowly washing away the turmeric paste. Sindhu stayed nearby, making sure I didn’t slip.

“You really are exhausted,” she said softly. “I didn’t sleep much,” I admitted.

She reached for a small mug and gently poured water over my shoulders to rinse the remaining paste.

For a moment the scene felt peaceful—just the sound of water and the soft morning light entering through the window. Sindhu finally stepped back once everything was washed away.

“There,” she said. “First ritual completed.” Now she asked me to remove petticoat and asked me to complete the shower. As I loosened the knot of petticoat, it slipped down and it got totally stained yellow due to turmeric. I picked it up and placed it aside before continuing.

Sindhu walked toward the door and glanced back at me. “Now hurry up… before our sleeping husband wakes up and starts asking where his bride disappeared.” After finishing bath, I looked at myself in the mirror, still lot of love bytes, breasts are still in-tact and looked at my manhood which is in small size and looked like non existing. Tied my towel at breast and slowly took step outside.

As I stepped out, still adjusting the towel around me, Sindhu turned toward me—and paused. “So…” she said softly, tilting her head, “you did check yourself in the mirror, didn’t you?” I looked away, but that only made her smile more. “Don’t worry,” she added, “they fade pointing at the lover bytes and noticeable length of penis. But for now…” she paused, “…they suit you.”

 Sindhu observed that my skin is glowing in gold colour due to application of turmeric powder. She  then reached toward the cupboard and picked up a neatly folded set of padded bra and panty.

“Here,” she said, handing them to me. “Wear these first.” Observed that panty fixed with sanitary napkin and felt napkin is bit large in size.

Her fingers brushed mine as she passed them, and for a brief moment, neither of us pulled away quickly.

She then handed me a soft cotton orange petticoat. she said. “More comfortable… especially today.”

I nodded quietly. As I began tying the petticoat knot, “Wait,” she said softly.

Before I could react, her hands moved to the waist, stopping mine. Her fingers took over, tying the knot herself—slowly, deliberately, as if there was no hurry at all.

“You rush too much,” she murmured. “Let it sit properly.”

Her fingers tightened the knot just enough, then smoothed the fabric down along my waist and hips.

she handed me orange cotton saree and its matching blouse.  She placed it in my hands. “Alright,” she continued, her tone shifting back to calm control. “Let’s see if you remember this properly.”

I began draping it, a little slower now, aware of her watching closely. “Not like that,” she said, stepping in again. Her hands moved over mine, correcting the fold. She adjusted the tuck at my waist, and pressed my hip firmly.

“Here,” she said, “It should sit clean. Otherwise it looks messy.”When I started making the pleats, she didn’t move away.

Instead, she stood right in front of me.“One… two…” she counted softly. By the time I reached the fifth pleat, she reached forward and held them together, her fingers brushing mine.“Six looks better,” she said quietly.I added one more.

After forming the pleats, Sindhu held them straightly and pinned it securely inside to the petticoat. Sindhu pinned the safety pin so nicely that pin is invisible. Then she tucked the pleats neatly into the petticoat, pressing them in with care, her touch firm but controlled.  She ensured that pleats are centred just below belly button and they are uniform in size. I let out a small breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Perfect,” she said, satisfied.

Finally, she lifted the pallu and placed it over my shoulder, adjusting it slowly, smoothing it down across breasts. Her hand paused there for a moment adjusting the blouse and bra.

Then she stepped back, crossing her arms, looking at me with a slight smile—half teasing, half something else. I checked myself in the mirror and tucked my pallu to the waist.

As Sindhu is happy with saree draping, she instructed me to apply bindi, kum-kum and make up and in the meantime, she went to bathroom to freshen up. After adjusting my hair and satisfied with make up, walked towards the fridge and took jasmine flowers, and adjusted in my hair.

I could feel the difference in the way I walked that morning. Every step is slower, more careful than usual, and the soft sanitary pad beneath my panty kept reminding me to move gently. Even then, the light cotton saree felt comforting—easy to carry, soft against my skin, almost calming after Manoj conquered my body  by entering his flesh yesterday night.

Before stepping out, I checked myself once more in the mirror.

The orange saree sat neatly around me, the pleats perfectly pinned. My damp hair rested over my shoulders, and the faint golden glow from the turmeric still lingered on my skin. Marks near my neck were still visible, making me adjust the pallu.Taking a quiet breath, I walked toward the pooja room.

The morning air inside the house felt peaceful. I slowly began cleaning the small pooja space, arranging the flowers and wiping the brass lamps carefully.

A few moments later, Sindhu stepped inside. She had changed into a classy pink salwar that matched beautifully with my orange saree. Her hair was still slightly wet from her bath, and the small red bindi on her forehead made her look elegant and calm.

For a second she simply stood there watching me.“See?” she said quietly. “Now you finally look like the lady of the house.”

I lowered my gaze shyly. Sindhu walked closer and handed me the small plate with turmeric and kumkum.

“Light the diya first,” she instructed gently. I nodded and lit the lamp carefully. The warm glow filled the small room.

Then, following her instructions, I applied turmeric and kumkum to my mangalya chain.

Sindhu watched closely.“Don’t hide it,” she said softly when I instinctively adjusted my pallu over it. “Let it be visible.” Her fingers lightly moved the chain forward, so it rested against my chest falling in between the newly formed assets.

“It suits you,” she added with a faint smile. I looked at her for a moment, feeling strangely shy. After finishing the prayer, I bent slightly and touched her feet for blessings. Sindhu immediately held my shoulders and stopped me halfway.

“That’s enough,” she said softly, though her eyes clearly enjoyed the gesture.

Then she smiled playfully.“Now go wake our husband properly.” I tucked my pallu at my waist and I pressed it with my hand.I hesitated before walking toward the bedroom. The door was slightly open.