Chapter 16 — A New Beginning
The wedding celebrations had ended, and Sowjanya stood at the entrance of her new home beside Arjun. The house was decorated with flowers, mango leaves, and colorful lights. Women from the family welcomed her with traditional songs.
She wore a pink-and-orange silk saree with a gold border. Her long dark hair was arranged in a thick braid decorated with jasmine. Her hands were covered with mehendi, and her eyes reflected both excitement and nervousness.
Arjun gently held her hand.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked.
Sowjanya smiled. "I am happy. Just a little nervous."
He reassured her that they would learn to understand each other.
Inside the house, Sowjanya met her new family. Her mother-in-law, whom everyone called Atha, watched her carefully. Although the welcome was polite, Sowjanya sensed that Atha had strong expectations about how a daughter-in-law should behave.
That evening, Sowjanya arranged her belongings in the bedroom. She looked at the wedding photographs and smiled.
She had dreamed of a peaceful married life for so long.
As Arjun entered the room, she turned toward him with a shy expression.
"Let's make this home a happy place," she said.
Arjun nodded.
Neither of them knew how difficult that promise would become.
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