Last night Tahir could not sleep well despite the exhaustion of the day. His mind kept drifting back to thoughts he was tired of having. He just wanted to sleep peacefully for a bit, his mind away from those thoughts. But from the past few months that nearly seemed impossible. No matter how much he tried, how many efforts he put or the medicines he took, the stress refused to escape his mind. On top of that, the previous day was really overwhelming for him. He had agreed for the marriage because of his family and Tanishka but his mind was still not in the right state for this. Everything happened so quickly that he barely got time to process anything. It was like he just blinked and the next moment Yn stepped into his life as his wife and Tanishka's mother.

He took a deep breath and slowly got up, his body slightly aching from sleeping on the couch. He looked around and saw that the bed was empty. He frowned and glanced at the clock. It was 7 in the morning. He wore his slippers and walked towards the baby crib. It was empty too. His heart started pounding as he wondered where Tanishka was. As he was again lost in his thoughts, Yn entered inside the room cradling a sleeping Tanishka in her arms and humming softly. Tahir's gaze immediately landed on her. She looked up to see him already looking at her. She smiled and wished him softly, "Good morning"

Tahir nodded and replied shortly, "Morning."

Yn gently placed Tanishka on the bed and smoothed her hair. Tahir was looking at everything silently. Yn was wearing a beautiful crimson red saree which accentuated her curves. But what caught his attention was the mangalsutra around her neck which caught the morning sunlight, glinting slightly, and her vermilion. All these were the symbols of her marital status, her marriage to him. The vermilion was in his name as well as the mangalsutra. Even if he didn't want it, he was her husband now and she was his wife. Even if he doesn't love her, there were certain responsibilities he had to fulfill, whether he liked it or not, it just didn't matter. He recalled the words he spoke to her last night and felt a little guilty for being too rude. He realised that he poured out his frustration on her. He sighed and decided to apologise for his behaviour earlier.

"Woh Suno." ( Ah.. listen)

Yn turned her attention to him and looked at him with a slight hint of curiosity and spoke, "Ji kahiye." ( Yes say)

He bit his lower lip and looked down with a sigh. He remained silent for a moment before looking back at her and spoke,

"Kal raat..maine jis tareeke se baat ki.. I realised ki mera tareeka thora galat tha. I'm sorry ki I sounded too rude. Main..main bas ready nahi tha..iss..iss ke liye. I need time."

(Last night… the way I spoke… I realised my approach was a bit wrong. I’m sorry if I sounded too rude. I… I just wasn’t ready… for this. I need time.)

Yn smiled and nodded.

"Main jaanti hoon...and it's alright..main aapko kabhi force nahi karungi..kuch bhi karne ke liye..aapko wakt chahiye aur main intezaar kar sakti hoon."

(I know… and it’s alright… I will never force you… to do anything. You need time, and I can wait.)

Her words did something to him which he refused to acknowledge. His mind was clouded with thoughts from the past and this new present which unexpectedly entered his life. He wanted to be careful. Very careful. He didn't want her to get her hopes high. Also he didn't want her to affect him like she does in little moments of pure understanding and slight show of devotion.

"Dekho.. mujhe time chahiye ha..par main ye wada nahi kar sakta ki main iss shaadi mein pyaar ke rang launga. Main bas ek husband hone ke naate Jo bhi responsibilities hai woh pura karunga. Mujhse jyada expect bhi matt karna..last mein warna tum hurt ho jaogi."

(Look… I do need time, yes… but I can’t promise that I’ll bring love into this marriage. I will only fulfill whatever responsibilities I have as a husband. Don’t expect more from me… otherwise, in the end, you’ll get hurt.)

This time Tahir's voice didn't carry the frustration or bitterness. It came out gentle yet it was laced with an underlying caution.

Yn smiled understanding the fact that he was acting impulsively though in a patient way.

Suddenly Rajeshwari's voice from downstairs drew their attention.

"Tahir..Yn niche aao dekho kaun aaya hai." ( Tahir..Yn come downstairs and look who came)

Tahir looked at Yn with a confused expression and questioned, "Maa excited lag rahi hai..kaun aaya hoga?"

( Mother is sounding excited.. who could it be?)

Yn glanced at sleeping Tanishka before replying softly, "Chalkar dekhte hai..shayad aapke hi koi khaas mehman honge.. shaadi huyi toh mehman aana normal hai."

(Let’s go and see… maybe some of your special guests have come… it’s normal for guests to visit after a wedding.)

He nodded and left the room. Yn followed him downstairs as well. As they neared the living room, they could hear the laughter and chaos. Tahir looked around and spotted that one person whom he missed a lot. A smile spread across Tahir's face as he called out, "Javin tu?" ( Javin you?)

Javin who was surrounded by Tahir's family looked at the direction of that familiar voice. When he saw Tahir standing near the staircase with a smile, his eyes sparkled and he rushed towards Tahir. Both of them shared a brotherly hug and Tahir asked, "Kaisa hai tu?"

( How are you?)

Javin pulled away from the hug and smiled replying, "I'm good.. waise sorry kal teri shaadi attend nahi kar paaya woh kal ki flight nahi mili isliye aaj aa paya."

(I’m good… anyway, sorry I couldn’t attend your wedding yesterday. I couldn’t get a flight yesterday, so I could come only today.)

Then, Javin's eyes landed on Yn who was standing at the last step of the staircase looking at everything with a soft smile. He smiled back at her and asked, "Aap hi hona bhabi?" ( You are Tahir's wife right like my sister-in-law)

Yn nodded and approached them, standing next to Tahir.

"Ha main hi hoon..waise sach bolu toh.. I'm your big fan ha..accha gaate ho..nahi bohot accha." (Yes, it’s me… to be honest… I’m your big fan. You sing well… no, very well.)

Javin smiled and bowed a little to show his appreciation for the praise, "Thank you bhabi"

Tahir looked at Yn and spoke, "As a singer toh ye bohot famous hai..tum isse jaanti bhi ho..par mere liye ye bas ek world famous star nahi..balki mere khudke bhai jaisa hai..he is my childhood bestfriend aur ye.. Aaradhya ka Bhai bhi hai."

(As a singer, he’s very famous… you probably know him too… but for me, he’s not just a world-famous star… he’s like my own brother. He is my childhood best friend, and he’s… Aaradhya’s brother too.)

Tahir's voice softened further as he uttered Aaradhya's name and Javin's expression turned one of longing. He loved his sister a lot and her death left him and his mother devastated. Yn smiled and nodded in understanding. Javin's eyes briefly went to the large photo frame of Aaradhya which was hanged in the living room, a flower garland on it.

Anupam called out from a distance, "Tum tino waha khare khare kya kar rahe ho..idhar aao..aur Javin tu ja..fresh hokar aa..aaj khana teri nayi bhabi ne banaya hai..pehli rasoi jo thi."

(What are you three standing there for… come here. And Javin, you go… come back fresh… today your new sister-in-law has cooked… it’s her first time in the kitchen.)

At the dining table Yn and their maid, Mallika was serving everyone. Yn cooked a variety of delicacies including butter paneer and puri and a tempting chutney with it. A newly married woman has to prepare a sweet dish on her first day at her in-laws place to welcome a sweet beginning of her married life. Mallika told her that Tahir loves kheer so, keeping that in mind Yn prepared kheer for the the family. Mallika was a new maid as Singhaniya family's former maid had to resign due to family issues. Mallika was not aware of the fact that Tahir had stopped eating kheer after Aaradhya's death because she was the one who would always prepare it with love for him. Kheer reminds him of her. As everyone was busy eating, Yn kept receiving appreciation for her cooking skills.

Anupam tasted the chutney and spoke smiling, "Wah beti..chutney toh bari acchi hai." (Wow, dear… the chutney is really good.)

Rajeshwari smiled and added, "Paneer bhi kaafi accha bana hai.. tumhari cooking skills maanni paregi bahu"

(The paneer is really well made too… I’ll have to admit your cooking skills, daughter-in-law.)

Javin took another puri and smiled, "Woh toh hai..khana mast hai..aapke haathon mein jaadu hai bhabi" (That’s true… the food is amazing… there’s magic in your hands, sister-in-law.)

Yn felt delighted hearing that her cooking was loved by everyone. But the one for whom she actually put all the efforts remained silent and ate without saying anything. She wanted him to tell her if he liked the food. She wanted to hear atleast something from him. Rajeshwari noticed Tahir's silence and Yn's hopeful gaze. She understood the assignment and asked Tahir, "Tu bol..biwi ke haath ka khana kaisa laga?" (You tell me… how did you like the food made by your wife?)

Tahir spoke without looking at anyone, "Accha hai" ( Good)

His comment was short and didn't carry any warmth but still it made Yn smile. She went to the kitchen and brought the kheer. She started serving everyone but Rajeshwari and Anupam tensed a little looking at the kheer, fearing Tahir's reaction. But they remained silent hoping that Tahir would not create a scene. They did not want Yn to get hurt after she put all her efforts into making everything. They stole glances at each other and ate in silence. Yn served Javin and he spoke, "Waoo kheer..dekhkar hi lagta hai ki bohot accha bana hai...aapko pata hai Tahir ko kheer bohot pasand hai..isliye aapne banaya hai na?"

(Wow, kheer… just by looking at it, I can tell it’s really well made… you know Tahir loves kheer, that’s why you made it, right?)

Tahir stopped eating and looked at the bowl of kheer Yn was holding. Yn smiled and was about to serve Tahir when he got up, "Woh mera ho gaya..aap sab Khao" (I'm done… you all go ahead and eat.)

Yn looked at him with confusion, "Kaha hua? Pura toh khaiye." ( What done? Finish it.)

He walked away without another word and left upstairs. Yn stood there feeling hurt again. Javin looked at the direction where Tahir left and asked being confused as well, "Ab ise kya hua? Kha toh raha tha." (What happened to him now? He was eating just a moment ago.)

Rajeshwari sighed and spoke, "Woh Tahir ne kheer khana chor diya hai.. Aaradhya ke jaane ke baad se..pehle woh banati thi na uske liye toh ab uske jaane ke baad..Tahir ko yaad aati hai uski jab bhi woh Aaradhya ki koi bhi cheez ya phir koi bhi aisi baat ya kaam jo pehle woh karti thi woh koi aur karta hai toh.."

(Tahir has stopped eating kheer… ever since Aaradhya passed away. Earlier, she used to make it for him, right? Now, after she’s gone… whenever someone else does anything that Aaradhya used to do, it reminds Tahir of her)

Javin looked down and the once lively environment became gloom again. Mallika stepped forward and spoke, "Woh galti meri hai malkin.. mujhe iske baare mein nahi pataa tha..main nayi hoon na..maine hi bhabi se kaha tha ki Tahir bhaiya ko kheer pasand hai..woh ekbar aapne kaha tha na ki bachpan se unko pasand hai..isliye."

( That’s my mistake, ma’am… I didn’t know about this. I’m new, you see… I was the one who told bhabi that Tahir Bhaiya likes kheer… you had once mentioned that he’s liked it since childhood… that’s why.)

Rajeshwari shook her head and spoke softly, "Aree koi baat nahi..itna bara issue kuch nahi hua aur Yn tum Dil chota matt karo..khana khane ke baad uske liye kuch aur bana dena"

(Oh, it’s nothing… it’s not a big issue, and Yn, don’t take it to heart. After the meal, make something else for him.)

Yn sat down to eat with a heavy heart. She wanted everything to be perfect. She expected to see his smile after eating his favourite.

Back in Tahir's room, he was laying on the bed with Aaradhya's photo frame. Tears rolled down his sides as he remembered the moments he shared with her. The day she stepped into the Singhaniya mansion as his wife, the way she used to cook for him, the stolen hugs and kisses, moments of intimacy..he remembered every single thing. He knew that he was being unfair to Yn but he could not help. He cannot force his heart to forget Aaradhya and love Yn. He never wanted to. He closed his eyes clutching the photo frame to his chest and fell asleep like that.

That's it guys.. chapter 3 is out. Vote and comment and I beg you not to be a silent reader. Don't leave the story getting bored as twist and turn of events are slowly approaching so hold on. Let's take it slow to build suspense.