Vihaan and Gauri arrived at the Kothari mansion, where Dadi and Urvashi were waiting at the grand entrance, their faces glowing with anticipation.
As Gauri stepped out of the car, Dadi and Urvashi guided her toward the threshold to perform the Griha Pravesh ritual. A silver bowl filled with rice was placed at the doorway. Following tradition, Gauri gently nudged it with her foot, sending the grains spilling forward—a symbol of prosperity entering the household.
Next, she stepped onto the vermilion imprint laid at the threshold. Her crimson footprints marked her official entry into her new home.
Vihaan stood nearby, his face stern, watching her every move.
After the ritual, Gauri and Vihaan bent respectfully to seek blessings. Dadi placed her hand tenderly on Gauri's head, her eyes glistening.
"Bahut suhaagyanvati ho, Gauri," Dadi blessed, her voice warm. "May your marriage be filled with strength and understanding. May you win every heart in this house with your goodness. And above all, may your bond with Vihaan be unbreakable."
Gauri lowered her gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, murmuring softly, "Thank you, Dadi."
Urvashi followed with equal warmth, touching Gauri's cheek affectionately. "You've stepped into this house today not as a guest, but as our own daughter. Always remember, you'll never be alone here."
But when they turned toward Veena, the air shifted. The painful memory struck Gauri instantly—the moment Veena had once attacked her with a hairpin, piercing her scalp in cruelty. That wound still throbbed in her heart.
Instead of bowing, Gauri lifted her chin, her gaze steady. With deliberate calm, she walked right past Veena and seated herself on a nearby sofa, her saree flowing gracefully as she sat down. She didn't look back, as if Veena were nothing more than air.
The room froze in shock. Dadi's smile faltered, Urvashi's lips parted in disbelief, Vihaan's jaw tightened, and the servants lowered their eyes nervously.
Veena's face darkened instantly, her pride stung, her eyes narrowing with fury. Being ignored so openly in her own mansion was an insult she would not forget—or forgive.
As Gauri settled herself on the sofa after walking past Veena without so much as a glance, Vihaan's voice broke the heavy silence. He looked at her with restrained irritation.
"What are you doing, Gauri? Why didn't you seek my mother's blessings?"
Gauri's eyes shifted to him, calm but edged with steel. "It seems you've forgotten, Vihaan. Your mother tried to kill me a few days ago."
The words landed in the room like a stone thrown into still water, rippling tension across every face present.
Dadi stepped forward, concern etched deeply into her features. "Gauri beta, that's not the complete truth. Veena only attacked because—"
Before she could finish, Veena's commanding voice sliced through the room. "Enough. No one will justify me to this girl. Whatever happened, she must accept it without question."
Dadi fell silent, her hesitation clear as her eyes darted toward Gauri. But Gauri did not waver. She held Veena's gaze, her expression steady, unwavering.
Veena's lips curled into a disdainful smirk. "Even if she had sought my blessings, I would not have given them. So, she made the right choice by not seeking them at all."
A flicker of amusement danced in Gauri's eyes. Her voice, calm yet laced with sarcasm, broke the tension once more.
"Finally, we can both agree on something."
The silence that followed was heavier than before. Dadi and Urvashi exchanged uneasy glances, while Vihaan's jaw tightened. Veena's face remained stern, but a flicker of annoyance betrayed her at Gauri's sharp retort.
Gauri's expression softened into a playful smile as she tilted her head toward Vihaan. "Anyways, let's forget about that. My dear husband, you've brought me to your home on an empty stomach. At least get me some food."
Vihaan's eyes narrowed, irritation flashing in their depths. He didn't answer her right away, but his thoughts were sharp. She's doing this deliberately… just to irritate me.
Before the tension could thicken, Raani sprang up from her seat, her face bright with enthusiasm. "I'll get you some food, Bhabhi!" she said warmly, rushing toward the kitchen without a second thought.
As Raani disappeared down the hallway, Gauri's smile curved wider, mischief flickering in her eyes. This is only the beginning,Mr VK. I'll make your life far more difficult than you can imagine.
Vihaan's glare lingered on her, unrelenting. His jaw tightened as the same realization crossed his mind. She's going to be a handful.
As Vihaan carried Gauri away, silence lingered in the hall, broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps.
Veena's eyes followed them, her expression darkening with every passing second. Folding her arms, she spoke in a low, bitter tone that cut through the air like a blade.
"I have a gut feeling that this girl will only bring more problems into our lives," she said, her voice laced with disdain.
Dadi's gaze flickered toward her, a trace of disapproval in her eyes, but she held her silence. Urvashi shifted uneasily, while Raani and Yug exchanged uncertain glances, the atmosphere heavy with Veena's venomous words.
Upstairs, Vihaan and Gauri disappeared into the privacy of their room, unaware—or perhaps uncaring—of the storm Veena had just set into motion.