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“How could I fulfil that ritual, Bhabhi? My brothers have protected me all these years, and now, when they need my help and support, I can’t even do anything for them. Dad is going to expel Aksh bhai from his political party soon, and I can’t prevent that. I can’t make Dad treat Vishnu the way he should be treated, either. What kind of a sister am I? I feel so helpless.”
My heart aches as I feel Meher’s pain and frustration. To lighten her mood and to offer some comfort, I quickly walk over to her and take the phone from her hand so I can speak to Devika on the video call.
I decide to playfully complain to Devika. “Hey, Devika. Did you see?” I ask her. “Meher is married to me, but it seems like she’s always thinking about her Walia family. Her father and brothers are constantly on her mind, and she doesn’t even notice that her husband needs her attention too.”
I glance at Meher, and her jaw drops in disbelief at my little performance. I continue, feigning annoyance, “You know what? I even have to make breakfast for my wife.”
Meher can’t believe what she’s hearing and pinches me hard on the arm.
“When did I ever ask you to make breakfast for me?” she retorts.
“I cannot believe you forgot. Just yesterday, you told me that it was my duty to make breakfast every day. Now, when I have made the extra effort to make chocolate brownies specifically for you, you’re pretending like you never asked. I put in so much work in the kitchen for you, and you don’t even acknowledge it,” I reply.
Meher is stupefied by my over-the-top response. She quickly glances at the tray on the table, and her eyes sparkle with delight, but she masks her pleasure and pretends to be angry again. We continue arguing, even though Devika is watching us on the video call.
“I’m trying to become the world’s best husband, and you are fighting with me, Meher?” I feign disappointment.
Meher clenches her jaw, turning to speak to Devika on the phone instead.
“Bhabhi, Ayaan is exaggerating. I know my responsibilities as a new daughter-in-law in this house,” she hastily explains to Devika. “I’m not neglecting them. Ayaan is just making up stories. It’s not true. It’s not my fault that he wakes up earlier than me and heads straight to the kitchen to cook breakfast for me before I even wake up to take over. Besides, it’s not a rule that only wives should cook. Husbands can do that too.”
Devika bursts into laughter at Meher’s predicament and my playful teasing.
“You two are so cute when you fight,” she comments. “Meher, Ayaan is just teasing you to lighten your mood. You’re fortunate that your husband is cooking for you. Aksh, on the other hand, can’t even manage to boil water for me.”
Meher and I both let out a chuckle at her remark.
“Let me know how the brownies tasted in our next call,” Devika adds before saying goodbye and disconnecting the call.
After Devika disconnects the call, Meher snatches the phone from my hand and places it on the bed.
“You were complaining about me?” she whines, putting her hand on her hips. She looks around, goes to the bed and begins to throw pillows at me in annoyance.
“What did you say to bhabhi? I make you slog in the kitchen? All the time? How could you lie to my bhabhi about me?” Meher argues with me. “Is this a trait of a good husband, to keep complaining to his wife’s family about every little thing she fails to do?”
I chuckle and do my best to dodge the pillows she’s throwing at me.
“Meher, I was just trying to cheer you up.”
She huffs.
“Seriously! Is this your idea of cheering me up? By complaining about me to my family?”
As she throws the last pillow, I quickly dodge it. Unfortunately, my well-timed evasion sends the pillow directly into the path of the man entering our bedroom—my father, Kailash Shergill.
Meher immediately feels guilty for hitting my dad with the pillow. I try to keep up the act, pretending to be angry.
“You hit my Dad?”
Horrified, she quickly pulls her dupatta around her neck in an attempt to look more presentable before my father and rushes to him to apologise.
“I... I’m sorry... I threw it at Ayaan. I didn’t realise you would enter at the same time.”
Dad bursts into laughter and throws the pillow aside. He pulls Meher close to him.
“You don’t have to be sorry. In fact, please continue. I don’t mind if you straighten my son out. He has troubled me a lot, and I couldn’t do anything about it. Now that you’re his wife, I wouldn’t mind if you trouble him a bit. I’d love it. We’re on the same team, aren’t we?”
He winks at Meher. She chuckles and nods at him.
