A new day unfolded in Tara's married life. She woke up, still feeling tired from the events of the previous night. The sun had yet to rise, and the morning was embraced by a gentle fog, signaling the arrival of winter. Covering her body up to her chest with a duvet, she found her saree on the floor.

Taking a cautious look at her husband, still deep in sleep and lying on his stomach, she noticed his muscular back partially covered by the duvet. The room was a mess, clothes strewn on the floor, and the bedsheet stained with her blood.

Tara roughly wrapped the saree around her, attempting to stand, but unbearable pain between her legs made her sit back on the bed. Ignoring the pain, she stood up once again, picking up her torn blouse, his kurta, and pants, placing them on a chair. Taking fresh clothes, she headed for a bath, trying to wash away the physical and emotional residue of the previous night.

After taking a bath and standing in front of the mirror, Tara adorned her nuptial chain. She then dried her wet hair and filled her hairline with vermilion. In the midst of this, there was a knock on the door of their room. Tara quickly covered her head and went to open the door.

A young lady, a bit older than her, stood with two glasses of milk, smiling at Tara.

"Ji?" Tara asked the lady. (Yes?).

"I am Meera, your husband's sister."

"Namaste didi," saying so, Tara touched her feet.

"What are you doing, Bhabi? Please don't touch my feet like this," Meera said.

"Accha, did bhaiya wake up?"

"Nahi, wo abhi bhi so rahe hain," said Tara with a hint of shyness in her voice. (No, he is still sleeping)

"Okay, here, take this glass of milk for both of you and please wake him up and come down to have breakfast. We will leave soon to go back home," said Meera while handing the two glasses of milk to Tara.

"Ji, but isn't this your house?" asked Tara hesitantly.

"Yes, it is, and we have more houses like this, but our main home is in Rajgarh, so we have to reach there before evening," said Meera.

"Okay, I'm going. Both of you, please come quickly," Meera left after this.

Tara's heart ached at the realization that she would be staying far away from her mother. Initially, she held the hope that the current home is in her village, allowing her to meet her mother whenever she wished. However, destiny had different plans, tearing her away from the familiar comfort of her mother's presence. A solitary tear escaped her eye, swiftly wiped away, leaving no trace of the quiet sorrow that gripped her in that moment.

Tara, holding the glasses of milk, hesitated for a moment, looking at her sleeping husband. With a deep breath, she gently shook him awake. He stirred, slowly opening his eyes to the morning light.

"Suneye ji, Meera didi has brought milk for both of us. She's downstairs, and we'll be leaving for Rajgarh soon," Tara informed him with a soft tone, still unfamiliar with her husband's name.

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As the cars prepared to depart, Meera's instructions echoed, ensuring that nothing was left behind. Tara, seated in the car with Meera, felt a mixture of anticipation and melancholy as the journey to Rajgarh commenced. In another car, Tara's and Meera's husbands, along with the other brothers, shared the space, yet the subtle distance between them was palpable.

Tara's gaze drifted outside, yearning to catch one last glimpse of her mother. The desire to bid her farewell lingered, but the circumstances denied her that moment. The wheels of the car turned, and the landscape changed, marking the beginning of a journey that held both uncertainty and the potential for new beginnings.

As the sun set, Tara reached her husband's ancestral home. The grand house, aglow with evening lights, welcomed her to a new chapter of her life.

"Bhabhi, ghunghat se muh dhak lijeye," Meera advised as they prepared to exit the car.

( Bhabi, cover your face with the veil).

As they approached the majestic haveli, Tara's in-laws awaited them. A lady in her mid-50s stood with a thal, ready to extend a traditional welcome to Tara and her husband.

Tara and her husband stood at the imposing iron door of the haveli. The lady performed their arti, a ritual of light, and then offered a plate containing alta, a red liquid for Tara's footprints, and a turmeric mixture for her handprints on the wall. The ceremony marked the symbolic initiation of Tara into her new family and home.

Tara, with a gentle kick to the rice filled kalash, marking the floor with the vibrant red hue alta. This symbolic act added a personal touch to the welcoming rituals, symbolizing her presence and imprint in the new household.

"Come here, Bahu. Meet the head of our house, my mother-in-law, and your grandmother-in-law," said the lady who had just welcomed them.

Tara, veiled, observed an elderly woman draped in a pure white saree seated on a khatiya, chanting with a Rudraksha Mala.

"Maaji, dekhiye kaun hai," the lady said.

(Maa ji, see who it is)

The old woman slowly opened her eyes and observed Tara from head to toe.

"Hmm, Thik hai, Ghar ke saare niyam kanoon toh samjha diya hoga ki nahi."

( Hmm, have they explained all the rules and regulations of this house to you or not?)

Her rough, strict voice and the cold, dark, dominating aura she emitted sent shivers down one's spine.

Once again, she said,

"Listen, girl, in this house, every woman covers their face with a veil, so you should too."

"Us char dewari ke kamre me tere pati ke alawa kisi aur mard ke samne apni shakal dikhane ki kosis na karna aur jab tak tera pati naa khai tab tak khane ko chhuna bhi mat. Saath hi yaha chahe kuch bhi ho, garmi ho ya sardi, hamesha subah ke 4:00 am ko uthkar naha dhokar puja karna padta hai, yeh sab yaad rahega varna saza itni hogi ki zindagi bhar naa bhulogi.. Samjhi.."

(Do not show your face to any man other than your husband inside those four walls. Also, do not touch the food until your husband has eaten. Moreover, no matter what the situation, be it summers or winters, you must wake up at 4:00 am every morning, take a bath, and perform the morning prayers. Remember all this, or else the punishment will be so severe that you will never forget it for the rest of your life. Understand?)

Tara nodded in agreement.

"Rest of the rules will be told by Kusum, now go from here."

"Don't mind her words; she seems rude, but she is very soft-hearted inside," said the lady while taking Tara into another room.

"I am your mother-in-law," Kusum introduced herself to Tara.

"Namaste Maaji," saying so, Tara bent to touch Kusum's feet.

"Sada suhagan raho," Kusum blessed Tara.

( May you always be a married woman).

"Aarey, come on! You were the only one who was excited to meet her, but now what happened? Come on!" Meera said while entering, dragging someone behind her.

"What happened, Meera?" Kusum asked.

"Maa, see him. Till now, he was hopping like a frog to meet Bhabi. Now see how much he's shying and hiding behind me," Meera said while attempting to bring him in front of them.

"Manik, come here, beta. See who has come," Kusum cooed to the little boy who was hiding behind Meera.

Tara, through her veil, saw a small boy peeking shyly and standing behind Meera. Only his small face could be seen, and his little eyes were shyly looking at her covered face.

Kusum, bringing Manik forward, introduced him to Tara.

"See Manik, Baba brought your Maa with him," said Kusum.

Tara kneeled down in front of Manik, revealing her face. Manik, the 3-year-old boy with a unique condition, looked at Tara and uttered the word "MAA."

Without hesitation, Tara hugged Manik tightly, not out of sympathy but a genuine connection with the little boy who lacked arms, except for a small 2-inch outgrown arm on his right side with a palm that resembled a rough ball and three small fingers.

Manik means "GEM," and from that moment, he became Tara's precious Gem.