The way I used to live novel Chapter 33

Daksha's POV:-

I didn't know when but I drifted into sleep while leaning into his warm embrace. I woke up from my slumber after hearing the booming voice of someone. I opened my eyes to see that Arjun was throwing glares at his sister as she gave him a cheeky smile.

I gave them a confused glance and gestured Arjun with my eyes asking what happened there. He just shook his head, not revealing anything.

After that, he helped me in getting out of the car. I was immediately greeted by the beautiful sight of his house. The mansion loomed proudly behind the huge iron gates with a modern touch, flanked by the trees which were swaying gently to the cool breeze.

In the middle, there stood the delicate marble fountain, gurgling the clear water, melodic as it resonated in the surrounding silence.

"Wow!!" was the only word that left my mouth as it was truly an enthralling sight. "It is beautiful," I said to Arjun.

"Yeah. It is my dad's dream house.," he told me with a somewhat forlorn look on his face.

Understanding his feelings, I patted his shoulder in an assuring manner to which he gave me a full-blown smile, making my heart skip a beat.

Ammu immediately ushered us in. Sarada Aunty came to us and welcomed us inside, after doing the Aarti.

After that, she took me in front of a portrait and told me that he was my mamayya(father-in-law). She asked me to pay my respects and I did the same.

"Daksha, I think you might be hungry. Do you want to eat anything? " she asked me.

"No, Aunty. I am fine," I declined her offer politely.

"What Aunty? Call me ' Attayya'(MIL). I will be happier if you call me 'Amma' though," she told me and gave a teasing grin to Arjun.

"If she calls you " Amma", then what does it make me to you? A son-in-law..?" he asked this with a scoff.

"Yeah. Son-in-law. You better start calling me 'Attayya' from now onwards," she told him teasingly.

"You are not a good mother. How conveniently you kicked your son aside immediately after getting your daughter-in-law?" He said this like a sulking child.

"I am just teasing you, Ajju,” she laughed. ”But Daksha, consider me as your mother instead of your mother-in-law," she told me and I passed her a grateful smile.

"Ammu, take your vadina(SIL) to your room as she won't be comfortable being alone in a new house," she instructed Ammu.

"What?" Arjun exclaimed immediately after hearing his mother, making every one of us look at him. He realized his slip of tongue and gave us an awkward smile.

"I mean, what's the need for going to Ammu's room when she can stay in my room?" he asked his mother.

"Then where will you sleep? In the guest room.?" Instead of answering him, she asked him in return.

"Why will I stay in the guest room.? We both can sleep in my room." After saying this, he looked at his mother as if he had solved the most difficult riddle.

"Oh my dear son, I know you are desperate for your wife but you both can't stay together until the completion of Satyanarayana pooja," she told him to which he embarrassedly rubbed the back of his neck and turned his face to the other side.

I bit back my smile at his behavior. Ammu gestured to me to go along with her and took me to her room.

After reaching her room, I took the nightwear from my duffel bag and went to freshen up. By the time I came outside, Ammu made the bed for us. We both laid on our sides. She suddenly turned to my side and looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked her to which she shook her head.

"Nothing. Just trying to see what magic you have in you," she replied.

"Magic? For what?" I asked her to which she grinned cheekily at me.

"I am asking about what magic you have that made my brother behave like a lovesick teenager," she replied, making me flush.

"I didn't do any magic. Why did you think like that?" I asked her confusedly and she gave me another teasing smile.

"Do you know the reason why he was glaring at me earlier?" she asked me, to which I shook my head negatively.

"Earlier in the car, I didn't know that you were sleeping. So, I knocked on the window to tell you guys to come out but my brother gestured to me to speak slowly. I didn't understand his gesture and asked him the same in my loud voice that woke you up from your sleep. That was why he was glaring at me like that. You know, it is unusual for him. I mean, it is unusual for him to care for a person who he has recently met unless you occupy an important place in his heart," she said this with a heartwarming smile.

"I am glad to see my brother like that. I am really happy that he got you as his life partner. Please be with him in every situation. He is a good guy and can be a good husband too. Another thing, just treat me as your sister. Will you do that?" After asking these, she looked at me expectantly for my answer.

I just hugged her from the side and patted her head.

"Silly girl. I already considered you as my sister from the moment I saw you. As for staying by his side in every situation, it is an oath that I took in my heart the moment he tied this sacred thread around my neck. So, don't worry. I won't leave him even if he asks me to," I assured her and she hugged me back tightly.

Still hugging each other, we soon drifted to sleep. Early in the morning, we woke up due to the knocking at the door. I went to open the door and saw that it was Attayya.

"So sorry to wake you up this early, dear. I know that you are so exhausted but what to do, you guys have to perform the pooja and after that, we have to visit the temple too as per our family tradition. So, please bear with me for today. You can rest as much as you want after we are done with everything," she told me in a motherly tone.

"Attayya. Don't worry and no need to feel sorry for waking me up. I will get ready and meet you in 15 minutes. Is it okay?" I asked her to which she nodded at me with a smile.

After giving me a saree and the jewelry, she asked me to wear them for pooja and left from there.

I saw that Ammu was sitting on the bed while looking at me with a smile.

"Do you need any help with draping the saree?" she asked me.