Nandini's POV
I followed Siddharth downstairs like a baby duck following a panther.
Okay, maybe not the best comparison, but have you seen how this man walks? All tall, broad-shouldered, confident... while I was trying not to trip over the pleats of my saree and die in front of forty family members.
The dining hall was already buzzing.
Aunties, uncles, cousins, neighbors who somehow became family overnight—everyone was there. Talking, laughing, staring.
As soon as we entered, the noise shifted.
"Ahhh, look who finally woke up!"
"The bride and groom are here!"
"Had a long night, hmm?"
"Wink wink."
I wanted to crawl under the table and become a piece of forgotten furniture.
Siddharth? Completely unfazed. Not a single expression on that beautiful statue face.
"Sit here, kanna," Mira Amma called lovingly, patting the chair next to hers.
I nodded with a tiny smile and shuffled to the seat, trying not to make any sudden movements that could result in a meme-worthy fall.
As soon as I sat down, a plate loaded with food magically appeared in front of me. Idli, dosa, vada, chutney, sambar—every South Indian delicacy known to mankind.
Mira Amma: "You need energy today, dear."
Me, in my head: Amma, it's breakfast, not war prep.
I began eating slowly, praying no one would talk to me while my mouth was full.
No such luck.
"So, Nandini," said one chubby aunt with crime-show-level curiosity, "how's married life treating you?"
I choked on my dosa.
Siddharth silently passed me water like this was a daily occurrence. I nodded my thanks while dying inside.
"Give her a break," Ashok bhaiya said, grinning. "Let them breathe. Sid barely says three words a day."
"Well, maybe now he has a reason to say four," someone joked.
Laughter. Laughter everywhere. I tried to laugh too, but it came out like a wheeze.
Siddharth calmly sipped his coffee.
Just when I thought it couldn't get worse, a little cousin asked, "Didi, are you going to have babies soon?"
I wanted to melt into the sambar.
Mira Amma swatted the kid gently. "Eat your food, no questions about babies before pongal."
Siddharth's lips twitched. I swear I saw it. A smirk. Tiny. But real.
Ladies and gentlemen, that was the highlight of my day.
After that, I focused on surviving each bite while the entire table turned into a sitcom set.
Eventually, the teasing settled, and people went back to their food. Siddharth leaned toward me slightly.
"If you keep blushing that hard, they'll never stop."
I blinked.
Was that... was that a joke?
I turned slowly toward him. "Are you... making fun of me?"
He didn't answer. Just took another sip of coffee.
But I saw the tiniest smile at the corner of his lips.
Progress.
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