In the quiet hum of their newlywed bliss, Sonam, with a surprising surge of enthusiasm that belied her usual reserved demeanour, took the reins of their honeymoon plans. She envisioned idyllic landscapes and romantic getaways, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she attempted to book tickets to the fabled valleys of Kashmir.
"Hey, stop," Raj interjected, his voice laced with an unexpected urgency that cut through the pleasant atmosphere. "It is not safe there. Terrorists have struck again. People are leaving in droves." His words painted a stark picture, shattering Sonam's romantic illusions with the harsh reality of the volatile region.
"Oh," Sonam responded, a slight shrug accompanying the sound, a testament to her resilient spirit. Though disappointed, she quickly pivoted. "Then I need to look elsewhere. How about the North East?" She posed the question with a hopeful inflexion, eager to salvage their dream.
Raj, however, seemed distant, his mind already elsewhere. "I don’t know," he mumbled, his gaze fixed on some unseen point beyond the window. "You decide. I'd better go now. My friends are waiting outside." With that curt dismissal, he was gone, leaving Sonam alone with the weight of their honeymoon decisions.
Undeterred by Raj's lack of interest, Sonam, empowered by her newfound independence in planning, meticulously researched and, with a flourish, booked air tickets to Guwahati. Her next choice was a quaint, charming hotel nestled amidst the serene hills of Shillong, a secret part of a grander surprise she was orchestrating – a Meghalayan adventure that promised to be as unique as their love story.
Her mother-in-law, Shashi, a woman of gentle disposition, watched Sonam's planning unfold with a happy, almost wistful expression. A soft smile played on Shashi's lips as she heard Sonam's next request, delivered with a mix of casualness and conviction. "Ma, give me my jewelry, I’d take that along."
Shashi’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why?" she questioned, her voice tinged with concern. "They are too costly. Almost a million rupees, dear. Why take the risk? It is your honeymoon, after all! A time for relaxation, not worry."
"Oh, Ma, you don’t understand," Sonam insisted, a touch of impatience entering her tone. "They are mine. My treasures. I want to wear them, to feel beautiful, to look my absolute best on this special trip." Her gaze was unwavering, a silent declaration of ownership and desire.
Shashi was taken aback by the unexpected intensity in Sonam's voice. She hesitated, a myriad of thoughts swirling in her mind – the potential dangers, the sheer value of the heirloom pieces. Yet, she recognised the resolve in Sonam’s eyes, a determination she rarely saw. She decided not to press any further. "Okay, as you wish," Shashi finally conceded, her voice a gentle sigh of resignation. "But be careful, my dear. Please, be very careful." The unspoken plea hung in the air, a mother-in-law's quiet prayer for her daughter-in-law's safety and well-being.
A day later, Raj and Sonam checked into the hotel in Shillong, the air thick with the unspoken anticipation of a new chapter. However, a subtle tension simmered beneath the surface. Raj's attempts at intimacy were met with a curious coolness from Sonam, a resistance that baffled him.
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