Soon, they reached home. At the entrance, Prateek's mother, Deepika ji, stood waiting with an aarti ki thali in her hands. The warm glow of the diya illuminated her smile, ready to welcome the newlywed couple into their new life.

Prateek stepped out first and gently helped Shruti come out of the car. Together, they walked toward the entrance and stood beside each other, ready for the welcoming rituals. Not even for a moment did Prateek let go of her hand; his grip remained steady, a quiet assurance that he was right there with her.