Standing in front of the mirror, she gazed at her reflection when suddenly someone wrapped their arms around her, causing her to smile at the person in the mirror. The man gently caressed her swollen belly as she placed her hands on top of his.

"Our little one will be here soon, and I can hardly wait," the man said as the woman looked at him through the mirror, a smile playing on her lips.

"We still have more than three months to go, Sarpanch ji," she replied.

"But these three months feel like an eternity to me. I am counting down the days until our baby is in my arms. I long to hold him or her close as soon as possible."

Brinda gazed at her husband as she turned around and held his hands in her hands. A lingering thought had been on her mind for quite some time, and today she finally decided to ask him why he had chosen to marry her. After all, as a Sarpanch, he could have married any woman. So why her?

"Why did you marry me, Sarpanch ji? You could have married any girl, so why me? I am not even that beautiful," she questioned.

He looked at her, first frowned then smiled, and replied with a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Because they were not you, Brinda. And what is beauty, really? Just a facade and norms set by society according to their mindset."

He continued, making her look at him with keen interest in his voice.

He smiled at her and posed a question.

"Answer me this, Brinda."

She looked at her husband, who then took her hand and placed it on her swollen belly before asking,

"What if the child in your womb does not meet society's standards of beauty? Will he or she be ugly to you?"

Upon hearing her husband's words, she immediately shook her head.

"How can a child be ugly to a mother, Sarpanch ji? My child will be the most beautiful to me."

A smile formed on his lips as he responded.

"That's what I was trying to say. Beauty is subjective and depends on a person's preferences. Beauty can be found in various forms - intelligence, boldness, shyness, care, and understanding, love etc.. Each of these qualities possesses a unique charm that captivates and inspires. Beauty is not limited to physical appearance; it is a reflection of one's inner qualities and character. Embracing these diverse aspects of beauty can lead to a deeper appreciation of the world around us. And I chose you -for your beautiful heart and nurturing nature towards everyone."

Brinda gazed at her husband with admiration shining in her eyes. She enveloped him in a warm embrace, feeling a sense of pride in her heart. He chuckled softly, returning the hug with care, mindful of her delicate condition due to her pregnancy.

"How did I get so fortunate to have you as my husband?" she mused, causing him to smile.

"And also in words like you just said these beautiful words." Few seconds later she said , making him nod with a smile at his wife.

"Yes , even words can make you appear beautiful in other eyes." He agreed to her.

"I love you," she whispered, stealing a glance at him. He looked down at her, his smile widening as he kissed her forehead and replied,

"I love you too, Brinda."

After a moment, they reluctantly parted ways and made their way out of their room, heading towards the grand hall of their haveli.

As they entered the hall, they warmly greeted everyone in attendance.

"Adhiraj when is Samrat returning from the city?"

Urmila, his grandmother, asked about her other grandson who was living in the city. He had completed his education and wanted to help his brother improve the facilities in their village and all the villages under their family's jurisdiction.

"He will be coming next month, Dadi," Adhiraj replied.

His grandmother nodded with a smile.

After finishing his meal, he informed his family.

"I have a case to solve in the panchayat today, so I have to leave early," he announced.

He glanced at his wife, smiled, and then left the haveli to attend to the day's case.

_________

It was nighttime when Adhiraj returned to the haveli. As he entered, he found Brinda sitting and waiting for him. A smile appeared on her lips as her eyes fell on her husband.

Standing up, she walked towards him. He shook his head and asked.

"Why are you still awake, Brinda? You should be resting now, especially since you are pregnant."

She smiled at his concern and replied, "I am fine, don't worry. I was waiting for my husband so that I could serve him food. I know you must be really hungry."

He looked at her, his heart swelling with gratitude for her care. Not wanting her to wait any longer, he nodded, washed his hands, and asked her to serve.

She smiled and served him food that she had kept warm while he was freshening up. She sat there to accompany her husband, as she had already eaten. He had warned her to eat on time, and at that moment, he looked stern when she didn't eat and was waiting for him. He couldn't bear the thought of his family suffering because of him, for whom is earning.

She tried to explain that she wanted to wait for him, as he was working hard for them. But he refused her request, leaving no room for argument.

Although he usually came home on time, sometimes work caused delays.

After finishing his meal, he stood up, put his used dishes in the sink, and Brinda shook her head with a smile. He approached her and said.

"Let's go to our room now. Come."

She nodded, took his hand, and they both retired to their room with smiles on their faces.

TBC.....