The next day, Akhila Bhabhi came over with her son Krishna, and we planned to go out for the day. Ashwin approached us, saying, “Dolly, I won’t be able to join you all. I have some important work to attend to. Here’s my card, enjoy yourselves.”

Akhila Bhabhi, with a teasing tone, remarked, “Both of you always seem to have work.” Ashwin looked like he wanted to respond, but she held up her hand to stop him and continued, “Listen, your card is going to become empty today. No arguments.”

Ashwin smiled and headed out. I turned to everyone and said, “I’ll book cabs for all of us.” We all went downstairs to catch the cabs. I was with Yogesh and Uncle Alok, while Aunt Aruna, Krishna, and Akhila Bhabhi were in the other cab. Our destination was a nearby mall.

Upon seeing the mall, Uncle Alok facepalmed, which made me chuckle, but I quickly hid it. Krishna excitedly grabbed Yogesh's hand and said, “Bhaiya, let’s go play in the game room on the top floor!” Akhila Bhabhi quickly reined them in, “Both of you, stop running. We’ll go up together.”

We all took the elevator to the food court first. Aunt Aruna looked around curiously like a kid, while Uncle Alok seemed a bit displeased. When we reached the game room, the kids immediately ran off to play. Akhila Bhabhi paid for the games and then turned to Uncle Alok, “Uncle, could you please stay here with the kids while we go downstairs for some shopping?”

Uncle Alok subconsciously grabbed Aunt Aruna’s hand, looking a bit apprehensive. Akhila Bhabhi reassured him with a smile, “Don’t worry, Uncle. We’re not kidnapping your wife. We’ll bring her back safely.”

We embarked on our shopping spree, and I started to get nervous watching both Akhila Bhabhi and my Aunt shop with such enthusiasm. Though Ashwin wasn’t stingy, I was worried about spending so much money recklessly.

As we moved from store to store, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. The sheer volume of items being purchased was overwhelming. Akhila Bhabhi picked out beautiful sarees, jewellery, and various household items, while Aunt Aruna seemed to want everything that caught her eye.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Seeing the growing pile of shopping bags, I felt a knot in my stomach. I imagined Ashwin’s reaction when he saw the bill, and I couldn't shake the worry that I would be scolded for spending too much. Despite my nervousness, I tried to enjoy the experience, reminding myself that this was a rare opportunity for my family to indulge and have fun.

Finally, with our hands full of shopping bags, we returned to the game room to find Uncle Alok surrounded by laughing children, clearly enjoying their time. Akhila Bhabhi smiled at the sight, “See, Uncle, we brought her back safely, as promised.”

Uncle, seeing so many bags, looked nervous and angry but didn’t say anything.

As we settled back at home, I could sense Ashwin's unease beneath his warm smile. His eyes kept darting to the numerous shopping bags that we had brought in. Trying to maintain a calm demeanor, he engaged in small talk with everyone, but I could see the worry lines starting to form on his forehead.

After ensuring that my family was comfortably settled and occupied, I made my way to the kitchen to start preparing some snacks and tea. Ashwin quietly followed me. The moment we were alone, his smile faded, replaced by a look of concern and confusion.

"Dolly," he began, his voice soft but with a hint of frustration, "What happened today? Why are there so many shopping bags?"

I turned to him, trying to explain, "Ashu, I know it looks like a lot, but Akhila Bhabhi and Aunt Aruna were really excited. They wanted to make the most of their time here, and I didn't want to dampen their spirits."

Ashwin sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I understand that. Let's talk in our room later."

Once the family was settled and occupied, Ashwin and I retreated to our room. I could feel the tension in the air, and I knew this conversation was necessary.

Closing the door behind us, Ashwin turned to face me, his expression serious. "Dolly, I appreciate that you wanted to make them happy, but we need to set some boundaries. We can't afford to spend recklessly."

I nodded, understanding his concerns. "I know, Ashwin. I got carried away with their excitement. I didn't want to disappoint them."

He softened, taking my hands in his. "I get that, but we have to be practical too. I don't want you to feel pressured to please everyone at the expense of our financial stability."

I squeezed his hands, grateful for his understanding. "You're right. I'll be more mindful next time."

Ashwin smiled, pulling me into a hug. "That's all I ask. Let's just make sure we're on the same page moving forward."

Relieved, I hugged him back, feeling the tension melt away. We had faced this challenge together, and it brought us closer. As we rejoined the family, I felt a renewed sense of responsibility and commitment to our partnership.