Meera is about to step inside her in-laws house when her M-i-l Tribeni stops her from entering and says that she cannot enter the house as Meera. Everybody is shocked and surprised including the groom. Tribeni then smiles and says that since Meera has come to the house with all good signs and blessings, her name from that day would be Shagun. Everyone is happy and Meera enters the house.
Meera is sitting in the flower bedecked hall with her m-i-l, younger s-i-l and nanad. Women from the neighbourhood were coming to see the new daughter-in-law of the house. they were all singing praises of Meera's beauty and the excellent care that the Bharadwajs had taken care of the groom's family during marriage. Tribeni is very happy. Another woman comes and proceeds to see Meera. She is shocked since she remembers a no. of occasions when Meera had openly sought Ammaji's permission to get Alaka re-married and several other such cases (sorry some of these happened when I wasn't watching) and tells Tribeni that she is astonished as to how Tribeni had welcomed such a woman in her household who had done everything possible to bring shame on her family, in her effort to get her mother married, who had been once spurned at the wedding mandap by Veer, etc. Tribeni is very angry and tells everybody assembled that she doesn't want to hear anything about her new d-i-l and that the 'getting to know the bride' session was over.
Once everybody leaves, Meera goes to Tribeni and thanks her by saying that what Alaka said was true that in one's in-laws place, the m-i-l becomes the Mother. Tribeni tells her that she had done all that to stop people from talking about her family and make fun of her family's prestige. She then asks Meera whether what the woman said was true or not, to which Meera doesn't answer anything but bows her head downwards. Tribeni gets very angry and says that everyone in the Bharadwaj family had lied and that now she would have to decide whether she would allow Meera to stay in that house or not. Meera pleads with her not to make her go but to give her a chance and promises that she will not do anything to harm the family's fame and prestige. She then goes to Damini, her sister-in-law, who answers that she wont be able to help cos even though her Father and family was poor as compared to the Bharadwajs, they were at least true and honest. Meera's nanad also spurns her by saying that all her friends will make fun of her due to her bhabhi. Meera then goes to her father in law and requests him not to send her away. He goes to Tribeni and says that since they had accepted Meera as their daughter and brought her with them to the house, they will have to give her a chance to get herself acquainted with the house. Tribeni tells him that since she is a Mother, she cant even force Meera to leave. Everybody leaves the Hall barring Meera and her f-i-l. He goes to her to bless her but retraces his hand mid-way. Meera is left all alone with tears in her eyes.
Back at the Bharadwaj House, ALaka is remembering about all the good times spent with Meera and crying, when her Mother comes and consoles her. She then asks Alaka to call Meera. After a gentle persuasion, Alaka does so and Damini picks up the phone. When Alaka asks for Meera, Damini is very sarcastic and tells that although Meera had reached her in-laws place only a short while ago, a phone call from her paternal house had already come. She is about to say more when Meera's f-i-l comes and takes the receiver away from Damini's hand. He tells sorry to Alaka for failing to let them know that they have all reached safely. He then gives the phone to Meera who is overwhelmed to listen to her Mother's voice. She informs Alaka about the change in her name and the brilliant welcome that she had been showered with. Damini taunts Meera and asks her to hurry cos her husband is waiting for her in their room.
Meera finds the room empty and is thinking about as to where he had gone. Its 1 at night when someone enters the room. The person goes nearer the bed where Meera is sitting with her head bowed and touches her feet. Meera looks up and is shocked to see that its her devar or brother-in-law.
Shiv Shakti
