The scene erupts with tension as Leena, the matriarch, vehemently rejects Tejaswini, her son Neel’s new wife, accusing her of scheming her way into the family. Leena storms out, declaring she will leave the house if Tejaswini stays, and blames Neel for marrying against her wishes. Neel defends his choice, asserting that their marriage—complete with sacred rituals like exchanging mangalsutra and sindoor—is valid, regardless of her approval. Leena dismisses this, insisting Tejaswini will never be accepted as her daughter-in-law, labeling the marriage a “fraud” orchestrated by Tejaswini’s opportunism.
The conflict deepens as Leena questions why Juhi, Neel’s original bride, fled the wedding. She suspects Tejaswini’s involvement, accusing her of manipulating the situation to replace Juhi. Neel and others explain that the family collectively decided to proceed with Tejaswini to avoid scandal, but Leena refuses to believe Tejaswini acted selflessly. She insinuates Tejaswini exploited Neel’s vulnerability, dismissing claims that the marriage was forced. The family struggles to mediate, with Leena’s bitterness overshadowing rationality.
Amid the chaos, the Graha Pravesh (house-entering ritual) begins, symbolizing Tejaswini’s formal induction into the family. Leena boycotts the ceremony, while others like Dada (the grandfather) perform the rites, urging Tejaswini to step into a plate of kumkum and leave footprints on a white cloth—a tradition symbolizing auspicious beginnings. Despite the strained atmosphere, Dada reassures Tejaswini, invoking divine blessings. However, Leena’s absence casts a shadow, and her ally Ritu mocks the rituals, claiming they hold no weight without Leena’s consent.
The family’s internal divisions surface further. Ritu openly challenges Tejaswini’s legitimacy, warning her of daily confrontations and vowing to never forget the “insult” of her marriage to Neel. Prachi, another relative, escorts Tejaswini to her room, but tensions linger. Leena’s supporters argue that the household operates under her authority, rendering the rituals meaningless without her approval. Neel remains resolute, insisting Tejaswini is his rightful wife, while younger family members like Yash and Nandini awkwardly navigate the hostility.
Efforts to pacify Leena fall flat. Relatives plead with her to reconsider, emphasizing Neel’s happiness and Tejaswini’s innocence, but Leena remains unmoved. She frames Tejaswini’s arrival as a personal defeat, accusing her of “snatching” her role as the family’s decision-maker. Neel urges patience, believing time will soften Leena’s stance, while Tejaswini, though hurt, resolves to prove her worth. The scene closes with Leena defiantly declaring this the “first test” of Tejaswini’s endurance, foreshadowing ongoing strife in her new marital home.
Symbolism punctuates the drama: the kumkum footprints and Gauri-Shankar blessings contrast sharply with the family’s fractured unity. Dada’s reassurance that “no one can separate” Neel and Tejaswini clashes with Leena’s cold rejection. Ritu’s sarcastic remark—”Hearts can be won only when words reach the heart”—underscores the emotional chasm. The rituals, meant to celebrate union, instead highlight unresolved grudges, leaving Tejaswini’s future uncertain. The episode ends on a note of uneasy stalemate, with hope for reconciliation battling against entrenched resentment.
