Happy Reading!

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The ancestral palace stood bathed in soft moonlight, its grandeur enhanced by the golden glow of lanterns that adorned every corner. The night was calm, yet the air buzzed with anticipation.

The whole royal palace was decorated from every corner. Every wall, every pillar, every corner of the palace is lighten up. Everyone in the whole kingdom was so happy and delighted after hearing about their king's wedding.

Music, Laughter Chaos and happiness.

In one room of the palace, there is Ruhaanika sitting in front of the mirror cladded into a crimson red lehenga with an intricate work of zari and threads on it. The lehenga skirt was giving the perfect flare and twirls like an Indian fairy.

From her jewellery to her lehenga to her makeup everything is just so perfect.

The choker around her neck, the mang tika, the red and golden bangles, the nath (nose ring) and lastly her kamarbandh (Waist band) and anklets. Everything is just so enchanting........enhancing her beauty so much.

They say the truth, women looks most beautiful on their wedding day.

Ruhaanika's POV

Nervousness

I look myself into the mirror, I can't believe this is me. Oh god I am looking so so so beautiful but somewhere in my heart there is this anxiousness making it so hard for me.

I don't know why but I am feeling so nervous. My hands are shivering, my breathing was shallow. My mind was so hazy and confused.

From a mere girl who came here just for her 2-3 months internship to here sitting as the bride of the king. Am I ready for all these changes in my life?

Am I ready to be called as the Queen of Rajasthan?

I was so happy till morning, giggling......laughing and jumping around but so anxious as the time passes.

Kanha ji please don't do this with me right now.

I do not want to look like a nervous bitch on my own wedding, my bridal entry, my bridal photoshoot, pheras and most important my candid photos all of this will get ruined. Please save it.

Don't know why all of this happening with me right now.

I should be happy, No nervous.....Not scared.

"Nervous?" My head snapped towards Bhabhi ma who was looking at me with a smile.

I nodded biting my lower lip.

"It's normal"

"But why? I should be happy but here I am sitting her all anxious and scared."

"It's because you never thought this day would ever come in your life, from childhood all you dreamed of a high-paying job and a big house. Today here you are dressed as a bride ready to step into a new-life. Till now you were just a girlfriend but now you are going to be a wife, a queen. This anxiousness is normal my love" she explained making me a little relax.

"Bhabhi-Maa?"

"Hm?"

"Yours and Vedansh bhai's wedding was an arranged marriage you would have been so scared?"

"Scared? I was terrified! I didn't saw Ansh before wedding. Our first encounter was our wedding night. Such a jerk your brother was, but with time he became so caring, so loving and so soft towards me. He changed so much with time that you can call Vedansh Raichand instead of Character Development." She said with a fond smile.

They both are so much in love.

My brother is obsessed literally obsessed over her.

Adorable!

Our head turned towards the door because of a sudden knock. I somewhere know who was on the door. The door opened slightly revealing my father and my brothers.

I am literally hiding from all 3 of them from the morning, because I know the moment I saw them I'll start crying.

Ved bhai kneel down putting his hand on my lap.

"Are you okay? You look tired" he asked and I just nodded.

No! I am not okay. This heavy lehenga, the heavy lehenga is too much for me to handle.

"You are looking so beautiful Ruhaanika"

"Thank you bhai"

"Yeah he is right. You are looking beautiful for the first time actually" abhi bhai said controlling his tears.

Such a baby he is!

He wants to tease me but can't even control his tears after seeing me as a bride.

"Funny" I retorted back

"Shut up"

I stood up and wipes his tears, the next second he pulled me into a bone crashing hug. This is what I am most scared of!

Hugs

They broke me beyond repair. Ved bhai too joined our group hug.

"We'll miss you"

"Me too"

"I am sure your good for nothing husband have many rooms in his palace so that we can barge into his palace whenever we miss you"

"Sure you can come"

Sometimes they behave like literal kids!

Now the hardest hug....

Papa

And it took me only a moment to break down in his arms. I put my head on his chest.

"Papa I am scared, very scared"

"Then call off this wedding" Ved bhai and Abhi bhai said in union getting a smack from papa.

"It's normal to get scared baby, it is a big step for you but you have your whole family with you who will support you no matter what"

"I trust you all but—"

"I am too scared to leave you all right now" all of them said together making me chuckle.

The tension, the anxiousness, the nervousness is some what now at ease. That's what families for.

"Ruhaanika my baby...." Kaanvi gasped seeing me.

"You are looking like a barbie an Indian barbie too cute love" she hugged me.

I bend a little just in front of her nelly.

They are going to have a baby boy, they goes for gender reveal when they were on their trip.

Little samar gonna rock like his father.

"Hi little baby, come out soon I'll get you married with my daughter.....not Pallavi okay? If I gave birth to a girl again" I giggled thinking about my own thoughts.

Pallavi with Nihansh.

My second future daughter with Samar's son.

Too good. Such a planner I am!

"Let's go.....the groom is getting impatient guys" ayesha and meera said entering the room.

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The grand double doors of the palace opened slowly, revealing a sight so breathtaking that even the most restless hearts in the garden came to a standstill.

Ruhaanika stood at the entrance, her hand gently resting on Akshat's arm.

Her face was covered with a veil, lips formed in a smile.

Behind Ruhaanika, Vedansh, Abhimaan, Arhaan, and Samar held up the phoolon ki chadar, a canopy made of jasmine and red roses, woven together with strings of gold beads. They walked in perfect rhythm, their steps mirroring the gentle pace of Ruhaanika and Akshat.

Rudraksh stood at the mandap, his usual stoic expression replaced by a raw vulnerability he could no longer hide. Dressed in an ivory sherwani with gold accents, his presence was regal, commanding. Yet, as soon as his eyes landed on Ruhaanika, he was no longer the composed, controlled man everyone knew him to be.

His breath hitched.

The world around him blurred, fading into insignificance as she entered the garden. It wasn't just her beauty that overwhelmed him, though she looked like a goddess descending from the heavens. It was the memories—each one crashing over him like a tidal wave.

He remembered the fights that had tested their bond, the misunderstandings that had created distance between them. He remembered the nights he had spent alone, tormented by the thought of losing her.

He remembered the separation that had felt like an eternity, each day without her a wound that refused to heal.

And yet, here she was. Walking toward him, her gaze locked with his. She wasn't just a bride; she was his salvation, his hope, his everything.

Rudraksh felt his throat tighten as his vision blurred. 

He blinked rapidly, but the tears came anyway, sliding down his cheeks in defiance of his usual restraint. He raised a trembling hand to his face, as if to hide his vulnerability, but it was too late. Everyone could see the emotions etched on his face—the awe, the love, the pain, and the relief.

"Zinda to mai 30 saal se tha lekin Zindagi jeeni tab shuru ki jab noor zindagi mai aayi" he whispered to himself

(I was alive from 30 years but started living the day noor came into my life)

He tried to control a sob but all went in vain, he broke down.....he sobbed like a kid seeing her dolled up as his bride.

You read it right?? HIS BRIDE!

When they reach near mandap Akshat handed ruhaanika's hand to Rudraksh...

"She is yours now Completely but, if in the future if you ever feel that you don't love Ruhaanika like you did now........or you feel like—you don't want her in your life. Just return my diamond daughter back to me without hurting her please"

"Rest assured unc—papa I'll keep her like this....like an diamond don't worry. Hurting her will be the last thing I do"

Akshat nodded and left the mandap standing near the family members.

When Ruhaanika finally reached the mandap, she paused, her eyes softening as she took in the sight of him.

His tears didn't embarrass her; they only made her love him more. She stepped closer, her hand reaching out instinctively to wipe away the tears on his cheek.

"You're crying," she whispered, her voice laced with both wonder and tenderness.

Rudraksh laughed softly, the sound choked with emotion. "How could I not?" he replied, his voice breaking. "You look... perfect."

Her smile widened, and for a moment, the room felt like it was theirs alone.

Soon their moment broke with hooting and teasing.

It's time for their Varmala.

One of the last steps to their forever.

The priest handed Ruhaanika her garland first, and she looked at it, her hands trembling slightly. Her gaze flickered to Rudraksh, who stood tall, his eyes unwavering as he looked at her—not just with love, but with admiration, devotion, and an unspoken promise of forever.

"Come on, Ruhi!" teased Abhimaan from the sidelines. "Don't take all day; we've got a wedding to finish!"

The playful comment broke the tension, and Ruhaanika's lips curved into a small smile. She stepped closer, lifting the garland to place it around Rudraksh's neck. But just as she reached up, his friends hoisted him into the air, making her gasp.

"Rudraksh!" she scolded, her voice a mix of amusement and frustration.

Rudraksh laughed, his deep, rich chuckle resonating through the crowd.

"You'll have to try harder than that, Mrs. Soon-to-be Rudraksh Rajawat, I can kneel in front of you all our life but not today love....not today" he teased, his eyes twinkling.

Ruhaanika huffed, turning to her brothers for help. Vedansh and Akshat were quick to lift her slightly, giving her the height she needed. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and Ruhaanika's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she stepped back.

Now it was Rudraksh's turn. As he took the garland in his hands, his friends once again tried to lift him, but he raised a hand to stop them.

"Not this time," he said, his voice firm but kind. "I want to do this properly."

He stepped closer to Ruhaanika, who looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. Slowly, deliberately, he lifted the garland. But instead of placing it around her neck immediately, he paused, his voice low and meant only for her.

"I've been waiting for this moment my whole life," he said, his eyes locked onto hers. "And now that it's here, I just want to take it all in. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, Ruhaanika."

With a soft smile, he placed the garland gently around her neck, his fingers brushing against her shoulders. The crowd cheered again, but for Rudraksh and Ruhaanika, the noise seemed distant, like a mere backdrop to the symphony playing in their hearts.

The priest's voice broke through the haze, signalling them to take their places for the ceremony. But even as they moved to sit down, Rudraksh couldn't take his eyes off her.

Both of them sat down on their places in front of the hawan kund [sacred fire]

It was time for their gath-bandhan, the ceremonial tying of the bride's and groom's scarves, symbolizing their union. The priest called upon a family member to perform the ritual and all the eyes turned to ayesha.

Ayesha dressed in an ivory, mirror worked sari stepped forward with a soft almost mischievous smile. Ayesha knelt between them, her hands working deftly. She tied the knot firmly.

"Tightly" Ruhaanika whispered to her

"Very tight Bhabhi-sa don't worry" ayesha said making her blush hard.

Ayesha stood up and went beside abhimaan.

"kanyadaan ke liye Kanya ke mata-pita ko aage bulaiye" priest said making her go still. She glanced at her father who stood nearby his expression a mixture of happiness, pride and sorrow.

The priest called for Ruhaanika's hands to be placed in Rudraksh's, and Akshat hesitated for a fraction of a second before gently lifting her delicate hands and guiding them toward Rudraksh. As her hands rested in his, Rudraksh instinctively tightened his grip, as if silently promising her and her family that he would never let her go.

The priest began explaining the significance of the ritual.

"This moment signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a father. It is not merely the giving away of a daughter but the entrusting of her happiness, her dreams, and her life to another. The groom must honor this trust for as long as he lives."

Akshat's hands trembled slightly as he placed a coconut, symbolizing prosperity, into the couple's joined hands. His voice, steady but laced with emotion, broke the silence.

"Ruhaanika, you've always been my little girl, my pride, and my joy. Today, I am giving you away to someone who I believe will love and protect you as much as I have. Rudraksh, she is not just my daughter; she is my heart. Take care of her."

Ruhaanika felt a lump form in her throat, her father's words piercing straight into her heart. Tears welled in her eyes, and she bit her lip to keep them from spilling over.

Rudraksh looked up at Akshat, his own emotions barely contained. "I promise," he said, his deep voice steady and resolute.

"I will protect her, love her, and cherish her with everything I have."

The sincerity in his tone made Akshat's shoulders relax ever so slightly, though the pain of letting his daughter go was still evident. Vedansh and Abhimaan, standing beside him, exchanged glances before stepping forward.

"Wait, wait," Vedansh interrupted, his voice tinged with playfulness but underlined by deep emotion. "Before we officially let our sister go, there's something we need to clarify."

Abhimaan nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Exactly. Rudraksh, do you understand the weight of this responsibility? She's not just anyone. She's Ruhaanika—our sister, our lifeline. Do you have what it takes to handle her moods, her stubbornness, and her... well, let's call it unique personality?"

The crowd chuckled softly, but the question hung heavy in the air.

Rudraksh, for all his usual aloofness, didn't hesitate. He met their gazes head-on, his voice firm and unwavering.

"I don't just understand it; I embrace it. I've seen her at her best and her worst, and I've loved every part of her. She is my life now, and I won't ever let her down."

Vedansh and Abhimaan studied him for a moment, as if trying to gauge the truth in his words. Then, as if on cue, they both smiled.

"Alright," Vedansh said, his voice softening. "But remember, if you hurt her, you'll have to answer to us."

"Fair enough," Rudraksh replied, a rare smile gracing his lips.

When the ritual concluded, Akshat stepped back, his hands dropping to his sides as if he'd just released a part of himself.

"Now begins the pheras," the priest announced, his voice steady and authoritative. "Each round around the sacred fire signifies a promise—a vow that will guide your journey together as husband and wife. Let the fire bear witness to your commitments and bless your union."

After 7 pheras, seven vows which they gave to each other. They both sat down again.

Now the last things.....Mangalsutra and Sindoor daan

The priest handed him the mangalsutra which he tied around her neck with trembling hands.

And now the last step to their forever.

He opens the sindoor box, his hands were shivering he was scared like a little mouse.

"Dar lag raha hai?" she asked taking his free hand in hers.

(Are you scared?)

"What if I disappoint you in our marriage, what if I turn out to be a bad husband. What if I can't match your expectations?"

"My expectations are you.....from sand to the stars it's just you, if you are beside me I can never be disappointed. You were the best boyfriend and I am sure you'll be the world's best husband. I trust you.......and I know you can never let my trust break"

She said and place a kiss on the back of his hand.

He smiles and fills her hairline.......

The moment, everything froze for him. Her closed eyes with a delicate-soft smile on her lips. Mangalsutra around her neck........the Vermilion in her hair-line and some of the vermilion which fell on her nose indicating the auspicious reminder of their un-dying love for each other.

And then....

He heard the words that he was dying to hear!

"Aaj se aap dono pati-patni hue.....Rani sa Ruhaanika Rudraksh Veer Singh Rajawat"

(from today you both are husband and wife.......the queen, Ruhaanika Rudraksh Veer Singh Rajawat)

Everything got magical for them!

Totally magical!

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Now, it was the time for her Vidai.

The sun was beginning to set, casting an amber glow over the grand wedding venue. The air, once alive with laughter and celebration, had turned somber.

Her father, her brothers were crying and sobbing but there was relieved smiles on their faces. This is for her better future. She will be extremely happy because of this. Ruhaanika who always craved for her perfect happy ending she finally got it in the end.

With Rudraksh.......with pallavi........with her brothers.........with her whole family.

She hugged her father....

"Shh.....Shh....no crying baby you are my good girl and you know what good girls do?"

"Smiles all the time and make everyone happy" he kissed her forehead and patted her back.

She then hugs both her brother who was crying uncontrollably.

"Isko bol na ghar-jamai bane tu kyu jaa rahi hai hume chod ke"

"Bhai you know this is not possible"

"But—"

"Can you stop suffocating my wife with your nonsense hugs" rudraksh says tugging on her dupatta.

"Rudraksh Behave"

"Sorry"

Vedansh chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows to irritate Rudraksh more.

After a long crying session, they both sat in the car.

"Here" he passes his handkerchief in her direction. She wipes her tears and puts her head on his shoulder closing her eyes.

"What's for dinner Husband" she asked after a long pause.

"Anything you desire wifey"

Wifey....

Sukoon...

He placed a kiss on her forehead and she smiles snuggling more close to him.

"I love you Husband"

"I love you the most wifey"

After the ride of 45 minutes the car stopped in front of the royal palace. Rudraksh helped her to come out of the car.

The moment she keeps the first step on the floor, thousand of fireworks erupted in the sky. The whole sky lighten up by the light of fireworks. She took her time to compose herself and admire the beautiful sky in front of her.

They both reach the entrance where the whole family was waiting for them.

Shalini stepped forward with aarti ki thali, she applies the tilak on their forehead welcoming them inside the house.

Ruhaanika gently kicked the rice kalash by her right feet. Then gently steps into the plate of aaltha and goes inside imprinting her foot prints on her white cloth.

From framing her haldi footprints in his office to her aaltha footprints in his house.

Now finally it's time for the ring finding game. The game for which Ruhaanika was most excited, this excites her very much.

They both sat across each other with a smile not leaving their faces not even for a bit. The bowl filled with milk, water and rose petals placed between them.

"Baba I love you but we all know you are scared of Maa so, I am on maa's side." pallavi said sitting on ruhaanika's lap.

"Vaise to hum sab jaante hai shaadi mai kiski chalegi lekin Rudraksh beta thodi mehnat kar ke hi haarna"

(Although we all know who will rule in this marriage, but Rudraksh please lose after doing a little efforts)

Shalini drops the ring in the bowl, both of them drop their hands into the bowl. As expected Ruhaanika found the ring in just few seconds.

Second time Rudraksh found the ring, making Ruhaanika huff and pout in fake anger making him laugh. And the last time when they dip their hands in the bowl, rudraksh found the ring immediately but he gently slide it into Ruhaanika's hand. Seeing her sad on their big day is not what he wanted.

She can be on the upper hand forever in their marriage.

As if he care about all this.

He will always kneel in front of her.

He will always bow to her. Always!!

With time everything changes but one thing which will always be the same for both of them is the Respect they have for each other, it's the trust they both have and lastly their love for each other which makes their story....their bond stronger and healthier.

I love the way it sounds, so regal....so classic and so royal!

Ruhaanika Rudraksh Veer Singh Rajawat!