10.
PAST~
It was finally time. Aarav's long-awaited vidaii had arrived—though he'd been hoping for a bit more drama.
Standing by the car, arms crossed, he looked around expectantly. "So... no one's gonna cry? Not even one teardrop?" he asked, mock-offended.
"Yeh ladka kabhi nahi sudhrega," Rajmata muttered, sighing as she adjusted the edge of her saree. "Ab toh serious ho ja, shaadi ho gayi hai teri."
Aarohi and Veer, meanwhile, were lost in their own bickering. Veer had been trying—and failing—to convince her to come to the Shekhawat mansion with them. Aarohi pretended to ignore him, though the smirk on her face betrayed her enjoyment.
"Shaadi hi toh hui hai, daadi," Aarav shrugged. "Maut thodi na! Arre chalo koi toh rona shuru karo... Aarohi, tu shuru kar, chal." He poked her on the forehead.
Shaurya, as always, was the calm in the chaos. He quietly placed Aarav's favorite pillow in the back seat—he hadn't forgotten.
"We should leave," he finally said, walking over. "It's getting late."
He gave Rajmata and Surya a respectful hug, then gently patted Aarohi's head. Meanwhile, Aarav stood near the car, lips jutting in a pout as everyone seemed to ignore his moment of cinematic exit.
"Aarav," Shaurya called, motioning toward the car.
Aarav gave Rajmata a dramatic, lingering hug before side-eyeing his father. Surya smiled, stepping forward.
"Beta, humein pata hai aap samajhdaar ho," he said, placing a hand on Aarav's back. "Be strong. Aur kuch bhi ho jaaye, Shaurya ka saath kabhi mat chhodna. Aap humari shaan ho."
Aarav softened. "I'm coming soon by the way. Yeh Shekhawat log thoda sar khate hain," he added cheekily.
Shaurya cleared his throat loudly. Rajmata and Surya both chuckled.
Just then, Aarohi—finally worn down—agreed to go with Veer. He immediately broke into an impromptu celebratory dance. She rolled her eyes but followed him anyway, the two heading for their separate car so as not to disturb the newlyweds.
As the car pulled out and the grand Chauhan Palace slowly disappeared from view, Shaurya leaned over and wrapped an arm around Aarav's waist, pulling him closer.
"You know," he murmured, brushing his lips near Aarav's ear, "aap bhi ab Shekhawat hain, waise."
Aarav gave him a sideways glance, trying not to smile. "Mmm unfortunately."
Shaurya reached over and gently took Aarav's hand, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. Aarav's lips curled into a smile, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"You know, Shaurya," he said, glancing slyly toward the front seat, "you don't have to turn on the romance full volume right now. Kisiki jalne ki buh aa rahi hai... right, Ravi?"
From the driver's seat, Ravi—Shaurya's head bodyguard turned temporary driver—let out a loud, awkward cough.
Shaurya laughed, shaking his head. "You'll never change, will you?"
"Not if I can help it," Aarav replied, grinning proudly.
Soon, the grand Shekhawat mansion came into view—majestic as ever under the afternoon sun.
The towering gates swung open, and guards lined the driveway, bowing their heads respectfully as the car rolled in.
Aarav stepped out first, adjusting his kurta.
He didn't miss the faint giggles among the guards, who were clearly amused at seeing their stoic boss turn soft around his husband.
Shaurya followed close behind, silently carrying Aarav's favorite pillow like it was a treasure.
As they approached the main entrance, Aarav noticed something that made him pause—a silver thali placed delicately at the doorstep, filled with liquid vermillion. The bright red shimmered against the white marble.
Behind him, Shaurya stopped, just as confused. Aarohi and Veer arrived seconds later, and their expressions said it all.
"Uhh... I think this isn't necessary since Aarav's a guy, right Shaurya bhai?" Veer said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
Vedansh Shekhawat, standing tall at the entrance in his usual composed posture, answered instead. "Yeh sab humne Rajmata ke kehne par kiya. She wanted every ritual fulfilled properly—since you two didn't take the traditional pheras."
Aarav looked from the thali to Shaurya, uncertainty creeping across his face.
Shaurya immediately sensed it and rubbed his back gently. "Aarav, if you're uncomfortable, it's okay. You don't have to do this. No one's forcing you."
Aarohi stepped in, leaning close to Aarav's ear. " Bhaiya, hume pata hai ki you might be uncomfortable doing this, but yeh sirf laal rang nahi hai. Yeh aapke iss ghar se aur Shaurya bhai se rishta jorne ki ek nishani hai. Bilkul suhaag ki nishani jaise".
Aarav stood there, silent for a moment. Then a soft smile tugged at his lips. "I want to do this."
Shaurya blinked. "Hmm?"
"I said I'll do this, Shaurya. Come on, I live for drama anyway," Aarav smirked, squeezing his hand.
And with that, he stepped forward—first one foot into the vermillion, then the other. His grip on Shaurya's hand never loosened.
"Bhai, Aarav really loves you, huh?" Veer whispered with a grin, nudging Shaurya.
Without a word, Shaurya moved ahead and suddenly dropped to his knees in front of Aarav.
Aarav looked down, puzzled. "Shaurya, what are you—?"
"My mother did this ritual too," Shaurya said quietly. "And she brought light into this home." He looked up, eyes filled with reverence. "Auraap to humare liye bhagwan hi ho, Aarav."
With steady hands, he lifted one of Aarav's vermillion-covered feet and gently pressed it to his forehead.
A stunned silence swept through the entrance.
Aarohi smiled softly.
Veer tried—and failed—not to cry. "Yeh toh emotional ho gaya, yaar."
Vedansh, even with his regal composure, looked quietly moved.
Aarav, on the other hand, was utterly flustered. His face flushed a deep red, partly from embarrassment, partly from emotion. His father-in-law was watching, and yet—Shaurya didn't care. He held his foot with such quiet devotion, as if sealing a vow deeper than words.
Shaurya finally let go, and Aarav gently stepped forward, leaving behind bold, red footprints on the white marble floors—his first steps as a Shekhawat.
Aarohi, who had been trying to console a sniffling Veer, had now started crying herself.
Veer blinked through his tears. "Aarohi, tum kyun ro rahi ho? Main bhi achha pati ban ke dikhaunga. Shaadi ke baad sab proof mil jayega!"
Aarohi let out a teary laugh as she wiped her cheeks. "Bhaiya ne bilkul theek kaha tha... tum Shekhawat log thode paagal ho."
"Aapko yeh sab krne ki kya jarurat thi?", Aarav whispered as he and Shaurya followed Vedansh.
"Meri duniya tum hi ho, tumhi aasra".