Chapter 38
Aaryan gathered himself and took a hesitant step forward, feet still trembling.
Just then......
Rani Kalyani appeared at the turn of the corridor.Her eyes softened the moment they fell on him.
Rani Kalyani: Aaryan beta... aaj tum humare kaksh mein so jao.
She smiled gently.
"Hume tumse kuchh baatein bhi karni hain."
Randhir's head snapped up.
Randhir: Aapke kaksh mein kyun, Uske paas khud ka hai.
There it was.
A faint but unmistakable tint of jealousy in his eyes. In his voice.
Rani Kalyani arched a brow amused.
Rani Kalyani: Ab humse bhi irshya karenge aap, Rajkumar?
Randhir frowned, immediately defensive.
Randhir: Aisa nahi hai, maa.Hum bas....
She cut him off lightly, almost teasing.
Rani Kalyani: Daro mat.
Her lips curved knowingly.
"Tumhara hi hai ab. Jab tak tum pyaar se rakho. Nhi to...."
She added casually
" khair , Waise bhi aaj raat hum taiyaari karenge.Sone ka toh sawal hi nahi"
Aaryan looked between them, confused, unsure and hands clasped tightly in front of him.
Randhir scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed and caught.
Rani Kalyani reached out and held Aaryan's hand, firm and reassuring.
"Chalo, beta."
She turned and began walking toward her chamber, guiding him along.
Aaryan followed quietly.
Randhir remained where he was.
He leaned back against the stone wall, watching them disappear down the corridor eyes lingering on the small figure walking beside his mother.
He looked silently, just a little... unwilling to look away.
..........................
The chamber was calm soft lamps, warm silence, the kind that felt safe.
Rani Kalyani adjusted the covers on the bed and turned to Aaryan with a gentle smile.
Rani Kalyani: Beta, tum aaraam se so jao.
Aaryan hesitated, fingers twisting in the edge of the sheet.
Aaryan: Par... aap kahan ?
Rani Kalyani chuckled lightly.
Rani Kalyani: Apne pati ke paas aur kahan.Hum to wahi sote hain, wahi rehte bhi hain.
She gestured around the room, amused.
"Ye bas Rani Kalyani ka kamra hai. Kalyani ka nahi."
Aaryan looked at her, confused trying to understand the difference.
Seeing that expression, Rani Kalyani's tone softened.
Rani Kalyani: Beta, zyada mat socho.Hume pata hai Saanvi aur uski maa ke baare mein.
She sighed quietly.
"Wo tumhe pareshaan zaroor karti. Isliye hum tumhe yahan le aaye."
Aaryan shook his head faintly.
Aaryan: Wo... itni bhi buri nahi hain.
Rani Kalyani smiled sadly and reached out, patting his hair with warmth.
Rani Kalyani: Beta, kisi se darne ki zarurat nahi hai.
She sat beside him for a moment.
"Hum jaante hain tumhare liye sab kuchh bohot naya hai. Par dheere-dheere... sab theek ho jaega."
Her eyes softened at the thought of her son.
"Humara beta bura insaan nahi hai. Usne kabhi kisi ko apne kareeb aane nahi diya."
She looked back at Aaryan meaningfully.
"Tum soch bhi nahi sakte...Wo tumse kitna pyaar karega."
Aaryan's breath caught, just slightly.
Rani Kalyani added gently.
"Bas ek mauka de dena use."
Aaryan nodded.
Aaryan: Ji...
Rani Kalyani stood up, smoothing her pallu.
Rani Kalyani: Chalo, ab ye nakaab kholo. Aur aaraam se so jao.
Her voice turned reassuring.
"Yahan kisi ki himmat nahi hai aane ki."
Aaryan hesitated for a second, then obeyed.
Aaryan: Ji... shubh ratri.
Rani Kalyani smiled warmly.
Rani Kalyani: Shubh ratri, beta.
She turned off the lamp, cast one last protective glance at him and quietly left the chamber, closing the door behind her.
Aaryan lay there in the soft silence, heart still unsure....
.................
Aaryan lay still beneath the soft covers, staring up at the dim ceiling.
Sleep was nowhere near.
Every time he closed his eyes, Randhir appeared clear, vivid and unavoidable.The way Randhir had looked at him.
..Just intense. As if Aaryan was something precious, something he was afraid to break.
Even in that broken, intoxicated state.
..Randhir hadn't touched him wrongly. Hadn't crossed the line.
He had only looked.
The corridor flashed through Aaryan's mind the wall at his back, Randhir's palms caging him without touching, that whisper so close it had made his breath stumble.
Shaadi ke baad bhi itna hi daroge humse... titli...
His cheeks warmed.
Then the sabha Randhir held his hand in front of everyone.Pulling him to his side.Choosing him without hesitation.
A small, shy smile slipped onto Aaryan's lips before he could stop it.
He turned to his side, hugging the pillow.
Aaryan (muttering softly):Tu kya soch raha hai, Aaryan...Chup-chaap so ja.
He scolded himself gently.
But the smile refused to leave.
He whined softly, burying his face into the pillow, eyes finally fluttering shut .....
....................
Randhir lay back on his bed, one arm tucked beneath his head, staring at the shadowed ceiling.
A slow smile curved his lips soft, unguarded, almost boyish.His mind wasn't restless anymore.
Randhir let out a quiet breath, voice barely above a whisper, as if the walls themselves were sworn to secrecy.
"Akhir kar... humari shaadi ho rahi hai, Titli."
His smile deepened.
"Tum humesha ke liye humare ho jaoge......aur hum bas tumhare."
He closed his eyes, imagining those shy eyes, and that trembled calm .
"hum tumhe duniya ki har khushi denge," he murmured, promise heavy with intent.
"Tumse bohot pyaar karenge zindagi bhar."
A pause. Then, a softer voice.....
"...aur marne ke baad bhi."
The room stayed quiet but Randhir's heart didn't.
.........................................
Wedding.......
........................................
The chamber glowed with a warm lamp-light.
Scarlet silk lay spread across the bed, heavy and regal.
Randhir stood before the mirror, already dressed head to toe in red, the ritual color of the wedding.
The fabric hugged his broad frame, gold embroidery catching the light with every breath he took.
He adjusted the dupatta once, then again impatient and focused.
Behind him, lounging far too comfortably, was Rishav.
He whistled low...
Rishav: Arre wah. Laal rang mein toh aap bilkul... dulhe lag rahe hain, bhaiya."
Randhir didn't look back.
Randhir: Bakwas band karo.
Rishav grinned wider.
"Bas bata raha hoon," he said, hopping off the chair and circling him.
"Wah bhaiya... Talwaar pakadne wale haath aaj kaanp kyun rahe hain?"
Randhir shot him a sharp look.
Randhir: muh band karo apna.
Rishav raised both hands innocently.
"Bas dekh raha hoon," he said, smirk widening. "Shaadi se pehle Rajkumar Randhir bhi ghabra sakte hain yeh aaj pata chala."
Randhir turned back to the mirror, straightening his cuff with unnecessary force.
"ghabra nhi rhe hain hum."
Rishav leaned forward.
"Achha?" Toh phir ye baar baar darwaze ki taraf kyu dekh rhe hain?"
Randhir stilled.For half a second and then scoffed.
"bohot zyada bolne lage ho."
Rishav laughed.
Rishav : Sach bolne ka shauk hai, bhaiya. Waise... aapko Tit...."
He stopped himself deliberately, eyes dancing.
Randhir's glare could have killed someone.
"Naam mat lo."
Rishav burst out laughing.
"Arre wah! Kal tak jo kisi ko paas nahi aane deta tha vo aaj kareeb ho gya kisi ke"
He stood up, walked closer, voice dropping teasingly.
"Achha hai," he said honestly.
"Bhabhi... bohot Bhagyashali hain."
Randhir inhaled slowly.
"bhagya shali to hum hain."
Rishabh smiled at that.
Outside, drums began to sound faintly signals that the wedding hour was approaching.
...............................
The chamber was quiet, wrapped in a warm glow of lamps and sandalwood.
Only two figures were there.
Aaryan sat before the mirror, hands folded in his lap, back straight but shoulders tense.
His wedding attire was already looking rich and elegant yet he looked small, overwhelmed, eyes flicking to his reflection and then away.
Behind him stood Rani Kalyani, calm and unhurried, gently applying kajal with practiced hands.
Aaryan shifted nervously.
Aaryan: B.... bas kariye, Rani sa...
Ye bohot zyada ho jaega.
Rani Kalyani smiled, utterly unbothered.
Rani Kalyani:Kuchh zyada nahi lag raha.Hume karne do."
She leaned closer, voice warm.
"Aur haan...Maa kaho hume."
Aaryan turned around slowly, startled.
Rani Kalyani: Beta... humne tumhe apna maan liya hai. Tum bhi maan lo.
Aaryan's eyes shimmered instantly.
Rani Kalyani: Aree.... rona nahi.
She chuckled softly, wiping a tear that threatened to fall.
"Aaj khushi ka din hai. Khush raho..Tumhari zindagi badalne wali hai, bacche."
Aaryan smiled softly and nodded.
Aaryan: Ji... m.. maa.
Rani Kalyani's expression softened completely.
Rani Kalyani: Aise hi khush rehna... humesha.
Aaryan stood up and hugged her tightly.She held him back just as firmly.After a moment, Aaryan pulled away, embarrassed, and Rani Kalyani returned to adjusting his attire, fixing a fold here, a pleat there.
Aaryan hesitated for a second and then he said
"Maa..."
Rani Kalyani: Haan, bolo.
Aaryan looked down, fingers twisting.
Aaryan: Main... main apna chehra nahi dikhana chahta.
Rani Kalyani didn't even pause.
Rani Kalyani: Haan toh mat dikhana.
Aaryan blinked.
Aaryan: Par... shaadi ke baad toh sabha mein....
Rani Kalyani laughed softly, teasing now.
"Tum apne pati ko jaante hi nahi ho, Titli."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice playfully.
"Agar tum na chaho... toh wo khud tumhe zindagi bhar nahi dekhega. Dusron ko mauka milna toh door ki baat hai."
Aaryan's face burned red.
"Maa...!"
He whined, flustered.
Rani Kalyani laughed.
Rani Kalyani: Haaye... ye laali.
Aaryan: Maa!
Rani Kalyani: Achha baba, nahi chhedungi.
Just then....
A knock echoed softly on the door.
A maid's voice followed.
Maid: Rani sa... muhurat ka samay ho gaya hai.
Rani Kalyani inhaled slowly.
Rani Kalyani: Chalo, Aaryan.
She turned him gently to face her.
Looked at him properly one last time.
Rani Kalyani: Bohot sundar lag rahe ho, beta.
Aaryan's lips parted nervously.:
"Maa, wo..."
Rani Kalyani: Jaanti hoon. daro mat.
She lifted a long, beautiful red veil, delicate and royal, and carefully draped it over Aaryan's head covering his face completely.
Adjusting it with care, she nodded in satisfaction.
Rani Kalyani: Ab chalein.
Aaryan nodded.
Rani Kalyani took his hand and guided him toward the door.
.....
.......................
The chamber looked like a battlefield.
Jewellery lay shattered on the floor.
Silk fabrics were torn and trampled.
A mirror lay cracked near the wall.
Saanvi stood in the middle of the room hair loose and wild, kajal smeared down her cheeks, lipstick ruined.
Her face was streaked with tears and fury, eyes burning with something close to madness.
Veena stood a few steps away, arms crossed, jaw clenched anger simmering beneath forced control.
Saanvi suddenly turned on her and screamed.
Saanvi: Nahi chhodungi main use!
Her voice shook the walls.
"Usne mere... Saanvi ke Randhir ko mujhse chheen liya!"
She laughed sharply, broken.
"Us chhote se chuhe ki itni himmat!"
Then her gaze snapped to Veena accusatory and vicious.
"Aur aap! Aap apne pati ko sambhaal nahi paayi!"
She pointed at her, voice rising hysterically.
"Kaise paida ho gaya vo? Aapko pata nahi chala mera baap kiske saath kya kar raha tha?"
She stepped closer, breathing hard.
"Boliye! Maun kyun hain?!"
Veena's eyes flashed. She grabbed Saanvi's wrist hard
Veena: Chup ho jao. Koi sun lega.
Saanvi jerked free, still shaking.
Veena inhaled deeply, forcing her voice calmly.
Veena: Jo ho raha hai... hone do.
She leaned closer, lowering her tone.
"Aur kisne kaha ki Randhir uska ho jaayega?"
Saanvi froze. Veena smirked faintly.
"Shaadi ho rahi hai bas.Uske baad bhi tum Randhir ko apna bana sakti ho."
Her eyes glinted darkly.
"Randhir Rajkumar hai.Thode din mein khud us ladke se pareshaan ho jaayega."
She placed a hand on Saanvi's shoulder.
"Aur phir... humesha ke liye tumhara ho jaayega."
Saanvi swallowed and her voice cracked.
Saanvi: Par maa... Vo bohot khubsurat hai.
Her eyes filled again.
"Randhir use kyun...."
Veena scoffed.
"Khubsurti hi sab kuchh nahi hoti, meri bholi beti."
Her voice turned cold.
"Mardon ko vash mein karna aana chahiye.Jo vo ladka kabhi nahi kar sakta."
She smirked cruelly.
"Jo apna chehra dikhane se darta hai...vo apna sharir dikhane ki himmat kaha se layega?"
Saanvi wiped her tears roughly.
And then She laughed.
Veena: Ye hui na baat.
She picked up a lehenga from the floor and thrust it into Saanvi's hands.
"Chalo. Ab jaldi se taiyaar ho jao."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Dulhan se bhi zyada sundar lagni chahiye tum."
A slow, poisonous smile curved her lips.
"Taaki Randhir ko pata chale... kya khoya hai usne."
Saanvi nodded. Her laughter faded but the rage stayed.
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