Chapter 39
The mandap was alive with soft light and murmured prayers.
Guests filled every corner, their attention fixed on the sacred space. Incense curled into the air, bells chimed faintly, and marigold garlands swayed gently.
At the center sat Randhir.
Calm on the outside restless within.
Again and again, his gaze drifted to the door.The place from where his Titli would come.
Beside him, Rishav stood, arms crossed, watching with open amusement.
Rishav (teasing): Bhaiya, kya ho gaya? Aa rahe honge. Aap itne utawle kyun ho rahe ho?
Randhir didn’t even look at him.
Randhir: Chup raho.
Rishav chuckled under his breath, clearly enjoying this side of his brother.
Just then A hush swept through the mandap. All heads turned.
Rani Kalyani entered, holding Aaryan’s hand.
The world seemed to be slow.
Aaryan walked beside her, steps small and hesitant. A translucent red dupatta veiled his face soft enough to hide, sheer enough to tease. His features were blurred, dreamlike, untouchable.
Randhir’s breath hitched.That was him.
His Titli.Rani Kalyani led Aaryan toward the mandap, her grip firm, reassuring.
The priest spoke gently.
Pandit: Baith jaiye.
Randhir, still seated, extended his hand steady and patient.
Aaryan paused. Then, hesitantly, he placed his palm into Randhir’s.
The touch was light and fragile.
Randhir’s lips curved into a soft, involuntary smile.He guided Aaryan to sit beside him, their shoulders almost brushing.
Randhir turned his head slightly, eyes trying to catch even a small glimpse of Aaryan’s face through the veil.
Aaryan felt it , that gaze. His toes curled unconsciously, hidden beneath the fabric, a tiny reaction betraying his nerves.
Randhir noticed. His eyes dropped for a fleeting second to those curling toes.
And then he smiled.
As if he’d found something precious even before the rituals had begun.
The priest cleared his throat, ready to start the mantras.
But for Randhir The wedding had already started the moment Aaryan sat beside him and trembled under his gaze.
The soft murmur in the mandap faded as Pandit ji began chanting louder, his voice steady and solemn.
The sacred fire crackled gently between them.
Pandit ji: Ab aap dono… phero ke liye khade ho jaaiye.
Randhir rose immediately.He turned instinctively toward Aaryan.
Rani Kalyani stepped forward, adjusting the folds of Aaryan’s attire with practiced care, whispering something soothing only he could hear.
Aaryan nodded faintly. With a small breath, he stood up too slow, careful, fingers tightening around Randhir’s hand as if drawing strength from it.
Randhir felt it.
And tightened his hold just enough to reassure him. Together, they took the first step. The fire glowed brighter as they moved, hand in hand, circling it
one vow at a time.
With each phera, Aaryan’s steps grew steadier.With each round, Randhir’s grip grew sure.
Flowers began to rain softly from all sides of the marigold petals, rose buds, blessings disguised as fragrance.
Petals landed on Aaryan’s veil.
On Randhir’s shoulders.
On their joined hands. Seven circles. Seven promises.
Seven silent breaths shared between two hearts that had found each other through chaos.
When the final phera was complete, they stopped still holding hands.
The chants softened. The fire crackled and somewhere between petals and prayers.
Two lives quietly became one.
The final mantra faded into a sacred hush.
Pandit ji: Ab aap dono baith jaiye.
Randhir sat down first and did not release Aaryan’s hand even for a heartbeat. He guided him to sit beside himself, fingers still entwined, grounding him through the tremor in his breath.
Pandit ji: Ab sindoor daan ki vidhi shuru kariye.
The words weighed heavy.
Rani Kalyani moved instantly to Aaryan’s side. His fingers tightened around the edge of her saree an unspoken plea.She understood.
Just as she was about to step toward Randhir....
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
The sound cut through the mandap like a blade. All eyes turned.
Saanvi entered draped in red like a bride herself, jewels flashing, chin lifted. She walked in as if she owned the moment, then seated herself on a chair like a royal princess, a slow smirk playing on her lips.
Rani Kalyani rolled her eyes this drama was expected. Randhir didn’t look away. Not even once.His gaze never left Aaryan. As if nothing else existed.
Rani Kalyani ignored Saanvi entirely and stepped close to Randhir. She leaned in and whispered softly, and precisely.
Rani Kalyani (whispering): Beta, ghunghat mat hatana. Vo achanak darr jaayega.
Randhir nodded.
Randhir: Ji, maa.
He took the sindoor, steadying his breath. Slowly, respectfully, he slipped his hand beneath Aaryan’s ghunghat and traced the line of his hair.
Aaryan closed his eyes instinctively.
A few grains of sindoor slipped brushing his nose.Randhir’s mouth curved into the softest smile.
Next, he lifted the mangalsutra and tied it gently around Aaryan’s neck, fingers careful, reverent like he was handling something sacred.
Pandit ji: Vivah sampann hua. Aaj se aap dono pati-patni hue.
The words settled.
And then....
Randhir smiled.Not the restrained smile of a prince. But a radiant, unguarded one so bright that for the first time, many in the mandap realized they had never truly seen him smile before.
He stood and gently pulled Aaryan up with him.
Together, they went to Raja Rajveer and touched his feet.
The king placed his hand over their heads, blessing them with quiet pride.
Then they turned to Rani Kalyani.
They bent to touch her feet
But she stopped them.
She pulled both of them into a hug, holding them close.
Rani Kalyani: Humesha khush raho. Aur… sath raho.
Aaryan’s grip tightened around Randhir’s hand.
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Aaryan and Randhir were led to the royal throne.As soon as they sat, the palace erupted into celebration.
Music filled the air.
Women sang traditional wedding songs.Men danced, laughter echoing through the vast hall.
After all the future king had been married.
Randhir sat tall, composed, regal.
Aaryan sat beside him small, and overwhelmed his fingers clutching the fabric of his dress tightly, knuckles pale. The noise, the eyes, the sheer scale of it all made his breath shallow.
Randhir noticed immediately.
He leaned slightly toward him, voice low, meant only for Aaryan.
Randhir: Araam se baitho, Titli. Itna ghabra kyun rahe ho?
A pause.
“Hum hain na. Araam se baitho.”
Something in his voice was steady and certain reached Aaryan. His shoulders slowly loosened.He inhaled… and exhaled.
After some time, Rani Kalyani approached them. Her expression softened the moment she looked at Aaryan.
Rani Kalyani: Chalo, beta. Ab aaraam kar lo.
Aaryan nodded obediently and stood, immediately holding her hand for support. They turned to leave.
That was when a sharp voice cut through the celebration.
Saanvi: Kahan le jaa rahi hain aap ise, Rani sa?
The music faltered slightly.
Rani Kalyani didn’t even turn fully.
Rani Kalyani: Ye hume tumhe batane ki zarurat nahi hai.
Saanvi stood up, anger barely disguised.
Saanvi: Shaadi ho gayi. Par poori praja ko itna haq toh hai ki vo apne Rajkumar ki patni ko dekh paaye.
The hall went quiet. Randhir also rose from the throne.
Rani Kalyani spoke first, calm but unyielding.
Rani Kalyani: Ye Aaryan ka faisla hoga. Vo kab, kaise, aur kiske saamne apna chehra dikhana chahta hai ya phir bilkul nahi dikhana chahta.
Saanvi scoffed loudly.
Saanvi: Rani sa, ye sab bas bahane hain.
She tilted her head cruelly.
“Kahin aisa toh nahi..... ki iski shakal dikhane layak hi nahi hai?”
The words struck.
Aaryan froze. A single tear slipped down beneath the veil.
Before anyone could react Randhir’s voice thundered.
Randhir: BAS!
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Randhir’s eyes burned as he looked straight at Saanvi.
Randhir: Humne kaha tha na tumse
aaj ke baad uske baare mein kuchh mat bolna?
His jaw tightened.
“Kabhi-kabhi sochte hain buddhi bhi hai ya nahi tumhare paas? Khair chhodo”
Saanvi: Ran....
Randhir (cutting her off): Vo sirf humara hai.
He stepped slightly forward, voice carrying to every corner of the hall.
“aur ab Vo humare saath is rajya ko chalane wale hain. Aur unhe jo man karega vo wahi karenge.”
A pause.
“Aur hume nahi lagta ki kisi mein itni himmat hai jo unhe rok sake.”
The silence was absolute.Randhir turned toward his mother.
Randhir: Maa. Aap inhe lekar jaaiye.
Rani Kalyani nodded once. She tightened her grip on Aaryan’s hand and led him away.
Randhir watched them go and then again sat on his place.
As soon as Aaryan and Rani Kalyani disappeared down the corridor, a sharp scoff echoed in the hall.
Saanvi clenched her fists, eyes burning.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed away, her red lehenga swishing angrily behind her. Veena followed close after, lips pressed thin, her gaze promising unfinished venom.
The celebration slowly found its rhythm again. Music resumed.
Laughter returned hesitant at first, then louder. Guests gathered around Randhir, offering blessings and congratulations.
Randhir sat back on the throne, composed, regal yet his mind was far away. Beside him, Raja Rajveer spoke with ministers, pride evident in his posture. Rishav stood close, watching his brother carefully.
Servants moved around with trays of drinks. One was offered to Randhir.
Then another. Rishav nudged him lightly, holding up a glass with a grin.
Rishav: Bhaiya, aaj toh banta hai. Sab pee rahe hain.
Randhir’s fingers paused just short of taking the glass. In his mind Those scared eyes flashed again. The trembling hands.The way Aaryan had flinched that night. Randhir exhaled slowly. He shook his head.
Randhir: Nahi. Aaj nahi.
Rishav raised a brow, surprised.
“sach me? Aap mana kar rhe ho?”
Randhir nodded once, firm.
“Bilkul.”
He glanced briefly toward the corridor where Aaryan had gone.
His voice softened only when Rishav heard it.
“Hum use darana nahi chahte. Pehli raat… bilkul nahi.”
Rishav’s teasing faded.
“Samajh gaya, bhaiya. Tab to lagta hai aapko chhodna padega peena”
Randhir: vo kahega to kuchh bhi chhodne ko tyaar hain hum.
He said and turned back to the guests, accepting their congratulations with grace.
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