Chapter 40
The chamber was glowing.
Soft diyas flickered along the walls, casting golden shadows. The bed was adorned with delicate rose petals, their fragrance filling the air. The curtains were drawn, and the night outside seemed far away from the warmth inside.
On the edge of the decorated bed sat Aaryan, back straight, hands resting on his lap, legs folded carefully beneath him. His veil still covered his face, though it had slipped slightly to the side...
Across from him, on a carved sofa, sat Rani Kalyani.
Rani Kalyani: Beta?
Aaryan immediately looked up.
Aaryan: Ji, maa.
Her eyes softened at the word.
Rani Kalyani: Aaj tumhari shaadi ho gayi. Tumhari zindagi mein bohot kuch badalne wala hai.
She spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words.
“Dheere-dheere tumhe Randhir ko apni zindagi ka hissa banana hoga.”
Aaryan nodded silently and shifted slightly on the bed, folding his legs properly, fingers twisting into the fabric of his dress. Rani Kalyani continued, voice gentle but serious.
Rani Kalyani: Aaj tumhari shaadi ki pehli raat hai...
A small pause.
“Tum samajh rahe ho na, beta… main kya kehna chahti hoon?”
Aaryan’s face turned bright red beneath the soft diya . His lashes lowered shyly.
He nodded.
“Ji…”
Rani Kalyani leaned forward slightly.
“Darna mat.”
Her voice carried reassurance.
“Agar tumhe kuch bhi theek na lage… toh seedhe mana kar dena.”
She held his gaze firmly.
“Itna bharosa hum tumhe dete hain humara beta kabhi tumhare saath zabardasti nahi karega. Na hi tumhe dukh pahunchayega.”
Aaryan swallowed.
Aaryan: Jaanta hoon, maa… P..... par mujhe… unse dar lagta hai.”
Rani Kalyani chuckled lightly.
“Itna bhi darawna nahi hai vo.”
Her eyes twinkled faintly.
“Aur tumhare liye toh bilkul bhi nahi.”
She stood and walked closer to him, placing a hand gently on his head.
“Darna band karo. Ab vo tumhare pati hain.”
Her tone shifted encouraging him.
“Haq hai tumhara un par.”
Aaryan blinked, absorbing that.
Haq. The word felt unfamiliar.
Yet strangely comforting.
Rani Kalyani adjusted the edge of Aaryan’s veil one last time.Her gaze softened.
Rani Kalyani: Ab tum aaraam karo, beta. Randhir bhi aata hi hoga.
Aaryan’s fingers tightened slightly on the bedsheet. He nodded obediently.
Aaryan: Ji, maa… shubh ratri.
Rani Kalyani smiled at him warmly, reassuring.
Rani Kalyani: Shubh ratri.
She turned toward the door, paused for just a second, and looked back at him.
A small, encouraging nod.
Then she stepped out of the chamber, closing the door gently behind her.
.........................
Aaryan was alone in the chamber.
His eyes slowly lifted toward the wall where a large painting of Randhir was hanging.
The portrait showed him strong, intense, and impossibly handsome.
Even in colors and brush strokes, his gaze felt powerful.
Aaryan’s cheeks turned red just looking at it.
He quickly turned his face away.
“aise kyu dekhte hain aap?…” he whispered to himself softly.
He folded his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, resting his head against his knees, holding himself tightly as if trying to calm the storm inside him.
Then.....
The sound of the door opening.
Aaryan immediately straightened, still sitting in the same position. He quickly adjusted his veil, pulling it properly over his face. His fingers tightened in the fabric of his red bridal dress so hard that the cloth wrinkled in his grip.
The door closed. Randhir stood there.
His eyes instantly fell on the small figure sitting on the bed, completely covered in red. He placed both hands on his chest and let out a slow breath. He walked toward the bed.
With each step, Aaryan folded himself in even more, hiding his face deeper inside the veil, shoulders trembling with shyness and nervousness.
Randhir stopped near the bed.
He looked at him for a long moment.
Then he sat down on the edge of the bed, leaving a careful distance between them.
He did not touch him. He did not remove the veil. He just looked at him softly.
“Titli…” he said gently.
Aaryan’s fingers tightened again.
“Darr rahe ho?” Randhir asked quietly.
There was no anger in his voice. No dominance. Only patience.
Aaryan did not answer. Randhir leaned back slightly, giving him more space instead of less.
Aaryan slowly tried to peek up from beneath the veil. Randhir noticed the small movement. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Randhir slowly moved his hand forward. Very gently, he placed it over Aaryan’s tightly clenched fist.
The touch was light.
Aaryan’s breath hitched sharply.
Randhir noticed the way his shoulders stiffened, the way his fingers curled even tighter.He smiled softly.
“Itne nahi darte, shona,” he said quietly.
Inside the veil, Aaryan blinked in surprise at the new nickname. His lashes fluttered. His heartbeat only grew louder.
Randhir tilted his head slightly.
“Jab tum kuch bologe hi nahi,” he murmured, “toh hum kaise samjhenge tumhari baat?”
Aaryan swallowed.His lips parted.
“Main…”
Randhir leaned a little closer but still kept distance.
“Haan, tum,” he encouraged gently.
After a few seconds, Randhir spoke again, voice softer, almost playful.
“Kya abhi bhi tumhara ye gulaam tumhare chehre ka didar nahi kar sakta?”
Aaryan gasped softly.
“Aap khud ko gulaam mat boliye,” he said quickly, voice trembling.
Randhir’s eyes warmed.
“Par yahi sach hai na, Titli?” he replied quietly. “Tumhara gulaam hi toh hoon. Zindagi bhar ke liye… aur uske baad bhi.”
Aaryan shook his head slightly.
“Aap… aap toh Rajkumar hain na…”
Randhir chuckled softly.
“Woh duniya ke liye hoon,” he said. “Tumhare liye nahi.”
Then he added, teasing lightly to ease him.
“Waise humare sawal ka jawab nahi diya tumne.”
Aaryan looked confused.
“Ji?”
Randhir’s voice softened further.
“Ji… woh thoda sa chehra dikh jaata toh…”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Apne pati se bhi kya chhupana, Titli?”
There was no pressure in his tone , only warmth.Aaryan hesitated. Then, barely audible he spoke....
“D… dekh lijiye.”
Randhir noticed it immediately the trembling. The nervous breathing. The way Aaryan’s whole body seemed to shake under the veil. His expression changed. Slower now, he lifted his hand toward the veil. Aaryan closed his eyes tightly.
Randhir’s fingers paused mid-air.
Then stopped completely. He lowered his hand. His voice lost all the teasing.
“Jab tak tum hume is kaabil nahi samjhte,” he said quietly, “tab tak kuch bhi nahi.”
Aaryan’s lashes trembled.
“Jab tak tum pure dil se hume apna pati maan loge… jab tak tum hum par bharosa karne lagoge…”
He swallowed softly.
“Tab tak hum intezaar karenge.”
His tone was steady.
“ek din tum khud aaoge humare paas… ye kehne ke liye ki tumhara ghunghat hum uthaye.”
He placed his hand back over his own heart.
“Aapki kasam,” he whispered, “tab tak hum kuch nahi karenge.”
Aaryan slowly opened his eyes.
Tears filled them instantly.
After a few quiet moments, Randhir spoke again, his voice calm and gentle.
“Kapde badal lo, Titli,” he said softly. “Ye bohot bhari honge. Thak gaye hoge tum. Sona bhi hai abhi.”
Aaryan nodded silently. He stood up and walked toward the inner dressing area to change.
Randhir watched him go for a second, then flopped back on the bed with a soft sigh, staring at the ceiling.
A smile spread across his face.
“Haaye…” he muttered to himself. “Kitna pyara hai.”
Inside, Aaryan stood in front of the mirror.
Slowly, he lifted his hands and let the red veil slide down.
It fell softly to the floor. He looked at his reflection.
His cheeks were flushed pink. His eyes were shining.
His lips curved into a shy, uncontrollable smile.
He touched his own cheek lightly, as if confirming it.
“kya ho rha hai mujhe?…” he whispered. “Main aise… aise has kyun raha hoon…”
He remembered Randhir’s voice. His patience. His promise. His smile widened.
From the other room, Randhir’s voice echoed playfully.
“Sharmana band karo, Titli… aur kapde badal ke jaldi aao. Sona hai.”
Aaryan gasped.
He quickly looked around, heart racing. He checked the curtains. The walls. The doorway. There was no opening. No mirror reflection. No space from where Randhir could possibly see him.
He placed his hand on his chest, trying to calm himself.
“ye mujhe dekh nhi sakte phir.…” he murmured.
His cheeks turned even redder. And he started changing his clothes fastly.