Chapter - 15
I stood outside Dadi Maa's room, my heart racing with nerves.
So far, everyone had treated me well, and no one had said anything negative.
But now, Dadi Maa had asked me to come into her room, and she wanted to talk.
What would she ask? Would she want to know why I was here or where Natasha was?
What would I tell her? Why had I married in her place?
"Come in," Dadi Maa's voice called from inside.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Dadi Maa gestured for me to sit on the couch, and I did so, my hands nervously fidgeting in my lap. She walked over to her closet and returned with a jewelry box.
"This is a gift for you, for the delicious food you made," she said, her eyes warm with kindness
Dadi Maa, it's not necessary," I replied, hesitating.
"This is a ritual, my child. I have kept this for my Aarav's wife, and now it is yours," she insisted gently.
I took the box from her, still unsure. Then she added, "I will not ask you why you are here in place of Natasha, because I know you must have your reasons."
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. My voice trembled as I asked, "Are you trusting me?"
"If I didn't trust you, then you wouldn't be sitting in front of me," she replied, a reassuring smile on her face.
Just then, Maa and Chachi Ji entered the room. They both held gifts, exclaiming together, "Siya beta, these are for you, for your first rasoi!"
Maa handed me a beautiful set of Sheesh Patti jewelry, while Chachi Ji presented me with a lovely pair of bangles. I took their blessings, my heart swelling with gratitude.
Dadi Maa then said, "There are rituals we still need to complete, including your muh dikhai ceremony. Some ladies will come for that, so you should get ready. It will be held in the afternoon, and in the evening, we will do other rituals."
Maa smiled and added, "I'll send your clothes with someone, and a beautician will come to help you get ready around noon. Until then, you can rest. If you need anything, just ask me."
"Ji Maa," I replied, feeling a wave of happiness wash over me. No one blamed me for anything, and they were all so kind.
As they left the room, Dadi Maa said, "Siya, remember, you are now part of this family. We may have traditions and rituals, but above all, we value love and respect. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine."
I nodded, feeling grateful for her understanding. With a little more confidence, I took a moment to breathe and let her words settle in my heart.
I stood up and walked out of Dadi Maa's room, a sense of happiness washing over me. I made my way to my room and placed the gifts carefully in the closet. Once I was done, I sat down on the edge of my bed, feeling a wave of calm and relief.
After about two hours, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find Anaya standing there with two other ladies.
"Bhabhi, these are your outfits and jewelry," she said with a bright smile. "These beauticians will help you get ready. If you need anything, just call me."
I nodded, feeling grateful as she left the room. The ladies helped me put on the beautiful outfit and adorned me with jewelry. They worked their magic, and after an hour, I looked in the mirror. I could hardly believe my eyes—I looked beautiful, more than I ever thought possible.
Just then, Anaya returned. "Bhabhi, Maa has sent your lunch. Since the muh dikhai will take a lot of time, you should eat first."
I thanked her and enjoyed my lunch, trying to calm my nerves. Once I was done, I placed the veil over my nose and walked downstairs with Anaya, who guided me to where the ladies were already gathered.
I took a seat on the middle sofa, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. One by one, the ladies approached me, offering blessings and gifts. "Sumitraji, you have found a beautiful wife for your grandson," one lady exclaimed, and I blushed at the compliment.
After about three or four hours, the guests began to leave. Dadi Maa then said, "Anaya, go and ask Aarav and the rest of the family members to come. We will continue with the remaining rituals."
Before long, everyone arrived. Maa instructed Aarav to sit in front of me, and someone brought in a bowl of milk. Dadi Maa handed a ring to Chachi Ji, who explained, "You both have to find the ring. Whoever finds it will have the upper hand in the marriage."
Anaya, Arjun bhaiya, Chachi Ji, and Papa were on my team, while Dadi Maa, Maa, and Chacha Ji were on his's team. Chachi Ji put the ring in the bowl and said, "Find it!"
We both began searching, and my hand brushed against his. A strange feeling washed over me, but I quickly avoided his gaze. On the first attempt, he found the ring; on the second, I managed to find it.
"Bhabhi, now you have to find it and win for us!
" Anaya cheered, and I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me as they began to cheer me on.
My heart raced as I focused on the bowl, my palms sweaty with anticipation.
With each passing moment, the pressure grew heavier, and I felt the excitement of the room pulsate around me.
But in the third round, I still couldn't find the ring. Just as I was about to give up, I felt a warm hand gently take mine, steadying me. I looked up to see Aarav's focused expression, and before I knew it, he effortlessly pulled the ring out of the bowl.
The room erupted in laughter and playful teasing, and I couldn't help but join in, a mixture of relief and embarrassment flooding through me. His touch lingered in my mind as the laughter enveloped us, and for a moment, I felt like I truly belonged.
Dadi Maa smiled at Aarav. "Put the ring on Siya's finger," she instructed. He complied, and I felt a flutter of nerves as he slipped the ring onto my finger.
"Now, you've both completed the game!" Maa announced. "Anaya, take your bhabhi to her room. She needs to rest now."
As I got up, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this new life wouldn't be so bad after all.
As I stepped inside my room, a wave of happiness washed over me.
Everyone in the family had been so kind, treating me as if I belonged here.
No one had said a single harsh word to me, and it felt comforting to know they were all trying to make me feel at home.
I thought to myself that if this is what being a replace bride meant, then I could accept it happily.
After all, having such a lovely family was worth it.
But there was one person who hadn't spoken to me since last night—him.
His silence made me a little uneasy, but as long as he didn't treat me badly, I could manage.
I missed my bhai so much, but I couldn't call him.
I didn't have my phone, and I hadn't mentioned it to anyone.
I wondered how he and my bhabhi were doing and if they were okay.
Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when he entered the room. My heart raced; whenever he was around, I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach. There was something magnetic about him, even in his silence. He walked over to the closet and returned a moment later with a change of comfortable clothes.
"I have arranged your clothes in the closet. You can take a look," he said, his voice steady. "If you need anything, let me know." I nodded, trying to appear calm, even though I felt a rush of anxiety.
With that, he left the room, and I was alone again.
I walked over to the closet, curiosity bubbling inside me.
As I opened it, I was greeted by a beautiful array of clothes and accessories.
There were traditional outfits and western clothes, but none of these belonged to me.
I had only ever worn traditional attire.
After checking everything out, I picked a comfortable suit that caught my eye. It was simple yet elegant, and I felt a sense of relief as I changed into it. Standing in front of the mirror, I took a moment to appreciate how I looked. Maybe I could find my place in this family after all.
After completing the aarti ritual with my newly wedded wife, I slouched back in my office chair, sipping my drink.
"Oh, my newly wedded wife, or should I say, my angel," I muttered to myself.I didn't want to be in this situation, but I couldn't help it after what I saw on the CCTV footage from Rathore Haveli today.
You were so close to me, and I couldn't let this chance slip away to make you mine.
If I had known earlier that you were going to be this close to me, I would have never allowed this marriage to happen in such a way.
Seeing you today made me realize that you truly are my angel.
I had initially chosen Natasha's design because I knew she had applied to my company.
She had no idea it was mine, and typically, I don't get personally involved in these matters.
But for you, my angel, I had to step in.
When Natasha eloped, my men informed me immediately.
I understood that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her, which is why she ran away from the marriage.
I knew that Mr. Rajput would eventually push you to marry me, aware of the consequences if anyone found out about Natasha's disappearance.
I'm sorry, my angel. This was the last decision you made without your consent, but from now on, no one— not even me—will force you to do anything you don't want to.
I had to put on a facade of anger in front of everyone; I didn't want anyone to uncover the truth behind my actions.
But there was one person who always tried to read me—my Dadi Maa.
She's Rajmata for a reason. Her sharp gaze lingered on me, as if she were trying to piece together the emotions I had carefully buried.
Yet, no matter how perceptive she was, she couldn't get past the walls I had built.
Perhaps it's because I've mastered the art of hiding my feelings—or maybe, just maybe, I don't have them at all.
As I took another sip of my drink, I leaned back and closed my eyes for a moment. I needed to protect you while also ensuring everyone else believed I was still the cold, arrogant man they feared. But the truth was, beneath that facade, I was already devoted to you.
As I entered the room, I noticed she standing on the balcony, lost in her thoughts.
I decided to take a shower to clear my mind.
After coming out of the bathroom in my bathrobe, I found her standing in the middle of the room, but when she noticed me, she quickly looked away.
I have to remember that I'm a married man now.
I can't just walk around like this with my angel feeling shy.
I hurried to the closet, changed into some comfortable clothes, and came back out.
She was still standing there, looking a bit anxious.
"Change your clothes," I said, trying not to raise my voice, but it came out louder than I intended.
I could see her starting to panic as she searched the room.
"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing her distress.
"My clothes... I can't find them," she stammered, her voice trembling.
I quickly called for the servant to ask about her clothes, but he informed me that no belongings had arrived for her. I couldn't tell her that; I didn't want to hurt her feelings. So, I turned to her and said, "Your clothes haven't arrived yet.
I opened my closet and grabbed a T-shirt and a pair of track pants.
It wasn't that I couldn't arrange something for her now, but I was tired.
Then my subconscious mocked me, suggesting that maybe I just didn't want to miss the chance to see her in my clothes.
"Shut up," I said to my subconscious, shaking my head to dismiss the thought.
I turned to her and said, "Wear these for tonight," trying to keep my tone calm.
"Thank you," she replied, her sweet voice making my heart flutter. I could do anything for that voice.
When she returned after changing, I noticed the T-shirt was too big for her, and the track pants kept slipping down.
She looked cute, even though she seemed unsure of herself, standing in the middle of the room.
I waited for her to say something, but instead, she grabbed a pillow from the bed and started walking toward the couch.
No, my angel will not sleep on the couch. She's a queen, and I promised myself she would be treated like one. I quickly called out, "Where do you think you're going?" My voice was louder than I intended, and I noticed her flinch.
"I—I'm going to sleep on the couch," she said, her voice trembling. Why, angel? Why would you choose the couch? I had a large room with a king-sized bed, and she picked the couch? No way.
I walked toward her, and she started backing away, clearly nervous. Her expression told me she was scared of something, so I stepped forward, gently grabbed her hand, and guided her toward the bed. "Sit," I said calmly.
She immediately sat down, looking up at me with those big eyes. "Let's get one thing straight," I began, my voice steady. "This bed is big enough for both of us. We can sleep comfortably without bothering each other. But if you're uncomfortable, I'll sleep on the couch."
After a moment of thought, she quickly shook her head. "No. It's your bed. Why would you sleep on the couch?"
How can I explain to my angel that nothing is mine anymore? Everything is ours now, but I couldn't say that just yet. I smiled faintly and said, "If a king lets his queen sleep on the couch, what kind of king does that make him?"
She blinked at me, confusion written all over her face. Oh, my little innocent queen, I thought, finding her adorable with her little pout. After thinking it over, she nodded and said, "We will both sleep on the bed."
I realized I needed to take baby steps with her; she was too innocent for my world. I nodded and moved to my side of the bed, lying down, and she did the same without a word.
Tonight, I felt peace for the first time in years, knowing my angel was beside me. With that thought, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.