Ch6 A Bride Against Her Will #3
"Mr. Bedi," he continued,
"I agree to this marriage.
Your daughter, Rivanya Bedi, will become my wife
Mrs. Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan."
Hearing those words, it felt as if my voice had caught in my throat, my senses momentarily paralyzed.
That voice... that presence... it was intoxicating, capable of capturing anyone, mesmerizing anyone who heard it.
I couldn't stop thinking... just the sound of his voice had made my heartbeat race.
What would happen when I actually saw him?
There was something about this man...
something irresistible, magnetic, that even my stepsister had been captivated by without ever even seeing him properly.
I noticed Rudraksh's father speak to my father, his tone firm.
"The bride... whoever she may be, we are only concerned with the marriage itself."
My father, hands folded, replied respectfully, "Please, have a seat, everyone. The wedding muhurat will begin in fifteen minutes. Until then, relax."
I caught sight of two pairs of eyes subtly trying to glance at me...
but I quickly stepped inside, hiding myself.
And yet, even in that brief moment, I felt it
a subtle, almost imperceptible smile from Rudraksh.
It was as if he had noticed me, just enough to make my heart skip again.
After a while, my father came into the room and said,
"Beta, there are a few pre-wedding rituals you need to do in our home temple. Come, the priest is waiting."
I nodded and began to move forward, but Papa stopped me. He leaned close, took a beautiful, heavy red chunri, and draped it over my head. Then he covered my face with the veil and said,
"Beta, even though you are being forced into this marriage, now you must understand the responsibilities of this family. After all, you are about to become the queen of Vardhanpur."
I nodded my head in agreement, and together we went to the home temple.
Inside the temple, I sat before the idols of Shiv and Parvati, my veil still covering me. The priest was performing the rituals. Then he tied a yellow cloth around my right wrist and said,
"Rivanya beta, receive the blessings of the Gods. Your new journey is about to begin, one that will be extraordinary."
I nodded and stood, accepting the blessings of Shiv and Parvati. At that moment, a gust of wind blew, and the sindoor from the statue of Mata Rani fell onto my mang, exactly as it had in Kashi at the temple. I knew then, without a doubt, that this was my fate-Rudraksh was my destiny.
My cousins, at Papa's instruction, began guiding me downstairs. My heart was pounding fiercely. As we descended the stairs, the entire hall came into view. I saw that as I entered, all of Rudraksh's family had stood up. It felt strange at first, but as I moved forward, my breath caught in my throat.
There he was-standing, talking seriously with a few of the elders. I raised my eyes slightly from behind my red veil to look at him... and I couldn't look away. Could any boy look this handsome? Tall, broad-shouldered, long hair, piercing grey-black eyes, perfect features... he was just... hot.
Chii, Rivanya! What are you thinking? Don't forget-this isn't just any marriage...
And yet... wow. He's really something.
As I stepped further down, every heartbeat seemed louder than the last. My red veil barely hid me, but I kept glancing at him from behind it. Rudraksh... he stood there like a king, calm and commanding, yet somehow magnetic. My eyes couldn't leave him, and I could feel my face heating up.
Even though he hadn't looked directly at me yet, there was a presence about him that made it impossible to think of anything else.
The intensity of his aura, the sharpness of his features, the sheer power in the way he carried himself-it was overwhelming.
How could one person be so... mesmerizing?
My heart skipped, my stomach twisted, and I suddenly felt lightheaded.
I whispered to myself, almost scolding my own thoughts, Chhi Rivanya! Remember, this isn't a love story... this is a marriage. A forced one. Control yourself!
But as I took a careful step closer, he finally turned his gaze toward me. Our eyes met for just a second, and my chest felt tight. It wasn't just the height, the strength, or the sharp eyes-it was something deeper, something unspoken. Something that made me catch my breath.
I quickly lowered my gaze, pretending to steady myself, but I felt it-his eyes had found me, and in that brief instant, I felt as if he already knew something about me, even without words.
My heart raced, my thoughts scattered, and all I could think was...
What kind of man is this? How can one person have such a hold on me without even saying a word?
I could feel Rudraksh's gaze on me, slowly scanning me from head to toe, as if I were some exquisite display in a shop window. And yet-impossible as it seemed-there wasn't even the faintest trace of a smile on his face.
Sure, he was supposed to be marrying my cruel stepsister, not me, but even so...
basic manners, right? At least a polite glance, a tiny acknowledgment?
But no-his expression remained sharp, intense, unreadable.
It was hard to even guess what he was thinking, what he was feeling.
This man was a mystery wrapped in power, confidence, and an aura that made my heart skip.
Hey Mata Rani... I thought, my hands tightening on my veil. How did you let me fall into the hands of a man like this?