Ch35 The Captive Lioness #2
She placed vibrant red and yellow flowers around the deity, draping a beautiful crimson chunari over the idol.
With deep reverence, she offered kumkum, haldi, akshat (sacred rice grains), and sandalwood paste, placing the complete bridal shringar set at the Goddess's feet as an offering of gratitude.
Following the idol worship, the priest ignited the sacred fire for the *Havan*. As the holy chants reached a crescendo, Rivanya offered the final oblations into the fire, the aromatic smoke rising up into the air, purifying the entire Vardhan Mansion and carrying her prayers directly to the heavens.
?"Rivanya begins to sing the aarti, performing the sacred ritual herself:"
Jai jai jai giriraaj kishori
(Victory, victory, victory to you, O daughter of the king of mountains, Himalaya.)
?Jai Maheshmukh chadrachakori
(Victory to the one who gazes at the face of Lord Shiva just as the chakora bird adores the moon.)
?Jai gauri maa teri
(Victory to you, O Mother Gauri.)
?Jai ho gauri maa
(All glories to you, Mother Gauri.)
?Amar suhaagan jai devi maa...
(Victory to the divine Mother, the immortal giver of marital bliss.)
?Maa maiya shrigaar tera laal hai
(O Mother, your bridal adornment is entirely crimson red.)
?Maa Gauri shrigaar tera laal hai
(O Mother Gauri, your divine bridal adornment is beautifully red.)
?Laal mahavar laal laal mehandi
(The sacred alta on your feet is red, and the intricate mehendi on your hands is deep red.)
?Laal sindoor to laal laal chunari
(The vermilion in your parting is red, and your elegant bridal veil is vibrant red.)
?Mrigmada kaa tilak tere bhaal hai
(A sacred tilak of musk adorns your beautiful forehead.)
?Darshan karake ye
(Upon beholding your divine form)
?Manavaa nihaal hai
(My heart and soul feel completely blessed and fulfilled.)
?Wo gauri shrigaar tera laal hai...
(O Mother Gauri, that magnificent bridal adornment of yours is brilliantly red.)
?Ooooo Man waanchit var denewaali
(O Mother, you are the divine giver of our heart's truest desires.)
?Rakhiyo amar suhaag ki laali
(Please protect and preserve the sacred crimson mark of my husband's long life forever.)
?Jai gauri maa teri jai ho gauri maa
(Victory to you, O Mother Gauri; all glories to you, Mother Gauri.)
?Amar suhaagan jai devi maa
(Victory to the divine Mother, the immortal giver of marital bliss.)
?Jai gauri maa teri jai ho gauri maa
(Victory to you, O Mother Gauri; all glories to you, Mother Gauri.)
?Amar suhaagan jai devi maa.
(Victory to the divine Mother, the immortal giver of marital bliss.)
With the final *Aarti* echoing through the halls, the grand Gauri Puja concluded seamlessly, leaving a powerful, divine protective aura over the estate.
Rivanya's melodious, soulful voice left everyone in the hall completely spellbound and deeply impressed. Every woman present couldn't help but wonder how someone could embody such a perfect blend of modern grace and deep-rooted cultural values.
As the *aarti* concluded, the women stepped forward to seek the family priest's blessings.
The priest smiled warmly, blessing them all before offering the sacred vermilion.
"May the Divine Mother bless you all. Please take this sanctified sindoor from the Goddess's feet and apply it to your foreheads yourselves. As a priest, I cannot do it for you, because a married woman's forehead and hair parting are sacred;
touching them is a right reserved solely for her husband or herself. No other man, not even a priest, can cross that boundary."
Nodding respectfully, the women took the vermilion, first applying it as a protective dot on their foreheads and then gracefully filling their hair partings.
Rivanya, however, approached the ritual with an even deeper emotional reverence.
She took a pinch of the holy sindoor, lightly touching it to her glass bangles first, then to her mangalsutra, and finally filling her own parting with a quiet, intense pride.
Watching this profound display of devotion, Gurumaa smiled, her eyes gleaming with absolute approval.
The priest then handed a silver kalash to Rivanya.
"Beta, take this energized holy water and sprinkle it throughout the estate to usher in peace, harmony, and divine protection. Once that is done, distribute the bridal shringar gifts to the married women with your own hands, and the ritual will be fully complete."
Rivanya nodded respectfully, lifting the sacred water vessel, and stepped out of the household temple. Using fresh mango leaves, she began gently spraying the holy water across the grand corridors of the mansion.
What she didn't realize was that someone outside had been waiting for her with absolute, restless impatience all while desperately pretending that he didn't care at all.
By now, it was no secret that this someone was none other than Rudraksh Vardhan.
His eyes had been glued to the temple doors the entire time.
The moment Rivanya emerged with the silver kalash in her hands, his breath hitched.
He found himself instantly lost all over again in her mesmerizing blend of ethereal beauty and pristine innocence.
Catching himself, he quickly adjusted his posture, making a failed, highly unsuccessful attempt to look away.
But his resistance stood no chance against her presence.
Behind Rivanya, the rest of the women began filtering out into the main hall, talking softly amongst themselves.
Suddenly, a sharp, arrogant voice shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
One of Dadimaa's wealthy acquaintances sneered, turning to her with a look of pure disdain.
"Forgive my bluntness, Dadi ji, but couldn't you find any civilized married women for this sacred puja, apart from your domestic help? How can people of our elite, high-class status sit and perform rituals alongside ordinary maids?"
Before Dadimaa could even process the insult to speak up, Rivanya stepped into the central hall. Having overheard every single word, her eyes flashed with absolute fury.
Walking straight up to the guest, she replied in a cold, ringing voice, "I am incredibly sorry to say this, but what is the absolute use of possessing such immense wealth when a human being cannot even treat another human being with basic dignity?"
The woman puffed up with offense, her face turning red. "What exactly do you mean by that, Mrs. Vardhan?"
Rivanya stood her ground, her posture radiating absolute, unyielding confidence.
"When the Almighty Himself does not differentiate between the rich and the poor, who gave you the authority to label someone superior or inferior? These women work honestly to earn their livelihood. In fact,
it is because of their hard work that people like you and I get to relax effortlessly throughout the day. You should be profound and grateful for their service, yet here you are, trying to humiliate them in their own workplace?"
The woman gasped, utterly shocked by the young bride's audacity. "Mind your language! Do you even have any idea who you are speaking to? I am Mrs. Rajan, the wife of Mr. Rajan! This disrespect can cost you incredibly heavily, let me warn you."
A fearless smile touched Rivanya's lips, her expression turning razor-sharp.
"It doesn't matter who you are. The law of this land is identical for every single citizen. Let me remind you that under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the provision for defamation carries a strict punishment of up to two years of imprisonment,
along with a heavy financial fine to be paid to the victim. I have recently qualified as a lawyer, Mrs. Rajan, so pushing you into a legal battle and tearing down your high-society reputation in an open courtroom will not be an issue for me at all."
A suffocating silence dropped over the hall.
Mrs. Rajan froze, the color draining from her face.
While she could handle a verbal argument, the sudden threat of a public, criminal legal battle sent a wave of panic through her.
If Rivanya actually dragged her to court, her husband's multi-million dollar business and public reputation would face a massive, irreversible stain and she would be solely to blame.
Seeing the arrogant guest completely silenced and trembling under her gaze, Rivanya concluded firmly, her voice echoing with royal authority, "These women work under my roof, but that does not mean they are beneath us in any capacity.
They earn with absolute honesty and feed their families with dignity. They are not mere staff; they are my people, a part of my household. If anyone is an outsider here, trying to make my family feel small, it is *you*."
Mrs. Rajan's face turned an embarrassed shade of pale.
In high-society circles, reputation was everything, and there was absolutely no way she could remain in the hall after such a devastating public humiliation.
Lowering her head, she quietly slipped away from the estate without uttering another word.
The entire Vardhan family stood in absolute awe, deeply moved by this fierce, legal avatar of Rivanya.
A collective wave of immense pride swept through the room.
Watching from the sidelines, the domestic staff found their eyes welling up with tears of pure joy and gratitude; for the first time in their lives, someone of aristocratic status had stood up for their basic human dignity, treating them as absolute equals.
Standing nearby, a slow, appreciative smirk spread across Rudraksh's handsome face. His dark eyes locked onto her as he thought to himself,
*'This girl... somehow, she always finds a way to do something so entirely extraordinary that she forces me to be impressed. The fierce fire in her eyes, the contrasting softness of her lips I have never witnessed such an intoxicating combination in any woman before.
May Mahadev save anyone who crosses paths with Advocate Rivanya Vardhan from this day onward.' *
Turning back to the lingering guests and staff, Rivanya cleared her throat to dispel the remaining tension, her voice warm and welcoming once more.