Ch37Drenched in His Hue๏ผHoli Special๏ผ #5
With a sudden, graceful movement, she reached up and firmly pressed her palms against his neck, sliding them up to trace his jawline.
She left perfect, vibrant streaks of red against his skin, matching the very marks he had left on her.
Rudraksh caught his breath, his eyes widening slightly in surprise before turning incredibly dark with amusement. He didn't pull away. He simply stood there, letting her mark him, a low, rumbling chuckle vibrating against her palms.
"You just can't let me have the last word, can you, Mrs. Vardhan?" he murmured, stepping even closer until there wasn't a single inch of space left between them.
"Never, Ranasa," Rivanya whispered back, a beautiful, radiant smile finally breaking across her face as she completely surrendered to the warmth of his embrace.
After marking Rudraksh with her own touch of color, Rivanya found herself completely out of courage. She couldn't stand there under his piercing gaze for another second. With a breathless smile, she gave his chest a soft, playful push and swiftly darted out of the room.
This time, Rudraksh didn't give chase. He remained exactly where he was, rooted to the spot, a lingering smile playing on his lips as he watched her vanishing figure.
Only after the sound of her footsteps completely faded into the festive noise outside did the smile slowly recede, replaced by a profound, heavy silence.
Finally, alone with his thoughts, he asked himself the question he had been actively avoiding.
What was that? his mind whispered, the realization hitting him like a sudden wave. What is happening to me? Why does Rivanya's presence affect me this intensely?
He ran a hand over his jawline, his fingers brushing against the vivid red tracks she had left behind.
For years, he had built an unyielding discipline around himself.
He had mastered the art of absolute self-control, training his mind to remain completely detached.
No matter how beautiful a woman was, he had never blinked, never let his gaze wander, and never allowed his composure to slip.
Yet today, with Rivanya, every ounce of that carefully practiced restraint had crumbled effortlessly.
He had felt completely comfortable, entirely consumed, and entirely disarmed.
He leaned back against the wall, staring blankly at the crimson powder dusting his hands. How are the walls I built over a lifetime suddenly looking so fragile? Why?
The answer to this 'why' was something neither of them was ready to articulate just yet. But the truth was simple: no matter how long Rudraksh tried to shield his heart, love had a way of dismantling the strongest fortresses.
It was a divine law as ancient as time much like how the unyielding, detached asceticism of Lord Shiva eventually bowed before the pure devotion of Mata Parvati. Bowing down is not a sign of defeat; often, surrendering your pride is the very place where true love begins.
On the other side of the mansion, Rivanya burst into her bedroom, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. She slammed the heavy wooden door shut behind her, leaning against it as she exhaled a long, trembling breath.
Even in the quiet safety of her room, she couldn't escape him.
Every single inch of her body still felt alive with the electric memory of his touch.
The phantom warmth of his palms seemed to trace her skin, leaving a lingering shiver in its wake.
Trying to steady her erratic breathing, she slowly walked over to the full-length vanity mirror.
When she finally lifted her eyes to look at her reflection, her breath caught in her throat.
When Rivanya finally lifted her eyes to look at her reflection, her breath caught in her throat.
The woman staring back at her looked entirely transformed, marked beautifully by the ancient rituals of devotion.
What caught her attention the most holding her gaze completely captive was the vibrant, blood-red line of gulal settled perfectly into the parting of her hair.
It was a striking, undeniable crown. Her mind instantly replayed the deep, velvet resonance of Rudraksh's voice:
"Grandmother told me that when the time came for me to color you, I must fill your parting first..."
A soft, breathless gasp escaped her lips as her fingers rose trembling to touch the edge of her hairline.
It wasn't just a festive color anymore. To her, it felt like an unvoiced promise, a sacred seal of belonging that he had placed upon her with the utmost reverence.
Her gaze drifted down her reflection, mapping the rest of his touch.
Her cheeks were flushed a natural, burning pink, completely blended with the crimson tracks his jawline had rubbed against hers.
The fine red dust adorned the contours of her neck and traced a smooth, unbroken path down her arms to her shoulders, precisely tracking the path his warm palms had traveled.
Looking at herself, she realized she was entirely painted in him.
The sheer intimacy of it made her heart swell with an emotion so profound it bordered on overwhelming.
She leaned closer to the mirror, staring at her own eyes, which were wide, bright, and filled with a raw, undeniable glow.
She smiled softly to herself, a sweet, radiant expression breaking across her face.
For the first time, she didn't just feel like Rivanya; she felt deeply, beautifully, and entirely like Rudraksh's Ranisa.
The lingering warmth of his touch still simmered beneath her skin, leaving her with a beautiful certainty that no matter how much they both tried to guard their hearts, their souls had already begun to merge.
After a few moments of collecting her thoughts, Rivanya composed herself and headed back downstairs to join the rest of the family for the Holi celebrations.
Just as she stepped into the lively courtyard, Rudraksh arrived from the opposite side.
Their eyes met instantly across the crowded space.
In that split second, one pair of eyes dropped shyly, while the other remained entirely captivated, unable to look away.
Looking at them, it was clear to anyone watching that a deeply romantic encounter had just taken place, and Dev and Vyom were certainly not going to let this golden opportunity slide.
Dev walked up, a mischievous grin on his face, and said, "We were standing here waiting to apply color to you, but it seems someone else has already drenched you entirely in his own colors."
Vyom chimed in right on cue, nudging Dev, "You know, Dev, my old, stern friend seems to have completely vanished lately. I have no idea where he went, but a lovesick husband seems to have taken his place."
Even Dadima wasn't about to stay behind in teasing the couple. She walked over to Rivanya, gently placing a finger under her chin to lift her face. Looking at the vibrant red dust coating her skin, she smiled warmly and said,
"Your husband hasn't left a single spot for the rest of us to apply color, Rivanya."
Overwhelmed by the playful teasing, Rivanya blushed deeply and immediately hid her face by hugging Dadima tightly. Rudraksh could only watch her with a lingering smile, silently making a mental note to deal with Dev and Vyom's antics later.
Then, Viswraaj stepped forward, approaching Rivanya with immense respect. "Please grant your brother-in-law the permission to apply color to you, Bhabhisa," he requested gently.
When Rivanya nodded in approval, Viswraaj did something unexpected. He bowed all the way down and placed the color directly onto her feet. Looking up, he said with utmost sincerity,
"Bhabhisa, you are like a mother figure to me. First, please grand me your blessings."
Viswraaj's profound respect touched Rivanya deeply, bringing emotional tears to her eyes.
She gently placed her hand on his head, blessing him from the bottom of her heart.
Even though Viswraaj and Devaditya were older than Rivanya in terms of age, Rivanya held the senior position in the family hierarchy as the eldest daughter-in-law.
Because of this, their bond as brother-in-law and sister-in-law carried the pure, sacred weight of a mother and son.
Following his brother's lead, Dev also stepped forward.
He knelt down to apply color to her feet first, seeking her blessings with reverence.
Once the traditional respects were paid, both brothers gently applied a touch of festive color to Rivanya's cheeks, and she happily reciprocated, cementing the warmth and love of their shared family bond.