13 | Avantika Avyukt Vardan
"They didn't confess anything... but somehow, the silence said everything." ??
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We spent the entire drive listening to old 90s songs.
I was honestly surprised when I realized that almost every song I used to put on my Instagram notes was already in Avyukt's playlist.
At least we had something in common.
As soon as we reached the temple, I noticed Ruhi and Siya already standing there.
I quickly stepped out of the car.
"You two are here too?" I asked.
Avyukt came to stand beside me.
Ruhi grinned.
"Of course. We came to disturb you both."
Behind me, Avyukt secretly made a threatening gesture at her.
Ruhi immediately pointed at him dramatically.
"Bhabhi! Bhaiya is threatening me!"
I raised an eyebrow and looked at Avyukt.
"Is that true?"
He instantly put on an innocent expression.
"Would I ever do something like that? Siya, did you see me do anything?"
Siya smiled.
"Absolutely not. I didn't see anything."
Ruhi gasped dramatically and hugged me.
"See, Bhabhi? They're ganging up on me!"
Laughing, I hugged her back.
"It's okay. I'm here. Nobody can do anything to you."
Avyukt and Siya crossed their arms at the same time.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really."
Avyukt raised both hands in surrender.
"Then I have no chance."
Siya burst out laughing.
"Great. Now you've dragged me into this too."
Ruhi hid behind me and continued teasing them.
Both Avyukt and Siya complained together.
"Look at Ruhi! This is unfair."
Finally, I shook my head.
"Okay, enough. Let's do the prayers first."
Ruhi was about to explain the rituals when Avyukt suddenly said,
"Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
He walked toward one of the flower stalls outside the temple.
A few moments later, he came back holding a fresh jasmine gajra.
I frowned in confusion.
Before I could ask anything, he stopped in front of me.
"For you."
My heart skipped a beat.
"A gajra?"
He simply nodded.
Ruhi and Siya exchanged excited looks and immediately stepped back as if they were giving him permission.
I was suddenly very aware of everyone watching.
"Avyukt..."
"It's okay," he said softly.
Then he moved behind me.
My breath caught.
Carefully, he gathered my hair over one shoulder so it wouldn't get tangled.
His fingers barely brushed the back of my neck, but it was enough to make my heartbeat go completely out of control.
The entire temple seemed unusually quiet.
Or maybe I was just hearing my own heart.
A few seconds later, he gently pinned the gajra into my hair.
"There."
I turned around slowly.
Ruhi had both hands over her mouth.
Siya looked ready to scream.
Avyukt glanced at me once and then looked away.
"It looks nice."
That was all he said.
But for some reason, it felt like the biggest compliment in the world.
Ruhi immediately pointed at him.
"See? This is exactly why we're single."
"Ruhi," Avyukt warned.
She hid behind me dramatically.
"Bhabhi, save me."
I couldn't stop the smile that appeared on my face.
And unfortunately, Avyukt noticed it too.
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Both Avyukt and Avantika froze.
Then they slowly looked at the temple.
Avantika secretly worried that Avyukt might say she was too heavy.
So she quickly said,
"Seven is fine."
At the exact same moment, Avyukt said,
"Twenty-one is fine."
Both of them immediately turned and looked at each other awkwardly.
Siya laughed.
"I think eleven is the perfect number."
Ruhi nodded.
"Agreed."
Both of them finally accepted.
"Good. Start with that first," Ruhi said.
Avantika was still hesitating when Avyukt suddenly stepped closer.
Without thinking, he carefully gathered the loose end of her saree and tucked it securely at her waist so it wouldn't get in the way.
The moment he realized what he had done, he immediately stepped back.
Avantika's entire face turned red.
Siya and Ruhi instantly covered their eyes.
"We didn't see anything!"
Before Avantika could recover from the embarrassment, Avyukt bent down and lifted her into his arms.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Instinctively, she held onto his neck.
Ruhi immediately started recording.
At the same time, Siya opened Avantika's phone camera too.
Avyukt carried her as if she weighed nothing at all and began walking around the temple.
After completing all eleven rounds, he carefully set her back down.
Ruhi handed them an offering plate.
"Take this. The priest will guide you from here."
Avyukt took the plate, and together they rang the temple bell before entering.
The priest smiled.
"Offer this at the Goddess's feet and say your full names."
Avantika paused.
For a moment, she didn't know what surname to use.
Rathore?
Or Vardhan?
Then unexpectedly-both she and Avyukt spoke at the exact same time.
"Avantika Avyukt Vardan."
Their voices echoed through the temple.
For a split second, both of them froze.
Neither of them moved.
Because it didn't feel like just a name.
And in that moment...
"Avantika Avyukt Vardhan" didn't sound like a formality anymore.
It sounded like destiny quietly beginning to change shape.
The priest gestured for them to place the offering before the Goddess.
Beside them, Siya whispered to Ruhi,
"Wasn't Jiju supposed to say his own name?"
Without looking away from her recording, Ruhi replied,
"He did."
Her voice was low, but loud enough for Avantika to hear.
Something stirred inside her.
Whether it was respect, comfort, or something more... she couldn't tell.
The priest tied sacred threads around their wrists.
Then he handed them a laddu.
"Just like this sweet, share your responsibilities equally."
Avantika broke the laddu into two pieces and placed one half into Avyukt's hand.
Together, they touched the priest's feet.
The priest blessed them.
"May the Goddess bless you both with good news very soon."
Both Avyukt and Avantika immediately looked at each other.
Then at the laddu in their hands.
Then away again.
When they stepped outside the temple, Siya and Ruhi were already waiting.
With matching teasing smiles, they said,
"Good news, huh?"
Ruhi grinned.
"I want a baby girl."
Siya shook her head.
"No. I want a baby boy."
Ruhi protested.
"No way. Bhaiya always wanted a daughter."
Siya replied,
"And Didi always wanted a son."
That conversation alone was enough to turn both Avyukt and Avantika bright red.
Avantika immediately said,
"Then you two have them yourselves."
And hurried toward the car.
Ruhi and Siya burst into laughter.
Avyukt gave them a thumbs-up and whispered,
"Don't worry. I'll give you both."
Avantika stopped near the car door and turned around.
"I heard that."
The smile instantly disappeared from Avyukt's face.
He quickly changed the topic.
"Send me all the photos and videos. The morning ones too."
Then he pointed toward the driver.
"You two go home with him. Bye."
Before either girl could say anything else, he escaped into the car.
Inside, Avantika pretended to scroll through her phone to hide her blush.
Beside her, Avyukt smiled to himself, started the car, and drove them home.
Avantika started scrolling through the photos Ruhi had sent, pretending to be completely busy.
But the truth was-she was hiding her blush.
Every time she looked at the pictures, her eyes automatically found Avyukt first.
The way he had carried her.
The way he had looked at her.
The way he had said her name.
And that one lipstick mark on his white shirt.
Without realizing it, a small smile appeared on her lips.
Beside her, Avyukt noticed it through the corner of his eye.
He didn't say anything.
Some moments felt too precious to disturb with words.
The soft music played in the background as the car moved along the empty road.
Somewhere along the way, the silence between them had changed.
It felt comfortable.
Peaceful.
Almost... warm.
Avantika kept scrolling until one particular photo appeared on her screen.
It was the moment when Avyukt had been holding her during the parikrama.
She quickly locked her phone, her heartbeat suddenly becoming a little too fast.
Unfortunately-Avyukt noticed.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Which photo was that?"
Avantika immediately looked out the window.
"No photo."
"Hm."
The amusement in his voice made her even more embarrassed.
Neither of them spoke again.
But as the car continued towards home, both of them secretly carried the same thought in their hearts.
Maybe...
this marriage didn't feel as unfamiliar as it once did.