-18-
As the day transitioned into night, the weather in Delhi was typical for October—mild and pleasant with a gentle breeze rustling the trees.
The sky was clear, allowing the stars to twinkle brightly above, adding a magical touch to the atmosphere.
The temperature was comfortably cool, perfect for an outdoor wedding celebration.
The venue was adorned with fairy lights and lanterns, casting a warm glow over the gathering.
Guests, dressed in vibrant and elegant attire, appreciated the pleasant weather, as it allowed them to enjoy the festivities without the discomfort of extreme heat or cold.
The floral decorations, featuring marigolds, roses, and jasmine, filled the air with a sweet, fragrant aroma that mingled with the night breeze.
The sound of laughter and music created a lively ambiance, while the aroma of delicious food from the buffet wafted through the air, making everyone's mouths water. Children ran around playing, and adults engaged in animated conversations, all enjoying the beautiful night.
When Jayasvi reached the venue with her family, the bhaat ceremony was going on.
It is a traditional pre-wedding ritual in their culture where the maternal uncle (Mama) of the bride or groom(bride in this situation) presents gifts, clothes, and blessings, symbolizing his support and affection for the reunion.
Akshara was waiting for her at the entrance dressed in a light green lehenga. Jayasvi couldn't help but compliment Akshara to how beautiful she looked. She took her mother's permission before moving inside since they had nothing to do here.
"You look beautiful. Is this real diamond?", Akshara gushed looking at her with wide eyes.
Jayasvi smiled and nodded at Akshara's excitement. "No, stupid girl. I am not dumb to wear diamond. I am scared to even look at them. You know it's not safe," Jayasvi laughed at the way Akshara was looking at her.
"I thought it was the jewelry which Jiju's family gifted you during the engagement. Every person in our family was talking about how much jewelry and how many expensive dresses they gifted you. Damn, you are a lucky girl," Akshara spoke with excitement.
"Didi," they heard a squeal, and the next moment Jayasvi felt small arms around her belly from the back. She knew who it was.
"Hi Shivu," Jayasvi said, turning to look at the little girl dressed in a long blue gown, smiling brightly at her.
Later, Akshara and Jayasvi started gossiping about their relatives. Jayasvi shared how she met the groom-to-be the day before yesterday.
"Don't ask, Jayu. Can you believe she was in love with some guy?
He wasn't even from our status, and at the same time, he was from our own village.
Everybody in the village saw their pictures together on her social media.
I guess she forgot to block a few people.
Now, Tauji asked everybody to stay silent and not tell anyone about this," Akshara said, checking around to make sure nobody was listening.
"But a boy from the same village is considered a brother, right?" Jayasvi asked with wide eyes.
"That's the point. And again, everybody knows love marriages are not allowed in our family. Still, can you believe it?" Akshara spoke with wide eyes. Just then, Shivangi came with two cute bottles of strawberry milkshake.
"Jayu didi, have it. It's so good," Shivangi said, putting an end to the conversation.
Soon Jayasvi felt eyes on her. She looked up to find a man in his late twenties looking in her direction.
She was thankful that the deep back of her blouse was covered by her long hair, which now reached her mid-thigh after her new haircut. She looked away, ignoring the man.
"Why don't we dance?" Jayasvi suggested, enjoying the music on the DJ.
"Can we?" Akshara asked, looking at the DJ where their cousin sisters were dancing.
They were about to move towards the DJ when Jayasvi's eyes fell on Rishabh, her maternal cousin brother, coming in her direction with Nidhi and Ankita behind him.
She couldn't help but grit her teeth looking at Ankita.
She thought Ankita wouldn't come after everything, but guess what? She loves influential gatherings.
"Hey," Rishabh spoke, smiling at Jayasvi, who returned it with a similar one, forcing the same towards Ankita. She knew nobody would realize it since she was a good actor.
"Where were you going?" Ankita asked with excitement, looking around in fascination. The wedding was so luxurious. She wanted a wedding like this for herself as well, Ankita thought.
"We were going to dance," Akshara said. Jayasvi nodded in agreement.
"Yes. We want to dance as well," Ankita said, looking at Nidhi, who seemed slightly uncomfortable with the thought since they had just arrived.
"Okay," Nidhi said, shrugging.
"I love this song," Jayasvi gasped, hearing the sudden change in the song and moving towards the dance floor in excitement with the other girls following her.
Soon, they were joined by others, forming a circle.
Shivangi was trying her best to copy Jayasvi's steps.
Their excitement increased as the song was accompanied by dhols, and they started dancing with more energy. They laughed as they danced.
They were sweating, but right now, nobody cared. Jayasvi was laughing at something Akshara whispered in her ear when her eyes met with a pair of dark brown eyes. Her steps halted at the intensity, which made her nervous. She looked around with her cheeks and neck turning crimson.
"What happened?" Nidhi asked her. Jayasvi shook her head, not knowing what to say before excusing herself. She took slow steps towards him. Did her family invite him?
"Hey," she spoke softly. She hadn't talked to him since their conversation before her exam.
"You look ravishing," Raghav said, holding a glass of juice, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. Jayasvi felt her cheeks heating up gasping at his words. She always made her toes curl.
"Aap kahi bhi kuch bhi bol dete hai na", she narrowed her eyes at him. (You just say anything anywhere)
"Can't help when you look so hot", he spoke smiling charmingly at her which made her look down shyly.
"Trust me, darling," Raghav murmured, his voice low and thick with desire, "if we were married right now, you wouldn't be walking comfortably.
Not when you look like a meal laid out just for me.
" His gaze traveled over her with a hunger that made her pulse quicken.
"You'd be struggling in those heels of yours, and I wouldn't think twice about sweeping you up into my arms." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, his eyes darkening with an unmistakable intensity.
"Or maybe," he continued, his tone dropping to a velvety whisper, "I'd take my time massaging some of those delicate parts of your delicious body, just to make you feel better. "
He took a slow sip from his glass, his eyes never leaving hers, the silence between them thick with unspoken promise.
Each word he uttered was like a caress, wrapping around her, making her skin tingle with anticipation.
Jayasvi felt goosebumps rise along her arms, her body reacting instinctively to the raw sensuality in his voice.
She understood exactly what he meant, the implication of his words sending a shiver down her spine.
It was as if he was painting a vivid picture in her mind, one that made her heart race and her breath hitch in her throat.
There was a heat in his gaze that left her feeling exposed, as though he could see right through her, down to the very core of her desires.
The area felt smaller, the air thicker, as if the space between them was charged with electricity.
She could barely breathe under the intensity of his stare, her mind racing with thoughts she didn't dare voice.
And yet, there was a thrill in the way he spoke to her, a dangerous allure that made her want to close the distance between them and surrender to the fire he was stoking within her.
"I never knew you were coming here", she spoke trying to change the topic.
"Your Tauji called me. I thought you must know about it", he spoke sipping on his drink casually. She knew somewhere her extended family wanted to maintain great relationship with somebody as influential as Raghav.
"You came alone?", she questioned him not seeing anyone around her.
"No. Dhara did accompany me", he spoke looking around finally pointing in the other direction where she was talking with Ankita and Nidhi animatedly. She was dressed in a long white gown. Jayasvi could guess from the look of the dress only that it was very expensive since it looked designer.
When Dhara felt eyes on her, her eyes met with Jayasvi's smiling brightly at her as she moved towards them.
"Bhabhi, you look so hot", Dhara gasped hugging Jayasvi affectionately. Jayasvi's eyes widened at the blunt words and the sudden closeness.
"You look beautiful, Dhara di", Jayasvi spoke smiling softly after pulling back. Dhara surely had a tight grip. Jayasvi thought in her mind.
"Come on, bhabhi. Stop calling me di. It feels weird. Just Dhara. Bhaiya, you tell her na", Dhara spoke pouting her lips. Raghav stayed silent looking at the duo sipping on his drink but the way he was looking at Jayasvi's side, it made her so shy.
"Come on, bhabhi. Bhaiya won't listen to me. Aap to sunle na", Dhara spoke now pouting in her direction. (You please listen to me)
"Ok", Jayasvi spoke after letting a tired breath.
"Yessss. Now bhaiya let's get you and bhabhi married. I can't wait to take her home", Dhara spoke. Jayasvi's eyes widened at her words.
"We aren't letting our sister go like that. Bring the baraat and we will think", Akshara spoke as she approached them side hugging Jayasvi.
"That's easy. But then we'll take our bhabhi with us. You won't be able to stop us", Dhara spoke holding her brother's elbow in excitement.
"Oh please, my sister is a princess. She deserves only royal things. If you can meet the expectations, we can get her married to your brother", Akshara spoke holding Jayasvi's shoulder.
"Why are you guys fighting", Raghav spoke keeping his glass aside.
"Jiju, it isn't easy to please my sister. We'll make sure you meet all the expectations. Right, Jayu?", Akshara spoke when she was accompanied by Nidhi and Ankita.
"Of course, she is right. Raghav ji, you are at your in-laws place now, our eyes would stay on you only. Don't trouble our sister", Nidhi spoke standing on the other side of Jayasvi.
"It's not me who would trouble her. Ask her, she is always the one who troubles me", Raghav spoke smiling charmingly at his sister-in-laws.
"Such a liar you are Jiju. Our dear sister is so innocent. Don't blame her", this time Ankita interjected putting her hands on her waist.
"Don't form majority against my brother. Come bhaiya, we'll come when bhabhi is lonely. Her sisters are so evil", Dhara spoke pulling her brother like a child.
"We aren't leaving our sister. Keep dreaming", Ankita spoke pulling Jayasvi with herself.
It was when her Taiji approached Jayasvi since she was to perform the neem jhadai and the baraat was on the spot at the moment.
Neem jhadai was a ritual in which The neem leaves are dipped in the Ganga water, and the water is sprinkled on the groom by the unmarried sister of the bride.
There were so many people on the entrance as Jayasvi moved at the front.
She waited patiently for the groom. As they approached the entry, Jayasvi was speaking with Kusha to discuss how much money they'll ask from the groom in exchange of this ceremony.
Vikram was dressed in his sherwani as he approached the entry.
Soon the banter started for the money with Vikram's friend flirting with the young girls including Jayasvi.
Soon her Tauji came there asking them to complete the ceremony strictly looking at the groom side.
Looking at him, groom's friends stop flirting and teasing the girls.
Jayasvi was so happy to get 11,000 rupees.
Akshara came close to her telling her, she wants more money at her marriage.
But then Nidhi spoke that she will do the Neem Jhadai.
Jayasvi knew it would be her bua's daughter who'll do it at her marriage, but her Bua with her two kids is staying in Canada after her husband cheated on her.
It wasn't easy for them to come back so soon.
Jayasvi saw her mother approaching her asking her where Rishabh was.
"Don't worry I'll find him", Jayasvi spoke looking around to find him anywhere.
She was looking around when her eyes fell on her hands.
Didn't Raghav notice how she was wearing both the rings he gifted her today?
She wondered remembering his outburst that day.
She shook her head before moving to find Rishabh, her feet slightly hurting with the heels.
She lifted her lehenga skirt a little for smoother mobility.
"Hey", she heard somebody calling her. She turned to find it to be Aahan.
"Hi", she spoke passing a soft smile to him.
"Who are you planning to kill today with your looks", he spoke after approaching him slightly taller to her after wearing the heels.
She felt so uncomfortable with his eyes on her and couldn't help but think how she felt so good when Raghav said the same thing.
She remembered how she was just reaching till Raghav's ear even with the heels.
"You are just great with words", Jayasvi spoke shaking her head.
"Hey, I'll see you in a bit. My mother is searching for my brother, right now. I need to find him first", Jayasvi spoke remembering her mother's words from before.
"Sure, I'll be waiting", Aahan spoke as Jayasvi moved towards the exit to check if he is out.
She wasn't thinking to move out since it was dark and it is definitely a wrong idea for a girl in Delhi to move in dark.
She remembered how guards were surrounding the siblings when she saw them at the wedding.
She was surprised to see the same guards outside in a little dark.
It must be Raghav. She thought. Who else it could be?
She thought to ask him what he was doing here at the moment.
Her steps getting silent on the rough stone flooring.
Somewhere at the back of her mind, something was telling her to turn and leave immediately.
But the other part was telling her to go on.
Her curiosity getting the best out of her.
With her every step, she didn't realise she was moving farther away from her little perfect life and getting lost in a world where she would shed uncountable tears.