Ch8 Not Love, But Honor #2
He leaned closer, the scent of his cologne brushing against me, and I froze. Okay, heart, calm down... he's just... standing there. That's all. But my body ignored me completely. My arms felt heavier, my cheeks hotter, and my mind screamed at me to retreat but every inch of me wanted to stay.
"Tomorrow," he said suddenly, voice softer, almost unreadable, "we'll sort out the rest. Tonight... just... don't scream at mice like that again."
I opened my mouth to reply but caught myself. Don't sound silly... he already thinks I'm a complete child. So I stayed quiet, cheeks aflame, trying to act composed, even as a little giggle threatened to escape.
Ugh... why does he have to be so infuriatingly perfect? I thought, glaring at him with mock annoyance, even as my heart betrayed me completely. He's just... too much. Too tall, too dark, too... Rudraksh.
And deep down, I knew though I would never admit it aloud that something dangerous and thrilling was beginning between us. Something neither of us could control, no matter how hard we tried.
Suddenly, Rudraksh's expression turned serious again.
"Go lie down on the bed," he commanded.
I crossed my arms, stubbornly.
"I'm not sharing the bed with you."
He gave me a sharp look, his voice calm but firm.
"Listen, Mrs. Rivanya Vardhan... don't get any ideas. I won't be sleeping with you. You'll stay here alone, and I'll go to a separate room. By tomorrow evening, my family will have left for Vardhanpur, and then I'll get a separate room prepared for you. And yes...
after the way you screamed just now, everyone outside must have heard everything. So now, I'm going to other room, and you stay here."
I stared at him, torn between relief and irritation. Ugh... he's serious, yet somehow... infuriatingly in control of everything.
After saying that, Rudraksh left without even glancing back at me, and I was left alone in the massive room once again.
I sighed, finally free, and went about removing all the heavy jewelry I had worn for the wedding.
With such a heavy lehenga and all this adornment...
how am I supposed to sleep? What should I even wear?
Then it struck me some time ago, Rudraksh had requested some clothes, and Samita had silenced her objections. Maybe those clothes are here...
I opened the cupboard and, sure enough, found a few neatly folded pieces.
From the pile, I picked a simple white salwar.
While closing the cupboard, my eyes fell on the other side rows of black suits, crisp, immaculate, all in shades of black.
Does this man have an obsession with black?
Everything he owns, even though his skin is fair, is completely black.
Black shoes, black suits, black jackets... every single thing.
I closed the cupboard and stepped into the bathroom.
As expected, it was lavishly designed in black and gold the marble gleamed under soft lights, golden fixtures glinted like tiny stars, and the whole space radiated luxury.
A deep bathtub, elegant vanity mirrors, and a pristine black-and-gold shower panel made it feel like a palace within a palace.
I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over me. The moment it touched my skin, a wave of relief and comfort swept through me. Every trace of exhaustion, every trace of the day's chaos, melted away.
Fresh and rejuvenated, I returned to the room and approached the mirror.
Carefully, I applied sindoor to my parting, feeling a strange mix of pride and inevitability.
No matter what happens now, this sindoor, this mangalsutra...
they have become my identity. From now on, the world will know me as Mrs. Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan.
I didn't head straight to the bed. The cool night breeze called me toward the balcony. Stepping out, I let the gentle wind caress my skin and lifted my gaze to the full moon, its silver glow reflecting off the city below. I sat quietly, thinking about everything that had happened today.
So much had changed in just one day... I had left my family to sever ties with them, only to be bound forever to someone else now. Where I had once imagined freedom, I now found an eternal connection... a bond that would define the rest of my life.
The moonlight bathed me softly, yet my heart was restless, caught between fear, anticipation, and the faint, inexplicable thrill of what this new life might hold.
Honestly, Rudraksh wasn't entirely bad...
I mean, he wasn't exactly good either. But the way he stood by me in front of everyone made him feel different almost protective.
Behind closed doors, whatever happened between us, he never let my pride or dignity be compromised. That much, at least, I had to admit.
I had imagined marrying some cute, handsome boy... someone charming and kind. And yet here I was, married to this grumpy, unapproachable man who wouldn't even speak a full sentence to me properly. And to think, all of this was supposed to be my happy beginning...
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening startled me. I turned and went inside, only to see Rudraksh standing there again. I glared at him, and he said.
"Oh, hello, Miss Jamespond. Don't trouble that tiny brain of yours too much it might explode."
My blood boiled at his words, but I kept quiet. He continued,
"Dadi Maa caught me in the other room and forcibly sent me back here."
I said nothing and returned to the balcony. Moments later, I felt his presence behind me Rudraksh had stepped out onto the balcony as well. He stood at the far edge, arms crossed, silent and imposing.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Go to sleep yourself. I don't sleep much," he replied, serious and unwavering.
"Don't sleep much? So... you don't sleep at night?" I teased, trying to break through the tension.
"That's none of your business," he said sharply.
I clenched my fists, frustrated, but said nothing further. Turning back inside, I left him alone and slipped into bed, trying to sleep but my mind replayed everything from the previous night, making rest impossible.
---
Time Skip
My eyes fluttered open at five in the morning. I had no idea when I'd fallen asleep, but when I sat up, Rudraksh was gone. He's probably in another room, I thought.
I got up and went to freshen up. About half an hour later, fully ready, I stood in front of the mirror like a brand-new bride.
The red saree I wore had been given to me last night by Rudraksh's grandmother, along with some jewelry and other bridal adornments, with strict instructions that I wear it today.
I began carefully putting everything on one piece at a time.
First, the sindoor in my parting. Then the red bangles on my wrists, a small red bindi on my forehead, and a delicate waistband around my slim waist.
I adorned my feet with silver anklets, draped a matching necklace, and wore the mangalsutra.
Earrings dangled from my ears, completing the look.
Each ornament, each piece of clothing, transformed me entirely.
When I finally looked at myself in the mirror, I froze. My entire identity had changed in just one night. My face, my attire, even the air around me it all screamed bride, wife, member of this household. Whether I accepted it or not, this was my new reality... my new family.
Fully dressed and ready, I descended the stairs. It was nearly six in
the morning. Here goes the first day of my new life...
Even so early in the morning, the house was bustling with activity. The servants moved quickly, attending to their tasks, and the atmosphere was filled with energy. Just then, Rudraksh's grandmother emerged from the puja room and walked towards me, smiling warmly.
I draped the pallu of my saree over my head and touched her feet, taking her blessings. She placed her hands gently on my head and said,
"May you always remain a happily married woman."
Then she added,
"Today is your first day as Rudraksh's wife. You both will do the aarti together. And yes, I know none of the post-wedding rituals were properly completed, but when you return to Vardhanpur with Rudraksh, I'll make sure all the ceremonies are done. For now, today,
only a small ritual will take place. Rivanya beta, do you know how to cook?"
I bowed my head respectfully.
"Yes, Dadi Maa. I know how to cook."
She smiled.
"Good. First, you and Rudraksh perform the puja, then we'll complete your small ritual, alright?"
I nodded, and Dadi Maa placed her hand on my head affectionately.
"I know, beta, how this marriage came to be... but I'll tell you this your union with Rudraksh was written in destiny. Perhaps Mahadev himself wished for you to become Rudraksh's wife and the queen of Vardhanpur."
I said nothing, keeping my head bowed, letting her words settle in.
She led me to the home puja room and called Rudraksh as well.
When he arrived, his eyes met mine for a brief second, but I didn't dare meet his gaze fully.
I kept my eyes lowered, noticing that the mandir only had Lord Shiva's idol my Gauri Maiya was absent.
Following Dadi Maa's instructions, Rudraksh and I performed the aarti together. As we held the aarti plate, our hands brushed against each other. His hand rested lightly on mine, yet he did not withdraw it, and we completed the aarti with quiet solemnity.
After the aarti, Dadi Maa said,
"Rudraksh, take sindoor from the puja plate and apply it to Rivanya's parting."
He picked up a pinch of sindoor and gently applied it to my parting. I closed my eyes, and when a small speck fell onto the tip of my nose, Rudraksh wiped it away with a single finger, his expression as unreadable and stern as ever.
Then, together, we took the blessings of all the elders in the house. When it was Rudraksh's father's turn, he didn't take his blessings, just like yesterday but I touched his feet respectfully, and he blessed me.
Dadi Maa then said,
"Rivanya, we have a tradition here. On the second day after the wedding, following the morning aarti, the bride can ask something from her husband. So, you too... ask Rudraksh for anything you wish."
I lowered my eyes.