Ch16 Faith and Fire #3
You don’t fold your hands before me.”
His voice held nothing but respect.
Rudraksh looked at her, his dark eyes steady.
“Rivanya… shall we go?” he asked.
Before she could answer, Nani Maa’s gentle voice cut through the air.
“Rudraksh beta, the evening rituals are about to begin. Go see the Ganga aarti together, and leave tomorrow morning.”
Rudraksh opened his mouth to protest.
“But”
Before he could finish, Rivanya’s soft voice stopped him.
“Please… let’s go. Besides, Mamaji has already gone upstairs without a word.”
Rudraksh paused for a moment, then gave a small nod.
“Alright,” he murmured.
Just then, Dhara, Rivanya’s younger cousin, appeared, her excitement barely contained.
“Welcome to the family, Jija ji,” she said with a bright smile, extending her hand. “I’m your one and only Sali, Dhara.”
Rudraksh’s lips curved into a rare, amused smile.
“So this is Dhara. Pleased to meet you. Your sister spoke of you often she missed you the most.”
Dhara laughed and hugged Rivanya tightly.
The family followed suit, and together, Rivanya and Rudraksh touched the feet of their elders, receiving blessings. Rivanya’s Mami embraced her and went upstairs to check on Sandeep.
Later, in Rivanya’s room…
Rudraksh sat on the edge of the bed, observing the room with quiet intensity. Each corner whispered memories of her childhood, every book, every trinket, telling a story of the girl he had barely begun to understand but already cared for.
Rivanya entered softly.
“In an hour, we leave for the ghats. You should freshen up if you want.”
Though she spoke casually, her eyes betrayed her, and Rudraksh noticed.
“You’re still angry with me, aren’t you?” he asked quietly.
Rivanya turned her face away, hiding a small smile.
“Why would I be angry…?”
Rudraksh’s voice softened, almost guilty.
“For… for not stopping you from coming here…”
Her lips curved into a faint smirk, but her eyes still held fire.
“Yes. And I won’t let this go easily. Once we return, I’ll make sure you know how I feel about it.”
He tilted his head, intrigued.
“Hmm. Noted. But… tell me something why do you have so many law books in your room?”
“Because I’m a law student,” she replied simply.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting. Then continue. Our company has law firms too you can join wherever you want. I’ll handle it.”
She shook her head, her voice resolute.
“Thank you, but I want to achieve this on my own. This was my mother’s dream… to see me become a lawyer. If I do it, it must be my effort, my merit.”
Rudraksh said nothing. He simply watched her, quiet, captivated.
She cleared her throat. “Suniye…”
Rudraksh’s brows lifted in surprise.
“What is it? You always say ‘Suniye’… why not just call me by name?”
“I can’t, not in front of everyone. You’re my husband… my name for you feels… improper,” she said softly.
He leaned back, smirking faintly.
“There’s no harm. But if it makes you uncomfortable now, call me privately. Just you and me. No one else will hear.”
She hesitated.
“But even then… how do I say it?”
Rudraksh’s gaze darkened with a hint of amusement.
“You already said it once in front of everyone… Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan. That’s enough. Or if you want… at home, when we’re alone, you can call me Rudra.”
Her gaze dropped again, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
“I… how do I…?”
He laughed, exasperated but fond.
“You’re modern, yet so hesitant. Just say it Rudra. That’s all.”
She inhaled slowly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. Then, almost shyly, whispered:
“Alright… Rudra. But… only when we’re alone. Not in front of everyone, especially your family, okay?”
Rudraksh’s lips curved into a slow, victorious smile.
“Perfect.”
For a moment, the room was silent, filled only with the electricity of unspoken words, growing trust, and a closeness that neither could deny.
Evening had descended with a gentle glow, and the ghat was alive with devotion.
Everyone had gathered for the evening aarti.
At Nanu’s suggestion, Rudraksh had worn a traditional dhoti, following the customs of the family.
Rivanya, on the other hand, looked radiant in a newly adorned yellow-and-red saree, the very picture of a young bride.
All eyes were on her. People whispered among themselves, marveling at how the little Rivanya they once knew had grown into such a graceful, poised woman.
Even Sandeep, who had accompanied the family, stayed silent, and it was this quiet that made Rivanya feel unsettled, though she hid it behind her calm exterior.
Near the ghat stood an ancient, sprawling tree, beneath which devotees performed a small local puja for Mata Rani. Rivanya approached the murti with folded hands, her heart steady and full of faith.
“Maa,” she whispered softly, “today, by sending Rudra to me, you have honored my faith. Always bless me and my family. Protect my marriage and my husband, and my suhaag safe.”
With that, she carefully took some sindoor from a nearby plate and applied it to her mangalsutra. She touched her mangalsutra with both her eyes, closing them in a silent prayer, before gently placing the sindoor on her forehead.
Rudraksh watched from a distance. He tried to look away, tried to maintain his royal composure but a small, involuntary smile appeared on his face.
Suddenly, in the middle of the crowd, one of Rudraksh’s guards hurried to him, whispering urgently in his ear. Rudraksh’s face hardened immediately.
“Keep your eyes on her,” he ordered, his voice low and deadly. “Not a scratch… nothing must happen to her.”
What Rudraksh did not yet know was that danger had already reached Rivanya.
As she turned slowly to walk back, a sharp arrow whistled through the air, aimed straight at her. It tore through the end of her saree’s pallu. The crowd erupted into chaos, screaming and scattering. Rivanya froze, her heart pounding, unable to believe what had just happened.
Rudraksh’s eyes flared. Without hesitation, he ran through the throng, his long strides devouring the distance between him and her.
But the assailant was patient, calculating, waiting for the perfect moment. Another arrow was nocked, aimed directly at her in a single, deadly strike…