𝐑𝐔𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐀

Ch18 Wrapped in Memories #2

watching them see me as a bride...

it broke something inside me in the most tender way.

I wiped my cheeks and sniffed dramatically.

"Okay, enough crying.

If I keep crying like this, my face will look like a momo

and Rudra will run away seeing me."

All three of them burst out laughing through tears.

Mami guided me to the mirror and made me sit.

She and Nani began to do my shringar each stroke gentle, careful, filled with love.

It felt like they were not just doing my shringar

but every memory of my childhood,

every lesson, every dream,

onto the woman I had become.

In that moment,

I wasn't just a newly married bride...

I was their little Rivu...

and also the woman returning to her husband

to a new life, a new family, but carrying the blessings of the old.

Since childhood, I had only heard people talk about marriage and bidaai, but today, when it is all happening for real...

a strange fear sits quietly in my chest.

A fear I should have felt on my actual wedding day, but on that day I didn't even get the chance to think like a bride.

That day, there was only fear and Papa's force nothing else.

But today... today, when I am truly preparing to leave my own people, my own home...

that fear is shaking me from the inside.

Someone once said the truth

a girl's life is not made of a few sorrows, it is made of countless silent heartbreaks.

The house where she grows up like a princess, where everything belongs to her, where every corner carries her laughter... one day she must fly away from that home like a little bird, to build another nest. And what she leaves behind... is only a trail of sweet memories.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realise when my bridal shringar was completed. My trance broke only when Mami gently placed a red bridal dupatta over my head. I looked at myself in the mirror...and something inside me melted.

Once upon a time, in front of this same mirror, little Rivu used to sit while Mami braided her hair for school.

Today, the mirror is the same... Mami is the same...

Only one thing has changed

their little Rivu has now become someone's Rivanya.

Dhara, wiping her tears, said softly,

"Come... let me apply alta on your feet one last time, just like I always have."

The moment she said that, my tears overflowed and I broke down. Crying, she applied alta to my feet, and as soon as she stood up, I stood too and hugged her tightly. Mami and Nani joined the embrace, and for a moment, all four of us cried like we were letting go of a piece of our hearts.

After a while, Mami made me sit on the bed and said gently,

"Rivu, now listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."

I wiped my tears and nodded.

She continued,

"From today, you are someone's daughter-in-law, someone's wife, someone's bhabhi. A whole family's dignity rests on your shoulders now. Never disrespect your elders... but when it comes to your self-respect, never stay silent either. Everything is on one side, and your self-respect is on the other.

Everything else I have taught you since childhood and I trust my upbringing, and I trust you.

If Katha were here today, she would tell you the exact same things I am saying now.

Beta, I never differentiated between you and Dhara. Yesterday you were my daughter, today you are my daughter, and you will remain my daughter always.

And if tomorrow you ever feel the need for your Mami's lap... don't hesitate. Just run to me. You will always remain my little Rivu."

Hearing her words, I broke down and hugged her tightly. Mami held me and whispered, "Come downstairs soon, I will go prepare for your bidaai."

She wiped her tears and started walking toward the door. She was just about to step out when I said from behind, my voice trembling:

"Maa..."

She froze.

Nani and Dhara also get shocked and began crying again.

Mami turned slowly, her voice breaking,

"What... what did you say, Rivu?"

I walked up to her, tears streaming, and whispered:

"Maa..."

Mami began crying, so I immediately held her and whispered,

"You think I don't know? You think I never understood that your heart always wished I would call you Maa and Mamaji Papa? You both never said it out loud... because you feared I might not be able to give you the place of my real parents. But..."

I gently cupped her tear-streaked face and said,

"But for me... you both are even more than parents. Maa, you are my mother. And Mamaji... he is my father."

Mami broke down in my arms, trembling as she said,

"I have waited my whole life to hear you call me Maa... and when your mamaji hears this, he will go mad with happiness!"

I smiled through my tears.

"But don't tell him. When I go downstairs, I'll call him Papa in front of everyone. I want to give him a surprise, okay?"

She nodded.

"Okay, beta. Now wipe your tears and get ready. I'll go prepare for your bidaai."

Mami walked out wiping her eyes, and I turned to Nani. She held my hands and said,

"Rivu beta, remember... treat everyone in your sasural equally. Give elders respect and younger ones equal love. Never favour anyone, never neglect anyone."

I nodded gently.

"Yes, Nani. I promise I will always walk the path you taught me."

Nani smiled proudly.

"You are the pride of this family, beta. We all are so proud of you."

A few minutes later, Mami no, Maa returned with Nani and Dhara to take me downstairs. My eyes remained lowered, but even then, I felt Rudraksh's gaze fall on me. He just kept looking... and I did not have the courage to look back at him.

Nani spoke,

"Rivanya, Rudraksh... go to the temple and seek blessings from our Gods before the rituals."

We both walked toward the family temple, bowed before Maa Gauri and Mahadev, touched their feet, and returned.

As we came back, Mamaji approached with a white cloth and spread it on the floor. Maa brought a thaal filled with alta and placed it near my feet.

"Rivu, step into the alta and leave your footprints on this cloth."

I dipped my feet into the alta and walked forward, leaving red impressions behind.

After a few steps, I stumbled but before anyone could react, Rudraksh stepped forward and caught me.

When I looked up at him, there was no expression on his face...

yet in his eyes, I saw a protectiveness I had never noticed before. A warmth I didn't expect.

Not wanting to linger on that feeling, I walked to Nanu and instantly fell into his arms, crying. He hugged me tightly, his voice breaking,

"It's true what people say... daughters grow up too fast. Take care of yourself, beta. And remember whatever happens, never be afraid. Your Nanu will always be there for his little princess."

I nodded while crying, then went to Mamaji my heart pounding.

He wasn't looking at me.

So I said softly,

"You won't look at me today... Papa?"

The moment the word Papa left my lips, he looked up in shock. Tears spilled from his eyes as he whispered,

"What... what did you call me, Rivu?"

I smiled through my tears.

"Papa. I called you Papa. This is what you always wanted to hear from me... right?"

He pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Your Mami and I have waited years years to hear this from you, beta..."

I stepped back, took Maa's hand, and placed her beside him.

"You both are my parents. From today no more Mamaji, no more Mami. You are Maa and Papa... always."

Both of them hugged me together, and I called out to Dhara,

"What are you staring at? Come here. Family hugs don't happen without you."

Dhara rushed into the embrace crying, and Maa and Papa hugged the both of us tightly.

Papa then walked to Rudraksh and said firmly,

"She is my princess. Always take care of her. If I ever see a tear in her eyes... I'll break your legs."

Rudraksh bowed slightly.

"You have my word, sir. Your daughter will never lack anything not even for a moment."

Just then, Bapusa(His Father) walked up and smiled warmly.

"Sandeep ji, I am not taking a daughter-in-law home... I am taking a daughter. Your child will live like a flower in our house."

Papa nodded.

"Let us proceed with the rituals."

Nani came forward with a small box of sindoor and said to Rudraksh,

"Beta, we couldn't witness your wedding... but for my satisfaction, please fill Rivanya's maang once, in front of all of us."

Rudraksh took the box from her hand and walked toward me. He took a pinch of sindoor and filled the parting of my hair. I closed my eyes quietly... and as always, he gently wiped away the bit of sindoor that fell onto my nose with his fingers.

Now it was time for the final ritual. Dhara approached me with a thaal filled with haldi and uncooked rice.

Nani and Maa stood behind me, their saree pallus held tightly, tears streaming down their faces.

I cupped the rice in my palms, my hands trembling, and with each step, I followed the ritual, scattering the rice behind me as I walked toward the threshold of my home.

Maa and Nani gathered the rice in their sarees, watching me with misty eyes, their hearts filled with both joy and sadness.

As I took the final step outside the house, Rudraksh stood by my side, his hand gently holding mine, guiding me, yet letting me lead.

The weight of the moment pressed upon me every glance at my childhood home, every familiar wall and corner, every loved one I was leaving behind it all overwhelmed me with emotion.

Bapusa had already seated himself in the car, waiting for us.

I paused for one last moment, turning to embrace everyone.

Tears blurred my vision, but I held my chin high and hugged each member of my family tightly, silently memorizing their warmth, their love, their blessings.

Then I slowly approached the car. Rudraksh moved ahead to open the door for me, a protective yet gentle presence.

Before stepping inside, I turned back for one final look at my home and my family my roots, my safe haven.

My heart ached with nostalgia, yet it also swelled with hope for the life I was about to begin.

With a deep breath, I slid into the car.