Ch29 When Gauri Became Kali #2
Dhara started describing him, still annoyed. "The one with brown eyes... tall at least 6'4... fair, black hair..." She paused, thinking, then shrugged. "That's enough."
Rivanya quickly guessed, "Raaj bhaiya?"
Dhara frowned. "I don't know his name. The one whose room is to the left of yours."
Understanding immediately, Rivanya said, "Oh... that's Viswraaj bhaiya, Rudraksh's younger brother. But what did he do? He's the calmest among them."
Dhara scoffed loudly. "Calm? Not at all! He's so ill-mannered. I accidentally went into his room instead of mine, and when I came out of the bathroom after a shower... your devar was just standing there shirtless! Disgusting. I felt like breaking his head right there, but somehow controlled myself."
Rivanya listened quietly for a moment... and then suddenly burst into laughter.
That only made Dhara more irritated. "Wow, great! Laugh more. Your devar is involved, so obviously you'll take his side. You've become a stranger now, Rivu."
Pouting, Dhara turned her face away. Smiling warmly, Rivanya moved closer and hugged her from the side.
"Oh, you silly girl... is this something to get angry about? You went into his room by mistake, right? How would he even know you were inside? That's why all this happened. Otherwise, Raaj Devarsa isn't like that."
Dhara didn't respond, still sulking. So Rivanya quickly tried to cheer her up. "Okay fine, leave it now. I have something for you. Wait here."
She walked to her wardrobe, took out a neatly packed box, and returned, handing it to Dhara. "Here, this is for you."
Dhara opened it, and the moment she saw the beautiful purple saree inside adorned with intricate handmade work her entire mood changed. Her eyes lit up instantly. "Rivu... this is so beautiful! And it's purple my favorite color!"
Rivanya smiled happily. "Yes, and you're going to wear this tonight. I've already kept the matching jewelry set in your room don't forget to check it."
Overwhelmed, Dhara hugged her tightly. "Thank youuuu, Rivu!"
As time passed, the day slowly turned into evening.
It was already 5 PM, yet there was still no sign of Rudraksh.
He wasn't answering calls or messages no one, not even Vyom, knew where he was.
With every passing minute, Rivanya's uneasiness grew stronger.
That strange feeling in her heart refused to fade, as if something was about to go terribly wrong.
Lost in those thoughts, Rivanya unwillingly got ready for the evening.
She draped herself in a heavy orange saree, richly adorned with intricate handmade work.
Matching orange and green bangles adorned her wrists, golden jhumkas sparkled in her ears, and a delicate necklace rested against her neck.
Her anklets chimed softly with every step, and a kamarband gracefully accentuated her waist. She looked nothing less than an apsara.
Yet when she looked at herself in the mirror, her heart felt heavy. What's the point of this adornment... when the one I'm doing it for might not even come?
With a sigh, she wore her mangalsutra. But as she picked up the sindoor box, her hand slipped and the vermilion scattered across the floor.
For a moment, Rivanya froze.
A strange fear gripped her heart. Nani always says that spilling sindoor is inauspicious... I don't usually believe in such things, then why am I feeling so scared today?
Her hands trembled as she immediately tried calling Rudraksh again but his phone was still switched off.
Her anxiety deepened, but she refused to let it show on her face. She didn't want to ruin anyone else's mood. Taking a deep breath, she picked up another sindoor the one her Nani had brought from the Gauri Mandir in Kashi and carefully applied it in her hairline.
Joining her hands, she closed her eyes and prayed softly,
"Hey Gauri Maiya... you gave me my suhag... now please protect him. Protect Rudraksh... please keep him safe, Maa..."
After some time, everyone finally left together for the Shiv temple.
All the family members kept trying to call Rudraksh on the way, but none of the calls were going through his phone was still unreachable.
On the surface, Vyom, Dev, and Viswraaj appeared calm, but beneath that calm, all three of them were deeply tense.
They had already received information through their hidden sources someone dangerous was targeting Rudraksh.
A man whose entire empire had been destroyed because of Rudraksh...
whose crores worth of drug consignment had been seized.
He had escaped from prison a week ago, and since then, he had only one goal revenge.
Vyom had been trying every possible way to track Rudraksh, but there was still no clue.
After nearly an hour's drive, the entire family reached the grand Shiv temple.
The temple was glowing with divine beauty decorated with lights and flowers, radiating a sacred aura.
Devotees sat in the courtyard, lighting diyas and singing bhajans in devotion to Mahadev.
On one side, priests were continuously chanting the Shiv Tandav, completing 108 recitations with full dedication.
But amidst all that divine energy... Rivanya's eyes kept searching.
Again and again, she turned back, hoping just hoping that Rudraksh would appear any moment.
Everyone entered the temple premises, where the head priest was already waiting for them. They all bowed down respectfully and took his blessings. The priest looked around once and then asked,
"Rudraksh hasn't arrived?"
Pratap immediately handled the situation. "Pandit ji, he's on his way. He must be nearby."
The priest nodded, then his gaze shifted to Rivanya. Observing her carefully, he asked, "Pratap ji, is this Rudraksh's bride? The eldest daughter-in-law of the Vardhan family?"
Pratap replied with pride, "Yes, this is Rivanya, Rudraksh's wife."
Rivanya once again bent down and touched his feet for blessings. The priest raised his hand and said warmly, "Sada suhagan raho, beti."
After that, everyone proceeded inside the temple. But Pratap stopped Vyom outside, his expression now filled with worry.
"Vyom... where is Rudraksh? It is very important that today's puja is performed by Rudraksh and Rivanya together."
Vyom ran a hand through his hair, trying to stay composed. "I know, uncle... but what can I do if he doesn't even pick up my calls? I have no idea where he is."
Pratap frowned deeply. "What do you mean you don't know? Isn't he at the office?"
Vyom shook his head. "No, uncle. I checked. He left in the afternoon without informing anyone."
Pratap's concern only grew stronger. "Vyom, beta... find him. If he doesn't come today, Rivanya's heart will break. And the whole world is watching... I don't want my daughter to suffer not from pain, and not from people's words."
Vyom nodded firmly. "Don't worry, uncle. I'll handle it."
Saying that, he stepped aside and began making urgent calls, his mind racing.
Outside the temple, media had already gathered in large numbers. They weren't allowed inside, but that didn't stop them from trying.
Cameras flashed continuously as they captured glimpses of the powerful Vardhan family from a distance. However, there was one thing they were clearly disappointed about they hadn't managed to get even a single glimpse of the mysterious Mrs. Vardhan.
Rudraksh had revealed Rivanya to the world only once and after that, he had guarded her privacy with a fierce protectiveness that very few had ever witnessed from him.
Though Rudraksh Vardhan remained a constant presence in the media, his name dominating headlines, business channels, and political discussions alike, his wife had become an enigma.
Beyond that one public appearance, he had ensured that no camera, no reporter, and no outsider could intrude upon her peace.
As a result, while the world knew of Rudraksh Vardhan, only a handful truly recognized the face of Mrs. Vardhan.
At the temple, the atmosphere remained grand and devotional on the surface, but beneath it all, an invisible tension was steadily rising.
Family members repeatedly tried calling Rudraksh, yet every attempt ended the same way his phone remained switched off.
Rivanya's heart grew more restless with every passing moment, while Dev and Viswraaj concealed their worry behind controlled expressions.
But Vyom... Vyom had already sensed the storm approaching.
His instincts, sharpened by years of standing beside Rudraksh, warned him that this silence was unnatural.
The threat they had been cautious about for days was beginning to feel horrifyingly real.
Without drawing attention, Vyom immediately activated all his hidden contacts, ordering every available source to track Rudraksh's location.
Simultaneously, he increased security around the temple and the Vardhan family, ensuring that no external threat could penetrate their surroundings.
His actions were subtle, but not subtle enough to escape Pratap's notice.
Pratap had begun to suspect that something was deeply wrong.
Yet before he could fully process those fears, his phone rang.
The moment his eyes landed on the caller ID, his breath faltered.
Maha Guruji.
His hands instinctively tightened around the device.
This was no ordinary spiritual guide. Maha Guruji was the supreme kul guru of the Vardhan lineage the most revered scholar of sacred scriptures, divine energies, and ancient knowledge.
He was not merely their royal advisor but also the guru of Gurumaa herself.
A man whose words had guided generations of Vardhans.
And currently... he was supposed to be in London.
For him to call now after months of silence could only mean one thing.
Something catastrophic.
Fear immediately gripped Pratap's heart. Without wasting a moment, he motioned Dadaji and Dadima aside and answered the call on speaker.
"Ghani Khama, Guruji..."
But no blessings came.
No pleasantries.
Only one grave sentence, spoken in a voice so heavy that it seemed to shake the ground beneath them
"Akal Mrityu Yog, Ranasa..."
Pratap's blood ran cold.