CHAPTER 42 #2
“I needed peace. I needed a home. I needed love. And more than all of that...” He smiles at me with a tenderness that quietly steals my heart. “I needed you, Siya.”
My vision blurs completely.
“You’ve filled every empty corner inside me with a feeling I spent years denying even existed. And now...” His forehead rests against mine. “I can’t imagine my life without that feeling. I can’t imagine my life without you anymore.”
Another heartbeat passes.
“I f*cking love you so much.”
For one endless moment, I simply stare at him, unable to believe that the man standing before me has just bared his entire soul to me.
A sob escapes my throat before I can stop it, and the very next second, I throw myself into his arms. I hold him with everything I have, and Raghav doesn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat.
His arms come around me just as tightly, pulling me against his chest. I bury my face into him, unable to stop the tears anymore, while his hand moves gently over my back in comforting strokes.
His lips press softly over the dupatta covering my head. Neither of us says a word. We simply remain there, wrapped in each other’s arms, holding on as though neither of us wants to let go. I don’t know how much time passes before I finally draw back.
My eyes are still wet. Before I can wipe them, his thumb reaches my cheek once again and carefully brushes every tear away with a tenderness that makes my heart ache all over again.
“I’m sorry for every pain I’ve given you,” he whispers. “For going against you, against your heart, against your dreams, against every wish you ever had.”
“No...” I slowly shake my head. “You don’t have to keep apologising anymore, Raghav.”
My fingers slowly find his hands, holding them gently between mine.
“I forgave you the very day I realised how deeply you regretted everything. In fact, now when I think about all that happened, I sometimes feel that…” My smile grows a little softer.
“Maybe you marrying me by force was destiny’s own strange way of pushing us towards each other. ”
He watches me with a frown.
“If destiny had left everything to the two of us,” I continue, “I don’t think we would’ve ever reached this place.
You never wanted to step back into the mafia world again by tying yourself to someone from that life, and I never wanted marriage at all.
I just wanted a life where no one else could make decisions for me. ”
I gently squeeze his hands.
“So if life had simply waited for you and me to make the choice ourselves, we probably would’ve spent our entire lives walking in opposite directions. So maybe that’s why destiny forced us through all of this... until we found our way to this moment.”
His eyes soften, and I can almost see the weight lifting from them.
“So...” he murmurs, stepping closer. “Does that mean...”
“Of course, I’ll marry you again.” I don’t even let him finish.
The happiness that spreads across his face steals my breath away. He cups my face once again before leaning down to place another tender kiss on my forehead. When he finally pulls back, I notice the familiar look in his eyes as his gaze drops to my lips. Mine part instinctively.
He’s about to kiss me when I suddenly place my palm against his chest, stopping him.
Raghav immediately stills. I can’t help smiling at the faint frown that appears between his brows.
Instead of answering him, I glance over his shoulder.
He turns around to see Haider and Esha standing a few feet away.
Neither of them even tries to pretend they haven’t witnessed everything.
Esha is grinning openly. Even Haider, who rarely shows his emotions, is smiling. The sight makes me blush all over again.
I look back at Raghav. “So... I suppose these two are our marriage witnesses this time?”
Raghav shakes his head, then gently takes my hand and turns me towards the inside of the temple.
“Not two,” he says. “We have four.”
My eyes instinctively follow his gaze, and the moment they do, I freeze. Standing near one of the temple pillars, partially hidden in the shadows, are Mom and Kailash Uncle. Both of them are dressed for the occasion, as though they had been waiting for this moment all along.
When did Uncle come to RK Estate? I didn’t even know.
I just stare at them, unable to find the words. The very people who had witnessed the beginning of our broken marriage would now see us finally choose each other wholeheartedly and without regret.
Mom steps forward first, tears already shining in her eyes, while Kailash Uncle walks beside her, his own eyes shimmering with pride and emotion. I run towards Mom and throw my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“You knew about this?” I ask.
She smiles, wrapping her arms around me just as tightly.
“Yes,” she says softly. “Before proposing, Raghav came to me first and asked for your hand this morning.”
I slowly pull back and stare at her in disbelief.
“And how could I possibly say no?”
I turn instinctively towards Raghav, who stands there watching us, his hands tucked into his pockets, almost embarrassed by all the attention.
“Oh, that’s not all.” Kailash Uncle laughs, shaking his head. “He called me and insisted I come here especially for this. My son wanted his Baba beside him when he asked your mother for the hand of the woman he loves. He said it wouldn’t feel right otherwise.”
I look at Raghav again. He smiles at me as Uncle continues.
“I was planning to come next week anyway for some work here, but this fellow refused to hear any excuses. And honestly, the moment he told he wanted to marry you again, there was no way I was going to miss my son’s real wedding.
Even Ayaan and Meher wanted to come, but with Meher’s pregnancy, travelling isn’t possible.
She’s at Walia Mansion now, so she and Ayaan will be watching everything live from there with the rest of the family. ”
I instantly smile as Haider pulls out his phone, and so does Esha. Raghav has really planned it all. He has rebuilt every memory that was stolen from me the first time.
Just then, Haider clears his throat. “The priest is ready. I think we should begin.”
Everyone nods.
Raghav walks towards me before silently extending his hand. I place my hand in his, and together we walk towards the sacred fire to mark a new beginning.
The priest takes his seat. Mom helps me settle beside Raghav, carefully adjusting my dupatta over my head, while Kailash Uncle proudly pats his son’s shoulder before taking his place.
A little farther away, Haider and Esha are recording every moment, occasionally angling the camera so everyone watching from Walia Mansion can witness every ritual as though they are standing right here beside us.
As the priest begins chanting the sacred mantras, the sound fills the temple. And all I can think about is the man sitting beside me. The man I am hopelessly, completely in love with.
For all these years, I had dreamt of someone who would choose me, fight for me, respect me, and heal what life had broken. If this isn’t what my Prince Charming was always meant to do, then what is?
I had never imagined that my Prince Charming would be a feared mafia prince, or that he would one day take the ugliest memory of my life and transform it into the most beautiful one.
The last time I sat beside Raghav like this, I couldn’t wait for the ceremony to end. After that day, I had stopped wearing the mangalsutra or applying sindoor. Every symbol of that marriage had felt forced upon me.
But today, my heart cannot wait for him to put them on me again. Today, I want every symbol of this marriage, because each one now belongs to the man I love.
The rituals continue one after another. Together, we rise for the seven pheras. Hand in hand, we walk around the sacred fire. Strangely, we have already lived through so many of these vows before ever standing here and making them.
Trust.
Sharing life’s challenges.
Protection.
Forgiveness.
Partnership.
Family.
Love.
When we finally return to our places, Raghav gently lifts the mangalsutra and fastens it around my neck. Then, with the same reverence, he picks up the sindoor and carefully fills the parting of my hair.
This time, I don’t feel trapped. I feel chosen and loved.
When the final mantra comes to an end, the priest declares, “Vivaah sampan hua” (The marriage is complete). Raghav cradles my face and presses a kiss to my forehead, then wraps me into his arms once again.
This is nothing less than a fairytale.
Together, we step away from the sacred fire to seek Kailash Uncle’s blessings. His places his hands gently over our heads.
“Live a long and happy life together,” he blesses us warmly. “May your marriage always remain stronger than every storm life throws your way.”
“Thank you... Baba,” I say.
Both Raghav and Kailash Uncle go completely still.
“Did… did you just call me Baba?” Uncle asks, his voice clogged with emotion.
It’s only then that I realise what I’ve said. I glance at Raghav before looking back at him. “My husband calls you Baba, so… I thought maybe that’s what I should call you too.”
His eyes glisten, but he still laughs, shaking his head.
“Oh, Siya, I’ve wanted to hear you call me something other than Kailash Uncle for so long.
Dad... Paapa... anything. Just the way Meher does.
But I never had the courage to ask you. After the way Raghav married you, I never wanted another relationship to be forced upon you.
So, I kept waiting.” His smile widens. “And today, you gave me something I had been silently hoping for.”
Before I can respond, he pulls me into a warm, fatherly hug. His hand rests over my head in a loving gesture. “Stay blessed, my daughter. I couldn’t have asked for a better gift today.”