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CHAPTER 24 - 4.81K VIEWS, 957 VOTES

CHAPTER 25 - 3.91K VIEWS, 921 VOTES

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Shivanya ~

As I stood at the edge of the mandap, my heart thudded loudly in my chest. The mantra chants of the panditji and the glow of the havan fire was all just telling me that this was it, I was getting married. My eyes flickering down to my hands, which wouldn't stop trembling while I tried to count my breathing.

And then I felt it. His gaze, on me.

When I finally looked up, Vihaan was walking toward me. He seemed to not noticing anything around him. Not the family, neither the cold of the air or the soft music in the background. Nor did it seem like he noticed the slight stumble when his foot caught the edge of the carpet.

He swayed, just a little but before he could lose his balance, my hand reached out for him instinctively. My fingers brushed his arm, steadying him but his eyes still didn't waver, locked onto mine as if he hadn't even realised what had just happened.

"Are you okay Vihaan sir?" I whispered, my voice barely audible to myself.

He did not really answer my question but his lips curved into the smallest and softest of smiles that he had even sent my way and it almost made my heart forget how to beat.

The people around let out a soft "aww," but it was distant for my ears, like a little echo and I felt my cheeks flush while I lowered my eyes.

Vihaan reached out his hand towards me, still wearing the same smile.

"Saath chalengi yahan se? Ab vaise bhi aaj ke baad aapke bina mera ek kadam aage nahi badhega." He said, forcing me to look at him eyes once, his words doing that to me.

(TRANSLATION - Will you walk with me from here? Anyway, from today, I will not take one step forward in our life without you.)

I could only nod my head in a yes, giving placing my hand onto his, feeling the nervous jitters in my stomach slowly fading away.

He softly tugged me forward, his fingers laced with mine as we stepped onto the mandap together before Radhika and Vidhi Aunty helped me sit down next to him.

Radhika adjusted my dupatta before stepping back with a soft smile.

The panditji began chanting the mantras. I tried to focus on his words, but my attention kept slipping back to Vihaan. He sat close and his eyes would drift toward me every now and then just like mine did.

When it was time for the varmala, my hands trembled slightly again. As I stood, he leaned in slightly, his voice teasing. "Don't worry, Sunshine, I'll bend if it helps."

I couldn't help but smile a little at his words. And true to his word, he lowered himself slightly, making it easier for me to place the garland around his neck and while I was just about to withdraw my hands, he reached up, brushing his fingers against mine for the briefest moment, sending a shiver down my spine.

As he settled the garland over my shoulders, Vihaan leaned in a little, "Kaha tha na aapse, aap meri hi hain. Dekh lijiye, ab sabko pata chal gaya."

(TRANSLATION - Did I not tell you that you belong with me? See, now everyone knows.)

His words brought a flush to my cheeks, the heat rising to my face faster than I could control. I lowered my gaze, unable to meet the intensity of his eyes while everyone around us showered us with flowers.

We sat back down, the Panditji started with the kanyadaan and my heart twisted slightly, remembering my parents and wanting nothing more than them to be present here today but I was glad that Vidhi aunty and Sameer uncle were here.

They stepped forward and aunty had tears in her eyes, as they placed my hand in Vihaan's, Sameer uncle said, "Take care of her, Vihaan. You will be answering to me if I find her sad, even for once in her life now."

Vihaan's grip on my hand tightened slightly. "I will, sir. I always will."

The pheras came next as Radhika came forward and tied the gathbandhan, helping me stand again and as we started to walk around the havan kund, Vihaan leaned in, "You will never find yourself alone, no matter what happens Shivanya."

His words made my breath catch, and I turned slightly to glance at him. His expression was sincere, his gaze locked on the fire, but his words felt like they were wrapped around my heart.

We took another round, and he spoke again, just for me. "I will always listen to what you have to say and especially when you lack words to do so."

My lips curved into a soft smile.

With the third step, his voice dropped even lower, the teasing edge returning. "I will always make you smile every single day, even if that requires me to take up the profession of part time clownery."

I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from laughing after his words put an image of him with a big red nose with colourful clothes.

As we reached the fourth round, he promised,. "I will respect your dreams, always. Whatever they are, they are going to be mine too, this day onwards."

And just like that, my urge to laugh was replaced by an overwhelming feeling I couldn't place words upon.

In the fifth round, he entwined the little finger of his hand with mine while we continued to walk, "I will always protect you, not because I think you need that, you don't. I will protect you because I need to you protect me."

I blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the sudden sting of tears.

As we completed the sixth round, his voice turned playful again. "I will never take the last slice of the pizza we eat and I will never let you change yourself from being a pizza girl to a salad girl."

A small laugh escaped me, the sound mixing with the crackle of the fire. I glanced at him, and he gave me the faintest smile, his eyes twinkling.

And then came the seventh and final round. He paused for a moment before speaking but eventually did, "I will always love you, Shivanya. Always. In every way I know how, and in every way I will learn to, I will always and ever only love you. I will always be yours. Only yours."

As we sat down again, I couldn't take my eyes off Vihaan. He looked so handsome, almost like a prince from a fairytale. His cream-coloured sherwani had beautiful golden embroidery, and the colour suited his skin perfectly. His broad shoulders made the outfit look even better, and the fabric seemed to shine softly under the sun, making him look even more striking.

He then made me wear the mangalsutra.

I was lost in him when I heard the panditji's voice calling us to continue. It was time for the sindoor. Vihaan's hand was still holding mine and I could feel my heart beating faster.

With a steady hand, he took the small container of sindoor, his gaze never leaving mine and then with the gentlest of touch, he shifted my maangteeka aside,  his fingers brushing against my skin again.

Then, he dipped his fingers into the sindoordaani and slowly, carefully, brought them to my forehead and before I knew it, my eyes fluttered closed instinctively as his fingers touched my skin as he filled my hairline.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw him smiling down at me.

The panditji called for us to pay respects, and Vihaan helped me to my feet. We walked toward Vidhi aunty and Sameer uncle first and we bent down together to touch their feet. Sameer uncle gave a soft blessing.

Vidhi aunty's eyes were filled with tears, but she smiled warmly as she placed her hand on my head, offering a blessing. "I am so happy for you both. May your life together be full of love and happiness."

We then made our way to Amar uncle and Sangeeta aunty. Vihaan bowed slightly, and I followed suit, touching their feet.

Amar uncle placed his hand on my head, "Welcome to the family beta. Our blessings are with you, always."

Sangeeta aunty pulled me in her arms, "You are my daughter now and I cannot be happier to have you as Vihaan's better half. You make him a better person."

Next, we moved toward Radhika's in-laws, Naina aunty and Vijay uncle. They welcomed me with open arms, their smiles wide as they both blessed us. Naina placed her hands on my head, "May your life be filled with endless happiness and strength." Uncle smiled too, his voice full of warmth, "Take good care of each other. Love, patience, and understanding will guide you both."

Then, we moved to Radhika and Taran and Radhika pulled me tightly in her arms.

"I am so so happy for you Di. I love you so much." She said, kissing my cheek and I lovingly fixed her hair.

"I love you too, so much." I replied back.

"I am sure mumma and papa are smiling from up there, seeing you. Plus, I think they planned for all of this to happen so that we end up living next door all our lives." She added and I nodded laughing with her.

I hugged Radhika again, tighter, feeling the comfort of her presence.

Taran smiled, standing by Radhika. "Congrats, Shiv and Vihaan. You both are going to make a wonderful couple. But remember Vihaan, she is my best friend and I really live next door so if you even unintentionally ever hurt her, you will regret doing that."

"Never." Vihaan said, gazing towards me and I looked at him.

"Good, because Vihaan Jiju knows me by now and I know him. I know he won't hurt Di but even if he accidentally does, he will find me right there first to punch him and then knock some sense into his head, am I right jiju?" Radhika asked, teasingly and he nodded his head before pulling her into a hug.

Then, after Vihaan had his moment with Yash sir, I hugged Nisha, his wife and she joked about earning a second sister, an elder one this time.

That felt warm.

Then, once again, Vihaan was by my side, taking my hand in his before he brought my knuckles to his lips and softly kissed my hand.

"My wife." He said, and those two words raised the heat on my cheeks and I looked down, avoiding his eyes, feeling some million butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

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Vihaan ~

My Wife.

I could not compliment her when I saw her dressed as my bride.

How could I? How could I ever say anything that would truly do justice to how beautiful she looked? Words felt so small compared to what she was in that moment. The red lehenga, that small nervous smile and her veil covering her face a little, it was all too perfect. She was all too perfect.

She was everything I ever wanted and more, more than I ever deserved.

Looking at her, I had never been this calm in my life because I knew that this time, she was walking towards me to be with forever.

All our lives.

Now that we were standing together after all the rituals, I could not help but address her the way I was almost desperate to, "My wife."

And that crimson red on her cheek gave away the fact that she liked it.

As she looked down, avoiding my gaze, I could feel her shyness. But there was something else too. It was a soft warmth, the kind that comes from being with someone who makes everything feel right. I could tell she was nervous, but there was something new in the way she held herself. The way she was with me, it was different from how she had been before.

I gently lifted her chin, guiding her eyes back to meet mine. "Shivanya," I whispered, "you are more than I ever dreamed of. I could spend a lifetime just admiring you. Please don't hide yourself from me anymore, that pinches me a little right." I pressed her hand over my heart.

"Vihaan." She whispered my name, looking down again, evoking a laugh out of me.

"God, how can anyone expect me to ever get any work done when you are around me Sunshine?" I asked her and she smiled this time, briefly looking at me before looking away again, while her hand was still under mine, pressed to my chest.

She bit her lip, the soft blush on her cheeks deepening, and I couldn't resist. My fingers gently brushed her cheek, my thumb grazing her lips just as they parted slightly in a breath. "You're mine, and I'm yours, forever," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

I could not take my eyes off her, and I did not want to.

Then, I heard a few throat scratches and that was my cue to let go of my wife because he sister and my mother wanted her attention.

"Fine, you all can take her with you." I said, loosening my hold and Shivanya immediately took two steps away from me, looking at the women, making me chuckle because she just looked like she had committed a felony.

"Thank you Vihaan, not that we needed your permission though." Maa said, standing by Shivanya's side and shooing me away, only for Taran, Sameer uncle and Vihaan to give me sympathetic looks while Yash was off some food counter.

Today was precisely how I wanted it to be, with Shivanya by my side.

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Shivanya ~

After Radhika took me back inside the hotel to change, she could not stop teasing me.

"Di, jiju is so so romantic! I am so glad that he looks at you the way he does." She chirped happily, matching the saree I was supposed to wear with some jewellery.

I looked at myself in the mirror, touching my forehead where the sindoor rested, and the mangalsutra hanging around my neck. "What way?" I asked, trying to stay calm even though my heart was racing a little.

Radhika raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh, come on, Di! You know! Jiju aapko aise dekhte hain jaise ki aap iss duniya ki aathvi ajoobi ho. Vaise aap ho toh, I agree with him there."

(TRANSLATE - Oh, come on, Di! You know! Jiju looks at you like you are the 8th wonder of the world and I agree with him!)

"Kuch bhi bol rahi hai paagal." I said, turning around to look at her before slightly hitting he head.

(TRANSLATION - Stop saying stupid things Radhika.)

She grinned. "I swear, Di, I thought I was going to burst into tears watching you two but then I remembered that you are coming to stay right next to me."

She changed the topic because I did see her wiping the corner of her eye while I was doing the same when we hugged.

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You're impossible, Radhika."

She winked again, giving me a playful nudge. "Okay, okay. But seriously, Di, you look stunning. Jiju is lucky."

Before I could respond, she suddenly stepped toward the door. "I'll go out and let you change in peace. But... I'll just do something real quick."

Before I could ask what she meant, she disappeared out of the room, and I heard the door click shut and I turned around to look at the mirror once again, taking the dupatta on my head off.

I was about to begin taking my jewellery off when I heard someone knock lightly.

I opened the door expecting Radhika to be back, only to find Vihaan standing there.

"Sir!" I gasped, my eyes widening in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He walked inside as I stepped aside to make room and then closed the door behind him while all I could do was look on.

"I did not get the chance to give you a wedding gift." He said and I looked at him, trying to figure him out.

"A gift? There really is no need for that Sir." I told him.

But he simply smiled and reached for the dupatta that had been lying on the bed. He gently picked it up and draped it back over my head, his fingers brushing softly against my hair.

"Vihaan..." I whispered, looking up at him in awe.

"Shh," he said quietly, his voice soft and tender. "Let me do this Sunshine."

He guided me to sit down on the bed and as sat, I watched him move in front of me, kneeling down on one knee.

I was about to ask him what he was doing when I felt his hand hover near my feet. He looked up at me with those warm eyes. "Vihaan sir, what are you doing?" I asked, suddenly unsure of myself. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

He paused, his eyes locking onto mine, and his voice was gentle but firm. "Trust me, Shivanya," he said softly.

I hesitated for a moment, but something in his voice made me want to listen. Slowly, I nodded, giving him my trust.

He carefully lifted my feet and placed them gently on his lap. I froze, my breath catching in my throat, unsure of how to feel. His touch made my heart skip a beat.

Then, he removed the paayal I was wearing on my ankles before taking a different pair out of his pockets and slipped it gently onto my foot, the cool metal sending a shiver through me. Then he did the same with the other foot, slipping on the matching paayal and then the toe rings.

"These used to belong to my grandmother and she wanted my wife to have them." he said softly, his voice thick with emotion as he finished placing the last ring.

I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. There was something both comforting and overwhelming about how Vihaan was treating me, as if he was already claiming a part of me that I wasn't sure if I was ready to give.

As I gathered my thoughts, I took a deep breath and said, "Thank you sir, I promise to always look after them and thank you for all the promises you made to me today. I don't know how will I be able to match those but I promise to always be yours. I also promise to never disrespect you or your parents or anyone you love. I also promise to accept your family as mine now and I promise that my home will always be with you, no matter where we are."

"Then, you have given me the world." Vihaan's eyes softened, and for a moment, it felt like the world around us stopped. He nodded quietly before turning to leave the room. As he closed the door behind him, I sat there, my eyes on the paayal and toe rings, moving my feet in the air together to hear the tiny trinklets jingle, unsure of the reason of my smile.

SHIVANYA'S LOOK -

VIHAAN'S LOOK -

MERRY CHRISTMAS!