Srusti's POV

" Pandit Ji, can her elder brother do the ceremony? " Viraj Ji said. I got so emotional that tears started flowing again.

Viraj Ji looked at Di and she was smiling like anything and nodded enthusiastically. Then they looked at me and smiled as if he was asking me if it was alright with me. I just nodded and started crying. Maa hugged me.

" Yes, of course, I am sorry I didn't know. " Pandit Ji said.

Viraj Ji and Maya di performed kanyadaan. I was getting very emotional. Mohit was looking at me.

He tied the Mangalsutra around my neck and then he looked at me apologetically and filled my hair parting with vermilion. A bit of vermilion fell on my nose and all the 3 women in the family grinning from ear to ear.

" Why are all of you smiling like that," Papaji asked.

" See some of the vermilion got spilt on her face while he was applying it. It means that he would love her forever. " Maa said.

" What rubbish !! Means if I never did it, I don't love you?? "

" Dad it is just a belief... Like we say that if the colour of mehndi is very deep red that means that her groom would love her a lot." Maya di said.

" Maya, let me apply this on your head. Come here.  " Viraj Ji said.

" You are at least 8 years late Viraj. " She said.

" You should have told it to me. I would have spilt the entire box on you," he said with a naughty smile.

" You don't need to do that. Even a blind can see that you are crazy about her. " Papa said.

" Thanks dad, for the vote of confidence. " Viraj Ji said to papa.

They all were laughing but we both were quiet. Very quiet.

The rituals were completed and ae were married to each other twice in less than 2 hours.

Were both types of marriages were fake?? A deal?? Just in a name?? I was about to go crazy.

Maa, di and Daadi welcomed me inside as a new bride should be.

Mohit wanted to go to his room as soon as the Grih Pravesh was done, but I was about to go to my room when Maya di caught my hand and shook her head.

I was confused but she smiled and said, " Now you and Mohit can officially live in one room as it's your wedding night. But till then you can relax here. " she said winking at me and I blushed profusely as I knew what was she thinking. It was so embarrassing.

They had already arranged for a big feast with a five-course meal.

After we had a nice party, Mohit said, "Now that we are married... I think we must leave. "

"  Why ?? What is the hurry?? You can stay here tonight. " Maa said.

What No... I can't...

" No way... " Mohit said. 

" Come on it's your wedding night... We even got your room decorated." Maya said and started pulling Srusti with her and asked me to wait there.

" What ?? Why??  Who told you to do that?? " Mohit almost shouted.

" Relax boy !!! I know you are excited about your wedding night but still... We did it only for both of you. You can't waste money and our emotions. Let me show it to you. " Viraj Ji said.

" I want to go to my penthouse. "

" But ... "

" No Viraj... "

" Ok, fine !! You are so stubborn just like your sister. She made me decorate your room and you don't even want to stay here. Thanks for appreciating my efforts. "

" I am sorry... But you know I prefer staying there. " Mohit was saying.

" But my efforts... At least have a look at it. Stay for at least half an hour there. At least my efforts won't get totally wasted. " Viraj Ji said and then Mohit nodded reluctantly.

" Only for half an hour... " He said and Maya di took me to his room which was decorated in a very romantic way.  Viraj Ji came holding Mohit's hand and then pushed him inside.

" Enjoy your selves and get me a good expensive gift tomorrow with a big smile on your face. What are you annoyed about??  " Maya di said before closing the door from outside of the room.

" Maya, you stupid open the door. I will kill you. " Mohit shouted.

" Hey, that is not fair... You can't talk to my wife like that. You have to deal with me before that. But right now... Enjoy your wedding night. Good night to both of you. " I heard Viraj Ji's voice. He was laughing along with Maya di.

" Oh, God !!! My family is really crazy. We need to go home. " He muttered under his breath.

" Viraj, open the door, we need to go to my penthouse. We need to be left alone on our wedding night. It is kind of embarrassing, please try and understand. At least you should try and understand me. "

" I understand you well bro but I can't spoil my lovely wife and mom's planning. Please bear with it. I can't afford to annoy my beautiful wife. I don't want to spend the whole week in the guest room. Sorry, bro... " Viraj Ji said and his voice seemed to trail away with that.

" Oh shit!! They all are mad. They always do what they want. Why did they arrange this traditional wedding? " He was pacing from here to there in the room. His gesture was making me nervous as well.

We had to go back to his penthouse but they did not let us go. 

I was getting tired because of the heavy dress and jewellery, so I sat down on the couch.

" Mohit Ji please calm down and sit my head is a bit spinning to see you pacing like this. "

" Oh sorry. Actually sorry for everything. " He said looking at the door.

" Everything?? "

" For this traditional wedding, you got so emotional when pandit Ji called your father for kanyadaan. I swear, I felt bad. Sorry for this as well. "

" It's ok Mohit Ji. You tried your level best. Thanks for that. But they are your family. They must have waited for you to get married. Every parent thinks the same way. If my parents were alive they would have wanted a big Indian wedding with all the rituals and ceremonies. If we can marry just for their happiness, let's pretend to be happy about this as well. It does not matter much, it is a matter of one night only. At least, it would give them satisfaction."  I said to calm him. He nodded and went to the washroom.

I said all that to calm him but I was kind of upset as well as tense. Staying in one room with him just after getting married to him twice in a span of 2 hours. My silly crush on him bothered me even more. My heart was pounding against my chest.

While on other hand, he didn't even look at me properly. When Maya di saw me before the wedding, she said,  " you are looking so lovely and gorgeous in your wedding dress. A very beautiful and shy bride to be... My brother would go crazy with just a glimpse of you. "  She didn't know that her brother was in love with someone else...

I seriously need to meet that woman. I wanted to see what was so special about her that attracted him to her in the first place. He was still so much in love with her that he didn't even look at me once properly.

Not even once !!! 

But why are you upset?? He made it clear in the beginning that he was interested in someone else. My soul said.

I was not in a mood to hear her facts. I knew them too. I was just a bit disappointed.

Anyways, I was just too tired so I decided to change into something I could sleep in.

But what?? My stuff was in my room and the door was locked from outside.

What would I do now?? I could not sleep in this beautiful and elegant lehenga.

I was still thinking when he came out of the washroom wearing his night suit.

" Since we can't go out, we must stop thinking and sleep," he said looking away from me as if he was talking to a wall.

" I can't sleep... "

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