It was the day of Arjun and Subhi's marriage. Whole house was decorated. The mandap stood up being draped with silk clothes and splendid flower design. Everyone was roaming around being decked up, nicely. Even, Arjun had come downstairs after getting ready.

Subhi was having final touches of her bridal look under supervision of Preeti who had left no lack in fulfilling duty of a mother to Subhi.

"I am so happy about this day, Subhi. I am going to get my daughter again, for forever," Preeti settled the veil on Subhi's head, all perfectly.

"I am happy too, aunty. A mother like you who knows only showering selfless love is a precious gift for lifetime," Subhi looked at Preeti. Their reflections on mirrors were interacting with each other.

"Not aunty anymore! You have to call me maa from now itself," the glint of happiness grew more in Preeti's eyes.

"You have always been a mother to me. Today, I am just going to claim the right of addressing you with that sweetest word, Maa!" Subhi put all her emotions to address Preeti as maa.

Both shared an emotional moment for a while through silent glancing.

"Let's go to claim you place and your person. Everyone must be waiting for you, especially he," Preeti helped Subhi to stand up, and led her towards the destination.

When Subhi walked at the middle she heard guests whispered compliments for her. Lowering her eyes, she kept walking towards Arjun accompanied by Preeti, beside her. Reaching near him, she could clearly feel his concentrated gaze on her.

A cold shiver spread all over her skin, making her nervous to no end. She was about to climb up the stairs of mandap, suppressing the change which was too stubborn to appear in her gesture due to his gazing.

She was going to lose balance because of heavy bridal attire, but he quickly actioned himself to hold her hand. Utilising his manly force, he managed her balance, held her by waist, and pulled her up, gently.

"It's inauspicious to step out of mandap before completion of marriage,"

"Arjun should have thought about that. Subhi could have been helped in another way,"

"Yes, he did wrong according to ritual," guests started murmuring among themselves.

Subhi became panicked for creating the disturbance. Sensing that, he held her hand in a tender grip.

"I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't stepped out of mandap, fully. One leg of mine went forward to be near Subhi, to help her with balance, and other one was at mandap, helping my force to pull her up," he countered, defending his action.

"Ritual hasn't been broken. If it had been necessary I would have broken that for her. She's going to share these rituals with me. Can't I prefer her and her respect to rituals?" He pressed her hand, making her measure the depth of his words with his mere gesture.

Silencing everyone with justified words, he spared a glance of assurance towards her. That became the special moment for her among all the others they had done and they were going to do.

His eyes were full of promises of love, care, trust and respect. She couldn't help herself from stealing glances with him during rituals of marriage. His closeness had replaced her anxiety with a huge amount of joy which was a totally new feeling for her.

Seven steps were taken, seven promises were exchanged, and they were pledged with each other for next seven births.

So readers, here's the next part.

Now questions.

(1) Any fact did you like here?

(2) Any gesture to be commented?

(3) Any guess or expectation for next?

LAXMIPATI SHRI NARAYAN, please accept the positivity of my this work as an offering to you in name of all wellbeing of my LIFELINE.

JAY SIYA RAM 🙏

SHRI SHIVAAY NAMASTUVYAM 🙏

RADHE RADHE 🙏