Ragini's POV:

I was shocked when Siddhu said I own the Nayak Nivas...I thought he's bluffing to shut my dad up but no he was serious!!!
The papers were the living proof lying on the glass table...they read...Ragini Siddhesh Pai as the owner of this house and I couldn't believe how...

'How?? How can she??? I don't want charity Siddhesh...I went through tough times doesn't mean Sumanth Nayak is so incapable that he ends up taking charity from his son in law and this girl...huhhh...she will earn to pay off my debts???' my father smirked and it hurt me even more...

'Well for your surprise she earned this mansion maamu' Siddhesh spoke while my dad said something so insane that I felt ashamed that he was my father...

'How??? By sleeping with you??? What more is her capability?' and I looked at my father in utter disbelief...Siddhu clenched his hands but my tears didn't stop as I collapsed on the floor...

How can my own father think so low of me??? For a minute I thought was I not born to this man??? My mother stood there covering her mouth with her hands when my father almost called me a sl*t!!!

'Dad???' a whisper escaped my mouth as Siddhu held me by shoulder and I looked at his eyes. They were filled with tears. This was the moment I was an orphan and that I had no one for me...I wanted to cry loudly in a dark room...while suddenly I heard a loud sound and my head snapped in the direction upwards and I was shocked to see my grandfather had slapped my father.

'How I wish I had done this to a disgusting leech like you who called his own daughter something else? I have seen your attitude towards women since you were a teen... initially it was Sushma then Shalini now her...why is it so tough for you to understand that she is a girl and that doesn't mean she is weak...don't forget !!! Your mother was also a woman!!! You are calling names to whom and why??? Tell me...

No ...Tell me Sumanth what makes a man superior??? A male child??? Is that so??? Rohit was the only heir to Kamath family...and what has he achieved in life? He got engaged to Swathi for money and the minute he got to know Swathi's father underwent a huge loss in business he opted out of the engagement and is now looking for someone more wealthy who could shower more dowry on his head...???

Amitash...yet another 'son' in our family...your own sister's son...he insults his parents, looks down upon them as they don't speak good English and is ashamed to take them along with him because he feels his father wears a veshti (it is very much like a white colored cloth like a lungi)...not upto his standards and so called class!!!

For this you wanted male children???
Look Sumanth I'm not saying all boys are bad, but I want you to understand that not all girls are bad either!!! look at our Siddhu he's one in a billion...but it's not that Ragini is any less...It's about equality...why don't you understand it doesn't make a difference if it's a boy or a girl...it's the love that matters...it's the upbringing that matters and same way the ability that matters...

You have to pave a way for your sick mindset to leave and accept the fact that your daughter is no less and accept it once and for all Sumanth...

You are getting old!!! The day you reach my age it's only this young woman who will be there to take care of you and Sushma... married unmarried doesn't matter... she's your child and she will be the one to take care of you...

But I'm not saying love her because she has to take care of you... instead love her because she is your child...and definitely she doesn't need a thing from you anymore...look she's on her own feet... she's even purchased this house from her husband...' Ajjo said while my father was looking down...

'Ajjo I don't know...I didn't give any money to Siddhu' I clarified and Siddhu said...

'Its not a charity case Ragini...this is your hard earned money...I made sure to only give you a portion of your salary and the rest was reinvested in shares... when shares hit a high... your money multiplied...so it's your hard earned money...your salary Ragini' he said and I broke down badly...he pulled me against his chest and I cried in his arms...

He cooed me like a baby while my father was speechless...he had nothing to say for the first time ever in his life.

Siddhesh's POV:

Ragini cried like a baby today. It killed me seeing her like that. It was like a storm of tears which were unleashed and she kept drowning in it. For the first time in my life I was disappointed with something.

Yes it was Sumanth uncle.
I felt bad that although Ragini was an independent individual and today she earned something on her own her happiness was tarnished by her own father along with her character. If it was anyone other than Sumanth mamu I would have choked them right then and there.

I looked at Ragini who slept after crying all day and I stood there looking outside. I didn't want to stay here anymore. It was enough of what she had to hear. I couldn't tolerate anymore.

I had made a decision.

***
It was extremely awkward situation post yesterday's dirty show down and I didn't want stay here anymore but Ajjo convinced me saying

'Mamu is guilty!!!'

Sumanth uncle sat there with a lowered head and I really wanted him to apologise to Ragini. Not just for what he said yesterday but for all that he said and did for years.

'Iam sorry Ragini...' came out of his mouth while Ragini simply looked down and a drop of tear fell from her eyes.

I closed my eyes!!! And stood up at once. I spoke up...

'Well now that it's done I also want to say something...' and I turned around and held Ragini's hand in mine...she looked into my eyes and I cupped her face asking...

'Do you trust me?' and with her pooled eyes she nodded 'Yes'...

'Well then we are getting married
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Right now!!!' I said and her eyes popped out.

Ragini's parents stood up at once and Sumanth mamu couldn't say anything but Sushma aunty spoke up...

'Siddhu this is not the way... society has some norms...she is our daughter'

'And that is the only reason why I agreed to have married to her again with rituals infront of you folks so you can do her 'kanyadan (ritual where parents give away girl in marriage to the boy)...as I'm no one take away that right from you...but rest I don't want anything... neither your society, your prestige, your money nor your property...I have my Ragini for myself and that's enough!!!' while Ragini looked at me and I looked into her eyes and said...

'You said you love me na Ragini...???' and she nodded...

'Then no more questions...marry me...I have done all the arrangements in a small nearby temple and we are getting married right now...okay?' I asked her with my eyes filled with tears and she nodded with a teary smile.

'What nonsense... Siddhu please understand...I know you are upset but why are you punishing me for what my husband said' Sushma aunty argued while I said...

'You are equally at fault here aunty, because you appreciated and were 'ok' with whatever your husband kept saying all these years... yesterday when he crossed all his boundaries least I expected was you to speak up but you didn't!!! I wanted to leave last night itself but I wanted my Ragini to get a decent apology from Sumanth maamu and that's the only reason I stayed back. That too because Ajjo explained me and I cannot deny his words...

From childhood I have been indebted by whatever Sumanth maamu has done for me...but I'm sorry I cannot tolerate anything on my Ragini's character... not a word...nor a scar!!!' while I felt Ragini's strong gaze on me.

'These are transfer papers Ragini...sign it and finish it off ...I don't want anything...you don't need this house which called you 'names' I said and tears kept flowing from her eyes. She signed the transfer papers while Sushma aunty kept shouting and Sumanth mamu kept quiet.

Once she signed it I turned around and placed a little bag in her hand...
'This has my mother's wedding saree and jewellery Ragini...I couldn't organise much at the mom'

'Its priceless Siddhu...there can't be anything better than this...' she said and I smiled. I had already called the beautician as dressing up a Gawd Saraswat Brahmin bride was a complicated affair and I wasn't allowed to see her till we stood to exchange garlands.

I smiled thinking how much our relationship grew over a year since she breaking my mother's necklace to she wearing my mother's wedding saree.

I looked at Sushma aunty and told her...
'In another one hour please reach the 'Vithobha Temple' we are getting married...please come and fulfil your responsibilities' and I walked off to pack my bag. I changed into a simple kurta pajama while I saw Mukund Bhavaji and Ajjo entered the room.

Ajjo told something to Mukund Bhavaji and he smiled and made me wear a chain with a single Rudraksh and although I objected Ajjo said ...
'This is my gift to my child...wear it..I heard it keeps blood pressure under control and now that you are marrying our thunderstorm you will definitely need it' Ajjo said and Mukund Bhavaji started laughing... while I tried hard but burst out laughing.

***
Rituals were been conducted and Ragini's parents completed each one tight lipped. Mukund Bhavaji fulfilled the uncle's ritual of bringing her to the alter as there was no one else to do the same.

There was a silk cloth between us and priest's kept singing melodious hymns and my eyes fell on her feet which looked beautiful with my mother's anklets.

Suddenly the cloth which was held from my vision falling on her was removed and my eyes fell on her and my mouth was wide open.

My lips parted.

One look and I was long gone.
My throat dried and eyes filled with tears. She looked like a goddess and today she would be mine...

Forever after!!!

Priests asked her to make me wear the garland and she took a step closer and lifted her long and beautiful eyelashes to meet my gaze and my heart was in my mouth.

She made me wear the garland and I mechanically did the same.

Her parents did the kanyadan and her mother made her wear dharemani.
And then I was asked to make her wear the mangalsutra. With shivering hands I moved closer to her and tied the red beaded nuptial chain around her neck and applied the vermillion on her forehead claiming her as mine forever after.

She was asked changed into another saree this time I swallowed nervously as she entered the alter wearing the dharemani and the Mangalsutra which was now a sign that she is married to me. This jewellery she would wear on a regular basis. My breath hitched at that very thought.

(Gawda Saraswat Brahmin brides wear two nuptial chain... dharemani which mother makes a bride wear which is a sign that now she is no longer a girl and is a woman and then the Mangalsutra which is a red beaded nuptial chain.)

She was now in every sense...
Ragini Siddhesh Pai.