Writer's POV:-

"No, wait... " Aakarsh stepped closer to her, "Come on put it," he urged, quickly. People chuckle at his urgency but he cared less. His girl was the centre of his focus right now and no way he would let her go.

No more risks... who knows she might refuse to put it at all. She was his wild kitten for a reason.

Diksha paused too as he waited for her, looking innocently.

She gave him a victorious smirk and then at his supporters - cousins who were encouraging him to win! While all her girl gang roared in cheer and joy, knowing who was actually winning there.

Enthusiasm was rushing in veins like blood as they encouraged the bride.

"That's the power, Di!" The girls cheered and heard a chorus scowl from the groom's side of cousins.

Aakarsh threw them a mad glare too, but then looked at his wife, silently requesting her, "Come on!" He pleaded.

Yes, he literally pleaded! And he had no shame in accepting it as it was Diksha, his girl, on the receiving end!

"No... you teased me... you suffer!" Her face was full of smugness as she taunted, obviously, enjoying the situation. Her lips pressed, hiding the notorious smile.

Aakarsh looked around the guest giving him teasing glances, their parents shook their heads too. He surely had messed up with her at the wrong time. Not keeping his weapons yet, he requested again in a low voice, though luring his bride.

"Jaan, your poor husband is waiting... do it, baby!" Cooing her, he looked at her cutely, making her eyebrows raise in astonishment.

This man was just boosting his ego and not coming down! Her mind chided

At the same time Annapurna interrupted their hushed conversation, "Diksha, do it fast, beta, Pandit Ji is calling for the rituals!"

Hearing her mother's call, she replied to him, "Don't think you're saved, Mr. Verma. The revenge will be taken." With that, she eyed him to bring his head down and put the rose garland on his neck. People clapped, while Aakarsh smiled at her, gazing intently "I'll be waiting for your revenge, Mrs. Verma!"

His words made her heart skip a bit, she realised she was indeed Mrs. Verma and after today it will be verified by all traditions too.

A gooey feeling fluttered her heart, she didn't know when her face turned scarlet, challenging the prettiest hue of dawn.

"Let's go," Aakarsh held her hand and interlaced their fingers as they were to sit in the Mandap (a decorated setup for a Hindu wedding. a Sample image in the media box.)

The bride and groom were taken to Mandap which was beautifully made on the lawn. The golden chandeliers hung all around the lawn as it was semi-covered from upside. This was Diksha's request to not cover it fully. She wanted to get married under the stars where the moon and starry sky would be blessing their union. The enormous lawn was decorated with several beautiful drapes of golden, red and white flowers, especially roses.

All dreams and a fairy wedding... what swelled their hearts was the person they would call theirs for a lifetime now!

The priest asked Aakarsh and Diksha to sit together. Their cousins sat around them teasing the couple until the wedding started; Sejal just behind Diksha for her help.

"Bhai, you still have time, save your freedom, let's run away!" Neev mocked playfully, making everyone laugh. As it was still some minutes considering the priest preparing for the holy fire, they enjoyed the silly teasing and leg-pulling.

"Exactly Bhaiya, I even have the car ready. Come, let's go!" Vidyut held his hand and acted like pulling him. Aakarsh fake glared at him but then chortled at their poor acting.

"And I'm sure Bhabhi won't mind, right Bhabhi?" Neev teased Diksha, as she was watching their drama.

"Not at all, unless you guys are taking me with him!" Her bold reply earned a loud hooting from the youngsters. Aakarsh looked intently at her as he smirked, mouthing a 'Wanna go?', she chuckled shyly and nodded her head in a no.

Their cousins teased them more as they witnessed their small talk in eye gestures.

"Take this!" The priest demanded their attention, giving them some flower petals and rice grains coloured yellow. He lit the fire in the middle, starting the wedding.

The couple looked at each other as the chanting of holy hymns started. Holding Diksha's hands in his, Aakarsh followed everything that the priest said. After a series of rituals, her parents were called for Kanyadaan and that brought an emotional scene for everyone present there.

As Mayank and Annapurna sat beside Diksha (she was sitting in between her parents now), the three of them snivelled while performing the customs. Mayank, who was still maintaining a less emotional state, too shed tears when the priest made them put Diksha's hand in that of Aakarsh, who held her hand tightly, marking the completion of that specific ritual.

A father's heart never agrees to give his daughter to anyone... but for the laws of the universe, he has to give away his heart, his daughter. Mayank didn't want to show anyone his weaker side, but how is he not supposed to cry when he will send his little birdie off today?!

Mayank remembered the day he had first taken his dear daughter in his arms and today with the same hands he is giving her to someone else.

It was hard... It was hurting! Diksha had her lips pursed hard not to cry loudly when she saw her father crying.

Like him, Annapurna was also weeping silently. She knew the pain of a girl when leaving her parents. But this pain of sending her own daughter away, who she had kept in her womb for 9 months, borne after bearing all the pain and had felt the most beautiful feeling in the world of being a mother by looking at her first sight only, was ten times intense. She didn't know how to console her heart today.

What customs this world has set for girls? Only they have to leave those people who made her.. brought her into this world and nurtured her with everything in them - her loving parents. Diksha looked at her Mumma and Papa and her tears stubbornly brimmed out.

The parents were done with their part so they shifted a little away from the bride and groom, and settled where Mrinal and Krishna were sitting. The latter consoled them and promised the happiness of their daughter.

"Beta, tie the knot with her chunari and Please stand up for the Phere and Vachan (taking seven rounds of fire while taking seven vows)!" The priest put a pink coloured cloth on Aakarsh's shoulder and asked Sejal to tie it with Diksha's veil and then asked the bride and groom to get up.

Aakarsh stood up and forwarded his hands to Diksha. She held his hand and with the help of Sejal in handling the heavy lehenga she got up. They started the pheras with Aakarsh holding Diksha's hand. The priest pronounced the seven vows while the couple repeated them after him.

"Put them on her toes!" The priest forwarded the Bicchiya (toe rings) to Aakarsh when the pheras were completed.

He sat on his one knee and Diksha forwarded her feet sliding her lehenga till her ankle - showing her anklets purposely. He smiled proudly looking at the same pair of Payal in her ankles that he had given her last night. He made her wear those silver toe rings on all of her toes and stood up.

They were asked to sit with Diksha sitting on his left side this time. The priest forwarded a decorated plate containing the box of Sindoor (vermilion) and Mangalsutra (nuptial chain).

"Make her wear this." The priest asked, pointing at the Mangalsutra.

Aakarsh picked the sacred chain and came closer to his bride. She has been already looking at him with an ocean of emotions overwhelming her. Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness and her lips sealed to witness the sanctity of the moment.

"To our forever and beyond!" Looking at her radiant face he chose the perfect moment to whisper the most precious words in her ears; Aakarsh tied the Mangalsutra around her neck. A warm smile curved her lips and she accepted the 'forever' he promised.

The priest picked up another box and forwarded it to the groom.

"Fill her hairline," He asked Aakarsh while giving the Sindoor to him. Aakarsh took a pinch of it and turned to Diksha. Annapurna asked Sejal to raise Diksha's Mang-tika.

The moment was here. Their hearts thumped, fighting to jump out. The time almost stopped for them as they looked at each other. Her cheeks tinted with the crimson hue, matched the effect of vermilion. He fixed his eyes with her shining brown orbs, the same duo that had snatched his peace in their first meeting through video call.

Barely, he had imagined that these orbs would drown him in them forever and he would be marking their union one day, looking into the same pairs of captivating eyes. He submitted to his feelings and promised with most soulful words, looking deep into her eyes, probably her soul.

"I promise to love you till my last breath, Jaan!" With that said, he filled her hairline with a broad stroke of Sindoor. His chest swelled with pride and possessiveness, seeing that holy evidence of their matrimony. The love he felt for her in that instant was indescribable.

Her eyes closed on their own, feeling the sacred euphoria of this very moment. A lone tear of joy rolled down her cheeks and her lips curled into the most peaceful smile - she accepted his love confession and the promise. Diksha opened her eyes and their gazes locked again for the nth time tonight. Like they had calmed after a storm, their eyes were seeking solace in each other.

"With the blessings of all the Gods and the knowledge I have, I now pronounce you as husband and wife. The wedding is complete!" A happy voice of the priest boomed through the surroundings as he declared them married, earning a shower of applause from everyone.

Everyone clapped and the youngsters hooted in joy pulling the couple out of their magical land. They blinked and looked at everyone.

"Congratulations, Bhai, your bachelorhood is finally snatched! Gone are the good days of freedom!" Neev patted Aakarsh's shoulder, teasing him. Aakarsh chuckled and so did everyone.

"Don't worry, yours will be snatched soon!" Aakarsh taunted playfully, sending another wave of laughter to everyone.

Diksha and Sejal shook their heads as they chuckled along with everyone as the light-hearted teasings had uplifted her heavy mood. The priest then asked the bride and the groom to take everyone's blessings.

They touched every elders' feet and took their blessings. Their parents and grandparents hugged them happily.

Mayank and Annapurna then asked everyone to sit for dinner as it was time for the bridegroom to feed each other. The couple were asked to walk to the table when Aakarsh noticed his shoes were missing. He looked here and there but it was not in sight

"Are you looking for your shoes, Jiju?" Prachi squealed, mischievously questioning him.

"Yeah, I took it off just here!" He pointed to a place out of the Mandap.

"Let's go, they will take some time now!" Krishna and Annapurna asked the elders to head towards the dining area while the youngsters played their games.

"We have your shoes. But to get that you have to pay the price!" Sejal declared, grinning with the other girls.

Aakarsh frowned at first then it dawned upon him that they had hidden his shoes - 'The Juta Chhupai'! His cousins had already informed him about this ritual and Krishna had informed him something additionally. It's kind of a playful game in the wedding where the groom's sisters-in-law would hide his shoes and then he had to give them shagun (cash or some gifts) to get his footwear back.

"First show us his shoes!" Vidyut intervened.

"No, first our shagun!" The girls said in chorus, startling him.

"But we need to see whether you actually have the shoes or not!" Neev made a point.

"We have the shoes you don't have to doubt, right girls?" Sejal answered, getting support from the girls as they chorused 'right',

"Jiju, ask your brother's not to interrupt us. We will give your shoes only when you give us shagun!" Said Sejal,

Aakarsh who was letting his brothers settle the matter, saw the girls going strong on them and decided to step in.

"Ok, how much?" Aakarsh smiled and asked, knowing they won't give it back without the shagun.

"One lakh fifty one thousand only!" The girls shouted the price giggling afterwards,

The boys had their eyes bulging out of their sockets,

"What? Are you demanding shagun or ransom?" Gasped a horrified Vidyut and the other boys chanted a yes. He looked at Neev who was equally shocked, "Exactly one and a half lakhs for a pair of shoes!" The girls laughed at their faces.

"Bhaiya, don't give them that much, we'll get you another pair, and you girls can keep the shoes with you!" Vidyut asked Aakarsh and challenged the girl gang.

"We are not coming in your false talks," Prachi exclaimed, laughing at him.

"Yes, give us our shagun, Jiju!"

Aakarsh scratched his forehead, "That's really too much... Let's settle for fifty thousand." He negotiated only to hear all of them shouting a no.

"No, not a single rupee less than that!" Declared Sejal in a final tone.

"Not at all. Krish, wait I'll get you another pair of shoes, or they'll loot you today!" Neev's sound was still coming as horrified listening to their demands.

"We won't let jiju wear that nor let him move from here. Either pay the price or keep standing here." It was Tanvi stating their demands this time. Neev was stunned at the audacity of the teenager trying to intimidate him.

"See, your Didi is tired and we need to have dinner. So, let's fix it quickly. How about one lakh?" Aakarsh interrupted again, another futile attempt at negotiation as he was glancing at a tired Diksha in between.

"Yes, Didi is tired so make it quick. One lakh fifty one thousand only!" The girls again chorused, soiling all his plans of negotiation.

"Okay, what will you do with that much money?" Vidyut tried to divert them,

"Don't waste our time!" Tanvi frowned and snapped at him, making the boys present there laugh hard.

"How about -"

"One lakh fifty one thousand only!" The girls said altogether, not letting Aakarsh complete his words.

Tired of the weight of the lehenga, Diksha sat in the nearby chair while her girl's gang teased her husband and got their demands fulfilled. Aakarsh looked at her for help but she nodded no, mouthing a 'Handle them on your own'.

Eventually, having no other option, he played his last card - The Ace of Spades!

"See, girls, the thing is I don't roam with that much cash in my wedding attire so -"

"It's digital time we are living in, Jiju, we have all the solutions!" Prachi cut him in between taking out something on her phone's screen and showing it to him.

Damn! His ace of spades of an excuse failed drastically! *laughing*

"Here, pay us through this!" She exclaimed, making Aakarsh look at her in amazement.

"What digitally advanced sisters-in-law you have got, Krish!" Neev commented, amusingly.

The boys looked more surprised for one more time as they saw a UPI QR code appearing on her screen. Disbelief was clear in their eyes as they looked at their arrangement for receiving shagun.

The girls wouldn't let anyone snatch their rights! *Wink*

"You've got everything ready!" Aakarsh commented, chuckling at their arrangement, fetching his phone from his pocket.

"We knew you would try that excuse!" Sejal taunted with a funny tone.

"Arey, bhaiya, wait... " Vidyut shouted, holding his brother's hand.

"Chhote, it's their right!" Aakarsh smiled at him as he remembered his mother's words.

The boys whined when the girls showed them a down thumb sign for defeat, getting their shagun from Aakarsh. They all laughed and returned the shoes to Aakarsh. They tried to make him wear the shoes but he refused strongly.

"You've got an amazing husband, Didi!" Prachi said to Diksha, smiling at her.

"I know!" She replied, looking at her husband who was talking to his brothers.

Krishna and Annapurna along with some other ladies took the bride & groom for their dinner.

They pulled the couple's legs when they settled in the dining area and Aakarsh and Diksha fed each other on their insistence. The wedding rituals were completed on a happy note and the much-awaited time came.

"It's time for Vidai, Anu!" Krishna announced, making Diksha's parents sad instantly.

*Vidai = sending off the bride/bidding adieu or farewell

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Here's the update😃

Read and enjoy!🤗

This is a light-hearted chapter just to read and smile! 🥰

People waiting for the explanation of Neel's arrest - you will see half of it in next chapter and then another half. 😅

Tell me how was this wedding part as it was my first time attempting a wedding scene.... Well, I'm a novice!🙈🙈

Waiting for you responses,🤩

Thank you! ❤️❤️