DISCLAIMER : I'm not a north Indian and I don't know the exact order in which all the rituals take place during a wedding. Whatever I have written is based on the information I gathered from the internet. Please forgive me if there are any mistakes.

TARGET : 25 Votes

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Gauri was lying on her bed as she looked at the chooda on her hands which was covered by a cloth.

The chooda ceremony was done early in the morning and now she was resting for a while before she got ready for the wedding.

Gauri's eyes then noticed the darkness of her mehendi that made her remember how the ladies teased her in the morning about how much Omkara loved her.

Darker the color of the bride's mehendi, deeper the husband's love for his bride.

Gauri smiled realising no matter whether the mehendi was dark or not, she still knew what place she held in his heart. Yesterday's incident was a solid proof for that. Even though he hasn't said the 'three golden words', his actions were enough for her to understand him completely.

After all, love is more than just three words mumbled. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day.

Thinking about that, even she hasn't confessed about her feelings. Not that she didn't want to. She couldn't muster up the courage to tell him about that. But she knew that very soon it will happen as well.

Before Omkara came into her life, she was not afraid of falling in love, but was afraid of falling in love with the wrong person. But his efforts, care and patience made her realise that neither all boys are same nor every love story ends with tears.

After what happened with her previous relationship, she had built a wall so strong around her heart to protect it from getting broken again. But then he came, and the wall turned so fragile that it tore apart at the mere touch of him.

Now thinking about all the events that had happened in her life, Gauri couldn't help but thank God for sending someone like Omkara in her life. The pre-wedding jitters were there, but her happiness about spending the rest of her life with someone so special and amazing made her feel at ease.

Her thoughts came to a halt when she heard the knocking at the door. Gauri got up from the bed to open the door realising it was time for her to get ready for the big day.

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After the Baraat and few other rituals, Omkara was waiting for his bride at the mandap that was set in the backyard of the palace with a beautiful lake in the backdrop.

The last time he saw her was during the Sangeet yesterday and he couldn't wait to see her again, especially in the bridal wear. Not that he didn't try to see her. He was caught red handed when he tried to see her after the chooda ceremony.

The ladies teased him mercilessly and advised him not to see her till wedding as it can bring bad omen. He did so not wanting to take any risk on their wedding day.

Hearing the music indicating the entry of the bride, Omkara lifted his gaze and saw her slowly walking towards him.

Omkara's heart skipped a beat seeing her in the red bridal attire. She was looking outrageously beautiful. Beyond imagination.

Gauri smiled feeling happy at the same time nervous as she walked down the aisle. Her smile widened seeing him waiting for her at the mandap.

As she reached near him, both of them smiled at each other feeling the moment which was filled with happiness, contentment and some other strong emotions.

Later, the bride and groom were asked to exchange the garlands.

Gauri took the garland and was about make him wear it when he leaned his head backwards not allowing her to do so.

Omkara grinned looking at Gauri who was pouting at him.

Gauri again tried to do so by standing on her toes but failed since the height difference was also not helping her.

Omkara smiled in amusement and then bent his head for her to make him wear the garland.

Gauri smiled happily as she made him wear it.

Omkara was about to do the same when Shivaay and Abhiraj came forward and lifted her on their shoulders making it difficult for him to make her wear the garland.

Omkara and Gauri looked at them in surprise.

"You can't get away with that." Shivaay said smirking.

"Aren't you my best friend?" Omkara asked shocked.

"Not today. Today I'm just Gauri's brother and I'm not going to let you do this so easily after teasing my sister like that." Shivaay replied.

Gauri chuckled seeing the look on Omkara's face.

Seeing his brother's condition, Rudra and his friend decided to help him with it by lifting him up on their shoulders.

Without wasting any time, Omkara made her wear the garland smiling at her.

Gauri smiled back at him.

After the varmala ceremony, various other rituals were carried out including kanyadaan, havan, phere, etc.

Omkara was then asked to tie the mangalsutra around her neck.

Gauri smiled happily folding her hands in prayer, seeking blessings from the God when he brought the mangalsutra around her.

Omkara blinked his eyes at her smiling as he tied the mangalsutra around her neck.

Everyone showered flower petals on them.

Gauri closed her eyes in contentment when he applied the sindoor along her hair partition.

Finally, the pandit announced them as husband and wife.

As newly wed couple, they went towards their family to seek their blessings.

Daadi blessed them with a lifetime of love and happiness.

When they reached near his parents and bent down to take their blessings, Jhanvi hugged them both.

"You have always been a part of our family, but still officially, welcome to our family, Gauri." Jhanvi said kissing on her forehead.

Gauri smiled happily hearing that.

Reaching near her parents, Gauri's eyes started filling with tears.

Anjali hugged her daughter feeling emotional.

"May God bless you both with lots of love and happiness. Always stay happy and be each other's support system in every ups and downs."

Omkara and Gauri smiled nodding their head hearing that.

Gauri looked at her father when she felt his hand against her head.

"Papa." Gauri said in a choking voice.

Vishaal shook his head and hugged his daughter close to his chest. He closed his eyes to stop the tears from falling and parted from the hug wiping the tears flowing from her eyes.

Vishaal then turned to Omkara who was watching them with a soft smile.

"Anjali has always been worried about our daughters' marriage - what kind of man they will get married to, what kind of in-laws they will get, will they treat them like their own daughter. I used to tell her that until I find the perfect partner for them I would never get them married." Vishaal said smiling at his wife.

"And then finally we found someone who is perfect for our Gauri. I have known you for all these years and I don't think I will ever find someone better than you for our daughter. It's difficult for a father to trust a man with his daughter. But I'm trusting you with my daughter and I know you will never disappoint me." Vishaal said while giving a pat on his shoulder.

"I don't know if I can live up to your expectations, but I will always give her the love, respect and care that she truly deserves." Omkara said smiling.

Vishaal smiled hearing that and hugged his son-in-law.

Then turning to his daughter, whose eyes were filled with tears, Vishaal leaned forward placing a kiss on her forehead.

"From today, you are getting into a new phase of your life with your husband. You can turn to him or his family for anything and everything. I trust my best friend and his family who is now your family as well. Even then, I want you to remember that your Papa will always be there for you no matter what, okay?" Vishaal asked cupping her face.

Gauri nodded her head vigorously feeling too emotional.

Everyone had an emotional smile on their face watching the father-daughter conversation.

"Okay, enough of these emotional talks. We don't want to cry anymore." Rudra said while dramatically sniffing.

Everyone chuckled hearing that.

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Omkara sighed in relief on finally being allowed to enter their room after endless teasings from his brother, best friend and sister-in-laws.

He closed the door and turned around only to see his wife silently laughing.

Wife. Something stirred in his heart realising Gauri was finally his wife now!

"You were enjoying the show in here while I was being troubled by our siblings and friends." Omkara said walking towards her.

"What should I have done? If I had come outside then they would have teased me too. I had faced enough of their teasings when they brought me here after getting the room ready." Gauri told him sighing.

"We will get our chance too." Omkara told her trying to console themselves.

Gauri nodded hearing that and then forwarded the glass of milk in her hands towards him.

Omkara looked at the glass of milk and then looked at her face.

"Gauri, I don't think I need this milk or any other drink for energy tonight." Omkara said teasingly smiling at her.

Gauri's face turned beetroot red hearing that.

"Shut up and drink half of it! It's a ritual." Gauri said still blushing.

Omkara chuckled seeing that and took the glass from her. He drank half of the milk and gave it back to her.

Gauri drank the remaining and kept the glass on the table.

Omkara held her hand and slowly pulled her close to him.

Gauri blushed as she moved into his arms.

"Now let me properly see my wife." Omkara said smiling while stressing on the word 'my wife'.

Gauri's smile widened hearing that.

Omkara's gaze lingered on her face, the sindoor, mangalsutra and red chooda. Everything screamed out that she is his wife now.

"You looked so beautiful earlier. Even now." Omkara told her with a loving smile.

"Thank you. Even you looked so handsome." Gauri replied blushing.

Omkara smiled cupping her face in his palms and leaned forward kissing her forehead.

Slowly, he started trailing kisses from her forehead to cheeks, above her closed eyelids and then the corner of her lips.

Gauri's breath hitched as she enjoyed and cherished each kiss he was planting on her face, with her eyes closed and hands tightly clutching his kurta.

Omkara caressed her cheeks to make her open her eyes and searched for any kind of objection. Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, he slowly took her lips in his and gently started kissing her.

Gauri's heart skipped a beat as she smiled into the kiss and started kissing him back. He wrapped one of his arms around her to pull her more close to him and deepened the kiss.

Omkara was going mad feeling the softness of her lips against his while Gauri's hold tightened on his kurta.

Feeling out of breath, they parted and leaned their forehead against each other trying to catch their breaths.

Gauri's eyes fluttered open feeling him gently caressing her cheek. Seeing him staring at her so lovingly, she blushed and hugged him, her face buried into his chest.

Omkara chuckled and hugged her back tightly feeling so happy.

"I think we should sleep now. We are already tired after all the functions and tomorrow, we have to wake up early in the morning too." Omkara said slowly parting from the hug.

Gauri nodded agreeing with him. They were going to visit Guruvayur Temple for one last time, before they go back to Mumbai.

"Do you want to change into something comfortable?" Omkara asked her.

"Yeah. Even though I love wearing sarees, I don't think I can sleep in a saree." Gauri replied sighing before moving towards the cupboard to take out her bag.

The number of times she had to change her dress today was unbelievable!

Gauri took out a comfy kurta and palazzo set and moved into the washroom.

Since he was already dressed in a comfortable kurta set, Omkara decided to wait for her to come out.

When she came out of the washroom, he went in to freshen up a little.

On coming out of the washroom, Omkara saw her waiting for him on the bed.

He went towards the bed and sat beside her.

"We forgot something. You have to find your name in my mehendi design." Gauri said forwarding her hands feeling excited.

"Oh yeah! But are you seriously going to make me sleep on the couch?" Omkara asked her teasingly.

"I can't disobey my mother-in-law. I will have to do that if you fail." Gauri said cheekily.

Omkara shook his head smiling and took her hands in his to look for his name. He lied down on his stomach in a more comfortable position.

When he couldn't find his name even after several minutes, Omkara looked up at her and saw her smugly smiling at him.

Omkara became even more determined and looked back at her hands, but now searching for his name with utmost concentration.

Suddenly, his eyes noticed his name between her ring and pinky finger.

Omkara grinned seeing his name. Instead of telling her that, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss above his name on her palm.

Gauri blushed realising he found his name.

Omkara sat up straight smirking at her.

Gauri turned around to take the gift which she had taken from her bag earlier and forwarded it to him.

"Gift?" Omkara asked surprised.

"Yeah! Open it." Gauri told him feeling excited.

Omkara smiled seeing her excitement along with nervousness.

Gauri watched him as he opened the gift and took out the bracelet.

Omkara stopped in surprise seeing his name engraved on the platinum bracelet that she got for him.

"Liked it?" Gauri asked feeling nervous. She was really confused about what to get for him as a gift. She had thought of gifting him a watch first, but then left the idea because he had a huge watch collection and she wanted to gift him something unique. And then she decided to get him a bracelet with his name engraved on it. Now she was worried, whether he would like the gift or not.

Omkara looked up at her hearing the question.

"Loved it! I had it in my mind to get a wrist chain for myself and you gifted me one with my name engraved on it. Thank you so much, Gauri. I love it." Omkara told her smiling happily.

Gauri smiled happily hearing that.

"Now, can you do the honour of making your husband wear this?" Omkara asked her grinning.

Gauri blushed hearing that and took the bracelet from him to put it around his wrist.

Omkara leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you, Mrs Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi." Omkara whispered near her ear.

Gauri blushed happily hearing that and hugged him.

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Please do vote and comment.

With love
Devu❤️