Waiting impatiently Shivay peeped through everyone wishing them to have a transparent figure while chanting marriage mantras. He looked handsome wearing bengali traditional marriage wear for grooms. How he wished his mother to look at him getting married too but as priest informed them about another custom of mother not seeing her son's marriage they had to agree, wholeheartedly or half but otherwise seemed a null option.

"Please call the bride" to his relief at last the moment came.

He will see his Anika, after such long days. How he longed for just one glance of her owing to his heart. Listening to the priest chanting more holy words he closed his eyes hoping to see her the moment he opens them. Few seconds appeared as decades to him after which he opened to see her. There she was, her red banarsi saree was glowing with its gorgeous golden boarder. He looked up to see four men supporting the plank she was sitting over, the rituals he is getting familiar with is making him more excited with every passing second as he waited to know more.

His eyes travelled further up too see her face covered, her one hand held beetle leaf while the other clutched someone's sherwani tightly for support. His eyes travelled behind to somehow manage to see her through those leaves but unfortunately it came out as another topic of teasing. Listening to the priest he stood up settling his urges with a smile.

"Is she also dying to have a glance of mine" he thought wanting to know the answer.

He noticed four men revolving around him as the crowed counted and most probably she giggled after completion of every round. After long seven rounds they stopped in front of him.

"Look at him" three words that sounded magical from the men beside her. She will look at him now, he will read her eyes now, he will have the look at his moon after the longest eclipse of his life.

Slowly her hands traversed down revealing her face. She was looking gorgeous, the white pattern adorning her red round bindi made her look more beautiful than ever. The smile playing at the corner of her red painted lips looked so royal yet so subtle. The light bridal makeover made her look more beautiful. His mind played different words at the same time making him numb. He was staring at her without blinking the lashes as he heard a comment passed by Ishana.

"You have all your life left to adore each other without blinking, so please finish off this look look game soon. My poor brothers' hands will slip off from its place now" Anika blushed at the comment looking down but again looked up not wanting to leave a moment to stare him.

Suddenly Anika rose high in air, so was Shivay. Their trance broke listening to woot and cheers as everyone compared who is more dominant, the bride or the groom by pushing them high up in the air. But amongst them who can be the winner when it is them and defeated they were pulled back over the ground because they are equal to each other, forever, in every sense. The exchange of garlands took place with them held high by their respective brothers as everyone else ended up in peals of laughter.

The marriage rituals started. Blinking her moist eyes Anika looked around to see all her friends and family enjoying her marriage to the fullest. She can read happiness and satisfaction over her parent's face. Lastly she turned towards Shivay who was looking at her intently. A look that shivered her core and again that pain inside her heart. She immediately looked away closing her eyes to pacify the heartbeats remembering how she got sure of her feelings towards Shivay, just few minutes ago.

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She looked through the window and spotted him, sitting over a gorgeous mare. Her eyes got stuck, not willing to move away an inch and somewhere wanting him to look up, just once. Maybe listening to her heart he looked up resulting an immediate shift away of Anika from the window. A bulge of pride formed inside his heart knowing it was she, peeping to have a look of him from up. He looked back at his brothers who were dancing carefree enjoying every step they are taking in. Sahana and Soumya looked happy too. He was contended knowing how much happiness he has given to everyone. Up there Anika clutched her heart, the heartbeats definitely stopped because she felt numb there. A warm feeling crept making her smile, and it was clear to her. She loves him, and her love is enough for both of them, if he isn't in her love still. She promised to her heart that she will make him fall for her not even knowing how much her handsome groom has fell for her. She smiled bright listening to everyone cheering her for her new life, new journey.

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They got up taking rounds around the fire and promising vows to each other. Holding hands the feel of holding over the relation washed through them. The ocean of feelings from both sides just pacified. He was sure that only this woman in his life is everything along with his own family. He felt protective towards her, he was even scared to loose her if ever, and he also prayed for her every now and then. And the jolt of happiness rushing through her made her believe over her love, so very much. Completing seven rounds they stood in front of the holy fire.

"Please shower those khoi in the fire" obeying the demand Shivay stood behind Anika, their figures touching each other. He put his hand around her to support the chaff in her hand and according to the process of winnowing he showered those khoi in the fire.

Their senses although betrayed them while being attached like adhesive to each other, praying to get away soon Shivay managed his hormones and felt proud of it. Priest lastly asked him to put the vermilion over her partition, he raising up the maangtika and looking at the fire pushed up the vermilion over her partition resulting in the falling of red vermilion over her nose. Immediately someone from behind hid his bride's face with a red saree and they called it lojja bostro, which he asked for translation and got to know that it is the cloth to hide bride's blush just after she becomes someone's wife. The saree is known as blush cloth. His heart warmed up listening to the explanation and he turned towards her to see her face covered with vermilion that adorned her like a goddess.

"My goddess" his heart said accepting everything of her.

Completing the last pages of holy marriage mantra book the priest said in high voice declaring them husband and wife, forever. Registration process was followed next making them husband and wife in law's rules as well. Getting tied forever they felt another rush of feelings. She failed to keep looking giving into his state blushing hard. A teasing night followed by.

Om enjoyed a lot after so many days. Surprisingly Ishana was behaving such normal with him, isn't she angry for what he said to her? He wondered whether he should call the declared breakup as the end or their is scope? He was confused, but this confusion too excited him just as he was before proposing her.

Looking at Rudra bonding up with Sahana so well tears tickled out from Soumya's eyes. She always wondered how would have Sahana's father loved her, and seeing Rudra playing the part, or maybe trying to play, she felt good, really good and special after so long.

Pushing away the thoughts of loosing her husband she smiled bright walking up to her daughter and Rudra.

"Thank You Rudra for taking her care, I ne er knew that you can bond with children so well" she complimented trying to take back Sahana in her hold.

"Not sure about children but bonding with my Sahana is very easy, isn't it princess?" he asked a half sleepy Sahana and patted her back to get some sleep.

'My Sahana's is that what he said? Is she hearing it right? But the words sounded so perfect. For a moment she thought why didn't she meet Rudra at first, why didn't she got married to him? But for the time these thoughts are irrational, thinking so she pushed away such thoughts to give into teasing her Shivay sir and Anika didi, yes she has started calling Anika as didi.

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"Di don't cry please, we all are here. You can come to meet us everyday right? Please don't cry" Ishana cried more trying to soothe her sister who was leaving her maternal house and shifting to in-laws. Shivay gently squeezed her hand in a protective hold.

"Please look after my daughter beta, and if she does any mistake please forgive her, I am asking forgiveness on her behalf now itself" folding hands Anika's father managed to say the words.

"I will Bapi, please have faith over me and I promise on her behalf that she won't ever commit any mistake. I just pray that I never commit any that will hurt her" his eyes never left hers while uttering every word stressing them.

Listening to those more tears cascaded down her eyes. He nodded a no asking her to stop but she failed to fulfil his demand and in turn cried more. With pain of happiness in her heart she sat inside the car bidding bye to everyone.

"Ishu, please take care of Maa and Bapi always. In any difficulty please contact me wasting no time. I will miss you all" she cried more saying those words looking out through the car's window.

The car accelerated forward leaving tiny figures behind and at last vanishing them in air. Her tears started to get a hold.

"It hurts to see years in your eyes D" he said squeezing her hand.

"I am sorry to hurt you, but it hurts to leave my family behind forever" she answered, her tears danced in her eyes.

"I promise that you won't miss them much ever, I won't let you do so" his voice had another level of depth that assured her.

She also wanted to know what he feels for her. And this reminded her, of her feelings and she looked down with a shy smile. He got startled by such random change of mood. But to his satisfaction he got a topic to tease her.

"You are not pregnant right?" he asked shocking her, she gulped hard listening to this sudden comment and was at lost to reply anything.

"No, I mean such mood swings" he winked completing the sentence with a naughty grin.

She smiled and hit him purposely over his arm getting 'ouch' as a reply and shifted more towards him. Putting her head over her chest she exhaled relaxed breath. He was hers after all, no more fight with destiny to get him. The bitter phase of their relation scared her suddenly as she held his hand.

He taking the chance slipped his fingers between her's and kissed over her head.

"I am with you forever" he whispered in her ear resulting her smile to rise more.

He played with her fingers, circling over them getting chances and stealing glances. Her eyes were closed, so he thought that she isn't aware of his stare but she felt him looking at her intently and kept her eyes shut not willing to look up in his magical eyes where she can get lost, forever. As the car went more far from her house a feeling of responsibility filled gradually inside her. Knowing that she is the eldest daughter-in-law she somewhere felt good as well as scared but she knows that her Shivay is always with her, in every phase because he has promised to not leave her hand ever and so was she.

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At last I completed the marriage chapters, Okay I am seriously happy and probably one more chapter would have post marriage celebrations and after that something spicy and romantic. Stay tuned darlings and share your reviews about Bengali marriage, haha.

Thank You so much to everyone who read, voted and commented. Hope you have enjoyed this part as well. If so then please do hit the star button and leave your comment or criticism down.

NEXT EPISODE WILL GET POSTED ON SUNDAY.

-NILANJANA