''You can go if you want to but I won't step in that place ever again.'' The Ranawat Princess declared 

''You are not even invited.'' Advay replied zipping his sky bag. Vikram had invited his cousin to accompany him and Advay was beyond excited. He shared a close bond with his maternal cousins, reason being Raina receiving undue attention from his father's family and relatives. For long he had been waiting to take a break from his duties and enjoy some boys only time.

Raina on the other had been miffed about Siddhant putting a ring on Rolli's finger. Though, it all had been a show, Raina still doubted their relationship. Her family tried explaining but then gave up.

''How could you step into a place where your sister was being betrayed.'' Before Advay could respond Raina was being pulled up with a jerk, ''One more word and I might just do something I have never done before.'' Raksha's angry voice boomed the room.

''You can't even touch the nail on her feet, let alone talk about her. Rolli has done things which no girl can do at her age. And you, what have you done to make us proud other than bossing around people.'' Raina stayed mum. That was the best way to calm her mother. Raksha kept glaring at her spoiled daughter. She now realised what her family went through all those years back.

Receiving no response her eyes turned to Advay, who stopped the flow of words, ''Mom, I am not taking any security. Please, after years I am getting to live this  life for once. And don't call me for next 15 days.''

Raksha ruffled his hair, ''I won't! And I don't have to worry about security. I know Ananya, she will take care of everything.  Go and enjoy and do let me know the stories of your adventures.''

''I will.'' Advay  replied. A hand on his shoulder made him turn. Adi stared at his son with a pride, ''Son, I know you are so looking forward to this trip but don't forget you are engaged.'' Advay nodded, how could he forget that he was bound to a promise his grandfather made when he was a toddler. Though, he knew her but he never felt a thing for her. He had accepted the relationship as his destiny but somewhere Sona and Vikram made him jealous.

Vikram kept is pacing in his room impatiently thinking about his bachelor trip and Ananya's words. She was right, they never discussed a thing. He realised he too should have apologised to her. After all, he had taken a shot at her. The bullet injured her, but somewhere it pierced his heart.

Ananya had gifted him a trip to Thailand but she had booked his flight from Chennai. He had been worrying about how he would see Sona in the eye and what he would say. He stood opposite to the mirror and tried practicing his next meeting when a laughter outside his suite took his attention. Vikram walked to the entrance , he smiled watching Ananya and Ranvijay. How he wished that he too shared the same bond with Sona. 

Ananya turned, locked her eyes with Vikram and then laughed again making the younger man blush. Ranvijay wrapped an arm around her waist "Care to share with me what made you to laugh?"

Ananya met his eyes with a smile and then pointed towards Vikram, "I heard him practicing his meeting.'' She turned to face her love,  "History is repeating itself  Mr.King. The Rathore Prince is determined to win his Princess before the wedding. "

Ranvijay laughed but it held a pride,  "We are Rathores and a Rathore Man will always act crazy when it comes to love.'' 

Ranvijay winked at Vikram who returned it with a smile. Ranvijay and Ananya's love gave him a determination  to make his bond stronger. 

''I am ready bro.'' Vansh dumped his bag next to Vikram's. Though, he didn't wanted to leave but Ananya blackmailed him on brotherly bond.

''We leave once Advay and Badal is here.''

***

Sona paced her room anxiously, since her arrival she had been under watchful eyes of the extended family and the elders of the Father's estate. Elders were meant to be respected, even if they were not Royals. That's what were Aadhavan's values and the and every girl was the daughter of the each family who resided in the estate. And when it came to their Princess, they have been extra cautious. She had to dress in a particular way and take care of every small thing.

''Enga ma kilmbita?'' (Where are you going) asked one of the elderly member of the estate. 

Sona huffed, ''Mama , naa aaru varaikum poitu vanthdaren.'' (uncle, I am just going to the river.) Sona replied 

.''Poluthu saairathukulla vanthidu ma. Aprama inga irutidum'' (be back before the sunset.) She just nodded. Even the staff who took care of her Mother's Palace left no chance to remind her that she was a new bride and was suppose to stay home. Shaking her head she stepped out answering the same question a million times on her way to her destination. 

Walking through the dense green,s she smiled when clean waters came to view. This place had the power to calm her mind any day. Her mother loved this place so did she. Situated in the lap of beautiful western ghats, the skies poured their love in form of pleasant winds and rains. Sona ginned wide, lifting her skirt she tip toed over the rocks in the waters of Alliyar , the Uppar river and sat on one of the broader ones . She lifted her eyes to the skies and smiled when small droplets caressed her face. Oblivious about the fact that she was being watched.

***

Rolli beamed when Ranvijay praised her work, ''You always make me proud.'' She ginned. 

He caressed her head as she smiled staring down at her work, ''You love him then why fight it.'

''Because I love you more Dad.'' She replied. 

''He was mislead. he was hurting Rolli. He thought me as a murderer as you think of him now'' 

''But you didn't do it and he did.''

''Because he wasn't aware of the truth.'' 

Ranvijay held Rolli's chin, turning her eyes to his he explained, ''If he had been the wicked one, I would have killed him as a child. He is repenting, give him a chance. She quickly got up, ''I need to go and help Chachi. She said she bought me good dresses for Vicky's wedding. 

Ranvijay watched her leave, he smiled, '' Let me see how long you hold your heart once he in there in front of your eyes.''

***

''WOW! I thought it was a bachelors tip and here we are becoming the witness to his secret love story.'' Badal cringed as he followed Vikram . Advay and Vansh chuckled at badal's irritation.

''WOW, this place is beautiful.'' Vansh applauded the magic of mother nature.''Had to be, its my Sona's home.'' Vikram replied to be mocked again. He recalled  about the river Sona used to mention fondly during their London days and he was sure to find her there. 

Though, he had put a message to her but having no response for her he took it to be positive answer. Vikram halted when Sona came into the vicinity of his eyes. His followers collided with his back falling one upon the other. ''Crazy groom.'' Badal cursed again''Go and meet her , we will wait her.'' 

Vikram looked around, it was evening and he was glad that she was alone. Not aware that Sona was being watched by every inhabitant of the beautiful lands .

''And what do we three musketeers do?'' Badal asked again. His irritation shocked the other two. Badal had been patient man, Vikram's security and friend but today he shocked them.''what's up with you?'' Advay asked

''My father got me engaged, I have few days of freedom and wish to enjoy that.'' The two prince broke into fits of laughter hearing Badal's agony about losing his bachelorhood. 

''And to answer your question, we are going capture these moments and blackmail the new couple.'' Vansh replied pulling his handy cam out, Advay gave him a hifi as the three sat behind the bushes watching the two stars meet under the blushing moon.

Sona huffed when she heard the splashing of waters. She looked over her shoulder and forgot to blink, tearing the small ripples Vikram walked to her like a lost man. She stood up, her eyes locked with his. It had been days since they felt the air around each other.She took a step slipped to be held by him tight in his arms. 

''I think we should switch the camera off.'' Badal suggested. the two Princes gave him a flat stare and went about their evil brotherly deed. 

''I missed you Sona.'' 

His voice melted the shackles of doubt as she hugged him back tight, ''I did too..a lot.''''What are you doing here?'' She asked realising he was real and not a dream.

''Wanted to apologise...for everything.'' 

She stood watching him for a minute before leaping into his arms, ''Consider all forgiven then.''Leaning against each other they sat on the banks of beautiful waters. 

Sona looked around, ''I should leave.''

''Don't''

''I have to, no one should catch me with you or we both are dead.'' He smiled pulled her closer sealing their lips. Sona forgot all. ''We should switch it off.'' 

Advay suggested but Vansh refused. With great effort she pushed him back, ''We can't see each other. This isn't Jaigarh.'' 

He ignored pulling her closer, ''We will see about that. For now, tell me about the rituals which will bind us together.'' 

She smiled, ''You really want to know.'' He nodded. Sona grinned, she rubbed her palms together,  "Okay, the day you reach here you will get a warm welcome by our elders, specifically grannies who would welcome you with Aarti and a song.'' 

"Oh my god!" he replied , imagining he being welcomed like a king. Sona slapped his shoulder, "You and the family will be reaching here three days before the wedding.''

"Why three days? Why not before that?"

"We do have a ritual called Pandha kaal Muhurtham, it means Worshipping the ancestral deity, and for this you need to be at your home because this will be done in both sides of the bride and groom. So you need to be at you home when your family performs it"

Vikram rolled his eyes, "And what else ?"

''Can you stop interrupting me so I can complete what I started.'' She scolded making the hidden musketeers laugh.

"Go ahead" he answered pulling her closer 

Sona smiled continued describing the rituals one bu one , ''I will start Pre Wedding Rituals  Pandha Kaal Muhurtham , when both the families erect a bamboo pole at the entrance of their house and offer prayers to God for a peaceful, joyous and uninterrupted wedding. This ritual is conducted a day or two days before the wedding, letting the world know that the family is holding a wedding.

Next is PAALIKAI THELLICHAL - Ritual of sprouting grains in earthen pot (Puranic). It is performed by the bride's family and it signifies fertility. Paalikai means earthen pots that are prepared a day before of the wedding and are spread at the base with mango leaves (mavilai) and sand.In this custom, married women decorate 7 clay pots with sandalwood paste and Vermilion (kumkum) powder, and then fill them with curd and 9 types of pre-soaked grains including green gram, black gram, mustard and paddy seeds. They leave the grains to sprout, thereafter, unmarried girls (Kanya) immerse those pots into the nearby water body with a wish to feed the fish on the grains.In this ritual, the sprouted grains are compared to the bride and the groom. When the grains are consumed by the fish, it is believed that the guardian angels present in all eight directions are invoked. It is expected that the celestial beings bless the couple for a happy and healthy life.

NISHCHAYATHARTHAM - The Engagement  is the formal engagement ceremony between the bride and groom that takes place in the presence of all elders of both the families. The function is held the day before the wedding which starts after paying homage to Lord Ganesh (pillaiyar), vanquisher of all obstacles. Then, both the bride/groom's families announce their final agreement to the wedding.The groom's family gifts a traditional clothes  and traditional jewellery to the bride as a gesture of acceptance. Similarly, bride's parents also gift the groom with a new set of clothes as their acknowledgement of the marriage. The bride and the groom then change into the new dress gifted by each other's family.Groom's sister and bride's brother also play an active role in this ceremony. There is a custom of gifting two dolls by the groom's sister to the bride for playing (Vilayadal). To show their recognition for their future brother/sister-in-law, groom's sister and bride's brother apply vermillion (kumkum) and sandalwood (Chandan) tilak on the bride's/groom's forehead respectively and offer a floral garland too. After this, the bride and the groom exchange rings in the presence of friends and relatives.

''WOW So we have a lot to do in wedding" Advay exclaimed excited about it,

''That's fine but I hear someone approaching.'' Badal replied. Before they could understand the love birds were being surrounded by elders specially the women who glared at Vikram.  ''He is dead.'' Vansh concluded, before they could understand Badal suddenly came into his gaurd form and jumped in to protect Vikram.

''Both are dead now.'' Advay added.

''We are such amazing brothers.'' Vansh said as the two shared a muffled laugh. Before Badal could understand, someone threw a blanket over him and then he was being carried off. 

"Enna nadakuthu inga? Sonakshi, yaaru intha paiyan. Ivan kooda Enna panitu irukka nee inga? Evlo thairiyam irumtha evano oruthankooda nee thaniya inga vanthirupa? ithu than nee nee kathukita palakkama'' (What's happening here? Sonakshi, who is this boy? What are you doing here with him alone?'') An elderly lady asked Sona. 

Sona gulped, she ha forgotten that here she would always be watched. And if she didn't interrupt , Vikram would be turned into a pulp. 

''Talk to me.'' he tried to be a hero. 

''thambi, un kita kekum pothu badhil sollu.'' (Boy we are talking to her and not to you so better be quite.'')

'' Patti ivarthan enna nischayam panna maappillai. '' (''He is my fiance , the groom'') She replied to calm them down. The group stared at each other all the way more miffed. It was outrageous of him to behave and touch his bride this way before the wedding. 

Sona didn't know what to do more and on the other hand Vikram stood dumb found at her nervousness.''Why are you so scared when I am with you?'' He tried calming her nerves. Sona shook her head, ''Shut up silly Rathore or they will take your class.''

Vikram rolled his eyes, ignoring Sona he stepped ahead, ''Talk to me and not to her.'' 

Sona slapped her head and her two brother's in law did the same . ''RIP Vikram.'' 

One of the grannies stepped ahead and pulled his ear hard. Vikram squeaked but she didn't let go. Sona gestured him to be go along and he decided to do the same. His guard and best friend was kidnapped in his presence and he didn't wanted to be beaten at his wife's native.

Granny dragged away Vikram with ear while others reprimanded Sona for her behaviour . The two musketeers sat still deciding upon next step. ''what do we do?'' Advay asked. Vansh smiled, ''First we send this amazing movie to our parents , then we wait for Vikram to get some thrashing and then we make a heroic entry.'' They weren't aware of the group standing behind them waiting for the two to acknowledge their presences. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Next- The Rothore Prince gets behavioural lessons. Dev rescues Vikram and Vikram proposes Sona in the most romantic way.

A big thanks to Sathya @Satz18 my darling friend for helping me in writing these marriage chapters. Please pardon me if I wrote wrong Tamil and curse google for that 

I know I am late but my job is hectic. I am out almost 14 hrs a day and it becomes difficult to write. I will try and post soon but don't know when.