''Vikram, I am not suppose to speak to you till the wedding. I don't want want to upset my Patii.'' Sona pleaded.

''Does she have a problem about we talking over the phone?''

''Its considered  inauspicious. Please, its just the matter of few days.'' Before she could hear his reply , someone snatched the phone disconnecting the call.  

"I told you already. You seemed to have vowed not to listen me at all". Sona made puppy face as Dev went on and on."Anna, will you please stop it" Sona was successful in calming Dev but all came to a halt when they found Neelambari on the door, her eyes mad in rage.

Sona froze, she quickly hid her form behind Dev's fearing the out burst. Sona wasn't aware that her grandmother knew of her marriage as Dev had requested Neelambari to keep it a secret. He wanted his sister to leave the house with smile and not with a guilt.  He joined his palms in a request making Nellambari huff.

Sona went on her toes to peep through her brother's shoulders. Her throat went dry when her grandmother gestured her to come forward. "Come here"

Sona gulped ,, she took baby steps to her grandmother wishing for an idea to get saved but all looked impossible.

"Patti!" Sona is about to explain  but Neelambari's silenced with her palm.

"Namma kudumbam thaan intha ooruke oru mun maathiri. Intha oorula irukura ovvorutharukum namma kudumbathu mela periya mariyathai iruku. Athu naama Zameen kudumbam nu oru kaaranam irunthaalum, mukkiayamaana innoru vishayam namma nadathai. Zameen kudumbame ipdi nadanthukaraanga, athanaala naama pannalum athu thappu illanu makkaluku thonum. Apdi oru nenappu vantha, intha oorula ithana varushama naama kaapathitu vantha olukkam kettu poidum. Athu unnala kettu poga vendamnu naa nenaikaren" Neelambari finished saying in one breathe.(Our family is the example for this village and the people here. Each and every one in this village respect us. That's not only because we are a Zameen family, it's because of our behavior also. They should not think that why should we not do the same what the Zameen family did. If they get this kind of thoughts, it will spoil our reputation of both family and the village. And i don't want you to be the reason for that)

Sona knew this wasn't just about her recent phone conversation, it was about the last meeting with Vikram. For a moment guilt pressed her chest. 

Neelambari too felt bad looking at the dull face of her  favourite grandchild but she kept a straight face, "Naa en sonenu unaku purinjurikum nu nenaikaren. Ellaroda paarvaiyum namma mela iruku, atha eppavum un niyabagathulayum manasulayum vachuko. Po poi thoongu"(I hope you understand. Everyone has their eyes on us, keep that in your mind and heart. Go and sleep)

Sona took a flight , fearing that her grandmother might call her back again leaving Dev with Neelambari 

Neelambari's eyes went to Sona's ankles and then to Dev, he just hung his head low. He tried to follow Sona to escape his round of lecture but Neelambari's voice halted his steps, "Avaluku Annan maathiri nadanthuko" (Behave a like a brother for her).

Dev stood silently, his eyes on the floor. Neelambari heard the foot steps and added in english, ''Dev, we are not alone in this house. There is lot of staff, they believe in rituals which might sound superstitions to Sona and you. Ask her to behave , its just matter of few days.'' He nodded, he felt guilty about breaking the trust of the woman who gave him love and trust more than his own.

His feet halted, he turned and ran back to hug his grandmother, ''I love you.'' She smiled, "I know.''

Dev kissed her wrinkled forehead before walking away. Rathores would reach by morning and he wanted all to be perfect. Though, he was the heir to Suryagarh but this was his home. The smell of wet soil and simplicity of people made him feel welcome.

***

''WOW! This is heaven.'' Raksha exclaimed stepping out of the vehicle. She hadn't stopped since they had bordered the plane at Chennai. Adi had lost all his energy as his daughter and wife wanted to shop at all possible places . He cursed Advya who had escaped by joining Veer in his vehicle.

''Vikram, you are marrying the Princess of heaven.'' Raksha exclaimed making Vikram blush. Vansh and Advya pulled his cheeks as family laughed.

''This place is so peaceful.'' Ananya couldn't help but exclaim looking at the majestic house in the middle of greenery. The nature had spread its arms all around till her eyes could reach, she couldn't find any other colour around her. 

Shivangi led her family greeting Neelambari. The Rathores got a traditional welcome. Neelambari's eyes moved from all faces and froze on one, the Rathore Princess. Neelambari smiled, indeed the girl was beautiful but her eyes looked sad. She noticed.Rolli searching for someone and knew what she had to do next.

Neelambari smiled, her eyes then moving to the mother. She knew Ananay wasn't wrong but not giving a chance to her grandson was very wrong.

''Please come in.'' Neelambari led her guests to the main hall where Aadhavan waited for them. ''Where is Sona?'' Dipika asked excited

''I am sorry but she and Vikram should stay away until the wedding.'' Neelambari's voice came stern.  Dipika nodded but Ranvijay smiled. After years, he found someone equivalent to his late grandmother. No one but he did notice her eyes on his daughter. 

''Dev, where are you rushing.'' Neelambari called out when she saw Dev rushing out.  

''Patti, there has been an accident. A mud house has collapsed and a child is stuck in there. I have to go.''

''I will send help, you are not going.''

''Patti, I will be fine.'' With that he ran off ignoring  the voices behind him. The heavy rainfall had created a swamp . The warning had been issued against visiting that particular area but kids ignored and the accident happened.

''Aadhavan, send someone. This isn't Dev's job.'' Neelambari's voice bought Aadhavan to his feet.

''Can we help?'' Veer asked 

''No, it will be handled. I just don't want him hurt anymore, life and people have scarred him for enough.''   Rolli shifted uncomfortably  guilty being one of those people.

After about an hour , Dev came back with a bruised arm. ''Get a doctor.'' Neelambari stared at Dev angrily.  He cupped her cheeks before walking off.

Neelambari composed her form, ''Apologies, you all must be tired . Your rooms are ready. Please rest till the dinner is ready.''

***

Rolli paced the length of the room, her mind going back to the blood on Dev's arm. he was hurt and she couldn't be around him. Her heart was turning desperate and mind was losing its control. She wanted to break all the boundaries that separated them and be with him but she couldn't  as the promise she made to Ananya. He feet moved backwards as she crashed on the bed.

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She hated love, life . She felt jealous of Vikram-Sona whose union was being celebrated while she rotted in heart break.

Slowly the house turned quite and all turned dark. All she could hear was the sounds that crickets made in the woods. In the house full of people, ready for a celebration, Rolli felt all alone.

A sound of laughter made Rolli leave her bed. She tiptoed out of her room following the sounds. At the end of the corridor, she could notice the light peeping through the doors. Someone was still up and something made her curious. As she approached, the sounds grew louder. It was that of a couple. She had urge to see what made them happy, something she desired so bad right now.

As she peeped in, her expressions went from shocked, pained to mad. Dev sat leaned against the headboard of his bed with a young girl talking to him animatedly. She looked gorgeous and it made Rolli go insecure. What hurt her was that the girl could make her Dev happy, whch she couldn't.

Turning around, she marched back to her room and banged the door shut. The Rathore blood roared. What belonged to her , stayed hers. ''Dev Singh, if I am wallowing in pain then so should you. This is your last mistake.''

***

Sona lay flat on her bed, her fingers playing with a strand of hair and eyes on the ceiling. She kept smiling recalling about her last meeting with Vikram and the one they had last night. She had sneeked out again and now was loving these sceret meetings.

Sitting upright, she pulled up her skirt to stare at her anklets. She brushed them slightly making the bells produce a beautiful jingle. 

The moments with him , his touch still made her shiver. Dangling her legs off the bed, she shook them making the anklets jingle. Her life had suddenly turned perfect and she whished for it to remain the same. 

Sona smiled wide s again, they had plans to meet at the riverside the next day again But then her expressions changed to worry. "Achacho, Paattiku therinjirukumo?" (DID Grandma found about this?"

She knew Neelambari would be mad for breaking her trust. Sona didn't wanted to go against her grandmother but love was making her crazy.

Her thoughts broke when she got the message to join her grandmother.

***

''Are you going somewhere.'' Shivangi asked

''I am taking Sona for shopping.''

''Can we join?''

''That would include Vikram. Our families are very particular about customs, I hope you understand.'' Shivangi nodded.

''But I have made arrangements for you all to go for wedding shopping for groom.'' Neelambari added. She made the necessary arrangements for her guests to be comfortable before sending the message for her grand child.

***

Dev stretched his arms , he moved towards the window to take in the  fresh air. His grandmother had warned him against stepping out for a day. Though, he felt all fin he still decided to respect her words.

He frowned, a thin figure stood in the middle of the huge back yard swinging the wooden staff. He frowned, he had seen many but all this one seemed like a kid. Thin lean but master. He leaned on the window more to watch the display of perfection.

Rolli felt eyes on her, swinging the the staff from her front to back she turned around to lock her eyes with Dev. His jaw dropped, she looked mad.

Rolli rotated the staff in speed , her eyes turning mad with each passing moment. She took a quick spin on her right leg throwing the staff towards Dev's  window. Though, it didn't touch him but it did reach the height of his room on second floor. He shrugged his shoulders, not able to understand the reason of the volcanic anger but the angry Princess just walked off.

''What did I do now?'' He shrugged his shoulders once before moving to freshen up.

***

Sona greeted her in laws with a smile entering the main hall. 

''Sona vanthachu. Ellarum kilambalam" (Sona came. We all can leave now). Neelambari commanded the females of her family. Sona blinked  at her and everyone and looked back at Neelambari and asks her "Enga porom Paatti?" (Where are we going Paatti?)

 "Wedding Purchase". With that she dragged off Sona along.  Sona curled her lip, her eyes moving back to have one glimpse of Vikram. They had plans to meet in the morning but missed as Vikram was late to get up and now it looked impossible as Neelambari had ruined their plans with hers. With the brigade of aunts, there was no way she would be able to see Vikram. She huffed, 'life was unfair.'

***

Vansh dialled Chitra's number again. This was the third time she refused to answer. He had given her a phone secretly when Sitara had snatched hers after discovering about them. It surprised him that she had turned the phone off. He feared her being caught but there was no one who would confirm it for him.

Chitra turned the phone off, locking it in the cupboard she closed her eyes, 'I love you but nothing matters more than Hukum's trust.'

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Next-"Aadhavan, i want Dev and Jyoti to get engaged before Sona's marriage"

The angry Princess, the crazy Prince and the pitiful Dev 

This is unedited. Please ignore my mistakes and a big thanks to Sat