*** CHAPTER 49 ***

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts, and brings peace to our minds."

~ Nicholas Sparks

His whole world comes to a stop as his eyes behold the beauty approaching him slowly, but definitely. Sanskaar is left doubting his ability to breathe when he notices his bride, as dazzling as ever, descend down the aisle. With Ragini's arms around her shoulders, she steps closer to him, and Sanskaar takes a deep shuddering breath. His Swara is gorgeous, he knows it all too well, but today, dressed in that red lehenga, studded and embroidered; her face peeking from behind the translucent veil; she looks breathtaking.

It is at this moment that the realization dawns upon him. This is what he has been fighting for all his life. To finally be able to have a person he can call his own. The struggle, the pain, the tears, all of them have been worth it, for nothing can compare to the preciousness of this very moment. Overwhelmed with happiness, his heart leaps when their eyes finally meet and he notices the corners of her lips rise up in the slightest of smiles. Without even realizing it, a treacherous tear rolls down his cheek and he gulps down the lump forming in his throat. The most serene of all his dreams has finally manifested itself in front of him and is now becoming his destiny, approaching him slowly. Tears after tears follow, and he sniffs to keep his emotions under control, but the overwhelming happiness and contentment in his heart have found a rather strange way of making their presence known. And the most surprising part!? He is not even embarrassed about crying after seeing the love of his life as his bride.

It is those tears that make Swara feel as if she is the luckiest woman alive in this world. With every step she takes toward him, she is reminded over and over again what she means to him. Walking up to him slowly, the first thing she does is place her hand on his cheek and brush those tears away. The love, she has for him, consumes her very being and the anticipation and nervousness keep her skittish all the time as she sits beside him in the mandap. All of this seems too beautiful to be true, but as Purohit ji begins chanting mantras, Swara is ascertained that she is not dreaming.

Amidst excitable nerves, whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears, stealing glances at their beloved, they vow a lifetime of togetherness with the saat phere. Filling her hairline with a pinch of sindoor and tying the holy nuptial beaded thread, the Mangal sutra, around her neck, Sanskaar promises himself to love her with all his heart and to protect her with his life. As he holds her hand under her dupatta, Swara silently vows never to let go again. She has lost her life partner once but this time not even the forces of the entire universe will be able to steal him away from her. She will protect him, no matter what it takes.

"I love you," Sanskaar whispers, still sitting by the holy fire, and a shiver runs down her spine, and as her flabbergasted eyes look up to meet his shining ones, Purohit ji announces them as husband and wife. Sanskaar gives her a smile that makes her heart dance with joy, for she can see how contended he feels.

Shrugging his shoulders, Sanskaar leans closer and whispers in her ear, "Just felt like saying that to my wife!"

Wife!!

The word holds her spellbound as if it is the most enchanting melody to her ears. And then, she smiles too, and so does her heart. She is finally his wife!

✨

Anshika, Tarun, and all their family members decide to leave for Kolkata the very evening as they have an early morning flight to catch. As everyone else bids them adieu, Ragini silently ushers Swara and takes her away. And when Sanskaar turns around taking a deep breath, his newly wedded wife is nowhere to be found.

For the first time, ever since they arrived, Swara steps on the first floor of the house. Stopping on the topmost stair, she takes a deep breath. Taking a few seconds to gather her thoughts, she turns towards the rooms where her family members have been staying, but Ragini's voice stops her instantly.

Ragini: Swara, over here.

Swara scrunches her eyebrows as she looks in the direction Ragini is pointing to.

Swara: But... that's the way to the terrace, Ragini.

She states the obvious and Ragini nods her head with an encouraging smile. Not sure what her devrani is so excited about, Swara slowly moves towards the next flight of stairs. The moment they reach upstairs, Swara's feet stop on their own accord as her eyes take the whole place in. The whole terrace has been decorated with twinkling lights, and the red carpet that has been laid out in the front, right up to the only room built over there, has been illuminated with fragrant candles placed neatly on either side. Smiling to herself, Swara walks down the carpet and Ragini follows right after her. As she stops by the door, Ragini stands next to her giving her an encouraging side hug.

Ragini: These are your well-deserved moments, Swara. After all that you have been through, you guys deserve this privacy. All the best, my dear friend!

With a pat of encouragement on Swara's back, Ragini leaves as soon as she comes. With her nerves picking up anticipating what is to come next, Swara's hands tremble. She takes several deep breaths in an attempt to gather some courage and push the door open. But the moment the door is opened, Swara feels as if her soul has left her body. She stands stunned at the doorstep. The room has been beautifully decorated, as beautifully as the terrace, but what catches her attention are the walls... and several photographs of babies that have been pasted all around.

Swara can feel her head reeling and she almost faints imagining Sanskaar's face on seeing all those photographs on the walls with her standing in the middle of the room. Will he think that this is what she wants? What will he even think of her?

She curses Ragini and Laksh for pulling a prank as stupid as this. Without giving it much thought, she just dashes into the room and starts removing those posters one by one, folding them, and hiding them under the bed.

✨

Sanskaar narrows his eyes on not being able to find Swara even after ten minutes. On being told that she is not in her room, he dashes upstairs towards his room believing her to be waiting for him over there. However, even before he can open the door, Laksh opens it from inside grinning at his brother like a Cheshire cat.

Laksh: Hi, bhai!

Sanskaar: Um... Hi?

Laksh: What are you doing here?

Sanskaar: That should be my question, Laksh.

Laksh: Were you not informed? I guess you were not!

Sanskaar: And what is it that I should be informed about?

Laksh: It is just that Swara will be staying in Badi Maa's room tonight.

"WHAT?!!" Sanskaar almost screams and Laksh nods his head innocently.

Laksh: Purohit Ji said something about grah-dasha and all, and said that for the good of everyone, the new bride should sleep in with her mother-in-law instead.

Sanskaar: What kind of stupid logic is that?!

He complains throwing his hands up in the air. Seeing how frustrated his brother is becoming with every passing moment, Laksh finds it really hard to keep a straight face. Pressing his lips tightly, he makes a feeble attempt at stopping the smile threatening to appear on his face any next moment.

Laksh: (shrugs his shoulder) I have no idea!

Sanskaar: (sighs rubbing his temple) That still does not explain what you are doing here, Laksh.

Laksh: I am preparing this room for Bade Papa. He will be sleeping here tonight.

Sanskaar: What? Why?

Laksh: Badi Maa's orders!

Sanskaar: Then, please tell me where will I be sleeping!

"Upstairs," Laksh says pointing towards the terrace and Sanskaar raises an eyebrow.

Sanskaar: First, I cannot spend the night with my wife and now, you are asking me to sleep on the terrace. You guys have gone insane.

Laksh: Oh, come on, bhai! It is just about a night.

Sanskaar: It is about my wedding night, Laksh! You know what... forget it!

Sanskaar grumbles and stomps towards the terrace, and as soon as he is out of sight, Laksh bursts out laughing.

By the time he reaches upstairs, Sanskaar has been in such a foul mood that he pays no heed to the decorations, and neither does he notice that the door to the room has been left slightly ajar. The urge, greater than ever, to be with Swara, to embrace her, to love her, overpowers his senses like never before. It is as if he wants to get rid of all the barriers that are keeping them away from one another. Hurtling mindlessly towards the room, he enters without a single thought and is left dumbstruck the moment he closes the door and turns around. He is pretty sure that he has been dreaming for in front of him stands his wife, shocked beyond her wits and her hand clasped tightly behind her back. Is she not supposed to be with his mother now? He pinches his arm and when she still does not disappear, his heart soars up with exhilaration.

✨

(WARNING: Sensual content ahead. Reader's discretion is highly advised.

Koi chota bachcha nahi padhega!! Jao sab log padhai karo!! 🫤)

Sanskaar stops for a moment and then with slow deliberation looks at her haphazard self. Her eyes wide, lips parted and quivering, her breaths coming out in short pants, and her trembling hands clenching something behind her back as if her life depends on it. Sanskaar has meant every word when he said that he very well intends to wait; he wants to take things slowly, at a pace she feels safe and secure. But seeing her so flustered and eyeing him up and down as if she wants him closer, yet as far away as possible, unleashes a desire hidden deep within his soul unbeknownst to him.

"Swara, what is it?" His voice hits a lower, deeper note as he steps forward, and Swara staggers backward. With every step closer, she can feel the air between them getting heavier. And when she finds the courage to meet his eyes again, she is held rooted to her place as something shifts in his eyes. There has always been the tender, loving Sanskaar, but today his eyes hold something deeper, something much more passionate than anything she has ever witnessed before. Swara has not been expecting such an intensity that will hold her immovable, incapable of rendering anything coherent.

Finding his resolve getting weaker with every passing moment, Sanskaar wraps his arm around her waist, gathering her against him before she can step back any further. One touch and Swara is rendered intoxicated the very instant. It is like he is her own drug; euphoric, exhilarating, and deeply maddening. Tingles shot up her spine and her eyes close on their own accord as his fingers lazily caress her cheek, down to the corner of her lips, her chin, and when those languorous movements leave a burning trail down her neck with no intention of stopping anytime sooner, Swara stumbles backward breathing heavily.

It is when she regains her composure, she realizes that he already has the poster she has been so desperately trying to hide. And when she looks up at him, she finds him already staring at her, the corner of his lips rising up in a smug smile. She shakes her head in denial, a feeble attempt to let him know that she has no part in whatsoever has taken place. Sanskaar chuckles and pulls her closer. Taking her face in his palm, he kisses her forehead and asks, "Are you nervous? This is just me, Swara!"

Swara looks at him dumbfounded. The very reason that she is nervous is because it is him. Not being able to trust herself with words, she gives a slight nod and Sanskaar sighs closing his eyes. And when he opens them again a moment later, Swara can see all the swirling, conflicting emotions in those orbs of his. He opens and closes his mouth several times, trying to contemplate what to speak next. But not being able to find the appropriate set of words even after a long fight with himself, he decides to leave his emotions, his feelings exposed... for her to embrace or to deny.

He leans closer, his lips brushing lightly against hers, his eyes never leaving the sight of those smoldering orbs of hers, and whispers huskily, "You have bewitched me, Swara, my body, and my soul. At this very moment, what I desire the most is to gather you in my arms, strip you bare, and take you to the heights of euphoria. I want to show you every damn way a man can love a woman. However, right here, right now... It does not matter what I want. Instead, it is about you, Swara. If you want to wait, we can wait for as long as you want. Because, whenever I feel myself wanting someone, it is always you."

Every word of his, a warm caress on her lips, and she is rendered speechless. Her heart skips a beat. No man has ever desired her with such raw intensity, as if she is the air he needs to breathe. Her eyes search his face for any hint of amusement, telling her that he is just pulling a prank, but what she sees in his eyes instead, is just pure craving for her.

"But," she hears him whisper a moment later.

"But?" She finally whispers back. Her eyes, now, solely trained on him.

"You will at least allow me to kiss you, won't you?" And that is not a question... rather, a request. There is something innocent in the way he asks her. As if she is the sanity of his soul and he needs her to keep himself lucid. Her heart hammers against her chest. Without a word, she closes her eyes. And without a word, Sanskaar understands that he has her approval. His eyes take in each and every inch of her face. She is a seductress, a siren, and without even realizing she sets his entire being on fire. And then, with a deep breath, he leans in.

The moment his lips embrace hers in an ardent kiss, Swara's entire being is sent into a frenzy. He kisses her slowly, with no sense of urgency, as if she is the sweetest thing he has ever tasted in his life. With every stroke of his lips against hers, Swara could feel something rising up her gut and shaking her entire existence. He is a charmer, who with the mere touch of his lips can stir up her deepest desires. As her hand comes up to rest on his chest, next to his heart, she realizes what is it that she wants. She does not want him to stop!

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kisses him back for she knows that he wants her very much the same way she wants him too. As she nibbles his lower lip, his hold on her waist tightens and he pulls back, resting his forehead against hers. "Tell me, you do not want me to stop, Swara," he whispers against her lips, and without opening her eyes she nods her head, whispering back, "I-I do not want you to stop."

Sucking in a deep breath, without a warning, his lips crash down on hers with such intensity that Swara has to hold onto his shoulders to protect herself from falling. His need, his desire, consumes her whole as he kisses her hard, with such a passion that leaves her heart thumping crazily. Long gone is the innocence their kiss held, for she can feel the raw primal need that threatens to devour her entire existence. Her breath gets caught in her throat when she feels his hand move. Every time they have shared a kiss, his hand either lay sprawled on her waist or entangled in her hair, but today it seems to be moving purposefully. As he deepens the kiss, his hand moves around, teasing her bare waist with his fingertips, stopping right where her dupatta has been tucked in her lehenga.

With his hand hovering over the corner of her dupatta, he pulls back. "Now would be the time to stop me, Swara." He says looking at her face, searching for any sign of discomfort, his hoarse voice merely over a whisper. However, breathing heavily, when she opens her eyes, all Sanskaar sees is desire swirling in them. And then, no words are needed. Soon enough, he untucks her dupatta and tosses it away. Picking her up in his arms, he makes his way towards the bed.

The moment her back hits the bed; she can feel his weight pinning her down into it. Holding her hand next to her head, he kisses the corner of her mouth, leaving a feathery trail of kisses down her chin to her neck, and when he moves down and nibbles at the soft spot just where the neck meets the chest, Swara gasps, his name the only thing that escapes her mouth. The way she withers underneath him, moaning his name, it surpasses every bit of his imagination, every dream, every fantasy; unleashing his deepest, darkest desire to claim her as his own.

As the strings of her blouse come undone, the fabric sliding off her shoulders, Swara fiddles with the buttons of his sherwani, her hands trembling with the need to feel his skin, hot under her fingertips. But when even after what feels like an eternity, but has only been a few seconds, she cannot figure it out, she pouts and looks at her husband. Sanskaar chuckles kissing the tip of her nose. Her cuteness makes her even more desirable. Shaking his head, he kisses her now bare shoulder, leaving a mark of their passion, before easing himself out of the sherwani.

Soon enough, every barrier of the fabric is removed. And when her trembling fingers touch his back, something between a moan and a guttural groan escapes his lips. His little nymph has no idea how crazy she drives him with every stroke, every whisper against his skin. He can never get enough of her! When his skin embraces her bare self, flames of ecstasy course through his entire body. The need to claim her then and there renders him numb for a moment.

"You are beautiful, my love. So beautiful that it is almost a sin," he whispers in her ear as he snuggles into the crook of her neck, breathing in the essence that always leaves him helpless against its might. His arms go around her waist and he pulls her flush against him, the entire lengths of their bodies no longer strangers. Her body trembles with a heady need as his arousal press against her softness, swaying every bit of anticipation she has.

She can almost swear she has heard his husky murmur, asking her whether she is sure about it, but the tremors his assault has been sending to her entire body have left her speechless. She nods her head slightly, and then the ride of desire and passion that follows wreaks her entire being. Their bodies connected as one, dance to the rhythm of euphoria, drowning in the endless whirlpool of ardent passion. With every thrust, every stroke, he peppers her face with innumerable kisses, whispering again and again how much he loves her.

Reaching the pinnacle of their passion, they lay spent, snuggled to each other. Kissing her temple, he sighs with contentment. "Sleep, my love." That is the last thing she hears him say. "I love you, Sanskaar." That is the last thing she whispers against his chest before she drifts into sleep's embrace with a content smile on her face.

✨

A/N

Phew!!

This might not be the best, but this has to be the toughest chapter I have written to date. I have never written a consummation scene, but I have tried my best to make it as least explicit as possible. I hope I have not offended anyone. Please do leave your feedback on this one to let me know where I need to improve.

You can also take this long chapter as compensation as I am not sure whether I will be able to update on the 14th of May or not, as I have my exam on that day.

So, see you all soon. I hope you liked the chapter.

Happy Reading!

Love and regards,

Stella ❤️