chapter 7

Wedding venue

Ahaan and Dhruv were sitting on the mandap waiting for their brides. Dhruv has a big smile on his face, while Ahaan was sitting with an emotionless face. Ahaan raised his head hearing anklet voice, his gaze fell on Alya who was walking toward Dhruv’s mandap with a big smile then he looked at Anaya who was walking toward him with sadness. 

Ahaan again shifted his gaze to Alya who was talking to Dhruv happily. He closed his eyes painfully seeing their closeness. He opened his eyes when the priest asked Anaya to sit beside him. 

The priest instructed the couple to forward their hand, Dhruv and Alya happily performed all the rituals. Ahaan held Anaya’s hand tightly when she put her hand on his, she pressed her teeth to suppress her pain as she didn’t want to create a scene. 

The priest put flowers on the couple's hands and started chanting mantras. After that, he asked them to stand for pheras (the couple took seven rounds around holy fire)

He started telling the importance of each Phera

 First Phera : couple promised to respect and nourish each other.

Second Phera : The couple  will be each other friend first then-husband wife.

 Third Phera : Couples will be with each other forever, every thick and thin".

Fourth Phera : Couple promise to share each other's joy and sorrow"

Fifth  Phera, : Couple will trust each other and be loyal to each other".

Sixth phera: Couples will preserve wealth and take care of their children.

On the last phera , the priest said: " Couple promised, they  will not repeat their  mistake, They  will cherish each other and give each other  everything they deserve whether it's  time or love " 

After the pheras, couple sat in their respective places. Then the priest asked them to fill vermillion and tied the nuptial chain around their neck. Ahaan filled Anaya’s hairline while doing this, vermillion fell on her nose. Anaya remembered how her grandma used to say if vermillion fell on the bride’s nose that means her husband will love her a lot. She couldn’t control herself and tears started flowing through her eyes, 

Ahaan was tying a nuptial chain around her neck when he saw her tears, he whispered in her ears” What is this wifey, we are not even married properly and you are starting to cry already. Don’t you think it was too fast but no problem this is your practice “.She look at him with teary eyes while he smirked seeing her tears, he wiped her tears and said:” Wifey, there is no need to cry as I will give you more chances to cry, you don’t need to take stress”. Finally, the priest announced both the couple as husband and wife. Anaya closed her eyes and prayed for their happy future.

After some time, they walk toward the elders to touch their feet and take their blessing, first Alya and Dhruv touch the elders’ feet and take their blessing. After that, Anaya was going to take the elder's blessing when Ahaan held her hand and said:” I don’t want to take their blessing. After all, they don’t deserve this respect. They don’t care about their children's happiness, so they don’t deserve our respect.” 

Ahaan’s father got angry hearing his words, he shouted:” Ahaan, do you realize what you are saying? Don’t create a scene.”

Ahaan smirked seeing his father's anger, he said:” Dad, you forced me to marry her but now I will not obey you. I will only listen to my heart and I don’t want to touch your feet just to keep the facade.” 

Ahaan's father said angrily:” Ahaan, you are crossing limits.” 

“Dad, please don’t force me. I will not obey you and this is my final decision.” Ahaan announced his father was going to speak when Anaya interrupted and said:” Dad, blessings of our elders are always with us. It is not necessary for us to touch them to get their wishes, isn’t it?”

Ahaan’s father didn’t argue more after hearing Anaya’s words. Anaya walked toward him and touched the elder's feet.

Anaya and Alya were standing in front of Malhothra’s mansion. Ahaan’s mother welcomed Alya lovingly while she was behaving coldly with Anaya. Everyone notices this, but nobody bothers to correct her, including her husband. Then she ordered the servant to take Anaya to Ahaan’s room while she herself took Alya to Dhruv’s room. 

She helped Alya to sit on the bed, she said softly:” My Dhruv is so lucky. You are perfect for him.” After saying this, she left. 

After some time, Dhruv entered the room. He said sitting in front of her, holding her hand:” I’m so happy. Finally, you are my wife.” They were looking at each other, he was going to capture her lips when his phone rang. He picked the call. 

After cutting the call, he informed her sadly:” I am sorry Alya ,I know this is our special night but foreign delegates suddenly ask for the meeting ,I have to go”.

Alya felt bad thinking her husband is going to leave her on the special night but she composed herself and smiled:”It’s okay Dhruv, work is also important"

Dhruv apologized to her again and left for office.

..........

Anaya entered the room with a rising heartbreak, she didn’t know what the future held for her. She was continuously praying for her future. 

When she entered the room, she saw Ahaan pacing in the room in anger. He stopped when he spotted her, he started clapping:” Congratulation, Mrs. Anaya Ahaan Malhotra, you are a married woman. “

Ahaan walked close to her and said:” Finally, you are a married woman. Your aim was to get married, you don’t care whether you are getting married to Dhruv or his brother.” 

Anaya closed her eyes hearing his taunt, she tried to explain to him:” You are thinking wrong, I.”

“Shut up! “ He shouted angrily and walked to the dressing table, he started removing his watch. Anaya stood like a statue for a few seconds, gaining courage she said:” Ahaan, I know this is forced marriage. We both are not ready for this marriage, this was unexpected. But, now we are married. You are my husband, I will fulfil all my duties as your wife. Please, a give chance to this marriage.”

Ahaan was listening to her words and turned toward her. He slowly started walking toward her, while she started taking steps back. She stopped when her back touched the wall, he caged her between his arms and asked” So, what are you saying?”

“I “  Anaya tried to speak, but she was feeling nervous and scared due to their closeness, seeing her fumbling he smirked and said while caressing her cheeks: ”Let me speak for you. You were saying you will fulfil all responsibility as my wife. Are you sure?”

She nodded her faintly, he thought for a few seconds and started leaning toward her lips, making her shocked, she mumbled:” What are you doing?”

“Giving your rights as my wife.” Before she could react, he picked her up and placed on the bed. He hovered over her and said in a husky voice:” Let’s celebrate our wedding night.” After saying this, Ahaan started giving wet kisses on her neck, he stopped when Anaya touched his chest to stop him. 

He looked at her face, this was the first time he was looking at her carefully. She was looking beautiful, she was looking innocent. His gaze fell on her hairline, red vermillion increasing her beauty ten times. He couldn’t blink his eyes seeing her beautiful face, while Anaya was thinking in her mind:” Anaya, he is your husband. He has full right over you, today or tomorrow we will consummate our marriage then why not today.” 

She slowly removed her hands and whispered slowly:” Please, be gentle.”  Ahaan was shocked to hear her, he was not planning to consummate tonight. He just wanted to scare her but seeing her agree, he couldn’t stop himself and captured her lips for a passionate kiss. Their bodies intertwined, igniting a fiery dance of desire. With every touch, every whispered breath, they surrendered to the intoxicating rhythm of their desire.