7

∞Entangled threads of destiny∞

Aradhaya Singh Rajvansh

Last-minute fiascoes always followed me through; here's one just a few minutes before the tilak. I managed to get my dress torn thanks to the open nail of the door. God damn it, how am I going to figure it out now? I squealed, looking at the wide hole at the bottom flare of my dress that needed an instant repair, and I had no idea how to do it.

"What happened, Aru?" My neck tilted to see Yagya bhai walking in my direction, he had a gift box in his hands which he securely kept aside and bent to see the bottom of my dress in my hand. He grazed it, giving me a 'too late' kind of look. "This looks terrible."

"I know, Bhai, but what do I do now?" He bit his lower lip, maybe thinking for a minute, and blinked his eyes before speaking, "Don't you have something else to wear?" I shook my head in no because I had my dresses planned beforehand according to the colour themes Ridhima bhabhi decided for each function. It was supposed to be cream and white for Tilak, and this dress flaunted the theme beautifully having intricate golden embroidery at the bottom on the cream fabric makes it a perfect choice, and after all, it was custom-made by my dear best friend, Aahana, Aahana Khurrana, the famous fashion designer.

"I have an idea, let's get to your room." My eyebrow arched at his words because as much as my brothers excel in business, they lack the sense of fashion in every aspect. And Yagya bhai, he is the one who could slay in black pants and a white shirt for his whole life, but yes, he would still look the most handsome in the room, but silently, I followed him into my room where he made me sit on the edge of the bed and went inside the washroom to look for god knows what. He is the quietest and kindest one from all of us. He had been Bhai's shadow since forever, be it our silly childhood games or the business, bhai had been his mentor in all. Where Yug bhai has a witty bone in him, he has the sweet aura, the one which after a tiring day you would crave to be in his company. Where Yug and Aridhaan Bhai are the more outgoing ones, he would rather take a book and his hazelnut coffee as his favorite self-care time rather than parties and clubs. Learning from Bhai, he too believes in actions more than words and never made me feel any less loved.

"Here, let's try this." He came out with a makeup pouch and safety pins in his hand.

"How is this gonna work?" He kneeled before me, studying the hole in the dress keenly. Heaving a sigh, he replied, "We can try.""

He carefully gathered the dress in his hand and tried fixing it with the safety pins. I waited for a few minutes, but he stood up and huffed with his hand resting on his waist. "This is complicated. You wait here; I will ask Bhai to send someone from Aahana's team. They will fix it." I looked at his weary face and the bottom of my dress that now had hanging safety pins, well, brothers of course. "Okay, but do it quickly. Mumma is surely going to kill me. I am way too late." He chuckled at my words and ruffled my hair, to which I let out a shriek, "Bhai!! Don't!"

"I'll manage." He walked out of the room. I looked for my phone, but it was with Yug bhai since the morning, which he snatched from my hand because apparently he was telling me about something very important, which is his 100th crush of this week, and I was on my phone, not giving him his desired attention. I don't know when he is going to return it. This man throws more tantrums than even a ten-year-old and falls in love faster than any teenager. Well, his charming personality makes him welcome a swarm of girls swooning around him, and he has absolutely no complaints about it.

The attendant was there in no time, nothing less than I expected from Yagya Bhai. She stitched the worn-out part of the dress with a hand sewing machine. I quickly checked myself in the mirror for one last time before walking out. My hair was not well set, but I had no time to fix it now, so I practically ran toward the ceremony hall with these wedges that are going to give me swollen feet at the end of the day.

The hall was beautifully decorated, resonating with the theme with golden lighting. Although the palace belonged to Rajvansh Royals, Ridhima Bhabhi's family asked to take care of the arrangements, and Nanu agreed after a lot of pestering. My eyes fell on Aridhaan Bhai, who gave me wide eyes, gesturing about the danger. Well, the dangerous Ankita Singh Rajvansh must be ready with her claws to lash out at me. Our mother hates tardiness, and no matter how much I try, I always end up getting late, as if Mahadev plans to get me scolded by her for his entertainment.

As Shravan Bhai noticed me, he whined, "Thank goodness, Aru! I thought it would take you a lifetime." I wonder how eager this man is to get married. I can't complain; he spent a month pursuing Bhabhi after she finally said yes. He told me how he went through a questionnaire round with her cousin to convince him that he is the best fit for his sister.

"Yes, bhai, I just had a wardrobe fiasco..." Before I could complete, my ear was pulled, and a shrill ouch escaped my lips. "What is this, Aru? How many times have I told you to keep everything arranged beforehand?" My mother let go of my ear, but her wide eyes, the same colour as ours, and Bhai's, her stern gaze pinned me before everyone else. "I am sorry," I apologised silently, but her hands then went to my hair, and I knew what was coming next.

"Hey Mahadev, this girl." Yes, Mahadev, save your girl from her mother's wrath. My mother continued making my hair with her fingers and clipping the messed-up fringes. Her words followed her actions, and I wondered where my father, grandfather, or anyone else was to save me from her.

"Aahana on the line." Yug Bhai passed me my phone, and I thanked my stars for saving me, while Yug Bhai flexed his facial muscles in an amused smile.I excused myself and walked to the corner near the round table that had all the gifts arranged on it. This girl should have a better explanation ready or her grave. Swiping the icon, I answered the call.

"Before you blame me for getting late, it was my flight, not me. Say sorry to everyone, but I just landed and will be there as soon as the traffic allows me."

The line went dead after the sped-up words she threw at me from the other side. At least it saved me from Mumma. I turned to walk back to everyone when my eyes met the onyx ones.

What in the world, Mahadev?

As ever, it had been, I couldn't help but glue my gaze on that deep onyx that belonged to him. What is he doing here? How can this be possible? No, Mahadev. Please, no.

My gaze travelled from the eyes to the face they were adorned on. The same sharp jaw, but the stubble was denser, the same medium-sized lips that didn't have the characteristic wide smile but a small one. His eyes were boring through me as if it had hundreds of questions ready to spring on me. I had left it all behind; you cannot resurface it all again, Mahadev. The tightness of my chest made my breath hitch in my throat. Forcing myself to move, but instead, my steps walked back making me stumble, and the tip of my toe struck the wooden table, making a loud hiss escape my lips.

All the heads turned toward me, and I heard steps walking in my direction. I pulled my dress to see my toe that had turned red due to the impact. I raised my eyes at his voice that fell on my ears, "Dhaya!" I flashed him my palm when I saw him advancing toward me. In no time, I had all my family surrounding me. This is not fair, Mahadev, not at all fair. I winced, and the other thing I heard was my brother's voice ringing in the hall.

"Aru, what happened? Did you get hurt? Are you feeling dizzy?" I tried to maintain my composure; I can't let it be known to anyone, especially Bhai. "Yes, bhai, I am fine, just got my toe stuck by this table, I guess I got my nail broken, that's it. You all don't worry." As I was trying to reassure them, their eyes on me were making me anxious. No, Mahadev, please, I can't bear this gaze again.

Before I could say something, Yagya Bhai brought a chair and pulled me gently to sit on it while Aridhaan Bhai kneeled before me, pulling my foot gently to rest it on his thigh. He removed my wedges slowly, and his hands caressed my toe gently, making me flinch as he applied a little pressure at the corner of my nail. Shravan Bhai uncapped a bottle of water, bringing it near my mouth for a sip.

"Here Bhai, apply it." Yug Bhai huffed, passing an ointment to Bhai; he must have made a run. Bhai gently applied the ointment, but his concerned gaze met mine. "Are you feeling any pain anywhere else too?" I shook my head, and he checked my foot himself.

"I am fine, Bhai. I just tripped." I tried to ease out his concern, knowing well it was a useless try. "I wonder how you managed back in the US." His words had hurt coated on them, and my eyes were about to pool when I felt Papa giving a squeeze to my shoulder while he glared at Bhai. "It's okay, Aridhaan. She is fine now. Let's get started with the ceremony now." Bhai nodded and left my foot, slipping the wedge under it. He held my hand to make me stand up from the chair. "I am fine." I held his arm, giving him a reassuring nod.

I cannot spoil the festivities because of me, but what is he doing here? In Udaipur of all places? I greeted Ridhima Bhabhi's mother, who pulled me into a hug, and I tried to settle my racing heart as a certain gaze was on me throughout, making my heart go restless. She held my hand and walked to the group of people standing beside. "Maa, Baba, she is Aradhaya, Shravan's cousin." I joined my hands to greet the elderly couple. The lady caressed my cheek while her husband gave me a nod and securely touched my head with his hand. "God bless you, beta." His thick voice, resembling his demeanor, rang in my ears. I replied with a short smile, while the lady's eyes twinkled at me. "Really pretty." I smiled at the compliment while she folded her knuckles over my head. She exchanged a look with Bhabhi's mother; wonder what silent words the ladies exchanged. "Meet my brothers and their wives, Aradhaya." Seerat Aunty pulled me again to the two beautiful couples standing beside. I greeted them with joined hands and a small smile. All four of them greeted me back warmly, and then she made me stand face to face with him.

"He is my nephew, Rudransh Singh Chauhan. He has a great name in business. A very well-established Chauhan Corporation is fully handled by him." I froze in my position as he was standing in person before me after all these years. His eyes never left my face, while mine looked for anything to stare at except his eyes. He is related to Bhabhi, why Mahadev? There is way too much population in this country; you could have chosen anyone, why him?

"Aradhaya Singh Rajvansh, nice to meet you, Mr. Chauhan." I composed myself and extended my hand for a handshake. He is unknown to me, and that's how it is going to be. I spent seven years trying to forget him; he cannot come in his grace and stand before me reminding me of everything, of him, of us. There is no Us.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Miss. Rajvansh." He held my hand in a soft handshake, and my body reacted in all the weird ways possible to his touch. I pulled my hand back and gave a short smile, while all I wanted was to go back to the room and hide myself in a corner. Seerat Aunty further introduced me to Rohan and Ruhi, his cousins.

Abhir, his brother, explained the vivid similarity between them. He flashed me a smile with his vibrant white teeth, and I reciprocated with a short nod.

"Wow, sleepyhead, looking really gorgeous." I giggled at his wiggling eyebrows, replying with a short thanks.

The ceremony began, apparently he was the one carrying it out. He did the ritual, and stepping back, his eyes once again settled on me. Mahadev, please shove some sense into this man's head. If someone notices, especially Bhai, that he is staring at me like a creep, he should better count his last breaths for real.

The tilak ceremony was followed by the palla dastoor ritual, in which the groom's family is supposed to give gifts to the bride. Ridhima Bhabhi entered the hall; she was looking like a princess, and we got her sitting on the stage. Maami Maa and Choti Maa performed the ritual followed by Dadi and Nani.

The ritual took way too long to get done with, and each second bearing the weight of his gaze felt like an hour. Everyone walked to the buffet area for lunch. "Where did I keep my clutch, Kritika?" My mother looked around along with Choti Maa. "I think you forgot it back in the hall, Di." Maa slapped her forehead and cursed her stars under her breath.

"You all go; I'll bring it with me." I walked back to the hall, which was on one of the tables. I took the clutch and started moving to the buffet hall, but before I could exit the hall, a soft grip pulled me, taking me aback, and I came face to face with those intense eyes while my back pressed against the pillar.

"How are you, Dhaya?"

⋆✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ⋆🌿✦🌺✦🌿⋆*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧⋆

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(For the coming week there would be only one update per day, as I am kinda occupied)

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