Chapter 28: 26. Officially His Wife

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Without any further bak bak lets proceed with the twenty sixth ★★★

chapter of " Will I ever find my true love

VOTE KARO PEHLE !!!!! BHUL JATE HO BAR BAR!! 😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️

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Sashwat leaned over her ears : " See i told you, I helped you to know such a truth , Now will you...n "

He intentionally left the sentence incomplete.

Ruhani was completely broken so she said lifelessly " I will marry you! "

As Ruhani stood in the basement, overwhelmed by the revelations from Anushree and the emotional turmoil swirling within her, Sashwat's grip on her arm tightened. The resolve in his gaze signaled that the next step was imminent, an action that would change everything.

“Get ready, Ruhani,” he said, his voice low and firm. “We’re going to the mandap.”

At the mention of the mandap, a traditional structure where marriages are performed, an icy fear washed over her. This wasn’t merely about a ceremony; it was about finality. She had already felt the weight of his determination pressing down on her, and now it was morphing into an undeniable reality.

As they ascended from the basement, the air thick with unspoken tension, Sashwat led her through the dimly lit corridors of the villa. The walls felt as though they were closing in, the ornate decorations now mocking her with their festive colors. She understood that today was meant to be a celebration—albeit a twisted one, painted in shadows and forced smiles.

Sashwat : " Anushree go and help your sister to get ready. Look how badly she had spoiled her makeup ! "

Anushree nodded and said lightly " I will do her makeup. And bring her to the mandap."

Ruhani was sitting in the chair near her dressing table . Anushree through weak did her makeup in a good way. Ruhani was sitting lifelessly, she didn't reacted anyway at any instance.

She came back in senses only when she saw Anushree 's steps flattering. At that point Vansh came to take Ruhani to the mandap and suddenly Anushree collapsed and fell in Vansh's arms. He immediately carried her to the bed and made her lay down.

Ruhani almost crying : " Vansh bhaiya ye kaise hua , di ko kya hua .... "

Vansh : " I think due to continuous torture and that to without food , she became very weak. That's why she fainted...."

A doctor came  suddenly and started checking Anushree. Vansh smiled because he knew that this doctor was sent by Shashwat only who was looking at them from the hidden camera of that room. After a few minutes Anushree regained consciousness. She asked ruhani to come closer to her. When she did Anushree said " I am a very bad sister so bad that ......I don't even have the luck... to witness my sister's wedding. I don't know you trust me .......or not, I am guilty . I know after all the things I did it is very difficult for you to believe...... me. But Ruhani, I don't know , about your parents real location now. ......I can assure you this much that they are alive. But in which condition..... where and how this is still unknown to me. I tried myself...... to find them but failed. Maybe my words are acting like a joke..... to you now but believe me  Ruhani.

I AM TELLING THE TRUTH.... " With that Anushree again lost your consciousness.

Ruhani look at the doctor, the doctor said, " I think she has been gone through a very bad torture because her body is so weak that if not taken care properly can lead to even death! " . " But I might say she is a warrior, she is getting unconscious now because her body is very weak. I am giving some medicines and surely after having them she will be fine. "

Ruhani took a deep breath and left the room to move towards the mandap.

As Ruhani descended the grand staircase, her heart raced with a mix of dread and resignation. The air felt heavy with anticipation, and the ornate decorations she had once admired now seemed like a gaudy reminder of the prison she was about to enter.

When she finally reached the bottom, her gaze landed on the mandap, a beautifully adorned structure draped in deep crimson and gold fabric. Sitting there, Shashwat was the embodiment of elegance in a richly embellished golden sherwani that glimmered under the soft lights. His demeanor was striking—confident, composed, and utterly intoxicating. Yet, it was his gaze that held her captive; it burned with an intensity that made her feel both exposed and fiercely compelled.

Every step she took toward him felt like trudging through an emotional turmoil . She felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, knowing she was about to bind herself to the man who had turned her life upside down. Each breath weighed heavier as she approached, her heartbeat thundering in her ears, drowning out the celebratory sounds that once reverberated throughout the space.

When she finally sat down beside him in the mandap, something inside her stirred. The fabric of her bridal lehenga felt foreign against her skin, binding her not just physically but emotionally in a way she feared would be irreversible.

The priest said " Var , vadhu ak dusre ko var mala pehnaye..."

Sashwat picks up the garland and then drapes it over Ruhani's head . Ruhani also reached the garland and made him wear it , her hands shaking badly while carrying the garland.

" Var ki behen ko bulaya jay gat bandhan ke liye "

As Sashwat has no sister, who will do it for them. Then suddenly Anushree came and did it . Ruhani was happy but Shashwat's expression darkened.

" Var , vadhu phero ki liye khare ho jaye . "

Ruhani and Sashwat stood up and started taking the pheras , the circular circumambulations  around the holy fire.

First phera.......

Second phera......

Third phera......

" Ab var , samne aye vadhu ke.."

Fourth phera

Fifth phera

Sixth phera

And finally the seventh phera...

With that the pheras completed ...

" Ab var vadhu ke mang me sindoor bhare"

Sashwat takes the sindoor and he applies it in her hair partition, marking her as the married woman..

A few drops of tears slid down her cheek.

" Ab var , vahu ko mangalsutra pehnaye "

Sashwat then took the mangalsutra and made her wear it. Ruhani shook her head as she understood that she had now become Mrs Raichand officially..

" Vivah sampann hua, aj se ap dono pati patni hue. Apki sansarik jevan bohot achi rahe aur ap dono ek dusre ke sath rahe... "

Sashwat has a winning smirk on his face, today  officially she had become his wife. Sashwat stood up and Ruhani also stood up and  started to walk but her steps started to fallter and she collapsed in Shashwat's hands...

Sashwat caught Ruhani effortlessly, his strong arms enveloping her as she fell against him. The wedding, once a vibrant celebration, had morphed into a suffocating nightmare for her—a transition from being a sister to a daughter to now, a wife. The weight of the sindoor in her hair felt unbearably heavy, a physical reminder of the choices made and the fates intertwined in this twisted marriage.

“There is no escape now Mrs Raichand!” Sashwat’s voice broke through the haze enveloping her thoughts. His voice lacking any kind of emotions. Sashwat was staring at her with a smirk in his face, as if he had finally won the battle"

She blinked up at him, confusion and panic swirling in her eyes. “I—I am not... nott... ” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. The echoes of the ceremony still rang in her ears, leaving behind a sense of disconnection from everything around her.

Sashwat carried her towards their bedroom which was decorated with beautiful flowers. He made Ruhani lay down on the bed and towered over her. He was looking deeply into her eyes but his face lack any kind of emotion. Ruhani pushed Sashwat and started shouting that " Whyy...... SASHWAT...... Whyy.... "

“Why did you do this?”

"Why did you force me into this?"

Sashwat’s expression hardened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. “Because you are my obsession and my thing. You know what, I can go to any extent to snatch my thing.” His tone carried a severe warning . His words were so much , that I ran shivers down her spine.

“No! I needed my freedom, Sashwat. I needed to know my parents were safe, not to become your pawn!” Her voice broke, and her emotional turmoil threatened to spill over. Her freedom had been ripped away in an instant, leaving her with nothing but a name and a man she feared.

“I... I can’t breathe!” Panic surged through her voice, each word spilling over with urgency. She struggled to take in a full breath, her chest rising and falling unevenly, and Sashwat tightened his grip, on her shoulders trying to make her steady.

“I don’t know what is happening in my life!” she cried, the storm of emotions crashing over her like an unforgiving wave. “Everything changed so fast! Why? Why did you do this to me?” Each question echoed her turmoil, a mixture of anger and heartbreak spilling out in a desperate plea for answers that felt increasingly elusive.

Before Sashwat could respond, the light in her eyes dimmed, and her body went limp in his arms.

“You’re too soft, too innocent for all this mistrust and betrayal,” he murmured, a mix of admiration , threading through his voice. “You are my obsession, my everything, my whole world.”

“If anything happens to you… if those who have caged your parents ever dare to come near you again…” he growled, his voice low and laced with a dangerous edge, a stark contrast to the softness he had just displayed.

"I will give them a death so much worse that even if they beg for mercy, they will never get it,” he declared, the threat vibrating off him like an energy that sent chills through the air. ?

“No one touches what belongs to me,” he continued, his voice devoid of the earlier tenderness and now pulsating with a fierce, unsettling energy. “I will unleash hell on them, and I will not stop until I have ensured that you and your family are safe. If it’s blood they want, then blood they shall have.”

Shashwat left the room. After 15 -20 minutes, ruhani open her eyes. Her head was hurting badly, when she sat up on the bed, memories of the last incidents started flooding over her mind. She saw that Shashwat was not in the room. Taking the opportunity leave, she immediately left the room. She was running towards the main door .She took a and open the door. Only to find Shashwat standing over there smirking at her.

He moved towards her and she started taking back steps. He said in a deep voice " So anguished, to leave your husband!!"

Ruhani's heart raced as she stumbled backward, her mind churning with a mix of fear and defiance. Sashwat's figure loomed in front of her, a blend of charming façade and threatening reality that twisted her stomach into knots. His smirk deepened, a storm brewing behind his confident exterior.

“Why are you doing this?” she found the courage to ask, voice trembling but fierce. “This has to end, Sashwat. You don’t own me!”

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them with deliberate slowness that sent shivers down her spine. “You think I enjoy this, Ruhani? You think this was my choice?” His tone shifted, laced with frustration. “I did this to save you—save your family. You don’t understand what I’m capable of, what lengths I would go to ensure your safety.”

“Safety? This isn’t safety!” She spat, her eyes blazing. “You’ve taken everything from me! My freedom, my choices… and for what? A twisted sense of protection?”

The next moment  Sashwat pulled her towards her room ignoring her complains. Ruhani's heart raced with panic as Sashwat's grip tightened around her arms, securing her to the chair with an unyielding determination. She struggled against the ropes, her mind whirling with disbelief and fear. “Sashwat! This isn’t how you protect someone! You’re just… you’re just finding another way to control me!”

His expression, a mix of irritation and resolve, revealed little of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. He stepped back, taking a moment to survey her, as if assessing her defiance. “I don’t expect you to understand right now, but this is for your own good.”

“Get away from me!” she shouted, desperation giving her voice a fierce edge. “I won’t be treated like this. I will not be a prisoner in my own life!”

“Prisoner?” he scoffed, his tone turning menacing. “Ruhani, you’re playing a dangerous game. You have no idea what’s out there, how vulnerable you are. You think your freedom is worth more than your life? The truth is, I’m not only protecting you from your circumstances but also from yourself.”

Struggling against the bindings, she took in her surroundings. The room was lavishly decorated, a stark contrast to the chaos raging within her. “You think tying me up is protection? This isn’t love, Sashwat! This is madness!”

His eyes flashed at her words, a storm of emotions hiding behind a facade of control. “Love? You think love involves letting you walk into danger freely? Where’s the love in that?”

Tension crackled between them, and Ruhani felt small against the weight of his words. “You don’t love me. You’re obsessed with the idea of possession,” she declared, her anger sparking a flicker of courage. “If you ever truly cared about me, you wouldn’t treat me like this.”

He stepped closer, looming over her, the room seemingly shrinking in response to the intensity of the moment. “You’re right. I’m obsessed,” he admitted, his voice low and dangerous. “And you need to understand that I will stop at nothing to keep you safe—even if that means force.”

“Safe?” she echoed incredulously, her voice trembling. “You’ve turned my life into a nightmare! I don’t want to be safe in a gilded cage!”

Sashwat inhaled deeply, his expression shifting momentarily as if the weight of her words were crashing down upon him. “I never wanted it to come to this,” he said, almost reflecting. “But your defiance… it leaves me with no choices. They can’t find you, and for the time being, this is the only way.”

Ruhani felt a pang of heartbreak amidst her anger, sensing an underlying pain within him, but she couldn’t let it sway her resolve. “I won’t accept this,” she demanded, her blood rushing with adrenaline. “I won’t be your captive—mentally or physically.”

“That’s enough!” he thundered, the room vibrating with his anger, as if he couldn’t contain the storm within any longer. “There’s a world outside these walls that you cannot comprehend. If you knew what was happening, if you understood the stakes, you might see this differently.”

Ruhani's shoulders slumped as the weight of her emotions crashed down on her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop a release of the pent-up frustration, fear, and anguish that had been brewing inside her

“You’ll feel better after you cry,” he said finally, his voice low but devoid of warmth. He seemed almost clinical in his observation. “It’s easier to confront reality without the weight of bottled-up feelings.”

Ruhani looked up at him through her tears, bewilderment flashing across her face. “Is this how you think love works? Letting me cry alone while you stand there like a statue?” she choked out, a mixture of anger and sorrow fueling her words.

She watched as Sashwat’s expression hardened once more, his facade carefully rebuilt. “I’ll make you understand,” he said resolutely before stepping back, leaving her bound to the chair in a whirlwind of emotions—her heart pounding with fear, determination, and defiance.

As the door clicked shut behind him, she felt the imprints of the ropes against her wrists and the suffocating grip of helplessness surrounding her. But beneath that was a flicker of hope. If she could stay strong, if she could find a way to reach him, maybe she would uncover the truth that lay behind his obsession—the truth that could set them both free.

As Sashwat entered the room after a few hours, the soft light  filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the scene before him. Ruhani lay curled up on the chair, her body collapsed in exhaustion, her cheeks still damp with the remnants of her earlier tears. There was something heartbreaking about the sight—an image of fragility that stirred a strange mix of emotions in him: regret, tenderness, and an overwhelming desire to protect her.

He approached quietly, his gaze fixed on her peaceful features as she slept, the tension that had once marred her expression now replaced by a fleeting calm. For a moment, he allowed himself to simply watch, absorbing the raw authenticity of the moment—her vulnerability exposed, the weight of the world temporarily lifted from her shoulders.

Bending down to her level, he studied the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. He unfastened the ropes that bound her wrists, his movements gentle, almost hesitant. As the restraints fell away, he felt an unexpected pang of guilt for having tied her up in the first place, a revelation of the ill-conceived lengths he had gone to in the name of protection.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, though she was lost in her dreams, unaware of his presence. The apology felt inadequate, too small compared to the chaos he’d thrust into her life. He could sense the weight of his choices bearing down on him like a heavy anchor.

With careful hands, he lifted her and carried her back to the bed. The soft mattress cradled her form as he laid her down gently, tucking the blanket around her so that she would feel secure. Though part of him craved to watch her mingle in dreams, he fought the urge to linger; he needed to give her the space to process everything that had transpired between them.

As he was about to move away after placing her on the bed. She held his hand and slept again. He did not want to ruin her sleep so he also kept sitting beside her like that. As the night descended he also slept.

As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window, Ruhani stirred awake, the soft warmth of the blankets wrapping around her like a cocoon. Groggily, she blinked against the soft light, the events of the previous day flooding back with vivid clarity—the confinement, the tears, the wedding that felt like a twisted dream. It was a lot to process, and her heart quickened as she took in her surroundings.

However, her attention was immediately drawn to Sashwat, who was still seated in the chair beside the bed, his body unfurling as he had slumped over during the night. His hand was intertwined with hers, fingers gently locked in a delicate grip. The sight of him—peaceful and unguarded in slumber—stirred an unexpected warmth within her, a reminder of the fleeting moments of connection they had shared.

Biting her lip, she carefully extricated her hand from his, trying not to disturb his sleep. A part of her struggled with the strange emotions intertwining in her chest; there was frustration, yes, but also an undeniable pull towards him, confused feelings that fought against her anger. She knew they needed to address the chaos of their situation, but for now, she felt the weight of exhaustion and the shadow of yesterday’s turmoil hanging over her.

Moving quietly, she slipped out of the bed, taking a moment to glance in the mirror and survey her appearance. She still wore her bridal attire: the heavy lehenga adorned with intricate designs, the weight of its fabric feeling foreign and constricting. A sigh escaped her as she moved toward the washroom, needing to wash away both the remnants of the wedding and the feelings of entrapment that still clung to her.

In the washroom, she splashed cool water on her face, letting it refresh not just her skin, but also her spirit. The bridal makeup felt heavy, laden with emotions that did not reflect her reality. She needed clarity—she needed to remember who she was beneath the layers of circumstance. After washing up, she changed into a beautiful yellow kurti paired with flowing patyala pants, the bright color lifting her spirits slightly. It felt light, freeing, a welcome departure from the weight of the wedding attire that had come to symbolize her current predicament.

As she stepped out of the washroom, her long wet hair cascading around her shoulders, the fresh scent of jasmine lingered in the air. She felt more like herself, perhaps even a touch radiant despite her tumultuous emotional state. The brightness of the kurti reminded her of the sunshine outside, and for a moment, she allowed herself to hope that clarity might accompany the dawn.

Ruhani returned to the bedroom, glancing at Sashwat again, now stirring as he awoke to find her standing there. The grogginess from last night’s sleep began to fade from his eyes as he took in her transformation, and a hint of surprise crossed his features.

“Morning,” he said softly, his voice a mix of sleep and something else—something warmer, more sincere.

“Morning,” she replied, her heart racing slightly as she faced him. His presence was magnetic, but there was still a vast ocean of conflict between them.

She couldn’t ignore the way he looked at her, a mixture of appreciation and concern woven into the quiet moment they shared. But she also knew that this was simply a moment; the reality of their situation loomed large over any burgeoning connection.

“Thank you for… being here,” she added, her voice tentative. “Last night…”

“Last night was a mistake,” he interrupted, his tone more serious, a shadow passing over his features. “You were vulnerable, and I shouldn’t have let it go that far, tying you up like that and all.”

Let’s start over,” she suggested, her tone hopeful. “Can we do that?”

Sashwat studied her closely, searching her face for any hint of hesitation. Slowly, a small smile broke through the tension he had been carrying. “Yeah, I think we can.”

As Sashwat kissed Ruhani's forehead, a rush of warmth swept through her, a fleeting moment of softness that seemed to dissolve some of the walls between them. But just as quickly as he was there, he withdrew, heading out of the room with an air of purpose that left her feeling confused yet strangely hopeful.

However, within seconds of his departure, the warmth that had filled her heart began to shift. A sly smile crept across her lips, one that was confident and cunning—far removed from the vulnerable girl Sashwat had just kissed. “You really think you’ve got the upper hand, don’t you?” she murmured to herself, a hint of mischief flickering in her eyes.

I’ll take advantage of this emotional side of yours,” she thought as she gazed out the window at the sunlit garden below. “I’ll make you believe that you’ve won my trust, and while you’re off thinking you’re protecting me, I’ll find a way to slip through your fingers.”

Smirking to herself in the mirror, she adjusted her kurti, smoothing the fabric as if preparing for a performance—a masquerade where she would play the role of the dutiful wife while she navigated her own path to freedom. “I will move away from you forever, Sashwat,” she whispered defiantly, her heart pounding with adrenaline. “And when I do, it will be your loss.”

As the morning unfolded, she wanted to appear calm and supportive in their conversations to come, all while quietly plotting a way to reach her parents and uncover the truth behind their disappearance. Sashwat may have given her a glimpse of vulnerability, but she would turn it into her strength.

The fight wasn’t over; it had just taken a new shape. And now, her cunning smile was the first step toward taking back her life.

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Let me know how much you enjoyed this chapter.....

𝕤ᴏ ᴄᴜᴛɪᴇ𝕤. ᴛʜɪ𝕤 ᴡᴀ𝕤 ᴛʜᴇ twenty sixth cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ. ᴅʀᴏᴘ 𝕤ᴏᴍᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ𝕤 ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍʏ 𝕤ᴛᴏʀʏ. ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪ𝕤 ᴘᴀʀᴛ. ᴘʟᴇᴀ𝕤ᴇ 𝕤ʜᴀʀᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ𝕤 ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ. ᴀʟ𝕤ᴏ ᴀᴅᴅ ᴛʜɪ𝕤 𝕤ᴛᴏʀʏ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ. ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ 𝕤ᴏᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇ𝕩ᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ. ᴛɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ☺☺.

I told you... This... Chapter will be interesting...

ʙʏᴇᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟɪᴇ𝕤 😘😘....

ᴅᴏ ʜɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏᴛᴇ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴏɴ.... ᴘʟᴇᴀ𝕤ᴇ..... 😭

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