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The heavy, gilded doors of the car shut with a muffled thud, sealing them into a suffocating silence.

As the car glided onto the highway towards Rathore Haveli, Shipra leaned her head against the cool glass of the window. An unsettling calm washed over her-the kind of eerie quiet that settles right after a storm. Her mind was a chaotic mess. She couldn't figure out if this quiet was a sign of peace or just the start to another nightmare.

Looking out at the blurred trees, her thoughts drifted back. "Kya hi hota agar Shekhawats mujhe adopt hi nahi karte?" she thought, her throat tightening. "At least meri life itna tamasha toh nahi banti." She remembered all the sufferings she had to go through-fighting for even the slightest things, being the constant target of humiliation, every beating she had tolerated, and how she was forced to do all the grueling household chores like an unpaid servant. But worse than the exhausting labor was Harsh's relentless cruelty, his predatory smirk making her skin crawl. He took a sick pleasure in making her feel utterly helpless. She remembered being locked in the dark, suffocating storeroom for hours without food or water whenever she made the slightest mistake, she had wept until her voice gave out. The emotional exhaustion of the day finally caught up with her. The heavy silk of her lehenga, the unbearable weight of the bridal jewelry, and the sheer mental toll brought her to her knees. Without even realising she dozed off..

Beside her, Aryaveer kept his gaze fixed straight ahead. But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her head slumping dangerously close to the window frame. Every time the car hit a bump, her head jolted.

Pagal ladki, he thought, irritation spiking. He leaned forward slightly. "Drive slow," he commanded the driver in a low, stern voice.

He caught himself immediately and hardened his posture. Kya kar rha h, Aryaveer, he warned himself. Agar Dadi ne dekh liya ki iske sar pe chot lagi hai, toh meri class lag jayegi. I don't care about her. It's impossible to love a woman forced into my life."

Yet, despite his internal battle, his eyes kept betraying him.

Every few minutes, he kept checking on her just to make sure she hadn't fallen over.

When the car finally rolled up the driveway of the majestic Rathore Haveli, Aryaveer pulled his heavy veil back over his face, concealing his features completely.

He reached out and tapped her shoulder. "Wake up , we are here".

Shipra blinked open her eyes, disoriented. Before she could gather her senses, Aryaveer stepped out of the car without waiting.

Kitna khadoos insaan hai, Shipra scoffed internally, adjusting her dupatta. Ek second wait bhi nahi kar sakta tha? Ajeeb akad hai.

She stepped out, expecting a cold, unwelcoming atmosphere, but the sight before her left her utterly stunned.

The Rathore Haveli was immaculate. Towering sandstone arches, intricate carved pillars, and warm yellow lights made it look like a dream. But what shocked her even more was the crowd standing at the entrance.

Her father-in-law, mother-in-law, Dadi, her brother-in-law, and a few close family members were all standing there, faces lit up with wide, genuine smiles.

Her mother-in-law, Sunaina, stepped forward, her eyes brimming with warmth as she helped Shipra navigate the grand stairs.

At the threshold, Sunaina picked up the aarti thali. The soft chime of the bell and the warm glow of the diya cast a soothing light over Shipra's nervous face.

Dadi stepped up next, taking a handful of red chilies and waving them gently around Shipra and Aryaveer. "Thoo, thoo! Mere baccho ko kisi ki nazar na lage," Dadi muttered fondly, tossing the chilies aside.

Shipra bent down to touch their feet. As she did, her brother-in-law, Reyansh, leaned over with a mischievous grin.

"Bhabhi, sambhaal ke!" Reyansh whispered loudly, winking at Aryaveer. "Bhai abhi shaant dikh rahe hain, par andar se poora volcano hain! Inki sharaafat pe mat jaana!"

Aryaveer's friend, Kabir, joined in with a chuckle. "Sahi mein Bhabhi, agar yeh aapko tang kare na, toh bas humein batana. Humne toh saalon se inke nakhre jhele hain, ab aapki baari!"

Aryaveer shot them a lethal glare from behind his veil, but the family just broke into warm laughter, dissolving the lingering tension in the air.

After the rituals, Sunaina guided Shipra up a wide marble staircase to Aryaveer's room.

When the door opened, Shipra stopped in her tracks. The room was massive, far bigger than her room at the Shekhawat house. The interior was sleek and modern-dominated by a subtle palette of grey and white.

Sunaina noticed her hesitant steps and the tight posture of her shoulders. She walked over, placing a hand gently on Shipra's arm.

"Beta, relax ho jao," Sunaina said softly. "I know sab kuch bohot jaldi ho gaya. Naya ghar hai, naye log hain... darna normal hai. Par ek baat yaad rakhna, tum is ghar ki sirf bahu nahi ho, meri beti ho. Koi bhi baat ho, bina kisi jhijhak ke mere paas aana, samajh gayi?"

The sheer sincerity in Sunaina's voice cracked the wall Shipra had built around her heart. A sudden surge of warmth hit her, and before she could stop them, tears overflowed and spilled down her cheeks.

"Arey, arey! Kya hua beta?" Sunaina got worried, quickly wiping the tears away with her saree. "Maine kuch galat bol diya kya? Mat ro mera baccha."

When Shipra finally calmed down she said "Tum thak gayi ho. Aryaveer aata hi hoga, tum fresh hojao, kapde change karo aur aaraam karo, theek hai?"

Meanwhile, down the hallway, Aryaveer had completely bypassed his room. He needed air. He retreated straight into his private study, sinking heavily into his dark leather recliner, desperately hoping for a few moments of peace.

The door burst open, ruining his quiet instantly. Reyansh and Kabir entered in with broad smirks.

"Wah bhai, wah!" Reyansh mocked, leaning against the mahogany desk. "Pehli hi raat ko room se bhaag ke yaha baith gaye? Arey O Majnu! Yahan kya devdas bane baithe ho?"

"Nikal yahan se," Aryaveer growled, his voice deep and irritated. "Dono ke dono bahar jao."

Kabir, reading the raw tension radiating from his friend, nudged Reyansh to tone it down. He walked over and placed a hand on Aryaveer's shoulder. "Bhai, itni jaldbazi mat kar. Thoda time de sab kuch set hone mein. Dheere-dheere habits ban jayengi, is naye rishte ki aadat ho jayegi."

Reyansh couldn't resist one last jab. "Sahi mein Bhai, mujhe toh lagta hai aap buddhe ho gaye ho, isliye dar rahe ho!" he snickered.

Deep down, though, Reyansh saw the subtle panic in his brother's eyes. He knew Aryaveer was terrified of being bound in a relationship he never asked for. Reyansh slapped his shoulder playfully and pulled Kabir out to leave him alone.

An hour passed before Aryaveer finally mustered the energy to head to his room. He walked in quietly, expecting to find her sitting up or unpacking.

Instead, he found Shipra fast asleep on the plush grey sofa, curled up in a light cotton kurta set.

A sharp pang of irritation hit him when he saw her sleeping on the couch rather than the bed. "Kya yeh mujhse door rehna chahti hai? he thought bitterly. Kya ise mere saath ek hi room mein rehne se problem h?"

The thought wounded his pride more than he cared to admit.

Grumbling under his breath, he grabbed a t-shirt and lounge pants from his closet and marched into the bathroom. After a long shower, he stepped back out, toweling his damp hair. Truth be told, even in simple loungewear, Aryaveer looked effortlessly hot.

Subconsciously, his gaze drifted back to the sofa.

He walked over slowly and stood above her. Shipra's face was soft in the dim light. His gaze lingered on her hairline, where the bright red sindoor was still visible. A sudden, unexpected wave of possessiveness washed over him, catching him entirely off guard.

He leaned down a fraction. Her lips were parted in a tiny pout, but as his eyes traced down her cheeks, he noticed the dried traces of tears.

Something squeezed sharply inside his chest-a painful, crushing sensation. Yeh ro kyu rahi thi? Kisine kuch kaha kya?

Disturbed by the sudden intensity of his own feelings, Aryaveer abruptly straightened up and bolted out of the room back to his study, unable to handle the weird emotions blooming inside him.

The next morning, soft light filtered through the heavy drapes.

Sunaina walked into the room with a gentle knock, holding a beautiful red silk saree. She gently woke Shipra up with a smile.

"Good morning, beta. Ab kaisa feel ho rha h? Neend theek se aayi? She has a motherly warmth in her tone . She knew everything is too much for her so she took her hands and caressed them she started telling her about when she came in as a new bride . She was also timid and shy but with time she got comfortable with the family . After a hearty conversation she said,Aaj yeh laal saree pehno, nayi dulhan pe laal rang bohot jachta hai." She reached into a velvet box and pulled out a set of heavy gold lineage bangles, sliding them onto Shipra's wrists. "Yeh hamare khandaani kangan hain. Aaj se yeh tumhare hue."

Shipra stared at the glittering gold. She had never been a materialistic person, but the sheer maternal warmth coming from her mother-in-law was something she had craved her entire life. A lump formed in her throat.

"Chalo, jaldi ready ho jao, main tumhein niche lene aati hoon rasam ke liye," Sunaina patted her cheek before leaving.

Shipra went to the bathroom, showered, and draped the bright red saree. Looking in the mirror, she felt different. Everything was new, but beneath the anxiety, a faint ember of hope lit up in her heart.

A short while later, Sunaina brought her downstairs. Shipra carefully took the blessings of the elders-Dadi, her father-in-law, and the relatives.

When she sat down on the sofa, three men walked into the hall, laughing casually.

Shipra looked up. She recognized Reyansh and Kabir from yesterday. But the third man... she couldn't place him at all. He was tall, ridiculously handsome, with a sharp jawline, intense dark eyes, and a commanding aura.

Shipra felt an inner tug-of-war.

Her angel side😇 whispered: Arey! Apne pati ke baare mein socho, dusre ladkon ko kya ghoor rahi ho!

Immediately, her devil side 😈chimed in: Arey yaar, sirf dekhne mein kya jata hai? Handsome ladka hai, thoda tareef hi toh kar rahi hoon, kaunsa chori kar rahi hoon!

The three men sat down across from her. Shipra kept her gaze fixed on her lap, but every now and then, she felt a burning gaze on her face. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she felt too shy to even raise her eyes.

"Chalo chalo, sab aao!" Sunaina announced, carrying a wide brass bowl filled with milk, water, and red rose petals. She placed it on the central table.

"Shipra beta, yahan aake baitho," Sunaina called out. She then turned toward the handsome stranger standing nearby. "Aryaveer, tum bhi aao aur apni biwi ke paas baitho."

Shipra's mind went blank. Aryaveer? she thought frantically. Wait, agar pati yahan nahi hai, toh yeh kise bula rahi hain-

Before she could process it, the handsome man walked over and sat directly across from her, right on the other side of the brass bowl.

Shipra snapped her head up, her eyes wide. The handsome guy was sitting right in front of her, looking directly at her with an amused smirk.

Her utter confusion was so bloody obvious that the entire family noticed it.

Reyansh burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. "Arrey baap re, Bhabhi! Kal raat ko koi chamatkar hua hai kya? Bhai raat-o-raat itne handsome kaise ho gaye? Yeh zaroor aapka hi jaadu hai!"

Shipra just blinked, completely lost.

Seeing her bewildered face, Sunaina laughed warmly. "Beta, yeh Aryaveer hi hai. Don't tell me that u believed those ridiculous rumours.

Shipra was too stunned to speak. He... he was hiding THIS face?! Bevakoof insaan, aisa chehra kaun chhipata hai?!

"Arey bas karo, meri bahu ko tang mat karo!" Dadi interjected with a laugh. "Muhurat nikla jaa raha hai, rasam shuru karo!"

Dadi tossed a heavy gold ring into the milky water, swirling the rose petals until it sank.

"Dhyan se suno," Dadi announced. "Jo pehle teen mein se do baar anguthi dhundhega, wohi is shaadi mein apna raaj chalayega!"

"Bhabhi! Aapko hi jeetna hai!" Reyansh cheered loudly, waving his hands. "Aap jeetogi tabhi toh Bhai thode control mein rahenge! Koi to hona chahiye bhai pr hukum chalane wala. U don't know ye kaise sbpr hukum chalate rehte h. Hum aapki team mein hain. Ulti ginti shuru krdo bhai"

Kabir nudged Aryaveer, laughing. "Dekh Bhai, pehle hi din biwi se mat haar jaana, izzat ka sawaal hai!"

What started as a fun game turned into a silent battle of pride. Shipra and Aryaveer locked eyes-a silent challenge passing between them.

"One... two... three... Go!" Dadi called out.

Both of their hands plunged into the milk at the exact same time. Their fingers brushed against each other underwater, sending a sharp jolt through both of them.

In the first round, Shipra's fingers moved fast, grabbing the ring and pulling it out.

"YES! Bhabhi point le gayi!" Reyansh yelled. Shipra offered Aryaveer a tiny, triumphant smirk.

Aryaveer narrowed his eyes. Achha, toh madam ko jeetna hai?

In the second round, Aryaveer used his larger hand to quickly sweep the bottom, locking onto the ring and lifting it high.

"Tie ho gaya! Ek-Ek!" Kabir announced.

Now came the final round. The room exploded with chaos, laughter, and loud cheering. Shipra and Aryaveer splashed the water around, their hands frantically searching, bumping into each other's wrists in a frenzy.

Suddenly, both of their hands clamped onto the gold ring at the exact same moment.

They slowly lifted their hands out. Both of them were holding opposite sides of the ring.

A proud smile erupted on both of their faces at the same instant.

But as they realized they were holding it together-their hands dripping with milk, their eyes locked-the pride melted away, replaced by intense shyness.

Shipra's cheeks burned crimson. She quickly let go of the ring, pulling her hand back and dropping her gaze to the floor.

"Aha! Tie ho gaya! Matlab dono milke raaj karoge!" Dadi declared happily.

Next came the Kangna Khelna ritual, where they had to untie the sacred knots on each other's wrists. Aryaveer's fingers were surprisingly gentle as he untied hers, his warm touch making Shipra's breath catch in her throat.

After the rituals ended, the entire family sat down for lunch. Laughter filled the dining room, but Shipra's mind was still spinning.

She stole a quiet glance at Aryaveer, who was eating casually, looking like a literal king.

Yeh itna bada sach kyu chhipa rahe the? Duniya ko kya bolne diya aur sach kya hai... inke dimaag mein chal kya raha hai?

Shipra took a quiet breath, her resolve hardening. We need to have a conversation.

DISCLAIMER

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or used fictitious context. Any resemblance to real individuals, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. The author claims no ownership over historical or factual accuracy for dramatized events.

All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or digital methods-without the explicit prior written permission of the author, except for brief excerpts used in critical reviews or non-commercial features as permitted by copyright law.

Note: Any visual media or images utilized throughout this work belong to their respective original creators and owners.

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