Ashiqui

A New Beginning

The wedding went smoothly. Ishani, for the entire time, didn't look up at Rudransh and hid behind the long veil, and it irritated Rudransh a lot. He wanted to see her face. He was frustrated and irked not only by this but also by the shady behavior of her family.

He noticed the slight trembling on her hands as she hugged her aunt and uncle. He was observant enough. And he noticed how uncomfortable she was, so he was quick to pull her away and get her into his car. His family had already left.

Ishani sat beside him, fiddling with her fingers. Nervousness crept into her body. She was now married. How would her life be now? Will she be starved, tortured, and abused like before, or will it be a new beginning for her?

"Am I ugly-looking?" The sudden question threw Ishani off guard. She looked at Rudransh from under her veil. She kept the veil down during the entire wedding. "Umm, sorry," Ishani muttered quietly.

The sweet, honey-laced voice soothed Rudransh. He looked at her and shook his head. "Am I so ugly that you didn't even glance at me, huh?" rudransh questioned. Ishani's eyes widened in realization. Her heart thumped in nervousness.

"What no? How can you say this, Rana Sa?" Ishani frantically said.

"My name is rudransh, Ishani, not Rana Sa. At least not to you. Call me Rudra Ansh or whatever. I am your husband in front of you, not any king." Rudra softly said. Ishani gulped and nodded her head.

"Look up at me, love." The endearment threw Ishani off guard. Love? It was new to her. She was never called love, and not with such softness and warmth. Her cheeks burned, though, and she was thankful for the blush on her cheeks. Ishani looked up at Rudransh, looking at him from the veil.

Rudra sighed and forwarded his hand, which made Ishani flinch a bit, which went unnoticed by Rudra. He held the veil and pulled it up, revealing her face. The face that captured his heart six months ago. The face that brought sweet dreams to him at night and the face that calmed him down.

The puffed cheeks, fuller lips, small round eyes, the button nose—everything was so mesmerizing about her. Rudra wanted nothing but to kiss the hell out of her right now, but he controlled himself. He couldn't scare them away on their first day, right?

The car sped off on the road, and the car was silent. After about half an hour, the car reached the outside of a mansion. Ishani looked outside, and her eyes widened with awe. She met Avyan two years ago but never once in a while visited his house, and now she couldn't believe it was her home, only if she was welcomed here.

She was so lost in her thoughts looking at the mansion that she had no idea when the car entered the mansion and was stopped outside the mansion directly. Rudra got out, went to the other side, and opened the door. Ishani looked at him, shocked. No one did that to her.

"Come out, love." Rudra softly uttered, making the driver shock. Never in his lifetime had he thought he would see this day when he heard Rudra talk softly to someone.

Ishani looked at the forward hand of Rudra and then at him. Rudra smiled and nodded his head. Ishani took his hand and stepped outside. Rudra looked at her hand and internally cooed at the size and softness of it. He wrapped his hands around her hands, and it completely disappeared in his hands. Ishani stood beside Rudra and looked up at him.

Their height difference was another story. She only came to his chest, and her chubby, curvy body made her look like a boba ball. She was so cute, according to him.

Both started to walk inside when the dupatta of her lehenga swept onto the floor. Without a word, Rudra picked it up and held it. Ishani looked at him gratefully. "Thank you."

Rudra smiled and indicated that she should go. His family was already waiting near the door. Siya was waiting by the door, holding the aarti plate, while others stood behind her.

Siya smiled at the newlyweds and started the ritual. She blessed both of them and applied the tika to their foreheads. "Veer, lay out the cloth, please, and Avyan, bring met her the alta thaal," Siya said, looking at them. Both of them nodded and immediately got to work.

"I'll hold it for you." Manav said, taking the thaal from Siya's hands. Siya smiled at him, to which Manav only nodded his head. Avyan came and handed Siya the alta thaal. He looked at Ishani and smiled, winking at her. "Put your hands in the air, and then stamp your handprints on this wall."

Ishani nodded, dipped her hands in the water, and put them on the wall. Abhiraj took the alta thaal and laid it on the floor. "Welcome home, Ishani." Siya said that and moved a bit. Ishani dipped her feet in the alta while Rudra held her lehenga a bit up. "Thank you," Ishani said, and then walked out of the room, making footprints on the white cloth laid out on the floor.

"Just the ring ritual, and then you both can go to your rooms," Vikram said as he stood beside his son. The milk bowl was placed on the table as everyone sat on the sofa. The ritual started as both Rudra and Ishani started to find the ring in the milk bowl.

Intentionally, Rudra made Ishani win every time. "Yes, yes, yes, I knew it. My ishu baby will rule over this beast's life." Avyan taunted his side, hugging Ishani. Ishani blushed due to the compliment. "Get your hands on my wife if you don't want a broken arm now, Ayvan," Rudra said, glaring at Ayvan, who got scared a bit and removed his hand.

"Geez, bhaiya, calm down," Aavyan said, raising his hand in surrender. "Don't annoy your brother, Ayvan," Vikram said, then turned to Ishani. "I am so happy you are here, Beta. This is your home now, and we are your family. Feel comfortable, and yes, if these two imbecilic disturbances disturb you, feel free to complain to me, okay?"

Vikram patted her head a bit. Ishani was in tears. Her uncle never did that. She never got warmth from her uncle, but this man over here became a father to her in less than a day. "You both can now go to your room, okay? And Ishani, tomorrow we might have some guests, okay? Don't feel pressured, though."

"Okay, aunty."

"Aish, I am not your aunt, Ishani," Siya said, whining a bit. Ishani looked at her and blinked her eyes. Siya cooed at her cuteness. "Call me Choti Ma, or only Mamma or Ma... I won't mind anything." Siya said.

Ishani hummed, looking at the sweet woman. "Let's go, baby; this devar cum best friend of yours will take you to your room," Avyan said, tugging Ishani by the hand. "Hold her lehenga avyan." Rudra shouted from behind.

Avyan immediately took hold of her lehenga and helped her up the stairs.

"Do I need to put cotton in my ears, Rudra?" Siya said, looking at him mischievously once Ishani was out of sight.

"Siya, don't," Rudra said, looking at Siya. Having an age difference of only 9 years, both Rudra and Abhiraj felt it was awkward to call her Chachi or Ma; therefore, they called her by her name. Although Siya longed to hear Ma from Abhiraj, she was okay with it, whereas Veer and Avyan called her Ma.