𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 18

Shivali's POV

I felt a small gentle tap on the back of my palm and blinked my eyes open taking in the dark surroundings of the car before I snuggled a little on the headrest. The headrest stiffened and I immediately opened my eyes wide

I turned my face towards the headrest and saw the outline of Devesh ji's sherwani. I blinked my eyes again as my eyes travelled lower and I saw my hand clutching Devesh ji's forearm while the other rested on my lap

"Sorry" I said and immediately pulled my head back squeezing my fingers into a fist and them opening it. I saw him slowly blink as he passed me a calm look that always resonated in his face. I blinked nervously before I pushed my hair behind my ear looking at my lap

"We have reached home" he said in a soft voice and I felt some kind of serenity feel through me at the word 'home'. I nodded my head and pushed myself a little away from him feeling embarrassed to be clutching onto him in my sleep

The car came to a halt and the sound of dhol rang through my ears. I smiled looking outside through the windshield and saw the family already standing outside. Saketh and Agastya stepped out of the car and turned to open the door for Devesh ji and I

I stepped out first with Saketh's help and soon Devesh ji followed. I turned to glance at him and saw a warm expression on his face as he looked around. Saketh came and stood beside me as Agastya stood beside Devesh ji. 

I clapped a little in the dance form as Saketh bumped his shoulder into mine urging me to dance too. I chuckled as Agastya and Saketh started dancing in front of me together. I turned to glance at Devesh ji and saw him smiling looking at the people around us

We stepped ahead together and stopped at the threshold of the door actually leading into the house. I smiled as mummy ji came and stood in front of us with a plate for prayer. Devesh ji stood beside me and I shifted closer to him

Mummy ji started roaming the plate in front of both of us. Nerves filled my brain as I saw the living room filled with unknown faces and reached my hand towards his seeking his warmth. I brushed my fingers against his, but fisted it the very next second

I felt his gaze on the side of my face before he held my thumb in between his fingers. I opened the fist and held my palm out and he slowly sneaked his palm in my mine bringing a blush to my face. I looked at mummy ji as she applied the vermilion on my forehead in between my eyes 

"You can now kick it with your right leg and enter the house" mummy ji said pointing towards the pot filled with rice in front of me on the floor. I lifted my skirt a little and gently kicked the pot down with my foot and it spilled along the floor

"Let's go" mummy ji said and I started walking behind her holding onto Devesh ji's hand tightly squeezing it in between my fingers. I felt a gentle tug on my palm and turned to look at him as he nodded his head in my direction, reassuring me

Mummy ji stepped inside a small room and I realized it was the prayer room. Mummy ji asked Devesh ji and I to stand ahead and asked me to join my hands and light up a Diya in front of the prayer place and I did that before stepping back and joining my hand and closing my eyes

"Now you can open this knot" mummy ji said pointing towards our dupattas that were still tied together and I turned to look at Devesh ji as he also stared at my face before I stepped ahead and started untying the knot

"Beta, do you think you can play the games and other such rituals, tonight?" mummy ji asked silently whispering in my ear and I slowly bit my lip before turning to stare outside the window and saw it was completely dark now