ᴅɪʟ ᴋɪ ɴᴀʏɪ ᴅʜᴀᴅᴋᴀɴ

c h a p t e r 19

Vikram was growing increasingly frustrated as he sat in the mandap, waiting for his bride. The ceremony had already been delayed far too long, and he just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

The guests had started whispering among themselves, speculating about the possibilities that the bride had backed out. The hushed gossip reached Vikram's ears, fueling his anger. How could these people even think someone would dare to humiliate him in such a manner? And if Shivani had indeed done so—no, he wasn't going to think about that. There was no way she would. He wouldn't let her.

As his patience ran out, Vikram decided to take matters into his own hands. He was about to get up from the mandap when the priest stopped him. "She's here, Maharaj" the priest said. "We must begin quickly."

Rajkumari Shivani finally appeared, wearing a beautiful red bridal lehenga adorned with intricate gold embroidery and a matching set of royal jewelry that had once belonged to Vikram's mother. As she approached, Vikram swallowed to ease his dry throat and sat down cross-legged, watching as Shivani settled beside him. The guests fell silent, and the atmosphere in the mandap shifted to one of anticipation as the ceremony was about to begin.

"What took you so long?" Vikram whispered to Shivani, his voice laced with irritation and impatience.

She remained unresponsive, her silence only deepening his irritation. He turned to look at her, trying to peer through the delicate veil that obscured her face. "What's wrong?" he asked, straining to catch a glimpse of her eyes beneath the ornate fabric, but he could see very little.

Shivani simply shook her head, refusing to respond with words. Her silence was like a wall between them. Vikram clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face tightening with barely contained anger. With a sharp nod, he signaled the priest to begin the ceremony.

As the ceremony progressed, Vikram couldn't help but scan the crowd for Parwati. His eyes darted from face to face, searching for any sign of her. When he couldn't spot her anywhere, a wave of panic surged through him. Distracted, he didn't hear the priest instructing him and Shivani to rise for the pheras.

It was only when the priest gently touched his shoulder that he snapped back to the present, realizing with a start that the moment for their vows had arrived. The guests watched in hushed anticipation, the air thick with the scent of incense and the glow of the ceremonial fire casting flickering shadows on their faces.

~✦✼✦✼✦~

After the pheras, Parwati sat back down beside Vikram, a whirlwind of emotions raging within her. She couldn't believe she was married again, especially to the Maharaj who didn't even recognize her as the one he had just tied the knot with.

Silent tears streamed down Parwati's cheeks as Vikram accepted the mangalsutra from the pandit. She clenched her eyes shut tightly as he leaned forward, his hand moving under her veil to delicately tie the chain around her neck.

The pandit then passed Vikram the sindoor. He pinched some of the red powder between his fingers, a heavy pause hanging in the air. As he leaned forward this time, his hand hovering above her head, Parwati's trembling fingers lifted her veil.

The world seemed to hold its breath as their eyes met—Parwati's tear-streaked, red-rimmed eyes meeting Vikram's bewildered gaze. His expression shifted from shock to relief, then settled into one of confusion.

Parwati braced herself for Vikram's potential wrath, expecting anger or disdain for her deception. But to her surprise, it never came. Instead, he quietly leaned forward, his demeanor surprisingly gentle, and filled her hair parting with sindoor—as if he hadn't just married a woman who had once been a prisoner in his palace dungeons.