"Come near now, and kiss me."
Ruhanika
Read at your own risk; 18+ content.
We assembled in front of the grand entrance for my welcome ceremony. Rani Maa stood on the other side of the ornately carved doors, holding a silver thal adorned with marigold petals and a lit diya for my aarti. Beside her, a golden kalash filled with rice was placed at the threshold, a symbol of prosperity and auspicious beginnings.
Rani Maa applied a small dot of kumkum on our foreheads before performing our aarti. The soft, melodic sound of the conch shell resonated, echoing through the palace corridors, adding to the sanctity of the moment. I followed her instructions to dip my hands into the cool, fragrant haldi paste and press them against the wall next to the door, leaving my handprints as a mark of my entry into this new chapter of life.
She then instructed me to kick the kalash gently with my right foot. I hesitated for a moment, looking at Dev for reassurance. His subtle nod and the gentle warmth in his eyes gave me the courage I needed. Taking a deep breath, I used my right toe to nudge the kalash, sending the rice spilling onto the ground—a symbol of abundance I was bringing into this home. Together, we took our first steps into the palace as husband and wife.
My feet sank into the crimson aalta dye in the plate, and I carefully stepped onto the pristine white cloth laid out before us. My footprints, delicate and red, marked our path to the temple within the palace, where we would seek blessings from the family deity.
The temple was adorned with flickering oil lamps and fresh garlands of jasmine and roses, filling the air with a divine fragrance. Dev performed the puja, while I lit a small diya for the deity. Though my relationship with God had been strained, I found myself silently thanking Him for giving me Dev. Perhaps we had reconciled after all.
After the blessings were sought and the sacred chants concluded, we returned to the grand hall, where the remaining rituals awaited. Rani Maa took a silk thread and tied it around our wrists, explaining that whoever untied the knots first would be declared the winner. I took his hand in mine and began working on the knots, my fingers fumbling as the thread proved stubborn. Dev, however, was swift and skillful, untying his knots with ease. He gave me a teasing smile, his eyes dancing with amusement as my jaw tightened in mock irritation.
Next came the game of the ring. A large pot of milk, sprinkled with rose petals, was brought before us. According to Rani Maa, whoever found the ring first would "control" the marriage. The challenge sparked laughter among the guests, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at Dev’s cocky smirk. His confidence was almost infuriating.
As the crowd cheered us on—Rani Maa and Janki Amma firmly in his corner, while Maya, Arjun Bhaisa, and Nandita rooted for me—we plunged our hands into the pot. The cool milk and slippery rose petals made the task harder than expected, but I found the ring almost immediately. Triumphantly, I pulled it out, earning loud cheers from my team and a raised eyebrow from Dev.
The ritual wasn’t over yet. Rani Maa placed the ring back in the pot, explaining that we had to repeat the game two more times. On the second round, I located the ring again, but before I could retrieve it, Dev’s hand covered mine. His touch was warm, firm, and deliberate. He caressed the back of my hand, his olive-green eyes locking with mine in a way that made my heart race. Taking advantage of my distraction, he deftly took the ring from my grasp and held it up with a triumphant grin. My jaw dropped, and the hall erupted in laughter.
Determined not to lose the final round, I decided to outsmart him. As we both searched for the ring, I caught his gaze and gave him a playful, seductive smile, followed by a cheeky wink. The unexpected gesture caught him off guard, and he froze momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, I snatched the ring and held it up in victory. My team roared with delight, while Dev simply smiled, shaking his head in amused resignation. His eyes, however, held a tenderness that made my cheeks burn.
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