THE LEGAL BIND

Chapter: 32 - Sly bride.

The morning of the wedding.

Revika Shastri

It was the day of the wedding. After the heart to heart with Saarna Aunty, I revered Mr. Rajput even more. To turn out the way he did without having a father and to have all those missing moments was truly so brave. I was getting ready for the wedding and wore the last piece of jewelry left – My Jhumke. Just as I was about to leave for the garden – that’s where the wedding was going to take place – Ishani walked in my room and said, “Re we have been asked to bring Lav Bhabhisa downstairs, come with me please.” I was so done with her calling Lavanya ‘Bhabhisa’ or ‘Bhabs’ all day, but I nodded nonetheless.

We left towards the bride’s room but Ishani got caught up with some relatives, she asked me to go ahead and said that she would soon join me. I agreed and left to get Lavanya. Just as I was about to knock, I heard her mention Mr. Rajput, seemed like she was on the phone. “I understand that you are concerned about me not being able to make Vardaan fall for me, but I sent you the pictures of the engagement and other functions too, he is happy with this marriage. Even his cousins are spending their time with me. Once I have properly gained their trust, I will crumble Vardaan by telling him his truth, once he knows that he has been lied to all his life, he will throw out the only person responsible for that. I will make sure to get the property papers for Malti as well, of course, don’t worry. I need to hang up, I have to go soon.”

I was shocked. Who was she talking to? How is Mrs. Shastri involved with all this, is this how she knew I was here? Does she want the property Maa left for me? I couldn’t have her ruin the family, I didn’t care for my property, it was all materialistic things, but to have her spill the truth to Mr. Rajput and ruin the peace this family has conserved for all these years was not acceptable. I had to stop this wedding.

I rushed to Saarna aunty and told her everything. She was shocked but she wasn’t surprised Lavanya wasn’t loyal. She never liked her. She told me that she wished to stop the wedding, I told her that was why I had rushed to her. “Ab shaadi shuru hone mein sirf minute reh gaye hai, the only was to stop it is if we cause drama. We don’t have proof of Lavanya being a cheat, we need to switch the bride. Revika, bete, tum mere Vadu se shaadi karogi?” I was shocked.

I sat down and took a minute to think, I didn’t want anything to hurt Mr. Rajput. I sighed, but got up and nodded at her. She was ecstatic and told me what to do the minute I stepped out in the garden. She handed me the pregnancy test, I was confused as to why she had a positive pregnancy test, she said, “Mene pregnancy ke waqt ka sambhala tha.” Her eyes were teary, but she smiled and gave me a nod to go ahead. I nodded and hugged her before I went out and stopped the wedding. I married Mr. Rajput.

Khyati aunty and Hritesh Uncle performed my Kanyadaan. It was an extremely overwhelming and emotional moment. Just like that I was Revika Vardaan Singh Rajput. I was a wife and daughter – in – law. It didn’t dawn on me until all the rituals took place and I was taken to his room, now ‘our room’. I took my time looking around properly, last time I was here, I didn’t really pay attention to detail. It was very like him, his room. It was stoic, classy and at the same time, had some warmth. Exactly like him. I chuckled at myself.

I went to the dressing table and started to take off the minimal jewelry I was wearing. I wasn’t dressed like a bride, but the Vermillion in my hair line and the Nuptial chain around my neck were a constant reminder that I was now a married woman. Strangely enough, I felt like I wanted to proudly show it off, I felt happy from the inside. Soon the feeling subsided and I was overwhelmed with guilt, guilt of lying to Mr. Rajput and his family that I love him. I don’t want to toy with his feelings.

He probably wasn’t deep in love with me, but I still had no right to lie to him. Just as I was lost in thought, Mr. Rajput walked in to the room. “Hey,” he said as he sighed with relief, his eyes never leaving my being. “Hi.” I said and got up to walk towards him. I stopped right in front of him and he began to speak, “Reva, you can’t even imagine how happy I am right now. I am so glad you walked in at the right time otherwise Gurmeet would have sent the goons in. I am so glad to have married you. It has been the best thing to have ever happened to me.” He said, a genuine smile adorning his lips. How do I just tell him that I didn’t marry him out of love? What do I even say I married him for? I couldn’t take away that smile.

I would make sure he is happy, so much that he doesn’t ever think of his hurtful past. I smiled, genuinely, because he was. I liked that he was happy because of me. “I am happy too, Mr. Rajput –” “Vardaan” He interrupted me. “Yeah right, Vardaan Ji, I am happy too, but even though we are married, I need some time to fully acknowledge my feelings towards you.” I couldn’t act like I was completely and utterly in love with him, that would be a betrayal to my conscience and to his genuine feelings, but I didn’t want to hurt him either.

He smiled again, “I am glad you are honest with me, we are going to take small steps, trying to get to know each other better is the first one. I want you to be completely comfortable and only then, we shall progress further in whatever terms you wish. You giving me a chance is all I need Reva, you will see my love for you, I know you will fall for me because I am determined to win your heart. I don’t want to claim you as mine just because we are married, I want you to tell me that you own my heart when you rightfully feel so.” He finished and I was teary – eyed. I nodded and couldn’t help myself so I hugged him mumbling, “Thank you.” He hugged me back but only with one hand loosely wrapped around my shoulders.

He probably wanted me to not be uncomfortable and that made me feel worse, he thought about even the tiniest thing that could make me uncomfortable. I sighed and rushed out telling him that I needed to change and would be back soon, he nodded with a slight smile. I couldn’t handle it. I needed to talk to someone and the only person that would completely understand what I was going through was Saarna aunty.

“Hass ke mein roya, chhup kar teri hi baton se..”

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Those were quite the revelations.
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