This story concerns a highly esteemed royal family residing in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The unwanted marriage of the to-be-crowned king of Rajasthan. The king of Rajasthan was unwillingly betrothed as part of his duty to provide a Queen for his kingdom.
...
I could feel the weight of Adhyay's sudden tension as Kaka sa's question hit the air, and for a split second, it felt like everything around us froze. Honeymoon? Really? My cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and surprise, and I glanced up at Adhyay to see him choke slightly, his body stiffening as if the words had caught him completely off guard.
The entire room burst into laughter, and I could feel the heat rising in my own face. There was something about being this exposed in front of so many people that made my palms clammy. But I also couldn't help but notice how Adhyay's eyes darted to me, clearly just as thrown off as I was.
It wasn't like we hadn't talked about us—or that we hadn't thought about the possibility of a honeymoon—but hearing it out loud in front of his entire family was... well, overwhelming, to say the least.
I couldn't help but smile at how flustered he was. He was usually so composed, so serious. But now? His discomfort made him look... almost human—and it made me like him even more.
After a few more rounds of light-hearted teasing and laughter, the chatter in the room began to quiet down. The evening had wound down, and one by one, everyone started heading back to their respective rooms. Devi and Dhruv exchanged their usual playful remarks as they left, and even Kaka sa, after his mischievous comments, gave me a wink before heading off to bed.
Adhyay and I exchanged a glance, and he gave me a small, almost apologetic smile for the way the evening had unfolded. It was a strange mix of emotions for me—embarrassment from the teasing, but also a sense of belonging. The way they had accepted me, included me in their banter, it felt like a step forward. I was still learning, still adjusting to everything, but I didn't feel out of place anymore.
We made our way upstairs to our room in silence, both of us seeming to be lost in our own thoughts. The house felt quieter now, the night settling in around us, and I could feel the weight of the day starting to take its toll.
As we entered the room, Adhyay closed the door behind us, his movements slow but deliberate. He paused for a moment, glancing at me, and for a second, the warmth that had been there during the evening lingered between us.
"That was..." he began, but paused, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Different."
I chuckled softly, the tension of the evening lifting. "Different is one way to put it," I said, setting down the small bag I had brought with me into the room. "But it wasn't bad.
We both stood there for a moment, the room filled with a quiet peace. I could feel the weight of the day lifting from my shoulders as I slowly made my way toward the bed. Adhyay followed me, sitting down beside me, and for a moment, we just sat there in silence, taking in the serenity of the night.
Meera was fast asleep, her breathing slow and even, a gentle rhythm that made me hesitate a moment before moving. I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and crossed the room to the closet. The cool night air prickled my skin as I reached for a shawl, wrapping it around myself before pulling out my phone.
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