She could feel her fragile heart broken into thousand pieces when her boyfriend broke up with her. She had dreamt of a happy life with him but he betrayed her when she had the courage to fight for their love. Resentment and vengeance took over her a...
The bridal room was a whirlwind of color and chatter. Sush sat before the mirror, surrounded by a chorus of giggling cousins adjusting bangles, pinning dupattas, and fussing over every fold of her outfit. The air smelled of fresh gajras and the faint sweetness of perfumes, mixed with the crisp sound of glass bangles clinking.
She looked radiant in the deep red lehenga, its delicate gold embroidery shimmering softly under the lights. A trace of nervousness flickered in her eyes, but it was wrapped in a glow of pure joy—an unspoken thrill of stepping into a life with the man she loved. Her jewelry adorned her gracefully, each piece framing her like a bride out of a dream.
One of her cousins clasped her hands together, eyes wide with delight. "Di!" she exclaimed with a teasing grin. "Jiju will faint the moment he sees you!"
Laughter rippled through the room, and Sush's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red than her lehenga as she lowered her gaze, trying—and failing—to hide her shy smile.
Sush's phone buzzed on the dressing table. One of her cousins handed it to her carefully so as not to disturb the pleats of her dupatta.
"Bhabhi?" she said, already giggling.
On the other end, Ragini's cheerful voice came through. "Are you ready?"
Sush let out a nervous laugh. "Almost... I hope I look okay."
"You need to look more than okay," Ragini teased gently. "You need to look the prettiest today—because I'm going to take a lot of gorgeous pictures of you."
Sush's lips curved into a smile, her heartbeat quickening. "Thank you for calling. And... for everything."
"Stupid," Ragini replied. "Now go, make yourself the most beautiful bride. I'm waiting to see you."
Meanwhile, in Sid's room, a quiet anticipation filled the air, the energy entirely different from the bustling bridal chamber.
Sid caught sight of himself in the mirror and laughed under his breath. "I look... older."
"You look like a groom," Papa said proudly from the corner.
Ragini stepped in, her hand nestled in Sparsh's. She wore a heavy golden saree, its zari work catching the light with every movement. Her jewelry was simple yet elegant—gold bangles, a matching necklace, and small earrings that framed her face. The soft curve of her tiny baby bump showed gently beneath the saree, adding to her calm, radiant look.
Sparsh, in his cream sherwani, kept close to her side. "Careful," he murmured, steadying her as she walked in.
Ragini moved slowly toward Sid, her golden saree trailing softly against the floor. Sid, dressed in an elegant white sherwani with subtle embroidery, rose to his feet the moment she entered, a wide smile lighting up his face.
Ma stepped forward and handed Ragini a small silver plate with the tika and a lit diya. Ragini took it carefully, circling the plate in front of Sid's face, her eyes glistening with affection. Then, with steady hands, she pressed the red tika onto his forehead.
"You look like a prince," she said with a smile that held both pride and love.
Sid laughed softly, touched. Ragini then reached up, rubbed a little kajal from the corner of her own eye, and gently dabbed it behind Sid's ear.
His voice lowered, trembling, carrying the weight of everything left unsaid over the past years. "Thank you... for coming back. For forgiving us. For forgiving me," he said, his eyes moist but unwavering as they met Ragini's. "If you hadn't... this home would have stayed broken."
Ragini's throat tightened, but she kept her gaze soft, steady. Sid exhaled shakily and added, barely above a whisper, "And today... seeing you here, standing by me like always... it feels like everything I ever wished for is here."
Her eyes softened as she reached out and gently patted Sid's shoulder. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice steady but full of emotion, "for becoming the person you always were deep down. Thank you for giving yourself a second chance... because without that, this family would never have found its way back to happiness."
She smiled through the sting in her eyes and added, "And thank you for showing us that it's never too late to make things right... never too late to love your people better."
Ragini's words of blessing still lingered when Sparsh, standing close beside her, spoke softly, his voice carrying both affection and quiet advice. "You need to be a good husband," he said, looking at Sid with a proud smile, "and one day... a good father too."
Sid's eyes softened, emotion flickering across his face as he nodded.
Ma, who had been watching with misty eyes, suddenly broke the tender moment with a playful grin. She stepped closer, placing her hand lovingly over Ragini's slight baby bump and said, "You can start practicing fatherhood by first being a good chachu... to this little one who'll be here in just three months."
The room filled with warm laughter. Ragini's cheeks flushed pink, her hand instinctively covering Ma's on her belly, while Sparsh squeezed her fingers gently, his own smile deep and full of love. Sid chuckled through the emotion, bending slightly as if bowing to them all, promising silently to live up to every word.
Outside, the dhols thundered, their rhythm shaking the courtyard as petals rained down and Sid mounted his horse, his sehra swaying. Laughter and music spilled into the street as the baraat moved forward.
Ragini stepped out with Sparsh, her hand tucked securely into his. He adjusted the edge of her pallu, steadying her with every step. She smiled up at him, her eyes bright. "You worry too much," she teased.
"I have every reason to," he murmured, resting his hand briefly on her belly. She laughed softly.
Sparsh kept one arm around Ragini, his hand protectively resting over her belly. Leaning close, he whispered, "Don't dance too much."
Ragini scrunched up her nose and made a playful face at him, pretending to pout. He couldn't help but laugh, tightening his hold as they swayed gently to the music, her smile shining brighter than the lights strung above.
For a fleeting moment, Sparsh looked at her amid the blur of colors and music, overwhelmed with gratitude—this woman, this life, this little one on the way. It felt like everything he had ever prayed for stood right here, holding his hand.
She looked up at Sparsh, her eyes shining. "I love you," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead as the baraat swirled around them. "And I love you more," he murmured back.
And together—hand in hand, hearts wide open—they danced into the future.
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** Thank you so much for joining me on this journey! This was the final chapter of this book, and I'm deeply grateful for all the love and support you've shown along the way. Your time, your thoughts, and your encouragement mean the world to me.
If you enjoyed this story, I'd be thrilled if you explore more of my works—there's so much more waiting for you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
