𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒆✨️🦢🌷🪞

Chapter 21: The new bride

Song suggestion: Judaai (Badlapur)

रांझण धुंधन मुख्य चालल्या
रांझण मिले ना ये…
जिगरां विचारों आगन लगा के रब्बा
लकीरन विचार दी जुदाई

---𖤣.𖥧.𖡼.⚘---

Meera’s POV

“We are here, sir.”

The car rolled to a slow halt in front of the Suryavanshi mansion.

Before I could gather my thoughts, the driver stepped out and opened the door for me.

The mansion stood tall and imposing, lights glowing warmly against the night sky.

Tonight, I wasn’t a guest.

I was the bride.

I carefully stepped out, lifting my heavy lehenga slightly. The jewellery weighed against my skin, my bangles chiming softly with every movement.

From the other side, Aditi hurried forward, adjusting my dupatta gently over my head.

At the entrance, Neeta and Megha aunty stood holding decorated puja thalis, diyas flickering in the evening breeze.

Behind them stood Ajay uncle, Dev, Vedang, Aditi and the rest of the family all gathered, all smiling.

Waiting for me.

My heart tightened.

Neeta aunty placed the kalash filled with rice at the threshold.

“Beta,” she said softly, “gently kick it and step inside.”

The ritual was simple. When a bride enters her new home, she lightly tips over the rice pot with her right foot — symbolizing prosperity and abundance entering the house with her.

I lifted my lehenga a little and gently nudged the pot with my toe. The rice spilled forward in a soft cascade.

Applause followed. Cheers. Teasing whistles.

I felt overwhelmed.

A kumkum thali was placed in front of me next. I was to dip my feet into the vermilion water and walk in, leaving red footprints behind — a sign that Goddess Lakshmi herself had entered the home.

I hesitated for half a second.

Then I stepped in.

The coolness of the liquid touched my skin. My first step landed on the marble floor, leaving a deep red imprint behind.

Then another.

And another.

My steps felt heavy.

Everything still felt unreal.

The warmth in everyone’s eyes made my chest ache. They were welcoming me with love… but my heart was still racing from everything that had happened.

As I walked, I suddenly felt a slight tug at the back of my lehenga.

I turned.

Sidharth.

He had discreetly lifted the trailing fabric slightly so it wouldn’t dip into the kumkum thali and stain heavily.

Our eyes met for a brief second.

Unspoken.

Aditi gasped dramatically. “Ohooo! Bhaiya is already so caring!”

Dev joined in instantly. “Look at him! Didn’t even let bhabhi’s lehenga touch the floor!”