ONE AND ONLY HIS
The sacred fire flickered steadily between us, casting a warm golden glow across the mandap.
Mantras filled the evening air, rhythmic and calm, while flower petals lay scattered across our laps. Around us, family murmured, cameras flashed, and the entire venue watched our every move.
And yet, none of that felt real.
The only thing that grounded me was his shoulder resting against mine, his fingers wrapped around my hand with an easy, unbreakable firmness.
Someone placed the mangalsutra in his hands.
My heartbeat spiked into my throat. My fingers curled into the heavy silk of my lehenga, my eyelashes trembling as I stared down at my lap.
"Look up, Lavanya."
His voice was barely a breath, meant only for my ears.
I hesitated for a second before lifting my head.
The moment our eyes met, every bit of noise faded into nothing. There was no cocky smirk on his face. No teasing in his eyes. Just a calm, unyielding certainty that settled deep into my bones.
Without breaking eye contact, Abhiraj leaned in. His hands moved behind my neck, securing the black-and-gold beads against my skin, his fingers brushing my nape with steady warmth.
Then came the sindoor.
A pinch of crimson dust. A slow line traced down the center parting of my hair.
"You're mine now," he whispered under his breath, his voice so low that only the fire between us shared the secret.
Lavanya was built on independence, carrying responsibilities without complaint and keeping her vulnerabilities hidden behind sharp focus. Abhiraj was observant, calm, and utterly unapologetic about refusing to leave her side.
Between shared rooftops, loud dinners, undeniable jealousy, and quiet moments stolen in the dark, they didn't just learn how to share a life.
They found home in each other.