Chapter 14
900 Words
Rudransh
A faint golden light filtered through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows across the room. The air was still, carrying the lingering scent of roses and sandalwood from last night's rituals.
I shifted slightly, my body stiff from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. And that's when I felt it.
A soft weight against my arm.
I froze. My gaze flickered down, and there she was-curled up on the far side of the bed, her body just inches from mine.
Her heavy bridal jewelry was gone, and in its place was a quiet softness I hadn't seen before. Strands of her dark hair had escaped her braid, fanning across the pillow. Her lips-bare of their usual deep red tint-were slightly parted as she slept, her breathing slow and even.
She looked... peaceful. Vulnerable.
Nothing like the fierce girl who had stood before me last night, challenging me with her gaze.
And I hated that I noticed.
I exhaled sharply, shifting away from her, putting more distance between us. But even as I moved, my eyes betrayed me, lingering for a second too long on the delicate curve of her shoulder, the way the fabric of her kurti had slipped slightly, revealing the bare skin of her collarbone.
Damn it.
I ran a hand through my hair, forcing my attention elsewhere. This was nothing. Just a byproduct of exhaustion. I was reading too much into things.
And yet, my body refused to believe the same.
Just then, she stirred. A slow, sleepy movement as her lashes fluttered open, dark eyes hazy with sleep.
For a moment, she simply blinked, disoriented. Then her gaze found mine.
Silence.
Her breath hitched, realization dawning in her expression. Her fingers tightened against the edge of the blanket, her body tensing as if she was just as aware of the space between us-of how little of it there was.
I saw it then. The flicker of something new in her eyes.
She was aware now.
She swallowed, sitting up quickly, breaking whatever moment had threatened to form between us. "Uh... good morning," she murmured, her voice slightly hoarse from sleep.
I didn't respond right away. I should've. I should've said something, anything, to ground the moment back into reality.
But all I could think about was how damn difficult it was going to be to keep my distance from her.
And how, for the first time, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to.
Akriti
When he did not replied I got up in order to get fresh as it is my first day at my in-laws. I got a simple red saree to wear from my luggage which was kept in his huge ass closet. Well genuinely how has such a big closet, nevermind
I took a lavish shower beacuse why not my husband has a luxury bathroom.
Standing infont of dressing table getting ready for the day. Staring at my reflection, which is so new and unfamiliar to me, the heena inked hands, the deep red saree, nuptial chain and the blood red vermillion in my hairline stated that I am a woman now.
No more a girl who was carefree and mischievous beacuse now before me stood a woman carrying and binding two families with her. She realized that now she has a great responsibility of being someone's wife, someone's daughter-in-law and what not, but one thing she feared that admist all of these she would forget that she is herself first.
Then, the door opened breaking her thoughts, there he stood frozen a towel hanging from his neck his clothes sticking to his body ......looking at her mesmerized not even blinking, she stood there like a new bride - his bride which made his possessiveness irk.
Not wanting to caught red handed he rushed to the washroom to get freshened up and start for the day.
Whereas Akriti looked at him and shrugged making her way downstairs, after lot of struggle she then found a servant and asked for the directions of the living room. "God what is this place a home or a maze " struggling for a while "Finally" she exhaled reaching the living room where only elders were present.
Greeting the elders she stood there not knowing what to do. Just then everyone else arrived downstairs as well.
"Wow.... exclaimed Aviraj coming downstairs ...Bhabhisa you look absolutely gorgeous bhaiya is lucky hn" he added teasingly.
Akriti chuckled a light blush adoring her cheeks.
"Ok everyone Time for the rituals let's head to temple for morning prayer" exclaimed Yashwant kanwar (Rudransh's grandmother)
Rudransh also went to temple as he knew family would be there along with the family priest. He greated the elders and priest and stood beside his wife.
"Today's offering will be provided by Yuvraj (Crown prince) and his wife". said the priest
They both came forward and did the arti together. After arti Akriti bent down to seek blessing from the priest and he gave her vermillion in return offering her prosperous wedding life and asked Rudransh to fill her hairline with it.
"Akriti's heartbeat quickened when his hand made contact with her hairline, her eyes fluttering shut as she savored the bliss of the moment. Meanwhile, he stood still, his gaze fixed on her face-taking in the nervousness in her features, the deep red of the vermillion, and the undeniable truth that she was now his"
- Writer
