Chapter 15
923 Words
"Ok now let's start with the remaining rituals exclaimed Yashwant kanwar"
Everyone settled in living room including some extended relatives as well. The preparations for rituals were already done.
"So let's start" exclaimed an overly enthusiastic Sara
"Yes, So for the first ritual Yuvrani ( Crown princess) you have to apply Tilak on yuvraj's forehead" said panditji
Everyone thought of it as a very easy ritual but then he revealed "But there is a twist..... You cannot use your hands"
Akriti stood there not knowing how to do the task without using her hands while Everyone watched her curiously thinking what would she do.
Rudransh on the other hand was watching her intently thinking she cannot do it as no one in their family has completed this ritual properly.
Akriti looked around her thinking for a way then she looked at the vermillion bottle in her hand given by panditji and then up at Rudransh who raised an eyebrow.
Everyone watched her as she kept the bottle on the table beside and stood in front of Rudransh,
She stood on her tiptoes making her hairline touch his forehead before retreating back to her previous position after completing the ritual.
Whereas Rudransh was stunned at her move, she stood too close for him to resist which made his desires to resurface from last night.
He looked at her, she stood there flushed under his consuming gaze while other's clapped for her.
With the nervousness lingering the rest rituals were completed followed by the breakfast.
After the rituals and breakfast, the family dispersed, leaving Akriti to explore the palace on her own. She wasn't exactly lost, but she wasn't sure where she was going either. The place was massive, filled with corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly.
She finally reached Rudransh's room, intending to change out of her ceremonial sari into something lighter. Just as she was unpinning her pallu, the door opened.
Rudransh.
He stopped in the doorway, his gaze locking onto her. His eyes flickered over her, taking in her disrupted appearance, the exposed skin of her collarbone and her flushed cheeks. A muscle in his jaw ticked.
Akriti stiffened, her fingers clutching the edge of her pallu, pressing it against her chest. "I-I was just about to change."
Before he could say anything, a loud voice interrupted.
"Oh, wow! Are we walking in on something?"
Akriti's head whipped around to see Aviraj and Sara standing with their other siblings in the hallway, grinning like foxes and her quickly fixed her appearance.
Digvijay leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "Bhai, you should at least knock before barging in on your new bride."
Aviraj clicked his tongue. "I mean, we get it. It's your suhagdin and all, but bhaiya, at least let Bhabhisa breathe."
Akriti's cheeks turned crimson. "It's not what you think-" while Rudransh stood frustrated.
"Oh, it's exactly what we think," Aviraj teased. "Bhaiya looks seconds away from shutting the door and making sure we don't disturb him."
Rudransh's glare could have burned them alive. "Get lost."
Digvijay gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Such cruelty! And here I was, hoping for some cute newlywed moments."
Aviraj sighed. "Guess we'll leave them to it."
Before disappearing down the hall, he winked at Akriti. "Good luck, Bhabhisa. He's not the easiest man to handle."
Akriti groaned, covering her face with her hands embarrassed. "God, your siblings are impossible."
Rudransh was still standing there, silent, brooding.
She peeked at him through her fingers. "You could have said something, you know. Instead of letting them get the wrong idea."
He finally spoke, his voice low. "Does it matter?"
Akriti frowned, something about the way he said it-calm, controlled, yet simmering with something unspoken-sent a shiver down her spine.
"What do you mean" she said, crossing her arms.
His expression didn't change. " I've just made amends with these, simply chosen not to entertain things that shouldn't matter."
Her stomach twisted. "Things that shouldn't matter? What things Mr Shekhawat may I know "
"You. This." His eyes flickered to her slightly undone sari, then back to her face. "This... distraction, it's all frustrating and I don't want all these"
Akriti's eyes widened, hurt flashing across her face before she masked it with irritation. "A distraction?" She let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Then why the hell did you marry me if I was only a mere distraction for you"
"Beacuse I was not interested in getting married at the first place" he replied like it was a normal thing to say.
She scoffed "I didn't ask for this marriage either, Rudransh. But at least I'm trying. While you-" she stepped closer, her voice daring him to look away "-you won't even look at me unless you have to."
His fingers curled into fists. "Because looking at you makes things complicated, it is not what I am."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
A sharp silence fell between them.
Akriti's breath hitched. She searched his face, looking for something-anything-that would make sense of what he just admitted.
But he exhaled sharply, stepping back, running a hand through his hair as if annoyed with himself. "Get dressed," he muttered. "You're still needed for the remaining traditions."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Leaving her standing there, breathless, heart pounding, confused and hurt but despite all of this she understood his turmoil and action, now very, very aware that she was not the only one struggling with this unspoken fire between them.
- Writer
