Page 46 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

In the fifth round, he promised to consult me on all matters, and I, in return, promised to take part in and support him in all his endeavours.

Our sixth vow was to stay loyal and faithful to each other. Just when I finished, he scoffed,“Faithful.” He laughed without looking at me.

The priest spoke the last vow, in which he promised to fulfil and follow all the promises he had made throughout his life. I, too, promised to remember all the vows I took and fulfil them with all my heart.

“You both can take seats,” the priest said, handing him a small silver container filled with sindoor36.“Now, you may apply this vermilion on the bride’s hairline,”

I looked in my parents’direction, who turned their eyes away from us, doing the final ritual. He pinched a good amount of sindoor between his fingers.

I blinked nervously as he filled my hairline with it, a little of which fell on my nose. Once, twice, thrice…. My body literally shivered at that moment. In the snap of a finger, I became someone else's. How simple yet complex the whole concept of a wedding was.

“The marriage is complete. I now, lawfully and ritually, pronounce you both husband and wife. You may take the blessings of your elders,” the priest said.

He instantly stood up from his place and stepped down from the altar. Wearing his footwear, he said in a low tone,“You have time till morning,” and left.

My mother walked towards me and helped me get down the mandap to take me to my chamber. Ruhani, her mother, Suman and my grandmother followed us too.

She made me sit on the couch and passed me a glass of water. With trembling hands, I held it and drank. My mother knelt before me and told me to put my feet forward. When I did, she gently slid toe rings on two middle toes in both my feet.

I was married! The realisation struck me like thunder, and tears brimmed in my eyes.

“Why didn't you let your father intervene?” my mother slowly asked me with tearful eyes.

I turned my gaze down, fidgeting with my dupatta, and answered,“I have so many people who can lift me when I fall, but he has no one. If I were to stand against him, he would never be able to give life a second chance. He wouldn’t be able to turn himself into a better person.”

My grandmother sat beside me and held my hands. Kissing them softly, she smiled and looked at me.“He is not that bad, you know. I see another Raj in him,” I chuckled, listening to her, tears streaming down my face. My mother sat on my other side and hugged me tightly.

“Keep sending letters to us. You will have many things to be responsible for in the new kingdom. Being a queen would not be easy,” I smiled weakly at her, and, closing my eyes, I nodded.“Of course, I will,”

Ruhani sat before me and held my hands. Smiling, she muttered slowly,“I hope everything will go well.” I blinked at her in assurance.

I was giving everyone hope, smiling to prevent anyone from worrying, but I was terrified and anxious, and I dreaded it from within. His failure to look at me even once while mocking the vow of‘faith’felt so strange, as if he wasn’t the Rudra I knew but a completely different person.

“Nandani,” Suddenly, my father's voice made me turn to look towards the chamber entrance. He walked in holding a food platter, and my mother moved away to let him sit beside me.

Giving a thin smile, he said,“Time for dinner.” I nodded with wobbly lips and burst into loud cries. He immediately hugged me, and I saw my father shedding tears for the first time. He patted my head and kissed the side of my head.

“Mahabaleshgarh was your home and will always be your home. You can come here anytime you want; no one will question you. Remember, whether good or bad times, we will always support you, my little princess.” I nodded, sobbing in his embrace like a little girl, his little girl, my heart breaking.

“Shhh… stop crying, or people might think I’m starving you,” I giggled through tears, listening to him. He smiled, saying,“Consider this your vacation. Now, you will need energy to cry. So let’s eat,” I burst into laughter, and he moved the plate forward.

Beginning with him, everyone in the room fed me one after another, except for Suman, because she was coming with me.

Once I had completed everything on the plate, everybody left, asking me to rest until my departure, leaving me alone with my mother.

“Nandani, you are mature enough and even married now,” she spoke hesitantly, and I listened intently.

“What is it?” She was fumbling with her words.

“But as your mother, I should…. I must tell you that… I mean, apart from love, marriage is about many other things,” I frowned at her, not understanding what she was trying to say. I shook my head in confusion.“I mean, you love Rudra, and whatever he did made us believe that he loves you too, but you see, marriage is not just about love. There’s more to it, like physical intimacy... Since you talk so much with Ruhani, I hope you understand what I'm getting at,”

My cheeks heated up in embarrassment, and I instantly nodded, looking down.“Yeah… yeah, yes, I mean, yes, I do have an idea,” I smiled nervously.

She visibly relaxed at my reply and leaned forward to hug me.“May god give you my happiness too,”

The night grew darker, but I didn't sleep. Instead, I met everyone before my farewell. I talked to everyone one last time: my helpers, teachers, cooking companions, friends and the little children I loved playing with.

By the time I was done meeting everyone, it was morning already. The birds chirping reminded me of me flying away from my nest—my home—to a new home.

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