The Royal Stranger

5

Happiness...happiness is in the air. The old-age mothers are shedding tears hugging their grandchildren whom they have last seen many months ago.

The mothers are holding their grown-up kids' cheeks who stay away from home while asking why they aren't eating. Men talking with their long lost friends and brothers as they made jokes on each other while others talked about the share market.

Kalyan Mewar and Deepa Mewar looked at the new couple on stage who are performing the last wedding ritual. Deepash used his wife's hanky to wipe off the tears.

Gauravi internally rolled her eyes as she watched her husband cry continuously. "Deepash, stop crying. Vrishali will cry if she sees you crying."

"How—how can I not cry? When my only baby is getting married," Deepash spoke looking at his beautiful daughter who is making a face. Riddi and Nandhini giggled as the sindoor(vermilion) fell on Vrishali's nose. "No problem beti, if the sindoor fell on your nose while the groom applies the sindoor on your head, it means he will love you the most." The priest spoke making Vrishali scoff.

Padmanabh frowned at Vrishali as she started wiping the vermilion powder on her nose messing it up by spreading it on her face. To his surprise he held her face by one hand, whipping the mess on her face. Vrishali's eyes widen in surprise as he slowly and gently helped her. Diya kumari frowned watching her son.

The photographer captured the sweet moment in his camera. Riddi started filming and the audience awed mostly the young adults. Some aunties from the groom's side started gossiping about the bride's skin tone clour.

Padmanbh is fair-skinned like his mother while Vrishali is dark brown which made some of the relatives frown not liking the choice of bride for Padmanabh.

"I don't understand why most of the relatives are so noisy?" Riddi spoke as she heard some of the comments coming from the aunty groups who sat together gossiping instead of watching the wedding.

"They just need a reason to taunt someone or dig in all the flaws," Nandhini said faking a smile when one of the aunties turned to Nandhini.

Nandhini used to suffer from ache. All her relatives who would visit them for festivals used to give tips for skincare. They used to taunt her and make jokes about her skin ache in private.

Things now changed when Nandhini stopped caring about them or about her ache. When she stopped stressing about it her body reacted positively. Her skin got clear now, but she couldn't forget the comments and humiliation she faced in her adolescence.

"Don't they look cute together?" Riddi spoke watching her little sister Vrishali and Padmanabh. Nandhini smiled, "Indeed."

Vrishali licked her lips as she felt thirsty. She didn't eat anything as it is said that the bride needs to fast on her wedding day.

The wedding is done as everyone started getting on stage to wish the young couple. Can't they wait till reception? Vrishali thought as her stomach growled.

Padmanabh looked down at the little lady. She is in deep thought, a frown on her face. He understood the look on her face, not wanting to make her wait. He turned towards his elder sister who stood a few feet away from him.

He signalled her to stop the relatives so that they can leave for their lunch. His sister nodded her head understanding. "It's already past five, the groom and the bride didn't eat anything. It's time they eat something, we can have our fun at the reception." Naina spoke loudly with a smile.

Before anyone can walk to them, Padmanabh gently held Vrishali's arm gesturing her to start walking. Vrishali snapped out of her thoughts taking a step to where she don't know.

Naina smiled at her brother and his wife as they followed her. Vrishali followed the elegant woman before her, Vrishali don't know who the lady is. But she knew she is important as the man behind her is smiling at the lady.

Vrishali smiled at the people who were making way for them. They walked into a private dining area, Vrishali's eyes widen watching the beauty of the dining hall. Her wedding is happening in the city palace.

A deep sigh left her mouth when she sat down. Her wedding lehenga and jewellery is too heavy for her to carry. She never carried such a heavy dress or jewellery.

Naina chuckled as the Royal kitchen staff immediately started serving the food. "Hello, I'm Naina Kunwar. Your husband's elder sister, I'm really sorry I couldn't meet you soon."

"Hello, I'm Vrishali Mewar. No issues, hope to meet you when all this ends." Vrishali spoke softly smiling at Naina.

Vrishali's eyebrows frowned when the man beside her hissed before saying "You are not a Mewar anymore."

"Chill brother, Vrishali please don't mind his words. My brother don't know words like gentle and kind." Naina rolled her eyes.

Ignoring his words Vrishali asked, "Where are my parents?"

"They are taking care of relatives, they will be here soon. Why don't you start eating, there are a few rituals left." Naina spoke. Vrishali nodded her head taking the water glass.

"Hmm, aren't you going to eat?" Vrishali asked Naina.

Naina chuckled "I already ate with my husband. Only you two and family members didn't eat."

Padmanabh stayed quiet as he waited for the girl to eat. She started with sweets on her plate. He didn't understand why she ate the sweets first instead of rice or chapati.

"Padmanabh, you can start eating now," Naina spoke making Vrishali stop. Padmanabh glared at his sister before eating.

They both silently ate as a man with two kids entered the hall. Vrishali looked at the three confused as they walked towards Naina.

The man is holding a small girl and beside him is a little boy. "They are fighting again." The man said sitting beside Naina.

"Vrishali, meet my husband Arjun. Arjun meet Naina." Naina introduced.

"Hello," Vrishali spoke with a smiley face. "Hello Vrishali, it's nice to meet you," Arjun spoke.

"Vrishali meet my naughty son Akshay and my daughter Akshita," Naina said pointing towards the kids. Vrishali chuckled as the boy Akshay pouted folding his arms.

"Baby, say hi mami(auntie)," Naina said softly to her kids.

"Hi." The girl shyly waved her hand at Vrishali making Vrishali awed at her cuteness.

"Hello, you are so cute," Vrishali spoke.

"Is she going to take our mamu(uncle) away?" The little boy spoke loudly.

"Akshay!" Arjun scolded his son pulling him close. Vrishali chuckled softly "No, you can keep your mamu with you." Vrishali spoke.

"Really? So he is going to visit us for holidays." Akshay said eyes widening with excitement. Padmanabh who stayed quiet all the time is now looking at Vrishali.

"Padmanabh visits them in the month of January when they have half-yearly holidays. We live in Mumbai." Naina explained to Vrishali.

"They love their mamu so much," Arjun said. Vrishali looked at Padmanabh who is looking at Akshita.

Vrishali wanted to have another sweet but she is too shy to ask in front of the new people. Her eyes lit up when her Dadu and dadi entered the room along with Padmanabh's grandparents.

Vrishali's face is slightly covered by the veil on her head. "Give my baby another bowl of Gulab Jamun." Deepa Mewar said looking at Vrishali.

"Dadi..." Vrishali said embarrassed as her parents and her Dadu laughed.

Vrishali looked confused when they reached the Samode Palace. The palace is filled with close relatives and family friends.

"I can't wait for the rituals to start." Riddi beamed happily.

"True!" Nandini agreed. Vrishali looked at them. "Why? Why we have so many rituals." Vrishali groaned looking at the people in the hall.

"Oh... Oh... These are post-wedding rituals. These rituals are going to be so fun! Actually, you and your husband are going to play games," Riddi said.

Vrishali's eyes shifted to Radhika who was standing beside them with a frown. Radhika looked like she is going to explode anytime with rage.

"Games? I'm too tired, man!" Vrishali spoke a bit loudly which made Naina and Padmanabh turn their heads to see a yawning Vrishali.

Riddi, Nandhini, Hardik, Manav and Aadi chuckled. "Haha, you aren't our little baby anymore. My God! I can't believe you are married... That too before all of us," Manav said pointing at his cousin gang.

"Why? Are you sad that you couldn't marry before me? If you are desperate to marry then I will talk with Dadu and dadi. They will arrange for you and you would be in shock," Vrishali said.

Naina laughed along with others. "Vrishali beti, come here. The ritual is about to start." Vrishali's dadi called.

Vrishali walked to where her Dadi and everyone sat. Everyone is sitting on the costly mat on the floor. A few elderly who can't sit on the floor are sitting on the chairs or sofa.

Vrishali smiled before sitting where her dadi patted. She looked at Padmanabh who sat in front of her with his family behind him.

Vrishali looked at her side to see all her family, cousins and brides relatives sat on her side. "Okay, let's start the ice breaker. I can't wait to see them playing." Naina said.

"As you know, you both are going to play wedding games which have rituals attached to them. The prizes are unique, the one who wins the games has the upper hand in their relationship and rules the house." Rajmatha Falguni Singh spoke softly.

Vrishali listened to her words carefully. She doesn't want to lose these games. She don't want him to have the upper hand, Vrishali looked determined.

"Your first game will be 'find your name in the Mehandi'. The rule is simple, the groom has to search his name in that intricate design. After finding the name you have to gift the bride something of yours," Deepa Mewar explained.

Riddi and Nandhini looked excited as they sat beside Vrishali. The professional photographer is filming the whole thing. Hardik pulled his phone out along with Riddi to film them.

Even Naina is doing the same, they looked at each other before chuckling. Padmanabh held Vrishali's hands as he started searching his name on her hands.

"Oh... Oh... Look at her Mehendi colour. So red in colour, that means our Padmanabh is going to love his wife so much." Rajmatha Falguni teased her grandson. Making some of them laugh.

Diya kumari scoffed looking away. She has been moody throughout the wedding. She doesn't like this wedding and it is happening.

Padmanabh looked so determined as he searched for his name. Vrishali is thinking about her gift, thinking about what he is going to give her.

Finally, he found his name and now it was the time to give his wife a gift. He looked at her to see the slight excitement in her eyes.

This is the first time he is looking at her closely, her eyes aren't black. She got brown eyes and there is a small mole on her left side of the chin.

"Pacho, are you going to stare at her all night?" Naina teased patting her brother's shoulder. Vrishali blushed as he snapped out of his bubble and handed her his pinky finger ring.

It is a simple platinum band, Vrishali accepted the gift. "Wow Vrishali, congrats! He gave you his favourite ring. Eh..." Naina teased.

"Okay... Okay... The second game is 'untie the knot'. You see the sacred thread around your wrist," Deepa Mewar spoke. Vrishali nodded her head looking at the red and yellow thread around her wrist.

"You both have to untie each other's thread using only one hand. Whoever unties the knot first has the upper hand in the household decision making."

The second game started, Vrishali and Padmanabh started untieing the knot one-by-one. By the end, Vrishali grinned happily as she is the first one to untie the knots. Thanks to her nails...

"Seems like Vrishali is going to have the upper hand in the household decision," Sawai Bhawani Singh spoke.

"What are you going to give gift him Vrishali?" Aadi asked. Everyone looked at him confused.

"What? He gave her a ring in the first game. Isn't she going to give him something too?" Aadi spoke.

"Hmm, the bride never gives a gift but why not. It's her wish if she wants to give him something or not." Everyone looked at Vrishali.

It wouldn't be good if she didn't give him anything. She looked at her jewellery and removed the bracelet which she wears all the time. It was her birthday gift from her parents.

She handed him the bracelet which he accepted. "Let me help with that," Naina spoke putting the bracelet on Padmanabh's wrist. The good thing is it is a plain gold bracelet.

"Now you both have even points. It's time for the third game," Deepa Mewar spoke. The staff members brought a huge copper bowl filled with milk and rose petals.

"It's my favourite game!" Riddi spoke.

"Don't worry, you will play the game soon," Manav said to Riddi.

"We will be putting this ring in this bowl. You both have to search for the ring among other little things we have put. You can use only one hand, the game is played three times. The one who wins more than one time is the winner," Gauravi explained.

The game started and they both started searching for the little ring in the bowl. There were many times when they bumped their hands.

The first time Vrishali won the second time Padmanabh. This is the third time and Vrishali have to find the game.

Vrishali's eyes widen when she found the ring but at the same time, Padmanabh too found the ring. They were pulling the ring in the bowl making everyone laugh.

Vrishali glared at Padmanabh as he didn't let go of the ring. Padmanabh raised his brow seeming amused by the game and the lady.

He held his ground not wanting to lose the game. He enjoyed seeing the frown and concentrated look on her face.

Vrishali blushed when she saw the small smirk growing on his face. After a while, he let go of the ring making her win.

"What is this, you are losing Pacho," Naina said.

"Yes Mamu(uncle), you are losing!" Akshay said. Riddi and Nandhini chuckled.