Hello lovelies ♥️ how are you all? I hope all are good and well.

So let's start the chapter guys.

I hope you all like the chapter 🥲 do tell me how it was🥹

💗 Happy reading 💗

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The night was getting at its peak and everyone was already sleeping gaining the energy which was drained throughout the day except two souls......who weren't able to sleep , one because of the beaming excitement and nervousness of the coming future and one because she has forgotten to sleep peacefully maybe the thing which once was her favourite habit,now have became a dreadful task.

Ekansh couldn't sleep all night thinking about what his future hold for him and Vaidehi couldn't sleep thinking or should I say overthinking about her decisions and the outcomes of it.

It was 4:00 a.m. in the morning when both came out of their room to relax their mind. Vaidehi went for a walk in the garden. she was jogging when somebody called her from behind.

"Miss Rathore. " I turned around to see hukum sa but why is he up this early? I stopped and he jogged towards me.

" Morning Miss Rathore." He wished and I nodded.

"Vaidehi." I said.

"Huhh? " He asked in confusion.

" You can call me Vaidehi." I explained and he nodded. We sat on the nearby bench watching the dark sky. I know he is trying to say something and I know about what...

" Haa." I said and he turned his face to me in confusion.

" Proposal ke liye... humari haa hain." I further explained and his eyes shined.

" Humari bhi." He said and I nodded.

" Par usse pehle humein aapse baat karni hain. Dekhiye hum ye shaadi sirf humare parivaar ke liye kar rahe hain. Kuch baatein hum pehle hi clear kar dena chahte hain, agar uske baad aap naa karna chahe to bhi humein koi problem nahi. " I said and his facial expressions changed from happiness to neutral. He nodded.

" Dhokhe se nafrat hain humein toh hum yahi expect karenge ki chahe humara rishta kaisa bhi ho aap humesha humare saath loyal rahein and vice versa.

Hum ek patni, bahu aur Rani sa ke saare farz pure karenge par hum chahenge ki kuch chizo se aap dur rahein.

Hum chahenge ki aap humse kabhi koi baat naa chupaye aur jitna ho sake humein sab bataiye and hum bhi vahi karenge.

Kuch aise raaz hain jinhe aap nahi jaante par hum vo aapko jald bata denge par aap kabhi bhi humare baare me kisi aur se jaanne ki koshish nahi karenge.

Jab hum aapse aapka saath chaahe to aap humara saath dein and vice versa.

Aur haan agar aage kabhi aapko aisa lagta hain ki ab aap is rishte ka bojh nahi utha paa rahein hain to hum mutual divorce le lenge par humari taraf se Aisa kabhi nahi hoga.

Aur sabse jaruri baat is rishte mein kabhi humse mohabbat ki umeed mat kijiyega, is rishte mein sab hoga, bharosa, parvaah, izzat, gussa, fikr, dosti, pasand par pyaar nahi.' I completed my "speech "/ demands from this alliance . His face still had no emotions.

" Humein manzoor bas vo last mein jo kaha use chod kar, hum jab kisi ka haath thaamte hain to maut tak saath nibhate hain. Humare yaha rishta divorce se khatam nahi hojata vo to Marne ke baad bhi kaayam rahta Hain. " Honestly saying I was stunned when he said that he doesn't have problem with any of my demands.

" Aisi kya vajah hain jo aap humse shaadi karne ke liye humari har baat maan gaye." I asked.

" Aap janti hain hum logon ke aankhein padh kar bata sakte hain unke emotions par aapki khaasiyat hi yahi hain, aapki aankhein emotions acche se chupa leti hain shayad kisi ko dikhana nahi chahti.

Aap ek paheli jise suljhana bahut mushkil hain, agar koi dur se dekhe to vo yahi sochein ki aap ek arrogant , rude emotionless princess hain par jo aapko sachai se aur Shanti se padhe na toh use pata chale ki aap jaisa dikhati hain khud ko bilkul vaisi nahi hain aap, aap chahti hain ki logo ki najaro mein buri banein aap.par kyuu???

Isi saval ka javab dhoondhna hain , pehle jab rishtey ki baat huyi to humne aapko ek ideal prospective bride ke tor par dekha par ab....ab hum aapko genuinely jaanna chahte hain ki aap aisi kyu hain. "

When I completed she was looking at me intensely, thinking that how could I take this big decision of my life only because of this reason, well yes whatever I said to her is true, I genuinely want to know that, I want to know that why she is like this, it's not like she is introvert or arrogant no she is not. I am also a introvert but I don't act like her. It's like she is not her real self, she is pretending to be someone else maybe Just to protect herself from getting hurt .

If you all are thinking that how I know her this well so it's because I have studied psychology too along with business.

" Vaise baaki sab to thik hain par pyaar pe bharosa kyu nahi hain aapko? " I said and she just smirked.

" Hum kon hote hain duniya ke sabse complicated and powerful emotion par trust naa karne vale.
Aap jante hain Mohabbat mein itni taakat hoti hain ki vo insaan ko abaad bhi kar sakti hain aur duniya ko barbaad bhi. " She said lost in a trance, I think it's a sensitive topic for her.

" Accha ye sab chodiye ab...... friends " I said trying to change the topic and then stretched my hand to her to which she looked at it for a minute and then shook hand with me and damn to those who say that men don't feel butterflies coz....I felt them, fluttering hard in my stomach. Her touch was electrifying.

I smiled and then we went back to the palace.

After 2 days, at night.

I am sitting here singing some papers well particularly thinking about something

Or should I say someone mocked my subconscious.

So...yes tomorrow is my..... our engagement / Tilak ceremony finally , after we agreed our parents wanted to get us married as soon as possible and got the dates,( I must say the neariest) and the Tilak was after 2 days and wedding is after 2 months and it will be a private function I would be lying if I say that I am not nervous coz I am hella nervous...there is whole zoo dancing in my stomach.

I am wondering if she is also feeling the same or not.

Thinking of our future I went to sleep.

" Hum jaante hain veduu, it's not going to be easy for you. But you have to be strong." Jiji said.

" It never was , jiji. Pichle 3 saal se kuch bhi aasaan nahi raha humare liye." I said and she sighed.

" I know veduu but just don't be afraid of anything ahead. " She said and I chuckled sadly.

" Darte vo hain jinke paas khone ke liye kuch hota hain, hum to apna sab kuch pehle hi kho chuke hain....Iss baar unki baari hain." A devil smirk formed on my lips to which jiji only sighed and left.

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It's their Tilak ceremony, in Rajputi culture it's like engagement where the alliance is finalized officially but the difference is that there is no ring ceremony or ring exchanging between the bride and groom happens. The male member from the bride's family take gifts (sweets, clothes, and a sword) for the groom and his family . The brother of the bride applies Tilak on the groom sealing the alliance and the same happens with bride too. Groom ' mother, sister and other female members of the family gifts poshak, jewellery, sweets and nath to the bride as a sign of accepting her as their family.

The Rathore didn't left a stone unturned, whole palace was decorated like a bride but only the family member, close friends and some special friends were present there as the wedding was kept private. Other relatives , public and media will be invited and informed only a week prior from the wedding. The engagement will happen in this palace while all other functions will be in either here or in Jaipur.

Things were scattered over the table and living room and bride and groom 's room . Whole palace was buzzing, kids were running here and there in fun and joy.

The palace was divided into two parts where once side Ekansh' s tilak was held Arjun, Devraj, Suraj and Data hukum and Arnav were there. Arjun did Ekansh ' s tilak and then other also after that, Devraj gave a sword to him which symbolises that now he is giving the responsibility of her daughters protection to him. They fed sweets to each other. Arjun was sitting in front of Ekansh. He gestured Ekansh to come aside.

"Khayal rakhiyega humari baisa hukum ka Hukum sa, vaise to kahne ki jarurat nahi hain par phir bhi aapki vajah se unhe koi pareshani nahi honi chahiye. Naazo se paala hain use, uski har iccha,har khwahish bina uske kahe puri ho jaya karti thi. Hum bas aapse itna hi kahenge ki humesha uske saath rahiyega.vo kahegi nahi agar usko aapki jarurat hogi bhi toh. Bahut kuch jhela hain usne , bachpan se hi. Apni aankhon ke aage usne apne sapne tut te dekhe hain.Vo.....Humesha uska saath Dena." Arjun said with his numb eyes but later brushed the beaming tears. Although he is not that close to her now. He loves his sister alot. Ekansh was in deep thoughts after their talk but then brushed it off.

Vaidehi was dolled up in beautiful lehenga with face covered with veil and was sitting in between many ladies some were her relatives while others were from groom side.

Vaidehi's look

Arpita gave her 11 jewellery set 21 poshak, and phirni as Shagun, then Nayana gave the royal Nath to her Bhabhisa and chocolates and some makeup, jewellery, clothes hamper. Other too gave some things to her.

Atlast Nayana said handling her bhabhi sa the engagement ring " lijiye Baisa hukum.....oppss Bhabhi sa ab se humare bhabha sa huye aapke.Dhyaan se rakhiyega."

A thunder of laughter echoed in the hall. All the woman present their laughed, giggled and smiled. Sweet distribution started and Ladies started talking but someone was not interested in any of these her eyes followed the movement of tear drop that secretly escaped from the bride ' eyes.

I am sorry Veduu, I can't do anything for you. She murmured to herself.

Suhana came there and tapped on Shivika 's shoulder who was controlling her tears thinking about her sisters misery. Everyone in the palace knows that Shivika loves her sister more than anything, more than herself. Her sister, her Vedu is her world.

" I know baisa what you must be feeling, I am also feeling the same. but we have to be strong . We can't let her loose herself . I know that everyone is thinking that she is happy or she have started to live her life again. But we both know that she....." Suhana was cut off in the middle.

" She can't.....she can never. Vaidehi jeena bhool sakti par Vo sab nahi. Aur isiliye darte hain hum. And more than Vaidehi, I am feeling bad for Ekansh coz I can sense that he is falling for her and it's dangerous for him, it will be very painful. We both know Vedu can never love him back the way he deserves." Shivika said in a defeated tone. They both held worry but soon their expression were changed in happiness* fake* because they knew that it's not right but they can't do anything.

Ekansh was feeling elated , jittery, euphoric, delighted. He was going to get married to the lady he adore so much and he is falling for her soon to be wife without any motive. He was contented.

***************************************Omg 😳they freaking got engaged .......... yayyy🤩🥳 . Well I am toh definitely excited for the upcoming chapters and yes the wait is finally over.😚🤌
Someone is going to come 😁🤭. Btw I toh just love Shivika "💞 actually the character is inspired by my jiji ( sister) only coz she is just like her hehehe😽👉👈. My jiji loves me sooo much and I also.♥️🙌

And guys all the rituals, I have written from what I have seen or experienced if their is a mistake please correct me.🙂

Okk enough of my rants ,Will meet you in the next chapter.

Thankyou for reading🥹
Bye bye👋
Take care
Love you ♥️
Your author
Prachi✨