Devaki's POV
The feeling I had when I got rejected from the Under-19 National Team was less painful than the feeling I was having at that moment.

I was sitting next to Sumedh, and Pandit ji was reading mantras.

We just completed the seven phere.

With every mantra I was thinking how to turn Sumedh's life into hell.
How to make him cry everyday.

"Ladki ko Mangalsutra pehnaiye" Pandit ji said.

Parul gave the Mangalsutra to Sumedh.

He took his hands to my neck. We looked at each other.

Chachi came close to me. "Kya kr rhi h ladki? Nazar neechi kar apni! Hone wale pati ki aankho me aankhe daalkar dekheghi? Woh bhi shaadi wale din?" She whispered in my ear; I didn't follow her order and looked straight in those green eyes.

He smirked. "Jitna khush hona h, aaj holo. Shaadi ki rasmo k baad se tumhari mere saath so-called 'khushaal' zindagi shuru hogi Thakur"  I thought.

He tied the Mangalsutra around my neck. "Mera bhi waada h, iss Mangalsutra ko tumhare gale ka phanda bnaunghi!"  I thought.

Parul gave him the small box of Sindhoor.

Chachi moved my teeka.

He applied the red vermillion in the crown of my forehead.

It was done.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Everything changed for me, in a couple of seconds. I was the Thakuraian. Mrs Devaki Sumedh Singh Bhadoria.

That was it. Nobody was able to change it.

I opened my eyes.

Mahi Bhai was standing right infront of me. I gave him a helpless look. He understood and simply nodded and signed me to keep calm.

Finally all the rituals were over and we got up to take elder's blessings.

After touching everyone's feet, I went to Mahi Bhai.

I touched his feet. He hugged me. "Tu boht strong h, me jaanta hu tu isko sambhaal legi. Bas yeh yaad rakhna k me hamesha hu tere lie, jab bhi tujhe zarurat hogi meri" He whispered. I hummed.

I didn't want to leave him. His presence was making me think that everything is still fine.

As soon as I left him and went to the car, I felt like everyone left me. Like I was alone in the world and I to fight with this devil...

We finally left the Mandir and went to the Haveli, my "sasural".

Maa came with the plate of aarti. Some other ladies were also standing there, waiting for us.

They placed the kalash on the floor. They asked me to push the kalash with my right foot.

"Itna simple sa graha pravesh!? Naah, bahu itni special h, beta itna special h to graha pravesh special kese nhi hoga Sasuma?"  I said in my mind.

I looked at the kalash and kicked it hard. The rice grains spread in the entrance. Everyone looked at me shockingly.

"Bahu to cricketer h, kalash me bhi ball dikhti h ise" A lady said teasingly. I rolled my eyes.

Then I placed my feet in the tray containing red paste made of vermillion powder mixed with water or milk.

Sumedh held my hand to give me support.

I immediately took my hand back.

"Me apne pero pe khud chal sakti hu!" I whispered gritting my teeth.

He didn't say anything as he didn't want to create the scene.

I walked in the Haveli leaving my footprints.

We went towards the Mandir and did some pooja.