The hall buzzed with energy early in the morning, as everyone hurriedly prepared for the Haldi ceremony. Ranvijay sat groggily on a stool, rubbing his eyes and letting out a loud yawn. His beauty sleep had been ruthlessly interrupted.
"Bhaiiii, at least smile, yaar! Aapki wajah se poori album kharab ho jaayegi," Anushka teased, holding the camera up to capture his sulky face.
Ranvijay shot her a disinterested glare. "Maa yaar, jo bhi karna hai jaldi karo. I need to sleep again," he said, stifling another yawn.
Dadi approached first, lovingly applying haldi on his cheeks before kissing his head.
"Induuu, you’re not leaving like this!" Ranvijay exclaimed mischievously, catching Dadi's hand before she could turn away. Without warning, he smeared haldi on her cheeks, earning a hearty laugh from her.
Next came Pushpa, Roshni, and Anjali, each taking turns to apply haldi. But when Anushka and Kirti stepped forward, they took mischievous liberties, smearing his entire face with the paste.
“You two… just wait,” Ranvijay warned, standing up. With one swift motion, he grabbed them both, leaving their faces smeared with haldi in retaliation.
"Bhaiii, humein bhabhi ki side bhi jaana tha!" Anushka whined.
"Haan toh... acha hi hai teri bandar jaisi shakal kisi ko nahi dikhegi," Ranvijay teased, making her groan.
Arnav and Ranveer jumped into the chaos, pinning Ranvijay down while their cousins and friends joined in. Within moments, haldi was poured over his head, and his kurta was torn amidst the laughter.
Anushka, clutching her stomach from laughing too hard, recorded everything to show Sanyukta later.
Ranvijay was not one to back down. He chased them all, tearing clothes and smearing haldi on anyone who crossed his path. By the end, everyone was a mess, laughing uncontrollably.
"Bas bas!" someone shouted. The only way to restore order was to jump into the pool, and soon, the chaos shifted into splashes and shrieks of joy.
Meanwhile, the girls carried the haldi bowl to Sanyukta’s side.
"Wow, bhabhi! Aapki mehendi ka color toh bohot dark aaya hai," Kirti said, admiring Sanyukta’s hands.
Sanyukta chuckled softly as the girls began her haldi. Unlike the uproar on Ranvijay’s side, her ceremony was calm and elegant. But her laughter echoed through the room when Anushka showed her the video of Ranvijay's haldi.
After the Bhat rituals, Sanyukta freshened up and fed Avu before heading to the spa with Shiksha and her cousins.
Anjali, Anushka, Kirti, and Poorvi were already there, chatting excitedly.
The beauticians worked their magic on Sanyukta for three long hours. When she finally saw herself in the mirror, she was spellbound.
"Wow, bhabhi! You look like a dream," Anushka gushed, while the others nodded in awe.
For a moment, even Sanyukta couldn’t believe the reflection staring back at her.
In stark contrast, Ranvijay lounged in his shorts, sipping coffee and casually narrating a recent case to his friends.
Ranveer stormed in, exasperated. "Ranvijay, you can’t be serious! Everyone is waiting, and you’re here solving murder mysteries!"
"Bhai, ab main yeh uncomfortable sherwani pehenke baithe nahi reh sakta," Ranvijay replied lazily.
Ranveer finally managed to get him ready, and Anjali completed the ritual by lining his eyes with kajal.
"Induu, how do I look?" he asked his Dadi, grinning as she gave him a thumbs-up.
Pushpa performed his aarti, and his father adorned him with the family’s traditional pearl chain.
As the band struck up, Ranvijay mounted the mare, only to be pulled down by his friends for a dance-off.
With the beats of the dhol filling the air, he picked up Dadi and twirled her around, laughing as she protested. Not one to stop there, he pulled his mother into the dance too.
"Daddyyyyyy!" Avu’s excited voice rang out as he toddled over with Bunty. Ranvijay scooped him up, spinning him around and dancing with him on his shoulders.
As the baraat reached the grand entrance, Ranvijay found himself halted by a wall of mischievous grins—Sanyukta’s cousins stood firmly in his way, arms crossed.
"Jiju, you need to pay us if you want to enter inside!" Her cousin declared dramatically, tapping her palm as though waiting for money to magically appear.
Ranvijay raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "And why exactly should I pay?" he asked playfully, his voice dripping with mock indignation.
“Hum apni behen de rahe hai aapko, Jiju! Entry fees toh banti hai!” another cousin chimed in, her hands on her hips.
Ranvijay crossed his arms, pretending to think it over. "Tumhari behen ke nakhre utha utha ke toh pehle hi kangal ho chuka hoon, ab bacha kucha paisa bhi tum le lo!" he said, making everyone laugh.
“Jiju, ye excuses hum sunte nahi. Entry fees toh deni padegi!” they chorused, stepping closer to block his way.
Ranvijay sighed dramatically. “Mehngi pad rahi hai tumhari behen. Honestly, I’m having second thoughts about stepping inside now!”
The girls burst into laughter, with one of them pointing out, “Jiju, abhi pehle hi surrender kar do. Shaadi ke baad toh aur mehnga padega!”
The banter continued until he paid the fee with a dramatic sigh, making everyone laugh.
Ranvijay was escorted to the stage and sat there with Avu. His friends were teasing him, and he, as always, remained chilled out.
“Mujhe bohot garmi lag rahi hai iss sherwani mei,” he muttered, tugging at his collar.
One of his friends handed him a cold drink. Without hesitation, he took a sip but immediately frowned. “Saale, daaru hai isme!” he exclaimed, looking at the drink in shock.
His friend grinned mischievously. “Ek se kuch nahi hoga… thoda loosen up ho ja. Pija,” he encouraged.
Ranvijay shook his head but gulped the drink in one go. “Feeling better?” his friend asked, trying to stifle his laughter.
Ranvijay nodded. “Haan, ab thoda better lag raha hai,” he replied nonchalantly, setting the glass aside.
As the soft strains of a melody filled the air, Sanyukta walked in with her brothers by her side.
Ranvijay froze, his usual witty demeanor vanishing as he stared at her. She looked breathtaking in her red lehenga, her beauty glowing under the soft lights.
“Mummaaa!” Avu’s cheerful call snapped him out of his trance.
Ranveer nudged him, and Ranvijay walked forward, offering Sanyukta his hand.
"You look different today," he whispered as they reached the stage.
"Just different?" she teased, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Heavenly gorgeous," he admitted, his voice laced with sincerity.
“And me?” he asked playfully.
"You look different too," she replied, holding back a laugh.
"Different? You mean hot and handsome," he declared cheekily, earning a giggle.
Anushka rolled her eyes. "Bhai, taarife ho gayi ho toh garland exchange kar lijiye," she teased, earning a roar of laughter from everyone around.
With cheers erupting from the crowd, Sanyukta and Ranvijay exchanged garlands, the fireworks in the background lighting up the sky with bright colors.
Avu squealed in delight, clapping his tiny hands. Ranvijay picked him up with a chuckle, planting a kiss on his cheek.
Afterward, they posed for photographs with relatives and clicked a few couple photos.
Finally, they made their way to the wedding altar and took their seats beside each other.
"Ready ho?" Ranvijay asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
Sanyukta nodded, carefully avoiding eye contact.
“Mujhe thoda doubt ho raha hai, lekin,” he added, scratching his chin theatrically.
She frowned. “Doubt? Kis baare mein?”
“No expectations waale rule ke baare mein,” he replied, his lips twitching into a sly smile.
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Aisa kyun? Abhi se kya expectations ho rahi hain aapko?"
Ranvijay leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Sunne mein ashleel lagega, but tumhare baare mein mujhe bade gande khayal aa rahe hain abhi.” He winked, and her eyes widened in shock as she choked on her breath.
“Bhabhi! Are you okay?” Anushka rushed forward, handing her a glass of water. Sanyukta nodded, glaring at Ranvijay, who was now shaking with laughter.
“Ab kuch mat boliyega!” she whispered through gritted teeth, her cheeks flushed pink.
Ranvijay cleared his throat and turned to the priest. “Pandit ji, woh saat phere waale vachan hain, unhe thoda customize karwane ka option hai kya?” he asked, making the crowd chuckle.
Sanyukta looked horrified. “Ranvijay!” she hissed. “Jo bolna hai, mujhe bol do. Sabke saamne mat boliyega!”
He smirked, thoroughly enjoying her discomfort.
The priest smiled patiently. “Beta, un saat vachan mein sab kuch aa jaata hai. Agle saat janmon ke liye bhi.” making him node .
“Haan toh mei kya soch raha tha ki baaki sab vesa hi rakhte hain, bas rituals poore karne hain with full dedication,” Ranvijay added with a straight face, glancing at Sanyukta.
“Sab rituals ho toh rahe hain,” she said, confused.
“Suhagraat ka bol raha tha, main toh,” he said casually, his smug tone earning gasps from everyone.
Sanyukta shut her eyes, her face crimson as she looked down at her lap. She couldn’t believe him. What has gotten into him today? she thought.
The priest finally began chanting mantras, calling Sudheer and Pooja forward for the kanyadaan. Sanyukta’s parents completed the ritual with teary smiles, and Anushka tied the knot as the couple stood for the pheras.
Avu, now perched on his grandmother’s lap, happily munched on ice cream, his tiny eyes sparkling with amusement as he watched his parents.
Ranvijay led the first four pheras, repeating the sacred vows after the priest with a cheeky grin. During the last three, Sanyukta took the lead, her steps graceful and determined as she silently promised to stand by him in all circumstances.
Once the pheras were complete, Sanyukta sat on his left side. The priest instructed Ranvijay to fill her hairline with vermilion. He did so with a deliberate slowness, his mischievous gaze fixed on her.
“This is making you even more beautiful,” he said softly, wiping a tiny smudge of sindoor from her nose. Sanyukta’s lips curved into a shy smile.
Next, he tied the mangalsutra around her neck, its design reflecting their intertwined initials. The priest declared them husband and wife, and they exchanged a glance filled with newfound warmth.
“Hi, Mrs. Shekhawat,” Ranvijay greeted her with a wink.
Sanyukta smiled, her eyes moist with emotion.
“Itna bura lag raha hai ki ro rahi ho?” he teased, making her chuckle.
“No, I guess I can manage with it,” she replied, her tone soft.
They sought blessings from the elders, and as Ranvijay hugged his grandmother, he quipped, “Ladka praya ho gaya, Indu ab.”
“Do I need to fight for your attention now?” Indira Devi teased.
Ranvijay grinned. “I guess this girl won’t survive the competition against you, Indu,” he said, making everyone laugh.
Later, Ranvijay escorted Sanyukta to the food court. She sat, holding his turban and shawl while he roamed the counters with Avu.
“This man is really impossible,” she thought, shaking her head.
He soon returned with a waiter carrying trays of food. “Kha lo, apni hi shaadi ka khana hai,” he said, placing a plate before her.
Sanyukta chuckled as he fed himself and Avu, the scene warming her heart.
When it was time for the vidai, Sanyukta hugged her mother tightly, tears streaming down her face. Her brothers, though emotional, smiled, reassured that Ranvijay would care for her and Avu.
Ranvijay promised Sanyukta’s mother, “Aapka bharosa kabhi tootne nahi dunga,” earning a kiss on his forehead.
As they sat in the car, he handed his turban and shawl to Sanyukta, removed his sherwani’s overcoat, and leaned back in his kurta.
“Now it feels good,” he sighed contentedly.
Sanyukta smiled as he rested his head on her shoulder, eventually dozing off. She adjusted his head in her lap, admiring his serene face.
“Hmmm, this is even more comfortable,” he murmured sleepily, making her laugh softly.
Through the ride, she couldn’t help but marvel at how different, yet perfect, this man was—mischievous, caring, and uniquely hers.
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