It was 10:15 am. The original marriage timing of Madhu and Arjun was scheduled at 7.00 am but with all these dramas it became 9.30 for Arjun and Aadrita's marriage. Almost all of the ceremony was finished, and only reception was remaining.
Since the reception was from 11:00 am not many people were present. People were starting to come.
The family members who were present for the wedding ceremony had their brunch and were back for the photo session.
Madhu, Mithun, and others also got a lot of scolding from their parents. Madhu also told them that she didn't like Arjun from the start but never had the guts to reject him seeing the whole family excited about the alliance.
Even though they were angry they couldn't do anything, at the end of the day they were their children. But because of what happened, it seems they can never take back their relationship with Aadrita and her Mom back to how they were.
Aadrita and her cousins also came back to the mandap.
They all got together to take photos, family photos with Arjun's parents, his whole family, with Aadrita's mom, her whole family, single photos, and couple photos of Aadrita and Arjun in the mandap.
For couple photos the photographer asked them to do some intimate actions like holding hands, Aadrita leaning on him, etc. They only took some photos after that all photos were of Aadrita and her cousin, she even took some photos with his cousins while Arjun was excluded.
Arjun felt like he was some outsider while Aadrita, her family, and his family were the insiders.
While all this happens Aadrita just behaved as if nothing happened and as if the family members were not the ones who forced her to marry... While Arjun who has poker-faced but a gossipy heart thought a million reasons why Aadrita was behaving like this. But from their faces, no one could find anything. All of them will think that this was just a normal 💒 wedding...
When everything was over, it was around 10.45. Aadrita and his cousins gave them a breather since they had to arrange Aadrita's clothes and the necessity to take them to his home after Vidai. When he thought he would get some time to talk with Aadrita, His parents and Aadrita's mom came to the mandap.
Seeing her mother coming, Aadrita who didn't eat anything in the morning started complaining.
"Mom, I'm hungry, till when this photoshoot is going to happen, should I remain hungry till the end of reception"?
Maya frowned "You didn't have breakfast? I will arrange for something now. Do you also want to have something Arjun? I will suggest you have something because by the time you complete the reception and have lunch it will be 2.00 pm"
Arjun was also hungry so he didn't stand on ceremony "Aunty, then Thank you "
"What Aunty? Call her Mom! From now on give her the same love and respect you have for your mother." Raj scolded Arjun
"Mom, thank you"
Arjun called softly
"No need for thanks and all. You will be my son from now on, we are a family"
Seeing her mother and Arjun getting cosy Aadrita was starting to get jealous. She went in between Arjun and her mother and said coquettishly, "Mom I'm hungry"
Raj said "We came to talk with both of you, but since you guys are hungry, eat something first, we will talk later."
With that, they took Aadrita and Arjun to the green for brunch.
" Thank you dad and mom for letting my mom do the kanyadan."
Arjun who thought he will get time to talk with Aadrita again got interrupted by Aadrita itself.
Aadrita looked at his parents" I know it's against our rule but I wanted her to do it instead of someone who does not have any rights over me."
Raj comes in front of Aadrita, keeps his hand on her head, and caresses her head "Ritu...I can call you Ritu na beta?"
Aadrita suddenly smiles while her eyes brim with tears "Yes Dad"
Even though she is loved by her family it's been years for her to call someone her dad, She has yearning for fatherly love for a long time.
She was brought up as a princess by her father, and when she lost him, she lost her whole world. While she tried to paint the world with the colors of her smile, her world had lost all colors.
It has been years since someone had caressed her head with the same love as Raj did. Even though Raj cannot replace her father's place in her heart, the way he did everything for Arjun and protected him, she also wished for someone to do the same for her.
Everyone thought she was a strong warrior Queen but she was still the same princess who was afraid to go out alone without her father.
Raj continued to caress her head and said "It is my son's blessing that he has got you who can do anything for her parents"
He then looks at his wife and says " And it's our blessing to get a daughter like you. And what you did in the mandap was the right thing. It's your mother's right for bringing up such a cute sweet and filial daughter like you."
***Flashback***
In Hindu culture usually, widows should not be involved in any functions, it is treated as inauspicious so if the bride or groom doesn't have a dad then their uncle and aunt should do the function.
But when it was time for Kanyadan Aadrita spoke up for her mom to do this ceremony.
"Pandit I want my mummy to do this ritual instead of my uncle and aunty"
Pandit frowns and says"NO, it's not allowed in our culture for a widow to do a ritual in the mandap"
But Aadrita says it will be incomplete if her marriage doesn't get her mom's blessings.
This time Raj interrupts the Priest and speaks up for Aadrita " I also agree with that, Let Aadrita's mother do the Kanyadan"
Since Arjun's family didn't have any objections Maya only did this function.
*** Flashback Ends ***
Raj looks at Arjun and Aadrita, " Now both of you eat and pad up your stomach, it will get late for lunch. We will talk after the functions are over. Anyhow, we have got a lot to talk about and we have our full life remaining. We will go out to welcome the guests."
With that Arjun's parents and Maya go out leaving Arjun and Aadrita alone in the room
As the parents leave, the cute sweet Ritu snorts at Arjun, ignoring him and she goes to have her food.
"AAh...Food...It's so tasty..." she moans
Looking at the dual personality Aadrita, Arjun doesn't know what to do.
When they traveled together, Aadrita was such an easy-going roommate, but now he couldn't figure out Aadrita at all. She was ignoring him because he didn't help her to stop the wedding. But how was he supposed to?
Scratching his head he sits next to Aadrita at the dining table takes his portion of food and starts " Aadrita I know this is too sudden, but this was the only solution. It was not like I or you could have done anything in that situation. Look it has all ended well. Not only me or our families, even your cousin is out of worries."
Aadrita raises her eyebrow and asks him "Do you think that since we got married it's all to your worries....No...You are done for sure... You are a gone case...By marrying me u have written your rest of the life to This Devil 😈" and points herself.
"Very good." Arjun suddenly smiles and imitating her back he raises his eyebrow " This means we will be together for the rest of our lives."
Aadrita's heart gets scalded by his words, she turns to look at him and sees that he was looking at her with his eyes which were full of her.
"You better be prepared." Without replying to what he said Aadrita flees even abandoning her food after saying her piece from the room as though her ass was on fire.
If she stayed for one more sec she would have fallen for his passionate eyes.
Who said he was quiet and boring...How the hell did Madhu come to such a conclusion? But one thing she said was correct...He is dangerous...He is quite dangerous to my heart 💖.