As the ceremony carried on, Rajeev's heart thudded in his chest, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. While his eyes were focused on finding his wife among the sea of faces, a deeper, unspoken part of him was searching for someone else—his father, Rudra. He had kept that hope alive for years, though the promise of Rudra's return seemed distant with every passing day. But today, something felt different.
Suddenly, the air in the room shifted. The chatter quieted for a moment as an elderly man and a young woman entered the arena. Rajeev froze. His breath hitched, and his vision blurred as his eyes locked on the figure at the entrance. It was him. Despite the changes in his appearance, the years etched into his face, and the worn clothing that hinted at hardships, Rajeev knew—this was Rudra, his father.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in Rajeev's eyes. Without a second thought, he bolted off the platform, his feet barely touching the ground. The world around him seemed to blur and fade as his focus narrowed on the man at the entrance. The shocked gasps of the crowd and the worried shout of Gurdeep calling his name were distant, muffled by the flood of emotions crashing over him.
As he neared the entryway, Rajeev's vision cleared, his heart pounding in his chest. And then, in an instant, he was in his father's arms. The moment was heavy with emotion, Rajeev's tears soaking into Rudra's shoulder as they embraced. It was a reunion that had been postponed by years of separation, but the love and bond between father and son were unbreakable, transcending time and distance.
"I knew the day would come. I knew it," Rajeev whispered, his voice trembling with the weight of all the emotions he had bottled up for years—hope, longing, pain, and now, overwhelming joy.
Rudra held his son firmly, his weathered face softened by a rare smile. His eyes, though tired, gleamed with affection and pride as he gently pulled Rajeev back to look at him. "How can I violate my promise?" Rudra replied, his voice deep and steady, full of the same resolve that had carried him through the years. "I told you I would come back, didn't I?"
The words hit Rajeev like a wave, reminding him of the promises made long ago. The promise that no matter what happened, no matter the trials they faced, Rudra would return to him. And here he was, keeping that promise. Rajeev's heart swelled with gratitude and love for the man who had shaped so much of who he was, even in his absence.
The crowd looked on, stunned by the intensity of the moment, unsure of what to make of the sudden reunion. But to Rajeev, it didn't matter. His father was here, and that was all that mattered.
As they stood there, locked in that embrace, the years of separation and silence fell away. It was as if time had brought them back together, just as it was always meant to.
As the tension in the arena shifted, Gurdeep, unable to comprehend Rajeev's sudden emotional outburst, slowly approached the duo. His brows furrowed in confusion as he asked, "Who is this, Rajeev?"
Before Rajeev could open his mouth to explain, Rudra swiftly changed his posture and tone, speaking with surprising confidence. "Hello, sir," he said, nodding politely. "This is my daughter, Ram's future fiancée." His hand gestured towards Nand, who was standing silently beside him, dressed head-to-toe in the feminine garments Rudra had forced upon him earlier.
There was a collective pause. Time seemed to freeze as everyone, including Nand, stared in disbelief. Nand's eyes widened with shock, and his heart dropped like a stone. His thoughts raced, screaming in confusion and terror: What is Guru doing? His mind spiraled as he inwardly sobbed, How can I be introduced as Ram's future wife? I'm a boy! There's no way this can be happening!
For a moment, it seemed that the entire village had been struck dumb. Their eyes darted between Rudra, the mysterious "fiancée," and Ram, who had no idea what to make of the unfolding chaos. And then, the whispers began.
"Wow, look at her," one villager murmured in awe, eyeing Nand's unexpectedly striking appearance in the woman's attire.
"She's beautiful," another commented, nudging his friend.
"Ram is lucky to marry such a fine woman," a few others chimed in quietly, nodding their heads in approval.
The crowd's murmurs grew louder as they accepted Rudra's story without question, completely fooled by Nand's disguise. Their amazement grew as they admired "her" grace and beauty, completely oblivious to the truth. Nand, meanwhile, stood stiff, his entire body tense with the panic that raged inside him.
No, no, no, Nand's thoughts spiraled further. This can't be happening! I'm supposed to be a disciple, not someone's wife! What do I do now? His mind screamed for a solution, but his outward appearance remained composed, his eyes filled with helplessness as the situation slipped further from his control.
Rudra, for his part, remained calm, his face betraying no sign of the lie he had just spun. He seemed to relish in the villagers' reactions, playing along with the farce he had created. But to Nand, it felt like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff, praying for a way out.
The silence among the villagers broke with a final wave of approval from the crowd, as they now fully accepted Nand as Ram's future spouse. Nand, meanwhile, could only pray that this charade would end before it spiraled even further out of control.
...
As Gowthami was unwinding in her room, she saw a book abruptly tumble from her reading material rack.
She imagined a Rajeev and Gowthami scenario as soon as she had the book in her hands.
She touched him while trying to get it from the Rajeev Clinic shelf, and Rajeev made an effort to kiss Gowthami. The book was identical. Recalling a time when Gowthami felt awkward.
To transport Gowthami to the wedding venue, Abhi and Shashi arrived.
"Gowthami, hurry up; it's getting late."
Gowthami was clutching a book when Abhi approached her and saw it. When it dawned on him that this book with Gowthami was indeed Rudra uncle's book, he was astounded and started to question why.