Chapter 69: chapter 69

S A N M A Y IThe sacred fire flickered before us, its flames rising and falling like the pulse of the world itself. The ceremonial hall was alive with the murmur of the court, a living sea of silk and velvet, where the nobility watched in silence, their eyes trained on the couple at the altar. Ranajay stood beside me, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of uncertainty. In that moment, everything felt right, as though the universe had realigned itself to accommodate the love we shared.The air was thick with the scent of incense and fresh marigold petals, their bright yellow blooms scattered across the floor like golden stars. The priest, his voice carrying the weight of centuries, spoke the sacred words of the Mangalya Dharanam—the tying of the sacred thread. I felt the weight of it in my chest, this symbol of the commitment that I was making, not just to Ranajay, but to the people of Amaravati, to the kingdom that would, in time, come to see me as its queen. The thread was placed around my neck, a symbol of the vows we were about to make, and I could feel its coolness against my skin, a reminder of the weight of the promises we exchanged.But amidst the solemnity of the moment, a ripple of unease moved through the court, an undercurrent I could not ignore. I turned my head slightly, and there, standing at the far side of the hall, was Nandini. Her eyes glinted with something sharp and dangerous, a promise of destruction behind her carefully composed mask. For a brief second, her gaze met mine, and in it, I saw nothing but venom. It was a look that carried the weight of a thousand threats, the kind that could break a lesser woman. But not me. Not today.I could feel the tension build as Nandini, always calculating, prepared to make her move. She had never been one to let anything slip away without a fight, and now, at the pinnacle of our union, she sought to strike. With a subtle motion, she gave a signal to her servants, who scurried from the hall like rats in the shadows. A hushed murmur passed through the crowd, and I knew something was about to unfold—something that would challenge the sanctity of the vows we were about to take.The priest, unbothered by the noise, continued with the ceremony, his chants echoing in the vast hall. "With this thread, I bind you both, to walk together through this life, and the next, through all the joys and sorrows. May your love be steadfast and unshaken."As the priest prepared to begin the Saptapadi, the seven steps that symbolized the binding of souls, the disturbance finally came. A loud crash echoed from the side, followed by a shrill voice that cut through the air."Stop!" Nandini’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "This wedding is a farce! A queen cannot marry beneath her station! She has no place beside the prince of Amaravati!"The court froze, and all eyes turned toward her. Nandini, regal and defiant, stepped into the center of the hall, her eyes flashing with fury. Her words hung in the air like poison, and I could feel the heat of them sink into my bones. But I refused to flinch. I refused to let her words take root in my heart.Ranajay’s grip on my hand tightened, and I turned to meet his gaze. In that brief exchange, I saw something more than just love; I saw determination. The wedding, our union, was not just a private matter. It was a declaration. A declaration that we were stronger than any obstacle, any enemy. And in this moment, with Nandini's accusations hanging like a cloud over us, I knew we would not be swayed.Ranajay stepped forward, his voice a deep, unwavering force that echoed through the hall. "Nandini," he said, his words slow and deliberate. "You have made your move, and you have shown your true nature. You do not speak for Amaravati. You do not speak for me."The silence that followed was palpable. Even the priests paused in their chants, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the stone walls. Nandini’s face reddened with humiliation, and her eyes narrowed into slits."How dare you!" she spat, her voice low but seething with anger. "I have served this kingdom longer than you, Ranajay! You are a fool if you think you can let this... this commoner become your queen."Her words were venomous, but Ranajay did not falter. His voice remained steady, unwavering in its resolve. "This woman," he said, turning toward me, "is not a commoner. She is the heart of Amaravati’s future. And I would sooner burn this kingdom to the ground than let you tear her from me."His words rang out like the clarion call of a warrior, cutting through the tension like a blade through silk. I felt the weight of them settle into my soul, and in that moment, I knew that I was not just standing by his side—I was standing with him, against the forces that sought to tear us apart.Nandini’s face twisted in fury, her lips curling in a snarl. But she knew she had lost. Ranajay’s words had exposed her for what she truly was—a woman desperate for power, willing to tear apart everything she touched in order to claim it. And now, standing before us, she could see that she had no hold over us."Enough," Ranajay said, his voice firm, final. "This wedding will proceed as planned. The people will see who you truly are, and they will know that the only queen of Amaravati is Sanmayi."The force of his words reverberated through the hall, and even the murmurs of the court seemed to quiet under the weight of his declaration. Nandini glared at him, but there was no trace of victory in her gaze. She had been defeated, and she knew it.With a swift motion, Ranajay turned back to me, his hand once again finding mine. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate, like a storm that had passed. And as the priest resumed his chants, we moved together to complete the Saptapadi, the seven steps that bound us not just in body, but in soul.Each step we took around the fire was a promise, a pledge to walk this path together, no matter the challenges that lay ahead. The flames flickered before us, their heat and light a reminder of the strength of our bond, of the love that had brought us here. And as we took the final step, the crowd erupted in a chorus of cheers and applause.The ritual was complete. The vows were made. And the kingdom of Amaravati, for all its divisions and its plots, had witnessed the union of two hearts that could never be broken. The sacred fire had borne witness to our love, and in its light, we were unshaken.Nandini’s defeat was final, her plots unraveled, and the kingdom saw her for what she was. And in the firelight, as Ranajay and I stood together, hand in hand, we knew that nothing—nothing at all—could ever tear us apart.