Adhiraj tightened his jaw, locking away all thoughts and emotions about his soon-to-be bride deep in the back of his mind. Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances of their marriage, he held onto the hope that they could at least try to make it work amicably. Unfortunately, it seemed like his to-be-wife had taken a solemn oath to turn their relationship into a war-zone.âSo be itâ¦â he wanted to tell her. He would, in the confines of their room.He couldnât help but scoff at the situation. The notion of sharing his room with this girl for the rest of his life was still utterly unbelievable.His train of thought was interrupted by his motherâs mischievous whisper in his ear. âI finally understand why your Dadu approved of her. Youâve found your perfect match, Raj. Iâm impressed.ââSeriously, Mom?â Adhiraj whispered back, his irritation dripping from every word.In response, Vandana flashed a grin and walked down to join Atharv on the dais, where he eagerly awaited Anika. Suvika and Vibha also descended to bring Anika, leaving only Adhiraj and Imara on the dais.Imara stood with confidence, averting her gaze from Adhiraj and focusing on the entrance. Meanwhile, Adhiraj, his hands gently interlocked behind his back, observed his brothers. In that fleeting moment, he found himself wondering what it must feel like to marry someone you already love, someone who stirs desire within you, someone you long to be with forever?He understood the reason behind his decision to accept the wedding proposal. However, he was taken aback when Imara also said yes. He had assumed that she wouldnât care about her sisters, but her response proved him wrong. Or was her initial resistance a façade? Perhaps intentionally ignoring him was also a pretense to grab his attention!With that notion in mind, he carefully observed Imara, who was looking at Anika, only to find no hint of a smile on her face. The same lack of emotions persisted when Tarushi walked in. Her expression remained blank, revealing that she wasnât even pretending to be happy.Meanwhile, though Imara tried her best to put on a smile for her sisters, she simply couldnât. Instead, she found herself questioning why she was in this situation. In that moment, she felt a surge of jealousy towards her sisters, which caused her to loathe herself. Why couldnât she marry the one she truly loved? The continuous barrage of these thoughts left her head throbbing. She longed for some time to be alone with her own thoughts, and she prayed for this ordeal to end soon.Shortly afterward, the soon-to-be-wed couples were led towards the altar. Similar to the preceding rituals, this particular one was also to be performed for Adhiraj and Imara first.Imara was instantly brought back to the present moment, feeling the weight of the situation hit her like a tidal wave. The sacred fire seemed to symbolise the destruction of her dreams, as if they were being reduced to ashes before her eyes. She glanced down at her bridal attire, a stark reminder of the commitment she was about to make. And then she looked at Adhiraj, his gaze fixed on the holy fire, dutifully following the priestâs instructions.Just at that moment, Adhiraj turned his head and their eyes met. In his eyes, she saw a reflection of the Holy Fire piercing into the depths of her soul. It felt as though those eyes were conveying that he would do whatever it took to uphold his familyâs reputation, even if it meant marrying someone like her, someone who, in his eyes, had disrespected his family. Overwhelmed, Imara looked away, realising that she had once again become entangled in the web of societal expectations and reputation, this time within a new family.------------As for Adhiraj, his eyes were fixed on the holy fire before him, his hands moving through the motions guided by the priest. This sacred flame, he understood, bore witness to the profound bond he was about to enter into, as he welcomed the girl by his side into his family.Suddenly, he felt a penetrating stare upon him. He turned his head to find Imaraâs eyes locked onto his own. In her eyes, he glimpsed the reflection of the very flame before him. Her soulful gaze revealed a tapestry of emotionsâapprehension, anger, fear, and hurt. He couldnât bring himself to look away, silently conveying to her that he was indeed acting in the interest of his familyâs reputation, but now she, too, was a part of this family. Despite the reason behind this marriage, she would be his wife, Mrs. Imara Adhiraj Singh Shekhawat.-----------Imara, her lips tightly pressed together, silently performed each ritual, feeling the weight of every passing moment pulling her further away from the past she had clung to so tightly. That past had been her anchor in the void and the loneliness that incident brought into her life. And now, as she stood up for the Phere, an indescribable pain tore at her soul. With each step she took, her emotions threatened to overpower her. Thoughts of how different her life could have been if she had taken this journey with Dheeraj constantly tugged at her heart. Would he, at some point, feel what she was feeling upon knowing that the girl who had once been his Imara was now wedded to someone else?âSindoorâ¦â Her thoughts broke as she heard that word and realised she was already seated. Suddenly, a gentle tug on her Maangtika captured her attention, and she glanced up. Adhirajâs eyes met hers as he delicately adorned her partition with Sindoor. A peculiar sensation enveloped her being, making her realise that she was now his wife, his, not Dheerajâs. She lowered her eyes, determined to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Instead, she vowed to let them flow freely within the privacy of her room or their room.Next, she felt a slight tugging sensation around her neck as Adhiraj secured the marital chain. His tender hands grazed against her skin. His warm breath caressed her shoulder as he slightly tilted his head for better access. Imara bit her lip and instinctively moved away, creating some distance between them once he had finished.âFor Anu and Taruâ¦â she reminded herself.-----------Adhiraj kept stealing glances towards her, noticing how she mechanically complied with every instruction from the priest. There was an air of detachment and aloofness about her when they stood together for the Phere. It appeared as though she was oblivious to the fact that it had ended, and they were now instructed to sit. However, when he leaned in to apply the Sindoor on her forehead, her gaze met his, unveiling a vulnerability that he had never noticed before. In that moment, she seemed to silently beg for this to be a terrible nightmare. It pierced Adhirajâs heart, leaving him confused about why he felt such a pain. She then cast her eyes downward and clenched her fists tightly, as if trying to hold on to her sanity and control her emotions.He swiftly fastened the marital chain around her neck, feeling a sense of urgency for two reasons. Firstly, her mesmerising fragrance was stirring his senses, and secondly, she seemed uncomfortable. As he withdrew, Imara purposely looked away, her eyes solely focused on the flickering flames before them.After some time, it was time for the next couple in line to tie the knot. As Imara sat there, her attention was now focused on her sisters, while Adhiraj couldnât help but smile as he looked at his brothersâ cheerful faces. In the midst of this, Adhiraj unintentionally glanced around and noticed Virender deep in conversation with Sanjay, who seemed to be worried and kept stealing glances at Imara. Suvika also showed signs of concern as she listened intently to Virenderâs words.Adhiraj, making a mental note to inquire about it later, looked away. Yet, the anxious look on Sanjayâs face continued to linger on in his thoughts.
Chapter 14: chapter 14
The Fated Knot•Words: 7893