Vrishali stepped out of the palace with Riddi and Nandini for shopping. Vrishali couldn't stop looking at the streets filled with colourful clothes and jewellery. Now, her gallery is filled with pictures she clicked on her way.
"How does this look?" Vrishali asked, stepping out of the trail room.
"It's good." Vrishali entered the trial room to change into another one.
"So, who do you think it's going to be among us four?" She heard Riddi. She waited for Nandini to say something.
"I love someone, and they already agreed to my wedding. So, I'm out of the list. Even your parents chose Bhuvan for you. It's Radhika or Vrishali," Nandini said.
"Haha, I'm twenty and arranged marriage isn't my thing. I ain't gonna marry a stranger," Vrishali replied, and the girls laughed.
"So you both are kind of engaged, eh?" Vrishali walked out in her jeans and tee, her hands full of clothes.
She dumped them in the carry bag. "Yeah, we are thinking of getting married after three years. Alok wants to marry after his sister's," Nandini said, crossing her arms.
"Alok, is that the one with whom you posted a picture on Instagram?" Vrishali asked. Nandini chuckled, nodding her head. "I attended his cousin's engagement."
"Bhuvan and I decided to tie the knot after two or three years."
*
"Why did sasu-ma and sasur-sa (father-in-law) call us to talk privately?" Gauravi asked Deepash. Deepash doesn't have an answer to why his parents called.
"I don't know. We will be knowing after talking to them."
Vrishali spent the remaining day shopping in the local market and watching the sunset with her sisters. She asked Radhika to join them, but Radhika declined, saying she needed to visit the spa.
"Do you two think Radhika will marry him?" Riddi asked as the three girls sat on the rocky floor.
"Radhika has been spending most of the time with Diya Kumari. Even Simrita tai is hell-bent on marrying Radhika to him." Nandini spoke.
"But why, though? I mean, why marry someone without love?" Vrishali asked, turning to Nandini.
"Because babe, love really doesn't matter to her. It can be born even after marriage. This is like a golden ticket to Simrita tai. Basically, Radhika will become a queen sooner or later, and it gives every right to Simrita tai to taunt us," Riddi said.
"Leave about them, but tell me, Vrishali, how many guys you have dated. I saw the comments you get for every picture you post on Instagram." Nandini wiggled her brows teasingly.
"Nah, I went on dates and met people, but they didn't give me the vibe I wanted. The only boyfriend I hadâ ended up in ten days," Vrishali said, recalling the Blondie guy Luke.
"Ten days? Not even a month." Riddi said as Vrishali unwrapped her sandwich.
"Yeah, he was too controlling. I hate controlling fellows." Vrishali took a bite of it. "If I'm being honest, I don't think I want to be in a relationship yet. I'm in college, and I've got friends to hang out with, and it's going well. Relationship means an investment of time, mind and thingsâ Which I'm not ready for."
"I want to live my college life without any commitments and meet people... Nothing serious." Nandini and Riddi hummed, understanding Vrishali's point.
They returned home in the evening. Vrishali enjoyed her dinner as the cooking staff prepared all of her favourites. She couldn't stop eating way too much than her stomach could hold.
The night was spent talking with Dada and Dadi. Vrishali slept with her grandparents as her dadi sang her favourite lullaby.
*
Everyone was rushing to get the arrangements ready. Riddi dressed in a pink salwar kameez, while Nandini wore a blue one. Vrishali ended up in a creamy white salwar kameez.
"You look so beautiful." Her dad commented, seeing Vrishali. Vrishali kept her makeup simple: eyeliner, eye kajal and warm red lipstick.
Her hair was left open in waves, "Thank you, Dad. You look handsome." Vrishali hugged her dad, laughing as her mother made a side comment.
Vrishali could feel the excitement; she was eager to see the man. It's not every day that you meet a Royal.
"How you guys tie that Saree around. I can't even handle this dupatta." Vrishali joked, looking at her mother, whose face paled slightly.
"Is everything okay? Why do you guys look pale?" Vrishali asked in confusion.
"Nothing, baby. Why don't you go and see what your cousins are up to," Deepash said. Vrishali nodded, walking out of her parent's room in search of her cousins.
"Give me that duffer! They are for guests." Nandini scolded her brother Manav as he tried to snatch a laddo from the basket.
"Arrey! No one will know if I eat one laddo." Manav complained.
"Give the guy one laddo," Riddi says silently, snatching one for herself. Vrishali laughed as both Riddi and Manav ate the laddo in one go.
"Can I have one too?" Vrishali gave puppy dog eyes to Nandini. Nandini shook her head, handing a laddo to Vrishali.
Their heads whipped towards the door, "They are here." For some reason, Vrishali's breathing became heavy as they followed Hardik and Aadi. Vrishali stood behind her brothers. Riddi and Nandhini stood beside her.
Her grandparents, Kalyan Mewar and Deepa Mewar, were hugging the other elderly. Gauravi, Janaki, Malini and Simrita welcomed the women in traditional clothes.
The men of the house are also welcoming the other men warmly. Vrishali's eyes shifted to a lady wearing a maroon Saree. Diya Kumari looked powerful and beautiful in person. Vrishali had seen her pictures.
Radhika wore a baby pink Saree, attracting everyone in the room. Radhika didn't stand with them as she made a beeline toward Diya Kumari, taking blessings.
"May God bless you. Look at you, so pretty." Diya Kumari praised Radhika. Vrishali's eyes searched for the man, but he wasn't present yet...
While the younger ones stood to a side, everyone sat down. Her dada and dadi turned towards Vrishali. Vrishali gave them a smile in return, which caught the attention of the other elderly.
Ajitesh was standing beside his father, Om Prakash. "What are their names," Vrishali whispered.
"His Highness Sawai Bhawani Singh and Rajmatha Falguni Singh," Riddi whispered.
"Should we address them as his highness?" Vrishali asked.
"Here he is." Diya Kumari said. Every head in the room turned towards the entrance. Vrishali couldn't see his face as her brothers were blocking the way. He is tall and wears a white kurtha paired with Sadri.
Vrishali stood on her toes to see the man. Her eyes widened in surprise as she cast them towards the approaching figure. She couldn't help but notice his decisive steps towards the elders. He exuded a confident aura, with every muscle in his broad shoulders rippling with strength. His black eyes glistened with a knowing sense of intimacy, and his perfectly shaped eyebrows gave him an air of sophistication. And then there was his beard - trimmed to perfection, framing his strong jaw and adding an extra element of handsomeness to his already striking features.
He touched the feet of the elderly before sitting beside his dad. "Radhika, come and sit here, dear," Diya Kumari said, patting the space beside her. Riddi and Nandini snickered, making Vrishali chortle.
The girls' eyes widened as everyone around them became silent. Vrishali looked up to see the man looking dead in the eyes. Her eyes broadened comically, and she held Hardik's sleeve for comfort. She didn't like the man's solo gaze on her. It is disturbing her.
Radhika looked at her mother, telling her to snap the silence. "Diya ji, would you like to have some tea or coffee," Simrita said. Vrishali quickly hid behind her brother.
She looked at Riddi and Nandhini before laughing silently, not knowing what would happen next. The snacks and sweets were served.
"As everyone knows the reason why we are." Bhawani Singh started speaking.
"I want to see my grandson Sawai Padmanabh Singh marry. My friends Kalyan and Deepa Ji came to a decision. A decision with which we are pleased."
Radhika couldn't contain her excitement as they would tell him about her marriage. Her eyes shifted to the man who sat beside his dad, listening attentively.
Gauravi and Deepash gazed at their daughter, who stood with Riddi and Nandhini, whispering in each other ears. Deepash held his wife's hand, knowing what would happen next. Simrita holds her Saree tightly, eager to hear the elderly take her daughter's name.
"We want to give our younger granddaughter Vrishali Mewar's hand to your grandson Sawai Padmanabh Singh," Kalyan Mewar said, making everyone stand up in shock.
Vrishali froze hearing her dada's words. "But papaji, we were going to choose Radhika Mewar as Padmanabh's bride." Diya Kumari said, not liking the decision.
Bhawani Singh raised his eyebrow mockingly, telling her to mutter another word. Narendra squeezed his wife Diya Singh's hand. Riddi shook Vrishali's shoulders. Vrishali's face paled when she looked at her parents. They already know about this. . .
"What the hell! I ain't gonna marry some stranger!" Vrishali spoke, hardening her eyes at her parents. Her cousins froze. You are not allowed to raise your voice in front of the royals. Nandhini held onto Vrishali's hand.
"Vrishali!" Her eyes shifted to her grandparents. "Didn't expect this from you, Dadu." Vrishali walked away from everyone as she felt the anger building up in her body.
Marriage is a huge thing that comes with great responsibility. She isn't ready for that; she barely graduated college, and here they are, fixing her marriage without her concern.
Riddi and Nandhini looked at each other before following the way Vrishali went. Diya Kumari grunted her teeth.
Simrita started throwing angry glares at Kalyan Mewar and Deepa Mewar. Radhika sat there too shocked, which was like an insult to her. She spent all her weekends helping Diya Kumari to reach her son. She stopped eating non-vegetarian food when she learned he was a vegetarian.
Gauravi, Deepash, Kalyan, and Deepa left the room to talk with Vrishali. Narendra started talking with Diya Kumari while Radhika left the room with Simrita following her daughter.
Bhawani Singh looked at his grandson Padmanabh Singh, who sat there with a stern look on his face. He doesn't like anyone disrespecting him and his family.
"Beta, don't frown. At least not here; don't scare the girl away." Falguni spoke, patting her grandson's hand. Bhawani Singh chuckled, hearing his wife's words.
Bhawani Singh wants his grandson to marry someone who would make him stand on his toes. Padmanabh has always been a distant kid who would keep his distance from everyone. He doesn't know how to express his feelings and emotions.
Padmanabh agrees to whatever his mum says. Bhawani Singh had to do something before Padmanabh's mother made him tie the marriage knot with someone greedy for money.
Bhawani Singh knew about Vrishali a year ago and had his tabs on her for the past year. She is the complete opposite of his dull grandson and the perfect person for him.
*
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