27.

Siya~

Days passed by, and with each passing one the cracks in my heart shattered a bit more each moment. Rana Sa, the king of Rajasthan had decided to marry me.

I closed my eyes as tears slowly slid down my cheeks, as I held in a sob. What trouble have you landed me in, Kanha?

I questioned the god to whom I bowed my head in respect. To whom I had come to gather blessings for a marriage that I didn't even want.

My heart clenched like a noose was wrapped around it that tightened with each tug of string that tied me with Rana Sa Yuvraaj Singh Chauhan. My body held back a shiver as thoughts that made my skin crawl travelled up my spine. When I felt warmth against my hand, I lifted up my head flinching.

My eyes staring into the seemingly concerned ones of my to be husband, and I hid my emotions behind a careful mask of blankness. Yuvraaj looked behind us to see Maa and Papa, along with Parvati Rani Sa and her husband. They all were busy in the veneration, for our marriage.

My heart clenched, feeling the tightness of my heart that hurt far too much. Rana Sa's voice brought me out of the reverie, as he questioned in concern, "Siya, kyu hua? Aapko kuch uncomfort hai?"

I looked down, my face blank and shook my head. "Ji, nahi."

He frowned, eyeing me. He was silent for a while, before he nodded walking away. I sat down on the nearby place arranged for sitting outside the temple as Maa, Papa and Rana Sa's parents completed the ritual. I sighed, staring at them exchange the wedding cards, and offered it to the priest.

"Siya."

I flinched hearing his voice, and Rana Sacame to a stop in front of me. He smiled at me softly, before he handed me a bottle of water making me frown. He spoke up, "Siya, it might be the heat that was making you feel uncomfortable. Drink some water it will make you feel better."

I looked at him, searching for a single flaw in his 'caring' appearance, but found none. Only a concern engraved so deep, it scared me to try to look deeper.

He looked at my dress, and frowned. I looked down seeing the designer Chudidaar Mumma had made me wear. She had insisted I wore the heavy outfit, that was sure to leave a few scratches.

Rana Sa spoke up, "Aap comfortable hai...itni heavy dress Mai" he looked genuinely worried, as he explained. "This dress looks wonderful on you Siya, but...," He gestured towards our surroundings, softly speaking up, "It's too warm outside."

I looked at him, speaking sarcastically, "So should I strip and walk around naked, Rana Sa?" Rana Sa looked at me surprised, concerned. "Siya, I didn't mean to irritate you, I am sorry."

I felt my anger cool down, and I took in a deep breath nodding, "It's fine. I was at the fault anyway." I didn't need to make the king of Rajasthan my enemy, specially when we were about to get married now.

Rana Sa spoke up, his eyes flashing even more worry which suffocated me. "Siya, if you are feeling so uncomfortable, You can keep that Dupatta Aside. It will be fine, it's heavy and meaningless to carry."

I looked at him surprised, feeling insulted. How seriously his mother and every royal held the appropriate clothing protocol, I was certain that it would be catastrophic for me to keep the dupatta aside. Not something about conservative clothing, but appropriate clothing method. How would it reflect when I couldn't even handle a Dupatta well?

Anger spiked beneath my calm texture. Was he calling me mannerless?

Even if I didn't belong from a higher family, even as somebody who was to be a part of the royal family, I still understood the responsibility of respect that I was supposed to cherish. A certain appropriate attitude that couldn't change despite the modernization of the society, it meant for me to be at my best behaviour in public. I understood it wasn't solely my own, but a family's name that came attached with my attitude.

I shook my head, denying. Intentionally I let a little bit of sterness seep into my voice. "I am fine, Rana Sa."

________________________

"Yuvraaj, Siya come here!"

Rajveer called both of them, making them look towards the family. A knowing smirk on Avyaan and Sidharth's faces as they stared teasingly at their brother and Bhabhi Sa.

Yuvraaj raised an eyebrow in a way that made their faces pale. He shook his head, still looking sideways at Siya and his heart pinched seeing the visible tear stains on her cheeks. Hidden well, but he had seen her crying.

When everyone prayed to God, he couldn't know what he could pray for? When his goddess was sitting right beside him, what could he even pray for except her forgiveness?

Hurting Siya was something he wouldn't dare do, yet when she was hurting because of him, he felt worthless. Worthless for he couldn't whisk away her pain.

Yet he knew he had to go on, because only a position higher than everything he knew would be what would make her safe. Untouchable enough that no one would dare lift a finger on her. And despite knowing that the marriage would cost him his life Begging for her forgiveness, he would rather watch that the her light dying due to losing everything she knew of her family.

Of the taint on the reputation that he was sure, Siya's reputation would not survive if he didn't meddle. So was the society, and so was the world. Yuvraaj even as the king of the whole of the country, unfortunately couldn't change their mindsets, they thought what they want. So was the society and he would have teared down the said society for hurting her without a thought, yet would he still be able to protect Siya? Shelter her?

Yuvraaj could have never thought of another way, and so he proposed the idea of marrying her only if to protect her.

Yet it seems I am the one who is taking her light.

Yuvraaj looked down, with a bitter smile as the priest read out the Wedding invitation to the god. Since the day Siya agreed to the marriage, she had been so quiet it made him worried. No matter what he said, how he behaved, Siya would respond without even staring in his eyes. She had been avoiding him like a plague, she seemed lifeless as she went by her life as usual.

Yuvraaj though was determined, he wouldn't let her lose herself over something so easily. His little dove was strong, brave and courageous, even for a second he refused to believe she would lose herself to something even as big as a wedding. She was the to be queen of Rajasthan, and before that his queen, he had faith in her, confidence in her that she wouldn't bend over because of this.

When the Puja finished, everybody descended the stairs, but it was Siya who was struggling to walk down. As the Dulhan, according to the Chauhan's tradition, her wedding lehenga was supposed to be blessed by the gods before her wedding, which she would have to carry up the stairs herself.

And despite the tradition being years old, and something that The royal to be queens of the family used to do, it seemed as if her mother had neglected the importance of it.

Her heavy dress made it infinitely difficult to handle the big thaal in which her wedding saree laid, along with every jewelery she would wear during the pheras. As Siya struggled holding it, Parvati stared at her unimpressed, as she spoke, "Siya make sure that this Thaal doesn't tip over or fall, it's auspicious. You can't make anybody else hold this Thaal for you either. It has to be in your hand only, as you walk down."

Siya nodded with difficulty, her voice respectful, "Ji Maharani Sa."

Siya's head spinned because of the heat, yet she carefully continued to descend the stair trying to keep up with the family that was descending faster and faster. Her anarkali kept coming in her step, her Dupatta kept slipping off her shoulder due to its heavy weight, making it extremely difficult to balance.

Siya felt her temper rising at them walking without a pause, as her dupatta slipped again and she shifted the thaal in one hand to fix it but as the thaal tipped her eyes widened. She tried grabbing it, when suddenly a hand holding her other hand balanced it making her gasp.

Her back coming in contact with the masculine heat of the man of who had been silently trailing behind her. She turned her head looking at Yuvraaj who smiled down at her, his voice soft and low, "Aaram se Siya."

Irritation sparked Siya's mind as she misunderstood his words as to take care of the thaal in her hand. Yuvraaj retrieved his hand back, when Siya gained control. Technically the tradition wasn't broken, as the hand that stabilised the thaal was still Siya's despite it being Yuvraaj who balanced it, but still it was enough of a reason for Siya's mood to be ruined.

Yuvraaj stepped infront of her lifting the heavy dupatta that had slipped from her shoulder and hung from her elbow fixing it for her. He looked at her for permission, "May I?"

He gestured to tying the dupatta for her in a way that it wouldn't disturb siya, who had been agitated enough by it that she said yes without a thought.

Yuvraaj smiled, as he fixed her Dupatta from her shoulder, adjusting them in a knot so that they wouldn't disturb Siya from walking as she held the thaal and waited impatiently.

Despite his calm behaviour only Yuvraaj knew the almost heart attack he had when she almost tipped over. Traditions were fine, as long as Siya was alright.

He instructed her, "Walk slowly, Siya."

Siya was so irritated that she plastered a sarcastic smile on her face and nodded, "Ofcourse."

Yuvraaj stared at her with raised eyebrows, seeing her annoyance. Even if it was annoyance, if it covered that blank emotionless haze on your face he would savor it.

As they started descending again, Siya lost her footing because of the anarkali almost falling back, and Yuvraaj's eyes widened, he was quick to hold her. "Siya! Are you alright?"

He stabilised Siya, who nodded looking ahead stubbornly. "Leave me Rana sa, Let's continue the descent. It's less than a few hundred stairs left now."

Yuvraaj almost immediately refuted, "No, take a seat first. No need for you to finish this tradition, you matter way more to me than some measly tradition."

A lie.

The tradition was a very important one, that even Yuvraaj couldn't stop. It held way too many beliefs, yet when it came to Siya it seemed he couldn't think of anything else. It was as if, as soon as she came in the picture, she became the priority, the need, the necessity, the unrefutable demand his heart asked from him, that even if he wanted he wouldn't be able to say no.

On the other hand, Siya's anger suddenly burst from her like a Lava, "Can't you understand for once Rana Sa that this is important?" Like your mother would let me live this down, if I didn't do this. Siya didn't say the last words.

Stubbornly Siya moved past him, again starting to walk down, as Yuvraaj followed her behind.

The heavy outfit, the heat if weren't enough, Siya hadn't had a meal for more than 24 hours as apparently 'fasting' was a part of this ritual. For a happy marriage, they said.

Siya scoffed. Like hell she believed her marriage would be a happy one, it seemed seeing Yuvraaj her annoyance came out in unstoppable bounds.

Her head turned lighter, the world almost spun in front of her eyes but she kept her steps going. The faster I climb down, the faster I can eat. Siya thought, keeping her steps unstoppable.

All it took was a total of four steps though, when her world tilted all of a sudden making her slip. Her body tilting, as she tried to keep the large plate stable, eyes suddenly closing as she embraced for the heavy pain about to follow her.

Yet, when gravity pulled her down, she found strong, reliable arms stabilising her as they tightened around her, pulling her to them.

Siya's eyes darting towards the thaal, which she held on securely. She sighed in relief before her eyes found the serious eyes staring at her. Yuvraaj had his jaw clenched, seeing her state.

Siya felt a little uneasy, as she stared at Yuvraaj. She spoke softly, "Let me go, Rana Sa."

Yuvraaj's eyes flared up, he glared at Siya. Look at her, even when she almost fainted, all she cared about was getting away?

A squeal left Siya's lips, as she shrunk when Yuvraaj suddenly lifted her off the grounds. He looked ahead with a set jaw, he started descending the stairs, when Siya spoke up angrily. "Rana Sa, ye kya--"

"Chup. Ekdam chup Siya."

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Please let me know how you guys feel about the book. Honestly the goals were never about getting comments or anything, I felt that if you guys are reading, if I got feedbacks that would make me more inclined towards the book, that's all. Over time, I realised that those goals aren't really needed. If you guys liked it, you'll say so yourself. From this chapter onwards, I promise to not put any goals to reach. It's wrong of me to expect anything when in reality you don't really owe it to me. I checked my dms today and it was so shameful to see so many dms that I hadn't answered...

It hurt that there were so many people those who pleaded me to do something that was actually what I was supposed to do. I am sorry you had to wait this long.

I'll post the next chapter when I get the time. Thank you.

By love

Aesthetephilist.