Wedding Night - Part 1

By evening, everyone had arrived at the Rathore Mansion except for Adarsh and Yashna. Adarsh had sent a message to Vikram explaining that he had urgent matters to attend to and would not arrive until later that night.

The maids busily transported the luggage, arranging it meticulously in the respective rooms designated for the newlyweds.

Vikram, however, dismissed the customary post-marriage rituals, deeming them unnecessary since these unions were forced, and none of the brothers had any desire to partake in such traditions.

Yet, despite Vikram's proclamation, Chandrika had taken it upon herself to adorn the rooms for the newlyweds, infusing them with warmth and charm.

In the garden, Chandrika found Avika and Nainika engaged in quiet conversation. "What are you doing here? You should be attending to your assigned tasks in your rooms instead of gossiping," she commanded the twin sisters.

Though Avika and Nainika were identical twins, their features were distinct enough to tell them apart. The same could not be said for Vikram and Vijay, whose striking resemblance often left their father bewildered, unable to discern one from the other. If only their father had shown them the care and affection they deserved, perhaps such confusion could have been avoided.

"We are not your puppets, Mother-in-law, to dance to your every command," Avika shot back, her voice rising defiantly. Chandrika was momentarily taken aback by her daughter-in-law's boldness.

Just as Chandrika raised her hand to strike Avika, Nainika stepped in, taking the blow meant for her sister. The sharp crack of the slap echoed in the air, a stark reminder of the tension that hung between them.

"Behave yourselves, or you will pay a heavy price," Chandrika warned, her voice laced with fury as she stormed away. The sisters, however, remained unfazed by her threats.

Nainika, her cheek stinging from the impact, looked at Avika, who was filled with guilt for provoking their mother-in-law. "You shouldn't have taken that for me," Avika murmured, her voice trembling with remorse, though she stood by her words.

"You are my sister, Avi. How could I let someone harm you?" Nainika comforted her, tears beginning to well in Avika's eyes, a testament to her regret.

"I'm sorry, Naini," Avika whispered, her gaze fixed on the floor as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"You don't need to be." Nainika held her sister close, offering solace until her sobs subsided.

Eventually, they retreated to their respective rooms, attempting to settle into the unfamiliar surroundings. Avika, Nainika, and Indu found themselves alone in their chambers, while Vikram, Vijay, and Aarav gathered to discuss the work Adarsh was handling in secrecy, unaware of the turmoil brewing within their family.

"Vikram, I can't shake the feeling that something is amiss. Shouldn't we call bade bhai and check on his whereabouts?" Vijay inquired, concern etched across his face as he observed his brother lost in thought, contemplating Adarsh's possible whereabouts.

"Don't worry, Vijay. Everything will be fine. Bhabi is with him, after all, so he won't do anything reckless," Vikram reassured both Vijay and Aarav, unaware of the storm brewing within Adarsh, who was poised to shatter Yashna's world completely.

—————————————————————

Adarsh and Yashna 【Yarsh】

As Adarsh slid into the car after the wedding, he instructed his driver, Maruti, to head to the jurisdiction. Moments later, Yashna joined him, her heart heavy with the weight of the unfolding events. Adarsh's silence felt like a chasm between them, filled with the echoes of her mother's threats and the fear of losing her brother.

The engine roared to life, jolting Yashna from her thoughts. Adarsh stared out the window, seemingly indifferent to her presence. She had never expected much from him, especially since he had been chosen by her mother. She had expected he might know the depths of her darkest nightmare—the very reason for his coldness.

The car came to a halt at the courthouse, and as Yashna sank deeper into her thoughts, Adarsh's flat voice broke through her reverie. "Come out."

He exited the vehicle, and Yashna followed suit, still bewildered by the purpose of their visit to the jurisdiction.

"Is everything ready?" Adarsh inquired of one of his men who awaited them as they entered the building.

"Yes, sir. Everything is set. Mr. Swaminath is waiting for you in this room," the man replied, gesturing toward the door.

They stepped into the room, where a man in his fifties sat behind a desk. A nameplate read, "Mr. Swaminath Iyer, B.A.LLB(HONS), LLM."

Yashna's anxiety mounted with each passing second, her heart racing as she tried to grasp the situation.

"Hello, Mr. Adarsh Rathore," Mr. Swaminath greeted him, extending his hand. They shook hands, and only then did Mr. Swaminath's gaze fall upon Yashna, still adorned in her bridal attire. A flicker of pity crossed his face as he took in her beauty and innocence, amplifying Yashna's growing sense of dread.

"Hello, Mr. Swaminath Iyer. Is everything set?" Adarsh wasted no time, diving straight into the matter at hand.

"Yes, everything is arranged. You just need to sign these divorce agreement papers," Mr Swaminath replied, sliding the documents across the table to Adarsh.

The ground seemed to tremble beneath Yashna's feet. It felt as if the very air around her shattered, the sound of glass breaking echoing in her ears as the reality of the divorce agreement struck her like a bolt from the blue.

She turned to Adarsh, her heart racing, desperate to understand why he was doing this to her. But he simply picked up the pen from the stand and signed the papers without a second thought.

'Death would be better than facing a divorce and returning home to be killed by my mother,' Yashna thought frantically, grappling with how to convey to him that she could not go through with this. The spectre of her mother's wrath loomed large in her mind, casting a shadow over her thoughts. Her fists curled tightly around the fabric of her lehenga, and beads of sweat trickled down her back, making her palms slick and clammy.

Adarsh pushed the papers toward her, offering her the pen. She stared at him with weary eyes, her heart heavy with despair, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.

Noticing her reluctance, he said flatly, "The divorce will be finalized in three months. I will compensate you for your loss. If necessary, I will help you find a good husband."

"Look for a good husband?" she murmured, the words slipping from her lips as a statement rather than a question directed at him.

Initially, she had hoped that this marriage could be her chance to escape the hell she had endured since childhood. Now, she realized she had merely stepped from prying pan to fire—she couldn't find a word that encapsulated her despair more accurately than that.

Yashna understood she had no choice: either sign the agreement or face the grim reality of her situation. She wiped her sweaty palms on her lehenga, steeling herself, and took the pen. She cherished her life, however fraught it was, and so she chose to sign, sealing her fate with a single stroke.

With trembling hands, she took the pen and scrawled her name—Yashna Rajput—across the papers. She refused to take on the title of Yashna Adarsh Rathore; that was never a choice she had been given.

"This is the legal agreement. However, if you wish to cancel it within these 3 months, you may do so," Mr Swaminath informed them, stamping his signature at the bottom.

"We were already divorced the moment we signed," Yashna whispered, her voice barely above a murmur yet clear enough for all to hear. Adarsh felt a pang in his heart at her hurtful words, but he masked his emotions, unwilling to reveal any vulnerability.

With the agreement in hand, Adarsh, Yashna, and Mr Swaminath left the office and made their way back to the Rathore mansion.

Upon their arrival, Yashna noticed that the hall was empty except for Chandrika and Yashwanth, who were engrossed in conversation and laughter over cups of tea. The warmth of their interaction felt like a stark contrast to the cold reality she had just faced, leaving her feeling like a fish out of water.

Adarsh entered his room without sparing a glance at Yashna, who nodded silently and followed him inside. As she stepped into the room, she was taken aback by the beautiful decorations that adorned it. "We are already divorced, in cheezon ka kya kam hai," she muttered to herself, eyeing the exquisite flowers arranged on the bed.

"Take the bed; I will sleep on the couch," Adarsh said matter-of-factly, flicking his gaze toward the pillow on the bed.

"Koi problem nahi, I will sleep on the couch. Ye aapki room hai toh aap hi soh jao bed pe. Aur aapki height bhi nahi match karegi ye couch," she replied, taking the pillow from the bed and settling onto the couch.

He watched her with disbelief. Understanding the weight of his gaze, she clarified, "We are divorced, so there's no need for your act of care. It's alright; it's not a new thing for me." Her voice was cold, the last words barely audible even to herself. She was bewildered by her own harsh tone.

It's as if all the warmth and care in her has shattered, leaving the remnants of broken pieces. She was exhausted by showing all the care in the world from whom she received only heartbreak. She thought if she wanted to fit into the world, then she needed to act like them, irrespective of her contrasting pure heart.

Yashna had endured nights on the cold floors outside the Rajput mansion for any perceived mistake, and even when she hadn't erred, she faced her mother's harsh punishments.

Adarsh observed her as she made herself comfortable. Yashna adjusted the strands of hair that had fallen across her face, tucking them behind her ear with delicate care. His gaze fell upon the bandage on her forehead, and an unfamiliar urge stirred within him.

He couldn't quite place the emotion welling up inside him. This was the first time he felt something so profound and unknown while looking at her. He knew he had hurt her, but he didn't want to inflict further pain by keeping her close only to ignore her.

He wrestled with himself, determined to keep her out of his traumatic and tumultuous life, unaware that he had already drawn her into the worst of it all.

'How can she sleep with all those clothes on?' he thought to himself as he headed into the bathroom.

When he emerged, dressed in more casual attire, he noticed that Yashna had already fallen asleep. He quietly grabbed a blanket from the wardrobe and gently draped it over her.

He slid into bed, exhaustion pulling him into slumber. However, their peaceful rest was abruptly shattered by a scream echoing from the hall, jolting them both awake.

Yashna sat up on the couch with a jolt, her heart racing as the remnants of a nightmare flashed before her eyes for a brief second, leaving her breathless and disoriented.

-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟-͟

Do you like the chapter?

How is it?

Did you like the nickname for the couple?

Do vote and comment with your thoughts!

By: shinestoriess.

Bye, lovelies💗