Page 65 of When Love Trespassed

She looked at him. “Well, for what it’s worth… you’re not looking too bad yourself, Mr. Ahuja,” she whispered. “Actually, you’re looking ridiculously ‘hot and refined’ in that sherwani. I might be the bride, but I’m pretty sure it’s you who’s going to end up stealing the spotlight today.”

He chuckled, his eyes lighting up with mischief.

“Hot and refined, huh? Not outdated like you called me after our first kiss?” he teased, wagging his eyebrows. “Wow, that’s progress. Looks like I must be doing something right,” he added smugly.

Nandini’s eyes widened as she realised what she’d just walked into with that unintentional slip.

The memory of their New Year’s kiss came rushing back, of how she’d blurted out that their kiss was ‘hot and outdated.’ Not because she meant it but because she was extremely nervous and needed to defend herself against the pull of his smouldering gaze.

Even now, that same playful spark flickered in his eyes as his gaze dipped to her lips again. Nandini blushed, her breath hitching as Shaurya slowly ran his tongue along his lower lip, his eyes still fixed on hers with unmistakable intent.

“Behave yourself,” she whispered, her eyes fixed on the sacred fire. “I’m already so nervous, and this lehenga weighs a ton. Also, with everyone’s eyes on us, I don’t need any distraction. Let me focus. If I trip during the pheras because of you, I swear I’ll never allow you near me again.”

Shaurya grinned, his fingers entwining with hers in a reassuring grip.

“That’s not going to happen. Trip all you want, Mrs. Ahuja. I’ll be right here to catch you. And if needed, I’ll even carry you around the holy fire myself, just like your heroes in those romance novels.”

It was then that she looked at him, her eyes conveying everything that words never could, of just how much she loved him.

Just then, the priest began chanting the sacred mantras that echoed through the garden like a blessing.

Nandini’s gaze drifted, not toward the fire, not toward the priest, but to the edge of the crowd, where her grandfather stood amid the guests.

His eyes glistened with joy as he chatted with the guests.

But every now and then, his gaze returned to her.

And each time it did, he smiled at her. Not just with his lips, but with his entire being.

The love in his eyes and the finality of her leaving behind her maiden identity made her teary-eyed. She blinked quickly, trying to hold it back, but a tear threatened to fall.

Before she could even whisper to Priya for a tissue, Shaurya leaned towards her, his hand reaching out to her. Without a word, he carefully dabbed the corner of her eye with his thumb, catching the tear before it could fall, without so much as disturbing her makeup.

She turned to him, her lips parting in surprise, and behind them, a ripple of amused gasps and teasing coos broke out from the Serene Meadows crowd.

“There goes Romeo again,” Mrs. Bhalla whispered to Mrs. Mehra. “Though I must admit, I kind of miss that old grumpy charm of his. It was oddly attractive. Not that this Romeo version is any less swoony.”

“That man just keeps raising the bar,” someone else chimed in from behind.

Even Grandpa smirked, shaking his head in amusement as if saying, this boy... he never stops surprising me.

Nandini leaned closer to Shaurya and whispered back, “Keep doing things like this, and I might just fall for you all over again, this time harder than ever.”

Shaurya grinned, his eyes locked on hers. “That’s the plan.”

Rituals unfolded one after the other—the sacred sindoor proudly melding into the parting of her hair, the mangalsutra fastened carefully around her neck, and then the seven sacred pheras, each vow binding them together for life.

As they completed the final phera, the garden erupted in loud cheers. Friends, family, and the entire Serene Meadows community showered them with rose petals and blessings.

Shaurya turned to Nandini, eyes full of awe, love, and just a glimmer of mischief. He kissed her forehead and whispered, “Hello, wife.”

She looked at him, trying not to tear up and then replied with a smirk, “Hello, grumpy husband.”

He rolled his eyes playfully, the same way he always had.

“And here I thought marriage would earn me some respect,” he muttered.

“Respect is earned,” she quipped, raising a brow. “Patience is rewarded.”

Shaurya chuckled, leaning closer, brushing his nose against hers.

“Let’s not pretend you don’t know exactly how patient I’ve been all these months, limiting myself to just kisses and innocent touches.”

His voice then dropped to a huskier tone. “Tonight, Mrs. Ahuja... Tonight it is. The wait finally ends.”

Nandini’s breath caught, her eyes widening with that mix of thrill and desire only he could stir in her. She tried to look away, her cheeks blazing, but he gently tilted her chin back to him.

“Blushing already?” he murmured. “We haven’t even left the mandap yet.”

“Stop,” she whispered, biting back a shy smile. “People are watching.”

He grinned. “Let them see what loving you looks like.”

And with that, hand in hand, the newlyweds turned to seek the blessings of their elders, their hearts full, their bond sealed with a love meant to last a lifetime.

*****************

Wedding Night

Slowly, the night had settled over Serene Meadows.

There was no over-the-top, tear-soaked bidaai, no band, no dramatic farewells.

There was no need for it as the bride wasn’t truly leaving.

She was just stepping across an invisible boundary between the two homes, from one heartbeat to another.

It was both Nandini and Shaurya’s wish to keep it simple.

They didn’t want their first moments as husband and wife to be swallowed up by overwhelming rituals or drowned in the noise of tradition.

What they wanted was peace. An evening to breathe, to be near the people who mattered, to soak in what had just happened. They wanted to sit beside Grandpa, laugh with Nandini’s parents, and simply exist as a newly formed family without being tugged in ten different directions by bound formalities.

With the last guests gone, only Nandini’s parents and Grandpa remained, the night winding down into a calm hush. Nandini and Shaurya had stayed back, enjoying those last few moments of family time—sharing food, laughter, and stories that made their bond even stronger.

But Grandpa, as always, noticed everything.

He sat back in his armchair, a half-smile tugging at his lips as he watched Shaurya.

For all his polite patience, the young man was beginning to fidget and shift in his seat.

His eyes constantly flicked between the clock and Nandini with a growing restlessness he was trying, and clearly failing, to hide.

Grandpa cleared his throat dramatically. “Alright, alright… how much longer are we planning to sit around chatting?” he said, rising slowly from the chair. “It’s almost midnight, and the newlyweds do need to rest, don’t they?”

Nandini immediately looked down, blushing.

The old man chuckled softly and added, “Let them go now.”

Shaurya glanced up and found Grandpa watching him with a knowing glint in his eye. And that one look said it all. Shaurya’s eyes softened with gratitude, and he nodded subtly, a silent ‘thank you’ for understanding and winding this up.

Grandpa nodded in return, then stretched a little and called over his shoulder, “Well then, I’m off to my room to rest these old bones now. This is when my body reminds me that I’m no longer as young as I once was.”

Everyone laughed, and Nandini looked between Shaurya and Grandpa as the latter winked at him. Within minutes, Grandpa disappeared up the stairs, happy to be back in own room.

Her parents, still emotional from the day, offered to walk her over to Shaurya’s villa for the formal griha pravesh.

But Nandini politely refused, flashing a playful grin.

“Let Shaurya’s wildly romantic imagination take charge tonight.

If you both drop me off, it’ll just be like another ceremony.

And that’s not how I want to begin this chapter. ”

Her parents chuckled, touched by her sentiment. Reluctantly, they agreed. With warm hugs, they bid the couple goodnight at the French doors of the Raichand Villa. Then they quietly disappeared into their rooms, leaving Nandini and Shaurya alone under the quiet, starlit sky.

Shaurya stepped forward to walk Nandini into their new world, but she paused.

She pulled him and gestured towards the old mango tree.

“Wait… I need to thank Daadi,” she murmured as she approached the trunk. She leaned in and brushed her cheek against the rough bark.

“Thank you, Daadi. For everything. From blessing me with the best New Year’s kiss from the man I adored, to guiding me and getting me married to him today.” Her voice radiated her happiness. “I hope I made you proud. Thank you for letting me dream, for blessing us.”

She hugged the tree, then pressed a sweet kiss to its knotted roots as if her grandmother was right there listening. Shaurya watched, his heart full, mesmerised by her undying devotion to her Daadi.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling him from the moment. The screen lit up with yet another notification, one amongst the many celebratory messages he’d received and promised to reply to in the morning. But this recent one surprised him, though.

It was from Rhea.

He stared at the screen, confusion clouding his features as he read the message.

‘Congratulations on your wedding, Shaurya. I’m truly happy for you. Can we talk? Please. You won’t hear from me again after this, I promise.’

Shaurya blinked.

Why had Rhea messaged him? Why now?

He glanced back at Nandini, who was still speaking softly to the mango tree. He stepped away quietly, giving her that moment and space.

The anger or hurt he’d once felt at the thought of speaking to his ex-wife had faded long back and was replaced by something calmer. Something akin to acceptance.