When Rajveer returned to the hall, he was stunned by the sight before him. Mourning had engulfed the entire place. His mother, Savita, was sitting in a corner, crying uncontrollably, her tears showing no sign of stopping. His father, Vijay, sat lifelessly on the floor, deep despair and helplessness evident in his eyes. Whispering was going on among the guests, everyone was immersed in shock and disbelief.
"Mom, what happened…?" Rajveer asked anxiously, running towards his mother, his voice trembling with worry.
"Saa… Sarangi…" Savita barely managed to say through her tears, her words drowned in sobs.
"Yes, where is Didi…?" Rajveer asked restlessly, his eyes searching for his sister.
"Your sister left… with that Vairagya Rajvansh…" said Ajit's mother standing nearby, venom dripping from her words, filled with sharp hatred. "She used to act so innocent, but behind everyone's backs, she was messing around with him."
"Say one more word and I'll tear your tongue out…" Rajveer growled fiercely, his eyes turning red and fists clenching tightly.
"First take care of your sister… got it? A shameless woman…" Ajit was just starting to speak when Rajveer, furious, landed a hard punch on his face.
"How dare you insult my sister's character…" Rajveer lost control and kept hitting Ajit wildly, his anger sky-high.
"Raj… stop…" Vijay stood up, staggering, trying to stop him.
Ajit and his family glared angrily, feeling insulted, and left the hall.
"What happened? Can someone tell me?" Rajveer shouted, still fuming. A staff member had told him that there was some problem in the storeroom, so he had gone to check it, but then someone hit him on the head and locked him inside. Somehow, he had just gotten out, and now seeing this scene, he was completely shocked.
Savita told him everything through her sobs — the pictures shown on the screen and everything that happened afterward. Rajveer's face turned pale. "There must be some misunderstanding, Mom… Sir is not that kind of person…"
"But where is Didi…?" Rajveer almost roared, his worry growing.
"Mr. Rajvansh married her… and took her away with him…" Vijay said with a heavy heart, his voice full of defeat and despair.
"What…?" Rajveer said in shock and immediately took out his phone to call Vairagya.
"Speak, Raj…" came Vairagya's calm and composed voice on the other side.
"Sir… Didi…?" Rajveer asked nervously.
"She's with me… safe… and from now on, she's my wife…" Vairagya said in a flat tone.
"Sir, please, Didi has done nothing wrong. Please don't say anything to her… she's very scared. Whatever happened, she's not at fault…" Rajveer started, but Vairagya interrupted him.
"I'm heading home, Raj… to Delhi. I'll message the address. You can come meet your sister anytime you want…" Vairagya said and, without waiting for Rajveer's response, passed the phone to Sarangi, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead.
"Raj…" Sarangi's voice trembled.
"Didi… I'm sorry, so much happened and I wasn't there for you… Didi, stay with Sir. I'll come soon with Mom and Dad, then we'll all sit and make some decisions. Are you listening, Didi…?" Rajveer's voice grew heavy with concern and self-reproach.
"Yes Raj… please come soon…" Sarangi replied.
"I promise, Didi…" Rajveer said, and after hanging up, looked at Vijay and Savita, whose faces were still clouded with shock and despair.
Sarangi silently passed the phone back to Vairagya.
"Hungry?" Vairagya asked, his eyes still on the road. Sarangi looked at him in surprise, unable to understand how this man could remain so calm when her life had completely changed.
"In a while, we're catching a flight to Delhi… we have to go to the airport, then there's checking, immigration, it'll take a lot of time… if you're hungry, should I bring something?" Vairagya said in a calm tone, as if talking about a routine matter.
"But my tickets… my luggage…?" Sarangi asked.
"You're with Vairagya Rajvansh, nothing is impossible for you now. Keep that in your mind. Tell me, what would you like to eat?" Vairagya asked.
"Why are you talking like this?" Sarangi said, surprised, unable to understand this changed attitude. A little while ago, he was angry with her, and now he was speaking so calmly.
"What kind of talk?" Vairagya asked, still looking straight ahead.
"Why are you calling me 'you' formally? I'm younger than you…" Sarangi said.
"I like it…" Vairagya said, looking ahead.
"Hurry up and tell me what you want to eat…" he asked again.
Sarangi thought for a moment, then softly said, "I want… umm… a sandwich…"
Vairagya smiled faintly.
He stopped the car near a small hotel a little ahead and said without looking at Sarangi, "I'll get the sandwich, stay in the car… don't go anywhere…"
"Coffee too…" Sarangi added softly.
Vairagya looked at her, then just nodded and headed to the hotel. Sarangi watched him go out the window.
After a while, Vairagya came back with sandwich and coffee cups in hand. He handed all the food to Sarangi, saying, "Eat comfortably. Let me know if you want anything else…"
Taking the first bite, Sarangi asked, "Won't you eat?"
"I'm driving…" Vairagya replied briefly, his eyes on the road.
"Shall I feed you?" Sarangi asked hesitantly.
Vairagya looked at her in surprise.
"No, I was just saying…" Sarangi said regretfully, feeling she might have said too much.
"If you feel like it, feed me…" Vairagya cut in.
Sarangi offered a bite of her sandwich to him, and Vairagya ate it without hesitation.
Vairagya started playing a song in the car and drove with a slight smile.
(Lyrics)"Don't test me today, call me again, make me yours, I'm restless, only want you, this heart agrees, love you endlessly, desires again and again, wishes again and again…"
Vairagya's heart was dancing inside with the song's words, but his face wore a stern mask.
When the car stopped at the airport, reporters already present recognized Vairagya and rushed toward him with cameras and microphones.
Vairagya was used to all this hustle and bustle; he didn't care much about it. He always kept his private life away from the media. But Sarangi, still scared and shocked, got frightened seeing the crowd coming towards them and unknowingly held Vairagya's hand tightly.
Vairagya looked at her, fear and uncertainty still clear in her eyes. Without saying anything, he held her hand more firmly and quickly moved inside the airport with her.
The reporters chasing behind got a big scoop — "Has Vairagya Rajvansh gotten married?" "Was that his wife with him?" The camera flashes kept flashing, microphones extended toward him, everyone eager to get as much information as possible about this unexpected event.
Sarangi had traveled by flight before, so she wasn't afraid. Due to fatigue and the morning's turmoil, she fell into a deep sleep as soon as she boarded the flight. Her head was resting against the window, and her hair was scattered over her cheeks.
Vairagya kept looking at her. After the drama in the mandap, seeing her so calm brought peace to his heart. He slowly reached out and moved a lock of hair from her cheek.
"I had decided to stay away from you," he thought to himself. "But when fate has brought us together like this… then this hand, Vairagya Rajvansh, will never leave you… will stay with you till my last breath… this is a promise, a promise of Vairagya Rajvansh… my life…"
He took a deep breath and settled back into his seat, his eyes still fixed on Sarangi.
When Sarangi woke up, she was in Vairagya's car.
"Hey, how did this airplane turn into a car…?" Sarangi said, startled.
Vairagya couldn't help but laugh at her words. He glanced at Sarangi and then focused on the road, saying, "You fell asleep on the flight. The flight has reached Delhi, but since you didn't wake up, I had to bring you to the car…"
"Oh… but how did I sleep so much…" Sarangi muttered to herself, surprised by her deep sleep.
"We're going home… by now the news of my marriage must have reached home…" Vairagya said calmly.
"So will your mother throw you out of the house?" Sarangi asked worriedly.
"No, maybe she'll be a little angry because of the sudden marriage… but even if she throws us out, no problem. We'll go live in the jungle — I'll hunt, you cook… we'll dance and sing together…"
"And your family…" Sarangi asked.
Vairagya laughed.
"Are you making fun of me? What did I say…" Sarangi pouted.
Vairagya gave her a look — she was the same girl who had been crying in the mandap a few hours ago, and now she sat so carefree with a stranger, without any fear…
"By the way, aren't you scared? I mean, you know me but don't recognize me?" Vairagya asked.
"I totally recognize you… you're an angry and arrogant person," Sarangi replied, pouting.
Vairagya said in surprise,"But I didn't do that just now…"
Sarangi, with small eyes, said,"Yes, but you did do it before the flight, didn't you?"
Vairagya replied,"I even got you a sandwich in return, so the score is settled… I forgot, you forget too… and be a good girl."
Sarangi, looking outside, said,"I was already a good girl."
Vairagya nodded, as if recalling his experience with a little girl.
Some time later, Sarangi and Vairagya Rajvansh were standing at the doorstep of the Rajvansh house, while the rest of the family stared at them. Shanti Devi, Vairagya's mother, had a face full of surprise and anger. Sakshi and Rudraksh, Vairagya's younger siblings, could not hide their curiosity.
Vairagya teased,"Stop it now…? Do whatever you want, quickly… I don't have the whole day…"
There was clear irritation in his voice.
Shanti Devi came forward, pulling his ear, and said,"You should have told me, I would have arranged your wedding with her myself… She's so beautiful… what was the need to elope like this?"
Her face showed anger, but her eyes also reflected affection.
"Mom, it's not like what you're thinking…" Vairagya tried to explain.
"No no, Mom… Now I understand why brother rejected all the girls till now — he already had a special someone…" Vairagya's younger sister Karnika, never one to be left behind, said with a mischievous smile.
"Oh brother, you turned out to be quite a stealthy guy," Rudraksh teased him with a wink.
Sarangi listened to everyone's talks with a smile, and her gentle smile annoyed Vairagya.
"Fine, if you all enjoy keeping your daughter-in-law standing outside like this, then do so… I'm leaving," said Vairagya and walked away. Everyone called after him, but he didn't look back.
Now Sarangi stood there awkwardly. Karnika circled around her and said,"So, madam, tell me your name…"
"Sa… Sarangi…" Sarangi said hesitantly.
"So you've caught my brother in your trap?" Rudraksh said teasingly. Sarangi nodded, and inwardly started cursing Vairagya.
"Enough, enough… enough teasing my daughter-in-law," Shanti Devi said lovingly, holding Sarangi's hand.
"No, aunty…" Sarangi said softly.
"Aunty… Oh…" Karnika covered her mouth. "— Brother's mother says, he's a piddi mom, I'm a 'Maatashri'… you pick what you want to call me… 'Saasu Maa' is also an option, yes…"
Sarangi smiled slightly and looked at Shanti Devi, who said,"What a sweet girl you are… Just call me 'Mom' now. Come on, go ahead and knock over this kalash (pot) and step inside the plate with your feet… Your grumpy one didn't give us much time to welcome you properly… Sorry, son."
"No problem, Mom… Whatever you all have done is more than enough," Sarangi held her hand and Shanti Devi smiled.
Sarangi knocked over the kalash and stepped inside leaving footprints, and as she entered, a faint smile appeared on Vairagya's face, who was standing by the railing.
"Karnika, dear, take Sarangi to my brother's room… no mischief," Shanti Devi said affectionately to her daughter.
"Okay, Maata Shree… Your command is my wish… Come on, sister-in-law," Karnika said with a mischievous smile and turned toward Sarangi.
"Sister-in-law…?" Sarangi was surprised.
"Of course! Vairagya bhai is my big brother, so you are my sister-in-law… though we can also be best friends," Karnika said while holding Sarangi's hand.
In the room, Karnika said,"Sister-in-law, you can change your clothes… no rituals today, they will start from tomorrow… Do you have clothes to change into?"
Sarangi shook her head — she remembered all her belongings were left in Udaipur.
"No problem… I'll bring my clothes. Our sizes seem to be the same anyway…" Karnika said while leaving.
After a while, Karnika brought some comfortable clothes for her, and Sarangi went to change.
Vairagya was not in the room; he was in the study watching a video on his laptop — the dance video of him and Sarangi. A faint smile appeared on his face, recalling the beautiful moments from that night.
With the phone on his chest, he softly hummed —
"Even God, when he sees you with me,God must be thinking how he gave such a precious thing,You're incomparable, what example can I give of you?You came from the sky, I could say that and avoid it,Still if someone asks what you are like,I'd splash colors in my hands and throw them in the air…"
Humming softly, he came into the room and leaned against the door, watching Sarangi. Sarangi was standing in the other corner, doing her hair.
"All the adornments pale before you,Even angels are devoted to you,You are the warmth of summer evenings, the sunlight of winters,Every season owes you…"
A deeper smile appeared on Vairagya's lips. It felt as if these lines were written only for Sarangi.