Her steps slowed near the mandap. Her breath caught. Her fingers tightened over the fabric of her lehenga.
She looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.
The pagdi. The authority. The weight of Anand Mahal resting across his shoulders with ease.
He stood there powerful, untouchable, and entirely hers.
Abhinav stepped down first. His hand rose to her face without hesitation.
The crowd watched.
His palm rested against her cheek. His thumb brushed once below her eye, slow enough to feel the tremor passing through her. He lowered his forehead to hers.
“You are killing me standing here looking like this,” he murmured low enough for only her to hear.
Her lips parted softly. Colour deepened across her cheeks.
From behind them, Vikram’s voice cut in, full of drama. “Done. Finished. Cremated. Our corporate emperor has fallen.”
Naina snorted. “Please. Bhai stopped functioning the second Bhabhi made her entrance.”
Laughter spread across the mandap. Even Meera smiled through the nerves rising inside her.
Abhinav turned toward them, warning clear in his expression.
Vikram raised both hands at once. “No disrespect, Thakur Sa. We fully support emotional collapse in love.”
Naina nodded with mock seriousness. “Historic moment for the Anand family.”
“Naina,” Sarita spoke with fond exasperation, shaking her head. “Let him breathe for one minute.”
Naina only grinned.
Abhinav ignored all of them. His fingers closed around Meera’s hand as he led her to the mandap.
Pandit ji resumed the mantras.
Devendra stepped forward. He took Meera’s hand in both of his. His eyes rose once to Abhinav’s pagdi before returning to his daughter. He swallowed the effect this moment was having on him.
Then he placed Meera’s hand into Abhinav’s.
Abhinav’s grip closed around her, firm, responsible.
Devendra’s eyes paused on that hold. He stepped back without a word.
The Phere began. Seven circles around the sacred fire. Seven vows.
Meera’s lehenga brushed across white rose petals scattered over the floor. Abhinav walked ahead, his hand locked around hers the entire time.
Each vow pulled his attention deeper toward her until nothing remained beyond the woman beside him and the fire witnessing them.
Then the mangalsutra.
He lifted it carefully before leaning in. He took it with care and leaned in. His fingers touched the back of her neck as he fastened it. Black and gold beads rested against her skin.
‘Married.’
His eyes remained there a moment longer than needed.
