Fate's Connection

Chapter 18: Awkward?

I looked deep into his eyes still assessing his claims. He looked determined to make this work. Taking a deep breathe, I tip-toed and placed my lips on his. He didn't even take a second to wrap his arms around my waist, retaliating my actions.

"So, is that a yes?" He asked me, panting. I rolled my eyes and smacked the back of his head, "Tubelight," is all I say.

"Oh no! You started a war!" He roared and began chasing me as we dodged the furniture here and there with a fit of laughter following us. But, we were growing old, almost being in thirties decreases your stamina for sure. We landed on the bed with a thud as we looked deep into each other's eyes with a smile. What I didn't notice was the decreasing distance between his fingers and my waist. I burst into a fit of laughter as he tickled me.

"Smacking the future king brings consequences, my Queen!" He never stopped tickling.

"S-stop! Stop!" I panted hard. "Or I'll behead you!" He didn't stop.

After a while, we changed into something more appropriate. As I draped a pink saree around my torso, he adorned himself with a cream coloured Kurta.

He smiled at me and complimented me with a kiss on my forehead. It was indeed awkward. Acting like nothing ever happened, after ten years of feeling of betrayal, was indeed difficult. But I was ready to put in efforts.

The only thing that wasn't awkward between us was physical affection. It wasn't wierd to hug him. It wasn't unusual to kiss him. It was absolutely not unusual looking into his brown orbs. But carrying out conversations, not our cup of tea for sure!

Walking through the corridors of the Palace with Arunaditya by my side, it sure felt different. While I was in Rome, I dreamt of this moment.

"How come you never told me your name wasn't Aditya but Arunaditya?" I asked him. He smiled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I-uh..I kinda.. feel my name is too long, you know. I-uh.. I thought you might feel like I am too old fashioned?" He admitted. He looked cute with light pink tint coating his cheeks. I intertwined our hands together and replied, "It's cute. I am anyways calling you Adi, no fucks about what your actual name is." I flipped my hair back making him chuckle.

We were already in the middle of the dining hall and absolutely failed to notice the amusing glanced by the guests present.

"Hey I never searched for my name in your mehendi!" He exclaimed excitedly. I raised one of my eyebrows in amusement. "What makes you think I ever wrote your old fashioned name on my precious palms?" I mocked him. He made a small pout in reply. "I thought you found my name cute?" He retaliated. "The only thing I find cute is Vedansh." I said and turned my gaze with a smirk on my face, only for my expression to drop in the next few seconds.

"What are they doing here?" I asked Dadi Sa coldly as my gaze never fluttered from my supposed to be parents.

"Arunaditya is your sister's fiance. Don't be a whore and spoil your sister's life." My mom crossed her arms as she saw me weeping in a corner, crying out Aditya's name.

"Bu-but I love him maa!" I cried out.

"But he doesn't. He loves Meera, ever since he was 15! You were nothing but a fling to him!" She growled out making me cry out louder.

"This is exactly why I tell you to be become like Meera. No man would want you if you continue to rebel and whore around." She looked at me venemously.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself. I felt a soft squeeze on my hand. Opening my eyes, I saw Adi looking at me with a worried look in his eyes.

Looking around I saw people looking at our intertwined hands with various expressions- some with admiration, some with disgusted expression and some with angry looks.

No matter what century it is, remarriage still attracts a lot of negativity from people in our country. For now, they'll pity Meera di about how it didn't took her husband even a couple of months to get married and cosy with his new wife. They'll bad mouth me about having ill-intentions about my late sister's husband. Heck, they might even spread rumours about us having affair behind her back. They'll try to spite Vedansh about how evil step mothers are actually. But I know how to handle rumours and people. For now, I need to get rid of the Chauhans, except Dada Saheb, ofcourse.

"What do you mean by what we are doing here? Even though you're ungrateful, we still remember we have another daughter." Mrs. Chauhan's words made me scoff.

"I might be your daughter, you guys were never my parents. You were only Meera di's parents." I said looking dead into their eyes with no guilt and no remorse.

"You might be a good man, dad. But you weren't a good father. And you, Mrs. Chauhan, make me sit and think if I was even your blood." I said.

"We did everything good parents should do!" She growled. "No your didn't! And you're still not doing! If you see your daughter unhappy with your presence right on the next day of her wedding, you should silently walk out of the place rather than making a fucking scene!" I growled back.

"About being a good parent, look at Kaki Sa! She's a better mother to me than you could ever be. The entire Rathore Clan is a better family than what you guys could eve-" I was cut off by Dada Saheb.

"That's all!" He growled out.

"The Chauhans are leaving!" He announced.

"But Pap-" my mom was cut off too.

"I said You. Guys. Are. Leaving. Right. Now." My parents took a step back instinctively.

"As for the rituals involving Sanskriti's family members, I am sure I am enough to perform them." Dada Saheb looked at me with soft eyes. I nodded with a small smile.

One hell of a morning it was.

~•~•~

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