1. {Tied}

Ruhan entered the wedding venue, looking around the many guests he finally spotted his mother, Navya Rajput.

He called to her, "MA!!"

Navya excused herself from the guests and walked over to him, "What are you doing Ruhan, go and get ready. The wedding is about to proceed."

He nodded and left from there to the dressing room muttering under his breath, "Shadi meri hai, aur excited ye ho rahi hain."

Ruhan entered the dressing room and quickly changed in his sherwani. After wearing his watch and giving a last glance at himself in the mirror, he got out and headed towards the main hall.

His eyes searched for a person, and when spotting him, he walked towards her. "Dad,"

He called. Upon hearing his voice, Akshay Rajput, his dad turned towards him. "Finally, you're ready. Let's go. The auspicious time has started. Your mom will kill me if I don't bring you now."

Ruhan just chuckled, knowing his mom too well, how much traditions mean to her. He started walking towards the mandap.

Navya came towards him, "Ruhan, wait."

She walked closer to him and scanned him from up and down, "Haaye kinna sona lag rha mera beta."

She then smudged the Kohl in her eyes on her finger and applied it behind his ear to keep him away from the evil eye. "Now let's go, Advika will be coming soon."

Ruhan nodded and walked on the mandap, taking his seat as the priest started the single rituals meant for the groom.

After a while, the bride was called, and Navya spoke; "Here comes Advika."

All the eyes were on the girl, who was walking towards the mandap followed by her brother, Arnav Mehra. She was wearing a red bridal lehenga and was adorned with jewellery.

Arnav left her hand when she reached the mandap. Advika took her seat beside Ruhan in front of the hole fire.

Once seated, the priest started chanting the mantras.

The priest asked Ruhan to fill Advika's hairline with the vermillion, followed by tying the nuptial chain around her neck.

Ruhan raised his hand and took a pinch of the vermillion between his fingers, and forwarded his hand towards Advika's hairline. She closed her eyes when his fingers touched her hairline and made her partition colour in the sacred red powder, some of which fell on her nose too.

He then took the nuptial chain and hooked it around her neck, making Advika as his.

When the two actions were done, the priest asked them both to take seven rounds around the holy fire.

Ruhan got up and forwarded his hand to Advika, unaware that the small gesture of him erupted many butterflies in her stomach.

She held his hand and stood up. Upon the priest's instructions, Ruhan led the first four rounds, and the later three rounds were led by Advika.

The marriage ceremony came to an end once the seven rounds were completed,

both of them walked towards the elders and took their blessings by touching their feet.

Arnav walked towards Advika and Ruhan, "Jiju, consider it a threat. If there are any tears in Advika's eyes because of you.... I won't let her stay near you from that moment."

"Don't worry, Arnav, I'll make sure she is always smiling." Ruhan patted his shoulder, and Arnav hugged Advika.

"Take care, Advika. I won't miss you." He joked, knowing well. He is going to miss their fights and arguments every day.

After a few hours, when all the guests were gone from the wedding venue, Navya came towards Advika, who is sitting with Arnav, "Sorry Arnav, I want to have small talk with her."

Arnav nodded and walked away, leaving Advika with her new mother in law. "Ji Aunty?"

Navya, "Ahan, call me,'Ma'."

Advika gulped and nodded, not really using that word at the moment, though. Navya smiled, knowing the hesitation and the fears of a free girl changing in a responsible person.

She caressed her cheek, "It's ok, we don't need to hurry for these. Let's just get to this when you are comfortable."

A sense of relief washed over her as a small smile tugged on her lips, "Thank you..."

Navya nodded and stood up. "The guests have left. It's time for us to leave, too. You might be tired, na."

Advika stood up, too. She followed Navya where she was going. Soon, they reached the area where the family lies. Ruhan's brother; Krish Rajput. His dad, and him.

Ruhan lifted his gaze from his phone and looked at his mom walking towards him. "Ma, why do you need so much time for? When are we leaving?"

"Calm down, Ruhan. Can't forget the new member of our family."

She smiled and looked back at Advika, who walked towards them. Her eyes searched around for someone... "Um..."

Navya, "What is it? Do you need something beta?"

"Where is Arnav?" She spoke in a low voice only audible to Navya. Her heart beating too fast. A total new family and all gazes on her.

"He left. Had an important work told me to tell you. Bhabhi." Krish spoke smiling.

Advika looked at him and nodded. Her gaze fell on Ruhan, who was staring at her. She felt different. "Why is he staring at me?"

"Because he is your husband, and you look damn pretty!" Krish spoke loudly, making Ruhan give him a sharp glare.

Advika's face flushed red. As she looked around, not meeting his gaze. She scolded herself mentally, 'How can you speak this loudly?' Idiot.'

Krish bumped the shoulder of his brother and, in return, got a smack on his head.

Navya chuckled along with Akshay, knowing well about these two. Akshay's gaze fell on Advika, who is standing there silently. "Advika?"

"Y.. yeah?"

"You seem lost beta. Don't be shy. This is your own family now." He spoke.

She nodded and after a few minutes of chatting among themselves. They started leaving the wedding venue.

It was getting hard for Advika to walk in that heavy lehenga, but she ignored it. Her legs were on the verge to give up.

They came out of the wedding hall and walked towards the cars. Th when Krish's voice rang, "Bhabhi, go with Bhaiya!"

She stopped mid tracks and turned her head towards the second car where Ruhan was standing leaning against the door of the passenger side. She nodded and walked towards Ruhan.

Looking at her approaching, he opened the passenger door, motioning for her to get in. Once she got inside, he closed the door and walked towards the driver seat, and got inside.

Navya looked at them and smiled, "I hope she is the one who can make our workaholic Ruhan come to life."

"I wish that too, sweetheart." Akshay spoke in her ear after checking that nobody is around them, especially not Krish. Her cheeks flushed red at the nickname.

"Aap bhi na, kuch bhi bolte hai." She tried to hide her smile.

Akshay chuckled, and they both got in the other car in which Krish was sitting on the driver's seat. "Let's go?"

Navya nodded. And Krish's car started to life getting out of the wedding hall.

Here,

Once Ruhan and Advika were seated inside the car. Ruhan started the engine and gave a glance towards Advika. "Seatbelt laga lijiye."

"Huh?" She spoke, coming out of her thoughts. Ruhan bent towards her, their faces inches close, and if anyone moves, their lips will touch. Advika suck in a sharp breath.

"Y-ye, ye kya kar rahe hai aap?"