•TURMERIC•

A colour of his dark escense on her pure soul, that stained her spirit entangling her with his evil soul.

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Author's POV,

(After One week)

If you can't hold on to the thing you desire be ashamed of being born as a Man.

But he is Royal, a man of his word, once he lays his eyes on something the thing is his no matter what the consequence would be, and His queen is lucky to become HIS DESIRE.

His desire-filled eyes were set on the mirror admiring his reflection.

Two servants were standing in the corner bowing their heads low while one servant was standing in front of him.

That servant helped him to button his yellow kurta and quickly moved away not wanting to create any mess.

He stared at his reflection with admiration, and a proud smile playing on his thin lips.

A King remains silent in the game of chess because he knows there are still so many pawns who need to be played.

That doesn't make King weak.

A king's weakness is always his queen but his queen is his biggest strength, and for her, he can destroy anyone if it means destroying her too he won't mind.

"Ishq ki Aag main toh Hajar jale honge hum aapke ishq mein Duniya Jalana chahte hai."

He smiled and neatly tied his open hair looking presentable and extremely handsome as always.

He tied his watch around his wrist and stared at his reflection, trying to find the slightest of mistakes but found nothing.

Rudra Pratap Singh Rathod was called a perfectionist for a reason.

He grabbed his phone before taking The Ring box from the dressing table and dashed out of his bedroom.

~~~~~~~~

The Rathod Palace embodies the essence of heritage and pride.

This ancient palace, with its towering spires and imposing facades, reflects the valour and history of the Rathod dynasty.

Its halls were adorned with ornate Rajasthani artwork, intricate mirror work, and colourful frescoes depicting tales of valour and love.

The courtyard, surrounded by marble arches and lush gardens was decorated beautifully for the haldi ceremony, blending tradition with grandeur.

Harinath Maheshwari entered the palace followed by his daughter Tara, only to see the castle decorated as the newly wedded bride.

He wondered how this self-centred selfish Royal family was flowing this much money on the wedding of a mere servant.

But he was aware of why. Of course, no one would go against Rudra Pratap Singh Rathod.

Araysh was the shadow of Rudra almost the other half of his, so it was bound to happen.

He noticed there were Harshvardhan's family but not Baldev's including Harshvardhan's father Digvijay, he didn't think too much knowing the reason very well.

He saw Harshvardhan standing with the guest and decided to go towards him but halted after hearing his daughter's voice.

"Baba Sa I would come applying Haldi on Araysh," Tara informed him and walked towards Araysh who was seated on the rectangular ground stool.

She came near him and bent down, before taking a small amount of haldi in her hand and applying it on his face.

"May your marriage be filled with happiness," She genuinely wished him with a big smile on her lips and rubbed his cheeks.

"Thank you Rani Sa," Araysh didn't meet her eyes and replied.

Tara smiled and playfully applied haldi on his nose, her heart was jumping with happiness hearing Rani Sa for herself.

"I am still not married to your Hukum, Araysh," She said and chuckled, before painting his face with Haldi.

This one week brought so much happiness in her life, not happiness but her dream came true

First, the man of her dreams Rudra Pratap Singh Rathod said Yes to marry her, and then the next day got engaged to her, what could be more dreamy for a girl than this?

She was just thinking rubbish holding onto the incident from the temple.

She knew Rudra was never the man who would look at any woman in that way, because women never fascinated him.

In reality, he never saw her in that way, she wonders how he got ready to marry her.

She was too tense after that temple incident, but the next day when Ratnamala Devi informed her that he said yes to marriage, she felt foolish to think like that.

That girl was Araysh's fiance whom he would get married to tomorrow and make her his wedded wife.

'Rudra would never glance at her,' She told her heart and smiled.

But still, fear resided in her heart, she didn't want a fate like Maya's, Rudra left that poor girl in the middle of Alter, she had to marry his younger brother Rakesh.

Maya wasn't in love with him so she married Rakesh but what about her?

She loves Rudra so much to accept another man as her husband, she already married him in her heart and there is no place in her heart for another man.

"Tara!!"

She heard that voice and turned to see her soon-to-be grandmother-in-law standing behind her.

She got up and touched her feet before greeting in a sweet voice, "Khambaghani Dadi Maharani."

Ratnamala Devi affectionately caressed her head and joked, "Ab Aapke Aur Rudra ke hath bhi pile Kar dete hai."

She blushed and shyly nodded her head, Gayatri who saw it laughed and teased, "Humare bete Bohat jiddi hai, Chalenge Aapko."

"Hum Sambhal lenge Unke Sare Nakhare," Tara answered making both ladies laugh.

"You Got Correct Girl Gayatri," Ratnamala Devi complemented her daughter-in-law making Gayatri smile proudly.

"I knew she was perfect for Rudra," Gayatri said and caressed Tara's head.

"So What date we should finalize for the Marriage of Rudra and Tara?" Harinath Maheshwari came near them and asked Ratnamala Devi.

He was excited at the thought of his daughter's marriage to the next head of the Rathod Empire.

Tara blushed hearing her father's words, the thought of becoming his wife was enough to get goosebumps on her whole body.

"We need time to think Mr Maheshwari. You know Rudra's mood changes with the weather–

"I Am Fine As Today's weather Dadi Sa," Rudra who just cascaded down the stairs said making his grandmother and mother look at him.

Tara secretly lifted her eyelashes and her breath hitched in her throat after seeing his ravishing look.

He was wearing a simple Yello kurta and white Dhoti, his shoulder-length hair was tied neatly, while his wild beard was trimmed perfectly.

The Man was a sight to behold, A perfect definition of perfection.

Which girl wouldn't dream of becoming his wife, Anyone would get on her knees if she wanted him as her husband And Tara was no different.

"Come here Ladesar," Ratnamala Devi gestured for him to come near and he obediently walked toward her.

He bent down and touched her feet with respect, Ratnamala caressed his head lovingly and gave him a blessing, "May God complete your all wishes."

His lips twitched, he didn't know about God but he would make sure to complete his all wishes.

He got up and his eyes went towards Tara who was blushing, he made sure to turn her cheeks redder by passing her a sweet smile.

"Did you apply Haldi to Araysh?" His mother asked and he shook his head before checking his phone and answered in words, "No."

"If you want to apply the haldi do it, we need to send it to his bride's home," Ratnamala Devi said and his eyes snapped towards her.

"Why? Don't they have Turmeric in their house?"

Gayatri chuckled at his naivety and answered, "The bride needs to apply the same haldi as her groom When you get married to Tara, we will send your used haldi to her."

Tara blushed hearing her words but his expression hardened.

He didn't say anything and moved toward Araysh who was sitting looking so emotionless but his dark eyes didn't fail to sense the happiness behind those empty eyes.

Girls immediately pulled their veils and moved away not before bowing their heads in respect.

His eyes moved on the things kept there and halted on the bowl of haldi.

Aryash tried to get up after seeing his Hukum but Rudra told him not to and bent down making his eyes go wide in horror.

He took the paste of Turmeric on his hand and forwarded his hand.

"Hukum–

He just raised his eyebrow and Araysh immediately closed his mouth.

He applied that Haldi on his face moving it on his shoulder until his legs but Araysh held his hand preventing him from touching his feet.

"Hukum Don't please."

Rudra's lips curled up in amusement and he said removing the turmeric from his hand and putting it back in that bowl, "I Love it when you never forget who you are!!"

He patted his head looking straight into his eyes making Araysh lower his eyes immediately, "Hope everything goes well."

Araysh's heartbeat skipped upon hearing his words, that statement didn't go well with him, and he wiped the sweat beads from his forehead.

"Let me take his Haldi to his bride's home Dadi Sa, After all, I too have a gift to give her."

He said making everyone look at him but the smile that was gracing his lips didn't fall.

Suddenly he pulled Tara near him, and said with a smile, "I Should introduce My soon-to-be wife to her After marriage with Araysh she would serve My wife so isn't it necessary."

Tara stared at him, her heart beating wildly in her ribcage, his cologne was something she never smelled from any other man.

It was like wildflowers and intoxicating, attracting her in every way possible which meant sexually too, She was aroused and wet down there just with his odour,  how it was possible only with scent?

"DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, IT'S LOOKING LIKE YOU WANT ME TO TAKE YOU TO BED NOW," Rudra muttered under his lips without looking at the girl who was staring at him like a creep.

She heard his deep voice and immediately averted her eyes feeling embarrassed with her action.

Ratnamala Devi sighed in relaxation after hearing his reason and said with a smile, "Haan Kyu Nahi."

~~~~~~~~~

Mehandi Rachan laagi Hatthan mein banade re naam ri

Mehandi Rachan laagi Hatthan mein banade re naam ri

Aayi shubh ghadi dekho mere Aangan aaj jee

Aayi shubh ghadi dekho mere Aangan aaj jee

A few Old ladies were singing the Rajasthani folk song and some were giving chorus from behind with teasing smiles on their chapped lips for the bride.

Young girls were Dancing in a group moving in a circle and giggling with happiness.

But one who was going to get married wasn't looking too happy.

She was clad in a pastel green lehenga with a heavy dupatta and backless blouse, her onyx eyes filled with a dark shade of kohl, a thin layer of powder plastered on her white skin.

A dark nude shade of lipstick highlighted the perfect shape of her lips, and her long black hair was braided beautifully while the flowers of jasmine were tugged beautifully in the sequence.

One girl was painting her palm with a henna while teasing her from time to time.

She was smiling hearing her teasing words but her smile wasn't reaching her eyes.

"Gudiya Arent you happy daughter?" Prabhakar sat beside his daughter and asked caressing her head.

Garvi glanced at him with her teary eyes and kept her head on his chest.

"I don't want to leave you Baba Sa," She said making him sigh in sorrow.

He was her father who taught her how to walk, he still remembers her first word which wasn't Maa but Baba.

The pain he was feeling was immeasurable, He cursed the person who made the rule of sending off the daughter after their marriage.

The person who did this would not have a daughter or he would have never made this heartbreaking Law.

He kissed her forehead and said trying to control his tears, "We are in the same city Gudiya whenever you feel like meeting Your Baba Sa call me, and I will be there for you."

She nodded her head and he immediately got up from the seat not wanting to cry in front of his daughter and ruin her day.

Veer was standing in the corner looking at his sister with guilty eyes, her innocent face was making him rethink his decisions.

He sighed and moved towards his bedroom not having enough courage to witness all the drama.

"Hello, Garvi!!" A girl came and greeted her.

Garvi saw the girl and a huge smile broke on her lips, her one and only friend Aarti.

"Hello Aarti," She chimed with so much happiness seeing her after two years.

Aarti left Jaipur Two years ago with her family and they lost contact, but still, she asked her baba to send an invitation to her marriage in the hope of seeing her friend again and Aarti came to attend her marriage, it was the best gift she got on this auspicious day.

Aarti sat beside her and chirped, "You are getting married Gudiya, That idiot brother of yours gonna come in dowery with you."

Garvi giggled and answered, "No Bhai Sa grew up now."

Aarti chuckled upon hearing it and asked in a teasing tone, "Is your soon-to-be husband handsome?"

Her smile fell a little remembering another man who wasn't her soon-to-be husband but was ruling her nights from last week.

"Garvi?"

"He is handsome," She shyly replied and blushed making Aarti laugh.

"Mam, What name I should write?" That henna Artist asked and Garvi opened her mouth to say but halted hearing the yell of the girl.

"Hukum!!"