The mandap was surrounded by lavish seating arrangements where all the family members were seated.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on the man sitting across the havan kund.
Tashyam's name and work were well-known in the global corporate world, yet his face remained just as mysterious.
He maintained an extremely low profile.
Many relatives of the Raghuvanshi family had never even seen him before. That was why everyone was openly staring at him now.
Dressed in a golden sherwani, Tashyam looked strikingly attractive.
People seated around him found it impossible to look away—whether they were men or women.
The priest announced solemnly,
"Call the bride."
Hearing this, Mr. Raghuvendra left to bring Raya.
Raya was sitting on her bed in her room.
She had gotten ready all by herself—no makeup artist, no stylist.
Draped in a red bridal lehenga, she looked breathtaking.
No one could tell that she wasn't wearing any makeup.
Her skin glowed naturally.
Mr. Raghuvendra knocked on the door.
Raya walked over and opened it.
"Come," he said. "It's time for the wedding."
Raya stepped out, closed the door behind her, and began walking with him.
On the way, Raghuvendra spoke in a firm tone.
"The Raghuvanshi family is highly respected. I hope you won't disgrace our family after going there."
Raya looked at him briefly.
She did not seem surprised by his behavior—perhaps she had already seen far worse. Or perhaps she herself had become numb beyond repair.
Looking straight ahead, she said calmly,
"I wanted to tell you something."
Raghuvendra stopped and turned toward her, studying her with questioning eyes.
It was rare for Raya to initiate a conversation.
"What do you want to say?" he asked.
Raya stared into his eyes, as if searching for something.
"Raya, you wanted to say something, didn't you?" he prompted again.
"Not anymore," she replied quietly.
Raghuvendra looked at her for a few seconds. Behind his back, his palm clenched into a fist.
He did not pressure her to speak. Without another word, he began walking again.
Raya followed him silently.
They had taken only a few steps when a middle-aged man appeared before them.
He was wearing a blue safari suit, with a faint smile on his face—almost saint-like.
Both Raghuvendra and Raya stopped.
For a brief moment, Raya's expression changed upon seeing him, then returned to normal.
Raghuvendra greeted him respectfully.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine," the man replied with a smile. "I wanted to speak to the girl alone."
"Of course," Raghuvendra said immediately. "I'll wait near the stairs."
"Thank you," the man said, joining his hands.
Raghuvendra glanced at Raya once before walking away.
It was evident that the man held a special place in Raghuvendra's eyes.
Now, only Raya and the man remained in the corridor.
The man stepped closer and smiled.
"It's been eighteen years since we last met. Do you remember me?"
Raya did not answer. She stared at him blankly.
As he stopped in front of her, the gentle smile on his lips vanished, replaced by a sly one.
Leaning closer, he whispered,
"Your eyes say you remember me. And why wouldn't you? I was the most important person in your childhood."
Raya remained silent.
He raised his hand to touch her cheek, but she stepped back before his fingers could reach her.
His hand remained suspended in the air, and his twisted smile deepened.
Looking her up and down, he said mockingly,
"This habit of yours is the reason you're in this condition today. If you had listened to me as a child, you would have been the princess of this house. But no… you refused. And now look at you… treated worse than servants in your own home."
Raya listened without reacting.
The civility and humility he displayed in front of Raghuvendra vanished completely when it came to her.
Adjusting her lehenga, Raya walked past him.
He did not stop her.
Watching her from behind, he rubbed his hand against his trousers and muttered with a vulgar grin,
"She's even more beautiful now. If only she came to my bed once—I'd break all that arrogance."
Raghuvendra was waiting near the stairs.
Raya reached him, her beautiful face completely emotionless.
Had she not been walking, one might have mistaken her for dead.
Extending his hand, Raghuvendra said,
"Come. Everyone is waiting downstairs."
Raya looked at his hand and asked softly,
"May I hold your hand?"
"Yes," he replied. "There are many people below. They might misunderstand."
Without saying anything else, Raya held his hand and walked down with him.
Everyone was watching the stairs, waiting for the bride.
As Raya descended, it felt as though not a woman—but a goddess—was descending from heaven.
Every movement of hers carried grace and elegance.
Tashyam's gaze unknowingly shifted toward her.
He watched her for a few seconds, then looked back at the sacred fire.
It was impossible to tell what was going on in his mind.
Raghuvendra escorted Raya to the mandap and immediately walked away.
The wedding rituals began.
Both Tashyam and Raya kept their eyes fixed on the havan kund.
The rituals continued.
The man in the blue safari suit had also arrived by then.
After the pheras, following the priest's instructions, Tashyam filled Raya's hair parting with sindoor.
More than half of it fell onto her nose.
Neither of them paid any attention.
At the priest's words, Tashyam tied the mangalsutra around her neck.
Some people in the seating arrangement looked pleased with the marriage, while others did not.
Before anyone realized it, all the wedding rituals were completed.
It was the first quarter of the night.
Tashyam's master bedroom was filled with the fragrance of roses and sandalwood.
The white bedsheet was buried beneath rose petals, and sheer curtains draped around the bed created an intensely romantic atmosphere.
Anyone could lose themselves in that room.
But Raya, sitting in front of the dressing table, remained completely unaffected.
The door opened, and Tashyam entered, undoing the top button of his sherwani.
Seeing the decoration, his brows furrowed slightly—he had not expected this.
His gaze shifted to Raya, who was removing her jewelry.
He walked over and stood behind her chair.
Raya looked at his reflection in the mirror.
His hair was slightly messy, making him look even more charming.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
Raya stopped removing her jewelry.
Together, their reflection looked like that of a perfect couple.
Silence filled the room.
Then, at the same moment, they both said,
"I need to talk to you."
After speaking, both fell silent.
They were slightly surprised by the collision.
A few moments later, again together, they asked,
"What do you want to talk about?"
This time, Tashyam closed his eyes.
For the first time in his life, he couldn't read the person standing before him.
Raya felt the same.
Silence spread again.
After a while, Tashyam opened his eyes.
Raya was still looking at him through the mirror.
This was the first time Tashyam had met a girl who neither blushed nor panicked upon seeing him.
Looking into each other's eyes, they spoke simultaneously once again,
"I have no interest in this marriage. Let's just leave it."
Hearing the same words from each other, their brows knit together.
Neither of them wanted to remain bound by this marriage.
Before and after the wedding, both had been thinking of how to convince the other to walk away… but now, there was nothing left to do.
Tashyam said seriously,
"Change first. Then we'll discuss everything."
"Okay," Raya replied.
As he walked out, Tashyam added,
"Your clothes are in the closet room."
"Thanks," she said.
Without another word, Tashyam left.
Raya entered the closet room, which was as big as a bedroom.
The clothes were divided into two sections—one for Tashyam, and one for her.
She picked up a night suit and went into the bathroom.
After some time, she returned, freshened up.
All the decorations had been removed.
It no longer looked like a room prepared for the wedding night.
Raya walked to the dressing table, where her phone was ringing.
She checked the caller ID.
"Adrien."
She disconnected the call and put her phone on silent.
Tashyam returned to the room.
Even in black pajamas, he looked attractive.
Sitting on the couch, he said,
"Looks like we're both in the same boat."
Raya looked at him.
"I have to leave tomorrow. It would be better if we clear everything today."
"Hm. That would be best," he replied.
Raya sat on the edge of the bed.
They talked for a while.
Finally, standing up from the couch, Tashyam said,
"You sleep. I'll take the next room. If you need anything, press the bell near the bedside."
Raya nodded.
Tashyam took one last look at his room and walked out.