Everything Has Changed

7 | Rishta

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As the Thakur family awaited the arrival of Shubman and his family in Udaipur, the tension in the air was palpable. Namrata, the matriarch of the household, stood at the entrance of the grand foyer with her husband and daughter.

When the car carrying Shubman and his family finally pulled up to the front gates of the palace, Devanshi's family greeted them with forced smiles and polite nods of acknowledgment. Lakhwinder, Kerat, and Shahneel stepped out of the car, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as they took in the magnificent surroundings.

"Khamma gani," Devanshi's grandmother greeted, and ushered them into the lavish reception hall. "We are honored to have you as our guests."

Shubman followed behind his family, his gaze fixed resolutely ahead as he avoided meeting Devanshi's eyes.

As the families settled into their seats, Purnima, her chachi motioned for the servants to bring refreshments.

"Hope your journey was comfortable," the former king began. "Aapki sehmati se hum Devnashi aur Shubman ka Tilak(roka) kal, Eklingji ja kar kar sakte hai."

As the conversation turned to matters of tradition and protocol, Shubman found himself lost in a sea of formalities and pleasantries, his mind wandering back to the tumultuous events that had led them to this moment. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.

"Kritika beta, how far are you?" Kerat asked softly.

The pregnant lady smiled wide at her, "I'm almost 8 months in, Aunty." She caressed her belly affectionately.

"What do you think? Is it a girl or a boy." Shahneel curiously questioned.

"Almost all of us thinks it will be a boy, but my motherly instincts say it will be a girl. Dev just wants a little man to woo in her off her feet. But I guess Shubman already did."

The room echoed with laughter, but Shubman's demeanor became resistive and awkward. Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Devanshi emerged from the depths of the palace, her presence commanding the attention of all who beheld her.

She moved with grace and poise, her eyes downcast as she approached the gathering with measured steps. She had a deep blue anarkali with rajashthani embroidery all over it along with a chunni of the same color.

Shubman's breath caught in his throat at the sight of her, his heart clenching with a mixture of longing and regret. But before he could utter a word, Devanshi's grandmother interjected, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

"Dev, my dear, come forward," she commanded, her tone tinged with a hint of admonishment.

Devanshi obeyed without protest, her eyes flickering briefly in Shubman's direction before quickly darting away. "Namaste, Aunty, Uncle." She greeted his parents with a poised smile.

Shahneel stood up and gave her a hug. "Hello, Devanshi. It's great to finally meet you in person. I love your label, it's truely magnificent and also humanitarian." Sawaariyan hired local craftsmen to make their designs come to life. They are paid generously and are uplifted in the socitial tiers.

"You too di. And thank you, we just provide justice to the hard wording craftsperson and give them the honor they deserve. Shubman told me about it. You might like a few designs I created." Her voice came soft and appriciative.