A day later, a private plane touched down at the airport, and Rajendra emerged with all his children. The arrival attracted attention, as they were escorted by vigilant bodyguards, with numerous vehicles waiting to transport them.
Rajendra accompanied Vidhi in one car, while Vidyut and Vedansh took another. Vikram and Naina departed together for the mansion.
As they drove, Naina gazed out the window, reflecting on how surreal her current situation was. Just a day earlier, if someone had told her she would be part of the esteemed Raghuvanshi family, she would have dismissed it with laughter. The Raghuvanshi name epitomized wealth, culture, and tradition—a royal family renowned for their opulence and heritage.
Naina felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity as they drove through Rajasthan, her first time visiting. She couldn't help but wonder about the vastness and the people she would soon meet. Why had Vikram and everyone else spent so many years in Mumbai? It was a question lingering in her mind as she watched Rajasthani men in turbans walking alongside camels. She noticed school children joyfully playing with their parents nearby.
Turning another corner, she was struck by the sight of meticulously cared-for trees of various kinds. The landscape was captivating, unlike anything she had seen before. Soon, a grand gate came into view, and as it opened, their car entered the premises revealing a magnificent mansion.
The mansion stood majestic and beautiful, a testament to the grandeur of the Raghuvanshi family. Naina couldn't help but marvel at its splendor as their journey to Rajasthan unfolded before her eyes.
The palace in Rajasthan was adorned with magnificent decorations. Maya, along with her husband and Adhiraj, anxiously awaited the return of their son and grandchildren after many years. However, this time, there was an additional arrival—the bride of their elder grandson, whose marriage had taken place without their presence.
Excitement buzzed in the air as everyone eagerly anticipated meeting the girl who had captured their hearts. Suddenly, they spotted a convoy of cars entering the mansion grounds. As the cars came to a stop, everyone emerged one by one.
Rajendra took a deep breath, feeling a rush of nostalgia as he gazed at the mansion that held so many cherished memories and appeared unchanged over the years. With a sense of purpose, he began walking towards the main door, followed closely by the rest of the family.
Vikram looks at Naina, noticing her nervousness, though she tries to hide it. As he steps outside, he feels everyone’s eyes on him. He walks to Naina's side and opens the door for her. Bending down, he covers her face with her veil and extends his hand towards her. She glances at him and then at his hand before slowly placing hers in his. Vikram holds her hand firmly as Naina steps out of the car.
The royal family watches them closely, observing how Vikram holds Naina’s hand. They move forward together, and as instructed earlier, the servants begin to shower them with flowers to welcome the bride into the house for the first time.
"Wait..." Vidya stops them as they reach the door.
They halt. The servants bring a plate, and Maya steps forward to take it. Tears glisten in her eyes as she looks at Vikram and then performs the aarti for both of them. Afterward, Naina tilts a Kalash using her right foot and enters. Maya then asks Naina to step into a plate filled with red vermillion water.
Naina recalls her first entry into the house and how her father and everyone welcomed her. She follows Maya’s instructions, entering the house and leaving red footprints behind. Inside, she glimpses the grand hall from under her veil.
Vikram still holds Naina's hand as they approach each family member to receive blessings one by one.
"Maya."
"Ji, Maa."
"Take the daughter-in-law inside the room."
Maya nods and approaches Naina. As soon as she leads her inside, Vidyunt, Ved, and Vidhi follow closely. Maya makes Naina comfortable in the room. When she steps out, she briefly notices the three siblings quickly sitting around Naina.
Rajendra glares at Virendra, who pretends not to notice. Adhiraj, smirking at the scene, sits on his throne and remarks, "Why are you glaring at him so much? Chill, handsome man, he's your younger brother."
"How dare he make him the new CEO of the Raghuvanshi company?" Rajendra barks angrily.
Silence ensues for a few seconds before Adhiraj says, "We haven't made him CEO. I’m giving my position to Vikram." Rajendra looks at him in shock, realizing it’s a trick to bring them back. He mutters under his breath, "This old man..."
Adhiraj, hearing his son, retorts, "Buddha hoga tera baap." (Your father must be old.)
"Right."
Adhiraj's tone hardens as he continues, "You and the children have stayed away from us for many years already. Enough now. We sent you away because your lives were in danger, and this palace always reminds you of Chhaya."
"And yes, if you want to go back to Mumbai, away from all of us, then look at my dead face and go," Vidya speaks after a moment.
"Maa," Rajendra responds in shock.
---
Naina sits quietly, her face hidden under her veil. Once Maya leaves the room, she lifts it, revealing her face.
Vidyunt looks at her anxiously and asks, "Bhabhi, you’re not angry with us, right?"
Naina meets his gaze but remains silent.
Just then, Vidya and Maya enter the room with Vikram. Naina quickly tries to cover her face with the veil again, but Vidya gently stops her.
Vidya turns to Vikram and says, "Aren't you going to introduce her to us?"
Vikram glances at Naina, who has her eyes lowered, and says, "This is our grandmother, the queen of this place. And this is our Chhoti Maa."
Naina steps forward and, along with Vikram, bends down to take blessings from Vidya. Vidya smiles warmly at her, her eyes full of affection.
Suddenly, Vidya playfully grabs Vikram's ear and twists it.
"Ouch, Dadi!" Vikram exclaims.
"You cheeky boy! When I asked you for Naina's photo, you didn’t send it. And after your marriage, when I wanted to see her that night, I came there, but you were holding her so lovingly in your arms that you didn’t let me see her face."
Naina is taken aback by this revelation and recalls the moment vividly. She remembers how, on their way back from the Paag Phere ceremony, Vikram had pulled her close and hidden her face in his coat, shielding her from view.
"Now, how will you stop me from seeing her face?" Vidya says in a strict voice, pulling Vikram's ear even harder. Vikram, embarrassed because Naina is watching, pleads, "Dadi, please leave me now."
I bite my lips to prevent myself from smiling too much at this scene, as it’s all so new to me. Behind us, Vidhi, Ved, and Vidyunt are also laughing at their brother’s predicament.
"What’s the matter? Is your respect diminishing in front of your wife?" Vidya scolds him.
"Dadi, do you know that Dad forbade me? How could I go against his words?"
"Well, my queen, forgive me," Vikram says, hugging her, knowing how much she missed him and the family.
Vidya's false anger melts away, and she hugs him back, her heart yearning for this day for many years. She lovingly kisses his forehead.
Releasing him, she turns to the others. "Should I call you separately? Won't you hug your Dadi?" Vikram nods towards his siblings, and they come forward to touch her feet. Vidya places her hands on their faces and showers them with kisses on their foreheads. Everyone feels the warmth of family love for the first time in years.
She looks at Vidhi and Ved and says, "You both probably don’t even remember me." Then, turning to Vidhi, she adds, "You have troubled my children a lot. Now that you're here, keep troubling this old lady."
Everyone laughs at this, the tension melting away.
Vikram then notices his Choti Maa. He goes to her, holds her hand, and says, "Won't you say anything, Choti Maa?"
Maya looks at him, her eyes filling with tears. She touches his face and says in a broken voice, "You have grown so much, Aadu."
She kisses him all over his face and hugs him tightly. She then turns to the others, showering them with love, hugging them and kissing their heads.
Naina smiles, watching this beautiful scene. Her eyes meet Vikram's, and she quickly looks away, thinking, "Aadu—what a lovely name."
~~~~
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