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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.
"While us elders talk about the Roka formalites, you and Shubman may go and have a chat in your room." Her chacha suggested.
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As Devanshi and Shubman were ushered into her room to chat, the air between them crackled with tension, each step heavier than the last. Devanshi closed the door behind them, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for the inevitable confrontation.
Shubman wasted no time in getting straight to the point, his voice cold and accusatory as he fixed her with a steely glare. "Tum khudko samajhti kya ho, Devanshi?" he demanded, his tone laced with disdain. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that you had no hand in what happened that night?"
Devanshi's jaw clenched at his words, her hands balling into fists at her sides as she fought to keep her composure. "You think I planned all of this?" she shot back, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. "You think I would stoop so low as to drug you and then propose marriage to you?"
Shubman scoffed at her words, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I don't know what to believe anymore," he admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I do know one thing—I won't be fooled by your lies."
Devanshi's heart shattered at his words, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she struggled to make him understand. "Aapko kuch bhi nahi pata hai." she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "You have no idea what I've been through, what I've had to endure to get to where I am today."
But Shubman remained unmoved. "Save your sob story for someone who cares," he retorted, his voice dripping with contempt. "Bohot ho gaya tumhara!"
With a heavy heart, Devanshi realized that no amount of pleading or reasoning would sway Shubman from his convictions. In his eyes, she would forever be nothing more than a spoiled princess—an obnoxious brat.
The whole room went silent only to broken by Devanshi's abrupt question. "Shubman do you have a girlfriend."
"Had." He sighed and stood up from the bed turning to the window. "I and Sara broke up days before we met in goa."
He immediately left the room indicating his disinterest in no further conversation.
And so, with a silent nod of understanding, Devanshi made a decision. For the sake of their families, they would play along, pretending to have reconciled their differences while keeping their true feelings hidden beneath a facade of civility.
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As they emerged from Devanshi's room, their faces carefully schooled into expressions of polite indifference.
Shahneel smiled approvingly. "We are so pleased to see you clearing your doubts," she remarked, her voice filled with genuine warmth.
"So, we decided to get the Tilak ceremony done tomorrow at Elkingji." Devanshi's grandfther declared to the couple.
At the dinner table when everyone was finished having the last meal of the day. Vedant informs,"We are apologetic for the inconvenience but the guest rooms are getting renovated. Lakhwinder ji and Kerat ji, you may take up the room next to ours. It's tidy. Shahneel beta, if you dont have any issues, you may share a room with our younger daughter, Anaya."
Shahneel nodded and grinned, "it's more than fine, uncle. I'll be pleased to be in Anaya's company." Anaya beamed and sat next to Shahneel.
"Shubman beta, aapka saman humne Devanshi ke kamre mai rakha diya hai. Aaj aap vahi ruk jaiye." Both Shubman and Devanshi got uncomfortable on the call and looked away from each other.
"Dev, Padmanabh is going to come tomorrow for the roka ceremony. He'll arrive in udaipur from flight and then we can go together to the temple." Her grandfather notified.
"Purnima, Varsha. I hope all the arrangements for the ceremony are done." The two nodded at their Ma sa. "Well then, let's call it a night." She stood up after her husband and greeted then a good night.
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As the night settled over Udaipur, Shubman found himself reluctantly settling into the confines of Devanshi's room. The air between them crackled with tension, each moment weighed down by the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions.
Devanshi watched him from across the room, her eyes guarded as she tried to decipher the thoughts racing through his mind. "I hope you find the room comfortable," she ventured, her voice cautious as she broke the silence that hung between them.
Shubman nodded curtly, his gaze lingering on the bay window that framed a breathtaking view of Pichola Lake. "It's... nice," he admitted, his voice grudgingly appreciative as he took in the serene beauty of their surroundings.
Devanshi smiled faintly at his response, a flicker of warmth softening the edges of her features. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice tinged with gratitude.
As the night wore on and the silence stretched between them, Shubman's gaze wandered to the study attached to Devanshi's ensuite, his curiosity piqued by the array of fashion equipment scattered haphazardly across the room. "Is that your office space?" he ventured, his voice tentative as he broached the subject.
Devanshi's eyes lit up at the mention of her passion, a spark of enthusiasm igniting within her chest. "Yeah," she replied.
Shubman nodded, his interest piqued by her revelation. "That's... impressive," he admitted, his tone begrudgingly admiring.
As the night stretched on and exhaustion began to weigh heavily upon them, they prepared for bed, their movements stiff and awkward as they navigated the unfamiliarity of their shared space.
"I'll take the washroom first," Shubman announced, his voice terse as he retreated into the ensuite, leaving Devanshi alone with her thoughts.
Devanshi changed in the closet and went to the bedside putting her phone on charge. "Why don't you have a sofa in your room?" He inquired.
"Why is there need of a sofa?" She raised her brow.
"Are we both going to sleep on this bed." He asked absurdly
"Agar aapko sofe pe sona hai to living room mai bohot sare hai!" She switched the lamp on her side and covered herself with the blanket.
Shubman scoffed and laid on the bed without putting the comforter over him. A while later Dev sighed and covered him in the large jaipuri razai which comforted her too.