Dvesas
They Have Arrived

Siddarth forcibly withdrew his hand from Jhanvi's head. Jhanvi's tears kept dripping down her face.

"I'm a married man. You shouldn't be harboring feelings for me" Siddarth said, trying to lower his voice.

"In the Madhyaprasta. A man who touches the top of a woman's head for more than three seconds must marry her. Otherwise, the woman is considered a widow for life" Jhanvi sobbed.

Siddarth cursed at the stupid thing that just happened. 

"What is this" asked Aryan. He followed them to the pool because of the servant's report that Jhanvi was crying.

Jhanvi complains to her father, what Siddarth did. Siddarth is like a fool. Tongue's cow. Siddarth was unable to resist when Aryan decisively announced the marriage.

"You're crazy! how many times do I have to say I'm married" Siddarth said as Aryan left them.

"You promised me. Silence is the sign. Look me in the eye. Tell me honestly don't you have the same feelings as me?" jhanvi asked, looking closely at Siddarth.

Siddarth could not lie to himself while looking at Jhanvi's eyes. He has that taste. The same taste as what Jhanvi felt.

"Now tell me you're ready to accept humiliation, rejection, and gossip? only strong women can stand beside me" Siddarth said.

"I'm ready" replied Jhanvi steadily.

Siddarth hugged Jhanvi tightly. The two walked towards Aryan.

"Dad, I am ready to marry Jhanvi" Siddarth knelt before Aryan.

Aryan had no other choice but to bless their relationship. He entrusts Jhanvi to Siddarth while Siddarth promises to look after Jhanvi for the rest of his life.

"We had to go back to Astapura and have another wedding ceremony there. Father-in-law does not need to be present. I will take care of it in Astapura" Siddarth said when the wedding ceremony was completed in Madhyaprasta.

Aryan agrees he's letting go of Siddarth and Jhanvi. Deep down he only wished his daughter to be a strong woman and did not give up because after all his daughter's position would only be a concubine unless Siddarth's legitimate wife died or Siddarth divorced her.

******

"Master Siddarth has arrived" shouted the soldier at the palace gate. 

The news of Siddarth and Jhanvi's marriage has spread throughout Astapura including to Gayatri's ears. 

Gayatri tries to control her feelings, until her own husband comes to tell her about the marriage.

"The princess, the queen mother and the mother-in-law have been waiting for you at the door of the palace ward" Gunjana said to the dreamy Gayatri.

Gayatri fixed her clothes and makeup she joined the royal members. They will hold a welcoming ceremony for the two brides.

When Siddarth and Jhanvi get off the horse, Jhanvi is asked to kick the rice provided in a copper urn and set foot on a red holi that has been mixed with water, as a sign of welcome and blessing for their next life.

Gayatri tried to hide her body next to her mother-in-law's body. He noticed Jhanvi. The woman had a sweet face, looking dashing and graceful at the same time. What hurt Gayatri the most was Siddarth's smile. 

All the time they spent with Gayatri had never seen Siddarth's sincere smile

Today….

"Greetings to the queen mother, greetings to the mother-in-law" Jhanvi told the two men.

"Hail daughter of Gayatri" Jhanvi told Gayatri.

Gayatri smiled, welcoming Jhanvi and Siddarth who were busy greeting the other members of the palace.

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