A D V I K

I stood here on the stage waiting for her- for my Ritika, who has captured my heart, mind everything in just a few days.

What it was that got me lucky to have her as my wife, the beautiful and kind.

Wife- she is going to be my wife tonight. My heart filled up with warmth and a strange feeling that felt so nice.

And suddenly the song played in the background, indicating the entry of the bride, my Ritika.

My eyes found her in between the people- The red lehenga draped on her, her face covered with a veil.

My heart throbbed as she came near each second, and my heart filled with warmth. She came near the stage, and I stood up and went to help her.

I extended my hand, and she looked up, and our eyes met- her face now clearly visible to me.

My heart was beating too fast; it ached looking at her beauty. She was looking surreal.

I interlocked our hands and made her sit beside me.

"You look so beautiful, love," I spoke in a soft tone, making her smile.

"Advii-"

"And you know what?"

"What?" She asked as she looked at me with those pretty eyes of hers.

"If there was no word to define beauty, I would have said your name, Ritika."  

 Her cheeks heated up, making me smile.

"Advik. Thank you." She passed a small smile.

"And you look damn handsome." She added, making me smile and my heart skip a beat.

Before I could say anything, the photographers, relatives and everyone surrounded us, praising and blessing us.

RITIKA

"It's time to take your pheras." Pandit ji spoke and glanced at us. We both stood up and started taking pheras, my heart clenching with each second.

So that's how a wedding feels? Sad yet exciting. As I take each pheras, the memories flood into the back of my mind. The little girl who would just roam around the houses and play without any stress. The girl who would knock at random houses and chuckle afterwards. The girl who would sleep in the arms of her father- when he was happy. 

I am no longer the girl who stressed about marks, exams, or little things. But I have become a woman who is independent, healing, and happy in little things, and now I'm getting married.

People say time flies so fast, you wouldn't know it. I always thought it was false- because everything felt stuck- as if the world was not moving, but now, as I am taking pheras, it's hitting me. Maybe time does fly fast. Someday we are just stressed about our exam, and other times we are in our dream college, job and then married.

My eyes turned a little glossy as my mind swirled with hundreds of thoughts. And suddenly I felt his hold on my hands tighten. I looked up at him. He was moving around, his hands pressed on mine tightly, protecting and somehow giving warmth.

A smile curled up on my face. Was it fate that I met him, or a coincidence? Whatever it was, it was the most beautiful ever happened in my life.

"Sit down." Pandit ji said as we completed our pheras. I looked at Advik, his eyes already on me. A smile on his face.

I smiled back.

And with that the he continued the process.

***

The relatives, my cousins and Ma surrounded the car as it was time for Vidayi. 

The faint lyrics of Kudmayi entered my ears.

'Jhoolon Ke Mausam Woh Tere

Humse Roke Bhi Roke Na Gaye

Teri Kudmayi Ke Din Aa Gaye

Ni Teri Kudmayi Ke Din Aa Gaye'

And my eyes turned teary. I looked at my sister, her eyes already filled with tears. My mother came near me, her eyes teary, and in seconds she engulfed me in a hug. 

And with that, I completely burst into tears.

I cried hard in her arms, my heart ached, with the mere thought that I won't be living here- but in another house, where my parents won't be waiting for me. There won't be my mother waiting for me, cooking me her special food.

"Please take care of yourself." She sobbed.

"Aap apna bhi khyal rakhna," I said as I held her face in my hands.

Once they were dirty with mud, and she used to clean them, but now they are red with mehendi.

"Mera bacha," she cried.

"Di." Rheya came and hugged us, her sobs clearly echoed.

I hugged her. Pulled her closer. Fearing she might disappear.

They pulled out of a hug, their face reddened, eyes glossy.

"Papa kha hai?" I asked, sobbing.

I glanced around, searching for his presence. And soon his figure came into my view. His eyes were red- was he crying? That thought tightened something inside my heart.

I have never seen him cry.

He walked towards me, his steps slow and steady. I kept looking at him, and with each second, my chest felt heavier.

He stood up infront of him, his lips now curled up in the faintest smile.

"Papa-" I sobbed.

And with that, I hugged him. 

And he broke too.

The tears he was hiding now spilt. Was it that he never cried infront of us that broke me, or that I am leaving this life and starting another without his protection?

I didn't know, but I only knew he was my biggest heartbreaker yet healer- in his own twisted way.

His harsh words, his soft words, his hate and his love- I knew everything, I have felt them.

"Ritika?" He whispered as he pulled out of a hug.

"Ha, papa?"

"Take care, beta. And know that before anything, I am your dad. Tell me anything, okay? And most importantly, take care of yourself. Dad is always there for you." 

I nodded while crying.

He moved towards Advik, "Beta, take care of her." And with that, he glanced at me last time and said, "It's time."

But no matter what time it was, I didn't wanna go, I wanna stay here at my house with my parents.

I looked at Advik, who had tears in his eyes.

Why was he crying? 

"Advi?" 

"Hn?" He said as he looked down, maybe hiding his tears.

"Why are you crying?" I spoke.

"I am not." He said, still with his face down.

I looked around only to find that now only my family and his family were left.

"Chale?" Vihaan said.

I nodded.

And with that, we moved inside the car and kissed the cheeks of my ma and Rheya.

Now in the car were only me, advik, Riya and Vihaan.

I softly asked Advik, "Why were you crying? And before answering, look into my eyes."

He softly looked up at me, my chest aching, looking at his red eyes.

"Ritika, it hurts- looking at you cry." He whispered.

A faint smile curled up on my face.

A/N

hey! How was the chapter?

I literally cried writing it crybaby

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Thank you for reading and luv u all<3