40k FOR OUR FAM <3 love love and only love 

This was supposed to be my pre-birthday (2nd Aug) gift to y'all like I annually do with all my books but I got caught up with things :)

Thank you once again for finding time to read my work and appreciate it. Please comment more and let me know if you've got any ideas for the next chapter. 

Enjoy the chapter in Rk's pov <3 

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| Ranbir's POV |

My heart played a silent tune. A melody that I barely recognized. But it was enchanting. Just like my bride who was about to enter the room. In a few seconds. And I was sweating badly. No words could erase the anxiety and excitement mixed with the adrenaline rush of this moment. I've seen this in movies but for the first and last time in life, I was at the focal of this much elevated moment where the bride and groom meet for the first time at the mandap. 

Mum kept an arm over me, gently stroking my nerves. She knew my mess. And how much we missed Dad around. Wish he was here. I looked around the room to find familiar faces. All smiled at me with comforting glances. Thank god for their cause without these, we wouldn't be ourselves. Only those who truly mattered were present. 

A soft melody hummed in the air as the bridal procession entered the room. Alia's girl squad along with Shaheen walked ahead of her carrying flowers. They looked exquisite. But I had my eyes only for my woman. My Alia. 

There she stood dazzling under the veil held by Karan and some male friends. 

Clad in her custom-made Sabyasachi couture, she chose ivory for us. The color melted with their fresh buttery skin of hers. She wore a stunning sari instead of a lehenga. Uncut sabya jewels decked her in minimalism. Her head shimmered in a cute matha Patti that was so going to be the new trend for brides. Her golden veil and open hair created a magical combination. 

My sweet darling precious angel. There she was. My Alia. 

I felt my eyes burn. As she walked toward me, not removing her mesmerizing gaze, I choked with overwhelming emotions. My chest felt too tight. I could hear soft sobs from the room. Some inhaled too loud while others silently praised us. In a room full of crowds, she and I had our eyes only on each other. 

She held a gentle yet steely gaze. And I melted under them. 

I wanted to be a proper romantic Ranbir for her at this particular moment, with wide-blown smiles. But nothing came. Just misty eyes staring at her without a blink. My face would be one for talks maybe later in our wedding album/video. I ghosted on her. But was I truly at fault? 

At someone's hiss is when I recognized the situation - Alia had already arrived in front of me. Her entourage had taken their respective places in the crowd. It was just her and me, face to face. Seeing her breathtaking face in close vision did something to my sense. I was stunned. Unmovable. Tranced. Thoughtless. 

"How do I look?" she whispers asked. 

I was truly stupefied. She stole words from me. Nothing would come. So I did the next best thing I knew. The Barfi mime, where I showed her that she had completely stolen my heart and it was now all hers to keep for eternity. I wouldn't ask nor be I interested. It was hers all along, always. Amidst loud cheers, I kept my heart at her feet with a smile and a tear rolled down my cheek. 

She giggled and pretended to dust my heart as she picked it from the floor. 

"Let's start the rituals," the pandit announced. 

I met him at Shamshera's mahurat pooja around the end of 2018. And I had this crazy instinct that I needed him to perform my wedding rituals. I told him there and then of the same and he happily accepted my pre booking. It took him five years to work on it. 

We moved towards the balcony portion of the room and sat in our respective chairs. This place was perfect for ventilation from the fire used in our Hindu custom. Alia and I fell back into a happy nostalgia as we sat on our beloved balcony. 

The place where we spent most of our time together. Our comfort home. This was a total dream come true moment for us. We didn't have to move an inch from our home. It was done in the coziest place on earth for us. 

The rituals and processes of a Hindu wedding vary widely, by region and community. Nevertheless, the Hindu wedding ceremony at its core essentially has three key rituals that are almost universal: , Kanyadan, Panigrahana, and Saptapadi  —which are respectively, giving away of his daughter by the father, voluntarily holding hands near the fire to signify union, and taking seven 'steps before fire'. 

The father of the bride then gives her away to the groom in a ceremony known as Kanyadaan. The left hand of the bride is placed on the groom's right hand. Considered to be the noblest act of offering that a person can perform and by doing it the parents of the bride are absolved of all their bad karmas. The groom accepts the bride's hand and they promise each other that while pursuing a life of Dharma, Artha and Kama, they will remain faithful to each other. This is known as Paanigrahan. 

Alia's parents come forward for this ritual. She looks at them with doubtful eyes. Her father who is like my own and will become my own after this ceremony, stood up followed by her mother. Soni aunty wiped her tears as she held on to uncle's arm. I have never seen that happy smiling man cry. Maybe a melancholic face at Alia's movie premieres but never emotional. 

That day, at our wedding, he cried. His eyes went glossy and as he performed the kanyadan rituals, his hands were shivering. I remembered my father instantly from my sister's wedding. He was an emotional mess. Not wanting to let go of Ridhi. Fathers are a weird species. They act all strong but from the inside are mushy and vulnerable. Giving away your precious daughter must be so hard, I don't think I can do this when the time arrives for me and Alia! 

I gave them an assuring smile as they touched our heads, blessing us. 

Next, the sacred fire is lit at the center of the wedding mandap and is considered to be the prime witness of the marriage rituals. The couple feeds ghee to the fire as offering and pray to the Gods for Santati (children), Sampatti (wealth & prosperity) and Deergharogya (long and healthy lives). This is known as the Vivaha Homa.  During the Laja Homa, the bride's brother pours rice on her palms and the couple offers it to the sacred fire together.

Rahul comes up for this ritual. He smiles at us and pats me on the back. Ayan and my cousins were secretly texting me post our mehendi yesterday on how I should never mess with his sister ever. He is a body gym instructor and thus all muscled and huge. Aadar and Zach made bets on the ways he could kill me if the situation arises! 

While we sat listening to Sanskrit hymns by the priest, we had called in for an intimate musical band experience. They were nicely tucked into one corner of the room. Familiar favorite tunes we love, floated in the air. I heard a familiar melody hit my ears and I instantly turned toward Ayan. "heyyy, that's our song!" Alia exclaimed in a whisper. 

Kesariya, the love anthem of our first film together Brahmastra. 

Ayan had kept it a secret from the world and now was when he thought he should let it go. He made many versions of the same song but dedicated a special new soft version of the same for us, at our wedding. The band played it while a female singer sang the song for us. Our eyes went misty. Alia sucked in a breath of air at the change in atmosphere. We were transported back to the days of dating, playing hide and seek from the press, subtle announcing, attending parties, making families meet, and everything that led us to this day. 

Mujhko Itna Bataye Koyi
Kaise Tujhse Dil Na Lagaye Koyi

There was a time in my life when I swore I'd never fall in love. Outside I was pretending to have lost faith in the institution. Of how true love will finally find you. It was never happening in my case. I felt dejected and hurt. Lies, deceits and more humiliation. Love had never been my safe harbor. Nor the home I was in quest of. But then came HER. 

The lighthouse on my shore. The anchor of my ship. The cure to my misery. The love of my life.

Rabba ne tujhko banane mein kardi hai husn ki khaali tijoriyaan 

I glanced at my Queen. She was brimming in light. Her halo of pureness. She wasn't smeared in makeup nor extravaganza yet looked the brightest prettiest face in any room! Her glow is unparalleled. It gave me immense pride to think I had a lot to do with that shine. 

Kaajal ki siyaahi se likhi hai tune jaane kitno ki love storiyaan 

The lines struck home. From all the love stories carved and brushed by the Creator, our love story is indeed painted from the most beautiful ink. The darkest of kajal. The prettiest stroke. We were so indebted for the way fate and destiny had played their cards in favor of us. 

It was time for jaimala where the bride and groom will playfully exchange garlands. Ayan had decided to ditch Alia for this ceremony and be on my side which didn't go well with her. "Didn't expect anything less from you traitor!" Ayan pouted and mimed a sorry. Akash laughed with his wife and teased, "main toh kehta hi tha." Kanchi rolled her eyes "Sis you got us no worries. This one was always a dhokebaaz." 

The priest permitted us to start the garland game. Alia and I held shy expressions, eager to complete the process. None of us were able to garland the other, it just became a cute blushing mess. "Who would have thought the world's most competitive people will become sore losers in love!" We giggled at Riddhima's comment. 

Before I could come to a good conclusion, Ayan, Akash and Bharat jeeju flung me up in the air! My pagdi almost touched the fairy lights up the ceiling. "Areeeyyy this is not fair," she screamed. Everyone laughed and I was enjoying her adorable reaction from above. "Ek kaam karo just launch him up to Mars! Y'all are so weird. Burj khalifa ko kaun uthata hai batao!" One of her friends dissed her in fun. 

Alia had a hard time getting someone from her side to hoist her up. Taking advantage of her sad situation, I threw the garland around her neck in one swift motion. She made a shocking smiley face and I grinned back at her while our families rejoiced. Abhishek Varman, her bestie then quickly ran to her side followed by Karan and Rahul. But I was scared of them lifting her in the air.

Only our mothers, sisters, father, Karan and Ayan knew about Alia's pregnancy! 

Yes, we were expecting! We found the day after she came from her 29th birthday celebrations in Maldives with her mom, sister and aunt. I couldn't be with her and that was annoying for both of us and therefore I made her family go with her to the island. The day she landed in Mumbai is when I got free and throughout her ride from airport, Alia was unwell. 

Our mild guess turned into reality when we instantly checked for the results. We were having a baby! Before we could tie the knot! That was to be a huge scandal with public humiliation as we were celebrities in a conservative country. We had to make quick decisions. Hence the sudden April out of the blue wedding in our home. Sweet, perfect and comfortable. 

I asked my wing men to put me down. They did with grunts. I had to do it for my girl, the mother of my future children...the woman who gave me unconditional love and light. The reason I am taking this plunge of faith. To her I had to bow. 

So here was I kneeling in front of my bride, my baby mumma. It was such a beautiful secret that only we knew which made the overwhelming feelings within us bubble so very often. Alia gave me a shy smile and without much thinking put her garland around my neck. Her boys made a 'you should've already told us' face while she blushed to her roots. 

I did not know what possessed me thereafter. Just had to confirm if she were for real. If this moment, with her and me, with our families, us standing on the path to a beautiful future, were real or not. Without hesitation, I leaned ahead to meet my lips with her. She stilled at my move and I could feel our emotions explode in the air. I did not give a damn of whose gonna think what. This is my woman. 

And as I separated from her albeit unwillingly, she blushed like a cute tomato decked in ornaments. Whereas my heart wouldn't stop beating. Kissing her made it even more unreal and tantalizing. THIS WAS GOING TO BE MY FAIRYTALE. 

Tears wouldn't stop. Mum had noticed me getting emotional all at once. She wiped some of my tears in an attempt to calm. But I wasn't going to look at anyone else today. My head heart and attention were all for HERS. She is my center of gravity. And I knew she deserved to feel a goddess every single minute of her life. 

My heart burst with inexplicable joy. This was it. My forever. 

Alia looked at me with concern, asking with her eyes if I were okay. I wiped some more of my tears and kept a hand on my face with a slight 'yes'. Our friends cheered for me, some going aww. It was only befitting for 'kothe te aa mahiya' to be played in the background. It was a popular punjabi folk song, sang mostly during weddings. Alia and I chose a modern version of it from a hippie singer. Blended amazingly with our intimate affair. 

Maza pyaar da chakh langa,
Je tera hukm hove,
Muh to dari wi rakh langa

The lines were written with a lace of humour in them. They roughly meant that if she orders, I could keep even a beard for her! Those are the things love does to you. Well in Karan Johar's word, Ranbir Kapoor cried and that was in itself a big deal for everyone around me! It was only for her. 

LlLlLlLlLlLlLlLlLlL

NOTE : Please note that I have already done a much in detail wedding fiction for our couple in this book titled 'WEDDING' in parts. So there I have done rituals in detail. Skipping some parts here and if you do find mistakes in the ritual part, please forgive. I've merely copy pasted them from Google and used according to my use. 

Also I will only highlight the wedding moments from THEIR REAL WEDDING since this series is about that alone. Therefore jaimala part is explained in detail from real video (in media section) etc. I will write until their reception parts (red dress). Idk if I can do party reception one, if I find inspiration I will otherwise we gonna stop until 14th wedding day. 

There's more to come :) As Brahmastra promotions unfold, hopefully I can write more on those scenes as well. There might be just another tiny book on it's way (can't be sure but yk just a possibility..) from my side on our babies WHO ELSE haha. 

These days I'm obviously not thinking too much on their wedding like we did back in april (god so much in one year and it's not even dec!). I'm more on the baby scenes and brahmastra mood ... so it's lil difficult to tap back on wedding stuff for this series hope you understand. I will do my best to complete it sooner. Maybe two more chapters. 

Thank you once again for dropping by and giving so much love to FROS. Let's get 50k before Brahmastra release shall we? Maybe then Book No 2 can drop :) 

Jemi :)