Laxita's POV

The next morning, we took leave from Veer's mother and came back to Soma Sangha.

After all these years, this association had started feeling like a home now. But it was time to bid this place farewell.

Veer didn't stay at the association. He stopped briefly and then went on ahead to Soma Nagari.

A priest was called upon in Som Nagari to decide the wedding date. After much deliberation, a date was finalized and it was only three weeks away! Gosh, just three weeks until my wedding....

I didn't even remember how the time passed after that. It was all a blur.

The preparations took most of our time. The wedding attires, the shopping for necessities and sending out invitations. I was quite upset as I couldn't invite my friends. My wedding was something which was supposedly kept a secret from Kshatra Gadh - for obvious reasons. I wondered how Vanya and Yash would react if they came to know that I had gotten married. And there was someone else too. How would Nakul react to this news?

Laxita, this is not the time to think about your past. Let's focus on the future, I told myself.

The king urged that the ceremony and the pre-wedding functions to be done at the royal palace. Since, it was his request, everyone agreed. So, the decorations and preprations became something that we didn't have to worry about.

I slept like a log at nights as I was so tired with all those dress fittings and preparations. Not to mention, all the people who came to meet me in order to congratulate me really tired me out.

There were times when my mind wandered off to certain someone. Someone, who would become my husband soon enough. What was he doing now? Was he as busy as I was? Was he missing me? Because I for sure missed him. Such thoughts sprang up in my mind from time to time.

It was so strange though. I would be spending my entire life with him. We had an entire lifetime in front of us but still there were moments when I wanted to meet him right away. The days apart felt like years.

As the date neared, my excitement and nervousness grew. Contradictory emotions, I know. Excitement for a new phase of life and nervousness for the uncertainties that laid ahead. And before I knew it, there was only a week left.

All of us made our way towards the palace as it was time. We were informed that the rooms for the bride's family were on the opposite end of the groom's family. That's when I made a mistake - I asked them why we were away from the groom. Don't even ask me how much everyone teased me about it. It was a whole new level of embarrassment.

That same evening, I was roaming the palace corridors. The sun had already set and it was getting dark. The palace servants were busy lighting torches on the upper floors of the palace so this hallway was mostly empty. Since, it was kind of chilly, I had put on a shawl. The weather was getting colder. So, I made a mental note to pack more winter clothes. Winter in these areas can be quite harsh.

While walking through the corridors, I was peeking out from the windows. It was the lowest floor of the palace which meant that I had a perfect view of the palace garden. The windows here were massive - like the entire palace. The garden looked even more beautiful at night. The flowers shone in the soft glow of the moon. I was lost in thoughts when I heard a voice.

"Pssst. Hey, Laxita!" Someone called out to me. It was a very familiar voice, the one which I had missed so much.

"What are you doing over here?" I folded my hands and raised my brow in question.

Veer was peeping inside from the palace window. He was smiling - the smile which I had come to adore so much. He stepped on a raised platform, placed a foot on the window sill and landed straight inside the palace, right in front of me. I couldn't stop the smile that spread on my face.

I ran towards him and in one fell swoop he wrapped his hands around my waist until I was pressed flush against him.

"I missed you." He said with a happy sigh, almost melting me on the floor.

Before I could utter a single word, he hooked his palm on my neck and pulled me in for a passionate kiss.

It lasted for a short while but it was enough to leave me breathless. Gosh, I had missed him a lot. I had craved it - those eyes, that scent and just the overall comfort of his arms.

"What are you doing over here? Hmmm? This is the opposite end of the palace..." I said with a smirk.

He tucked a stray hair behind my ear and said, "Now I am not even allowed to meet my would-be wife?"

"It's not like that...but what if someone sees you?"

"I don't pay attention to what ifs, my love."

"Oh yeah? That's how it is huh?" I arched a brow in question.

It felt as if we were secret lovers who were trying to meet each other in private. It felt exhilarating, thrilling even.

But our happy bubble was popped soon enough because I heard my aunt's voice. Her footsteps were getting closer, we had to act fast.

"Hide!" I whisper-shouted.

Veer braced a hand on the window sill and jumped out into the palace garden.

"Laxu!" She called me from behind. Once I made sure that he was properly hidden, I turned around to look at her.

"Yes, aunt?"

"I have been calling you for so long. If you are here, why didn't you respond?"

"Sorry. I was just lost in thoughts." More like lost in someone's eyes.

"It's alright. I think you're just having pre-marriage jitters. Relax. Everything will be fine." I just nodded in response. "Come over to have dinner. Everyone's waiting for you." She added.

"Yes, aunt. I will join you in a bit."

"Fine. But don't take too long." She smiled and left.

As soon as her back was turned, I ran to the window sill and looked out.

"Searching for me?" I gasped in shock. Veer sprang up in front of me. He was standing on a protruded wall of the palace which made us on the same eye-level.

"I think you should go back." I said with a reluctance in my voice.

"I should." He said but made no attempt to leave.

"Go."

"Hmm."

I laughed which made him grin. "Seriously, Veer? You need to leave." I said, emphasizing each word.

He just scrunched his nose and jumped down from the wall. I also turned around to leave but stopped in my tracks when I remembered something.

"Veer!" I called out to him and moved towards the window sill again.

"Yes?" He jumped back on the wall.

I admired his face. His expression was all soft and full of love for me. Then, I did the unexpected. I cupped his face with my palms and gave a gentle kiss on his lips. "I missed you too," I whispered. In response, he curled his fingers on my wrist and placed a soft kiss on my palm. His gesture was gentle but his eyes were blazing with emotions.

Before I could say something else, he jumped off and sprinted away, leaving me in a daze.

The next morning, the celebrations actually began. The decorations were almost complete and everything was really taking shape. The scale of the wedding was turning out to be grander than I originally expected.

I was informed that today was the day when the clothes from the groom's side would arrive. It was a ritual here in Somapura. The groom's side had to send five sets of clothes for the bride. It was considered auspicious as it symbolised that the groom would take care of all of his wife's needs. Interesting ritual if you ask me. I was curious to see which clothes Veer had selected for me.

It was late afternoon when I heard a knock on the door. It must be them, I thought.

I opened the door and was met with Samriddhi. "Greetings, my lady. I have come here to complete the first ritual of the wedding." She said.

"Yes. Please do come in." I was all giddy and excited that I wouldn't stop smiling.

"The bride certainly seems very cheerful. That's good, that's good." I gave her a shy smile and she laughed. "Enjoy it while you can. Let me tell you, marriages are nothing but misery after a while. I'm telling this from my personal experience." She said conspiratorially which only made me laugh.

"Please don't scare me commander. I'm already terrified."

"Don't be. It's only terrifying in the beginning. You'll get used to it." She said with a knowing smile. "Anyways, you know why I am here, right?"

"Um, yes?"

"Alright then. What are we waiting for? Bring it in!"

At her command, the palace servants started arriving one by one. All of them had huge plates full of clothes in their hands. That didn't look like five dresses.

"Commander....What is this?"

"My lady, these are the gifts that your would-be husband has chosen for you." She said while flaring her hands.

This was too much. Why did Veer send me so many clothes? And not just clothes, there were plenty of other stuff as well - accessories, footwears, jewelleries - everything one can ask for.

"Commander, this seems a bit too much..."

"Don't fret, dear lady. Your would-be husband is quite loaded. Are you forgetting that he's the king's adopted son? And, he's the army general of the Somapura army - one of the highest paid positions of our kingdom. If he wants, he can splurge a little for his wife."

Wow. When she puts it that way, I really don't have any reason to object. I went ahead and stroked the fabric. It was so soft and beautiful. Was that pure silk? Those things were crazy expensive. I still thought that Veer went above and beyond with this purchase.

"So, do you accept it, my lady?"

I smiled and said, "Tell your general that I accept his gifts. Also, I really loved what he sent to me."

"Yes, my lady." With that, she left along with the servants. Everything Veer gave me was set neatly in my room. He never failed to amaze me. He made me feel loved, cherished and respected.

That night, my aunt came to my room. For some reason, she was appearing lost in thoughts.

"Are you alright, aunt?" I asked when she settled beside me on the couch.

She gently stroked my cheek and said, "If Subhadra and Yashwant had been here today, how happy they would've been..."

Although, I was surrounded by people all the time nowadays, I still sort of felt lonely. It was as if there was a hole in my life which couldn't be filled no matter how much I tried.

"I'm missing them a lot more these days..." I admitted.

She hugged me and said, "I know. We all are."

Since, my parents weren't here, my aunt and uncle took it upon themselves to carry out all the duties and rituals in place of them, including the wedding expenses.

"I didn't even realize that you were all grown up. It seems like yesterday when I saw you as a baby."

Suddenly, I felt that my shoulder was a little moist. "Aunt, are you crying?" I pulled back from the hug to examine her. "Yes, you are."

"I just can't help it. Ever since the day I  held you in my arms, you've been my child. You are like my first born. Sending you away after marriage is harder than I thought."

"Please don't cry. I don't want to see tears in your eyes." I pleaded as I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as well.

"I only wish for one thing." She took my hand in hers. "I want you to be happy Laxita. You've been through a lot already. Wherever you are, whatever you do, I hope that you succeed. I will always be here, praying for your happiness and well-being. Never ever forget that you're not alone. You have a family over here who loves you very much."

This time, I pulled her into a hug and sobbed. I cried and let all my emotions flow out. Aunt patted my back and soothed me until I calmed down.

"Aunt, can I make a selfish request?" I asked while pulling away.

She wiped her tears and said, "Anything, my dear."

"Can you sleep with me tonight? I don't want to stay alone..."

"Of course, Laxu. I will be here with you for as long as you want."

"Thank you."

That night, my aunt patted my back until I fell asleep. It felt as if I had travelled back to my childhood days. I remembered that my mother used to do this and this time, my aunt assumed that role.

For the first time in a good long while, I didn't miss my parents...

Hello Cuties 💖

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The pre-wedding functions will start from the next chapter. Stay tuned!