Sidharth wore a new pair of clothes gifted by Shehnaaz. He smiled as they didn't knew that when she bought it, it would be used for their wedding. On the other hand, Shehnaaz wore a relatively lesser worn clothes among her existing ones for her wedding. But she bought a new clothes for Aadya because she wanted her child to have the best even if it was her own wedding. That's how sacrificing parents are towards their kids.

Shehnaaz adored Aadya dancing in her new dress at the clothes showroom. Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz. He was feeling bad as she was in plain old dress, not even new forget it being alone a fancy wedding attire.

Sidharth: Shehnaaz, I think we can afford a new clothes for you too. Afterall it's our wedding which happens once in a lifetime..

His words faded out as he realised that this wasn't his first or the only wedding.

Flashback:

"Bhaiyya ji, aapki hone waali biwi se mujhe bacha lo please! Inka lehenga mein already 7 baar alter kar chuka hoon. Mera saara time inke peeche chala gaya, mere baaki customer mujhe gali ke kutte ki tarah treat kar rahe hai", the tailor begs folding his hands.

"Jhoot mat bolo, 7 baar nahi 6 baar karwaya bas. Aur hazaar baar karwaungi agar teek se nahi silaoge toh.", Gunjan scolds.

Sidharth pulls Gunjan to the side.
"Sweetheart, why are you troubling him so much? We are not getting married infront of thousands of people. It's just us and our family.", Sidharth explains.

"Huh!! It's only your mom. You forgot that my parents are not even attending it. And what's the big deal? I want to look my best on my wedding day for myself and for you.", Gunjan complains.

"Sweetheart, You want to look best in my eyes, right?", Sidharth says

"Yes!!", Gunjan sighs

"I think you would look the best without that lehenga.", Sidharth winks and speaks in flirty tone.

"Don't try to divert my mind. I won't listen. He is charging us a fortune for that designer lehenga. I will utilise it to the maximum", she smirks.

"Baby, I will have to sell my kidney for paying his alteration charges", Sidharth complains.

"Hmmm.. You know, humans can still survive with one kidney." She says with a smirk.

"Wah Beta, No value for husband's life", he fake cries.

"Stop your nautanki.. Do you know how big dream it is for every girl to get married? They start planning for it from the tiny age for it. Afterall we marry once in our life", Gunjan imparts the knowledge.

"You are wrong. Karne ko insaan hazaar baar karle shaadi but aise lines chipka chipka kar, pura diwala nikal deti hai biwi ki dusri baar shaadi karne ki soch kar bhi rooh kaap jaati hai", he jokes earning a smack from Gunjan.

"Bhaiyya, aap kya muh dekh rahe ho, abhi aapke baaki customers kuch nahi bol rahe kya? Jaldi jaldi khatam karo isse.", Gunjan scolds him.

The tailor looks at Sidharth with puppy face and Sidharth himself makes a puppy face showing his helplessness..

Flashback ends..

Shehnaaz realised his emotions immediately by his tone.

Shehnaaz: That's fine Aadya's Papa. You said I look beautiful to you regardless of my looks.

Sidharth: Hmm.. but what about your dreams Shehnaaz? I am sure had some dreams about your marriage. Every girl does.

Shehnaaz: I never had one.

Flashback:
"Bebu, wear this necklace. This is your grandmother's only memory. I want to give this to you in your dowry when you marry", Harpreet said.

"What's dowry mumma?", 6 year old Shehnaaz asks.

"The one which your mother never got from her father's house.", Shehnaaz's father speaks as he enters the house.

They both look at him. Harpreet was terrified. He looks at them and the thin gold necklace Harpreet held in her hand. He snatches it and it breaks into two pieces.

"Please not this, I've kept this for Shehnaaz's marriage. Please it's my mom's final piece of jewel left with me." Harpreet begs.

He slaps her face. Harpreet asks Shehnaaz go outside the house immediately. Shehnaaz goes out terrified but she peeps through the little hole on the door. He slaps her multiple times and smashes her both cheeks in his one hand and looks at her.

"Where are going decked up, huh? Going to see your lover? Why? Don't you find me enough? Come, I'll bang you so hard that you won't be able to stand on your feet for few days", he drags her to the bed tearing her clothes.

Shehnaaz shuts her eyes petrified. They were supposed to go to attend a relatives wedding but they couldn't because of the monster. An hour later when Harpreet opens her door. She was limping and had a fresh cut on her lips along with multiple marks of teeth on her face and neck due to biting.

Flashback ends

Shehnaaz: I've seen my mother suffering every moment in the toxic relationship that I never ever dreamt of getting married in my life. (Smiles with tears in her eyes)

Sidharth felt the pain looking into her eyes.
Crying is painful but controlling tears by smiling is excruciatingly painful. While I remembered my fond memories about my marriage, it reminded her the painful past. Shehnaaz, I can't erase your painful past but I will overwrite them with a sweet future for you. I want you laugh so hard that you have joyful tears in your eyes and not sorrowful smiles.

They drive in an auto to the temple. Shehnaaz was scared and wanted to tell him the secret she was holding back from him. They get down from the auto and Shehnaaz decides to talk before it's too late.

Shehnaaz: Aadya's pa..

Sidharth: Shehnaaz.. (his words overlap with hers)

Pause..

Sidharth: You were saying something..

Shehnaaz: Yes, but you speak first.

Sidharth: Hmm.. okay.. Shehnaaz, I wanted to tell you something which I couldn't say before. Before coming here, I left my mother at an old age home. She is an alzheimer patient and I didn't have any money to take care of her. I want to bring her once I start earning money. Since I am going to marry you now, I want to ask you if you are okay with her staying with us?

Shehnaaz: Huh?? (Shocked)

Shehnaaz remembers his mothers words and how she rejected to even look at new born Aadya.

Oh God! I thought his mother might have passed away. But she is alive and she is an alzheimer patient too. If I tell him the secret about how Aadya became my daughter, he will hate his mother for such nasty decision. I don't what him to feel bad about his mother in this condition. I can't tell him the truth. I will hide it forever. How does it make any difference to him though? We are getting married and he will be still called her father.

Sidharth: Shehnaaz? Are you listening?

Shehnaaz: Yes! Yes! Aadya's papa. I am fine with your decision. But why wait until then. Please get her immediately. Infact if she was here now, we could have taken her blessings.

Sidharth: I am so glad Shehnaaz. You agreed! But I won't get her now itself. I will wait until I get my first salary. We need to take care of her like a new born baby because she forgets everything quickly. She can't even recognise me.

Shehnaaz: Okay Aadya's papa. As you say.

Sidharth: Now your turn. You wanted to speak something.

Shehnaaz: Oh!! What did I wanted to say? I forgot!!

Sidharth: (smiles) No worries. I am here with you for the whole life now, so tell me whenever you remember.

They go inside the temple. The Panditji starts with the rituals and he gives Shehnaaz a red veil with golden work on it as a blessing of Goddess Parvati which was offered to her by her devotees. Shehnaaz gives a bright smile taking it.

Shehnaaz: Aadya's papa, you were insisting me to buy new clothes. Look I got it in the way of blessing by Goddess herself.

Sidharth: I am so happy Shehnaaz. Your heart is so pure that the Goddess herself blessed you.

Shehnaaz pins it up on her head and looked like a bride now.

Aadya: Mumma, you look beauty full. What are we doing here?

Shehnaaz: We are taking Goddess' blessing sweetheart. After this your papa will always stay with us.

Panditji recites the mantras, they take the seven vows by taking seven circumambulation (pheras) around the sacred fire.

The first stage of the Saat Phera, they prays that the God provide them with food that nourishes the couple so that they can live together with respect and honor for one another.

For second vow, they pledge to grow as one in mental, physical and spiritual strengths so that they can enjoy and share their life together.

The third vow, they promise to stay faithful to each other and respect one another

The fourth vow, they promises to take care of their elders to maintain a strong family relationship.

The fifth vow they make is to be blessed with healthy children who are kind and courageous and to fulfill and provide all aspects of their childrens lives with education, love and care as well as values of live.

With the sixth vow, they pray that neither of them will suffer from ill health and that their future is calm and balanced together.

In the final step of the Saat Phere, they promise to live a life of love, friendship and mutual trust.

Panditji: The next ritual is to tie a nuptial necklace, mangalsutra.

Shehnaaz: Oh no! We forgot to get a mangalsutra. What do we do now Aadya's papa?

Sidharth takes out his wallet which was empty, he unzips the small zip and takes out a mangalsutra.

Shehnaaz: Huh? Is this..

Sidharth: My wife's mangalsutra. That's you now. I hope you don't have any issues.

Shehnaaz smiles and nods no. Sidharth puts it in her neck. The Panditji asks him to fill the partition of her hair near the forehead with vermilion and he obliges. Panditiji declares them married.

They both were happy. They ask a devotee to take their picture on the phone. They both happily hug Aadya who was watching them quietly performing all the rituals.

Sidharth: Congratulations Mrs. Srivastava.

Shehnaaz: (smiles with a blush) Congratulations to you too Aadya's papa.

Sidharth: ...and Shehnaaz's husband. (Laughs)

__________________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️

Congratulations SidNaazians & SidNaazLovers!! How was it? I know y'all are excited to know Sid's reaction on learning Aadya's secret. But there is a little more wait. Please bear with me..