Yaksha's POV

Yaksha's POV

Last day. Just one last day and I won't be here tomorrow.
It's early morning,barely even morning it's dawn. Birds are just starting to chirp and I woke up with a jolt. Not that I even slept. Just for a hour maybe and I am already wide awake.

Great. 

Since I am awake already let's just get ready for the haldi. The only thing I have to wear is my lehenga. Since I will have to shower later anyways there's no jewellery involved. Thank Goodness.

I just washed my face and hands a bit and sat in front of the mirror. I saw myself in the mirror and I started tearing up. It's not even me. It's Yaksha,the princess. The only thing similar is our face.In reality,I am deceiving everyone. Her father,her mother like aunt, her friends everyone! But it's not my fault too. 

This situation is not in my hands. And even if I tell them the truth then what? Will they even believe me? They will just think I have gone crazy after the accident. Which I think isn't even accident anymore.

I wipe my tears off. It's not the time to complain about the situation. I have to alert all the time. It happened twice already. It can happen again.

I pick up the bright yellow lehenga and tie it tightly around my waist. I wore the blouse and kohl in my eyes. 

"Baisa! Aap akeli kyun taiyaar ho rahi hain? Humein bula liya hota." Meena said entering my chamber.

(Why are you getting ready alone. You should've called me)

"Koyi nehi. Hum uth gaaye the toh socha taiyaar ho jaaye. Aap so rahi honge toh pareshaan nehi kiya." I said wearing the waist chain. 

(It's nothing. I woke up so I thought I should get ready. You must be sleeping that's why I didn't disturb you)

"Pareshaani kaisi? Hum toh kab ke uth chuke hain. Baisa! Areh aapki mehendi ki raang to dekhiye. Kitni gehri raachi hain." She exclaimed excitedly.

(What disturbance?It's been a while since I am up. Look at your henna!It has left such dark stain.)

I looked at my hands and indeed it was really dark. Yaksha's body must have warm blood.

Meena picked up the anklets and kneeled in front of to help me wear them. She started again,

"Aap jante hain na log kya kehte hain? Mehendi ka raang jitna gehra, pati ka prem bhi utna hi zyada." She looked up at me with a teasing smile.

( You know what they about it? The darker the henna stain the more your husband will love you.)

I chuckled. "Yeah right."

"Alright. All set. You are looking so pretty. May evil eyes stay away from you." She said getting up.

"Areh Yakshu. You look just like a bright sunflower." Rajeshwari laughed.

"Let's go. Mother has sent me to fetch you." She said again.

I actually do. I look at myself one last time at the mirror and left the chamber.

The place where the ceremony is held is decorated by all yellow marigold flowers. Nothing like what we see nowadays. Simple but still very exquisite. 

I sat in the middle of all ladies in a low stool. Slow flok music was coming from the background.

Father entered the place and kneeled in front me. He kissed my forehead and caressed my cheeks. He thought I wouldn't notice. But I did. I noticed how watery his eyes was. He was holding himself for me. 

Just as he was about to take the turmeric paste from the small bowl I took his hands in my hand. He looked with questions in his eyes and I just smiled at him. I took his hands and kissed his plam. Even though he is not my papa he has been the father figure I needed.

"I will be okay baba-sa. Please don't worry much about me and take care of your health. Eat the herbal medicines as the physician asks you to."

He just smiled and nodded. Picking up a little paste he applied it on both of cheeks. And just left. I kept staring at his disappearing figure until I couldn't see him anymore. Then suddenly bua-sa approached me. She also applied a little on my face and arms. 

One after one all the ladies whom I don't even recognise started applying it to me. I just sat there like a doll. After applying the turmeric paste they gave me a milk bath.

Meena took me back to my chamber after all the rituals to give me a actual bath. This time getting bathed by my favourite scent did help me feeling a little eased. I need to take these things with me whatever they are. The jasmine,sandalwood and vanilla has become my favourite scent in the world now.

After finishing the bath I just wore a simple lehenga. Meena told me to rest a bit since there is quite some time left for the wedding ceremony and left.

I don't know when I drifted off but I woke to the commotion of Meena and Rajeshwari.

"Yakshu it's time to get up. Come on! We need you get ready. This girl is sleeping like a kumbkaran." She said pushing me.
( Kumbkaran- a mythological figure known for sleeping for the longest time)

"Okay,okay. I am up." Sitting up I rubbed my eyes.

"Baisa come. I have prepared everything for you." She said holding my wedding lehenga. It looks....heavy. Oh god! 

But apart from being heavy it's also very pretty.
It is a bright light red coloured lehenga. With heavy golden embroidery it was sparkling like a chandelier. It looked so beautiful,almost too pretty to wear. 

I stoop up to wear the lehenga. Meena helped me with it and started to make me wear all the jewellery. All the traditional Rajput jewellery I only saw other people wearing.

Sheeshpatti on my head,some heavy jewellery which's name I don't even know, on my neck, heavy jhumka in my ears,bajubandh on my arms, chooda and haathphool on my hands,nath on my nose, waist chain on waist ,anklet on my legs.
At last she put a bindi on my forehead and set the dupatta on my head.

I truly look a like a bride. Well, I am actually a bride. Despite being in this situation,the marriage being an arrangement my heart cannot help but flutter a bit. I am getting married after all. What if the sultan is nice? What if he treats me with nothing but love and what if he is actually handsome. 

I smiled at my reflection in the mirror but immediately straightened up. I am getting way ahead of myself. I should be alert. Love and good looks shouldn't be my concern right now. 

I will kill him if tries to touch me I swear.

"Yaksha? Are you ready?" Bua-sa said entering my chamber.

No. And I won't ever be ready for this.

"Yes I am bua-sa."

"I know I never asked you this. Maybe I should've earlier. But are you sure you want to do this? There's still time and you can back out if you mind is telling you no. We will support your decision." She said calmly. 

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What? What are talking about so suddenly bua-sa? Everything is set. People from both kingdom has already arrived! The peace treaty has been signed and people are working by it! How do I just say no? I can't be so selfish!"

"You have always been the mature one my dear. If that's what you want then be it. Let's go then. It's time." She said talking my hands. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It will be okay, everything will okay. I know I can do it.

We four stepped out of the chamber and went to the place the wedding will take place. This is it. I took one last glance at the chamber. It wasn't my own chamber but I lived her for whole two months. It somehow started to feel like home. It almost feels like I am leaving my own home.
I was informed about my wedding. It will happen in the presence of both religion. Since the Sultan is Muslim we also have to get married by my Islamic rituals. 

First the islamic rituals took place and I still couldn't see him,my husband since the setting for man and woman were in different places. 

And then the hindu wedding began. And I still couldn't see him because of this stupid veil. I swear to god I am losing my patience.

"Please stand up for the pheras." The priest said.

We both stood up for the and took the oaths of a life time. He held my hands during it and I felt shiver running down my whole body. His rough and big hands made my hand almost look like a child's hand. I looked up to see him, anything, maybe just a glance but of course why would my veil allow it? 

The only thing I could comprehend was his height and body . He seemed muscular, bulky and tall. Wait, he seems really tall. What is his height? Me standing beside him, I look like some child standing next to him. And I am not even short and he is still this tall than me?

Is he the big boy SZA has been singing about? I almost laughed at my thought but stopped immediately. I am going crazier day by day.

He was in front of me for the first few parikramas and later I lead him for the last three. He swore to take care of me, protect me earn for me,respect me, consult me in important matters, be loyal to me and lead his whole life with me not just as a husband but also as a friend.

And in return I swore to take responsibility of him,stand through his agonies,take care of his wealth,fulfill my duties as a wife,support him in his endeavours,remain faithful to him,spend time with him until I take my last breath. 

Does these vows even mean anything? Will we abide by them?

We sat down again. The priest said him to put the vermilion in my forehead and tie the nuptial thread around my neck. 

My heartbeat quickened. This is it.

Meena helped with my veil while he put the nuptial thread on my neck and vermilion in the partition of my forehead. A little fell on the tip my nose too and she put the veil down.

I am married. I am officially married to the sultan.