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Note: Next update after 5th July!!

I was about to give this update on Sunday..but that day I was actually busy, appearing for some exams.. and then Monday turned on with the schedule again..
And I couldn't complete my chapter.

A huge Sorry from my side everyone!!

I hope you guys understand me..
Also will forgive me since I could only write 2k words in this..

I really wanted this, like quite a big chapter,but..
Sorry again..

The next chapter, most probably near the date to 5 will have more than 5k words I promise..🤞

Till then enjoy this..
Share with me how do you feel about chapter. Ignore if you find grammatical mistakes..

And..And,if you make up your mind to curse anyone..
Have patience before doing that..😭🤌

See you soon!!

Till then,
B-bye..

Have a great day...
Stay healthy, stay safe!!

~Gauri...

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The golden hue of the setting sun had bled completely into the horizon.
The day had ended, but the storm was just beginning at Thakur Haveli.

The warm wind howled against the windows, almost as if warning what was to come.

Inside, Digvijay Singh Thakur sat on his grand wooden chair, his knuckles white against the arms of it, eyes fixed on the main gate like a hawk ready to strike.

His patience was running out.
His son had disobeyed him-again.
And this time, it wasn't something Digvijay was ready to forgive.

"Vo mera beta hai... ese kaise vo un vidhwaon ki basti mein shaam tak ruk sakta hai?"
(He's my son... How could he stay in that widow colony till evening?)

His chest heaved with rage.

"Ek baar ghar aa jaye... phir dekhta hoon kaise jaata hai wapas... Shaadi kara doonga iski turant! Jimmedariyan badhegi to samjhega... Ghar kaise chalta hai, baap se baat kaise karte hain."
(Once he returns, I'll make sure he never goes back. I'll get him married right away! With responsibilities, he'll learn how to run a home... how to speak to his father.)

But before he could complete his chain of threats-
a soft chime of anklets echoed through the grand haveli.

It struck like a thunderbolt.

Digvijay's eyes shot up.
His brows furrowed in disbelief.
His gaze shifted to Sudha, his second wife, who stood frozen. The chime of anklet wasn't her..then whom??

That's when the grand double doors opened. And in walked Dhananjay.

Not as a boy seeking forgiveness.
But as a man... changed.

His strides were firm. His expression carried a rebellious calm, laced with pride.
He was still wearing the kurta he left in, but now a fresh flower garland rested on his chest, and a victorious smile curved on his lips.

One of his hands hung at his side, the other...
held someone's hand-just out of view.

Digvijay's nostrils flared. He stood sharply.

"Dhananjay!"

But before he could utter another word, Dhananjay turned toward her, his voice unwavering.

"Andar aao... abse ye tumhara hi ghar hai."
("Come in... from now on, this is your home too.")

And then... she stepped in.

Wrapped in a deep red saree, her head lowered, anklets ringing with every hesitant step.
But the trail of vermilion in her hair, the nuptial thread glistening around her neck, and the matching garland declared the unthinkable.

It was Ganga.

No longer the shy girl by the ghat.
No longer a name spoken in whispers.
Today, she wore the identity of Dhananjay Singh Thakur's wife.

Her eyes, trembling but determined, lifted slowly-meeting the piercing gazes of Digvijay, Yamini Devi, Sudha, and the stern walls of Thakur Haveli.

Walls that had once watched her walk away in pain... now bore witness to her return as a bride.

Dhananjay looked at her, voice gentle.

"Jao, bado ka aashirwad le lo."
("Go, take blessings from the elders.")

Then, pointing to Sudha,

"Vo bhi badi hai... Thakur sahab ki doosri patni. Unhe apni saheli ki tarah samajhna."
("She's also an elder... Thakur Sahib's second wife. Treat her like a friend.")

Ganga nodded quietly.

But that was the last calm breath the haveli took.

Digvijay stepped forward, voice thundering.

"Oye ladki... ek kadam aur aage mat badhana!"
("Girl... don't take another step forward!")

His eyes burned.

"Kaun hai ye, Dhananjay?! Kisi ko bhi utha ke le aayega tu iss haveli tak?!"
("Who is she, Dhananjay?! You'll bring just anyone to this house?!")

In a flash, he lunged forward, ready to snatch the garland off Dhananjay's neck-as if tearing away the truth could undo what had been done.

But Dhananjay didn't flinch.
He caught his father's wrist mid-air, his hold firm, unshaken.

"Koi bhi nahi hai ye, Thakur Sahab... meri patni hai. Ganga Dhananjay Singh Thakur..."
("She's not 'anyone', Thakur Sahab... she is my wife. Ganga. Wife of Dhananjay Singh Thakur.")

Yamini gasped.

"Kya?! Kaun Ganga?! Vo... vo vidhwa?!"
("What?! Ganga?! That... that widow?!")

Before she could say more, Dhananjay's eyes turned sharply toward her.

"Sharam kariye Dadi! Apne hi pote ko maarne chali hain!"
("Shame on you, Dadi! You were ready to destroy your own grandson!")

He pointed to himself.

"Dikh raha hai na... Ganga ka pati jinda hai. Uske bagal mein uska haath thame khada hai."
("You can see it clearly... Ganga's husband is alive. Standing right beside her, holding her hand.")

"Ainda ye shabd nahi sununga aapke muh se."
("I won't hear that word from your mouth again.")

Digvijay's voice cracked with fury.
"Dhananjay... pagal ho chuke ho tum! Tum isse shaadi kaise kar sakte ho?!"
("Dhananjay... you've lost your mind! How could you marry her?!")

Dhananjay tilted his head, sarcasm laced in calm.

"Zyada kuch nahi... saat phere, maang mein sindoor, mangalsutra, aur varmala. Ho gayi shaadi."
("Nothing too complicated... seven vows, vermilion in her hair, nuptial thread, and the garland. The marriage is done.")

"Bakwas mat karo! Tumhe pata bhi hai yeh ladki kaun hai?! Kis jagah mein rehti thi?!"
("Don't talk nonsense! Do you even know what kind of girl she is?! Where she lived?!")

Dhananjay's jaw clenched, eyes now sharp as steel.

"Sab jaanta hoon."
("I know everything.")

"Aur ab main saaf keh raha hoon... meri patni ke liye koi bhi ye shabd dobara nahi bolega."
("And let me be clear... no one will use that word for my wife again.")

"Jo hua, vo ateet tha. Vartaman mein... Ganga meri patni hai."
("What happened was in the past. In the present... Ganga is my wife.")

Then, without warning, he turned away.

"Agar itni dikkat hai aap logo ko meri patni se... to main chala jaata hoon Calcutta.Akele reh lena iss ghar mein."
("If you all have so much problem with my wife... then I'll leave for Calcutta. Live in this mansion alone.")

He reached for Ganga's hand.

"Chalo, Ganga."
("Let's go, Ganga.")

Just as they turned, Yamini Devi's voice cracked through the silence.

"Dhananjay!"

"Jab mann kiya uth ke chale gaye... jab mann kiya kisi se bhi shaadi kar liya... tumhari marzi se hi sab kuch hoga?!"
("You leave whenever you want... marry whoever you want... everything will always be your way?!")

Dhananjay turned, calm yet fierce.
"Nahi. Aaj sab kuch mere dil se hua hai. Pehli baar. Aur Ganga meri patni hai..Ye baat atal hai.."
("No. Today, everything happened from my heart. For the first time.And now Ganga is my wife.. that's undeniable..")

"Thakur Sahab..Jau apni patni ko lekar yaha se.."

Digvijay looked in his eyes,and then without a word he turned walking towards his room.

Dhananjay's lips curled into a smile, his first victory...

Yamini Devi too walked away after Digvijay,only Sudha remained, she looked at the newly wedded couple and said,

"Aap dono andar mat aana..mai bas 2 minutes mein aayi.."

(Please you both don't step in.. I'll be back in 2 minutes.."

And without any of their reply She walked into the kitchen. Dhananjay sighed and looked at Ganga,still clung to him like a feared child.

He raised his hand to touch her, coaxing, "Ganga..daro mat..koi tumhe kuch nahi karega.."

But already frightened, she immediately shut her eyes before listening to him.

Dhananjay smiled and held her hand tightly, within minutes Sudha came back with Rice filled Kalash and a plate filled with crimson Aalta.

She placed it near Ganga's feet,and with gentle smile she spoke,
"Kalash ko pair se gira kar, kadam aalte mein rakho phir Ghar ke andar.."

Ganga looked up at Dhananjay, he simply just nodded.

Hesitantly Ganga kicked the Kalash and then stepped on plate. He feet turned red with the colour. The crimson of marital life colouring her like they always belonged to her.

And slowly she took steps forward with Dhananjay..Her husband now...

~•Ganga's POV•~

Thakur Haveli...
I remember this place very well.
I remember the day my thin wrist was held by Amma, my steps guided inside by her-
Back then my frame draped in white, a veil of something unknown heavier than the fabric itself...

A burden settled on my shoulders,
of being someone's widow,of breathing when life had already stopped. People took me to death.

Amma... she was herself trembling, caught between fear and duty,
but that day-she chose me.
She saved me, even if she couldn't save herself...

But today,
today is different.

Now I stand in front of this same Haveli, the towering gates are still cold, still silent, but the air around me has changed.

My wrist is held again-
not by Amma, but by her son.
The same blood, the same strength...

But this time, his grip is firmer.
Not of fear-
but of claim.

He is guiding me inside... again.
But not as a widow. Not as someone's leftover fate.

Today, I walk in as his woman.
A woman he chose.
A woman he now calls his.

But the walls of this Haveli hasn't really changed. Not even people here.

Yamini Devi, I remember her. I despise her,how witch of that woman who tried to kill her own grandchild. I remember the day she tried to kill My Amma.
And I curse myself today for not pushing her in those same staircases or maybe from the edge of the well. Chudail...

But I bet, you are not gonna live peacefully Badhiya.. if I'm here. After all, I'm Ganga..

But then,my eyes shifted to Digvijay Singh Thakur.
The man, Amma spent every ounce of herself. But the man,who didn't even look at her.
I remember, that day when Amma tried to hold back onto me,to save me. He only sent me away and even yelled at Amma for taking me here..

That was the last time I saw. Last time I saw Amma..who still lives in my heart. Her touch, her care still lingers in my mind. I spent only months with her and she still became a part of me that I miss more than I'll ever be able to miss anything..

But how? How could he..
He, the man who spent years with her couldn't even think about her once before marrying again..

He married a second time. Gave Amma's place to someone else.. Who now stood in front of me.
I don't need to recognise her, I already did.

She is his second wife..
And Amma is no more.

I still urge to hear her anklet's chime echoing in the haveli, sleep on her lap listening to her melodious lullaby. I miss her than how couldn't this Haveli.

Don't the walls remember her.. or they even forgot the way people of this Haveli did..

Because today..after 20 years.
Everything has changed.

When I walked in taking support of Dhananjay, they didn't recognise me but the hate for me remain unchanged.

I trembled the way mother son almost yelled on me, clinging to Dhanajay's arm even tighter. But the moment he spoke for me.
The warmth of comfort ran in my body. My eyes settled on him.

He said..
He said. I'm. I'm his wife..

Didn't he just put his name behind mine.
Ganga Dhananjay Singh Thakur...

Beautiful than any other word I eager heard. The feeling alone is beautiful that anything I ever experienced.. This name.. isn't just a name.
It's my heartbeat sound now..

I accept this. I accept his claim. His name. And him..

Only if he does...

Yes..he still didn't accept me. Not as his wife. Not as anything in his life rather than just a tag..

We are not married!

The crimson I'm draped in isn't something he gave me,it is something he asked me to keep.

The red saree, the jewellery even the mangalsutra and Sindoor. He simply handed over to me. To wear and pretend his wife..

I don't know why this broke my heart than anything.
This evening,on the ghat. The way he asked me,

"Will you marry me Ganga.."

My cheeks flushed, I smiled immediately. My heart raced still I was to put my hand on his palm but before that he spoke what I didn't expected. Ever in my life.

"My Baba wants me marry someone else of his choice.. I'm not ready for marriage..Not ready to marry anyone.."

His eyes met mine. Mine were to bleed..

I was to shatter, before that he held my hand again.

"Ganga.. moreover..I don't want that tag on you.. I came here to break Digvijay Thakur's ego into pieces.. take the revenge of Ma's..Ma's death... but alone I feel. I feel nothing..
I want you to be by my side..
Just stand by my side, till the day.."

Not the deadline you needed to tell me stupid. I would spend my entire life, give up on it, if it can help you any bit.

My eyes welled up still I nodded.

If I can spend a single day with you. I'm ready to die at the end. Right in your arms...

Looking in your eyes..
And whispering in your ears..

That, Dhananjay Singh Thakur,
You mean life to me...