The private discussion came to an end.
Maheshwar Swamy cleared his throat, breaking the lingering silence.
"It's a yes from our end."
He paused for a moment, his gaze steady, maintaining firm eye contact.
A sign of relief fluttered across Devendra Pratap's face, softening his features into a calm smile—only for it to flicker into concern a moment later.
"Please share your expectations with us," he asked, his tone composed yet serious.
Dowry was a common practice in their village and openly discussed.
Maheshwar Swamy laughed aloud, briefly lightening the serious atmosphere, before his voice turned firm again.
"We seek an alliance with a noble family with values, morals, and self-respect. As for wealth..." he paused, a faint smile touching his lips, "we have enough for generations to come."
He took a deep breath. His expression shifted to something unreadable yet thoughtful.
"However," he continued, "we would like to know the goldsmith who crafted the marvelous necklace Rithanya is wearing."
Devendra Pratap was pleasantly surprised, and it took him a few seconds for the words to sink in before he could respond.
Gesturing toward Rithanya with pride and enthusiasm, he said, "Oh! The jewellery you see is from my business in a distant city, where ornaments are crafted by goldsmiths trained and equipped with precise, sophisticated instruments."
Maheshwar Swamy remained silent for a while, as if weighing something in his mind. Then, with quiet certainty, he laid down an offer.
"I propose to purchase jewellery for my son's wedding from your business. It would be a pure business deal, not a dowry."
The offer caught Devendra Pratap off guard, and he was unable to respond immediately.
His surprise lingered-followed by a quiet, unmistakable satisfaction. He exchanged a brief glance with Kaamini Rani, gathering his thoughts for a worthy reply.
Kaamini exchanged a fleeting glance with Devendra Pratap before quickly looking away.
"No compulsion," Maheshwar Swamy added calmly.
"This alliance stands with or without the deal. It is just that we are astonished by the intrinsic craftsmanship and artistic beauty of the jewellery and wish to invest our time and money in the business."
His tone was firm and unwavering, leaving no room for doubt about his intentions.
For the briefest moment, Raghav’s expression stiffened—before a faint smile touched his lips.
Devendra Pratap nodded, regaining his composure.
"Oh! I see... Certainly... I will send one of our staff to your residence. You may choose the best pieces for the wedding. Business discussions can happen anytime at your convenience."
Devendra Pratap responded smoothly, presenting his views with dignity while giving the necessary space and respect to the offer.
A strange uneasiness stirred within Rithanya as the conversation continued to revolve around the necklace.
"Shall we consider this deal as an approval of the proposal from your end?"
Ratnakar Acharya beamed with excitement as his mediation proved fruitful.
"Yes, of course. Rithanya is lucky to be part of such a well-known family."
Devendra Pratap's response surprised everyone in his family and village, as he had a record of turning down proposals. This was rare for a girl's father in a village where fathers of daughters readily agreed to proposals from the groom's side.
Ratnakar Acharya exchanged knowing glances with both families.
Tradition dictated the path ahead-once the heads of both families agreed, the alliance was considered sealed and moved forward.
The voices of the bride and groom were rarely sought; their consent was assumed, as it was customary for children to agree with their parents' decisions.
"As both families have agreed," he announced, "shall we proceed with the formal engagement by conducting the auspicious betel leaves exchange ceremony?"
Ratnakar Acharya received nods of approval from both sides. He performed the duties of a pandit and instructed them to quickly make arrangements for the necessary elements of the ritual.
Carpets were laid out, and both families settled opposite each other. Rithanya and Raghav were seated facing one another, surrounded by their families.
She lowered herself into place without lifting her gaze. The urge to look up flickered for a brief moment-then faded, as though it had no place here.
The heads of the families, along with their wives, stood facing each other, holding beautifully adorned trays.
Fresh green betel leaves, turmeric, vermilion, fruits, and wedding garments rested upon them-a silk saree for the bride and a pristine dhoti-kurta set for the groom, adorned with delicate strands of jasmine, whose fragrance filled the air with the spirit of celebration.
At the pandit's instruction, the trays of betel leaves were exchanged, completing the engagement ceremony in a simple and traditional manner.
The movements were precise, practiced-as though every step had been lived a hundred times before. No pause, no hesitation... no space for interruption.
The horoscopes were matched, and an auspicious date was chosen-a month away.
"In a month's time, the sacred fire of the wedding ceremony will bind these two birds for a lifetime," the pandit said, gesturing toward Rithanya and Raghav, his voice filled with joy.
Raghav let out a faint smile, his gaze steady but distant. He did not look at her-not out of hesitation, but with the quiet discipline of someone who had grown up knowing exactly what was expected of him in a traditional household.
Rithanya couldn't hear anything but...
Sacred fire...
Birds...
The words echoed, louder than the voices around her.
She sat still, her fingers curling ever so slightly into the fabric of her saree.
Something about it didn't feel like a blessing.
Everyone agreed and congratulated the families. Decisions moved swiftly, sealing themselves in words and rituals-none of which had asked anything of her.
Blessings followed, and slowly, the gathering began to disperse, with the groom's family taking their leave with warmth and respect.
After everyone had left, Rithanya's parents were beaming with joy. Devendra Pratap stepped out with renewed enthusiasm to make some urgent arrangements.
Kaamini Rani was full of life, relief clearly evident on her face.
Rithanya, however, was in a state of astonishment.
Back in her room, as she changed into her everyday clothes, a strange stillness settled within her. Everything had happened so quickly. In just a few hours, her life had shifted in ways she hadn't fully grasped yet.
The engagement was over—an event she had waited for so long. The entire day felt unreal.
Is this a dream?
Will I truly become a part of the Aranthad family in a month's time?
The questions echoed softly in her mind as reality slowly sank in. She sat by the window, her eyes distant, her gaze fixed-her mind racing with thoughts.
Will the sacred fire bind her...
or was it already beginning to burn?
And in the haunting echoes of the prophecy—who, truly, was the golden bird?
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Author's Note:
Do share your thoughts in the comments. 🤍
Every vote matters to Rithanya’s journey.
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