The Morning Light — Before the Vows
The sun rose early in Darjeeling that morning — as if it, too, didn't want to miss the wedding.
The town was quiet but buzzing under the surface. The Sharma house was draped in cream and gold, with flowers lining every balcony.
Ruhi stood in front of the mirror, her red lehenga spread around her like a story unfolding. The kalire jingled softly with every breath she took.
Simran stood behind her, tying her necklace.
"You ready?" Simran asked, softly.
Ruhi nodded."Do brides ever really feel ready?"
Simran smiled.
"Only when they know they're not losing themselves — just choosing someone who makes them more of who they are."
💬 Rudra and Aarav — One Last Laugh
In the other house, Rudra was struggling with his sherwani buttons.
"I feel like a royal curtain," he groaned.
Aarav — sling still on — walked in, wearing a light ivory kurta.
"I've seen curtains with more elegance," he smirked.
They both laughed.
Then Aarav stepped closer and said, "You did it, bro. You held on — through every fight, every city, every silence."
Rudra looked at his friend. "You're not just my best man. You're the reason I stayed sane."
Aarav smiled. "Then let's get you married before either of us cries and ruins our tough-guy image."
💐 The Mandap — A Poetry of Marigolds and Sky
The mandap was set on a gentle hill, under an open sky.
Ruhi walked in, veil trailing behind her, eyes fixed ahead — not on the crowd, not on the cameras, but on one boy.
The same boy she'd once called arrogant, insufferable, and entirely too full of himself.
Now… the man she'd fight the world for.
Rudra's breath hitched as he saw her.
"You're glowing," he whispered when she reached the mandap.
"I'm sweating," she whispered back.
They both laughed — and suddenly, the crowd melted away.
🔥 The Seven Vows — But with a Twist
Instead of traditional vows, Ruhi and Rudra added their own.
Each time they walked around the sacred fire, they whispered something only they could hear.
First round:Rudra — "I vow to never skip your poetry readings."Ruhi — "I vow to never throw your basketball trophies… even during fights."
Second round:Rudra — "I vow to always choose you over ego."Ruhi — "I vow to fight fair, and love softer."
Third round:Rudra — "When the world doubts us, I'll believe harder."Ruhi — "When I doubt myself, I'll let your voice be louder."
By the end, everyone was crying — including the priest.
📜 Simran's Blessing — A Poem Instead of a Speech
During the ceremony, Simran stepped up with a mic. She didn't announce anything. She just read:
*"This isn't the end of a book.It's the chapter where the author meets their reader.
And decides —
'Let's write the rest together.'"*
🗣️ Aarav's Speech — The Final Toast
Still in his sling, Aarav stood before the crowd and gave one last speech.
"We talk a lot about love.But what I saw between these two wasn't just love.It was loyalty.
In late nights.In silence.In chaos.
They taught me that home isn't a place.It's a person who remembers who you were —Even when you forget."
Everyone applauded.
But Rudra just stared at his friend, eyes glassy.
📓 Beyond the Buzzer – Page 196
*"The loudest vows are not spoken at the mandap.
They are lived in the silence of everyday life."*
💍 The Moment — "You May Call Her Yours"
The mangalsutra.The sindoor.The garlands.
It all passed in a blur.
But when the priest said,"You may now call her yours,"Rudra didn't say anything.
He just pulled her closer and whispered:
"I always did."
📷 The Photo That Broke the Internet
Aarav clicked it:
Ruhi, laughing mid-tear
Rudra, head leaning into her shoulder
Simran clapping in the background
The Himalayas just peeking behind the mandap
Caption:
"Two hearts. One book. A million pages left to write."
The photo went viral.
But for them, it was never about the internet.
It was about forever.
🏡 That Night — Their First Page Together
After the wedding, when the noise quieted and the guests left…
Ruhi and Rudra sat alone in their room. Still in wedding clothes. Still high on adrenaline and emotion.
Rudra handed her a pen.
"Let's write the first page," he said.
Ruhi smiled, opened the diary Simran had gifted, and wrote:
*"Day One.He made tea without sugar.I drank it anyway.
Because love isn't always sweet.But it's always warm."*
💫 End of Chapter 42