Adhiraj walked to Ruhanika angrily and stood in front of her with crossed hands.

"I'm marrying your friend today at all costs. You have a simple choice, either walk away from here silently or let this wedding happen without any drama. Which one are you picking?" He asked with attitude.

"Hahaa, nice joke. I won't let my bestfriend get married to a beast like you. She's a beauty that a beast like you doesn't deserve" Ruhanika too crossed her arms and replied him.

"Fine let's do it your way. I'll get married to her no matter what but if you create problems, I'll marry her and won't let you meet her ever. I'll cut off all ways of you contacting her. I'll take her away with me where you can't reach her. Imagine after a few years when we will have 3-4 kids I still won't let you meet her. You'll have nieces and nephews who won't remember you at all. Now say, will you create any drama?" Adhiraj asked sternly as Rudraansh and Kaira looked at Adhiraj with wide eyes since no one has dared to talk to Ruhanika so brashly.

"She won't marry you" Ruhanika said in a small voice.

"That's between me and Kaira. Who are you?" Adhiraj held Kaira's hand in his holding Ruhanika's gaze.

"Kayu... You are my friend" Ruhanika looked at Kaira sadly.

"And will always be. Just let this marriage happen. It is about the respect of both families. Neither me nor him want to be married but the circumstances are forcing us to be married. And about seperation, we can file for dissolution within a few months, right?" Kaira explained to her friend.

"You know this is wrong. People will talk for a few days and then they'll jump onto the next hot topic. You both don't want to be married so why are you forcing yourselves into the mess. No marriage works without love and respect, are you guys even friends? There needs to be a relation between you two or else you'll both regret this in future" Ruhanika explained to both Kaira and Adhiraj.

"I'm not a pedophile Miss Shekhawat. The reason I was marrying Ishani was known to her and she had agreed and now Kaira too knows it. If today I return to my palace without a bride, I'll be the talk of the town for years and its going to reflect badly on my image and my business. I can't lose my face infront of people when they depend on me for their earnings" Adhiraj looked at Ruhanika with a look asking her to understand the gravity of the situation.

"I don't know whether I can trust you or not and she..." Ruhanika looked at Kaira.

"She doesn't know cunningness. She's an angel. Don't let the angel fall" Ruhanika placed Kaira's other hand in Adhiraj's hand.

"And I have my eyes, ears and everything on you. Don't you dare hurt my bestie. I'll kick your ass so hard that you'll see stars in broad daylight" Ruhanika tapped Kaira's hand and glared at Adhiraj.

"As if I'd allow you in 50m radius of me if at all" He glared back at her.

"You don't speak to her like that" Rudraansh stepped infront of Ruhanika and shook his head at Adhiraj asking him to step down.

"After you" Adhiraj rolled his eyes and looked at Kaira, motioning her to walk.

"Yeah" Kaira and Adhiraj walked to the mandap as everyone gasped at the change in the bride.

Kaira sat down on to Adhiraj's right hand side as Manisha and all soon settled around.

"You look beautiful" Adhiraj whispered in Kaira's ears making her give him a small smile. Kaira dressed in a deep red lehenga, looking like a royal Rajasthani bride, just the right woman who should stand proud beside a man like Adhiraj who was dressed in cream sherwani and a red velvet shawl with a necklace of pearls around his neck. The royal sword sat on his left side.

"Look at that girl. 0 dressing sense. Doesn't she have clothes for attending weddings?" Kaira looked ahead at the group of ladies gossiping amongst themselves as Ruhanika sat beside Kaira to take care of her incase she needs anything. Kaira was to stand up and give the ladies a befitting reply but Ruhanika stopped her saying it didn't matter.

"You get married, I'll handle the ladies later. My one and only friend is getting married, I should enjoy no?" Ruhanika said with a small smile.

"We have 4 pheras because for the first three pheras both you and him are seperate individuals and in the last phera you would be counted as one. You will both take 7 steps around the sacred fire after saying your vows. In total you will have 7 vows." The royal priest said handing both of them handful of rice grains.

"Repeat after me Rana ji" The priest said looking at Adhiraj.

"The first phera: Dharma" Adhiraj said pouring the rice grains out of his hands into the holy fire.

"We will marry the traditional style. I already have my vows memorized" He said holding her delicate hand in his.

"Me too" She smiled at him shyly.

" I am responsible for the home and take charge of all household responsibilities." Kaira repeated with her face getting dull with every word being uttered.

Adhiraj took Kaira's hand and guided her infront of him so they could walk around the fire as she got lost in the memories of the past. With every step she took, her heart broke slightly. 

"The second phera: Arth." The priest handed them rice grains again as Adhiraj repeated the process. Adhiraj said his vows followed by Kaira.

" I will be by your side and be your courage and strength. I will rejoice in your happiness. In return, you will love me alone." Kaira said in a monotonic voice.

"Aren't you getting too close to Kavisha? Promises of love with me but fun and laughter with her" She asked burning in jealousy.

"Ohh my sweet pea, she's just a friend and I've only given you the promises of love, not to any other girl except you. I love you alone" He said cupping her face and pecking her nose that got red in anger.

"In the third phera: Kama" The priest asked both of them to say their vows. 

"Let me tell you, I'm a one-woman man" He looked at her haughtily.

"Even I'm a one-man woman"

"So let me hug you na" He said sweetly.

"You are such a baby" She said hugging him lightly as he pulled her tighter.

"Last phera: Moksha" Adhiraj stepped ahead of Kaira and walked around the sacred fire. Ruhanika noticed the way Kaira paled with every phera, resembling a ghost.

"Come here sweet pea" He called Kaira close and took the warmth in his hands and roamed his hands over her head.

"Aren't you the cutest boy I know?" She asked teasing him.

"Shut up. I'm doing this so both of us pass in the exams" He said pulling her out of the temple.

"Whoever sits down first will rule the married life" The royal priest said with a smile attempting to lighten the atmosphere.

"Sit" Ruhanika pushed Kaira onto the chair on Adhiraj's left. Adhiraj and Rudraansh looked at Ruhanika confused at seeing Kaira so out of character. Adhiraj sat down beside Kaira. Soon he filled her partition with sindoor and made her wear the mangalsutra.

"Shaadi sampan hui" The priest announced as Manisha and Adhiraj's parents hugged the couple.

"Kayu" Ruhanika held Kaira in the hug a little longer when a tear slid down Kaira's eye.

"What happened?" Ruhanika asked noticing Kaira's sulken mood but before she could reply, Kaira was pulled away by her mother for other rituals.

Ruhanika held Kaira's hand until the very end.  Kaira and Adhiraj were served dinner but Kaira pecked on food and asked Adhiraj to complete the plate. Not wanting to disrespect food, Adhiraj forced Kaira to have some more as he too ate beyond his capacity. 

Kaira hugged everyone without crying but everyone sensed the damp mood. Ruhanika and Rudraansh held her close.

"What's going on Kayu? You are scaring me" Rudraansh asked placing his hand on her head.

"Rish...Rishav... We... Vows...Us" Kaira said hyperventilating as Ruhanika hugged her tightly.

"Calm down Kayu... I'm with you" Ruhanika looked at Adhiraj asking him to understand the situation. Adhiraj nodded his head slightly as he stood by the car.

"Breathe. Breathe with me" Rudraansh quickly called for water as Ruhanika tried to calm down Kaira. She drank the water and looked at Ruhanika with tears.

"Rishav..." Kaira whispered as a tear slid down her left eye.

"Kaira..." Adhiraj softly called her name, making her turn around.

"We are getting late. Miss Shekhawat and Rathore can stay the night with us" Adhiraj said walking towards her. Kaira nodded her head and left Ruhanika.