Rajvansh Haveli – The First Morning After the Wedding****
The sun had barely stretched its arms across the sky when Yukti stirred awake in the softly lit bedroom of the Rajvansh Haveli. The room still smelled of fresh mogra and sandalwood — traces of wedding rituals that had only just ended.
Wrapped in a crimson saree, Yukti stood before the tall antique mirror, her eyes half-lidded from sleep but her movements precise. She had already freshened up, and now struggled with the final piece of her attire — the delicate dori of her blouse, which refused to cooperate.
She tried reaching back, twisting, fumbling. Her bangles jingled, strands of damp hair stuck to her back, and her patience was clearly thinning.
Yukti (muttering): “Uff... yeh dori bhi na... kis angle se bandhu?”
Suddenly, a sleepy, husky voice filled the air behind her.
Yuvraj: “Need help, Mrs. Rajvansh?”
She froze, looking at his reflection in the mirror. Yuvraj stood at the bedroom door, shirtless, towel in hand, his hair still wet from a quick shower. He smirked — lazy, teasing, and entirely too good-looking for 7:30 a.m.
She turned away slightly, clutching the dori. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”
Yuvraj (stepping closer): “I wasn’t. But the sound of my wife fighting with a string woke me up.”
Yukti (half embarrassed, half laughing): “It’s not funny.”
He took the towel from her hand, gently setting it aside, and stood behind her. His fingers brushed her bare back, slow and careful, as he picked up the dori.
Yuvraj (softly): “May I?”
She gave a small nod, her breath catching for a second.
He began tying the knot — his fingers brushing the curve of her back, slow, precise. Neither of them spoke. The air buzzed with unspoken emotion. His gaze occasionally met hers in the mirror — intense, unreadable.
Once the knot was secure, he didn’t move back.
Yuvraj (still close): “There. Safe and scandal-free.”
She turned slightly toward him, her eyes meeting his. “Thank you.”
Yuvraj: “I’m your husband now, Mrs. Rajvansh. I come with blouse-dori privileges.”
She chuckled, then hesitated — her phone was buzzing gently on the table. The screen lit up with a name:
Yukti Malhotra.
She picked it up, stared for a second, then quietly opened her settings. Her fingers hovered before she began typing.
Name: Yukti Yuvraj Rajvansh 💗
Yuvraj noticed. He walked over and gently took the phone from her hand, reading the new name.
Yuvraj (surprised): “You changed it?”
She met his eyes, steady and warm. “Haan. Not because I had to. Because I wanted to. It feels... right.”
His expression softened. He stepped closer, leaned down, and touched his forehead to hers.
Yuvraj (whispering): “Mrs. Yukti Yuvraj Rajvansh... has a dangerously beautiful ring to it.”
Yukti (teasing): “Dangerous for you, you mean?”
He chuckled. “Clearly.”
A knock at the door broke the moment. Manjri’s voice floated through, gentle and affectionate. “Yukti beta? Aajao... chai tayyar hai.”
Yukti smiled, picking up her bangles and slipping them on.
As she turned to leave, Yuvraj called out, “Wait.”
She turned. He raised his phone and clicked a quick picture of her — saree, sindoor, blush and all.
Yuvraj (grinning): “First morning. I had to.”
Yukti: “You’re impossible.”
Yuvraj: “And you’re mine.”
Hand in hand, they walked toward the door — into a day full of teasing family, hot chai, and new beginnings.
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