Cittaja || Indian Historical Romance

46.

"Do you see little bright spot next to it.... "Shakra pointed to the little bright star. "That is Arundhati Nakshatra. "

Arundhati.

She was the mind daughter of Brahma who was reborn as Kardama's daughter—the illustrious wife of Vashistha—her brilliance, which is unchallenged even today. Her name is synonymous with greatness that no other woman has reached. Even the saptarishis listen to her discourse on Vedas and Vedanta.

Her fame was so brilliant that she has a spot in the saptarishi Nakshatra, next to the bright star representing Vashistha Maharishi.

The husband, during the time of marriage, points the star of Arundhati to the wife, giving her the inspiration to reach the same level of greatness and find her position equal to her husband as the great Seer Arundhati had.

Shakra looked at Mayurakshi while she stared into the sky at the great constellation and the bright star just near it. Mayurakshi spotted the brilliant star by it.

After a few moments, their marriage was done. Raashi's efforts were all in vain.

Shatrujit saw Mayurakshi. He signaled to Gowri, and she instantly brought a tray. "I welcome you to our family, Rajkumari. This is a welcoming gift from my side." They gave a large royal order to her. Shatrujit had gifted her a beautiful mansion on the banks of Godavari.

Mayurakshi just looked at it in wonder. She hadn't expected anything more than what she had already received. It made sense to her now why everyone from the Kalika Empire was giving her gifts. They all had already known that Shatrujit wanted Mayurakshi to be married to Shakrajit.

"Thank you..." She thanked him. Everyone from the Kalika Empire congratulated them on the wedding.

Karma came ahead with a tray. "I suppose it is only fair that you accept this now." The gift that Shakra had sent for her, which she had earlier, refused. Sri Chandika's nosering. Mayurakshi turned to look at Shakra. He smiled at her and encouraged her to take it.

"Both of you must be hungry. You have been fasting for so long. Go eat something first." Amritakumari suggested to the two of them. The wedding had started early in the morning, during Brahma Muhurta. It had gone through the whole day.

Mayurakshi and Shakra sat in a corner to eat food. The guests had all finished their dinner. They served the dinner to the couple who sat next to each other. Two curries, two rice dishes, sambhar, two fried items, and two sweet varieties. Shakra knew her love of sweets and saved one of his sweets for her. Her mood would especially be bad with the suddenness of everything. She would want to eat more sweets.

Shakra just couldn't stop looking at her. It still felt like a dream. Mayurakshi was married to him.

"You are Mayurakshi, right?" He asked softly. The unusual softness surprised her. He was usually playful with her.

"Why are you asking silly questions?"

"I don't know. It still feels like a dream. I have dreamed for 8 years how it would be if you were my wife, but now I worry that this is nothing but a dream."

"I wouldn't put it past you to make sure your dreams become reality. I had little a choice."

"I have no hand in this one event, Mayurakshi."

"You want me to believe that you have no hand in forcing all of them? What do you think I am? A child?"

"I wouldn't insist on marrying you if you were a child." She rolled her eyes at his commentary and returned to her food.

Finishing their food, they sent the bride and the groom into their chamber. Mayurakshi returned to her room and noticed everything being packed by her maids. When she entered, all of them looked at her. The girls saw the mangalsutra over her neck and the toe ring on her second toe. Her white saree with golden borders made her look like a goddess.