Roses dripping with blood.

In her gift-wrapped box, that's what she witnessed. 

A Sign. A fatal one. A sign that is enigmatic. 

The way she panicked ripped my heart apart in a million pieces. Her gorgeous eyes were brimming with frustration, sadness, fear, and anger that I couldn't decipher.

I witnessed her panic, trembling fingers, shaking body, and wrapping her arms around me, crying repeatedly. I am able to feel the beat of her heart, trembling with emotion, her body wrapped around me for protection.

A few hours ago, I took her to her house, met Rehan when he came back from school and met her motherly Massi, but she stayed in my mind. My Sunflower. Soft and fragile. I am aware that I must protect her and I will certainly do so. I will ensure that she is safe and secure in my presence. Within two hours, she will be mine forever. Our wedding date is today, and she recommended a court marriage that we accepted with great enthusiasm. To me, her choices matter the most. 

Despite my family's happiness, I am also extremely excited to have her as my wife. While taking a shower, I almost tripped twice because of my excitement. If someone saw me like that, the person would be shocked watching me trip with excitement as I am never the clumsy one, I am the most organized one in our house. As I stood in front of the mirror, I adjusted my tie and laughed at the thoughts that came to my mind, but they were still persistent in my mind as I focused on her crying and bawling eyes. I spent the entire afternoon trying to soothe her and she fell asleep, so I'm thankful she didn't catch a cold a few hours before our wedding.

"Veer, Are you there?" My mother's voice came from the other side of the door and I can tell that she is more excited than me today because she is the calm person in our family besides Dadi is the calm one too but I can envision her already dancing like her body is on fire.

'knock. knock'

"Mr. Rajveer, are you in there or your aged mother should kick the door?" This time my mother's voice came and I can't help but smile at her sarcasm at this moment. Taking a last look at myself in the full-length mirror, I opened the door where my sweet mother was standing with a frown resting on her face looking too beautiful for my eyes in her light red saree with golden embroidery and a little jewelry to top her beauty.

"You look beautiful, My Lady." I said bowing in front of her and she couldn't help but chuckle at my words.

"Seems like Adhvika changed you a lot." She spoke in between her chuckles and for the first time, my body heated up and goosebumps arose. "Oh Dear Krishna, My Veer is blushing." I looked at her wide eyes suddenly feeling so exposed and embarrassed as it never happened to me and here she is witnessing it all.

"Aren't we getting late?" I raised an eyebrow in question so that she could leave this topic and focus on the upcoming event for which I tripped that I would not mention to her for sure.

"Yeah yeah, I do know and I came to check on you because you were the only one left behind." She gave a nod as if taking notes on my behavior.

"Then we should hurry up, it's already too late." I suggested and then next we both walked side by side down the stairs of the main hall where my whole family was all set and ready wearing knowing smirks. Now I am sure we share the same blood without even testing.

"My Grandson looks more handsome than my son looked at his wedding." My Dadi chirps after eyeing me for a good long minute to ensure that everything is perfect. Her statement was surely to make my Dad a bit jealous because I saw a little pout for the first time but he covered it immediately, My lips almost turned upside forming a smile but I covered it in an instant. 

"Son, don't get your hopes up I am still young and hot at this age. You can't— Hell no one can beat me." My Dad speaks up right after my grandmother's statement. Everyone present burst out laughing at his comment. My father is definitely self-obsessed.

"Okay please everyone, I want to announce that we are late and I pretty sure know that my Bhabhi is already waiting in the courtroom. So Please drop everything and let's head toward the wedding my dearest brother." Anita, my cousin's sister— My only cousin sister came into the view wearing a beautiful sky blue anarkali with matching heels and a matching piece of jewelry. She sure as hell looks like a fashion designer at this point where her everything is perfect. 

"Yes Yes, My Granddaughter is absolutely right, Let's go before it's too late." My grandfather Adesh Singh Rathore speaks and everyone shuts up at his voice. He is not the one we should fear from but he is the elder person in our family and has this dark Aura surrounding him. Everyone gave nods and then the next we were sitting in our respective cars and driving our way towards the court. The whole of my mind was filled with her but then it went to the misunderstanding which was still lingering between us. I know I am late to prove the photos and video tapes wrong but as soon as possible I will do that task. My friend who is in cybersecurity helped me a lot to figure out the photo editing done to put direct blame on me.

"Brother, Are you there." A hand waved in front of me to bring me out of my own thoughts. I glanced at the person standing in front of me now giving me a teasing smirk.

"You want me to pull your perfectly styled hair." My tone is dangerous but with sarcasm laced with it. I stepped out of the passenger side seat and looked at my sister's face which was horrible after what I said but soon a smirk pulled up and now I know what's coming my way. 

"It'd be better if you do it to your wife." Her tone is now teasing and I want to bury my head because of the blush creeping up. Never in my life did I blush, smile, and be nervous like the way I am now. I rolled my eyes at her statement and joined my family waiting at the front of the courtroom door where the guards were standing. Anita followed my lead and I can almost picture her ear-to-ear wide grin on her face after all she won a damn word fight from me.

Soon we are inside the court where my eyes immediately found hers and then roamed all over her taking in her beauty. She is wearing an embroidered saree of light red colour a simple touch of makeup on her pale face and a neckpiece adorning her slender neck. A smiled pulled up on face after seeing her, almost assuring her as I watched her left hand clenching and unclenching with the nerves. I looked over at her right hand which is in the healing process.

"Tsk..Tsk, My brother, stop eye-fucking her in front of everyone." Anita whispered only for my ears to hear her teasing and extremely filthy mouth and I don't want to imagine all those things. 

"I'm not." I whispered back and glanced at her who is now smiling and greeting my family members almost seeming too happy but I know the facade she is putting up for everyone but she can never hide her true emotions from me. I can tell that her mind is wandering somewhere else deep inside her thoughts.

I moved towards her Massi who is holding little Rehan in her arms. Seeing me coming towards them, he almost jumped from his Dadi's hold and ran towards me in my arms. He looks more cute wearing a black tuxedo which I can tell is custom made and his hair disheveled. 

"You look handsome. My Little." I spoke tapping his cheeks a little bit and he giggled and planted a kiss on my cheek. "You too Dad." He said in his cute voice. Before I could talk to him further he was stolen by a witch, I mean my sister of course who else would dare to steal my baby from me.

I watched both of them giggling together, so I decided to greet Adhvi's Massi. After seeking her blessings, I moved towards Adhvika who is standing with my mother but couldn't talk as our lawyer has already arrived by now and took a seat. The next came in is the marriage registrar behind the lawyer. We sent the application 15 days ago about the marriage and now here we are standing in the courtroom full with our families around with happiness radiating off from their faces. 

"I hope there are no objections to this wedding." Our lawyer speaks to us as our families gathered around me and Adhvika upon their arrival. "No." My Grandfather confirmed before the proceeding started. I know this procedure had to be done a few days ago but it doesn't matter because we don't have any objections towards this marriage. The marriage official nodded before going through the paperwork. We laid our identity cards on the table before he could ask. Then a document is passed to us along with a pen.

"You both must sign it properly to get the legal marriage certificate without any problems which may arise if you signed at the wrong place and we have to do this whole process again." Our family lawyer who is a nice gentleman and worked for our family for about 32 years spoke and we nodded before we started signing the documents one by one. I looked over at Adhvika whose hands were trembling a little but I assured her by giving her left hand a light squeeze. She looked at me with her doe-eyes sparkling and I think she might cry at this moment but she blinked away the tears that were forming and I knew she was the strongest woman I've ever met.

"You are now pronounced as legal husband and wife in front of all and everyone." The marriage officer nodded and everyone present in the room clapped for both of us. Before we were asked for a photograph, I took hold of Adhvi's left hand which took her by surprise as she looked at me with shock written all over her face. Giving her a light assuring nod I pulled out a red box from my suit's pocket and there was a huge silence in this room as everyone watched me open the red box.

I pulled out the diamond ring from the box and I can sure as hell confirm that everyone's jaw is on the ground including my wife's. Fuck the title suits her the best. Raising her hand a bit high, I slipped the ring on her ring finger and it fits her perfectly like she fits with me. I gave a feather-light kiss on her knuckles and then there is a shuttering of the camera which captured the best moment of my life. Everyone clapped once more and then hugged each other congratulating them. The marriage officer gave me a smile before he went outside the room leaving our family privacy. 

"Congratulations, Mr and Mrs. Rathore." Our Lawyer Dev congratulated us with a smile before he left too. I glanced at my wife who was eyeing me and gulped slowly when I faced her to take a better look at her. That's when I realized I was still holding her little hand in mine. I looked at her again and placed a kiss on the back of her hand sealing our marriage, my lips lingering over her smooth skin a little longer.

"Mine." I whispered for her ears only and the next I see is my wife blushing which makes my heart flutter more than it ever did with anyone before her.