As Varsha's eyes scanned the jewellery her mind started contemplating their cost and her heart started fluttering as she saw the first piece of jewellery, the Choodamani (head gear). As the maid was about to place it in her head she stopped the maid and said taking it in her hand, "Hmm... Let it be." she said in a low voice her eyes minutely analysing the intricate and stunning piece of jewellery.

"What happened Rajkumariji, you don't like it? I thought you would like.. " Hira's voice trailed of. Looking up from the jewel, Varsha smiled kindly but her smile had a mix of anxiety in it. "Hmm... It's beautiful... I... I.. " she didn't know how to put it. She was a young girl but due to earning a living for a long time and with a mind set that she wouldn't need to work hard after marriage, she had been dreaming of marriage since she had not even entirely grown up. From the time her parents died, marriage has been her only hope and hence she had too many sentiments attached to it. She had been dreaming about it for about 4 years now, she wanted Rajkumar to place the valuable symbol of a married woman, in her head but she couldn't bring the words to her lips.

She felt like it would be to bold of her to speak in such a manner but that wasn't the only reason, she feared to hurt the feelings of her new found sister who had lost the company of her husband at such a young age. But maybe as lucky as she was turning out to be in life, the situation favoured her as the old woman from earlier came in and just from her entry the air seemed to catch the restlessness too. "You lazy girls, will you take all day? The prince has to reach the palace till night atleast. Will your hands keep working like that of a honeybee or is it only your mouths that seemed to do any work at all?" she asked in her authoritative tone scaring everyone including Hira which she noticed. What she didn't notice was she had scared the princess too and she had stood up.

"Oh princess! Why are you standing, sit. I will myself put all the jewellery on you. These people are useless!" she exclaimed and in her dominating nature the Choodamani in the princess hand went unnoticed. She decided to fix the complicated hair jewellery first and started working on it and Varsha was awestruck at the beauty of each jewel, that looked like the best craftsmanship of many artists together.

After fixing it she slowly bent to her feet to place the payal, when Varsha stopped her, "I can't let you touch my feet for you are way elder.... " she said awkwardly yet in a firm voice. She didn't know what to address them, because they were way elder than her. The maid was taken aback at the reverence the little girl had. She smiled, "It's my place... It's my duty princess." she said and Varsha shook her head, "I will wear it on my own." she said with a smile and she wore it admiring the beauty of it. She then also placed the toe jewellery on her toe.

Then the old lady slowly placed the waist band on Varsha's thin waist, "You should eat more." she said and Varsha just blushed at that. It was really awkward for her to let someone do things for her but the stubborn woman was insistent.

The intricacy and delicate nature of the jewels, the minute details in them done with some of the most precious stones was making Varsha feel privileged but also weird. She didn't know how to react to the sudden goodness in her life. She felt overwhelmed. But her insecurities and anxieties reduced when the maid was making her wear bangles. She had always loved bangles.

The bangles were minimalistic but the rings gave her a older woman's vibes.

"These are too many." unintentionally Varsha's voice came out complaining because despite of how grand they looked, they were heavy and too many. The older maid chuckled, "Nah, your small hands are looking so beautiful." she said and Varsha couldn't argue back. They were too loose for her also. The older woman didn't pay attention to her tantrums and placed the arms jewellery in her arms.

Varsha gasped as she looked at the heavy piece of jewellery which made her feel like a goddess. Next a beautiful necklace was placed on her neck at which her slight wincing didn't go unnoticed by Hira.

Next she placed a longer necklace and earrings.

Compared to the earrings she was wearing now, her earlier ones looked non existent. The beautiful peacock design made her heart flutter. But her heart was stolen away by a unique and undescribable nose ring.

She looked at the mirror, the jewellery was too heavy for her and her attire was no different. She had a feeling that the dress and the jewels were overpowering her. It was as if they were more lively and noticeable than her. She let that go but she couldn't deny that though she looked beautiful and so did the jewels and the pearl dress, it was as if all these were made for somebody else. She thought it would suit princess Kanaka better, but she let that thought disappear as she saw everyone smiling at her through the mirror. One of the maids came forward and placed her hand in Rajkumari's shoulder as their eyes met through the mirror, "You look so stunning Rajkumariji." she said and as everyone else seemed to agree, Varsha's face seemed to resemble the Ruby jewels she was wearing. "Rajkumarji is going to be so happy seeing you like this." as the old woman said this with a wink, Varsha's face looked like someone had dropped gulal (red powder used in holi) on her cheeks. Her eyes never leaving the Choodamani in her hands on her lap. Soon they all left the tent one by one.

Varsha's mind replayed the old woman's words and now that she was alone she let a shy yet anticipating smile come over her lips but soon covered her face with her hand, unable to take in all the things happening with her. She shook her head and stared at the mirror, her smiled faded and her hold on the jewel tightened, she looked beautiful and yet out of place, happy yet confused, comfortable yet scared and most of all peaceful yet not calm. The reflection staring back at her set her brain running but before she could think more she noticed someone else staring at her reflection too and her brain failed her immediately as her eyes met her husband's.

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Sorry if anyone from other gender is reading this. 😂.

I got my perfect Varsha...thank you all for your valuable opinions and Vanshi for editing :)

Help me find the perfect Samrat too:)