Athavan looked up at the sky for a moment before speaking, his voice quiet but deliberate.
"Do you know what Saptapadi means?"
Dhiviya shook her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Saptapadi—the seven sacred steps. During our wedding ceremony, we took them together. Each one is a vow: nourishment, strength, wealth, family, progeny, harmony, and eternal companionship."
He turned his gaze to her.
"I take those vows seriously, Dhiviya. You are my other half. Of course I care about you."
A lump formed in her throat. She had never considered the meaning behind the rituals that day. To her, it had been just tradition—another formality. But hearing him now, with such conviction...
Guilt gripped her chest.
"I feel ashamed," she whispered, trembling. "I married you for your family's wealth. I can't forgive myself for that. I don't deserve your kindness or your care."
Tears welled up and slipped down her cheeks, hot and relentless. She clenched her fists in her lap, too ashamed to look at him.
Athavan reached forward, wiping her tears with his thumb before gently taking her hands.
"Do you know where I first saw you?"
She blinked, confused by the sudden question. "The temple?" she guessed.
He smiled faintly. "That was the first time you saw me. But I've known you for three years."
Her eyes widened. "Three years?"
Without a word, he pulled out his phone, scrolled through his gallery, then turned the screen toward her.
"Do you recognize her?"
Dhiviya's breath hitched. "Madam Parvathy!" she whispered. "How do you know her?"
Athavan's voice dropped to a softer tone, shadowed with memory.
"She was my mother."
The world tilted. For a long moment, Dhiviya couldn't speak. Couldn't think.
"She used to talk about you often," Athavan continued. "Said I was missing out by not meeting you in person. She had a fondness for you she rarely had for others. She wanted to take me back to Walaysia, to meet you. Many times. I refused."
He swallowed hard.
"And then… she passed away."
Dhiviya's chest constricted.
She had stayed in touch with Madam Parvathy after their time in Nepal. Emails. Voice notes. And then—suddenly—silence. No replies. She had assumed life had simply taken over.
But now, the truth hit like a freight train.
Athavan's eyes darkened slightly. "Did you know you weren't the bride originally chosen by my grandmother?"
Dhiviya blinked. "What?"
"The wedding was first arranged with your cousin, Anjana. I was prepared to reject it. But then... they changed the bride. And showed me your photo."
He paused, voice softening again.
"In that moment, it felt like fate. As if my mother herself had led me to you."
Dhiviya's breath caught in her throat. This marriage—this tangled, complicated union—was rooted in something far deeper than she had imagined.
Athavan looked down at their joined hands.
"After my mother's death, I became someone feared. A monster, some say. I hunted those behind her death. I never harmed the innocent, but I've destroyed many lives. Yet… I still haven't found my enemy."
He exhaled slowly, jaw tightening.
"My grandfather forced me into mourning for a year. Not just to honor tradition—but to rein in my rage. To tame the bloodlust burning inside me."
Dhiviya didn't dare speak. The pain in his voice… it was raw, unfiltered.
"Until I met you," he continued, quieter now. "Revenge was all I had. But with you... and your family... I began to remember. What it meant to feel warmth. What it meant to love. You brought light back into my world, Dhiviya."
Her heart ached. This—this overwhelming, terrifying feeling—was it love?
"I never once looked down on you or your family," he said. "I know why your uncle arranged the marriage. And I didn't mind. I wanted to help. To guide all of you out of hardship."
He hesitated.
"In fact, I found out your father's downfall wasn't an accident. Someone planned it."
Dhiviya gasped softly.
"We'll talk about that soon. But for now, promise me one thing," he said. "Never again say you don't deserve my care or my love. If anything… I am the one who doesn't deserve you."
Her breath trembled. Fresh tears spilled over, but this time, they carried a different weight.
Athavan leaned closer.
"I'll never allow anything to happen to you. The Saptapadi vows I took—they weren't just words. I meant them with all my heart. I had hoped to build something slowly between us. To give us time. But fate seems to have other plans."
His eyes held hers.
"Let me create a world where you're safe. Give me a chance, Dhiviya. Let me prove I'm worthy of you."
And then—he knelt.
Right there in the park, in his simple monk-like robes, he knelt before her like it was a proposal anew. The world fell silent. Onlookers turned to watch, but neither of them noticed. It was just the two of them now.
Dhiviya didn't hesitate. She dropped to her knees too and threw her arms around him, anchoring herself to him, to this moment, to this man who had bared his soul for her.
Tears streamed freely, but she no longer cared.
Between sobs, she whispered, "I may not be as wise as you, Athavan. I didn't even know what Saptapadi meant before today. But from now on, I'll honor those vows. Let's give ourselves a chance."
For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
The End
Hindu Mythological / Cultural / Belief References – Chapter 16
Saptapadi (Seven Sacred Steps of Marriage)
Sapta = Seven | Padi = Steps (in Sanskrit)
Saptapadi is the most sacred rite in Hindu marriage traditions. The bride and groom walk seven steps around the sacred fire (Agni), symbolizing seven vows that define a dharmic union. Each step represents a foundational promise:
1. Nourishment
2. Strength and Health
3. Prosperity
4. Family and Harmony
5. Children and Responsibility
6. Long Life Together
7. Friendship and Eternal Love
Only after completing these steps is the marriage considered spiritually binding. In Vedic belief, the completion of Saptapadi spiritually transforms two individuals into Ardhangini—each the other's half, bound in karma and dharma across lifetimes.
In this chapter, Athavan reclaims the true meaning of Saptapadi—not as a ritual formality, but as a soul-level commitment. His words echo the ancient wisdom where marriage is not possession, but partnership through fire, fate, and forever.
Dhiviya's awakening to this deeper meaning reflects the inner alchemy that these vows ignite: the birth of trust, vulnerability, and sacred love.