The afternoon sun heated the gravel pathways of the Kakatiya set. The massive central courtyard was now empty. The workers had already taken down the lights and rolled up the carpets. Most of the guests had already left.
The wedding was over; the Indian cricket team had to leave. They had a match to play.
Parked in the main circular driveway of the Shamshabad estate was a large travel bus. The engine was running. The luggage compartments underneath the bus was open.
Siddanth stood near the open luggage bay. He wore a simple blue T-shirt and dark track pants. Krithika stood beside him, wearing a light yellow cotton dress.
They watched the Indian Test squad load their bags.
The players wore their official travel shirts and tracksuits. They hauled heavy canvas kit bags out of the guest houses and dragged them across the gravel.
Shikhar Dhawan shoved his heavy bag into the lower compartment. He slammed the metal door shut and wiped his hands on his pants.
"My legs are still sore, Sid," Dhawan stated, turning to face his captain. "I am just going to stand still in the field tomorrow."
"Just catch the ball if it comes to you," Siddanth replied simply.
Virat Kohli walked up holding a cup of coffee. Since Siddanth was taking leave for his wedding, Virat was leading the team for this test series.
"We have the bowling plans ready," Virat told Siddanth, leaning against the side of the bus. "We will handle the match. You just stay here and relax."
"Call me if you need anything," Siddanth said.
"I won't call you," Virat grinned. "Take a break. We will see you in a few weeks."
The team manager stood near the front door of the bus. "All players on board. Let's go."
Virat patted Siddanth on the shoulder. He turned to Krithika. "Take care, Krithika. See you soon."
The cricketers got onto the buses. The doors closed. The bus rolled slowly out of the driveway, carrying the squad toward the airport.
Siddanth and Krithika stood on the gravel, watching the bus leave.
Sameer, Arjun, and Feroz walked up behind them. They were wearing casual T-shirts and jeans.
"I am very glad I do not have to get on that bus," Sameer said, stretching his arms. "I just want to sleep for two more days."
"Let's go inside," Siddanth said, turning around. "The priest is waiting."
They walked back into the Kakatiya village. They walked directly to the Bride's manor on the left side of the courtyard.
It was time for the final set of traditional post-wedding rituals. In Telugu culture, there is a sixteen-day festival called Padaharu Rojula Panduga. Usually, people do the main parts of this festival on the third or fifth day so they can get back to their normal routines.
Today was the third day.
Siddanth, Krithika, Sameer, Arjun, and Feroz walked into the living room of the Bride's manor.
Subba Rao, Suma, Anjali, Vikram Deva, and Sesikala were already sitting on the floor around a small wooden plank. The head priest was sitting opposite them, organizing a brass plate.
Siddanth and Krithika sat down on the floor next to their parents. The three friends sat quietly in the back of the room to watch.
"We are doing the Mangalsutra transfer now," the priest announced.
During the wedding, Siddanth had tied the two gold discs around Krithika's neck using a yellow cotton thread. The cotton thread was important for the wedding day, but it was not good for wearing every single day. It would break if it got wet too many times.
This ritual was the formal process of moving those gold discs from the temporary cotton thread to a permanent, solid gold chain.
Subba Rao reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small jeweler's box. He opened it and placed it on the plate in front of the priest.
Inside the box was a thick, solid gold chain.
"The chain is given by the bride's parents," the priest said. He picked up the gold chain to check the hook, then placed it back on the plate.
He looked at Siddanth.
"Siddanth, you tied the three knots during the wedding," the priest instructed. "You must now untie them."
Krithika turned slightly, putting her back toward Siddanth. She moved her hair out of the way, showing the yellow cotton thread on her neck.
Siddanth shifted closer. He looked at the three tight knots he had tied two days ago.
He reached out with both hands. He found the edge of the first knot. He pulled the cotton loop gently, loosening it, and untied it.
He moved to the second knot. It was tighter. He pulled the thread apart carefully until the knot came undone.
He untied the third knot.
The yellow cotton thread fell loose.
"Hold the thread," the priest told Krithika. "Do not let the gold discs drop."
Krithika held the front of the cotton thread, keeping the two gold discs against her chest.
Siddanth pulled the yellow thread completely away from the back of her neck.
The priest handed the solid gold chain to Siddanth.
"Move the discs to the chain," the priest said.
Krithika carefully slid the two gold discs off the yellow cotton thread. She handed the gold discs to Siddanth.
Siddanth took the solid gold chain. He opened the hook. He pushed the chain through the ring of the first gold disc—the one from his family. He slid it to the middle. He picked up the second gold disc—the one from her family—and pushed it onto the chain next to the first one.
"Place it around her neck," the priest said.
Siddanth leaned forward. He brought the solid gold chain around Krithika's neck. He found the small gold hook at the back. He pushed the hook through the loop and clicked it shut securely.
He pulled his hands back. The two gold discs now rested permanently on the solid gold chain around her neck.
"The transfer is done," the priest said. He took the old yellow cotton thread and put it on the plate to be thrown away properly. "The marriage symbols are now ready for daily wear."
Subba Rao and Suma leaned forward, placing their hands on Krithika's head to bless her. Vikram Deva and Sesikala did the same for Siddanth.
The main rituals of the wedding were officially over. There were no more holy fires or long prayers.
Suma clapped her hands once, standing up from the floor.
"The poojas are done," Suma announced loudly. "Let's go and eat."
The catering staff from coastal Andhra had taken over the kitchen inside the Bride's manor. They brought the food directly to the dining table in heavy serving bowls.
Siddanth, Krithika, Sameer, Arjun, Feroz, Anjali, the four parents, and the close relatives sat down around the large dining table.
The center of the table had a massive bowl of spicy country chicken curry. Next to it was a plate of deep-fried prawns coated in garlic. There was also a pot of hot mutton bone soup.
They did not use spoons. They ate with their hands.
Siddanth mixed a large portion of the white rice with the spicy chicken gravy. He took a bite. The spice level was very high. He drank some water and kept eating.
"This is very spicy," Sameer said, wiping his nose with a tissue. "But it is really good."
They ate the heavy non-vegetarian meal in a relaxed, happy mood. The stress of managing thousands of guests was gone. They were just family and close friends and relatives eating together.
By the time they finished eating, it was late afternoon. Vikram Deva and Sesikala walked back to the Groom's manor to rest. Sameer, Arjun, and Feroz went to the living room to watch TV. Subba Rao and Suma went to their rooms to sleep.
Siddanth and Krithika went back to the master bedroom in the Groom's manor.
The sun went down, making the Kakatiya set completely dark.
It was 9:00 PM.
Siddanth was lying on the bed, resting his back against the headboard. He was holding his tablet.
Krithika was lying next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. She was looking at the screen.
Rahul had sent all the photos from the wedding photographer to Siddanth's tablet. There were more than five thousand pictures.
"We need to post a picture," Siddanth said, sliding his finger across the screen to scroll through the folders.
For the past five days, no one outside the estate had seen a single picture of the wedding. Siddanth was very famous, and the whole country wanted to know who he married. No journalists were allowed inside.
"Just post one," Krithika agreed. "If we don't, people will keep asking."
Siddanth opened the folder from the morning wedding.
He scrolled through the first fifty pictures. They were all very serious. Siddanth sitting down. The priests chanting.
"Not these," Siddanth said. "They look too boring."
He opened the folder from the evening reception.
He scrolled through pictures of them standing on the stage, shaking hands with people in suits.
"No," Krithika said, pointing at the screen. "Look at my smile there. I look so tired. Let's not use those."
"Look at the Talambralu pictures," Krithika suggested. "The pearl shower."
Siddanth opened that folder. The pictures changed from serious poses to total fun.
He saw a picture of Krithika throwing a handful of pearls at him. He saw a picture of Virat yelling in the background.
"This one," Krithika said suddenly, tapping the screen.
Siddanth stopped scrolling. He looked at the picture she picked.
It was taken right in the middle of the pearl shower. The white pearls were in the air, falling all around them like rain.
In the picture, Siddanth was not looking at the camera. He was looking directly at Krithika, and he was laughing very hard. His hands were still inside the silver bowl of pearls and rice.
Krithika was sitting opposite him. She was also looking at him, laughing with a huge smile. A single white pearl was caught in her hair.
It was not a posed picture. It looked completely natural and happy.
"It is a very good picture," Siddanth agreed.
Siddanth saved the picture to the tablet. He opened the Vibe app and selected the photo.
He tapped the caption box.
Months ago, Siddanth had posted a video online and announced that she had said yes. Ever since that day, all his fans and the media had been calling the unknown girl 'Sita'. Everyone on the internet was constantly searching to find out who this 'Sita' was.
Siddanth decided to finally tell them.
He typed a simple sentence in the caption box.
For those of you who are wondering who Sita is.
He copied the text. He opened his Twitter app and attached the exact same picture.
"Ready?" Siddanth asked, keeping his thumb over the screen.
"Yes," Krithika said.
Siddanth pressed the 'Post' button on Vibe. He went back and pressed the 'Tweet' button on Twitter.
He put the tablet down on the bed.
Ten seconds later, Siddanth's phone started vibrating. Then it buzzed again. Then it kept buzzing non-stop because thousands of notifications were coming in at the same time.
Siddanth picked up the phone. He opened Twitter.
The picture already had fifty thousand likes. The numbers were moving so fast he couldn't even read them properly.
He opened the comments.
Krithika leaned over to look at his phone.
The fans were going absolutely crazy.
Twitter Comments:
@CricketFan99: HE POSTED! HE IS MARRIED!
@KohliFanClub: Look at how happy he is.
@TeluguMoviesHub: The caption! "For those wondering who Sita is." That is so cool.
@PriyaLovesSid: I am crying right now. My crush is married. But she is very pretty.
@CricUpdates: Those are pearls! They are throwing pearls with rice. So rich!
@SportsIndia: Siddanth Deva finally shows his wife to the world. The internet is breaking today.
@AnushkaStyle: Her saree is so beautiful. I love the simple look. No heavy makeup.
@FastBowlerFan: The man bowls fast bouncers and then writes romantic captions. Amazing.
@HyderabadLocal: Happy married life, Anna! Welcome to the family man club!
@MemeGodIndia: Me looking at Siddanth getting married while I am still trying to pass my exams.
@DeepikaFan: The way they look at each other is so cute. Like a movie poster.
@GullyBoys: Happy married life, Captain! Please come back for the next match; we need you.
@SitaRamFan: The mystery is finally over. We found her!
@CricketNews: A great picture of the Indian Test Captain. Wishing them both a happy life.
@MumbaiIndiansFan: The bachelor club just lost its best member today.
@WeddingLooks: Did they build a whole village for the wedding? The background looks amazing.
@SidDevaFanpage: I am saving this picture on my phone right now. Best couple!
@RahulDravidFan: Look at the joy on his face. Very happy for the young man.
@DailyCricket: He broke Twitter with just one picture and one line.
Siddanth scrolled past all the crying emojis and congratulations. He switched apps and opened Vibe.
The reaction on Vibe was just as loud. People were reacting to the picture in their own way.
Vibe Comments:
@AppUser101: THE FOUNDER JUST POSTED. The app is freezing right now because so many people are liking it.
@NexusWorker: I was at the party last night! She is very nice. They talked to everyone.
@TechFanatic: Power couple. A billionaire and his wife. The picture looks great.
@CodeWriter: The caption is perfect. Short, simple, and answers the big question.
@StartUpGuy: He didn't sell the photos to a magazine. He just posted it here. Very smart move.
@PhoneReviewer: I think the servers are going to crash because of the traffic on this post.
@BusinessNews: Happy Married Life to the boss of NEXUS!
@AppDev: She looks so happy. They look like a great match.
@VibeAdmin: We have pinned this post to the top of the trending page for everyone to see.
@DailyNews: Siddanth Deva breaks the internet tonight.
@SoftwareGuy: Boss, take a few days off. We will do the work at the office.
@StyleBlog: The gold border on his clothes looks so traditional and nice.
@MarketWatch: This picture is going everywhere. Everyone is talking about it.
@ProductTeam: Best wishes from the office team!
@MemeMaker: Imagine being a billionaire and just typing "Here is Sita." So simple.
@CloudWorker: Beautiful couple. The whole office is happy today!
@DataNerd: He definitely threw those pearls very hard at her. Look at the angle.
@ServerAdmin: Please stop refreshing the page, the app is getting too slow!
@HydLife: Amazing picture. Best wishes for the future!
Siddanth read the last comment out loud.
Krithika burst into laughter. "You actually made your own app freeze. Arjun is going to be very annoyed trying to fix it."
"He will manage," Siddanth said, smiling. He locked the phone screen and put it back on the nightstand.
They lay in the quiet bedroom, listening to the phone vibrating on the wood as more notifications came in. The secret was out. Everyone finally knew who Sita was.
The reaction was not limited to digital text on mobile screens. The post acted as a massive catalyst for the traditional media infrastructure across the country.
At 9:30 PM, programming schedules on national television networks were abruptly hijacked.
Inside the studio of a major English news network in New Delhi, the anchor sat behind a sleek glass desk. The breaking news graphic flashed bright red across the bottom of the screen. Behind the anchor, the massive digital wall monitor displayed the pearl shower photo Siddanth had just uploaded.
"Breaking news coming in tonight," the anchor announced, her voice projecting manufactured urgency. "The mystery that has gripped the nation for months is finally over. Indian Test Captain and NEXUS Founder Siddanth Deva has officially shared the first image from his highly secretive wedding ceremony in Hyderabad."
The screen split into two. One side showed the wedding photo. The other side showed a live feed of an entertainment journalist joining via satellite link from Mumbai.
"We are joined by our entertainment editor," the anchor said. "This is a massive moment. For months, everyone speculated about who 'Sita' was. Names of top Bollywood actresses and prominent supermodels were thrown around daily. But looking at this photo, she does not appear to be from the film industry."
"You are absolutely correct," the entertainment editor replied, adjusting his earpiece. "Our teams have been working the phones since the picture dropped fifteen minutes ago. We have confirmed her identity. Her name is Krithika Rao. She is not a model, and she is not a Bollywood star. She holds an MBA and until very recently, worked at a corporate firm at a top management firm in Hitec City, Hyderabad."
"A corporate employee," the anchor repeated, raising her eyebrows. "That is a stark departure from the usual cricketer-Bollywood alliances we see."
"It is a fascinating dynamic," the editor continued rapidly. "Sources suggest they have known each other for years, keeping the relationship entirely hidden from the paparazzi radar. It speaks volumes about the extreme lengths Siddanth Deva went to in order to protect her privacy. Furthermore, look at the styling in the photograph. There are no heavy designer labels plastered across the image. They are wearing traditional, handwoven silks as Siddanth Deva promised. It is a very grounded, very authentic aesthetic. The internet is already praising the simplicity of her look."
The broadcast cut to a montage of older clips showing Siddanth hitting sixes and walking into corporate offices, juxtaposed with the new wedding photo.
"The 'Devil of Cricket' has finally settled down," the anchor concluded. "And he has done it completely on his own terms, bypassing the media circus entirely to break the news on his own app. A masterstroke in personal PR."
While the news anchors analyzed the strategy behind the post, the reaction inside ordinary homes across India was far more visceral and immediate.
In a modest, middle-class apartment in Pune, the television glowed in the corner of the living room. It was 10:00 PM.
Padma, a fifty-year-old mother wearing a simple cotton saree, stood near the dining table. She was wiping the surface with a damp cloth after dinner. She glanced at the television screen as the news channel flashed the breaking news graphic and displayed the pearl shower photo.
Padma stopped wiping the table. She looked closely at the screen.
She looked at Krithika's face in the photo. She noticed the simple, elegant jewelry. She saw the genuine, respectful way they looked at each other.
"Oh, she is very beautiful," Padma murmured to herself. "Very traditional girl. Not too much makeup. She looks like a good, respectful daughter-in-law."
Padma turned her head.
Sitting slouched on the old fabric sofa on the other side of the living room was her twenty-four-year-old son, Rohan.
Rohan was wearing a faded grey t-shirt and loose shorts. He was lying sideways, his legs dangling over the armrest. He held his smartphone inches from his face. His thumbs moved at lightning speed across the glass screen. He was grinning widely, occasionally letting out a quiet, high-pitched giggle at whatever text message he was reading.
Padma looked at the television screen showing Siddanth Deva, a billionaire and a national hero. Then she looked back at her son, who was giggling at his phone.
Her maternal irritation flared instantly. She threw the damp cloth onto the dining table.
"Rohan!" Padma shouted sharply.
Rohan flinched. He almost dropped his phone. He sat up quickly, looking at his mother with wide eyes. "What? What happened, Ma?"
"Look at the television," Padma ordered, pointing a stern finger at the glowing screen.
Rohan squinted at the TV. "Yeah. Siddanth Deva got married. I saw it on Twitter ten minutes ago. Everyone is posting about it."
"Do not look at the phone! Look at him!" Padma commanded, stepping closer to the sofa. "Learn something from him! Look at his life! He is twenty-five years old. He is almost the same age as you!"
"Ma, he plays cricket," Rohan argued weakly, sensing the trap closing around him.
"He does not just play cricket!" Padma yelled, her voice rising in pitch, entering the classic Indian mother lecture mode. "He won a World Cup for the country! He runs a company worth thousands of crores! He gives salaries to poor athletes! He built a whole village for his wedding! He is a billionaire, and he married a good, educated girl!"
Rohan sighed heavily. "Ma, he is a genius. I am doing an engineering degree. You cannot compare me to a billionaire."
"He is the same age as you, and he has settled his life. He is a responsible man. And what are you doing?" Padma fired back immediately, refusing to accept the excuse.
Padma pointed directly at his smartphone.
"You are lying on the sofa like a sack of potatoes," Padma scolded relentlessly. "You are looking into your phone all day. Chatting with people. Smiling and giggling like a maniac at a screen! Did you finish your assignments? Did you apply for the job interview your uncle sent you? No! You are just typing 'lol' to some girl who will not even look at you if you fail your final exams!"
"I was talking to my project partner about the lab report, Ma!" Rohan lied frantically, trying to hide the Flash messenger chat with a girl he had met online.
"Do not lie to me!" Padma shouted. "If you put half the effort into your studies that he puts into his life, you wouldn't have failed your structural mechanics paper last semester! Stand up! Put the phone on the table right now and go open your books!"
"Ma, it is ten o'clock at night," Rohan whined, rubbing his forehead.
"It is ten o'clock! Siddanth Deva probably runs his company at ten o'clock!" Padma countered. "Go to your desk!"
Rohan groaned loudly. He knew he could not win this argument. He placed his phone face down on the coffee table. He stood up, dragging his feet, and walked slowly toward his bedroom to open a textbook he had no intention of reading.
Padma watched him leave. She shook her head, picked up the damp cloth, and went back to wiping the table. She glanced at the television one last time. "Such a good boy," she murmured, looking at Siddanth's picture before turning off the TV.
Meanwhile, in an upscale, brightly lit coffee shop in Bandra, Mumbai, a very different conversation was taking place.
Three young women sat around a small, round table. They held tall, iced coffee cups. They were young professionals, dressed in sharp, stylish clothes.
One of the girls, Ananya, had her phone placed flat on the center of the table. The screen displayed Siddanth's Vibe post.
The three girls leaned in, staring intensely at the image. They were not analyzing the business implications. They were analyzing the aesthetics.
"I cannot believe this," Ananya said, shaking her head. She took a sip of her iced latte. "I really thought he was going to marry a supermodel. Or an actress. Someone glamorous. But look at her."
Her friend, Shreya, zoomed in on the picture using two fingers on the screen. She inspected Krithika's face closely.
"She didn't even wear heavy makeup," Shreya pointed out, her voice a mix of awe and slight frustration. "Look at her skin. It is just natural. She doesn't have fake lashes on. She is just wearing a simple bindi. And that saree is a traditional silk weave, not some heavy, sequined designer lehenga."
"That is the point, Shreya," the third friend, Ritu, sighed, leaning back in her chair. "She didn't need to wear a heavy designer lehenga. She bagged the most eligible bachelor in the entire country wearing a simple silk saree. The confidence you need to have to do that is insane."
Ananya crossed her arms, looking at the picture again. "I am just so jealous. Do you know how lucky she is? He is literally a billionaire. He is tall. He has a jawline that could cut glass. And he looks at her like she is the only person in the room."
"I am more jealous of how she managed to hide it," Shreya noted analytically. "She dated the Devil for five years. Five years in this country! And not a single person at her office knew? She didn't post a single clue on Vibe? I cannot even buy a new handbag without posting it on my story within five minutes. Her willpower is terrifying."
"That is probably why he married her," Ritu reasoned, stirring her coffee with a plastic straw. "He is famous. He deals with cameras all day. He wanted someone who doesn't care about the cameras. He wanted someone normal."
Ananya let out a long, dramatic groan. She picked up her phone and locked the screen.
"Well, all the single girls in India are officially mourning today," Ananya declared. "The best one is gone. My standards were already too high because of him, and now he goes and does this perfect, romantic, private wedding. Real men are ruining my life."
Shreya laughed, picking up her coffee. "Just drink your latte, Ananya. We have to be back at the office in twenty minutes."
---
The next morning, the sun rose over the Kakatiya set.
At 10:00 AM, the heavy doors of the Bride's manor opened. Subba Rao, Suma, Anjali, and extended family walked out. They were wearing normal clothes.
They walked across the path to the Groom's manor and went inside.
Vikram Deva, Sesikala, Siddanth, Krithika, and extended family of Siddanth were waiting for them in the living room. Sameer, Arjun, and Feroz were sitting on the sofa, watching TV.
This was the start of normal life. The bride's family was simply visiting the groom's house for a casual meal.
They all went to the dining table.
They ate together. They did not talk about rituals or big parties. Subba Rao complained about the heavy traffic on the road to the city. Anjali asked for the TV remote so she could change the channel. Sameer argued with her about watching the movie. Vikram Deva laughed at them arguing.
It was normal. It was a completely regular family afternoon.
Subba Rao finished his coffee and sat back in his chair.
The wedding chaos was finished. The noise, the crowds, and the cameras were gone.
Siddanth sat at the table, drinking his coffee, watching his friends and family arguing over the TV remote. He looked at Krithika sitting next to him, eating her dosa.
The big event was fully over. Their normal life together had officially begun.