The car stopped at the entrance of the brightly lit house and it surprised her when she looked out of the car attempting to secure the loose end of saree on her back.
Her eyes got nervous seeing the relatives and neighbors waiting for them on the entrance, her mother in law never hinted what she was planning all the while, not even she mentioned there were going to be a few of their close relatives.
Before she could crawl back inside,he extended his palm and she stared the palm and then the man who looked with an assurance he was there for her. Giving her hand in his she left the car. Her mother in law who had the little Kavya in her hands joined them and together they walked to the people waiting for them.
A series of hugs and blessings session lasted with wishes of them being happy for the rest of their lives followed shortly after.
“No one invited us to the wedding…”With that two girls forwarded and hugged her, she took a moment to stabilize her on the arm that secured her back, from falling back with the force she was being hugged.
“bhabhi… we were waiting for you guys for so long, what kept you guys?” the elder one named Saloni complained to her.
“we went to pray God, to save us from the twins.” with the ghost of a smile on his lips Kunj answered her question.
“please Bhai…” the seemingly little one of them chirped.
“and you didn’t make a single call in this last week, neither replied our messages, our’s is bhabhi only.” making her face she side hugged Twinkle and took them inside.
The whole house was changed with new colors and new settings, she didn’t know what her mother in law was up to when she used to sound busy with Shail bua.
Talking about bua she was super excited seeing her favorite nephew married and she told her a few times how happy she was today.
She was nervous when she saw all the relatives on the main gate, apprehensive of their questioning eyes or their comments which she was about to hear but all her tensions evaporated when no one mentioned anything sour and only seemed happy with them.
Today she felt that more than half of her tensions were the relatives and society who sacred her with “log, kya kahenge.” but little she knew now the time was changing and people supported positivity.
“you want to change the saree, Twinkle?” One of Kunj’s masi asked her.
“was thinking so Masi,” she did not even wash her face after the hours-long journey and here everyone was excited to meet and talk her.
She was about to open her room when shail reached her.
“it is not your room Twinkle, not anymore.” and smiling in that familiar tease, she took her to the room, last one in the corridor.
She had felt some strange feelings inside her heart, a new life has finally taken birth and though it was pre-decided it still seemed awkward to think she was going to live with him from now on.
“your old clothes and accessories along with the new ones are kept in the room if need anything then tell me… a few things are kept in store as bhabhi though you won’t need them anymore.” with that Shail smiled and opened the door for her.
“Thank you bua.” trying to smile because she didn’t know whether she should smile or feel strange.
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She had changed into a green and yellow color somewhat heavy saree already kept out for her.
Newlywed brides are supposed to get ready in a proper way.” she recalled her mother’s years ago advise.
“i seriously pity you, if it was in my hands I would have thrown these heavy dresses and jewelry..” he had huffed in anger.
“Why do they need you to look like a divine power… it is almost 40 degrees out there.” he had valid reasons but he didn’t know the society who wanted the bride to look a perfect bride.
“The car is air-conditioned, the reception hall is and moreover in just a few hours sun will be gone and it will be fine.” she tried to calm him down.
“This is the last time you are behaving like that… I didn’t say anything at our wedding because your home town was a cold city.” he completed.
“Hey, hey… it is okay. The groom would not look good in a red nose…right?” she touched his arm and winked when he looked at her.
she wished there was a way to delete the memories by taking away the photographs and belongings of a person who was never going to come back… but to her disappointment, there was no way.
“of course not… I’ll join you guys in The meeting only. yeah yeah sure.” Kunj entered the room in his casual mode unaware of the new developments.
“Ha..Hii.” he fumbled with words seeing her reflection in the mirror.
“Hii… she answered through the mirror putting away the bindi leaf of colored glittery ones.
In the last few weeks, they have shrunk to Hiis and reflected Hiis … who could have said they knew each other for years.
Seeing her there he felt a sense of belongingness and did she notice a ghost of a smile there…
“i need to change… he spoke after a while, unable to process what he should say and the way he kept the phone on the table and then took it back, walked to the almirah made her smile as well.
“i think here are your clothes for the evening.” extending the mud grey packet of a well-known shop she called him.
“oh..thanks.” he walked to her but before he could have taken it she kept it on the bed the way it was kept.
Whether it was her nervousness or the hidden anger of the days he didn’t make a move…
“Twinkle, if you are done then let us go and meet Bhaiya’s friends and their families… they are waiting for you.” Shail bua called her from the gate giving the couple their moment of privacy.
“here goes our little moment,” he muttered walking to the washroom.
He didn’t know what it was but seeing her back called all the hard feelings to evaporate and he felt complete sensing she too was trying to step forward WITH HIM.
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Hey everyone, this is a small chapter but I hope you liked the chapter.Next one will be soonest.
One of my favorite SAJAL ALY got married, and I appreciate this kind of thing in love – I might sound old fashioned but I love privacy in private life and look how simple they kept it.(May God keep them strong in every phase of life).
Now an IMPORTANT thing – You guys taking the precautions to keep you and your family safe from COVID19?
Please follow the advisory guys, it has not only touched IRAN, ITALY BUT INDIA PAKISTAN AND MANY MORE COUNTRIES that are not very strong economically so best is keeping ourselves safe.
With love
Morusya.