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CHAPTER SIX 

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The pre-wedding gala was fun, yet tiring; the sangeet, rituals from groom side, rituals from bride side, skincare issues, and lehanga issues by the bride herself. It was so stressful and at some point of time everyone were so fed up by Zeena.

Brides and prejudices, I tell you.

I and Derek decided to sleep on the terrace as the relatives increased in the house and we have no place to sleep. Along with us, Aksa and Meera tag along; to make sure we were 'safe' apparently. Derek rolled his eyes and showed his middle finger to her and Meera hit him hard in the ribs.

She was sleeping peacefully on the mattress, snoring—making me go wide awake. I couldn't sleep, probably it's the hometown wind makes me emotional. I missed the sleeping session on the terrace when we were younger and even when we were in university. Every weekend, along with our parents, we use to cook and eat food on the terrace and sleep telling the stories or the things happened in the school.

I blinked away the tears and smiled at the crescent moon above me; beautiful and dark, yet illuminating the whole world. The moon remained like that; round and bright, making thousands fall in love with the night. I gazed at Derek, his face glows up as the moon's ray fall on his face and the wind blew his hair, he slightly shuffled.

And I looked around; Aksa and Meera were there—Aksa's leg on Meera and Meera snoring right in Aksa's ears. Everything seemed so surreal, so unbelievingly beautiful, I forgot what life was. This was my life—surrounded by the people I love. Below the moon that shone above me.

♡

My alarm rung at four in the morning, I lay awoke, still the surroundings were pitch dark and the moon was still there, I could hear crickets noise and the three of them were sleeping. I kissed Derek on his cheek and folded my mattress. Clutching my mobile and the mattress, I paced down the stairs. The lights turned on and I could see my mom sipping her coffee.

"Good morning, beautiful," I complimented my mother and she smiled at me.

"You know what the time is? It's four twenty, I had asked you to wake up at four. Put the mattress away and get ready and make Zeena ready to. Her wedding is in four hours—be a Husain Bolt, Azy."

I scowled at her and reluctantly put the mattress in the store room and went directly to the terrace. I found the three of them awake, rubbing their eyes. They folded their mattresses and wished me morning.

"Guys the wedding's in four hours, get ready, I have to go wake Zeena up and make that lazy ass ready; hurry!" I scolded and they rolled their eyes. Meera and Aksa went down straight away, but my boyfriend was literally standing and looking at me with weird expression.

"Good morning, sunshine," he kissed my cheek and smiled at me.

"Good morning, love," I replied and stretched my hands and gave him a smile back, "now go and get ready. Arjun and his side will be here in two hours. I need to go and see if they need anything else and I would request you to take care of Arjun and his side, okay? Please tell me you won't mess this up."

He whined and grunted. "Fine, I'll do it. I'm so excited to see you in your—saree, by the way. I heard it's the hot pink or something?"

I shoved him away and gave him an 'are you serious?' look. "Ew, no, I don't like that color. I'm wearing dark green saree. It has a long history, I'll tell you after the wedding."

He gazed at me softly and kissed my lips. It was a tender peck, it was barely there.

"Didn't you tell me you wanted to have it somewhere special?" I whispered. It wasn't magical or sparks, it was more of love and affection.

"What's more special than this?" He directed his hand to the left side and I slowly averted my gaze towards the direction.

I was breathless. The sky was absolutely breathtaking as it was shaded in the orange and baby pink color, with blue hues here and there. The sun was slowly rising, and the moon was barely there, almost extinct but there, in the hues and the orange-ish rays of sun fell on our faces. His face glowed up in the sun; hundred times brighter than last night and I couldn't help but melt. His brown orbs were practically turning hazel in the sunlight and that's beautiful. He's beautiful and there's nothing I can do about him.

"I love you."

I blurted out. At that moment, it felt right. And I did it. I waited him to tell something—he didn't.

His eyes twitched and I swear I could see his lips forming a smile. "I love you more."

♡

"ZEENA DULQUER, I swear to God I will defenestrate you. I asked you to shut your mouth so that that the makeup artist will make your ugly face beautiful. She's coming in two minutes. We just have one and half hour left." Meera scolded Zeena and I tried hard not to laugh.

"For god's sake; shut up, will you?"

They both finally calmed down and I could see everyone were ready except Zeena. Her lehanga and jewellery were set and she just had the hair and makeup to wind up. The artist will be here in two minutes and then, I'll breathe.

I was dressed up in Peacock green Paithani saree my friend in Mumbai gifted me. I paired it with gold temple jewellery choker and matching Jhumkas. I put my hair into a low bun, leaving two strands on the either side. My makeup was minimal—kohl and my signature red lips.

Meera and Aksa were equally pretty in their lehangas. Zeena looked gorgeous in the red bridal lehanga she especially custom-made from Sabyasachi. In few minutes, her makeup and hair was done. And there, she looked so ethereal.

"You look so pretty, Zeena!" I complimented and she winked at me. We talked for hours in the room, Zeena getting tensed up and fumbling with her dress.

"It's okay, Zeena. Don't worry; it's Arjun, the guy you love. He loves you and so does his family, okay? Now be calm and relax. Take deep breaths."

I calmed her down and the rest of the hour went deadly—very slow.

♡

"No, this marriage cannot happen!"

The whole banquet hall went silent when Arjun's mother yelled almost when the garland was put into Zeena's neck.

"You promised me, Ravichandran," She continued, "You promised me by the date of wedding; you'd give me the money we asked for. Until you give me the money, I won't let my son put the garland in your daughter's neck."

Every single person was shook. I was utterly shocked. Kavitha aunty asked for dowry? Is she serious and why did Ravi uncle agreed to this? I looked at Zeena's confused face. Ravi uncle's head was dipped down and Sunitha aunty, Zeena's mother sighed deeply.

"We agreed," Ravi uncle spoke, "I told you I won't give you dowry. I don't want to give dowry."

Arjun's mother scoffed, "Then the marriage will be cancelled. Done, we're leaving."

Ravi uncle turned horrified. "NO! Don't do this right now, it's about our family—it's about our children. They love each other, Kavitha."

"Oh please. Are you giving the money are not, Ravichandran?" Kavitha aunty reached for her son's hand and before Ravi uncle could say anything, I stepped further.

"He won't give you the money, wait, dowry." I spoke out and she gave me an expression.

"Who are you to say, Azra? It's none of your business, leave." Kavitha aunty urged.

"They are my family aunty—Zeena's more like my sister. I hope you really know that taking or giving dowry is offense. Why do you want to take dowry? Marriage is all about two people agreeing to stay and love each other by all means and people like you make it commercial. Marriage is so sacred and the all these rituals are done accordingly. If you honestly want dowry instead of the girl your son loves, you can leave. Because people like you doesn't deserve to get the daughter-in-law like Zeena. You can take your son with you, by all means."

Ravi uncle placed his hand on my shoulder and gave a smile. "Tell me, Arjun, would you like to leave with your mother?"

Without further any word, Arjun got straight up from his seat and joined beside his mother. Zeena tried hard not to cry in the hall as her lover left her side. All because of the money—dowry, that ruins the relationships.

"Thank you."

The groom side left, murmuring different gibberish, leaving the bride side and few of the relatives in the hall. Zeena went along with parents were trying hard to console her. I, Aksa, Meera and Derek and all our parents stood aside. Arjun left her, just because the dowry was not given. This is the twenty-first century and people's mindset still not changed and I was glad that Ravi uncle didn't agree to give the dowry.

"Thank god, the marriage didn't happen or else imagine how Zeena's life would be at his house? Imagining makes me throw up." Aksa spoke out and I nodded my head.

Thank you, god. I'm grateful to you. 

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author's note:

hey! sorry for not updating for so long. i have been busy and my writer's block hit me hard. if you like the chapter, don't forget to vote, comment and share. ♥