Makeup artist had just left the room and I was sitting alone, looking at myself in the mirror and admiring her work. There was a slight knock at the door and Dadi entered. I turned to her and smiled and she paused for a second and took me all in. Then she did a hand gesture to ward off the evil eye.

"You look beautiful, Meenakshi!" and she took a deep breath, "Look at you getting married. Where has all this time gone? Wasn't it yesterday when you took your first steps or cried on the first day of school not wanting to go?" A tear fell on her cheek and I felt my vision getting blurred.

"Look at me crying and making you cry on such a beautiful day. I am so silly." She wiped her tear and looked at me again, "You know, I always used to think that you looked more like your dad but today, you look just as beautiful as your mom looked the day they got married.... She was the perfect woman, the daughter in law I wanted for my son. She handled all duties when your dad passed away, and she never complained. You were nine when she left us... But she had left something for you." She handed me a yellow saree and a letter.

"This saree... she wore during her marriage rituals and this is a letter specifically meant for this day." She sat in the corner of the room and I opened the letter.

Dearest Meenakshi,

My beloved, beautiful daughter. I am very sorry I can't be with you on this very important day of your life, when every mom should be beside her daughter. But I have full faith in Rishabh and your dadi. They will raise you to be the best woman ever.

Marriage is auspicious... don't get married if you have smallest of doubts in your mind. It is easy to get caught in all preparations but soon the confetti will settle and it will be time to build a marriage.

Marriage is not easy, sweetheart. It takes time and efforts from both sides to build one. And do remember... BOTH SIDES. It will be hard at times but you will have to stick together and get out of it together.

There will be a lot of fights in your marriage... a lot of them. Even me and your dad used to fight at every little thing but don't take every silly fight to your heart.

But also learn when to put your foot down. Draw a line between compromise and self respect. Don't let your self respect go into a drain.

And remember whatever the case may be your brothers will always be there for you.

The two of you got to make this what you want and today will be your start as a married couple. Decades later you will have a lot of regrets in this marriage, that's for sure but hopefully today is one day you would do over and over again.

Love,

Mom.

I folded the letter and looked at dadi who hugged me immediately.

"Meenak..." Misha entered the room but stopped as she saw us.

"Misha... take her with you." Dadi said and she came to my other side and we started walking downstairs. I made my way towards the center stage where Agneesh was already standing and as soon as he saw me he looked lost and dreamy. Wow, that's the best compliment I have ever received. Unknowingly, a small smile made its way to my face.

Once, I reached the aisle, Agneesh helped me up and that is when I took a good look on him. He was looking handsome in black and maroon sherwani. He winked at me when he caught me looking at me and I quickly turned my eyes, biting my lower lip unconsciously.

Mantras were chanted as me and Agneesh exchanged garlands. After this photo session started, the relatives I had never met in life came up to get their pics clicked with us. He introduced me to many of his friends, whose name I knew I would forget very soon. My friends teased him a bit and then Rimisha came and sat between us giving a toothless smile. She broke her tooth yesterday and was very happy about it. She even slept with the teeth under her pillow so that tooth fairy could take it away.

Everything went on a fast forward and I knew that so much time had passed just because of the pain in my jaw due to lot of smiling. After the function was over and most of the guests had left, I got up to go to my room and Agneesh went to his to take some rest before the actual function.

In my room, I changed into mom's yellow saree while the ladies around me gossiped about the dresses and guests and what not. Misha came to help me and I asked her about Rishabh Bhaia.

"He is just lost. I don't think he has yet realised that you will be going."

"I feel nervous."

"I know. But everything will be fine Meenu." She pecked my cheek and I sat on the bed and closed my eyes for a while.

After some time, Rishabh Bhaia entered the room and everybody got silent.

"Baccha, I think its time to go." I opened my eyes and looked at him. He looked so tired but still enthusiastic. For a moment, I couldn't take off my eyes from both my brothers. I would be leaving them soon enough. Nothing will be same when I came back after my marriage. Everything will be formal.

"Bhaia" My voice cracked and his eyes widened.

"Baccha..." He came and hugged me tightly. Ansh bhai also rubbed my back. After a moment of composing myself, I got up and they walked me to the Mandap. Today, for the first time I felt Bhaia's hand shaking. They made me sit next to Agneesh, who had changed to a plain white kurta, he looked at me and gave me a small smile, which I acknowledged with a smile.

It was about 2 a.m. everything was too silent around me. Only our near and dear relatives were left to watch the whole marriage. Most of them were either asleep or almost on the verge of sleeping. But I was nervous, my heart was doing somersaults in my chest. I was just seven steps away from being Agneesh's wife, from leaving my family behind, from becoming a member of someone else's family.

I was thinking all this when the priest asked Bhaia for Kanyadaan. He came and held my hand and placed it on Agneesh's hand chanting the mantra along with the priest. This is the ritual of handing the bride to her husband. It is usually done by the father of the girl, but here it was done by Bhaia, after all he had been the father figure I had always known of.

When he said that he is handing me away to Agneesh and that now I am his responsibility, a tear fell from his eyes on my hand and I looked up at him. Bhaia never cries... not in public at least.

"Bhaia..." He turned his face away as soon as I called him.

After this Agneesh was asked to fill vermillion and he did so very slowly as if enjoying the moment. He looked still lost as if he couldn't believe that today we were actually getting married. It was kind of cute. Then, he put a wedding necklace around my neck and Raima tied my saree to his shawl and we got up for phere.

Mantras started again as we went round the holy fire seven times referring to the seven vows. Each phera had a deep meaning for a marriage and I promised myself to follow them. His friends were teasing him all the while to run away from the wedding... yeah, right! As if he will... and as if I am going to let him.

"You two are married now!" The priest declared and Agneesh held my hand reassuringly.

I was taken downstairs and I heard my cousins and friends arguing with Agneesh for the money of Joota Churai.

Maybe this wasn't going to be so scary.

I went downstairs and sat there for a while, thinking about everything that just happened upstairs. Misha was talking to other ladies about stuff and I just sat there. This was the moment I realised that I was married... now things were going to be different.

But I wasn't able to dwell about it a lot as my eyelids felt heavy and unknowingly fell into a deep slumber.

****

A cousin of mine woke me up after a while and I sat up rubbing my eyes.

"Meenu, get ready for vidaai."

What? Vidaai? So soon?

I looked at Dadi who was standing in a corner in her tears.

"So soon?"

"So soon."

The girls helped me change in a red saree and I washed down all my makeup. Too much makeup for the day!! Dadi fed me some food with her own hands. Damn, they are going to make it so hard for me.

After an hour, I heard some hustle downstairs... Agneesh is here!

My heart started racing in my chest and it was as if I could actually hear its thumping. My throat felt constricted and nervous sweat came on my forehead.

Suddenly, I couldn't feel my legs and leaned on Misha for support.

"Meenu Meenu, are you okay? What happened?" I could feel tension rising in the room.

"Water..." I croaked out and someone thrusted a bottle in my hand. Taking a few sips, I took deep breathes and closed my eyes. After a while, I opened my eyes and looked around at everyone staring at me with tension and stress on their face. Everybody looked sleepy and tired and had bag under their eyes.

"Meenakshi?" Dadi held my hand and I pulled her in a hug tightly.

"I can't do it Dadi. I can't... I am scared. What if I am not a good wife?" And here was the nervous breakdown that was due from a long time.

Dadi rubbed my head, soothingly, "Meenakshi... you will be able to do it. I know you will and I know you are ready. You are going to be the best wife out there."

I sat there for a while thinking, just by myself. Yes, I can do it. Yes, I can.

I stood up and followed Dadi out of the room. Agneesh and his family were sitting in the living room. He was in a blue suit with his hair slicked back... He looked good, but I was too nervous to notice that.

As I sat next to him, Rimi spoke for the first time in a while, "Bua and uncle, this is a small gift from my side."

She turned off all the lights and played a video on home theatre. A video of me with everybody in the house. My special moments When Bhaia had bought the doll house for me. When I had smeared chocolate on Ansh bhai's face. It also had images of me and Mishu and my engagement photos with Dilbaro playing in the background. All the old memories came back to me and it was difficult to control tears. Rishabh Bhaia left the room as soon as the video ended.

Soon it was time to leave, I touched Dadi's feet who hugged me.

"Don't look back sweetheart. It's your new life. Do well in it and we are always there for you." She blessed Agneesh too.

Then I moved to Ansh Bhai who was trying hard to hide his tears.

"Hey fatso... don't trouble Agneesh a lot. We handled your tantrums, he won't." He tried to act nonchalant but broke down when I hugged him.

"Sorry, Meenakshi... I was so mean to you. Maybe I wasn't the best brother but..."

"Bhai...!!" And he hugged me tightly again.

Next I moved to a pic of my mom and dad. I joined my hands there and then went to Misha. No words were said.... none were needed. After all we were besties. She hugged me close and soothed me.

"Meenu all the best. And don't worry its not a paper micro economics." I smiled at her and then moved to the youngest member of my family, who was standing in a corner. I sat on my knees and opened my arms wide for her as she came running to me.

"Don't go bud!"

"Be good to everyone, and listen to them. If there is any problem give me a call." She lifted her pinkie finger.

"Promise!"

"Promise!"

She kissed my cheek and stepped away as I stood up.

"Where is Bhaia?"

"Dad is in his room. He is crying. He says he won't come." Misha made a move towards his room but I stopped her and went to his room.

"Bhaia I am going, won't you say bye to me?"

"I can't Baccha I can't. I am sorry." came his muffled voice from the other side of the door.

"Bhaia please open the door!"

"No." came his short reply.

"Promise me you will eat properly and not neglect your health. Also, you won't over stress." I spoke from outside the door leaning on it.

"I promise." He said in a very low volume.

"Now come out and bid me farewell." The door opened after a moment and Bhaia came out, his eyes red from crying and I came down with him holding his hand.

Everybody moved aside as we made way towards the car where Agneesh was standing.

Once on the gate Bhaia kissed my forehead and hugged me, keeping my hand in Agneesh's, he broke down.

"She is a piece of my heart, Agneesh. Take care of her please." then he turned to me, "Don't look back sweetheart or I won't let you go again." He made us sit in the car and gave a little shove to car. Soon we were on the way to Aryapur. Agneesh held my hand and whispered sweet nothings in my ear. My new life!

                            *****
               AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys,
Hope you liked it.
Finally they are married.

Next: Rituals at Agneesh's palace.

And special thanks to the very talented Laliguptha for making such awesome trailers. :)
Check out her work on YouTube.

Until then,
Love Love 💕
A.S.