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Hotel Sparta decked like a bride, sprawled lavishly across the beach shore.

Their plush backyard, facing the sea, was given the privilege to host the wedding of the decade.

Salty breeze from the water below, wafted through the air and mixed with the rich scents surrounding the hotel. Trees and bushes came alive with the fairy lights. The hotel itself was decked from head to toe in a light frenzy. To the right of the lawn, the mandap stood with pride. 

Alia chose pastel green and pink as her wedding colour theme. She wanted a classic, eye soothing palette. They were having their fairytale moment and nothing better than soft brush of colours that symbolized earth and it's beauty. 

 A huge dome like structure is what they chose to be their mandap instead of going for the regular rectangle. They wanted to push boundaries and set new trends. The mandap was constructed by a professional art set team. Took them a week to assemble the tall larger than life platform. Green, pink and white flowers draped the marvel from head to toe. 

There hung a spectacular chandelier that gave an even splendid lustre to the setting. 

Below the marvelous wonder, a massive seating arrangement sat awaiting the buzz of guests. Clothed in white, with red pink ribbon on its side, the chairs gave a soft royal touch along with the exquisite bunch of flower vases aside every row.

A carpet of white flowers streaming through its middle, ran its long stride to meet the raised mandap.

Towards extreme back of the lawn, reception tables and chairs were arranged for an intimate dining experience like never before. 

The backyard's strong haze, the terrific sea roaring its wave across the big boulders below, and the extraordinary splendor of the venue would make one sigh in trance. Such was the beauty of the landscape and this is where the wedding would blaze to life.

It was decided upon a heart beat that this place would be perfect for the wedding. Although both the families stayed at the same hotel, Kapoor's would exit first followed by a Baraat and after they had completely left, the bride and her side would proceed to leave. 

At the groom wing things weren't as cool it should have been.

It was past five in the evening. And they had to reach the mandap by around seven. But the guests would start taking the seat from six pm onwards. The family had gone wild with the rush. "Where's my joota ?! Whoever finds it please return back" yelling match had already began and the quest to find personal items.

Ayan walked around from room to room, pushing past little children and chubby aunties. "We should have got a bigger hotel. This place can't afford all of us at once" squirmed Riddhima placing around hampers of fruits, nuts and gifts to be exchanged. "Haan zaroor. Aap kaho toh naya hotel banwa lenge. After all Kapoor's ke yahaan waaris ki shaadi hai." Bharat her husband giggled at his own sarcastic remark. 

"And we'll name it in remembrance of Raj Kapoor" supported Rishi Kapoor who stopped by upon hearing the above statement. "No thank you! Greeks have had enough." His wife Neetu as usual stole the show from a grumbling Rishi. 

"Saifu please iske baal set kar do" Taimur wanted to play with his friends outside but mom Kareena had strictly warned him to be groomed first.

"Bhai, mera joota dekha ?" barged Ayan into their room (adjacent to Riddhima) which was again packed up to the hill with hampers stacked in one huge corner, pooja items, sari's and lehenga's thrown over the bed, open wardrobe's and a constant beeline of relatives. Saif groaned while setting his son's stubborn hair. "Tu iske baal sahi karde, main teri life set kar doonga" his pleading face earned him a laugh from his aunties and a comb throw by his wife.

"Come here na. Daadi will dress you up." Bebo's mom Babita hopped in for help. 

"Rannu, beta I'll comb your hair" called an old frail voice. Ranbir turned around from his closet mirror, already dressed in his groom outfit.

Watching daadi walk up to him with a glorious smile, made him both smile and be scared. As a kid she used to forcefully make him and his cousins, sit in their wide courtyard, in their ancestral Chembur home, oil massaging them. Making their hairs glisten and shine under the crazy sun glare. It was both sticky and smelly. He hated it way too much. Even though he loved his daadi and her own weird ways of showing love.

He couldn't permit her to ruin his hair at least for today. Not when he would be getting married to his love in few hours. Their friends would laugh at him for years. Shaking his head at the nervous thoughts bombarding him, Ranbir hugged his granny, catching her of guard. She hugged him back with equal love. "Daadi have I ever told you how much you mean to me ?" he asked, still hung up around her weak little self.

"Nahi bataaya. Haina, daadi ?" walked in the mischievous Aditya. Daadi found his friends rather too adorable. She obviously adored Ayaan the most followed by Arjun, Rohit, Adi and the rest. "Then please don't make my hair for today na. I beg you." His plead made her smirk and giggle loud. "Badmaash! Chal nahi karti. Jitte bhi ho tennu wadiya dikhna hai" grinned his grandmother, the Kapoor matriarch.  (however be it, you whould look the best)

"Woh toh dikhna hi hai na maa. Aakhir pota kiska hai - aapka aur Papa ji ka." Randhir Kapoor smiled at the scene. He and his siblings had long awaited for this day. To see their sole heir, settle for once and carry forward their rich legacy before they fade.

"Excuse me ... meri koi aukaad hai iss ghar mein ? Kya kisi ne mera joota dekha hai ? Help or I'm switching my team." A frustrated Ayan sat on the floor with a single piece of footwear in his hand, dejected. Fubu smirked at his condition "We gotta save Rk's joota today and not yours. You ain't that important for tonight. Okay bye."

Ayan made a pout seeing which groom's mother sent her search party to fetch his lost pair.

"Maa how do I look ?" asked a perplexed groom. He had never felt this scared and confident less ever in his life. A silent gush ran across the room as all the ladies barged in to have a look at him. Ranbir looked every bit regal and handsome. His broad shoulders and his bulged muscles gave him a towering yet enriching masculine outline. An air of royalty enveloped him in it's grace. 

Neetu wiped her tears already making him groan. "Maa please don't start crying. Come on, she's coming to our home. Bidaai Alia ka hai, mera nahi." That wouldn't stop her sob.

She glanced at him with so much love and awe, it made him gulp inaudibly with his own emotion flying all around the place. "Sorry beta. Bas yunhi .. You look like my baby. Beautiful and all grown up suddenly" she giggled, stroking his face fondly. They share a quick hug which suddenly shifts the atmosphere to a sad tone. His father who stood by the side watching the heart warming scene unfold, is thrown into the duo by his younger sister Rima. 

He grunts silently at her behaviour. Yes, there was once a glass wall between him and Ranbir. He had created a ridge between them. But gradually in the past two years, the wall seemed to melt and crumble. Bit by bit. He held intense emotion for his only son, his Rana but Rishi was stubborn. How was he expected to tell him how much he had dreamt of this day and how sensitive he had been the last one week! 

Ranbir smiled at his father. He knew. They shared after all same blood. He and his father were both terrible at expressing their heart. Baring soul wasn't their game. But he had learnt from his past and from his friend's undying advise. A pause later his father closes the gap between them and awkwardly hugs his son. 

They share silence as the family looks on. Krishna Raj, wiping her tears watching her favourite son and grandson in each other's embrace. She wished her Raj ji was around. Being a cry baby himself, watching his family smile and unite. Their Rana get married to the woman of his and their dream - a perfect daughter in law for them. 

An angel perhaps sent by her Raj. To complete their long awaited dream. 

They break the embrace to wipe Neetu's tears. 

"Mummy ko dekhke yeh haal hai toh biwi ko dekhke apna Ranbir is gonna faint !" Karan's loud comment earned him a thunderous laughter.

"Okay guys, attention please. I think it'll be perfect if we leave by now. The dancing and all the thumkas will take time especially if we're all hell bent with the ghoda system. So what are we waiting for ? Let's get him on a horse !" Ranbir had his eyes gauge out at Karan's announcement. So they had finalized a horse instead of the car ?! And they just had to walk few steps over to reach the venue anyway.

"Maa, you had promised we'll go by car" he groaned covering his face. "Blame the boys. They have decided to give you a majestic horse ride while we dance around you in stupid circles" cleared Karan, ending the discussion. The boys winked at him and ran with the pretext of being busy when in actual they wanted to run from Ranbir's groom swings.

"Acha now please hurry up. We got to begin the rasam's " Ritu the eldest sister called in for Ranbir's sisters and elders for the first ceremony. Since Ranbir had opted for a no pagdi look, they only had to do a little pooja before putting a brooch on his chest. 

The elders gathered together as the ladies took off his nazar with crisp notes that were later snatched by the boys. Rishi and Neetu came forward with a gem studded brooch, made specifically from their heirloom, gifted to Ranbir by his grandfather Raj Kapoor. 

The parents smiled at their only son who resembled a prince. Which he was for them. As he sat their in his all regal glory, they pinned the brooch on his chest carefully. Ranbir watched his parents struggle to keep their sanity. He chuckled at their hormones. They pressed a soft kiss on his forehead and together with Riddhima, hugged him again. 

With the help of his father and uncle's, the ladies and the entire groom's party were pushed out of the home to begin with the journey. An impressive band of wedding procession waited for them on the entrance of the hotel. When the groom's side joined them, the size increased and it almost felt as if they were on some religious hike.

"Bhai saab! What is this ? Teerth yatraa ?" whispered Abhishek Verman who had just joined the group.

"Where's Rk thou ?" he asked looking around through the crazy crowd. "My friend, that tall thing you see in the air, almost as if suspended ... that's him." Ayan's explanation cracked them to fits. True to what he said, Ranbir's tall figure amidst the packed crowd, was slightly visible. The boys crawled their way towards him and at last they could see the sight of him on a horse.

"Ah! What a marvelous sight. Take his picture re, Alia would love this." Ranbir's face crumpled like a withered flower at the way everyone kept staring at him. He was way too embarrassed to pose for pictures. "Here" someone handed him Taimur, to be seated along with him on the horse. It is a cute tradition of having a male child, sit alongside the groom. 

He blushed at their nonstop leg pulling and focused on his infamous nephew who was clearly smitten with the entire chaos. "Hawse rideeee" he clapped and spoke in his baby language, trying to take rein. Enamored by the horse.

"Yes baby, that's exactly why we are on top of this. I hope at least you enjoy this ride." He couldn't bring himself to be joyful when it actually looked like a joke. Hoping Alia won't see him like this.

Karan took up the microphone from the team and pretended to lead the procession. "Attention everyone. Uncles, Aunties, children, elders, friends, family and the horse ... oh and the boys on top." The crowd clapped and laughed at his introduction. "We have finally reached this auspicious moment where we would lead the Baraat procession to the venue. I mean just walk few steps towards the lawn. What are we bollywood without our extravagance ?" 

"Let's stick together, no running, no pushing. Keep your hands to yourself and dance as much as you want. Nobody's gonna judge you, I promise."

Snatching the mic from him, Armaan stepped next "Aaj hamara din hai, hai ki nahi ?" he asked, getting in to Gully boy mode. As the families chanted yes, Ranbir became even more restless and embarrassed in his horse seat.

"Its my day, you donkey!" he cursed under his breath.

His irritation had hit another level and he had to somehow jump out of the poor animal. It wasn't the horse's fault. Who would have thought a Greek horse would be used like a stupid commodity at an Indian celebrity wedding! "Maa!" he called for her in panic. She rushed over with a worried expression. 

"Please get me out of this." She sensed his genuine despair. "Acha wait don't jump yet. Just pose for the pics and the video. Bas uske baad you can walk with us to the mandap, okay ?" He agreed frantically. 

Meanwhile Karan took back his mic, making a weird face. "Sorry for that inconvenience Bir." He eyed a face palmed groom trying to hide his face behind Taimur.

"Shall we begin the procession ?" he asked this time loud enough for the entire property to listen.

As the claps and whistles arose, the band men began their magic. Popular hindi grooving beats were played as the procession began moving. Families and friends in the front, the groom and his ride sandwiched in between with the band walking closely behind. The entire procession was protected by security teams specially bought for this occasion. 

As the family elders began their desi dance moves, the boys started clicking selfies, some videoing the entire thing while they moved along. "Take as many pictures as you can. Ladkiyon ko bhi toh pata chale, ladke waale aa rahe hain" smirked Adi as he proceeded to send exclusive clips and selfies to their whatsapp group.

"Mere bhai ki shaadi hai, aaj mere bhai ki shaadi hai" sang the boys as they clicked more selfies and videos with all of them, hand in hand.

Upon request, the music changed into the ever green wild wedding favourite - Taare gin gin. This time the boys took over the center creating a huge circle with the now horse free groom in the middle. As the music took over its reign over Team Groom, the energy in the air multiplied. The boys grooved their best to the iconic song . Ranbir couldn't help but cheer and laugh.

His face glowed under the light shade of sun. His eyes twinkled with the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

As he watched his family and friends enjoy themselves and dance without any worries, his heart leaped out of his chest with the amount of joy fluttering within him.

This is what they needed. Their families rejoicing in their celebration of love.

Unapologetic and pure.

His soul longed to be with his bride. His heart, his to be wife.

With every step they took, he desired to reach her sooner than ever. 

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NOTE : Truly a miracle chapter :D 

I had made my mind to publish this one by end of this week. But here I am, obviously surprising myself and y'all with the eagerness to draft the wedding chaps :p At this rate you might be lucky enough to get faster updates <3 

Thank heavens, the wedding inspo scenes are pretty clear in my head and therefore I can write it faster. The mandap I needed to be unique and the seating arrangement with the backdrop of sea is what I dream. I hope you are able to visualize the scene, decor and every lil detail of the exclusive wedding series <3 

Don't ask me ki yeh sab Greece mein kaise ho rha hai lmao xD Bas ho raha hai, keh diya na - Bachchan tone ;0)

And I'm superrrr thrilled to see the response to my consistent chapter posting! We are getting close to 100 reads on every chapter yay! Thank youuuu <3 

Next chapter will be bigger than this one and most probably will conclude the wedding (can never say if it may get another part). Then a reception part will give a proper conclusion to this series. JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THE REAL DAYYY! ME GONNA BURST INTO EXPLOSION AT SOME CORNER OF MY ROOM WHILE THE INTERNET EXPLODES AND Y'ALL GO NUTS TEXTING ME IF I AM ALIVE !!!! THAT'S WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN *sniffles*

Cutting my wedding freak for now :p 

Jemi :)