"Shambhavi Mishra."

I heard my full name being uttered by my father to the prospective groom and his family.

Yes, they had ultimately come to see me and I was a wreck with my heart palpitating like a leaf. What if they too reject me just like the last twenty-nine marriage alliances that happened in the past?

I noticed my mother serving a plethora of delicacies to the guests and her stinging words suddenly disembarked inside my consciousness which she had said to me prior to the appearance of the guests.

"Apply this Fairness cream after the Besan and Gulab Jal pack. Maybe that will bring a glow to your face. The facial glow isn't even noticeable on your dusky skin. Chemicals these days, uff. Also, wear a dark coloured sari, maybe blue or purple. Umm...this navy blue one will look good on you. Try this."

"Mummy, the blue one's blouse is a bit tight for me, I think..." before I could've completed my sentence, a distasteful look from my mother stopped me.

"Ek to tera rang kala, upar se aisa Mota shareer; what shall I do, Rama?" she exaggerated and put her hand on her forehead in a tense way.

(One, you're dark-complexioned and two, you've such a fat body)

"Mumma, no. The past week I had put fast for three days and lost 4 kgs. I am thin.."

"Shut up! Just shut up. Wear the brown sari, then. And, behave properly in front of them. Open your mouth only when asked." Mummy shrieked tersely and after making sure that the brown-coloured sari was properly done with its blouse and underskirt, she left the room without noticing the damped eyes of her daughter.

I wiped off my tears and pleated the sari as per Indian standards.

She didn't even understand why the blouse was tight. My eyes shed some more tears at that and I continued pleating my Sari like an elegant woman. I am exercising every day, along with fasting and dieting. I have lost weight but I still couldn't satisfy the standards set by my mother for a girl's body.

The blue sari's blouse was tight because it was stitched after my recovery from Jaundice. I had shed a lot of weight at that time. But, I know my mother would never understand this.

24*7, she was emotionally strained about my marriage and I don't think it's her fault. Because any mother could be tensed if her daughter was rejected countless times.

I returned to reality and shifted towards the mirror to glance at my image for the last time as they'd be calling me anytime soon.

A dusky and a bit chubby girl's image reflected back who was decked up in a brown coloured sari, matching her dark complexion. Her kohl-filled brown eyes looked appealing; her lips were painted in brown, giving it a fuller look and her waist-length hair was French-braided. She looked lovely and younger than her age.

But, according to Indian standards, she was just another Moti, Kali Bhains.

(Fatso, Black buffalo)

I sighed heavily and slumped my shoulder and looked at the statue of my lord, Shri Krishna, who was smiling at my current state.

I pleaded in front of him with folded hands, "Please Kanha Ji. Please, for this one time, please advance according to me."

I had confidence in myself and my body but the judgemental society made me spineless and pathetic to feel inferior under my own skin.

Getting 29 rejections from boys is so not easy to endure. I heaved a sigh of breath and wiped my eyes' area with a wet tissue to remove any sign of crying. My mother would shout at me if she notices that.

I was just thinking about her, and here she is. She entered inside my room and after scrutinising me with a precise focus, her lips turned into a curve. An upward curve.

A sense of relief washed over me. I also smiled at her.

She gently took some Kohl out of her eyes and after applying a black dot of Kohl behind my ear as an anti-Voodoo trick, she complimented me, "Shambhavi, you're looking beautiful. They're calling for you. Please, be at your best, beta. All the best, Beta", and ushered me towards the 30th prospective groom of my life.

I casted my eyes down and delayed my footsteps, similar to an elegant and sophisticated lady's steps. Only one thing was going inside my mind. To hear 'Yes' from their side. A big yes. My parents would be on the ninth cloud if this marriage alliance is fixed.

"Here, she is," my father announced after noticing my presence and I knew all the eyes immediately swerved towards me. Their impulsive movement was captured with the corner of my experienced eyes as my eyes were still trained downwards.

As slowly as a sloth, I looked towards them with a smiling face and did a traditional Namaste to them. But I knew it wasn't enough as just then my mother nudged me to touch their feet for taking their blessings; I complied with her and touched the feet of four people and stopped at one certain foot.

It was the groom's foot. No.

I immediately looked up at the person and my eyes popped out after noticing the prospective groom.

I was backtracked to the past and realization dawned on me.

He was my freaking tuition teacher!

How could my parents marry me off to such an aged person!

A pang of deception filled my heart. I, again, casted my eyes downwards and after getting a warrant to sit from them, I slumped on the sofa and psychically slapped my forehead.

What blunder did I do to have such a fate! A painful wail was going to leave my mouth but I controlled myself.

"Haha, Shambhavi beta. The person you're probably thinking of as your prospective groom is actually my son-in-law, beta." I immediately thanked my stars at the lady's remark and a small smile graced my lips making everyone chuckle at my silly thoughtfulness.

I noticed a total of five people currently perching on the sofa from the groom's side. Groom's parents, his sister and her husband, and one old uncle too were with them, maybe the groom's grandfather.

"Here comes your would-be groom," the same lady announced and my curious eyes immediately turned towards my would-be groom.

A rustle left my mouth after noticing how attractive he looked. 

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It's not another arranged marriage story, I want to clear this here only. As the story progresses, you will know. 

It's more complicated than you think it is. ;)