Aaahchoo! I woke up sneezing. A bouquet of roses was being pushed into my face as I sneezed again. Who the hell was doing this? I rubbed my eyes to get a clear picture of the brat who was mutilating my nostrils. "Thank God! You woke up", Sanjana said. Only she could have used something beautiful like roses as a weapon. I rolled my eyes and was about to fall back on bed but this time she got a glass of ice cold water close to me, " You are the bride but i don't mind torturing you. Get up or this will be all over you head", she threatened. I jolted up in bed not because of her threat but because of the word bride. I had a terrible time falling asleep yesterday and could only get around 3 hours of sleep but it was so deep that I almost forgot about today. It was only five in the morning and I was dragged out of bed by my cousin Sanjana.

"When did you come?", I asked her, trying to stiffle a yawn. "Just in time to catch your fiancee drop off that bouquet on your door step", she said with a smirk. WHAT? I turned to look towards what she was pointing and it was the same huge bouquet of red roses that she was using on me few minutes back. Viren got them! I hurried towards it and was mesmerized by the beauty. There was a card pinned to it. 'To a new start'  it read and I smiled to myself. Yes! a new start, I thought as I placed it on the table beside my bed.He drove here so early in the morning to give me this. He is crazy or may be he wanted me to wake up to these. I blushed.

"He is handsome",she said pulling me out of my day dream. I looked at her and gave a smile. She walked up to me," You are happy, right?", she asked looking at me with concern in her voice. "Ofcourse Sanju,I am", I said with a wide smile and she hugged me." And I am happy for you", she said breaking the hug. "I had to ask, as a elder sister it is my responsibility to know",she said with a determined expression. I sighed at the drama queen in front of me," You are two months older to me, Sanju", I said walking into the wash room. " Whatever. Don't you dare point at me. You didn't quip about any of this the last time I spoke to you. You should be happy that I didn't mind and I am here",  She said following me in. " If you move out, I have something important to finish", I said ignoring all the blabbering she did. We have been like this since the time we were born. She lives in Bangalore and we met only during the summer holidays and yet we were inseparable. It was to keep in contact with her that  I first created my e-mail id. We were there for each other through the good and the bad times and I was proud of the relation we shared. " Ok! I will move only if you apologize", she said folding her arms. " What? forget it. I am not going to apologize. Now move", I said pushing her out and bolting the door.

I am getting engaged today. Wow! It was still not sinking in. I looked at myself  in the mirror. I looked tired with a hint of dark circles under my eyes. This is not how I want to look for today, I thought to myself and spattered water onto my face. Ofcourse that would not change anything.I cursed myself for not sleeping well yesterday. I have to run to my granny and ask her for some quick remedy for this. I finished my important business and went back to open the door when I found it locked from outside. Aarghh! "Sanjuuuu", I yelled at the top of my voice. In return I could only hear a kick on the door. " Open up! Don't be an ass", I hissed. "Nope", I heard her say. This girl has her ways to get on my nerves. I took a deep breath, " What do you want?', I asked. "Well, a boy friend to start with", was her reply. "Are you crazy?", I banged on the door. " Talk to Viren. I am sure he has friends. You can set me up with someone", she stated as a matter of fact. "Fine. I will see. Now open the door", I pleaded. " Apologize", she said in a cool tone. " Will you open or shall I call Badi Maa", I threatened. "Ok! Let us see what Viren texted you recently", she dragged. I am sure she had my phone in her hand and she was capable of doing what she says. Unfortunately my phone is never locked." No!!", I shrieked. " Fine I will apologize. Sanju baby, I am sorry", I said sounding as sweet as possible. "For what?", she asked like I was crazy. " For not telling you about this alliance and Viren", I said hoping she would let me free. After few seconds the door creaked open and i banged out to lash at her but she was nowhere to be seen. I sighed and walked down to where the preparations were going at a full swing.

The dining table was filled with beautifully decorated  baskets and boxes of fruits, dry fruits and sweets. The house was filled with laughter and conversations as all the relatives were doing their part to decorate the house for the ceremony. They were all my extended family whom I loved and hated at the same time. These were the ones who would stand by your family as a support when you face tough situations and at the same time, these are the people who interfere too much into your life trying to judge you at each step. They all looked happier than me like it was their engagement and not mine. I slumped into a chair at the dining table, yawning. People were having so much fun chatting and gossiping that no one even realized my presence. Sanjana slid into the one next to me, "What are you thinking?", she asked placing her head on the table. I sighed, "I am scared", I admitted much to my surprise. " Hmm. It will be fine Payal. He seemed like a nice guy to me", she reassured. I know he is a nice guy and I am crazy about him but engagement and the commitment was overwhelming. I gave a weak smile nodding my head.

My aunt was the first person to notice me, and all hell broke loose. The ladies surrounded me, some cooing," How quickly you have grown" and some pinching my cheeks, "You are glowing. It is surely the wedding glow". My mom was silently observing all these with an expression of pride, like I had won a very prestigious award.  This went on for the next half an hour with people passing weird statements and asking silly questions. It was only after my mom's intervention that they left me to go back to their assigned chores. "Go take you bath. You have to perform a pooja before they arrive", my mom said lovingly pushing the hair back from my eyes. I dragged myself up the stairs and I heard her call after me, " Take a beauty bath. Don't rush like every day", I ignored that and went to my room.

Like my mom suggested I took my own sweet time to take bath. It was more of zoning out than actually doing what I am supposed to. My heart beat was not taking the name of slowing down as the clock was ticking away. I wish I could just wile away my time in the bath room and no one would call me down. Just as that thought crossed my mind I heard a tap on the door, " Is your beauty bath not taking a little too much time?", The voice which belonged to some one very dear to me said. "Chetna!!", I almost shouted and I heard a chuckle from the other end. That was enough for me to finish the remaining and run out of the washroom to hug her tight. She was my best friend from school days who got married and moved abroad. She just arrived yesterday and I knew she would be coming today but this early? I was surely not expecting that."How are you!!?", I exclaimed eyeing her to to bottom. I observed a little bump but I kept quiet not sure if what I was thinking was right. " Super! So finally marriage,huh?", she raised her eyebrow. I was famous among friends for my phobia for marriage and this was surely a jackpot for them to tease me as much as they can." Yeah!Yeah! Don't start now", I said in a boring tone while I dried my hair.   She laughed at my reaction and placed a saree on the bed,"Aunty asked me to give you this. You are supposed to wear that for the pooja", she said as I eyed the saree with a doubtful look. Today was more of my mom's day than mine. Let me not upset her, I thought. " How come in India? I am not complaining though", I said looking at myself in the mirror. " Yeah and I am here for next five months", she said gently placing the hand on her bump."Wow! " I exclaimed now sitting close to her giving her a side hug. She hugged me back and I could sense she was really happy.  I will be there soon, I thought and suddenly jerked my head unable to believe that thought even crossed my mind. This stress is making me go mad. This needs to get over, soon.

I was dressed as per my mom's interest. This saree was given by my Mama and it is a custom for the bride to wear the saree during pooja. It was a peacock blue silk saree with a self design and a  green border. I fell in love with the color combination as it looked bright and beautiful. I was made to sit in the pooja, which lasted for almost 45 mins and by the time I finished the time was close to 9:00 and that meant in an hour I would see my groom to be. I smiled to myself as I walked out of the prayer room. I was appalled at how the house looked. It was a complete transformation with every nook and corner completely decorated. There were flowers tied to doorways and a huge rangoli in front of the house. Arrangements were made for carrying out havan  and there were carpets arranged for people to sit around it. Two huge luxurious chairs were arranged to a wall in the sitting room, mostly for me and Viren to sit on. The wall was decorated with roses and there was a table in front of the chairs and a bouquet was placed on it. Everyone was busy running from one room to other trying to find place to change and get ready. Dad was ordering some workers about food arrangements while Sanjana was arranging the clothes and other material that would be given away as shagun . Chetna wrapped her arm around me as I stood dumb founded at all the decorations in the house. "The house is ready, when will the bride be?", she asked with a smile. "Come I will help you in decking up", she said pulling my hand.

Exactly after half an hour I was all set, wearing the lehenga I got stitched at the boutique. Chetna helped me with the make up. She knew I did not like overdoing it, so she kept it very low yet very elegant. I slowly put on the matching accessories that my mom spent a lot of time buying. Sanju barged into the room without announcement making me jump, I realized how much on the edge I was as I calmed my breath. "They will be here in 15 minutes. Are you all set?", she asked.  "Am I looking okay?", I asked tying to look between Chetna and Sanju. Sanju was herself looking gorgeous with the suit she wore and Chetna had the pregnant glow which made everything about her seem beautiful. " You are looking beautiful, he will fall for you all over again", she said and they both came to give me a hug. Sanju, Chetna and I have spent countless summer vacations together in this house doing silly things that annoyed our elders yet those were the most memorable days of our lives. This group hug made me nostalgic as a drop of tear escaped my eyes. No! This is not the time for it, my makeup will ruin.

There was a knock on the door that broke the hug announcing the arrival of Viren and his relatives.I slowly walked down followed by my brides maid, I can easily call them that. My parents were making the huge troop that arrived comfortable while I hesitated to enter. I knew I would be the center of attraction. "Walk!", Sanju hissed in my ear as I realized I was standing there for quite some time now. I don't know if it was coincidence or it was on purpose but the first person I saw as I entered was Viren. Wearing a  blue sherwani he was immersed in conversation with someone I did not recognize. He sipped from the lemonade that was served as a welcome drink. The watch on his hand looked all the more attractive than I had imagined. But the most dazzling thing he was wearing was his smile.

Our eyes locked as he looked in my direction and my heart did a somersault.

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So.. what  if I end this story with their wedding and write another story with their journey after marriage? Let me know...

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