(Tilak - Part of the Indian Wedding process

Ghagra - Indian Dress 

Jiji - Sister

Pundit - Indian Priest

Mandap - Wedding stage).

॥The Wrong One॥ 

The next day, arrangements for the wedding had begun. As the wedding was to be that week, Ryda had begun the preparations for the Tilak as soon as the Lakin's had left the day before. Kenta had already sent the wedding cards out to all family from around the world, some family that didn't even know they had existed.

The Tilak took place a week before the wedding. It, in itself, was an invitation of sorts to the groom's family, to come and take the bride, to make her a part of their family. Only the females were present in this ritual, which explained why Ryda was nowhere in the house, though he had made all his arrangements before he had left.

The Drewett family's hall had been decorated in a grand fashion. Garlands of marigolds hung from the roofs bordering the room,the walls were covered in a dark red with gold glittering swirls, a background filled with too many maroon rose bouquets. Each aspect seting the mood. Fairy lights were thrown over doors as banners and a gentle breeze swept in through the many openings. Seats and tables were spread around, all covered in matching cream fabrics with a golden sash that held the masterpiece together. 

As the women of the house ran around with food, sweets and other decorations, Kayana sat numbly on a red and gold silk covered cushion as her ghagra of rose pink and yellow fanned out around her.  Matching yellow bangles adorned her wrists that lay folded around her knees. Her mother and aunts roamed in frenzy around her, checking her hair, then her clothes. Pondering whether the carpet matched the dressings on the table, if there were adequate chairs for both the brides and the grooms' family. Worrying about all the things that Kayana should have been. 

As the temperature began to slowly drop, signaling the near ending of the day, Kayana sighed, laying her head on her folded knees. What was Raian doing?  If she had told him what was happening, would he have come for her? She was trying, she was trying so very hard to do this without question, and she would. If only they hadn't lied to Raian. If only he had a chance to prove himself before she was forced to marry another. And Vodia. Couldn't he have said no? Why did he have to marry her? Of course it would be awfully shameful for her to reject him, but he could with no problem. All these questions and what if's began to frustrate Kayana. She couldn't do anything now. All she could manage was to keep quiet and do exactly what her parents wanted of her.  

Like she was supposed to. 

"Kayana beti! How are you? I haven't seen you since you were this big!" Shrinty aunty exclaimed as she set her eyes on the young lady that was getting married. 

Standing up, Kayana bent her head slightly, "Hello Shrinty aunty, can I get you something?"

Pride shined in Shrinty's eyes as she gazed upon Kayana. The subdued nature that she exhibited was not right, but she was proud of the way she handled herself, given her situation. Kenta had told Shrinty everything. About Raian and Kayana and her marriage to Vodia. And she felt partially responsible. But she was going to do what she could. 

Leaning forward, she pulled Kayana into her embrace by her shoulders. 

Leaning close into her ear, Shrinty whispered, "I have a letter for you beti, read it when you are alone."

Kayana heard a crinkle and felt the paper being pushed between them. Pulling back, she looked at the letter in her hands. Looking back quizzically at her aunty, she noticed her mother making her way towards them. Stuffing the paper into her skirt, she pulled her top over it. 

"Shrinty jiji, how are you?"

"Oh you know me, I'm doing very well," Shrinty replied, whilst winking conspiratorially at Kayana, "And how are you?"

As her mother and aunty began walking away Kayana looked around for an escape to her room. She needed to read this letter. A glimmer of hope shone within her as she searched the room for the least crowded doorway. Finding one, she walked fast towards it.

As Kayana neared her freedom, an arm twisted her around, and she came face to face with a grinning Corin. Startled, Kayana forgot about the letter and gasped. 

"Corin?"

Pulling Kayana into a hug, Corin squeezed hard. 

"I've begged Pita ji to let me come to your wedding! He's only barely allowed me, as long as I adhere to his conditions," Lifting an eyebrow, she continued, "And he was adamant in my promising to not speak about my brother, Kayana. He doesn't want any more problems." 

The breath left Kayana as she listened to Corin. So they did know? Raian did know? But, how could he leave her if he knew? 

Two arms placed themselves on her shoulders and began to pull her up, she hadn't even noticed she had sunk to the floor, and she realised they were Corin's hands. 

"Let's go up to bed Kayana, you've had a long day, we'll talk more about this tomorrow." 

After making an excuse to Kenta ji, Corin escorted Kayana to her room. When both girls lay down and were ready to sleep, Corin let Kayana in on a secret. 

"Kayana, I will tell you this, Raian did not know. He wasn't told. He truly wouldn't have left you if he had known." 

Kayana nodded, accepting what Corin said with no questions, because she had another reason to hope. The letter that Shrinty aunty had given her. A letter whose sender she had thought she'd never hear from again. 

Raian.

॥The Wrong One॥ 

The next couple of days left no room for Kayana to be left alone. Families from around the world began to arrive in droves all demanding to see her and discuss her future. Will you have children? How many children will you have? Have you thought of names?  Some even questioning whether she had any friends for their own children.  She had simply smiled and shied away, as her mother had instructed and, fortunately, the questions were forgotten as soon as the food was served. 

Changing into a cream coloured sleeveless dress, Kayana settled herself onto the stool in front of her dresser. It was already Thursday, the time for the Telwaan ritual which she knew consisted of: her being massaged in oil and turmeric powder, a cleansing session for the outside of her skin followed by a succession of prayers for the blessing of her ancestors that a pundit would be called in to complete. The ritual would then be concluded by the pundit making a small mandap. Kayana would now not be able to leave the house until her wedding day. Following that would be the Bhatwaan stage, where prayers would be made to the Earth to provide for the newly married couple. 

Though she knew these ceremonies were important and were followed by everyone in her family for generations, she wondered why there were so many customs they had to abide by. Couldn't she just have a simple wedding?

"Knock knock," Corin sang, walking in with a tray of fruits and juice.

Placing her objects on the table, her friend walked over to Kayana and began brushing her long hair out, shaking her head with a smile. Fixing the waves into a french braid, she added a simple white flower to the finished look and stepped back. 

Strands of Kayana's hair fell out, decorating her face and enhancing her natural beauty.

"Thank you." Kayana's words were filled with genuine gratitude and trust and Corin knew she wasn't only thanking her for the hair. She was thanking her for being a friend, a sister. 

Corin had never felt guiltier. 

Turning away quickly, she busied herself with cutting up the fruits and offering the orange juice to Kayana. 

"Eat up jiji, today's a big day. It's only two more days until your wedding."

Kayana nodded and accepted the food that was given to her. The letter from Raian had not left her mind since she had first received it and she found it hard to concentrate on anything else, finding it easier to simply stay quiet and do as she was told.

"After you've eaten, I'll escort you downstairs, where today's ceremony will happen." Corin explained, only slightly glancing at Kayana. "And Kayana? I'm sorry. I really am."

"What for? What do you know Corin?" 

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted - "

A knock on the door interrupted Corin as she was speaking and she looked at Kayana, whose eyes were frantically begging her to answer. To finish her confession. 

"Kayana beti, good morning." Kenta greeted her daughter, a smile of peace on her face. 

"Good morning Mata ji." She replied simultaneously pulling a matching scarf over her head loosely.

Corin watched as the sliver of hope her words had created seemed to shrivel and the light in her best friends' eyes dimmed. She had to do something.  

Kenta took Kayana by the arm and led her to the door, "Time to go downstairs beti, everyone's waiting," peering at Corin, she added, "You too Corin beti, come along." And with that, she swept out the door, with Kayana on her right and Corin behind them.

Descending the stairs, Kayana looked out towards all the people waiting for her. She noticed a mattress covered by a maroon fabric with cushions of a similar colour laid out and she made her way towards it.

Graciously sitting down, Kayana extended her arms, ready for the ceremony, shutting everyone else out. What had Corin wanted to say to her?  

॥The Wrong One॥  

"Kayana, Kayana wake up!" The voice whispered to her laced with urgency. 

"Kayana!"  

Sitting up, Kayana glanced around and came face to face with Corin. 

"What's happened Corin? Is everything okay?"

"Of course Kayana! But you need to get up. Today's your wedding day!" 

As the words left Corin's mouth, Kayana seemed to deflate. She knew this was inevitable, they had even done all the rituals leading up to this point, but Kayana had wished that this was somehow just a dream, or that Raian would come in and save her. Anything.  

"I'm awake Corin. I'll just go get cleaned up." Moving the covers aside, Kayana slowly made her way towards the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, she took a deep breath. Needing to remind herself of her commitment she stroked her ring. The very ring that Raian had given to her as a promise. She would do this for Raian. She had to. Saying it was for Raian was easier than believing her parents would force her into a marriage that she didn't wish for just for their own personal gain. 

Taking another deep breath Kayana kissed the ring, before she began her morning routine. 

Stepping out of the bathroom clad in a pink towel, Kayana's hair fell like ribbons down her shoulders. Wrapping another towel around her hair, she walked to her bed where a box had been placed. Running her fingers over the top of it, she carefully opened it. Gasping, Kayana fingered the rich georgette sari, a deep red colour coupled with a maroon velvet kurta, with the borders decorated in golden designs. The Sari in itself was lovely. 

Beside the sari lay matching golden bangles and red and gold earrings. Tears pricked Kayana's eyes as realisation dawned. This was her mother's wedding clothes.

"Ah, I see you've seen my gift to you beti." Kenta smiled.

Shutting the door behind her, she glided towards where her daughter stood, still in her pink towels. 

"Time to get ready beti." 

Dressing Kayana in the clothes that she wore at her own wedding gave Kenta immense joy. She knew she'd have this pleasure one day, she just didn't think it'd be so soon.  

Twirling Kayana around, she wiped her fingers under her eyes. 

"You look beautiful Kayana beti."

Kayana lifted her eyes to see that her mother had begun crying. Slowly, she felt herself begin to break too. 

"Thank you Mata ji." And she hugged her. For Kayana, ,in the instant, she could've forgiven her mother for anything. 

"Promise me," Kenta asked pulling back, "Promise me you'll try to be happy. To be happy with Vodia. Please?"

Kayana froze. 

"Please beti. Let me live knowing I didn't disappoint my daughter, knowing that she's truly happy."

"Mata ji, I - "

"Oh Kayana! You look beautiful!" 

Both mother and daughter looked away, blinking back the tears so that nothing was given away. 

"Oh Shrinty jiji, doesn't she? She's gorgeous!" Kenta exclaimed to her sister in a shaky voice. 

Putting her arm around her sister, Shrinty drew in a shaky breath. 

"No crying Kenta, no crying." 

"Oh Kenta aunty, Shrinty aunty, no crying! You will mess up the make up!" Corin chastised, also bustling into the room. 

Slowly, the room began to fill with all of the female relatives, all wanting a peek at the bride before she descended to her future.  

Shooing many of the girls around Kayana away, Corin began fixing her hair. 

"Like old times, hey jiji?" She spoke, trying to get Kayana to speak to her. 

Her friend had not spoken to her since the day she had tried to tell her what had happened. And she didn't want to leave their friendship like this. 

She couldn't. 

"Talk to me Kayana, please." She whispered. 

Kayana nodded, indicating that she heard Corin but still gave no verbal reply. 

Corin quickly finished Kayana's hair and moved away. The tears fell down Corin's face as she dashed down the hallway. Away from her only friend. Sliding against a wall, she fell down, her lilac ghagra fanning around her like a lake.  

What had she done? She'd only tried to help. You were jealous her subconscious taunted her, jeered at her. You were jealous of Kayana. She got everything. So you ruined her it continued. 

I hadn't meant to! You don't understand! I just wanted her back. 

New tears cascaded down her face as she sat pulled up against the wall. Her makeup and hair were probably ruined, but at that moment, she was beyond caring. 

"Hello there."

Corin felt him sit before she heard him and she scooted further away, pulling her scarf over her head. 

 "Hey there sweetheart, what's wrong?"

His voice was so deep, so caring that Corin wanted to tell him everything, but she couldn't. She couldn't tell anyone. At least not before telling Kayana. And that's what she would do. She would tell her. 

Pushing herself upwards, she hid her face, her eyes casted down. Turning away from the stranger, she spoke to him, "My apologies ji, I must leave now." And with that, she fled with the determination of doing the right thing urging her on. 

Kallm Lakin stood up from his spot on the floor and stared in the direction the lavender girl had disappeared. Lavender because that's what she had looked like, sitting on the floor. Her blonde hair curled and cascading around her face, framing the world's greatest treasure. 

He had, at first, simply wanted to help, but then, she had drawn him in. Like bee to honey. And he was going to find her. Why, he did not know, only that he would. 

Placing one hand in his black slacks, he let the other on hang beside him as he whistled, turning in the opposite direction of his lavender. 

॥The Wrong One॥